Page 161

Shen Chuwei did not know what had caused Your Highness to become angry, nor had anyone come to coax him.

Even if Liu Xi had not mentioned it, Xiao Jinyan knew that there was only one place Xuetuan could go, which was Xiyun Pavilion.

It was running wild now.

Without a word from Xiao Jinyan, Liu Xi cautiously asked, "Your Highness, do you need this servant to bring Xuetuan back?"

Xiao Jinyan said coldly, "No need, they each cause nothing but trouble."

Liu Xi lowered her eyelids and dared not speak. As for which two he meant, they were probably Shen Chuwei and Xuetuan～

Liu Xi, who had just stepped out, came back in to report, "Your Highness, Lady Chang has arrived."

Xiao Jinyan paused in his chewing and said indifferently, "Let her in."

"As you wish." Liu Xi stepped out.

Lady Chang then walked in, came forward, and curtseyed, "Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan lifted his eyelids slightly, "Have you eaten yet?"

Lady Chang shook her head, "Replying to Your Highness, this concubine has not yet had dinner."

Ever since she returned from Bai Ma Temple, Lady Chang had been cooped up in Lanlan’s abode, only having recovered in the last two days. She had also realized it was a false alarm; the Empress might have passed by, but she had not heard what she had said.

But the scare also made her realize the importance of being cautious in her words and actions.

Xiao Jinyan said, "Then let’s have dinner together."

Lady Chang was somewhat startled and pleased, with joy coloring her eyes and eyebrows, "As Your Highness commands."

She then sat down at the dining table.

Liu Xi had someone add a set of chopsticks and a bowl.

Xiao Jinyan said unhurriedly, "Your uncle will return tomorrow; if you miss him, you may go back and stay for a couple of days."

Lady Chang looked up at Xiao Jinyan, whose eyebrows and eyes were as exquisite as a painting, with phoenix-like eyes shimmering. No matter how many times she saw his unparalleled handsome face, she would always remain captivated.

She said softly, "Your Highness is considerate. It has indeed been a year since this concubine last saw her father, and I do miss him dearly. I will visit him tomorrow."

Xiao Jinyan hummed in acknowledgment.

Xiyun Pavilion

Shen Chuwei, having eaten enough and drunk her fill, lay on the couch too lazy to move.

Chun Xi hurried in, and upon seeing Shen Chuwei on the couch, her face was full of worry: "Young mistress."

Shen Chuwei raised her eyes to see Chun Xi’s worried expression and wondered if the maid had troubles of her own?

"What’s wrong?"

"The Crown Prince hasn’t come because he is having dinner with Lady Chang," Chun Xi said dismally, much like a wronged little bride.

Shen Chuwei paused upon hearing this, then seeing Chun Xi’s demeanor, she chuckled: "Isn’t it normal for him, as the Crown Prince, to have dinner with others?"

"But, young mistress, you went to Bai Ma Temple with Lady Chang to pray for children. If Lady Chang stays the night, she might get her wish first."

With a serious and earnest tone, Chun Xi tugged at Shen Chuwei’s hand, "Young mistress, you don’t know how important offspring are in the Imperial Palace."

Shen Chuwei saw Chun Xi’s distressed face and comforted her with a voice: "Not having children doesn’t affect our easy life of eating and drinking, so don’t worry."

Chun Xi was frustrated, as if Shen Chuwei wasn’t taking matters seriously, "Young mistress, how can you not be anxious at all? If Lady Chang becomes pregnant, that would be the Crown Prince’s first child.

I often hear the old people in the palace say that even a woman who is not favored, once she has a child, she will become favored.

The joy of a man becoming a father for the first time can bring honor to the mother because of the child.

By then, the Crown Prince will surely neglect the young mistress. "

Having grown up in the palace, Chun Xi hadn’t seen much but had heard plenty. She knew what it meant for a woman to have the favor of bearing children.

Shen Chuwei, with her legs crossed leisurely, said airily, "He is the Crown Prince now and surrounded by beauties. When he becomes the Emperor, he will choose numerous concubines extensively, filling the three palaces and six courtyards with beautiful women. If you worry like this, you’ll likely become depressed or get wrinkles at a young age, mostly from worrying too much. "

Seeing Shen Chuwei so nonchalant, Chun Xi became anxious, "Young mistress, it’s precisely because there are too many women; if you don’t compete for favor, you will be forgotten over time.

In the three palaces and six courtyards, how many women haven’t even seen the Emperor’s face, and the Emperor can’t even remember them. "

Chun Xi had personally seen a Zhao Yi in her thirties who had never met the Emperor. Unable to bear the loneliness, she mingled with a guard and was beaten to death with sticks upon being discovered.

There were also those who were depressed and died in their twenties.

This was the key reason Chun Xi always hoped Shen Chuwei would vie for favor; she did not want Shen Chuwei to end up like them.

Shen Chuwei smacked her lips twice, "Chun Xi, I’m a bit thirsty; could you brew me a cup of tea?"

"..." She knew the young mistress had not taken her words to heart... Chun Xi resigned, "This servant will go now."

Soon, Chun Xi brought a cup of fresh tea and set it on a low table.

Shen Chuwei picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, and sipped leisurely.

Chun Xi suggested, "Young mistress, how about I make some delicious pastries tomorrow for you to give the Crown Prince as breakfast?"

Shen Chuwei shrugged, "The Crown Prince has to leave the palace for business tomorrow."

Chun Xi’s shoulders drooped, "Well, then we can only wait for the Crown Prince to return."

For several days, Shen Chuwei’s life consisted of sleeping after eating and eating after sleeping, waking up naturally every day; it was like living the life of an immortal.

For afternoon tea, Chun Xi made sesame-filled Sweet Dumplings which were fried to a golden brown.

Shen Chuwei enjoyed the Fried Sweet Dumplings. With each bite, the soft and glutinous texture revealed black sesame filling, leaving a fragrant taste in her mouth.

Chun Xi dashed in, "Young mistress, young mistress, the Empress has come."

Shen Chuwei’s chewing halted, her face filled with confusion, "Why has the Empress suddenly come?"

"This servant doesn’t know either," said Chun Xi, bewildered and fearful because the Empress rarely visited this place.

After a moment’s thought, Chun Xi expressed her concern, "Young mistress, could it be that someone has lodged a complaint or is trying to frame you? These are common tricks in the palace."

"I feel fine today, without any premonition of misfortune," remarked Shen Chuwei, who usually sensed when bad luck was approaching.

Outside, the thin voice of a certain Guard echoed, "The Empress has arrived."

Shen Chuwei led the entire Xiyun Pavilion’s staff in kneeling in the courtyard to welcome the Empress.

"This concubine pays respect to the Empress; may the Empress live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand of thousands."

Dressed in a red Phoenix Robe, the Empress stood there and glanced at the people who were kneeling all around. She gestured with her hand for them to rise, "Get up."

Shen Chuwei, "Thank you, Empress."

The Empress scanned Xiyun Pavilion. This was her first visit, a remote and desolate place. How could it befit a lady’s dwelling?

On her way here, she had doubted if she had even come to the right place.

With the Crown Prince so fond of Shen Chuwei, how could he bear to let her stay in such a rundown place?

Look at that dog Emperor, doting on Concubine Ning, lavishly building palaces for her; if not for her interference, even the moon in the sky would have been plucked down and given to Concubine Ning.

The sudden downfall of Yu Wangba was also because he targeted Concubine Ning’s belly; otherwise, how could a mere favored lady fall so easily?

"Why are you living here?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "To answer the Empress, this concubine has always lived here."

The Empress indignantly said, "But you are now a lady, how can the Crown Prince let you live in such a place? It’s too modest. I shall decide; you should move to Hehuan Hall on an auspicious day."