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Xiao Jinyan couldn’t help laughing at her threatening words, "Rabbits don’t understand anyway."

Shen Chuwei was indifferent, "I’m just trying to scare it, to see if it’ll still run away?"

Xiao Jinyan was noncommittal, "I will dine at Hehuan Hall tonight."

Shen Chuwei instinctively hugged the rabbit in her arms tighter. No wonder she tensed up at the mention of Xiao Jinyan coming for dinner, that incident from the night before yesterday hadn’t left her mind yet.

"I will ask Chun Xi to prepare extra delicacies for Your Highness," she said, though her words were against her wishes. She’d rather that Xiao Jinyan not come tonight.

After Xiao Jinyan left, Shen Chuwei returned to the Hehuan Hall with the rabbit in her arms.

Seeing Chun Xi, she said listlessly, "His Highness will dine here tonight."

"Has His Highness finally deigned to come? I thought he was angered by our young mistress again the other night. I’ll prepare some of his favorite dishes," Chun Xi said cheerfully as she went to prepare the meal.

Shen Chuwei sighed, and although she was worried about whether Xiao Jinyan would stay after dinner, and if he would behave inappropriately if he did, all she wanted to do now was sleep.

*

Xiao Jinyu had been busy with his studies these past few days and hadn’t had time to take Lady Han out of the palace for some fun.

Having finally found some free time today, he took Lady Han out in the horse carriage early in the morning.

Xiao Jinyu, holding a folding fan, looked at Lady Han sitting opposite him. He had known her for some time now, but he had never seen her smile; she always had an icy expression.

"Lady Han, I’ve been too busy recently. Have you been doing well living at Qiancheng Hall?"

Han Yan turned her gaze from the outside to Xiao Jinyu, her voice light, "Your Highness has been concerned, but I’ve been living well."

Xiao Jinyu nodded, relieved, "That’s good.

I’ve always been worried that you might not be accustomed to living in the palace, as everything is fine there, except for the plethora of rules.

However, the Empress Mother said that once I come of age and take a wife, I will be able to move out of the Imperial Palace and live independently.

By then, the Wang Residence won’t have as many rules as the palace. "

He was looking forward to living independently, yet he found it hard to leave his mother and the Crown Prince, his brother.

Outside the Imperial Palace, it wouldn’t be easy to see them whenever he wished.

Han Yan suddenly asked, "Is there something important that Your Highness is going out of the palace for this time?"

"Just going to check out the streets and see if I can buy some interesting items," Xiao Jinyu sighed inwardly.

Where could he get five thousand taels of gold to repay the Crown Prince, his brother?

He would have to buy some trifles to give to his brother, so the Crown Prince could use them to dote on his wife.

Han Yan asked curiously, "Does Your Highness have a fondness for trinkets?"

"Not entirely. This time, the trinkets are mainly for my brother, the Crown Prince. He’s busy with official duties every day and has no time to coddle girls. As his brother, it’s my duty to help lighten his burden," Xiao Jinyu said righteously.

At her words, Han Yan paused, "Your Highness seems to have a good relationship with your Crown Prince brother."

"Of course, the Crown Prince and I are brothers born to the same mother, naturally we are closer," he replied.

"That makes sense," Han Yan lifted her gaze to look directly at Xiao Jinyu, "Then who is the most important person in Your Highness’s heart?"

Xiao Jinyu answered as if it were obvious, "Of course, it’s the Crown Prince, my brother."

"Is that so?" Han Yan asked further, "What about the future wife of Your Highness? Is she not important in Your Highness’s heart?"

Xiao Jinyu replied, "I haven’t married a wife yet, have I? In any case, my brother, the Crown Prince, is the most important."

Upon hearing this, Han Yan did not speak again, but a shadow flashed across her beautiful eyes.

Upon reaching the bustling market, Xiao Jinyu walked along with Lady Han, browsing past many stalls selling cosmetics.

Xiao Jinyu glanced at Lady Han, her clean cheeks were excessively white, and could benefit from a bit of rouge and powder.

However, Xiao Jinyu had no clue about choosing cosmetics.

Yet he didn’t want Lady Han to notice that.

"Lady Han, let me buy you some rouge and powder as a gift," he said.

At this, Han Yan was taken aback for a moment before asking with curiosity, "What kind does Your Highness wish to gift?"

"You’ll see in a moment," Xiao Jinyu teased. He approached a stall selling rouge and face powder. "Boss, I want to give a lady some rouge and face powder. What fine goods do you have?"

Upon seeing Xiao Jinyu, the boss knew he was a wealthy young master, and catching sight of the beauty by his side, he immediately began to enthusiastically promote his rouge and face powder.

The boss spoke with such flowery language that Xiao Jinyu did not understand, but it sounded good, so he bought everything.

The boss was overjoyed and praised the products while packing them up.

Cash in one hand, goods in the other.

Xiao Jinyu handed the rouge and face powder to Miss Han, boasting with a generous spirit, "Miss Han, this is for you."

Miss Han Yan looked down at a large bundle in her hands and could not help but smile.

After giving Miss Han her gifts, Xiao Jinyu started looking around for fun things to buy.

Miss Han Yan held the package and leisurely followed behind him.

That is until Xiao Jinyu saw a stall selling fish. He curiously approached, looking at the small fish in the wooden tub, thinking that keeping them in a glass bowl for decoration would surely please his sister-in-law.

He immediately bought many, mainly out of concern for the low survival rate of the fish.

Having bought enough, Xiao Jinyu rushed with his purchases to the East Palace.

Before he arrived, his voice was heard first. "Brother, guess what I brought?"

Xiao Jinyan looked up towards the door to see Xiao Jinyu striding in with a wooden bucket in hand. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why aren’t you doing your schoolwork properly? What have you been up to instead?"

"Brother, I’ve been busy with my schoolwork recently, without a moment of neglect," Xiao Jinyu lifted the wooden tub in his hands like a treasure to show Xiao Jinyan.

"Brother, look at this. You think sister-in-law will like it, right?"

Remembering the six chickens and six ducks, Xiao Jinyan felt a headache coming on and said without looking, "What sort of messy pet did you bring this time? Your Highness has yet to settle the score with you for the last few."

"Brother, this time I guarantee it’s better than before," Xiao Jinyu nearly raised his hand to swear.

With a look of doubt on his face, Xiao Jinyan peered into the wooden tub, and upon seeing the fish, he relaxed, realizing it was just a group of very small fish.

Xiao Jinyu, with a pleasing smile, asked, "How about it, brother?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "It’s fine to keep them for decoration."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but praise his own good judgment.

At dinner time

Xiao Jinyan arrived as promised.

Shen Chuwei had been hoping that time would pass more slowly, ever so slowly, yet after a nap, the time had flown by quickly.

On the dining table were four dishes and one soup, a lavish spread.

Xiao Jinyan had been busy with official duties all day and hadn’t eaten much for lunch, so he found the dinner spread very appetizing.

When Shen Chuwei saw the chives on the table, her expression soured. Why did Chun Xi make chives?

Chives were considered a friend to men, capable of bolstering yang.

It was because of dishes like this on the dinner table the other day that Xiao Jinyan had been inclined to take liberties with her.

She quickly called Chun Xi over, "Chun Xi, remove this plate of chives."

Xiao Jinyan looked at Shen Chuwei, puzzled. "Why remove it? Your Highness thinks the chives taste pretty good."

Shen Chuwei made up an excuse on the spot, "Your Highness, there’s too much salt in the chives, they don’t taste good."

Chun Xi, with a face full of confusion, said, "My lady, the salt in the chives is not excessive. I was very careful with it."