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She slowly stood up from the bath barrel, wiping the water droplets from her body with a dry towel.

Xiao Jinyan should be asleep by now, right?

She leisurely dressed herself to delay time.

But no matter how much she dragged it out, it only took a while to put on the three garments.

After dressing, she tiptoed out from behind the screen, looked towards the bed, and saw Xiao Jinyan sitting at the bedside, holding a book, evidently waiting for her.

It’s so late, why hasn’t he slept yet?

As Shen Chuwei approached, Xiao Jinyan heard her footsteps, put down the book, and looked up. Fresh from the bath, her cheeks were flushed, her hair slightly damp, and her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

"Why did it take you so long?"

"Your concubine hasn’t had a bath in a long time, so I soaked a bit longer tonight. Your Highness, why haven’t you slept?" Even if Shen Chuwei didn’t want to come over, she had to come over.

Xiao Jinyan put the book aside on a cabinet and looked at Shen Chuwei, speaking indifferently, "This palace is not tired."

Shen Chuwei smiled, You’re not tired, but that wouldn’t be because you were waiting for me to serve you, would it?

She just didn’t understand, with so many women by Xiao Jinyan’s side, all kinds of beauties, some more talented, some more flirtatious than her, why did he insist on her serving him? Could his body handle it?

Damaging the kidneys isn’t something so easily remedied.

Even if Shen Chuwei didn’t want to go to bed, she had to do so, taking off her shoes and crawling in, just as usual.

Once inside, she lifted the blanket, slipped in, and lay against the wall, keeping a safe distance from Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan originally thought that after the events of the previous night, they would have drawn closer, but seeing Shen Chuwei’s actions, he frowned. Was he really that terrifying?

"Hasn’t this palace said before, why are you still so scared of this palace?"

Your Highness is a dragon among men. Your concubine dares not to taint even a sliver of it.

Of course, Shen Chuwei dared not say that.

"Your Highness is the Crown Prince. Wouldn’t it be normal for your concubine to fear you?"

Xiao Jinyan found it hard to disagree with Shen Chuwei. He was the Crown Prince, the future heir to the throne. It was only natural that everyone should have a sense of awe towards him.

He took a deep breath and realized he had been too emotional lately, getting angry over a single word from Shen Chuwei for so long, yet after what happened the other night, the anger dissipated.

This was not right.

He was meant to be an Emperor, not someone swayed by anyone’s emotions.

He had originally intended to have Shen Chuwei serve him tonight.

But with her left and right not sleeping, and having to rise early tomorrow for official business, that desire also faded.

"Let’s sleep."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "Mhm, mhm."

When Xiao Jinyan said rest, he closed his eyes and lay straight.

Shen Chuwei heaved a sigh of relief in the dark; living in Hehuan Hall wasn’t a long-term plan, moving back to Xiyun Pavilion was what mattered most.

Sadly, there was no opportunity to bring it up tonight.

Shen Chuwei was thinking in her heart, figuring out how she could move back to Xiyun Pavilion, and as she thought, she fell asleep.

*

When Shen Chuwei awoke, Xiao Jinyan’s figure was long gone from her side.

Chun Xi entered cheerfully to help Shen Chuwei dress and wash up.

"Miss, let’s strive for success this time and turn the situation around, like a salted fish flipping over," Chun Xi said.

Hearing about salted fish made Shen Chuwei crave some, "I want to eat salted fish."

Before the new year, Shen Chuwei asked Chun Xi to get some fish from the Imperial Kitchen and preserve them. These days, they should be well cured.

"This servant will prepare salted fish for lunch today."

Shen Chuwei was thoroughly satisfied when she got to eat the salted fish she craved for lunch.

At this moment, Liu Xi walked in with a beaming smile.

Ever since Xiao Jinyan and Shen Chuwei made up, Liu Xi felt that even the air around her was fresher.

"Lady Shen, this is a gift from His Highness for your leisurely viewing pleasure,"

As soon as Liu Xi finished speaking, three young eunuchs stepped forward and lifted the decorative piece in their hands.

Shen Chuwei’s curiosity was piqued, and she saw that what the young eunuch was holding was a transparent glazed cup, filled with countless little stones at the bottom, and brimming with water in which a dozen little fishes were swimming joyfully.

Her heart leapt with satisfaction, as she had been worried about not having any fish fry, and yet Xiao Jinyan had actually sent some.

"His Highness is so thoughtful. I like it very much," Shen Chuwei leaned in to look at the fish inside, noting that there were several varieties, including grass carp and blackfish.

"If Lady Shen likes it, that’s good. I will go back and report immediately," Liu Xi said with a smile as he withdrew.

Shen Chuwei couldn’t wait and ordered, "Chun Xi, call the little rabbits over and carry the fish to Xiyun Pavilion."

Each of the little rabbits carried a glazed cup.

A group of people marched purposefully toward Xiyun Pavilion.

When Shen Chuwei walked into Xiyun Pavilion, she felt as if she was coming home.

Gui Xiang was surprised to see Shen Chuwei return, "Did His Highness send the Miss back?"

Chun Xi said with mock indignation, "How could you talk like that? His Highness stayed in Hehuan Hall just last night. How could he possibly have sent the Miss back?"

Gui Xiang nodded quickly with a laugh, "Chun Xi is right. How could His Highness bear to send the Miss back?"

The little rabbit looked down at the fishbowl in her arms, puzzled, "Miss, where do we put these?"

"Put them in the Fish Pond, of course. With so many fish fry, I believe soon, I will be a sister who owns many fish."

The Fish Pond had been prepared early in the morning, where she had specially had people move in water plants and also plant some lotuses.

Shen Chuwei instructed them to release the fry into it and reminded them to feed every day.

She also secretly added Spiritual Spring Water to the pond to increase their survival rate and growth speed.

Curious, Chun Xi came over to ask, "Miss, what are you doing?"

Shen Chuwei answered with a mysterious smile, "I’m giving the fish water to drink."

Chun Xi was startled, "Giving the fish water to drink?"

Shen Chuwei smiled, "That’s something you wouldn’t understand!"

Chun Xi said, "...I really don’t understand why the fish need to be given water to drink."

After feeding the Spiritual Spring Water, Shen Chuwei, like a mayor conducting an inspection, toured the vegetable garden and chicken coop before returning to Hehuan Hall.

Xiao Jinyan hadn’t deceived her; he had indeed been very busy these days, so busy that they could only meet once every few days to dine together.

Shen Chuwei was overcome with sleepiness.

Seeing this, Chun Xi was puzzled, "Miss, didn’t you just wake up from your noon nap? Why are you sleepy again?"

After speaking, Chun Xi suddenly exclaimed joyfully, "Miss, couldn’t it be that you are...?"

Shen Chuwei was taken aback and immediately denied it, "No, how could that be possible?

Her relationship with Xiao Jinyan was purely platonic.

However, Shen Chuwei also found it strange, why was she so prone to sleepiness? And it was followed by repeated nightmares.

Moreover, Shen Chuwei’s problem with sleepiness was getting worse, and sometimes Chun Xi had to call her for a long time before she would wake up.

That day, Shen Chuwei was taking her noon nap.

As the sky was about to darken and Shen Chuwei had not gotten up, Chun Xi went in to call her.

"Miss, wake up."

When Chun Xi called for a while and saw that Shen Chuwei did not respond, she said, "Miss, it’s time to get up for dinner."

Shen Chuwei still did not respond, and Chun Xi couldn’t help but start to panic.

Chun Xi shook her forcefully, "Miss, please wake up. Don’t scare me."

Xiao Jinyan entered the room and saw this scene, quickly walking over, "What’s wrong with Lady Shen?"

Chun Xi was close to crying, "Your Highness, the Miss won’t wake up no matter how I call her."

Xiao Jinyan instructed, "Go and summon Imperial Doctor Wen."