Page 188

Wu Tan lowered his gaze and spoke slowly, "Although I am a monk, if I am attracted to peach blossoms, it is naturally because they are so beautiful that one neglects the fact that they are not part of the mortal world."

Xiao Jinyan coldly watched Wu Tan, unsure if it was just his imagination, but he vaguely sensed there was a hidden meaning in Wu Tan’s words.

"I never realized Wu Tan was also so quick-witted."

Shen Chuwei said cautiously, "Wu Tan was helping me catch a rabbit."

Xiao Jinyan’s phoenix eyes looked towards Shen Chuwei and he said gravely, "Did I ask you?"

Shen Chuwei lowered her eyelids and looked at the little rabbit, the two staring at each other with wide eyes.

Getting angry for no reason!

Wu Tan remained silent with his eyes downcast.

Xiao Jinyan said, "Aren’t you coming back with me?"

After speaking, he glanced thoughtfully at Wu Tan and then left first.

Shen Chuwei glanced at Wu Tan and waved at him before following Xiao Jinyan with the rabbit in her arms.

Wu Tan raised his head and watched Shen Chuwei’s departing figure until she disappeared around the corner of the corridor. She looked so similar, even the birthmark on her wrist was the same - could it be her?

On the way back, Shen Chuwei secretly looked up at Xiao Jinyan, only to see his face stern, not knowing what he was upset about.

It was not until they were almost at the entrance of Hehuan Hall in the East Palace that Xiao Jinyan finally spoke, "What were you and Wu Tan chatting about just now?"

Shen Chuwei candidly replied, "Your Highness, he was helping me catch a rabbit, then he gave me a string of Buddha Beads that had been blessed to protect me, and then..."

Xiao Jinyan’s brows furrowed deeply, "What Buddha Beads?"

"This string here." As Shen Chuwei extended her hand, she rolled up her sleeve to reveal a section of her fair and delicate wrist, a string of cinnabar-colored Buddha Beads quietly worn on it, looking very pretty.

A very common string of Buddha Beads save for a few different details.

Xiao Jinyan coldly spat out three words, "Really ugly."

"Ugly?" Shen Chuwei raised her hand and took a careful look, then said, "I think it’s quite pretty."

Xiao Jinyan, with an unyielding face, said, "As a lady of mine, how can you casually wear something given to you by another man?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "Wu Tan is a monk."

Xiao Jinyan retorted, "Aren’t monks men?"

Shen Chuwei always felt like Xiao Jinyan was implying Wu Tan wasn’t really a man...

"Your concubine did not mean that. I will take it off," said Shen Chuwei as she removed the Buddha Beads from her wrist and put them in her sleeve pocket. These were blessed beads, believed to bring safety.

They also represented Wu Tan’s thoughtfulness; probably the only thing a monk could offer were Buddha Beads.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinyan finally revealed a look of satisfaction and continued, "What else did you talk about?"

After carefully stowing away the beads, Shen Chuwei raised her eyes to look at Xiao Jinyan and said, "Nothing much, he was just curious about the birthmark on my wrist."

Xiao Jinyan inquired, "What birthmark?"

Shen Chuwei stretched out her right hand and rolled up her sleeve, revealing the birthmark on her wrist to Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, it’s this birthmark."

Xiao Jinyan lowered his gaze to the section of her wrist that she had bared, noticing a birthmark the size of a red bean on the inside of her wrist.

He reached out, took her hand, and brought it closer to examine the birthmark more carefully, discovering that its shape resembled a peach blossom, and stood out conspicuously against her fair skin.

He had never noticed this birthmark before.

Xiao Jinyan looked up at Shen Chuwei, a hint of anger in his voice, "How could you show your wrist to someone else?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "I didn’t show it to anyone. Wu Tan was concerned that the Buddha Beads might not fit well, so he asked me to try them on first. He noticed it inadvertently while I was wearing them."

She really wanted to criticize the feudal thoughts of the ancient times, but alas, living in ancient times, she could not behave as freely as in modern times.

Xiao Jinyan let go of her hand, thinking about how busy he had been lately, and he wondered how her recuperation was progressing.

"Have you felt unwell anywhere recently?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "Your concubine is fine."

Xiao Jinyan had always been worried that she might suffer some sequelae due to the witchcraft poison, and now he was somewhat relieved.

"That is good, then. If you feel unwell at all, make sure to see the Imperial Doctor immediately."

Shen Chuwei responded, "Concubine understands."

Xiao Jinyan continued, "This palace has been somewhat busy lately. I will come to Hehuan Hall for dinner in a few days."

Shen Chuwei said, "Your Highness, official affairs are the most important. It is quite nice for a concubine to dine alone."

Shen Chuwei felt that dining might be a matter of utmost importance to herself, yet for Xiao Jinyan, it seemed secondary.

"..." Xiao Jinyan: "Is that so?"

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, thinking to herself that he was busy and needn’t worry about her.

Xiao Jinyan stared at Shen Chuwei for quite some time before turning and leaving.

Shen Chuwei watched Xiao Jinyan’s retreating figure, feeling that he seemed angry again.

The heart of a man is as unfathomable as the sea; this could not be truer.

With a grim expression, Xiao Jinyan walked back to his sleeping quarters, growing more convinced that Wu Tan was impure despite being a monk; fancying peach blossoms of all things.

Peach blossoms?

His brows furrowed deeply.

After putting on weight for many days, Xu Chenghui finally saw some results and couldn’t wait to visit the Crown Prince in his sleeping quarters.

Halfway there, she saw Xiao Jinyan coming towards her. She made sure her demeanor was proper before she walked toward him with small steps, then curtsied, "Wishing Your Highness endless peace and prosperity."

Xiao Jinyan didn’t recognize at first glance the woman who was bowing to him, replying indifferently, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Xu Chenghui said happily as she stood straight, glancing at Xiao Jinyan with a mixture of shyness and trepidation. "Your Highness, Concubine has prepared some dishes for you to enjoy with your drink."

Xiao Jinyan looked a few times, still not recognizing who it was, not recalling having seen a woman so plump in the East Palace. He turned to look at Liu Xi.

Liu Xi, having served Xiao Jinyan for many years, instantly understood the meaning behind his look.

He leaned in and whispered a reminder, "Your Highness, this is Xu Chenghui."

Xu Chenghui?

Xiao Jinyan, who normally paid little mind to the women in the East Palace, did not remember someone who had suddenly grown so fat.

After Liu Xi’s reminder, Xiao Jinyan could recognize her from a few features around her eyes.

"This palace still needs to go to the Imperial Study Room. You should take the dishes back," he said.

After speaking, Xiao Jinyan prepared to leave.

Unwilling to give up so easily, Xu Chenghui pretended to stumble as Xiao Jinyan passed by, intending to fall into his arms.

"Ah!!!" Xu Chenghui cried out as though shocked.

Xiao Jinyan, using his peripheral vision, saw Xu Chenghui’s body leaning towards him and deftly dodged without a word.

With a "bang," Xu Chenghui fell heavily to the ground.

"How careless. Someone, help Xu Chenghui back and call the Imperial Doctor to have a look," he said.

After saying this, Xiao Jinyan left without looking back.

Having put on ten pounds, Xu Chenghui’s fall resulted in her being bedridden for half a month.

*

After being busy for two days, Xiao Jinyan found time to visit Hehuan Hall.

At that moment, it was the third quarter of the hour of Xu.

Shen Chuwei, having bathed, was sitting on the couch swinging her feet and stroking Xuetuan with one hand, while holding a romance novel in the other, utterly engrossed.

Xuetuan sensed someone entering, pricked up its ears, and raised its head to look.

Ever since the two became neighbors, Xuetuan had become a frequent visitor to Hehuan Hall.

Shen Chuwei was wearing pajamas, her slender arms exposed, the hem of the pajama pants just covering her knees, her beautiful jade feet completely in view.

This was the scene Xiao Jinyan saw upon entering, which instantly made him feel somewhat thirsty and tongue-tied.

He coughed lightly, "Chuwei."