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Though knowledgeable in many things, it was her first experience after all.

At that moment, she was completely befuddled.

Having been kissed into a seven flavors kind of daze, her reaction was half a beat slow.

Now that she thought about it, it was somewhat embarrassing.

After Xiao Jinyan left, Shen Chuwei lay back down and continued her slumber.

There were rumors all over the East Palace that Xu Chenghui had gained ten pounds, went to see His Highness, and then broke her leg.

Lady Liu, striving to gain weight, had worked herself into a faint.

Everyone began to doubt whether His Highness truly favored plump women?

Concubine Xu, flaunting an arrogant handkerchief, and Tao Chenghui came to Hehuan Hall together, and just after sitting down, shared with Shen Chuwei all that had happened the day before.

Shen Chuwei was stunned, realizing that the reason Xiao Jinyan was suddenly called away last night was because of Lady Liu’s mishap, and it was all because she was attempting to gain weight.

Gaining and losing weight followed the same principles, and with the wrong methods, it could easily lead to health issues, sometimes with more loss than gain.

"I think competing for favor by gaining weight is unreliable; I’m glad I hesitated and didn’t act," Tao Chenghui said, pleased that she hadn’t done something foolish.

Concubine Xu regretted it greatly, "But I have gained weight, several pounds indeed, and now I want to slim down, it’s so hard."

She lowered her head and pinched her waist, which was noticeably sturdier than before.

"Wait until summer, then you’ll slim down," said Shen Chuwei as she sipped her tea.

Concubine Xu said vehemently, "No way, I must lose weight; I’ll outdo them all."

A short while ago, everyone was frantically gaining weight; now they were all dieting, not eating this or that, causing a lot of food to go to waste.

This reached Xiao Jinyan’s ears, and he promptly halved the meal portions in every hall.

Shen Chuwei had Chun Xi make ice cream and enjoyed it immensely.

Because her body simply couldn’t gain weight.

Xiao Jinyan was busy with his tasks.

Liu Xi took away the tea to brew a fresh pot.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinyan reminded, "Use the Clear Eye Fire Removing Tea given by Lady Shen."

"As you command." Liu Xi withdrew to the Side Hall, took out the tea that Shen Chuwei had given, brewed it properly, and then brought it over to Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the tea cup, put down his pen, picked up the cup and blew on it gently before taking a sip—the taste was a bit sweet, quite nice.

Liu Xi said with a beaming smile, "Your Highness, Lady Shen really is considerate; knowing how hard Your Highness works late at night, she even prepared Clear Eye Fire Removing Tea for you."

In private, Liu Xi had asked the Imperial Doctor Wu Tan, who after examining the tea, also praised its benefits.

Xiao Jinyan hummed in agreement, "She’s different from the other women."

Thinking of her reaction the other night, the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously.

Though it was unpleasant to be interrupted midway, it was still an annoyance.

Xiao Jinyan commanded, "Tonight, dine at Hehuan Hall."

"Yes, I will inform Lady Shen at once," said Liu Xi, exiting with a subtle smile.

Hehuan Hall was next door, and it didn’t take long for Liu Xi to enter.

Shen Chuwei was enjoying her ice cream when she saw Liu Xi come in and greeted him with a smile, "Eunuch Liu, good afternoon."

Liu Xi walked over with a full smile, "Good afternoon, Lady Shen."

Chun Xi greeted him with a smile, "Eunuch Liu, do you have any business here this afternoon?"

Liu Xi replied, "His Highness will come to dine here tonight, please prepare a bit earlier."

Chun Xi happily responded, "No problem, I’ll prepare more dishes that His Highness loves."

Liu Xi then looked towards Shen Chuwei with a friendly smile, "By the way, Lady Shen, His Highness tried the tea you sent and praised its good taste."

Chun Xi said with some pride, "My young lady cares so much for His Highness; that’s why she meticulously prepared the Clear Eye Fire Removing Tea."

Liu Xi nodded in agreement, "It’s all thanks to Lady Shen’s thoughtfulness."

After Liu Xi left, Chun Xi saw Shen Chuwei still eating ice cream and quickly stepped in to stop her, "Miss, ice cream is too cold, you shouldn’t eat too much of it."

Shen Chuwei, who had grown accustomed to Chun Xi’s nagging like an old mother, took another bite of ice cream and said, "I know, I’ll stop after this one."

Chun Xi was at a loss with Shen Chuwei, but fortunately, although Shen Chuwei was gluttonous, she was obedient and would stop after this one.

The little rabbit came in to report, "Miss, there’s a monk named Wu Tan looking for you outside."

Shen Chuwei’s ice cream-eating paused, and she looked up at the little rabbit, "Wu Tan? How did he come to the East Palace?"

"The little gray rabbit ran out again, and it was him who brought it back." The little rabbit was used to saying "little gray rabbit." It really took some getting used to at first.

Shen Chuwei was surprised and exclaimed, "Goodness, the little gray rabbit ran away from home again?"

That little gray rabbit’s courage was getting bigger and bigger; this was already its fourth escape. Was it just because the little rabbit was put in charge of its diet?

With the unfinished ice cream in hand, Shen Chuwei stepped outside and saw Wu Tan standing at the doorway, still dressed in his unchanging gray monk robes.

His bald head shone under the sun just as much.

In his arms, he held the brave gray rabbit that had run away from home.

Wu Tan stood a fair distance away, probably to avoid suspicion.

Shen Chuwei crossed the threshold and walked up to Wu Tan, glancing at the gray rabbit in his arms.

"Wu Tan."

Wu Tan slowly said, "Today, after helping my master with the ritual prayers, I came out and saw it. It looked just like your rabbit, and I was afraid you would be worried, so I brought it here."

Before Shen Chuwei could speak, the little rabbit stepped forward, took the little gray rabbit from Wu Tan’s hands, and held it in her arms.

Shen Chuwei glared at the rabbit, feeling utterly disregarded as its owner. She looked up at Wu Tan and curved her brows and eyes, "Thank you, Wu Tan."

Wu Tan brought his palms together, "You are too polite, Lady Shen."

Shen Chuwei said, "It’s only right, the little rabbit is quite the runner, hard to catch."

Wu Tan lifted his head to look at Shen Chuwei, staring at her face for a good while, about to ask a question, but in the end, he didn’t ask it.

How could she possibly have become the daughter of Minister Shen after six years?

Seeing that Wu Tan was staring at her without speaking, Shen Chuwei waved her hand in front of him, "Wu Tan, what’s wrong with you?"

Wu Tan brought his palms together again to show his own lapse, "This monk is fine, it’s just that seeing Lady Shen reminded me suddenly of someone from the past, someone I’ve missed for six years."

As someone who had read quite a few romance novels, Shen Chuwei quickly conjured up a plot of childhood sweethearts.

She said as if it were a matter of course, "If you miss her, why don’t you go find her?"

"I have searched, but..." Wu Tan trailed off, lost in the vast sea of humanity, their fate unknown.

*

At dinnertime, Shen Chuwei sat at the dining table, looking eagerly towards the door.

Xiao Jinyan arrived fashionably late.

"Something held me up for a while."

Shen Chuwei picked up her chopsticks and served a delicious piece of fish into his bowl, "Your Highness must be hungry, you should eat."

In her mind, she was thinking, eat quickly, so I can eat.

After Xiao Jinyan washed his hands, he picked up the fish from his bowl with chopsticks and tasted it, "It’s good."

"If it tastes good, then eat more," Shen Chuwei said as she began eating.

Xiao Jinyan made no comment.

At the dining table, Shen Chuwei was burying herself in her meal, while Xiao Jinyan ate at a leisurely pace.

After dinner, he naturally stayed the night.

Perhaps it was the anticipation of the foreplay, Shen Chuwei felt more nervous than usual while helping Xiao Jinyan to undress.

It looked like she, the little salted fish, couldn’t escape being tossed and turned tonight.