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Xiao Jinyan could not sleep at that moment, and he thought of something he wanted to ask Shen Chuwei while she was still awake, "I was delighted to hear from you earlier that you have medical skills, right?"

Shen Chuwei was thinking about how to tell Xiao Jinyan that there was no need for him to keep her stomach warm when she heard his question. She modestly replied, "This concubine does know some medical skills."

Xiao Jinyan asked again, "Then, where did you live before?"

Shen Chuwei had mentioned many things he had never heard before, including a goodnight kiss. Surely, those weren’t customs of their own country.

Fearing that she might reveal her identity as a time traveler and be mistaken for a demon, Shen Chuwei considered her words carefully, "This concubine’s former home was very far away and quite different from Daxia."

Xiao Jinyan continued to inquire, "What kind of family were you born into?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "This concubine lived alone in the past until my father brought me back to the Capital. Afterward, I was selected to enter the East Palace."

Xiao Jinyan listened for a while but did not hear the key points he was interested in. He still did not know who Shen Chuwei really was, where she came from, or why she was in that body.

Fortunately, she did not seem to be an evil spirit, with ulterior motives.

Xiao Jinyan softly called out, "Xiaojiu."

By then, Shen Chuwei had already fallen asleep, her mind hazy.

Looking down, Xiao Jinyan saw that her eyes were tightly closed, clearly indicating she had fallen asleep.

He leaned over her forehead and kissed her gently, "Xiaojiu, don’t disappoint me, okay?"

Naturally, the sleeping Shen Chuwei could not hear him.

Xiao Jinyan pinched her stomach. Despite being quite thin, her stomach was soft and warm to the touch.

He swallowed a couple of times, trying to restrain himself from having those kinds of thoughts, at least for a few days.

They had plenty of time ahead of them; a few days wouldn’t matter.

That night, he was doomed to sleep restlessly.

The next morning, Shen Chuwei dressed in men’s clothing.

Xiao Jinyan had prepared several sets of men’s clothes for her in various colors, all of which complemented Shen Chuwei’s fair skin.

This time, she brought Chun Xi along with her.

Chun Xi also dressed in men’s clothing. Being young and her face full of collagen, she looked like a tender young boy in the outfit.

Chun Xi, excited, looked at herself in the bronze mirror with great anticipation.

"Young master, this is the first time this maid has worn men’s clothing, and it feels good. Once we leave the palace, we can experience the vast world outside. This maid has never been beyond the palace gates," said Chun Xi with excitement.

"The most important thing is that we can savor delicacies that are not available inside the palace," Shen Chuwei also said with eagerness, rubbing her hands together.

After getting ready, Shen Chuwei boarded Xiao Jinyan’s horse carriage with Chun Xi.

Not only that, but she also noticed there was another carriage following them.

This was observed by Shen Chuwei before getting into the horse carriage.

After boarding the carriage, she found Xiao Jinyan seated inside, as well as Xiao Jinyu.

And, of course, Xuetuan was not to be missed.

The carriage was designed in a unique way, featuring a low table with drawers underneath.

On the table was a set of tea utensils, and Xiao Jinyan was brewing tea. Seeing her come inside, he said, "Come, sit over here."

Shen Chuwei moved next to Xiao Jinyan and sat down; Xuetuan spontaneously climbed onto her lap and nestled into her arms.

Xiao Jinyan handed her a cup of tea, which she received. The tea cup was small, smooth, and translucent, made of fine jade. The content of the cup was hardly enough to fill the gaps between her teeth.

She brought it to her lips and drank it all in one gulp. The tea left a fragrant taste in her mouth, bitter and sweet, a premium quality Yunwu.

Seeing her drinking manners, Xiao Jinyan chuckled softly, "You drink fine tea as if it were a mug of ale."

Unperturbed, Shen Chuwei replied, "This concubine does not understand the art of tea tasting; I merely know that this tea is delicious, a rarity indeed."

Xiao Jinyan neither agreed nor disagreed, "You speak sense. This is from the first batch of new tea tribute this year, the emperor has granted me some."

"So this is tribute tea, no wonder it’s so delicious." Shen Chuwei commented with praise, acknowledging its taste as the highest form of compliment.

Xiao Jinyan asked, "Are you feeling any better?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "Much better."

Xiao Jinyan said, "If you’re uncomfortable, make sure to tell me right away, understand?"

Shen Chuwei obediently nodded, "This concubine understands."

Xiao Jinyu, knowing that the youth in front of him was the same young scholar from the autumn hunt, found the face before him increasingly familiar, "Are you a relative of Lady Liang? You resemble her greatly."

Shen Chuwei turned her head to look at Xiao Jinyan, unsure of how to reply since Xiao Jinyan hadn’t mentioned anything about revealing his identity.

With Xiao Jinyan not speaking, she didn’t dare say a word either.

Xiao Jinyan coldly said, "Why so many questions? Drink your tea."

Xiao Jinyu and Xiao Jinyan were brothers, and with that tone, Xiao Jinyu realized the preferential treatment immediately, "Brother, why do you speak so courteously to him and not a bit gentle to me? You hand him tea, but why not to me as well?"

Xiao Jinyan was too lazy to entertain him and continued sipping his tea.

Xiao Jinyu couldn’t fathom why, as the Crown Prince’s own brother, he seemed less favored than an outsider.

After finishing his cup of tea, he leaned towards Shen Chuwei and curiously scrutinized him, "Your relationship with my brother seems even closer than mine. Did you know that?"

Shen Chuwei smiled a little, "Prince Jinyu, the little one does not know."

Xiao Jinyu felt she was brushing him off and asked further, "Tell me honestly, are you Lady Liang’s brother?"

Xiao Jinyan frowned and said, "Xiaojiu, move a bit closer to me."

Shen Chuwei looked at the narrow gap between them, already very close, and puzzledly looked at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, we are already quite close."

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the space between them, which had ample room, "When I tell you to come over, you come over."

"Oh." Shen Chuwei did not dare to protest and inched closer to Xiao Jinyan’s side, only stopping when she was right beside him.

Xiao Jinyu looked at Xiao Jinyan with a plaintive gaze, "Brother?"

Xiao Jinyan declared, "She is Lady Liang."

Xiao Jinyu was initially startled, then looked at Shen Chuwei in surprise, "Brother, you’ve actually brought your wife out."

Xiao Jinyan coldly replied, "Watch your mouth and refrain from spouting nonsense."

"Understood, brother," Xiao Jinyu said, still astonished as he looked at Shen Chuwei, "So it is the sister-in-law. No wonder my brother treats you differently."

"Prince Jinyu is surely jesting," Shen Chuwei said as she took the tea Xiao Jinyan had just poured for her and drank it all, unsatisfied by the small amount.

Xiao Jinyan hadn’t slept well the night before and now wanted to catch up on his sleep. Leaning back in his seat, he closed his eyes to rest.

Shen Chuwei glanced at Xiao Jinyan, and upon seeing him asleep, put down the tea cup. Drinking too much water could lead to unnecessary trips to the lavatory.

Carriage travel in ancient times was not as convenient as modern trains or planes with restrooms readily available.

Xiao Jinyu, noticing Xiao Jinyan had fallen asleep, scooted forward and curiously asked Shen Chuwei, "Sister-in-law, how did you persuade my brother to bring you out?"

Shen Chuwei indicated, "Is this something that needs to be said?"

Xiao Jinyu grasped at his heart as if hurt, "How could it not need to be said? I pleaded with my brother for a long time before he agreed to take me out for experiential learning."

Shen Chuwei looked helpless, "But His Highness didn’t ask me to plead with him."

Xiao Jinyu wiped away another tear of bitterness, "It’s clear, with a wife, he has forgotten his brother."

Xiao Jinyan’s cold voice cut in, "Can you shut up?"