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The food that Shen Chuwei yearned for in her heart was all the famous local specialties.

Xiao Jinyan lifted his eyes towards Shen Chuwei standing by the window, his expression as if he was anticipating something.

"Little Nine, what are you looking at?"

At the words, Shen Chuwei turned around to sit at the square table and said with a cheery smile, "Your Highness, the scenery outside is so beautiful."

Xiao Jinyan: "Is it?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "Concubine thinks it’s quite beautiful; there are shops on both sides of the street, market stalls, and the air is full of life."

The underlying meaning was that the aroma of delicious food was strong!

Xiao Jinyan nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the lively atmosphere outside the palace truly is unmatched by that within."

Shen Chuwei looked at Xiao Jinyan with an expectant face, "Then does Your Highness want to go and see the lively atmosphere outside the palace?"

Xiao Jinyan indifferently said, "I don’t want to see it."

"Oh." Shen Chuwei, somewhat disappointedly, withdrew her gaze.

Xiao Jinyan ate two bowls of rice and had Weichi clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

Xiao Jinyan took a couple of sips of tea, stood up, and looked at Shen Chuwei, "Let’s go."

Shen Chuwei lifted her head to look at Xiao Jinyan, her eyes filled with confusion, "Where are we going?"

Xiao Jinyan answered, "To see the lively atmosphere."

Shen Chuwei stood up and quickly moved to Xiao Jinyan’s side, her eyes curving into crescents, "Your Highness, let’s go."

Shen Chuwei’s undisguised happiness was clearly seen by Xiao Jinyan; it seemed she was the only one who could be so overjoyed just from going out for a stroll.

Xiao Jinyan and Shen Chuwei walked shoulder to shoulder.

Weichi and Qin Xiao followed, not too far and not too close, neither hurried nor slow.

This was Shen Chuwei’s first time going out, and she didn’t know where the street of snacks was located. However, there’s a saying that delicious food is often hidden in the depths of alleys.

She pulled Xiao Jinyan into an alley with big red lanterns hanging at the entrance. Just as they walked in, they saw rows of vendors, some selling food and some selling trinkets.

Shen Chuwei sniffed the fragrance of dumpling soup, pointing at the stall she told Xiao Jinyan, "Master, let’s eat dumpling soup."

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Mhm."

Only then did Shen Chuwei, happily pulling Xiao Jinyan to the stall, took out a handkerchief and wiped the seat thoroughly.

Xiao Jinyan stood by, watching her actions.

After Shen Chuwei had cleaned the seat, she gestured with both hands, invitingly, "Master, you can sit now."

Xiao Jinyan lifted his robe and sat down, "Order one bowl; I am not hungry."

Hearing this, Shen Chuwei called out to the boss, "Boss, one bowl of dumpling soup, please."

"Right away, sir," boomed the boss, loudly enough to be heard by the neighboring stall.

A steaming bowl of dumpling soup arrived, topped with vibrant green onions.

Shen Chuwei sniffed it, delicious.

She couldn’t wait to scoop up a dumpling with her spoon, blew on it, and then popped it into her mouth, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

Delicious!

Xiao Jinyan, watching her content expression, now understood why she had only eaten two bowls of rice for dinner; she had been saving room for a night snack.

Those with humble desires and no ambition are the easiest to satisfy.

As a child, he too was easily satisfied, but...

The bowl of dumpling soup was finished in no time, and Shen Chuwei also drank some of the soup, only then contentedly putting down the bowl.

She took out her handkerchief to wipe her mouth, "Master, shall we move on to the next spot?"

Xiao Jinyan, puzzled, "Next spot?"

Shen Chuwei, slightly embarrassed, smiled, "Concubine hasn’t had her fill yet."

Xiao Jinyan showed understanding, "Then let’s go."

Shen Chuwei happily followed.

Weichi took out his wallet to pay the bill.

Qin Xiao, looking at the two figures ahead, puzzledly said, "Why do I feel there’s something unusual about Brother Shen? The Master treats him quite specially."

Weichi, being straightforward, hadn’t thought that much into it. "Brother Shen saved the Master; isn’t it normal for the Master to treat him specially?"

Qin Xiao leaned in and quietly said, "I wonder if His Highness might have taken a liking to Brother Shen?"

Weichi immediately dismissed the idea, "Nonsense."

Shen Chuwei browsed around and had another bowl of dumpling noodles and bought some snacks, only then blissfully returning to the inn with Xiao Jinyan.

When it was time to sleep that night, Shen Chuwei closed her eyes intending to have a good rest, but suddenly a body leaned close to her from behind, causing her to open her eyes wide.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Then, she felt a hand reaching over, resting on her stomach.

The back of her neck could distinctly feel the warm, dense breath.

Her heart almost leaped out of her throat.

It couldn’t be that after all this time, Xiao Jinyan still wanted to warm her stomach?

Shen Chuwei caught the wrist on her waist, turned her head to look towards Xiao Jinyan, but with the light extinguished in the room, she couldn’t see his features.

Because she couldn’t see, all her other senses seemed to magnify.

She could feel the warmth of the body behind her and the strong, powerful heartbeat distinctly.

"Your Highness, my stomach doesn’t hurt anymore."

In the darkness, Xiao Jinyan’s somewhat deep voice reached her ears, "Don’t you need it warmed anymore?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "No longer, Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan’s hand didn’t retract; he whispered close to her ear, "Little Nine, turn around."

Shen Chuwei hesitated for a moment, then turned to face Xiao Jinyan, their hands invisible in the darkness, as was his face.

But she could feel that they were very close, so close that she could feel his breath on her cheek.

Xiao Jinyan, up late and not sleeping, what was he up to?

Before she could voice the question, her lips felt a soft touch, a familiar scent intruding, unavoidable.

After a few kisses, Xiao Jinyan’s kissing skills had improved significantly.

Reluctantly letting her go, he murmured, "Sleep now."

Shen Chuwei, kissed senseless, was somewhat starved of oxygen, her reactions slow.

She had been planning to sleep anyway!

At that moment, Shen Chuwei’s heartbeat was rapid, nearly bursting through her throat, how could she just fall asleep?

But fortunately for Shen Chuwei, she had a good sleep pattern, and after calming down, she fell asleep.

Xiao Jinyan, with a beauty in his embrace and emotions stirred just moments ago, couldn’t settle the throbbing in his heart quickly.

He had never had such strong desires before.

He exerted great control and restraint.

After a long while, he managed to suppress the pounding in his heart and closed his eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.

After seven consecutive days of travel, they stopped at an inn in a town before it got dark.

The inns in the town were clearly not as large as those in the cities.

After dinner, Xiao Jinyan instructed the waiter to prepare hot water.

Having spent two days in the wilderness, it was unthinkable for him, obsessive about cleanliness, not to bathe.

The waiter was quick, and soon helpers came in carrying a bath tub, pouring hot water into it bucket by bucket.

The room lacked a proper screen, considerably smaller compared to the ones in Hehuan Hall.

After helping Xiao Jinyan undress, Shen Chuwei stepped aside, waiting for him to finish his bath before taking her turn.

Xiao Jinyan glanced back at Shen Chuwei and suddenly had an idea, "Attend to me as I bathe."

Shen Chuwei was stunned for a moment, questioning if she had heard wrong. After half a year with Xiao Jinyan, he’d never asked her to assist with his bath.