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Xiao Jinyan was stunned for a long time.

Perhaps it was because he had not received such careful and tender treatment in so long that it felt somewhat unreal to him.

Shen Chuwei purely saw Xiao Jinyan as a patient, regardless of whether it was an adult or a child, when one is sick or injured, they still hope to be taken care of attentively.

"Your Highness, you should sleep a little longer."

Xiao Jinyan shook his head, "I don’t want to sleep right now."

Shen Chuwei kindly reminded, "Your Highness, rest is beneficial for the recovery of your wounds."

Xiao Jinyan: "I know."

At this moment, the sharp voice of Eunuch Ren came from outside, "The Empress arrives!"

Shen Chuwei stood up to greet her, "Empress, may you be greeted with a thousand blessings and peacefulness."

Xiao Jinyan was about to get out of bed but was stopped by the Empress, "Lie down properly if you’re injured, there’s no need for formalities."

Xiao Jinyan put down the quilt in his hand and lay back down on the soft pillow, "Thank you, Mother Empress."

Eunuch Ren brought over a chair.

The Empress sat down on the chair, her beautiful eyes glanced at Xiao Jinyan. After observing him for a few moments, she noticed his pale complexion, but his clothes were intact, and she could not see how severe the injury was.

"I’ve heard you were attacked on the way to the palace. How are your injuries? Are they serious?"

Xiao Jinyan replied, "Thank you for your concern, Mother Empress. I am much better now."

"That’s good. The assassins are becoming brazen now, even daring to assassinate the Crown Prince near the Imperial Palace." The Empress was furious. She asked, "Did you catch the assassin? His entire family must be executed!"

Xiao Jinyan shook his head, "Mother Empress, the assassin’s kung fu was extremely advanced. I was no match for him and he got away."

Xiao Jinyan was not being modest. The assassin had come prepared and his kung fu was superior, with excellent lightness skills.

It was already fortunate that he had managed to escape.

"It’s hard to tell who sent him." The Empress mulled over it, her suspicions invariably falling on the other princes. After all, everyone was covetous of the Crown Prince’s position.

Before leaving, she instructed, "Be careful when you’re out and about, don’t let those with ulterior motives succeed."

The Empress did not stay long and returned to Fengyi Palace.

They say thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west, and indeed, this saying isn’t false at all.

Last time, because of her injuries, she couldn’t eat this or that.

This time, heh, Shen Chuwei held a bowl, heartily eating meat and gnawing on ribs, right in front of Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan still had to drink the bland fish soup, clear and tasteless.

Xiao Jinyan, who had never been interested in food, also started to lose his appetite, especially with a food lover opposite of him, devouring her meal with such relish that it seemed like she was enjoying a remarkably delicious treat.

Xiao Jinyan actually felt envious watching her eat.

He coughed lightly, "Chuwei, give me a piece of braised rib."

Shen Chuwei seriously said, "Your Highness, as you are severely injured, you cannot eat oily food or anything with salt, as it is not conducive to the healing of your wounds."

This was Shen Chuwei translating Xiao Jinyan’s earlier words and returning them to him.

Finished speaking, she lowered her head and bit another piece of rib, savoring it with extreme relish.

Xiao Jinyan had only consumed some porridge for breakfast, and by dinner, he only had a bowl of fish soup. Watching her enjoy her meal, he suddenly craved braised ribs.

"I will be fine eating just one piece," he said.

Shen Chuwei replied once more, "Your Highness is already an adult and must have self-control. When your wounds are healed, we can eat braised ribs."

By now, Xiao Jinyan could tell that Shen Chuwei was doing it on purpose.

He picked up the bowl of fish soup in front of him, took a sip, but how good could a soup without salt taste?

Xiao Jinyan drank a bowl of fish soup and didn’t want any more, but seeing Shen Chuwei eating so hungrily made him feel even hungrier.

He wanted to eat.

"Chuwei, I want to eat."

"Alright," Shen Chuwei didn’t refuse and took a clean bowl to serve Xiao Jinyan a bowl of rice, truly just a bowl of rice.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the rice before him, then lifted his eyes towards Shen Chuwei’s bowl filled to the brim with ribs.

"Chuwei, how can I eat without any dishes?"

With some hesitation, "These dishes are too greasy and they have soy sauce, it can leave scars."

Xiao Jinyan said unconcernedly, "What does it matter if a man has scars?"

"Then you can only eat one piece of braised rib." Shen Chuwei picked up a piece of braised rib and placed it in Xiao Jinyan’s bowl.

Xiao Jinyan never thought he would come to this.

Regardless, he didn’t mind, picked up the rib with chopsticks, took a small bite, and then dealt with the rice.

One piece of rib sufficed for half a bowl of rice, and he was satisfied.

Xiao Jinyan couldn’t bathe because of his injury.

Shen Chuwei, aware of this, intended to find an excuse to slip away.

"Your Highness, it’s getting late, this concubine should return."

Xiao Jinyan, however, said, "Don’t go back tonight."

When Shen Chuwei heard not to go back, how could that be acceptable?

"Your Highness is injured, and I’m a restless sleeper. What if I accidentally bump into Your Highness’s wound?" Shen Chuwei spoke with a tone filled with concern for him.

Xiao Jinyan: "It doesn’t matter, I’ve sweated a bit."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuwei quickly looked at Liu Xi, "Eunuch Liu, could you help His Highness..." bathe~

"Where has Eunuch Liu gone?" She was sure she had seen Liu Xi standing right there a moment ago, and suddenly he was nowhere to be found?

Xiao Jinyan kindly reminded, "Liu Xi has already stepped out."

Shen Chuwei: "I understand."

Xiao Jinyan commanded, "It’s inconvenient to take a bath, change to wiping the body."

Shen Chuwei, who had just relaxed, tensed up again. Was there really a difference between wiping the body and taking a bath?

The hot water was prepared by Liu Xi before he left, and he had stepped out again after it was ready.

Of course, the task of wiping the body naturally fell into Shen Chuwei’s hands.

Xiao Jinyan remained seated, looking at Shen Chuwei as she walked toward him, positioned herself in front of him, and started unfastening his clothes.

Shen Chuwei wasn’t nervous about undoing Xiao Jinyan’s clothes, but rather at the thought of taking off all of his clothes, yes, every single piece.

And then she had to wipe his body with a towel, which was somewhat embarrassing.

Especially under the brightly shining lights.

Unlike when serving in bed, where the bed curtains could be drawn, dimming the light inside so that even if she felt embarrassed, she could snuggle into his embrace, invisible.

Xiao Jinyan kindly reminded her, "If you dawdle any longer, the water will get cold."

"It won’t." Shen Chuwei finished taking off her upper garments and looked at his abdominal muscles. She had seen them several times before and even felt them with her own hands; the texture was solid.

She couldn’t help but marvel, the body was indeed in good shape.

With a towel soaked in warm water, she gently wiped his body.

The upper body, apart from the wounds from the hidden weapons, had other injuries, though comparatively not severe.

Xiao Jinyan wasn’t entirely immobile; he coordinated with Shen Chuwei, sitting up straight when needed and lifting his arms when required.

The two were very close, so close that Xiao Jinyan could smell the faint sweet aroma of peach blossoms on her, causing his Adam’s apple to bob.

Soon the upper body was wiped clean, but the lower body wouldn’t be as easy.

Shen Chuwei untied the waistband, steeled her nerves, and pulled it down.

Seeing her cheeks flush, Xiao Jinyan hastily turned to grab a towel, soaked it in warm water, and then dawdled in turning back.

They locked eyes.