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Shen Chuwei also felt that she needed a bath, as sleep could solve fifty percent of one’s troubles.

The remaining fifty percent had to be solved by good food.

After her bath, Shen Chuwei thought she could finally get a good sleep, but ended up being held in Xiao Jinyan’s embrace and nibbled on,

If he just nibbled, it would be bearable, but his hands were not idle.

She had cooked Longevity noodles to fill him up, not to be tossed around by him.

While Shen Chuwei was being nibbled on in a daze, a hoarse voice whispered in her ear: "Xiao Jiu, the Longevity noodles were delicious."

Confident in her culinary skills, Shen Chuwei was about to express her pride when she was caught off guard by Xiao Jinyan’s nibbling, not giving her a chance to boast.

Seeing him drenched in sweat, Shen Chuwei considerately said, "Jinyan, take a rest."

Xiao Jinyan gave her only two words, "Too early."

Shen Chuwei wanted to cry but had no tears.

It was not until she heard Xiao Jinyan say by her ear, "Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to buy tea snacks for you."

Shen Chuwei paused, then with a wipe of a tear, "That’s more like it."

Xiao Jinyan chuckled softly, "Xiao Jiu, come closer."

Shen Chuwei raised her head to look at him, her hands clasped around his neck as she slowly drew nearer. Unsurprisingly, she was nibbled on again–

After Shen Chuwei fell asleep, Xiao Jinyan held her for a bath, cleaned her up, and then returned to bed.

He looked down at the person sleeping in his arms and kissed her forehead, feeling it was not enough, he kissed her pert nose again.

He had never celebrated a birthday in these years, and this year was the first time. He was truly happy, really happy.

Xiao Jinyan buried his face in her neck, inhaling the faint peach blossom scent on her body, "Xiao Jiu, don’t let me down."

The next day, Shen Chuwei was awakened by her stomach growling, and Xiao Jinyan was already gone from her side.

She lay on the bed weakly and called out: "Chun Xi, come and revive your young mistress."

Chun Xi heard her, pushed open the door, and hurried in with toiletries, feeling both heartache and joy at the sight of her mistress looking so exhausted.

"Young Mistress, let this servant help you wash and dress."

Too lazy to move, Shen Chuwei let Chun Xi attend to her.

After eating a delicious breakfast, she finally regained some strength.

The first thing she said was: "I want to eat Tofu Pudding, the savory kind."

Chun Xi held her forehead, "Young Mistress, can your stomach really handle more?"

Shen Chuwei declared with righteousness, "Eat it for lunch."

What could Chun Xi say? With such a gluttonous mistress, of course, she had to master all sorts of culinary arts.

"...Alright, this servant will go prepare the soybeans and make Tofu Pudding for you."

After getting enough rest, Shen Chuwei had the little rabbit move the wicker chair outside to the courtyard, where she lay looking towards the gate.

The little gray rabbit, having been chased by Xuetuan for an hour, was hiding in the corner, trembling on all four legs, clearly exhausted.

Xuetuan leisurely licked its paws as if it had not been the one chasing the little gray rabbit just before.

Shen Chuwei waited from morning until afternoon, but seeing that Liu Xi didn’t bring the tea snacks over, she grew impatient and decided to close her eyes and take a nap.

In her dream, her body seemed to float on the clouds. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw Xiao Jinyan, pausing briefly in shock.

Xiao Jinyan looked down at her, "Awake?"

Shen Chuwei rubbed her eyes, "Your Highness, aren’t you busy?"

"Busy. I just returned from outside the palace," Xiao Jinyan said as he stepped into the inner room and placed her on the couch.

Shen Chuwei straightened her body with the support of her armrest, and gazed at Xiao Jinyan for a while, suddenly craving tea pastries; inevitably, she felt a bit disappointed.

They had agreed to buy tea pastries today, and she had anticipated them all day long, yet she hadn’t even seen a crumb.

Xiao Jinyan took out a greaseproof paper packet from his sleeve and placed it on the low table in front of her, "Just out of the pot, they should taste pretty good."

Xiao Jinyan had originally planned to have Qin Xiao buy them, but fearing they would get it wrong or that the taste wouldn’t be good, he went to buy them himself.

The Daya tea shop was doing a brisk business, and there were a lot of people in line; he too had to wait quite a while to make his purchase.

As soon as Shen Chuwei saw the greaseproof paper packet, she guessed it was the tea pastries, her eyes curved with delight, and she eagerly opened the packet to see several kinds of tea pastries inside.

It was the tea pastries she had been thinking about, no mistake.

She licked her lips and was about to stuff a piece into her mouth when she noticed Xiao Jinyan was watching her closely. With a pained heart, she handed a tea pastry to Xiao Jinyan first, "Your Highness, you eat first."

Xiao Jinyan reached out to take it and bit into it; the taste was indeed better just out of the pot.

Unable to wait any longer, Shen Chuwei picked up another piece and bit into it, happy to have the long-anticipated tea pastry.

Seeing her satisfied expression, Xiao Jinyan knew, the wait in line had been worth it.

Shen Chuwei ate three pieces of tea pastry in a row and still didn’t think it was enough. Just as she was about to eat the fourth one, an attractive hand reached out, making her pause in the act of opening her mouth.

Xiao Jinyan saw crumbs had stuck to the corners of her lips. With his long fingers, he wiped them away for her, touching her lips in the process, stirring something within him.

Shen Chuwei was puzzled by Xiao Jinyan’s actions when suddenly he stood up, bracing his hand on the low table, and leaned in close.

Sure enough, she received a couple of nibbles.

It wasn’t until Xiao Jinyan left that she paused for a moment, saw the tea pastry in her hand, and continued eating the pastry.

Her cheeks were already flushed.

Xiao Jinyan saw this and a trace of amusement appeared in his eyes.

Xiao Jinyan had suddenly become busy these last two days, all because the envoys from Xueyue Country had arrived with their Princess to form a marriage alliance.

Shen Chuwei had heard about this news from Concubine Xu.

General Xu and General Chang had won a great victory, and Xueyue, seeking a friendly alliance, proposed their Princess marry into Daxia.

"Xueyue really knows how to do things. They can’t beat us, so they send a woman to solve the problem, not knowing whom they’ll marry their Princess to?" Concubine Xu said disdainfully.

Tao Chenghui sighed, "Hasn’t it always been like this?"

Concubine Xu speculated, "Do you think the marriage alliance could be with His Highness?"

Tao Chenghui analyzed, "Hard to say. Xueyue may have been defeated, but their Princess has a noble status. The marriage partner must certainly be of high rank."

Shen Chuwei paused her apple biting, and suddenly Concubine Xu grabbed her hand and asked, "Lady Shen, do you think it could be His Highness?"

"How would I know? It’s not for us to decide, no matter who it is," Shen Chuwei said and continued to bite into her apple.

Tao Chenghui voiced his question, "I wonder if Princess Xueyan looks as stunning as the rumors claim, with the allure to bring down a nation?"

"I heard Princess Xueyan will enter the palace tomorrow; we’ll see then," someone said.

That evening, Xiao Jinyan came to Hehuan Hall and told Shen Chuwei about this affair.

"Tomorrow, you will attend with me," he said.

Shen Chuwei never turned down an opportunity for a banquet and happily nodded in agreement.

Today the envoys from Xueyue Country, along with the Princess, entered the palace, and the Emperor, in order to welcome them, specially held a grand banquet.

Shen Chuwei got up early, bathed, and changed into her clothes.

Under Chun Xi’s skillful hands, Shen Chuwei transformed from a casual demeanor to the noble Lady Shen, with every aspect of her attire being carefully considered.

Chun Xi’s only goal was to outshine the breathtaking Princess Xueyan.