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Chun Xi said this while pointing at her own chest.

The reason she asked was that her young mistress had never competed for favor; she spent all her days either eating or sleeping～

Shen Chuwei thought they could have dumplings for lunch, and she let out a disappointed sigh, caressed her chest, and turned to look at Xiao Jinyan, only to see him walking slowly toward the other princes. She withdrew her gaze, "Your Highness isn’t with other women anyway."

Ever since she lived next door to Xiao Jinyan, she was aware of the slightest movement there. Xiao Jinyan had never been to another woman’s place.

Chun Xi glanced back at His Highness, five princes and one Princess Xueyan. Well, that could hardly count as being with another woman.

"Miss, you needn’t worry, even if Princess Xueyan marries into the East Palace, His Highness will still favor only you."

"You don’t understand," Shen Chuwei said and then left. She failed to notice the hem of her dress, stepped on it, lost her balance, and fell to the ground.

"Miss." Chun Xi wanted to help but it was already too late.

At the sound, Xiao Jinyan turned his head, saw Shen Chuwei fall to the ground, and quickly using his lightness kung fu, flew over to help her up.

Shen Chuwei was stunned by the fall, at her age, to fall down while walking～

Once she came to her senses, she was about to get up when someone lifted her up. Looking up, caught off guard, she saw Xiao Jinyan and was taken aback.

Xiao Jinyan asked with concern, "Where did you hurt yourself?"

"My hand." Shen Chuwei obediently extended her hand as the pain in her palm was the most evident.

Xiao Jinyan, looking at the fair palm now grazed, frowned deeply, and carried her quickly towards the East Palace.

Shen Chuwei looked at Xiao Jinyan, saw his stern countenance, and thought to herself that it was over, he was angry～

Chun Xi was so scared she felt soulless. By the time she came back to her senses, Xiao Jinyan had already picked up Shen Chuwei, and she hurriedly followed them.

Princess Xueyan hadn’t even had a chance to speak to Xiao Jinyan when she saw him running towards another woman, picking her up, and striding away.

Before Princess Xueyan could ask, she overheard several princes discussing.

"Isn’t that Lady Shen? The Crown Prince seems to favor this lady a lot, always bringing her along."

"Lady Shen is a beauty; it’s natural for the Crown Prince to like her."

"Indeed, if she weren’t a beauty, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be so fond of her."

Princess Xueyan only understood roughly because she didn’t quite comprehend the cultural differences that made them refer to Lady Shen the way they did.

"Is Lady Shen the Crown Prince’s woman?"

Xiao Qing looked at Princess Xueyan, whose veiled face only revealed her beautiful eyes, captivating enough to stir one’s heart.

"Princess Xueyan, Lady Shen is indeed the Crown Prince’s woman, and he’s very fond of her," he explained.

Princess Xueyan looked towards the retreating back of Xiao Jinyan and murmured, "His Highness is a very gentle man."

Hehuan Hall

Shen Chuwei was laid on the bed by Xiao Jinyan, who took out the medicine box and returned to her side, opened it, and carefully applied the medicine to the small wound.

Shen Chuwei frowned; a grazed skin could also be very painful.

After Xiao Jinyan bandaged the wound, he looked at her sternly, "Walk slower in the future; this time it’s just a grazed skin, next time who knows what it might be."

Shen Chuwei nodded, "I will be more careful next time."

Xiao Jinyan stayed for a while and then left.

Chun Xi felt terribly guilty, "It’s all this servant’s fault, for not holding onto Miss firmly and causing her to fall."

Shen Chuwei looked up at Chun Xi, "It’s not your fault."

Feeling guilty, Chun Xi prepared delicious food for Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei had a wonderful lunch.

Just as she was about to take a nap, Concubine Xu and Tao Chenghui came to Hehuan Hall for a gossip.

Concubine Xu started with the first sentence, "Lady Shen, is that Princess Xueyan really as devastatingly beautiful as the legends say?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, "She’s very pretty."

Tao Chenghui remarked, "No wonder the princes are all revolving around Princess Xueyan."

"This afternoon, a few princes accompanied Princess Xueyan to tour the Imperial Garden, each one courting her as eagerly as bees to a flower," Concubine Xu clicked her tongue twice.

Tao Chenghui analyzed carefully, "If Princess Xueyan takes a fancy to Your Highness, she could be a formidable rival."

Concubine Xu’s eyes lit up, "I heard they will continue showing Princess Xueyan around the Imperial Palace this afternoon. Let’s go have a look."

Shen Chuwei yawned, "You go ahead, I’m going to take a nap."

"Nap? Are you not afraid Princess Xueyan will take a liking to His Highness and snatch him away?"

Concubine Xu and Tao Chenghui, one on each side, dragged Shen Chuwei out of Hehuan Hall.

Shen Chuwei felt somewhat reluctant, but was forced to follow them to the south side of the Imperial Garden, near a bed of flowers.

From a distance, they saw five princes and Xiao Jinyan sitting in the pavilion, with Princess Xueyan among them.

The group was chatting and laughing happily, thoroughly enjoying the conversation.

Xiao Jinyan sipped tea, occasionally responding to a comment, his demeanor cold and noble.

Concubine Xu’s eyes were filled with curiosity, "Why is Princess Xueyan wearing a veil?"

"It is said that in Xueyue Country, women must wear a veil when they step outside after turning ten years old, and they do so until they are married.

Their faces are only for their husbands to see," Tao Chenghui’s father had traveled far and wide, and they also had a shop in Xueyue Country, so she knew a bit about it.

Shen Chuwei yawned, but was quickly covered by Tao Chenghui, "Lady Shen, keep your voice down, it would be awkward if we were discovered."

With her mouth covered, she couldn’t speak, so Shen Chuwei just nodded to show she understood.

Only then did Tao Chenghui remove her hand.

Concubine Xu nudged Shen Chuwei, "Look, Princess Xueyan is smiling at His Highness again, isn’t she?"

Just as Shen Chuwei was about to look up, she felt something brush against her leg and looked down to find Xuetuan had followed them; she reached down to pet Xuetuan.

Xuetuan looked up at Shen Chuwei and then with a whoosh, ran off.

Shen Chuwei reached out to no avail, "Xuetuan, come back."

Watching Xuetuan run straight towards Xiao Jinyan, she thought to herself, this is going to end badly.

Concubine Xu, seeing Xuetuan run over, was somewhat excited, "Xuetuan, hurry, grab at her dress and embarrass her in public. Let’s see how she seduces His Highness then."

Shen Chuwei: "..."

Tao Chenghui: "..."

Once Xuetuan ran over, it jumped into Xiao Jinyan’s arms and looked up, warily watching Princess Xueyan.

Xiao Jinyan looked down at Xuetuan, who suddenly approached. Xuetuan typically wouldn’t leave home to find him, unless it had been with Shen Chuwei.

He subconsciously scanned his surroundings, as if searching for something.

At that moment, Shen Chuwei and the others stealthily slipped back to the East Palace.

Concubine Xu was somewhat dissatisfied, "Even Xuetuan is no help, why didn’t it grab at Princess Xueyan’s clothes? It was so eager to grab at mine last year."

Tao Chenghui said, "If Xuetuan really had grabbed Princess Xueyan, His Highness would have been put in a difficult position too."

Concubine Xu stared intently at Shen Chuwei’s belly, "Lady Shen, why is there still no sign of pregnancy?"

Known for her blunt speech, they were used to it by now.

Shen Chuwei touched her slightly bulging belly from just having eaten, "It’s not like you can get pregnant just by talking about it."

Concubine Xu, frustrated, scolded, "Lady Shen, have some ambition! With so many women around His Highness, you’re the only one who has attended his bed; you can’t miss such a good opportunity."

Shen Chuwei was taken aback, doubting she heard correctly, "What did you just say?"