Page 249

Tao Chenghui spoke with a heavy heart, "What Concubine Xu said makes sense, if too much time passes and you still haven’t received joyful news, there will definitely be some unpleasant rumors spreading.

Being demoted to just Lady from Concubine is not a big hurdle with the backing of your maternal family, regaining favor wouldn’t be difficult. "

Shen Chuwei looked at Concubine Xu, "No, what did you just say? Say it again."

Concubine Xu was utterly puzzled as she looked at Shen Chuwei and repeated, "Didn’t I tell you to make more of an effort, to quickly conceive a baby?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "No, you mentioned something else."

Concubine Xu thought for a while and said with confusion, "That’s all, I was just urging you to make an effort, what’s wrong with you?"

Shen Chuwei recalled and asked uncertainly, "Did you just say that His Highness has only allowed me to serve in bed?"

Concubine Xu was startled for a moment and then nodded, "That seems to have been mentioned, indeed, you’re the only one serving in bed."

Shen Chuwei asked, "How do you know that I am the only one serving in bed?"

Concubine Xu was startled, "You’re asking about this? Isn’t it common knowledge?"

"Common knowledge?" Shen Chuwei was blindsided, "I didn’t know."

Concubine Xu continued, "His Highness has only stayed overnight in your chamber, and only you have stayed overnight in His Highness’s bedchamber, no one else has, one could easily find out about this with some silver."

Shen Chuwei turned to look at Tao Chenghui.

Tao Chenghui nodded, "Up until now, you are the only one who has served in bed, that’s why Concubine Xu is in such a hurry."

Shen Chuwei was stunned for a long while, realizing that what she’d heard that night was not a hallucination; Xiao Jinyan had indeed said that to her.

Concubine Xu asked with a worried face, "What’s wrong?"

Shen Chuwei looked at the Concubine Xu and Tao Chenghui in front of her and shook her head, "Nothing."

Xiao Jinyan was the same, why couldn’t he wait until she was fully awake to speak, insisting on doing so when she was about to sleep?

That night, Xiao Jinyan’s actions were very unfamiliar, truly unfamiliar.

At that time, she had her suspicions.

What Shen Chuwei did not know was that the second time, when she was drunk, she had asked Xiao Jinyan, only she couldn’t remember because of the alcohol.

In the pavilion at that moment

From the moment Xuetuan jumped into Xiao Jinyan’s arms, Princess Xueyan had been captivated by this beautiful cat, observing and finding it curious that the cat was staring at her continuously.

She looked up at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, is this your pet?"

Xiao Jinyan "Hmm’ed" indifferently.

Princess Xueyan looked at the cat with joy, "It’s so cute, may I hold it?"

Xiao Jinyan’s voice was cold and distant, "Xuetuan doesn’t let strangers hold him."

Prince Xiao Qing, not wanting the beauty to be disappointed, persuaded him, "Crown Prince, let Princess Xueyan hold him, Xuetuan is so well-behaved, he surely won’t scratch."

Xiao Qing also chimed in, "Indeed, Crown Prince, how can you refuse the beauty’s request?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the several brothers before him, his gaze settling on Princess Xueyan, who was expectantly looking at him with her beautiful eyes from behind her veil.

"Princess Xueyan, Xuetuan is unlike other pets, he does not permit strangers to hold him," he explained lightly.

Princess Xueyan did not insist, but after staring at Xuetuan for a while, she asked Xiao Jinyan, "If we get to know each other better in the future, may I hold him then?"

Xiao Jinyan looked down at Xuetuan in his arms, his voice clear but cool, "It will depend on whether Xuetuan is willing."

Up to now, aside from himself, Xuetuan had allowed only Shen Chuwei to hold him, and had become even more attached to her than to him, his master.

Princess Xueyan was not disheartened, "What does Xuetuan like to eat? Fish?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded slightly, "Yes."

Prince Xiao Qing curiously looked at Princess Xueyan; though she only exposed her eyes, one could tell she was a breathtaking beauty.

"Princess Xueyan, why do you always wear a veil? Can’t you take it off so we can admire your beauty?"

Princess Xueyan’s gaze turned towards Xiao Jinyan as she spoke gently, "In Xueyue Country, only a husband may remove a woman’s veil."

Prince Xiao Qing suddenly realized, "I see, that’s an interesting custom."

Xiao Jinyan looked down at Xuetuan and noticed it was constantly waving its paws and clawing at his clothes, appearing impatient. Having raised it for so many years, he understood Xuetuan’s temperament; it wanted to leave and wanted him to leave with it.

He looked up at Princess Xueyan, "Princess Xueyan, I have matters to attend to and must leave first."

Having said this, Xiao Jinyan stood up, ready to leave.

Princess Xueyan also stood up, following up with, "Your Highness, could you take me to the East Palace for a visit tomorrow?"

Before Xiao Jinyan could reply, Prince Xiao Qing quickly responded, "Princess Xueyan, if you wish to visit the East Palace tomorrow, I can take you for a stroll as well."

Prince Xiao Qing had always been a libertine. By the age of fifteen, he already had a maid at his service, and yet, he still frequented the pleasures of the flower gardens often.

Seeing a ravishing woman like Princess Xueyan, he naturally took a liking to her and wanted to marry her.

When Princess Xueyan glanced towards Xiao Qing with curiosity, she asked, "Do you also reside in the East Palace?"

Caught off guard, Prince Xiao Qing smiled and said, "I... I don’t reside in the East Palace, but I am familiar with it, so I can accompany the Princess on a visit."

Princess Xueyan chuckled lightly, "Since Prince Xiao Qing does not live in the East Palace, it wouldn’t be right of me to trouble you to take me there."

Taking advantage of their conversation, Xiao Jinyan slipped away with Xuetuan in his arms.

Seeing Xiao Jinyan leave, Princess Xueyan was a bit disappointed but resigned herself to seeing him again the next day.

On his way back to the East Palace, Xiao Jinyan encountered the Empress, greeted her respectfully, "Mother."

The Empress saw Xiao Jinyan alone and was a bit puzzled, "Crown Prince, didn’t you take Princess Xueyan for a walk in the Imperial Garden?"

Xiao Jinyan bowed his head in acknowledgment, "Mother, I have already taken Princess Xueyan for a walk."

The Empress frowned slightly, "It’s still early, why didn’t you stroll a bit longer?"

Xiao Jinyan answered, "I have matters to take care of, and the other princes are keeping the Princess company."

Upon hearing this, the Empress was nearly furious. Such a good opportunity, and he let other princes accompany her?

"Do you realize that Princess Xueyan is the most favored daughter of the King of Xueyue Country? Marrying her would benefit you in every way and have no downsides."

Xiao Jinyan pursed his lips: "Mother... I understand."

The Empress then nodded in satisfaction, "Tomorrow, take the Princess to the East Palace for a tour; I can see that Princess Xueyan has a favorable impression of you."

The Crown Prince, whether in terms of appearance or temperament, was the most outstanding among the princes. If Princess Xueyan could not fancy him, she must be blind.

After the Empress left, Xiao Jinyan stood there, musing for several seconds, a bitter smile etching onto his lips, "Isn’t the East Palace already filled with enough arrangements?"

From the beginning, Xiao Jinyan had not wanted his palace to be crammed full of women. Although the Empress kept sending women to the East Palace, he, as a royal prince and the Crown Prince, had no right to refuse.

The past imperial harems had intricate connections, a constant rule throughout history.

He refused to believe that this rule couldn’t be broken.

His gaze darkened, and he returned to the East Palace.

After waking up from a nap, Shen Chuwei opened her eyes to see Xiao Jinyan sitting beside her bed, and she was instantly petrified.

Having just dreamt about Xiao Jinyan, the shock of seeing him as soon as she woke up was inevitable.