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Shen Chuwei quickly grasped the crux of Concubine Xu’s words, "So your brother is that kind of person."

Concubine Xu: "..."

Tao Chenghui: "..."

"What kind of person my brother is isn’t important, what is important is Your Highness."

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement, "You’re right."

Concubine Xu gave Shen Chuwei a once-over, "Then why are you still sitting? Hurry and get dressed."

"I want to sleep, I’m too tired," Shen Chuwei subconsciously tried to hide under the covers.

Concubine Xu directly flipped the covers off and dragged her up, "Sleep later at night, for now, let’s go meet Princess Xueyan."

Shen Chuwei had unspeakable grievances. It was precisely because she didn’t sleep well last night that she wanted to sleep well today!

Resigned to her fate, Shen Chuwei put on her clothes, her legs weak and listless, and followed Concubine Xu and Tao Chenghui out of Hehuan Hall.

Xuetuan, who was chasing a little grey rabbit, saw Shen Chuwei leave the hall and no longer pursued the rabbit, instead turning to chase after Shen Chuwei.

The little grey rabbit shivered at the edge of a flowerpot with its four legs trembling～

Peony Garden

It was early May, with mild weather and a clear sky, and the peonies were in full bloom.

Inside the Hexagonal Pavilion, three plates of pastries, a dish of melon and fruit, and a pot of hot tea were arranged on a stone table.

Princess Xueyan sat in front of the stone table, gracefully poised.

Xiao Jinyan sat on the stone stool, back as straight as a pine tree, his slender fingers holding a tea cup, leisurely savoring the tea.

Princess Xueyan took an elegant sip of tea and lifted her eyes to look at Xiao Jinyan opposite her, like a flower on a high cliff that one dare not defile.

She looked outside the pavilion where the flowers were in full bloom, "Your Highness, is that a peony?"

Xiao Jinyan lifted his eyes toward the peonies, which had already bloomed quite a bit, his voice cold and distant, "They’re peonies."

Princess Xueyan observed the garden full of peonies, her eyes brimming with surprise, "They resemble peonies and are as noble as peonies."

Xiao Jinyan made no comment.

Concubine Xu tightly grasped Shen Chuwei’s hand and said, "I don’t know what they’re talking about, but that princess seems quite happy."

"I heard Princess Xueyan is a talented woman, skilled in music, chess, poetry, painting; all aspects. His Highness is very learned, could they be looking at the peonies and exchanging poems?" Tao Chenghui speculated.

Concubine Xu said with some difficulty, "I can’t compose poetry and banter."

Tao Chenghui spread his hands, "Nor am I good at it, I’m only good at abacus."

Shen Chuwei noticed that Xuetuan had followed as well, and to prevent Xuetuan from running to Xiao Jinyan again and Xiao Jinyu discovering that she had let Xuetuan out, she simply picked up Xuetuan.

She didn’t pay any attention to their conversation.

Concubine Xu and Tao Chenghui both fixed their gazes on Shen Chuwei, their eyes glowing green.

Just as Shen Chuwei was about to give Xuetuan a verbal lesson, she was startled by two green, gleaming glares coming from across the way.

"What are you trying to do?"

Concubine Xu said, "Lady Chuwei, I remember on New Year’s Eve you painted a picture that won praise from the Emperor."

That night of New Year’s Eve, she really had a stroke of dumb luck; mediocrity had met mediocrity, and she had barely won.

Shen Chuwei instinctively backed away, "Why are you bringing this up?"

Concubine Xu chuckled twice, "Your Highness favors you the most. To stop that princess from marrying Your Highness, you have to rely on yourself."

After saying that, she pushed Shen Chuwei forward.

Tao Chenghui also lent a hand.

I don’t know if it’s because they read too many romance novels, but both of them cast Xiao Jinyan and Shen Chuwei as the hero and heroine of their own story.

Xiao Jinyan is the male lead, Shen Chuwei is the female lead, and Princess Xueyan became the green tea supporting female character in the novel, wanting to fight the female lead for the male lead~

Shen Chuwei, holding Xuetuan, was thus pushed out by Concubine Xu and Tao Chenghui.

That’s not all; even Xuetuan followed with a meow, "Meow."

This drew the attention of two people in the pavilion, who simultaneously looked over.

Shen Chuwei embarrassingly thought about finding a crack to crawl into.

When Xiao Jinyan saw Shen Chuwei holding Xuetuan, with her being surrounded by a cluster of flowers and dressed in a pink skirt, the peonies, though bright, paled in comparison to her.

Being seen, Shen Chuwei walked over with confidence and bowed, "Your Highness, I wish you peace and prosperity."

Xiao Jinyan replied warmly, "Lady Shen, come and enjoy the flowers with me."

"Yes, Your Highness." Shen Chuwei, holding Xuetuan, stepped into the pavilion and sat down on a stone bench next to Xiao Jinyan.

Seeing that Xiao Jinyan was not only not angry but also invited Shen Chuwei to sit down, Concubine Xu knew there was hope.

Princess Xueyan scrutinized Shen Chuwei, sitting opposite her, and found her to be somewhat different from the previous day at the Grand Hall; today’s makeup was light, and her features as delicate as a porcelain doll.

Just as the princes had said, there was no exaggeration.

Princess Xueyan then looked at Xuetuan in Shen Chuwei’s arms, who was snuggled up comfortably, indicating that once familiarized, Xuetuan would also let herself hold him.

"Yesterday, several princes mentioned Lady Shen’s beauty, and seeing you today, it’s indeed true," Princess Xueyan said.

Shen Chuwei, who had been fixated on the pastries on the table, stretched out her hand to grab one but heard Princess Xueyan talking about her; she quickly picked up a piece of pastry and responded, "The princess is also very beautiful."

After speaking, she bit into the pastry.

Xiao Jinyan looked at Shen Chuwei, who was solely focused on the pastries and let her be.

After sizing up Shen Chuwei, Princess Xueyan turned her gaze to Xiao Jinyan and coquettishly said, "Your Highness, the peony flowers are so beautiful; could you give me a few?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the peonies not far away and responded, "You may."

Princess Xueyan was overjoyed, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan stood up, casting a glance at Shen Chuwei, who was still eating pastries; he suddenly felt that sometimes greediness could be displeasing to him.

He withdrew his gaze and stepped out of the pavilion.

Princess Xueyan stood up and followed him out of the pavilion.

Xiao Jinyan looked at the cluster of blooming peonies, each one flourishing so well, yet he did not want to pick a single one.

Shen Chuwei saw Xiao Jinyan stand up, paused her chewing, looked up at the two people who exited one after the other, and cast her gaze towards the peonies outside the pavilion, which indeed were quite beautiful.

Concubine Xu, hidden behind the flowers, was almost frantic, "What is Lady Shen doing? The princess knows to ask for peonies, why doesn’t she know to ask for them?"

Tao Chenghui sighed, "Lady Shen’s attention is all on the food."

Shen Chuwei looked back at the pastries in front of her, picked them up and stuffed them into her mouth, quickly finishing off two plates of pastries, leaving just one plate left.

She had tasted that pastry before and found the flavor strange.

Subsequently, she turned her attention to the fruit platter, which was full of fresh fruit.

Bananas, grapes, peaches, she swept them all away, leaving behind only a pile of fruit peels.

She touched her belly, feeling a bit overstuffed.

At that moment, Xiao Jinyan and Princess Xueyan came back.

Princess Xueyan’s hands were full of peony flowers, which Xiao Jinyan had allowed her to pick herself.

It was very sunny outside, and Princess Xueyan was somewhat hungry now; noticing only one plate of pastries left, she picked up a piece and put it into her mouth. After just one bite, the taste was so strange she desperately spat it out into her handkerchief.

After cleaning herself up, thinking there was still fruit, she reached into the fruit platter only to grab at thin air; turning her head to look, there were no fresh fruits left, just a pile of fresh fruit peels.