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Lady Xu, the concubine, knew how seriously Lady Chang viewed the position of the Crown Princess; to Lady Chang, Princess Xueyan was now her greatest rival.

Tao Chenghui nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Shen Chuwei returned with Xiao Jinyan to Hehuan Hall. As soon as she saw the bed inside, she felt a sense of familiarity. Letting go of Xiao Jinyan’s hand, she began to take off her outer garment.

Xiao Jinyan watched her actions with downcast eyes, really not coy at all. He then sat down by the bed.

Shen Chuwei, halfway through undressing, noticed that Xiao Jinyan was staring at her and wondered, what’s there to look at in someone undressing?

Xio Jinyan watched her intently, thinking back to how she’d clutched his arm in the Imperial Garden and drifted off to sleep. He then remembered her kitten-like humming from the night before.

"Last night, it was my palace that was too frivolous, and ended up tiring you out, little nine," he said.

Shen Chuwei sat down to take off her shoes and heard this remark. She looked up at Xiao Jinyan, whose face was as frosty as ever, yet the words he uttered were far from serious.

She was genuinely curious, how could he keep such a straight face while saying such a thing?

After spending some days together, Shen Chuwei was much bolder than she had been at the start.

She stopped trying to remove her shoes, sat up straight and reached for Xiao Jinyan’s face. Seeing that he didn’t dodge, she boldly pinched him, feeling that his skin was just as elastic, soft, and smooth as anyone’s, not at all inferior to a girl’s.

Xiao Jinyan sat up straight, full of puzzlement as he watched her actions, "What are you doing, little nine?"

Shen Chuwei fluttered her beautiful large eyes, complimenting without a blush or skipping a beat, "Your Highness’s face is so soft and smooth. What skin care products do you usually use?"

Xiao Jinyan answered, "Whatever you use, my palace uses the same."

Plainly put, this meant that they both just washed their faces with water and used nothing else.

Shen Chuwei had an epiphany, "No wonder our skin condition is the same."

Xiao Jinyan: "..."

Having had her fill of banter, Shen Chuwei yawned, kicked off her embroidered shoes with a flick of her feet, pulled back the covers, and nestled into bed. Pulling up the covers, she left only her head exposed to look at Xiao Jinyan.

After a moment’s thought, she lifted the covers again, turned on her side, propped her head with her hand, and patted the space next to her, with the air of a lordly patron.

"Your Highness, would you like to join me?"

Xiao Jinyan was very tempted to nod, but many affairs awaited his attention, and he had to decline the invitation.

"I still have official matters to attend to," he replied.

Before Shen Chuwei’s smile could fully appear, she heard Xiao Jinyan add, "I’ll reserve the night to continue."

Shen Chuwei: "..." Did he think it was like reserving a table at a restaurant?

After a restful sleep, Shen Chuwei woke up full of vigor and, thinking of the peaches and cherry trees at Xiyun Pavilion, took Chun Xi with her to Xiyun Pavilion.

On the way, they saw Princess Xueyan walking toward them.

Shen Chuwei felt unfamiliar with Princess Xueyan, hence she had no intention of greeting her and walked straight past.

"Lady Shen."

Shen Chuwei paused mid-step and turned to look at Princess Xueyan, hoping she wasn’t the chatty type as she was in a hurry.

"Does Princess Xueyan need something?"

Princess Xueyan spoke gently, "It’s nothing important, I was just feeling bored alone in the palace and thought, since Lady Shen and I are of the same age, we should have a lot to talk about."

Shen Chuwei nodded, "Do you like sleeping?"

This caught Princess Xueyan off guard.

Shen Chuwei spread her hands helplessly, "You see, we don’t really have much in common to talk about, and I have things to do, so I’ll be on my way."

Having said that, she turned and left.

Princess Xueyan caught up, "Lady Shen, where are you going?"

Shen Chuwei turned to look at Xueyan, "What does it matter to you where I am going?"

The smile on Princess Xueyan’s lips froze, and she laughed awkwardly, "It doesn’t, but I can come with you."

Shen Chuwei agreed readily, "Sure, do you know how to pick eggs?"

Princess Xueyan nodded, "Of course, picking up eggs is very simple."

Shen Chuwei said, "Then let’s go."

The three of them happily arrived at Xiyun Pavilion.

Shen Chuwei brought a bamboo basket and handed it to Princess Xueyan, leading her to the side of the chicken coop. She pointed to the nests inside the chicken coop and said, "Take this and collect the eggs from the nests."

Princess Xueyan looked bewilderedly at the chicken coop; with chicken droppings everywhere and a somewhat unpleasant smell, she quickly covered her nose and looked at Shen Chuwei, "What about you?"

Shen Chuwei seriously replied, "I have other things to do."

After speaking, she patted Princess Xueyan on the shoulder, "I believe in you."

Then she walked towards the backyard with cheerful steps.

Chun Xi, holding back laughter, opened the wicket gate, "Princess Xueyan, go ahead."

Princess Xueyan looked at the bamboo basket in her hands, then back at the filthy, smelly chicken coop and realized it was this kind of egg picking she was talking about–

Princess Xueyan directly handed the bamboo basket back to Chun Xi, "I just remembered I have something else to do; please tell Lady Shen for me."

Having said that, she couldn’t wait to escape.

Once the person was far away, Chun Xi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Shen Chuwei arrived at the backyard, where the fruit trees planted last year had grown big with the watering of the Spiritual Spring Water; they had bloomed in spring and now bore fruit.

Looking at the trees full of peaches and cherries turning red, she knew they would be ready to eat in just a few days.

That evening, Xiao Jinyan really did come–

Although there was just a wall separating them, Xiao Jinyan still moved his clothes over; the once empty wardrobe was now stuffed full.

She took Xiao Jinyan’s clothes out and handed them to him.

Each time, it was Xiao Jinyan who bathed first and she followed, a routine they had formed.

Xiao Jinyan looked down at her and said, "Tonight, let’s bathe together."

Shen Chuwei was stunned for a few seconds before she could react, and by then Xiao Jinyan had already taken her hand and walked behind the screen.

The tub was large enough for two people to bathe comfortably together.

Every time after that, Shen Chuwei would fall asleep tired, and it was Xiao Jinyan who would help her bathe; bathing together didn’t seem to bother them now.

The only issue was that it was too hot!

Inside the tub, the water was just right.

When both of them sat in the tub, some of the water overflowed.

Shen Chuwei’s gaze drifted to Xiao Jinyan’s chest; each time she saw that scar, she couldn’t help but reach out and touch it.

In the past, Xiao Jinyan would reject her touching the scar, but now, he let her do as she wished.

She lifted her small face to look at Xiao Jinyan, inquiring softly, "Your Highness, why do you have a scar here?"

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze lowered to the scar on his chest. The faint pain was there, and he said nonchalantly, "I forgot."

Shen Chuwei stared at the scar for a long while. As a doctor, she knew very well that such a scar only formed after a serious injury, a pain that one wouldn’t forget in a lifetime.

Xiao Jinyan saying he’d forgotten probably meant he didn’t want to discuss the past, so she didn’t probe further.

But there was one thing she very much wanted to ask; why Xiao Jinyan had so much energy these days–

Seeing the Crown Prince work so tirelessly, much like an inexhaustible machine, she said considerately, "Your High..."

Xiao Jinyan’s breathing grew heavier, "Hmm?"

Shen Chuwei immediately changed her words, "Jinyan, let’s..."

Xiao Jinyan, as if guessing what she wanted to say, lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Shen Chuwei thought, she just wanted to ask for a day off.

If you can book in advance, why can’t I ask for a day off?