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Shen Chuwei picked up a cherry, washed it thoroughly with clean water, and presented it to Xiao Jinyan with a delicate face full of smiles, "Your Highness, please try it."

Xiao Jinyan lowered his gaze to the fruit before him – small and exquisite, completely red – and looked at Shen Chuwei with confusion, "What is this?"

"Cherries, a very delicious kind of fruit." Shen Chuwei’s eyes involuntarily curved when she mentioned tasty fruit.

Cherries? Xiao Jinyan, curious, opened his mouth and bit halfway into the tempting cherry, tasting sourness with a hint of sweetness, so sour that it reached his teeth.

But it didn’t show on his face.

Xiao Jinyan didn’t like sour things nor did he enjoy overly sweet ones, picky with his food one could say.

After finishing the cherry, he picked up the cup of tea from the low table and took a couple of sips, his teeth still feeling somewhat sour.

Shen Chuwei washed another cherry for herself and put it into her mouth, her brows and eyes curving joyfully while eating.

Xiao Jinyan, watching with downcast eyes, knew Shen Chuwei enjoyed eating and wasn’t averse to sour and spicy foods.

He glanced at the remaining few cherries and peaches and asked, "Are there any more?"

With a cherry still in her mouth, Shen Chuwei’s cheeks puffed out as she replied, "Yes."

"Send some for Mother to taste," Xiao Jinyan remembered that his mother liked sour and spicy flavors.

"Alright." Shen Chuwei told Little Rabbit to go pick some more fresh ones.

Little Rabbit was very fast, and it didn’t take long before he had picked fresh cherries and peaches.

Xiao Jinyan had Liu Xi send them to Fengyi Palace, making sure to instruct not to mention they were picked from Xiyun Pavilion.

Liu Xi, carrying the fruit, headed to Fengyi Palace.

The Empress was lying on the noble concubine’s couch, with two palace maids massaging her shoulders and legs.

The Empress sipped tea with a calm exterior while internally cursing the damn Emperor in every way imaginable.

These past few days, he had come to her palace nightly as if drugged, causing her turmoil.

Although he criticized this and that, he still touched and nibbled.

The Empress tried to place the teacup back on the low table, but moving her body a fraction caused her severe pain.

She felt as though her old bones were about to fall apart.

Seeing this, Qing Ying stepped forward a few steps, taking the teacup from the Empress’s hand, "Empress, please don’t move, your servant will do it."

The Empress lay still, not moving any further.

Liu Xi entered with brisk steps, carrying the fruit, bowed, and greeted, "May the Empress be blessed with peace."

The Empress, pressing her temples and recognizing the voice, opened her beautiful eyes slowly, "What brings you here?"

Liu Xi bowed her head, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince sent your servant to bring some fruit for Your Majesty."

Fengyi Palace was never lacking fruit, and even the East Palace could not compare to the Empress’s own dwellings. Whether it was tasty or fresh fruit, it had always been reserved for the Empress, a tradition unchanging over the years.

The Empress spoke indifferently, "What kind of fruit?"

Liu Xi stepped forward, removed the lid of the food container, and presented it to the Empress, her lips carrying a flattering smile, "Empress, please have a look."

The Empress started to move, thinking of her discomfort, but then slowly lifted her head to look and saw the fruit inside. She recognized the peaches, but not the other.

They were small, clear and shiny, brightly colored, signifying the fruit was fresh and appetizing.

"What fruit is this?"

"Replying to the Empress, these are cherries," Liu Xi said.

The Empress commanded, "Qing Ying, wash some for me to taste."

Qing Ying came over, took a few cherries, washed them thoroughly, dried them with a silk cloth, and then handed them to the Empress.

The Empress took a cherry and tasted it – sour and sweet, with a crisp texture, and a fresh flavor that was pleasant.

"Where did this fruit come from? Why doesn’t my palace have it?" the Empress asked while picking up another cherry and stuffing it into her mouth.

"Responding to the Empress, these fruits were found by His Highness outside," said Liu Xi.

"So that’s why my palace doesn’t have any," the Empress mused, her attention completely focused on the food before her, even the aches in her body were ignored.

After Liu Xi left, Xueyan came in and saw the Empress lying on the noble lady’s couch, enjoying the fruit.

She approached and curtseyed, "Empress Niang Niang."

Seeing that it was Xueyan who came, the Empress propped herself up with effort to sit, "Xueyan, you’re here, come sit."

Xueyan thanked her and sat down on a chair, her gaze turning to the fruits on the low table, which were unfamiliar to her.

The Empress looked at the cherries in the fruit platter, only two left. She picked up one with difficulty and instructed Qing Ying to give the other to Xueyan and also grab a peach.

"Try the cherry, Xueyan, the peaches taste quite good as well."

Xueyan curiously took the cherry and tasted it, finding it quite delicious.

But just as she was savoring the flavor, the cherry was gone.

The Empress’s cherries were gone too.

Xueyan praised, "Empress Niang Niang, these cherries are really tasty."

"I too find the cherries delicious, and the peaches as well," the Empress said with regret, "It’s a pity there weren’t many cherries, they were a gift from the Crown Prince."

Xueyan also felt it was a pity; having tasted just one and barely enjoying its flavor, it was somewhat distressing.

She tentatively asked, "I wonder where His Highness purchased them."

"I do not know either," the Empress replied, taking a peach and biting into it. It also tasted good.

Xueyan’s mind was still on the cherries; after returning, she would have someone inquire where they could be bought.

However, no one knew of such fruit as cherries.

At the time of lighting the lamps

This was Xueyan’s second night after marrying into the East Palace.

Xueyan bathed early, the bathtub sprinkled with a thick layer of fresh petals.

Shuiyao carefully applied precious essential oil to her fair skin, drop by drop.

After the bath, Xueyan wore a light and translucent garment and waited on the bed.

Until the first watch of the night, Xiao Jinyan had not appeared.

Xueyan grew restless, "Shuiyao, go and inquire."

"Princess, this servant will go at once."

Shuiyao hastily left and soon returned.

"Princess, His Highness is still busy reviewing petitions," she reported.

Xueyan voiced her dissatisfaction, "Is His Highness planning to review petitions night after night?"

"According to Eunuch Liu, these days His Majesty has been sending most of the petitions to the East Palace daily, for His Highness to review. His Highness is also relieving His Majesty of concerns and hard work," explained Shuiyao.

Upon hearing this, Xueyan felt somewhat better, "The Crown Prince has indeed been busy, no wonder they always say it’s rare to catch a glimpse of His Highness."

Meanwhile, in the study room

Xiao Jinyan was reviewing petitions.

Next door, Weichi and Qin Xiao were busy digging into a wall.

Having been occupied with petitions for several days, Xiao Jinyan had not come to Hehuan Hall at night, so Shen Chuwei went to bed early after bathing.

In the middle of the night, as Shen Chuwei lay sound asleep, a "thud, thud" sound came from the neighboring room, shaking the bed. Frightened, she jumped up from the bed.

"This is terrible, it’s an earthquake."

"Chun Xi, Little Rabbit, quick come out," she shouted while hastily wrapping herself in a thin quilt and running into the next room without a second thought.

Earthquake... Shen Chuwei had experienced one as a child. The single-story buildings had collapsed, and she had barely managed to escape.