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Xiao Jinyan was stunned for a while after hearing her words, "You’ve endured this grievance just for my sake."

Shen Chuwei ate another piece of braised pork, "Your Highness taking on so much pressure for me, it is said that when husband and wife are united in their purpose, their strength can cut through metal. My going to live in Xiaoxiang Pavilion for a while is nothing in comparison."

After finishing, Shen Chuwei leaned in, "Your Highness can still come and see me secretly, and I can secretly come to visit you."

Shen Chuwei belonged to the Letian Faction; apart from matters of life and death, nothing was considered a major issue.

Moreover, since Xiao Jinyan was sincere to her, a short stay in Xiaoxiang Pavilion was inconsequential compared to the pressure it relieved from him.

Xiao Jinyan was amused by her words, and the pressure that had been resting on his shoulders dissipated.

"I won’t let you stay in Xiaoxiang Pavilion for too long."

Shen Chuwei had just bitten into a piece of braised pork, a dish specially made for her by Xiao Jinyan. She couldn’t resist and had a few more pieces.

"Your Highness isn’t planning to consummate the marriage with Concubine Xue and then treat us all equally, right?"

Xiao Jinyan replied with firmness and certainty, "No."

If he could have compromised so easily, he wouldn’t have held out until now.

"That’s more like it." Shen Chuwei lowered her head and continued to eat the food in her bowl.

Watching her alternate between bites of braised pork, Xiao Jinyan frowned slightly, "Eat less braised pork, it’s too greasy."

"I’m about to lead a frugal life in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, and now Your Highness won’t even let me have a few more pieces of braised pork?" After saying this, Shen Chuwei picked up another piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth, savoring it.

Xiao Jinyan chuckled softly, "I’ll have someone send it to you secretly."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuwei’s eyes and brows curved up, and she whispered a reminder, "Then be careful, don’t let anyone find out."

Xiao Jinyan nodded in agreement, "Mhm."

After lunch, Xiao Jinyan ordered people to clean Xiaoxiang Pavilion and repair any broken places.

Xiaoxiang Pavilion was adjacent to Xiyun Pavilion, but its environment was somewhat inferior.

After dealing with the weeds, Xiaoxiang Pavilion looked much more appealing.

Before she left, Shen Chuwei had the conjoined lotus and her painting board transferred to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, thinking to paint whenever inspiration struck.

Looking at the backyard of Xiaoxiang Pavilion, she saw a large empty space and decided to clear a small vegetable garden out of it.

Next to the lotus pond, planting some lotus roots would be nice; she could wash some lotus root powder when the time came.

Because it had been uninhabited for a long time, there were a lot of spider webs and dust inside.

The little eunuchs had already cleaned it up thoroughly, and everything had been replaced with new furniture, closets, bedding, screens, etc.

Shen Chuwei saw Xiao Jinyan still directing the little eunuchs to clean, so she walked over and tugged on his hand, "Your Highness, you should go about your business."

Xiao Jinyan said, "This place, it’s not as comfortable as living in Hehuan Hall."

Shen Chuwei didn’t care, "I think it’s quite good. It’s right next to Xiyun Pavilion, it can’t be too bad."

Xiao Jinyan leaned close to her ear, "I will come to see you often."

Shen Chuwei stood on tiptoe and made a request, "When you come, bring me some tea and fruit."

Xiao Jinyan agreed readily, "Alright."

What should have been a sad scene, was swept away by Shen Chuwei’s Letian Faction nature, turning the sadness into nothingness and, in fact, deepening their affection for each other.

After Xiao Jinyan left, Shen Chuwei didn’t idle away her time; she started ordering the little rabbits and others to clear the land for planting vegetables.

After clearing the weeds, she divided the land into several parts, using bluestone slabs to separate them.

Then she scattered some flower seeds: sunflowers, baby’s breath, wrinkle chrysanthemums, cosmos, tulips, and roses.

She filled a small watering can with Spiritual Spring water and sprinkled it on the seeds.

Little Guizi picked some vegetables and cucumbers from the Xiyun Pavilion, put them into a basket, then climbed up the wall and lowered it down with a rope.

Chun Xi stood at the corner of the wall, waiting for the basket to be lowered, then she untied the rope.

Little Guizi shouted from atop the wall, "Chun Xi, is that enough? If it’s not, I can pick some more."

"Enough already," Chun Xi, carrying a basket of vegetables, came to the small kitchen doorway. The stool was brought from Xiyun Pavilion, and she sat on it, preparing to make dinner.

Yuan Gungun also came along. In this unfamiliar place, Yuan Gungun was not frightened but bowed its head to eat the vegetable leaves instead.

A fire had been lit in the small kitchen, and the chimney was emitting wisps of smoke.

The once desolate Xiaoxiang Pavilion now had a sense of life with the presence of cooking smoke.

Upon learning that Shen Chuwei had been confined to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Concubine Xu and Lady Tao rushed to visit at the first opportunity, bringing with them plenty of food.

Imperial Guards stood watch at the entrance to Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Except for the Crown Prince, who was not permitted to visit, other people were still able to enter.

After being allowed passage, Concubine Xu hurried in, waving her handkerchief impatiently.

Lady Tao followed closely behind her.

"Lady Shen, we’ve come to see you," Concubine Xu, true to her habit, hollered without seeing anyone first.

They had all become accustomed to it.

Shen Chuwei poured tea for both of them, "Please, have a seat and we’ll talk."

"The Emperor is too cruel. To think he would confine you to Xiaoxiang Pavilion," Concubine Xu looked around upon arrival, finding Xiaoxiang to be even worse than Xiyun Pavilion. Was this a place fit for humans to live?

Lady Tao sighed, "The Imperial Family is just like that, but I wonder what His Highness is planning now?"

Shen Chuwei reassured them with a smile, "Don’t worry about me. I’m just staying here for a little while. His Highness will come and get me out."

"I heard that this time the Emperor is resolute in having His Highness spread his favor evenly, hoping for an heir sooner. If His Highness does not comply, you won’t be able to come out," Concubine Xu warned.

"His Highness won’t consummate the marriage with them. I believe that in the future, he will have the ability to rescue me," Shen Chuwei said with confidence.

No sooner had Shen Chuwei finished speaking than Concubine Xu slapped the table, startling them both.

"You trust His Highness so much, I’m truly afraid he might let you down one day," said Concubine Xu, who had read countless stories, now becoming sentimental.

When it was time to rest at night, Shen Chuwei lay in bed, unusually awake despite not being picky about where she slept.

In the pitch-dark night, suddenly a cat’s meow pierced the silence, "Meow."

Shen Chuwei opened her eyes. Was it Xuetuan?

She had asked Xiao Jinyan not to take risks and come until the commotion had subsided.

So, it was unlikely that Xiao Jinyan had brought Xuetuan with him.

With doubt, she got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, threw on an overcoat, and pulled the door open to step outside.

In the courtyard, only six palace lamps were lit.

Shen Chuwei looked around for a moment, failing to see Xuetuan. With renewed doubt, she closed the door again.

"Did I just imagine that?"

As she turned to return to bed, she saw a figure standing in the room, slender and tall. It was too dark to see the face clearly.

One thing was for certain, it wasn’t Xiao Jinyan.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

The two of them said almost in unison.

Shen Chuwei found it funny, "You burst into my room and you’re asking who I am?"

Suddenly, faint footsteps were heard.

Realizing something was amiss, the person clad in black immediately fled through the window.

After the intruder left, Shen Chuwei quickly opened the little Gui zi on the low table, relieved to find that the Mung Bean Cake from Lady Tao was still there,

"Good, good, her Mung Bean Cake is still here."

Then she felt for the twin lotus, and it was still there too.

Suddenly, a very pleasant voice came from behind her, "Little Nine."