Page 340

Lady Tao was gnawing on a corn cob when she asked, "I heard that Lady Chang has come to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, what is she here for?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "Because the Empress is here, she came over as well."

Concubine Xu had no feelings for Lady Chang, especially after the fake pregnancy prescription incident; she utterly detested her, suspecting that she was up to no good this time.

"She’s not planning any more schemes, is she?"

Lady Tao paused in gnawing her corn, earnestly reminding, "Lady Shen, it’s better to stay on guard."

Shen Chuwei bit into the corn and said, "It’s fine, I’m not afraid of her."

"Now that you are pregnant, if Lady Chang finds out, she will definitely resort to schemes." After saying this, Concubine Xu looked worriedly at Shen Chuwei’s stomach, which had grown much larger than before due to the twins.

Shen Chuwei looked down at her own belly, "The last time she came, she didn’t see."

Lady Tao said, "Women in the palace scheme and compete relentlessly for favor, capable of anything in the struggle for affection—it’s best to be cautious."

Shen Chuwei nodded and agreed.

At this moment, Qing Ying, with a group of people, walked in.

Shen Chuwei and the others looked over curiously, only to see many things being brought in: silk fabrics, gold and silver jewelry—

Qing Ying, with a benign face, said, "Lady Shen, all these are rewards granted to you by the Empress."

Shen Chuwei stepped forward to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

"Lady Shen, take good care of yourself. I will go back and report." Qing Ying left with a faint smile.

Once they had left, Concubine Xu looked at the rewards, eyes filled with surprise, "Why is the Empress so good to you? I remember a few months ago, she was still asking His Highness to be impartial with his affections."

"The Empress’s rewards are all fine items," Lady Tao stroked the silk fabrics, "This is brocade supplied from Suzhou, not the commonly seen type. This brocade is made from the finest king silkworm silk, it’s extremely intricate."

Shen Chuwei did not understand these matters; as she felt the fabric, it was indeed comfortable—a garment made from it would be very pleasant to wear.

"Lady Tao is different, able to discern by touch alone," Concubine Xu also touched the fabric curiously, examining the patterns.

"Naturally, I heard that king silkworms are extremely rare, with only two rolls of fabric woven each year, used exclusively for garments for the Emperor and Empress.

" Coming from a family of wealthy merchants, Lady Tao had the fortune to use such brocade; with money, one could get things moving—even at a high price, some could be obtained.

Concubine Xu was astonished and looked at Shen Chuwei excitedly, "The Empress is really good to you, to bestow such precious brocade to Lady Shen."

After admiring the fabric, Lady Tao turned her head and asked curiously, "Why is the Empress suddenly so good to you?"

Concubine Xu, too, looked over curiously.

Shen Chuwei glanced at the two of them and explained, "Perhaps it’s because I am pregnant?"

Concubine Xu and Lady Tao almost spoke in unison, "The Empress knows you’re pregnant?"

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "Yes, the Empress has fiery eyes and golden pupils; it’s impossible to conceal it from her."

Concubine Xu suddenly understood, "No wonder she is so good to you."

After a long pause, Lady Tao mused, "What I’m curious about is, the Empress hasn’t disclosed this news; what does she intend to do?"

Shen Chuwei beckoned the two women with a finger.

Concubine Xu and Lady Tao leaned in curiously.

Shen Chuwei whispered the Empress’s plans into their ears.

After hearing this, Concubine Xu was stunned; someone was doing what she dared not do herself, and she was both thrilled and looking forward to the day of that truly fragrant scene.

She asked again, "Does the Empress really plan to do this?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, "Yes."

Lady Tao was full of admiration, "Indeed, the older, the wiser, only the Empress dares to confront the Emperor so boldly."

Concubine Xu’s eyes curved with her smile, "The Empress can manage; she really can avenge us."

Lady Tao couldn’t help laughing. This joke was from a storybook that she had also read.

Shen Chuwei couldn’t help it either and laughed along.

Concubine Xu and Lady Tao had learned many such jokes—

The Xiaoxiang Pavilion was quite lively during this time; the Empress, Concubine Xu, and Lady Tao took turns visiting, bringing something delicious to the Pavilion each time.

Even so, Shen Chuwei was still craving, not pastries or chicken soup, not rice dumplings or corn, but stir-fried crayfish.

The longer it had been since she’d arrived in the ancient times, the longer it had been since she last ate crayfish.

At this point, she was already salivating over it.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law."

The moment Shen Chuwei heard Xiao Jinyu’s voice, her eyes sparkled. She lifted her delicate face and looked towards the window where Xiao Jinyu’s tall figure was standing, at first glance, looking so much like Xiao Jinyan.

"Sister-in-law, I brought you roast duck," Xiao Jinyu happily held up the paper-wrapped package in his hand.

Shen Chuwei did not feel like eating roast duck at the moment. Holding the package, she looked expectantly at Xiao Jinyu, "I want to eat crayfish, can you get some for me?"

Xiao Jinyu was perplexed, "Crayfish? What’s that?"

Shen Chuwei was taken aback for a moment. Were there no crayfish in ancient times?

She waved her hand, "Never mind, I’ll just savor the taste in my dreams then."

Seeing Shen Chuwei not very cheerful, Xiao Jinyu said, "Sister-in-law, I am here to tell you that the Crown Prince is already on his way home; he will be back in the capital within five days."

Shen Chuwei’s spirits lifted at the news, "That’s quite fast."

Right after Xiao Jinyu left, the Empress arrived.

Shen Chuwei was gnawing on a roasted duck leg when the Empress spotted her.

To prevent the Empress from disallowing her to eat, she tore off a duck leg and stuffed it into the Empress’s hand, "Your Majesty, have a roast duck leg."

The Empress did not stand on ceremony, taking the leg and biting into it, finding the taste quite acceptable.

Only then did Shen Chuwei continue to munch on her duck leg with ease.

When Chun Xi entered, she saw her mistress gnawing on a duck leg. She initially wanted to remind her, but seeing the Empress also nibbling on one, she dared not speak, subconsciously assuming the roast duck was brought by the Empress.

After all, the Empress brought food every time she visited, nearly every day, every day there was something to eat.

Finished with the duck leg, the Empress wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, ready to discuss important matters.

"I’ve brought the Imperial Doctor to check your peace pulse."

...

PS: Spoiler alert for the next Chapter—the Empress will find out she has two precious grandsons!