Page 38

Chun Xi stepped forward, bent her knee, and saluted, “Your Highness, I wish you endless fortune and peace.”

Xiao Jinyan asked, “Where is Shen Fengyi?”

Chun Xi replied, “Your Highness, the young miss is bathing.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan strode in.

The sound of water splashing from the next room let him know that Shen Chuwei hadn’t finished bathing yet.

He casually picked up a book to read as he sat down on the couch, lifting his robe slightly.

When Shen Chuwei was finished with her bath and getting dressed, she realized she hadn’t brought her undergarment, but it didn’t concern her, as putting it on afterwards would be just the same.

Since only she and Chun Xi were in the Xiyun Pavilion, there was nothing to be shy about.

She came out in her undergarment, “Chun Xi, while you’re at it, measure my bust-waist-hip for me.”

Seeing Shen Chuwei come out wearing only her undergarment, Chun Xi wondered if the young miss was aware of His Highness’s presence and thus dressed to attract him?

Finally, the young miss had wised up.

It was truly a rare moment.

Xiao Jinyan glanced up and was met with this sight, causing him to pause.

Shen Chuwei’s skin was incredibly fair; to say her complexion was creamy would not be an exaggeration.

The ties of her undergarment clearly revealed her slender waist, which could be encircled with one’s hands.

Noticing something off about Chun Xi’s expression, Shen Chuwei asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Young miss, your servant will take her leave.” Chun Xi felt like an overbearing light bulb at that moment and slipped away swiftly, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

Shen Chuwei stared at the tightly shut door, puzzled, “I’m not going to eat you, why are you running away?”

Xiao Jinyan gave a light cough to remind his presence, “Aren’t you cold?”

“Not cold at all.” Shen Chuwei instinctively responded, before quickly realizing something was wrong.

She turned around to see Xiao Jinyan sitting upright on the couch, his phoenix eyes fixed on her.

It’s really not nice of you to scare someone like that in the middle of the night, Your Highness!

Chun Xi, did you know your master is exposed?

She smiled awkwardly, “Your Highness, when did you arrive?”

Though she feigned calm on the surface, it was just her back that was revealed, no harm done; it was as if she had given Xiao Jinyan a bargain.

“Just arrived,” Xiao Jinyan said as he put down the book and picked up a garment from the rack to walk over to Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei hadn’t forgotten how Xiao Jinyan had teased her about having a small chest.

Out of pride, she took a deep breath and glanced down; the effect was indeed satisfying.

As Xiao Jinyan approached, he draped the garment over her, and his gaze inevitably fell on the charming sight before him, making him feel a bit embarrassed.

But then he remembered that Shen Chuwei was indeed meant to be his woman, so what harm was there in looking?

For a young girl to have a man dress her, who could stay calm in such a situation?

“How could I trouble Your Highness to do this?

I can manage on my own,” Shen Chuwei said as she pulled on the lapel, attempting to cover herself, but instead of grasping the garment, she caught his beautiful, fine hand.

She really didn’t mean to do that~

Xiao Jinyan looked down at the hand gripping his own and quickly retracted it as if scalded.

“Dress yourself,” he said before resuming his seat on the couch.

That was exactly what Shen Chuwei wanted.

Having put on her clothes, she approached Xiao Jinyan, “Your Highness, do you need anything?”

Xiao Jinyan looked up and replied, “Is it not allowed for me to come without reason?”

Shen Chuwei vigorously shook her head, “Of course not, the entire East Palace belongs to Your Highness.

You may come as you please.”

Xiao Jinyan instructed, “Sit down and we’ll talk.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Shen Chuwei sat down on the couch.

With a somber tone, Xiao Jinyan disclosed, “The person who administered the poison has been found.

It was Qiuju, a servant of Shen Mingzhu.”

Shen Chuwei inquired, “What do you plan to do with her?”

“What should we do?” Xiao Jinyan’s lips curled into a cold smirk, “Qiuju committed suicide out of fear of her crimes, and with her death unproven, Shen Mingzhu’s guilt cannot be determined.”

Shen Chuwei was stunned for a moment; it was her first time hearing of a death here.

Indeed, palace intrigue was a matter of life and death.

To survive, one must stay away from palace politics, stay away from the women of the East Palace!

Xiao Jinyan clenched his fists; he had just become the Crown Prince and didn’t hold much real power.

Moreover, with so many eyes watching, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t be touched for the time being, not without solid evidence.

Shen Chuwei sat there quietly, watching Xiao Jinyan, who remained silent.

She wasn’t sure when he planned to leave, as the bed was already beckoning to her.

Xiao Jinyan lifted his eyes to Shen Chuwei and saw her sitting obediently, with her eyelids drooped, looking heavily preoccupied.

“Shen Fengyi, what are you thinking about?”

Shen Chuwei shook her head, “Concubine has nothing on her mind, does Your Highness have anything else to say?”

Xiao Jinyan: “Nothing else, I wish to bathe.”

Bathing equaled staying the night, equals freeloading on the bed.

Had he become addicted to this?

“Concubine will have someone prepare the hot water,” Shen Chuwei said as she rose to command Chun Xi to prepare the hot water.

While Xiao Jinyan bathed, Shen Chuwei sat on the couch, cuddling a cat pillow, feeling sleepy.

It wasn’t until she heard the sound of the door opening that she finally saw him come out.

She immediately stood up to greet him, “Your Highness, do you need help from this concubine?”

Xiao Jinyan looked at his wet hair, “Help me dry my hair.”

“Alright.”

After all, who else but the Crown Prince!

Shen Chuwei took a towel, asked Xiao Jinyan to sit down, and seeing his waist-length hair, wondered how long it would take to dry with a towel?

If only a hairdryer could be used, but alas, there was no power source here.

She resignedly took the towel and started to soak up the water from his hair.

When wiping his hair, she touched the gauze on his forehead that had become fully soaked during the bath.

Suddenly, she thought of the scene from last night in Qiancheng Hall; the Empress was too ruthless.

He was her own son, so why did she believe Xiao Jinyan would harm his own brother?

The image of Xiao Jinyan’s departing figure from last night evoked a tinge of pity when she thought of it now.

Drying the hair took a long time, and when it was done, she asked, “Your Highness, may this concubine rewrap your wound?”

Xiao Jinyan: “Alright.”

Shen Chuwei fetched the medicinal supplies and gauze to redress the wound, and as she unwound the bandage, the sight of the injury on such a handsome face was a shame—if only there weren’t any scars.

Behind him while wiping his hair, Shen Chuwei was out of sight for Xiao Jinyan.

Now, as she redressed his wound, Shen Chuwei stood in front of Xiao Jinyan, who needed only to look up to see her—the closest features being her soft, pink lips, followed by the graceful lines of her neck, and her alluring collarbones.

The sweet, candy-like fragrance enveloped his senses, impossible to ignore.

The more he tried not to smell it, the more the sweet scent infiltrated his nostrils.

Xiao Jinyan, a young man in the prime of life, was inevitably affected by the beauty before him.

“Your Highness, it’s done,” Shen Chuwei said after she finished bandaging, then started to tidy up the things on the table.

Xiao Jinyan let out a silent sigh of relief; after not sleeping all night, and dealing with a day’s worth of official duties, he was already exhausted.

He stood, went to the side of the bed, and sat down, lifting the covers before lying down.

With one hand supporting his forehead, he watched Shen Chuwei’s delicate figure moving about before him.

After tidying up, Shen Chuwei patted her hands together, glad that she could finally go to bed.

She turned and walked to the side of the bed, took off her shoes, and then climbed inside in front of Xiao Jinyan, unavoidably brushing against his thighs as she did so.

Xiao Jinyan watched Shen Chuwei’s every move with his deep, clear eyes, the way she moved so much like Xuetuan.

Shen Chuwei, holding the cat pillow, lay facing Xiao Jinyan, and his unrelenting gaze made her feel an unsettling premonition.