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Shen Chuwei, upon hearing that there was a condition attached, lay back down again.

She knew Xiao Jinyan wouldn’t easily take her on the autumn hunting trip.

“Forget it, I’m not going,” she said weakly, waving her hand and closing her eyes to continue sleeping.

Chun Xi looked at her mistress who had been excited just a moment ago and had suddenly deflated, “My lady, you don’t even ask what the condition is, how can you just decide not to go?”

Shen Chuwei lazily replied, “No need to ask, I’m sure I can’t meet his condition, might as well just lie down and sunbathe.”

Chun Xi asked, “Does my lady not want to leave the palace?”

Shen Chuwei, with her eyes closed, mumbled a vague response, “I do.”

“My lady doesn’t even know what the condition is, how do you know you can’t do it?”

After Chun Xi finished speaking, she looked and realized that her mistress had already fallen asleep.

The person who had just been excited was now sound asleep?

Chun Xi sighed.

After all, she didn’t know what His Highness’s condition was; she was just a messenger.

The next day, Shen Chuwei didn’t bring up the topic during breakfast and so Chun Xi didn’t either.

Right after breakfast, Tao Chenghui came over for a visit, bringing gifts with her.

Shen Chuwei was lying on the couch like a corpse, her mind still preoccupied with the idea of the autumn hunt.

Tao Chenghui, holding a porcelain dish, bowed slightly and then placed it on the low table, saying enthusiastically, “This is the fruit of the tea tree my father had just sent over today.

I specially brought some for my sister to try.”

Upon hearing about the tea fruit, Shen Chuwei’s eyes lit up.

She propped herself up toward the low table and saw a plate of tea fruits with two butterflies carved on top.

Could this be the famous tea fruit indicating ‘paired butterflies taking flight’?

“Sister Tao is too kind.”

“We’re family.

If there’s something delicious, of course we should share.

I’m glad you like it, Sister Shen.” After spending a few times with Shen Fengyi, Tao Chenghui realized that Shen Fengyi was particularly keen on food, and moreover, she found that being with Shen Fengyi didn’t require much thought.

Shen Chuwei touched her stomach.

Unfortunately, she had just eaten and there was no room left in her belly.

She eyed the tea fruits and licked her lips, “I’ll eat them later.”

Tao Chenghui, seeing Shen Fengyi’s eyes, knew she liked them and decided not to beat around the bush, “Sister Shen, do you still have those sweet potatoes we ate last time?

Could you give me a few?”

“Of course.” Shen Chuwei turned her head and ordered, “Chun Xi, go dig up some sweet potatoes for Sister Tao.”

“Yes.” Chun Xi went to the backyard to dig up sweet potatoes and soon brought back five, placing them in a basket to hand to Tao Chenghui.

Tao Chenghui had come specifically to ask for sweet potatoes and, having received them, she left.

As soon as Tao Chenghui left, Shen Chuwei lay back down on the couch and fell asleep.

Study Room

Xiao Jinyan put down his book, covering his mouth as he coughed twice.

Eunuch Liu approached with a cup of tea, his face full of concern as he suggested, “Your Highness, should I go fetch the Imperial Doctor to have a look at you?”

“No need,” Xiao Jinyan pinched the bridge of his nose, “Has Shen Fengyi come by today?”

Eunuch Liu replied, “Your Highness, she has not.”

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze paused, and he didn’t continue to inquire, picking up his book to read again.

At that moment, the door announced Eunuch Ren’s shrill voice, “The Empress arrives.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyan put down his book and stood up to welcome her.

The Empress entered, dressed in a bright red splendid attire, followed by six young palace maids.

Xiao Jinyan stepped forward to greet her, “Mother Empress, I wish you peace and health.”

The Empress sat down on a chair and glanced at the Crown Prince’s forehead, “Has the cut on your forehead healed?”

Half a month had passed, even a knife wound would have begun to heal and scab over by then.

Xiao Jinyan replied, “Mother, it has healed.”

The Empress nodded her head, “Good.

In three days, there will be an autumn hunt, and you are to take Lanlan with you.”

Xiao Jinyan said, “Mother, this is a hunting expedition.

Lady is delicate and frail, not suited for such activities.”

The Empress’s face darkened, “I am aware.

You just want to take Shen Fengyi with you, right?

What’s so special about her?

She only has a pretty face.

Don’t spoil her too much.”

Just this morning, the Empress had heard about Lady’s birthday incident.

Lady had already asked the Crown Prince to stay, but he excused himself, claiming he was busy with official duties and left.

That would have been fine, but he took Shen Fengyi with him directly.

Wasn’t this a public embarrassment for Lady?

How could she, as Lady’s aunt, sit idly by while her niece was being mistreated?

Xiao Jinyan asked impassively, “Mother, Shen Fengyi is the concubine you chose for your son.

Now that your son dotes on her, you’re unhappy.

What must I do to please you?”

The Empress was startled by the Crown Prince’s question.

It was true she had chosen Shen Fengyi, not least for her beauty and because she was the daughter of the Secretary Shen.

Which man doesn’t love a beautiful woman?

So she picked a pretty one and that’s wrong now?

“That’s not what I meant.

In what way is Lanlan not superior to Shen Fengyi?

Can’t you dote on them equally?”

Xiao Jinyan countered with a question of his own, “Then why don’t you like Shen Fengyi, Mother?”

“Brother.” Xiao Jinyu strode in, and seeing the Empress there, he came forward to pay respects, “Your son greets Mother.”

Seeing her younger son, the Empress’s eyes immediately softened, “What brings you here?”

Xiao Jinyu glanced at Xiao Jinyan, “Mother, are you discussing matters with Brother?”

The Empress nodded, “Yes, we are talking about the autumn hunting expedition.”

Xiao Jinyu looked curiously at Xiao Jinyan, “So, Brother is planning to take Sister-in-law along?”

The Empress said, “I came here exactly for this matter.

But your brother says she is too fragile and not suitable for the autumn hunt.”

Xiao Jinyu thought of Shen Fengyi’s delicate figure, unsure whether she had reached the age of adulthood.

Yet, he felt that she and his brother were quite a match.

“Sister-in-law is indeed fragile, but going on the autumn hunt doesn’t mean she has to mount a horse and hunt personally.”

Hearing her son take her side, the Empress looked smugly at the Crown Prince, “Did you hear that?

Even your brother says you can bring her along.”

Xiao Jinyu also said, “Brother, just take Shen Fengyi with you.

I’ll catch rabbits for her to play with.”

Xiao Jinyan turned his head to look at his brother, “…” Is there a need for you to catch them?

The Empress was taken aback, “Yuyu, who did you just call Sister-in-law?”

Xiao Jinyu looked at the Empress, puzzled, “Shen Fengyi, isn’t that who Mother is talking about?”

The Empress was equally puzzled, “How did Shen Fengyi suddenly become your Sister-in-law?

Your Sister-in-law is the future Crown Princess.”

Xiao Jinyu retorted, “Isn’t there no Crown Princess yet?

Since Shen Fengyi was the first to serve in your son’s bedchamber, what is she if not Sister-in-law?”

The Empress was taken aback; what kind of twisted logic was this?

Serving in the bedchamber turns one into the main wife?

“Yuyu, you may only call her Sister-in-law if she is the Crown Prince’s main wife.

Understand?”

Xiao Jinyu nodded to show he understood.

The Empress then said, “As for the autumn hunt, I have already spoken with the Emperor about it.

The Crown Prince will bring Lady along.”

Xiao Jinyan pursed his lips, a cold laugh stirring in his heart.

If she had already informed Father Emperor, why bother with these pretenses?

*

When Xiao Jinyan arrived at Xiyun Pavilion, Shen Chuwei was still asleep.

Chun Xi wanted to go in and wake the mistress, but was dismissed by Xiao Jinyan.

After Chun Xi left, Xiao Jinyan walked in and saw a petite figure lying on the soft couch, arms under her head, seemingly sleeping very sweetly.

He lifted the hem of his robe and sat down on the other side of the couch.

Seeing the snacks on the low table, he picked up one and bit into it, having barely touched his breakfast.