Page 477

Reacting instinctively, Shen Chuwei reached out her arms to loop around Xiao Jinyan’s neck, gazing at him quizzically.

By the time they arrived behind the screen and she was gently placed on the bed by Xiao Jinyan, her puzzlement deepened.

Weren’t they reviewing petitions? Why had he suddenly picked her up?

Shen Chuwei knew that the bed behind the screen was where Xiao Jinyan would rest when he grew tired from working.

She once longed to lie down on it for an afternoon nap.

"Your Highness, it’s not naptime yet. Are you planning to take one now?"

Xiao Jinyan looked down at her puzzled little face and couldn’t help but laugh, "Does this palace need to follow a schedule to rest?"

Shen Chuwei thought about it and agreed, who would dare to stop the Crown Prince from taking a rest?

It just so happened that she wanted to sleep for a while, too.

"Then this concubine will make space for Your Highness," Shen Chuwei said as she moved inward, but Xiao Jinyan held her in place, preventing her from budging.

"Your Highness?"

Xiao Jinyan stared at her intently, "You don’t need to make room for me; I won’t be needing it."

Shen Chuwei subconsciously assumed that Xiao Jinyan didn’t plan to take an afternoon nap.

"Then this concubine won’t nap either. I’ll go find Concubine Xu and Lady Tao to tell them we can all go to the autumn hunt together."

At this time, was she actually still thinking about others, and two of them at that?

Xiao Jinyan said, "You are the Crown Princess, yet you didn’t notice what’s in my heart at all."

"How could this concubine tell what’s in Your Highness’s heart when I’m not the worm in Your Highness’s belly?" Shen Chuwei paused, then added, "On the contrary, Your Highness seems like the worm in someone else’s belly, able to guess what others are thinking."

Xiao Jinyan was taken aback. Had he been too obvious? Had Chuwei guessed his intentions?

"All you have is a sharp tongue."

Shen Chuwei retorted, "This concubine is merely speaking the truth."

"..." Xiao Jinyan looked down at her, "A few days ago, Chuwei taught me how to undo buttons. Let’s practice it again today; practice makes perfect."

By the time Shen Chuwei realized what was happening, Xiao Jinyan had already started.

"Your Highness, it’s broad daylight now."

"Who says we can’t during the day?" Xiao Jinyan kissed her and continued to practice unbuttoning, finding these invisible buttons quite convenient.

Shen Chuwei froze, "There seems to be no such rule, but..."

Xiao Jinyan silenced her with a kiss; he didn’t want to waste time on this matter.

Ultimately, it was Chun Xi who went to inform Concubine Xu and Lady Tao.

Lying lazily on the bed, Shen Chuwei watched as Xiao Jinyan stood by the bed, leisurely getting dressed.

Xiao Jinyan, thinking of the pile of petitions on his desk that needed dealing with, conceded that one time would be enough, otherwise he wouldn’t have stopped.

Seeing Chuwei staring at him, he said, "Sleep if you’re tired."

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "This concubine must return to Fengyi Palace; the babies are waiting for me."

Xiao Jinyan had to let her go. Fortunately, he hadn’t been too rough today, and she could still walk.

"Alright then."

Shen Chuwei continued to watch Xiao Jinyan get dressed.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at her—the one who said she was eager to leave yet lay motionless—and asked, "Aren’t you in a hurry to go back?"

Shen Chuwei feigned an official tone, "Can’t this concubine rest a while longer?"

"..." Xiao Jinyan said, "Of course, you can rest as long as you want."

"That’s more like it." Shen Chuwei actually wanted to sleep a bit longer, but she had to return.

Once Xiao Jinyan had finished dressing, he went back to his desk to continue with the unfinished tasks.

Shen Chuwei rested on the bed for quite some time, then slowly and sluggishly started getting dressed. When putting on her undergarments, looking at a row of invisible buttons, she wondered if they were convenient for her to dress, or convenient for Xiao Jinyan to undress...

After sluggishly getting dressed, Shen Chuwei walked out from behind the screen to see Xiao Jinyan still busy. She approached him.

"Your Highness, this concubine is leaving now."

Xiao Jinyan, amidst his busy schedule, looked up at Shen Chuwei, "Hmm, on the day of the autumn hunt, I will personally bring you back."

Shen Chuwei didn’t refuse, "Then this concubine will wait in Fengyi Palace for Your Highness."

With that, she waved her hand and turned to leave the study room.

Xiao Jinyu returned to Chengqian Hall and saw Miss Wanxin sprinkling water on Huahua. He happily walked over.

"Miss Wanxin, my father said he will see you tomorrow."

Miss Wanxin put down the water can, turned to look at Xiao Jinyu, and then leaned in close to him and took a sniff.

Xiao Jinyu, puzzled by her strange behavior, thought she must be getting nervous about meeting the parents.

"Miss Wanxin, are you very nervous?"

Miss Wanxin raised her head, her cool gaze fixated on him, "Why do you have a scent on you?"

"I haven’t used any rouge or powder, how could there be any scent?" Xiao Jinyu lifted his hand to his nose and sniffed; indeed, he could smell a hint of fragrance.

"It might be because I got a bit too close to Miss Wanxin and picked up her scent," he said.

Chun Xi’s eyes darkened, "You were actually that close to another woman?"

Xiao Jinyu explained, "I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, it was unavoidable, I won’t do it again next time."

Chun Xi said coldly, "Then go change your clothes, they smell awful."

"I’ll go change right now," Xiao Jinyu replied with a smile, trying to appease her. As he turned around, he sniffed deliberately and a flicker of confusion passed through his eyes—it didn’t smell bad at all.

At night

Concubine Xu couldn’t sleep with excitement at the thought of being able to leave the palace in two days.

It had been so long since she’d last left the palace, and it was for the autumn hunt no less.

Suddenly, Concubine Xu jumped up from bed, feeling troubled, "I don’t even have horse-riding attire, and it’s too late to have it made."

The more she thought about it, the less she could sleep, and as time went on, she started to feel thirsty.

She got out of bed, walked over to the table, and poured herself a cup of tea to drink.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure outside the window.

She paused her drinking, suddenly widening her eyes. Could it be that a man in black had arrived?

Thinking that this was a possibility, she put down her cup and quickly walked over to the window.

When she flung open the window, a chill breeze blew in.

She stuck her head out, looking around, only to see darkness and no sign of anyone.

She was puzzled, "I clearly saw the figure of a man in black just now, where did he go?"

Right then, sitting on the roof right above her head was a person—the man in black.

Concubine Xu, not giving up, whispered out the window, "I know you’ve come, show yourself or you’re a cowardly dog."

The man in black: "..."

Concubine Xu frowned. Could she have been mistaken after all?

She sighed, about to close the window, when suddenly a tall figure appeared before her, blinding her with its suddenness.

The man in black always appeared in a night-time outfit, but his tall stature, well-proportioned physique, and excellent demeanor, coupled with that face, left no doubt that he was a handsome man.

She was both shocked and delighted, "So you really did come. Why didn’t you show yourself earlier? Do I have to call you a cowardly dog to make you appear?"

"..." The man in black said, "What are you doing up in the middle of the night?"

Concubine Xu snorted, "Can’t I be happy if I want to?"

The man in black snorted back, "Merely reveling in petty joys."

Concubine Xu, discontented, retorted, "Who says I’m indulging in petty joys? My family is very rich, how could I be amused by trifles?"

The man in black, hand to his forehead, replied, "I told you to read more books, but you insisted on watching pigs."

Concubine Xu always felt that the man in black looked down on her.

"What’s that supposed to mean? We don’t even keep pigs at home."

The man in black replied, "Talking to a fool is exhausting."

Concubine Xu glared at the man in black, "What have I done to offend you? Are you calling me stupid? My mother has always praised me for being smart."

As she spoke, she sized up the man in black, "Besides, it’s clear your judgment is lacking."

The man in black couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, lest he become frustrated to death—an outcome that would leave her thinking she was merely sleeping...

"So what are you so happy about?" he asked.

Concubine Xu said, "Your Highness promised to take us to the autumn hunt. Isn’t that something to be happy about?"

Only then did the man in black remember that Daxia had its annual autumn hunt; no wonder Concubine Xu was so ecstatic—it meant she could leave the palace.

"You’ve lived so long and still get this excited about it."

Women hate it when someone comments on their age, and Concubine Xu was no exception.

Concubine Xu said displeased, "How am I old? Isn’t a woman in her eighteenth year still in the flower of her youth? Don’t you understand?"

The man in black uttered an intently meaningful "Oh," "So, you’re celebrating your last year of youth this year."

It took a moment for Concubine Xu to realize she’d been set up—

Today was the day she had agreed to meet Chun Xi, and the location was set at Fengyi Palace.

Early in the morning, the Empress was talking to the Crown Princess, "Yuyu actually wants to get married."

Shen Chuwei looked at the Empress, puzzled, "Mother Empress, isn’t Your Majesty happy that Prince Jinyu wants to marry?"

"It’s not about being unhappy; it’s just that Chun Xi’s figure is a bit too striking," the Empress sized up Shen Chuwei, "if someone like you would be much better."

Shen Chuwei looked down at herself and felt rather pleased—

"But Prince Jinyu has now outgrown Chun Xi, and she’s been following him for more than two years," she pointed out.

"Yuyu is simple-minded, and I’ve only met that Chun Xi once; I don’t know much about her background. I’m a bit worried," the Empress expressed with concern.

ps: One more Chapter to follow