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After resting for an hour, everyone felt refreshed.

Having lived with the babies for a while, the bustling life each day made the quietness of the tent seem unusual.

Qing Ying brought a freshly brewed cup of tea to the Empress, asking gently, "Your Majesty, are you feeling hungry? Shall I ask someone to prepare some food for you?"

The Empress shook her head, "I don’t have much of an appetite."

Thinking of Shen Chuwei, she suddenly lifted her head to look at Qing Ying, "Go check on the Crown Princess."

Qing Ying responded, "Alright."

The Empress left the tent and headed towards the Crown Prince’s camp. Before she arrived, she could smell a delicious aroma.

She asked Qing Ying with some confusion, "Qing Ying, do you smell that fragrance?"

Qing Ying replied, "This servant does. It seems to be the scent of grilled meat."

The Empress actually had been hungry for a while but just lacked an appetite. Now, the aroma of the grilled meat immediately made her hungry.

"Who is grilling meat at this hour? Let’s go have a look."

Following the scent, the Empress saw a fire burning not far away with several people sitting beside it. The fragrance was wafting over from there.

As she approached, the Empress recognized that those seated by the fire were none other than the Crown Princess and Concubine Xun Tao and her party.

"You all are really enjoying yourselves, starting to roast rabbits already?"

Shen Chuwei lifted her head, saw the Empress, and stood up to greet her, "Mother, you’ve arrived at just the right time. We are roasting rabbits to eat."

Xun Tao and the others also stood up and bowed in respect along with Shen Chuwei.

The savory smell had already whetted the Empress’s appetite, and she said with a smile, "You all are quite swift. However, I am indeed a bit hungry, so this is perfect timing."

With Qing Ying’s assistance, she took a seat on a small stool by the fire and gestured for the others to sit down as well.

"I’ll prepare some condiments," said Shen Chuwei as she ran into the tent and brought out chili sauce and thin pancakes.

Wrapping the roast rabbit meat in thin pancakes could reduce the greasiness.

The pancakes had been prepared in advance and stored in ’Space,’ which had both refrigeration and preservation functions, allowing food to remain fresh without spoiling.

When Shen Chuwei returned with the condiments, everyone looked eagerly in her direction, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

They watched as Shen Chuwei laid out the contents of the tray on the table: the chili sauce, along with the thin pancakes.

She also brought over a pot of hot tea, perfect for cutting through the greasiness.

The Empress, unable to wait for the rabbit to be ready and intrigued by the pancakes on the table, asked Shen Chuwei, "Crown Princess, how do you eat these pancakes?"

Shen Chuwei poured tea for the Empress, Concubine Xun Tao, and Lady Tao.

"These pancakes aren’t that tasty on their own, but they taste quite good when rolled with roasted rabbit meat," she explained.

The Empress expressed her disappointment, "I had hoped they could be eaten on their own."

Meanwhile, Chun Xi had finished roasting the rabbit meat, setting it aside to cool while sprinkling some green onions and sesame seeds on top.

After letting it cool for a moment, she began to slice the meat and place the slices onto a plate.

The Empress and the others waited for Shen Chuwei to show them how to eat it.

Without hesitation, Shen Chuwei took a pancake in her palm, placed two slices of rabbit meat on it, spread a bit of chili sauce, then rolled it up and took a bite. It tasted even better than roast duck.

Knowing the Empress was hungry, Qing Ying followed Shen Chuwei’s example, took a pancake, placed two slices of roasted rabbit meat on it, spread some chili sauce, rolled it up, and handed it to the Empress, "Your Majesty, it’s ready to eat."

The Empress had been craving it and hurriedly took a bite, finding it even more delicious than she had imagined.

"This grilled rabbit meat is really fragrant."

Qing Ying continued to roll the pancakes.

Concubine Xun Tao, following suit, found it delicious to the point of being indescribable after trying it.

While eating, Shen Chuwei didn’t forget to roll one for Chun Xi.

Chun Xi, busy slicing meat and unable to spare her hands, quickly finished her share, feeling happy because her master never forgot about her when eating.

Shen Chuwei took a sip of tea and continued to roll meat in pancakes to eat.

Concubine Xun Tao said while eating, "Following the Crown Princess, one will never lack for delicious food."

The Empress nodded in agreement, "Concubine Xun Tao’s words have my approval."

As she ate, Shen Chuwei kept her gaze on the rabbit carcass, thinking it would be a waste to throw it away.

...

Xiao Jinyu caught the rabbit, knowing where to quickly catch little rabbits.

A small gray rabbit might have been lost and happened to be caught by Xiao Jinyu.

As Xiao Jinyu looked down at the fluffy little rabbit in his hands, pleased with himself, he saw Wanxin approaching.

"Why have you come?" he asked.

"This commoner had nothing to do and followed to see what Prince Jinyu was up to," Wanxin said, her eyes lowered to the little rabbit in Xiao Jinyu’s hands, she exclaimed, "What a cute rabbit!"

Xiao Jinyu looked at the little rabbit in his hands with pride, "Of course, it is."

Looking forward to holding it, Wanxin asked him, "Prince Jinyu, may this commoner hold the little rabbit?"

Xiao Jinyu flatly refused, "No, it’s a gift for Miss Han."

Wanxin’s expression faltered, looking at Xiao Jinyu’s serious eyes, she persisted, "This commoner just wants to hold it for a moment."

Xiao Jinyu was still adamant in his refusal, "If it weren’t for Miss Han, I would let you hold it, but it’s a gift for her, and no one else should touch it."

Seeing Xiao Jinyu’s insistence, Wanxin did not press further, "Alright then."

On the way back, Wanxin realized that Xiao Jinyu was walking very fast and she couldn’t keep up. She was so focused on the little rabbit in his hand that she didn’t notice a vine on the ground and stumbled, falling to the ground.

"Ah!!!"

At her cry, Xiao Jinyu looked back and saw Wanxin on the ground, evidently having fallen hard, her eyes red with pain.

He sighed. She was so fragile, why follow after me and waste my time?

With no other choice, Xiao Jinyu walked back to where Wanxin crouched down, "Are you alright? If there’s nothing serious, let’s keep going."

Wanxin sat up from the ground, rubbing her sore knee, tears dangling on her lashes, threatening to fall.

ps: Third update