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An hour later, Shen Chuwei fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Jinyan lowered his gaze to the person sleeping soundly before him, his eyes lingering on her for quite some time, resting on her eyebrows and the transparent teardrops still clinging to her long eyelashes; each time he heard her whimper like a kitten, he was exceptionally thrilled.

He stretched out his slender fingers to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, then stood up, carefully covered her with the blanket, and slowly began to dress himself.

After he was dressed, he turned and walked to the desk in front of the screen, looked at the empty desk, then glanced over his shoulder at the bookshelf. His eyes caught a painting scroll hanging unopened on the wall next to the bookshelf.

At just one glance he recognized it as the painting he had been looking at before he left. He walked over, removed the painting scroll, and returned to the desk, where he began to unfurl it slowly, his eyes darkening at the sight of a few drops of ink.

He opened the scroll completely to reveal not just a few ink drops, but a chaotic intertwining of strokes—a clear sign of haphazard scribbling.

Remembering what Xiao Jiu had just done, it was obvious he was trying to prevent him from discovering this painting.

When Shen Chuwei awoke from her sleep, she stretched contentedly. Indeed, waking up naturally was the best feeling.

She took her time getting dressed and, stepping out from behind the screen, she saw Xiao Jinyan sitting at the desk. She happily approached him.

"Your Highness, I’m going back now."

As Shen Chuwei was dressing, Xiao Jinyan was aware of it. He lifted his head to look at her, pointed at the painting on the desk, and said softly, "My concubine, explain this."

Shen Chuwei, looking perplexed, followed the direction of Xiao Jinyan’s finger and saw the calligraphy and painting that her precious son had wildly defaced.

She then remembered that her purpose in coming to the study was to make Xiao Jinyan forget about this painting, and not for them to be intimate.

Looking at Xiao Jinyan with his cold face, it was clear he was angry.

If she admitted it was their son’s doing, he might punish the boy and even establish new rules.

Instantly, Shen Chuwei’s inner actress emerged. She took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe non-existent tears from the corner of her eye, saying with feigned grievance, "Your Highness, am I less important to you than a piece of calligraphy and painting?"

Xiao Jinyan watched as Xiao Jiu, who had been smiling just moments ago, suddenly turned aggrieved. He pointed at the painting and said, "When has this palace ever compared you to calligraphy and painting? We are discussing serious matters."

"Look at this, I come here and Your Highness doesn’t even ask if I’m tired or if I slept well. The moment you open your mouth, you ask about the painting. Doesn’t it mean you think I’m less important than a piece of paper? Go on, live with your painting!"

After saying that, Shen Chuwei ran out with a covered face, not giving Xiao Jinyan a chance to speak.

Xiao Jinyan was stunned by Shen Chuwei’s series of actions, frozen in place until her figure vanished from the doorway before he came to his senses.

"...Did I say something wrong?"

After running out, Shen Chuwei looked back twice to see if Xiao Jinyan had followed her, sighing in relief when she realized he hadn’t.

After walking for a while, she looked back again, and saw that Xiao Jinyan really hadn’t come after her.

She was so evidently distressed and aggrieved, yet Xiao Jinyan didn’t care at all? Acting like nothing happened and not chasing after her?

Shen Chuwei touched her face, wondering if she had already lost her allure.

Back at Hehuan Hall, Shen Chuwei examined herself with a modern mirror, which showed a clearer reflection than the ancient bronze mirrors.

Chun Xi entered holding some clothes, only to see Shen Chuwei holding a mirror and looking at her reflection from different angles. Curious, she approached and asked, "Master, what’s wrong?"

Shen Chuwei held the mirror, turned to Chun Xi and, pointing at her own face, asked, "Have I gotten old?"

Chuckling at the question, Chun Xi replied, "Master, you are not that old at all, how could you be old?"

"I also think I’m not old," Shen Chuwei put down the mirror, looking worried, "Then it must be that His Highness has grown tired of the familiar and seeks novelty."

Noticing Shen Chuwei’s unusual behavior, Chun Xi asked anxiously, "Master, what happened?"

Shen Chuwei briefly recounted the events that had just taken place.

Chun Xi became indignant, "His Highness should comfort you when he knows you’re upset. How could he not!"

Shen Chuwei dismissively said, "If he won’t comfort me, I’ll comfort myself."

Immediately feeling sympathetic, Chun Xi asked, "Master, how will you comfort yourself?"

Shen Chuwei held up two fingers, "For dinner, I want two crystal elbows."

Chun Xi stared at those two slender fingers for a few seconds, puzzled.

Shen Chuwei felt that two crystal elbows wouldn’t be enough to cheer her up, remembering that the ducks in the chicken coop were fully grown by now.

"And a roast duck."

If it would make the master happy, Chun Xi would dutifully prepare anything, crystal elbows and roast duck included.

"...Alright, I’ll go prepare it immediately."

Chun Xi instructed little bunny to go to Xiyun Pavilion to catch a duck and slaughter it, and also to catch a fish on the way back to make sweet and sour fish.

At dinnertime, Xiao Jinyan did not come, seemingly confirming his fickleness.

Shen Chuwei briefly glanced at the table full of her favorite dishes; Chun Xi understood her the best. She ate tearfully through four bowls of rice.

Taotao and Susu were old enough to eat on their own, sitting in their baby chairs with food laid out in front of them, chopsticks and spoons included.

The baby chairs were her design, which she had asked Qin Xiao to have a carpenter custom-make.

The babies, seeing adults use chopsticks, were also trying to mimic them, even though the food was scattering everywhere. They were still determined to use chopsticks.

After dinner, the wet nurses took Taotao and Susu for a bath.

Having bathed, Shen Chuwei let down the bed curtain and lay down under the covers, just about to close her eyes, when she heard the door open followed by footsteps, subconsciously assuming it was Chun Xi.

"Chun Xi, after you leave, bar the outer door."

Xiao Jinyan paused in his steps, looking back at the external door. If it wasn’t him entering, would he still be able to enter if the door was barred?