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"Taotao, where is your sister?"

Taotao shook her head, "I don’t know either."

Susu has a sweet tooth and is always the most eager when it’s mealtime; it doesn’t make sense for her to be tardy.

Could she have snuck out to mooch food and drink?

"Little rabbit, go out and look, see if she’s playing around somewhere."

"Yes." The little rabbit went out to look for her.

Shen Chuwei was about to leave when she saw Chu Lingfeng leading Susu in, with Susu holding a meat bun in her hand, enjoying it immensely.

Chu Lingfeng stepped forward to greet her, "This subject pays respects to the Crown Princess."

Shen Chuwei sighed in relief, "Rise."

Susu trotted over and dove into her mother concubine’s arms, "Mommy, buns, tasty meat."

Shen Chuwei looked at her darling daughter’s greasy hands, helplessly placing her on the dining chair, "I knew you must have sneaked out to scrounge some food."

Susu’s eyes curved into smiles, "Little Gugu, here."

Shen Chuwei looked up at Chu Lingfeng and asked softly, "Would Young Master Chu care to eat some more with us?"

Chu Lingfeng, with modest demeanor, replied, "Thank you, but this subject has eaten his fill."

"Then sit down for a chat."

"Thank you, Crown Princess."

Shen Chuwei, already famished, grabbed a meat bun in front of her and took a bite; the rich broth was truly delicious.

Chu Lingfeng sat in the chair beside her, watching the Crown Princess holding a meat bun, simply gnawing at it - indeed, gnawing - taking big bites, which didn’t quite match the Crown Princess’s demeanor.

He was taken aback.

Then he looked at the young prince, who was holding a bun in both hands, and eating it slowly and methodically, bite by bite.

He turned his gaze to the little princess, who grasped her bun with one hand and gnawed at it just like her mother, mimicking the Crown Princess’s every move.

The scene before him was entirely different from what he had imagined.

When Lady arrived, Chu Lingfeng had already taken Taotao to the next door bedchamber to study.

Susu was learning horse riding in the courtyard, which really consisted of riding on the back of a white tiger; wherever the tiger went, she didn’t have to walk, her laziness strikingly similar to Shen Chuwei’s.

Shen Chuwei saw the smile on Lady’s face and asked curiously, "Have you encountered some good news?"

"No specific good news, just a bit curious about Mr. Song’s reaction today." Lady couldn’t help but laugh again at the thought of the naive and handsome face of Song Qing.

Shen Chuwei was confused, "Mr. Song’s reaction? What reaction?"

Lady whispered in Shen Chuwei’s ear, "I gave him ’Return of Spring’ yesterday and told him to read it when he got home."

"Return of Spring!"

Shen Chuwei’s eyes widened, "Isn’t that a compulsory romance novel? Men don’t like to read that kind of thing~"

Lady stifled a laugh and said, "Of course, I know men don’t like it, Mr. Song is devoted to reading the classics, but a change of pace to refresh the mind isn’t a bad idea either."

Having met Song Qing numerous times, Shen Chuwei felt him to be a very gentle and polite man, with an air of a literato in his every move, precise in manners and etiquette, never stepping over the line.

"A top scholar who only reads the classics, you give him such an explicit storybook, aren’t you afraid he’ll be angry and embarrassed?"

Lady was startled by the comment; she hadn’t thought that much at the time and just wanted to tease Song Qing.

"I don’t know, if he gets angry, I’ll say I got it wrong. But Song Qing is a man; surely he should have a higher tolerance than us."

Shen Chuwei: "... "Even if Song Qing is a man, he is still a pure ancient soul, and moreover, a scholar who only reads classics; if he were a debauchee, it wouldn’t be such a big deal."

Compared to certain explicit illustrations, ’Return of Spring’ is mere child’s play; it just skirts around the edges.

Lady suddenly grabbed Shen Chuwei’s arm, "Crown Princess, let us go see Mr. Song, see what his reaction is."

Shen Chuwei, also somewhat curious, nodded, "Alright."

Shen Chuwei and Lady arrived at the adjacent study room and from afar, could hear Song Qing’s gentle voice.

Lady stood outside the door, peeking in and her eyes immediately fell on Song Qing. Today he was garbed in a green brocade robe with a moon-white sash around his waist.

Schlolarly elegance personified, a phrase perfectly suitable for Song Qing.

Shen Chuwei peeked inside and asked Lady in a low voice, "Isn’t Song Qing very handsome?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lady replied, "Yes, to become a top scholar you must naturally have good looks, though he is somewhat naive."

Speaking of innocence, Lady and the Concubine were once as naive themselves, until she led them astray.

The lead cause was that pile of romance novels.

Otherwise, Lady and the Concubine’s thoughts wouldn’t be so unrestrained~

Shen Chuwei said, "Someone like Song Qing, learned and handsome, is the perfect candidate for a son-in-law."

Lady felt indignant, "The Emperor’s sisters are of mature age, wouldn’t that be robbing the cradle?"

Shen Chuwei expressed her regret, "It’s a pity that the Emperor doesn’t have a princess."

"It’s better that he doesn’t have one."

Lady’s words were spoken softly, but still caught by Shen Chuwei’s ears.

If the Emperor had a daughter, then Song Qing would definitely not escape the fate of becoming a royal son-in-law.

Shen Chuwei continued, "I’ve heard the prime minister, the Minister of Rites, and the Assistant Minister of Rites all want to take Song Qing as their son-in-law."

Upon hearing this, Lady’s grip on the handkerchief in her hand tightened involuntarily; a man as outstanding as Song Qing was bound to be highly sought after.

She sighed to herself, "... Then it’s even harder to pursue."

Understanding the implication, Shen Chuwei’s curiosity was piqued, her face full of gossip as she leaned in, "Do you fancy Song Qing?"

Lady’s face turned red and she withdrew her gaze to look at Shen Chuwei; this secret could probably only be shared with Shen Chuwei.

She sheepishly nodded her head.

The first time she saw Song Qing, she took a liking to him, so when the Concubine asked her to leave the palace, she wasn’t against the idea, she just didn’t want to leave just yet.

Because leaving the palace would mean not being able to see Song Qing as often.

As a modern person, Shen Chuwei’s immediate response was, "Then what are you waiting for? Chase him, or you’ll miss your chance."