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Xiao Jinyan sat down opposite her and picked up his chopsticks, first helping himself to some lettuce that he placed into his bowl.

Shen Chuwei looked at the few dishes in front of her and then at the few dishes in front of Xiao Jinyan.

Although they were the same dishes, the difference in color, aroma, and flavor was significant.

She was indeed allowed to eat meat, but it was as bland as plain-boiled chicken, provoking no appetite at all.

In contrast, the dishes in front of Xiao Jinyan had all the appealing colors, aromas, and flavors that set her mouth watering.

Xiao Jinyan looked up and noticed her staring at his bowl without moving her chopsticks.

His lips curved up slightly, “Your wound hasn’t healed yet, you can only eat something light, which is good for the wound to heal without leaving scars.”

Such familiar words made Shen Chuwei realize one thing — what goes around comes around!

Shen Chuwei ate her meal with a sullen face, glancing at the plate of cured meat stir-fried with celtuce in front of Xiao Jinyan from time to time.

Watching him eat the cured meat made her crave it even more.

Xiao Jinyan picked up another piece and asked her, “What meat is this?

It has a very unique flavor.”

Shen Chuwei explained, somewhat glumly, “Your Highness, that is cured meat.”

“The taste is good,” he remarked, and continued eating leisurely after putting it in his mouth.

Shen Chuwei watched eagerly; of course it tasted good — it was cured by me, after all!

For the entire meal, Shen Chuwei had to content herself with merely coveting what she could not have.

When Xiao Jinyan put down his chopsticks, Shen Chuwei also followed suit.

Suddenly, a piece of stir-fried cured meat appeared in her bowl, and, surprised and delighted, she looked up to see Xiao Jinyan holding his chopsticks and looking at her.

Since the meal began, Xiao Jinyan had noticed that Shen Chuwei’s clear and bright eyes were constantly fixated on the plate of meat in front of him — it was obvious that she was coveting it intensely.

“You can only have one piece,” he said.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Shen Chuwei picked up her chopsticks again and conveyed the piece of cured meat from her bowl to her mouth.

The fatty and lean parts of the meat were evenly distributed, making it not at all greasy.

Finally satisfying her craving, she could have a good night’s sleep tonight.

After dinner, Chun Xi cleared away the dishes and utensils.

Shen Chuwei supported herself on the table as she stood up, intending to lie down on the couch for a while.

Xiao Jinyan saw her getting up to leave and halted her with a cold voice, “Don’t move around when you’re injured.”

Shen Chuwei, startled, stopped in her tracks and didn’t dare to move, watching as Xiao Jinyan stood up and came over to her, “This concubine just wanted to lie down on the couch for a while.”

Xiao Jinyan’s face was stern as he picked her up horizontally.

She was very light, easy to lift without touching her wounded chest.

Having held her several times, he knew exactly how to do so without aggravating the wound on her chest.

Chun Xi had laid out two fox fur blankets on the couch along with an oversized pillow that was particularly comfortable to lean on.

After placing her on the couch, Xiao Jinyan sat down on the other side.

A small gray rabbit was huddled in the corner of the couch, evidently frightened by the dangerous aura of Xuetuan, who had jumped in through the window.

Upon entering, Xuetuan merely gave the little rabbit a cursory glance, feeling somewhat aggrieved for having arrived too late to mooch any food, and jumped into Shen Chuwei’s arms.

Seeing this, Shen Chuwei didn’t bother to intervene.

The rabbit was too timid, and it was about time it got used to being braver.

She stroked Xuetuan’s belly, enjoying its softness and comfort.

Xiao Jinyan watched Shen Chuwei play with the cat and remembered the real reason he had come tonight, speaking up, “Xiyun Pavilion is too secluded and not suitable for recuperation.

You will move to Yihuan Hall tomorrow.”

Upon hearing they would be moving to Yihuan Hall, Chun Xi could hardly contain her joy.

The hall was the closest to the Crown Prince’s living quarters, even closer than Lady Liang’s Xinlan Hall, and crucially, Yihuan Hall was designated for concubines of the same rank as Xinlan Hall.

Shen Chuwei, on hearing this, objected.

She had a large vegetable garden in her backyard, which she had managed single-handedly — it was like her child, how could she abandon it?

“Your Highness, this concubine feels this place is quite nice.

There’s no need to move.”

Chun Xi, standing to one side, was anxious; how could the young master reject such a good opportunity?

Xiao Jinyan’s eyes paused, many people in Yihuan Hall eyed a chance to move in, yet she discarded the opportunity as if it were a worn-out shoe.

“Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements?”

Shen Chuwei immediately shook her head, “The little vegetable garden is like a child to this concubine, and it cannot be abandoned.”

Xiao Jinyan’s expression darkened, “Nonsense!”

Shen Chuwei hurriedly explained, “This concubine merely meant it as a figure of speech; I didn’t say they’re Your Highness’s children…”

“…” Xiao Jinyan, “Do you truly not wish to move to Yihuan Hall?”

Shen Chuwei shook her head.

She thought, even if Yihuan Hall were nicer, it had no vegetable garden, and she would have to be neighbors with the oft-visited Lady, so staying away as a minor cannon fodder was safer to avoid being unintentionally hurt.

Shen Chuwei’s calculations were all heard by Xiao Jinyan, so not moving to Yihuan Hall wasn’t only about not wanting to part with the vegetable garden.

He stared at her for a while, still curious about why he suddenly could hear her inner thoughts?

His gaze turned to Xuetuan in her arms, and after careful recollection, he realized that every time he heard her thoughts, Xuetuan was present.

Could it be related to Xuetuan?

“For your contributions in saving me, I am promoting you to Lady.”

Chun Xi was so nervous, her mind was racing, “My lady, please don’t refuse this time!

It’s a rare opportunity, to jump ranks thrice!”

This time, Shen Chuwei did not refuse; she happily accepted, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

In her mind, she thought that with a higher rank, from now on, no matter who came to Xiyun Pavilion, she would not have to salute them.

Xiao Jinyan, “…” So that was your reason for accepting?

Just for that small ambition?

Chun Xi secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, her lady agreed; it was a golden opportunity not to be missed!

Xiao Jinyan leisurely said, “Since you have been promoted to Lady, you cannot be served by Chun Xi alone; it does not comply with protocol.

I will assign two more palace maids and three little eunuchs to do chores for you.”

Shen Chuwei obediently nodded her head, “This concubine will follow Your Highness’s will.”

Xiao Jinyan’s visit to Xiyun Pavilion that night was for these very reasons; Shen Chuwei had risked her life to save him, so he tried to compensate her in these respects.

If Shen Chuwei did not wish to move to Yihuan Hall, then it had nothing to do with him; he had done all he could.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the small grey rabbit in the corner, “Rabbit, have you been fed today?”

Shen Chuwei was stunned for a moment, “Right, if Your Highness did not mention it, this concubine would have forgotten.”

This gray rabbit was a wild rabbit, and its meat was better than that of the domestically raised rabbits.

Chun Xi, who had heard the conversation from outside, brought over a radish, “My lady, feed the little rabbit with this.”

Shen Chuwei fed the small rabbit with the radish.

The rabbit, with its tiny heart, glanced at Xuetuan with its dark eyes for a while before gingerly biting into the radish and then started eating.

Xiao Jinyan watched the little rabbit nibble on the radish, resembling Shen Chuwei when she ate, never stopping once she began.

As Shen Chuwei watched, she thought to herself that only by feeding the rabbit well and letting it grow, could it in turn satisfy her hunger!

Xiao Jinyan listened and his expression grew heavier; was she actually thinking of eating this little rabbit?

“Shen Fengyi, how do you plan to raise this little rabbit?”

…

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…Promoting the completed book “Having spoiled the Tyrant Regent’s pampered wife after traveling through books,” a light-hearted, sweet romance story.

There are also several other completed works available; click on the author’s profile picture to have a look.