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With a body so large, even a slight movement could cause devastating damage; no wonder she wouldn’t let it enter.

Then a palace maid came in with small, quick steps, her eyes lowered and her head bowed: "Princess, the North Regent has arrived."

A flicker of confusion crossed Shen Chuwei’s eyes. Who was the North Regent?

When Ye Yuxi heard that the North Regent had arrived, he frowned. What was he here for?

While Shen Chuwei was curious about who the North Regent was, Ye Yuchen strode in.

Shen Chuwei had just bitten into a piece of stinky tofu when she saw a man in a purple robe walk in, wearing a purple-gold crown, with a handsome face and an aura of nobility; without asking, she knew he was the North Regent.

Upon entering, Ye Yuchen stepped forward to pay his respects, "Crown Prince Your Highness."

Seeing Ye Yuchen, Ye Yuxi smiled and asked, "North Regent, what brings you to the palace?"

Ye Yuchen looked at Ye Yuxi with a smile that was not quite a smile, "I heard Princess Jiuyou has returned, so naturally I came to see how much she has grown."

Ye Yuxi remained noncommittal.

Only then did Ye Yuchen turn his gaze to the girl eating stinky tofu. As soon as he came in, he had smelled the stinky tofu, which really was quite unpleasant.

The girl in front of him had a pair of extremely beautiful eyes, twinkling like the brightest stars in the night sky, and her delicate features were beyond reproach.

Her skin was as white and pure as snow, looking all the more tender clothed in pink.

Although he hadn’t seen her for many years, she still bore the shadow of her childhood self.

With a smile full of warmth, Ye Yuchen said, "Little Nine, you’ve grown quite a bit in the years since we last saw each other."

Shen Chuwei showed an awkward yet polite smile, "...Well, of course, I have to grow, don’t I?"

"That’s true," Ye Yuchen said as he looked at the stinky tofu in her hand, covering his nose and mouth in jest. "After all these years, you still like to eat stinky tofu. It’s so smelly, how can you even stand to eat it?"

"It just smells bad, but it tastes exceptionally good. You haven’t tried it; once you do, you’ll know how delicious it is," Shen Chuwei replied, then picked up a piece of stinky tofu and put it in her mouth, savoring it.

"I couldn’t eat it," Ye Yuchen said, thinking of Wu Tan, who could eat stinky tofu without changing his expression. He smiled and added, "But there’s someone who could enjoy it with you."

Eating her stinky tofu, Shen Chuwei casually asked, "Who?"

Ye Yuchen glanced at Ye Yuxi, who happened to look over at that moment. The former’s eyes were mocking while the latter was a bit nervous.

He played coy, "When he enters the palace, you’ll know."

Shen Chuwei continued to eat her stinky tofu, watching Ye Yuchen with a mysterious look on his face, but she didn’t press further. Whoever it was, she was certain she didn’t know them.

Although Ye Yuchen hadn’t spelled it out, Ye Yuxi guessed who he was referring to; it seemed the news was true, he really had returned.

Ye Yuchen watched the little girl he had grown up with and couldn’t help but think of an image in his mind: a cute and soft foodie who would smile sweetly at anyone who gave her tasty treats.

Ye Yuchen did not stay long at Wuyou Palace before leaving. As for whether Wu Tan would return to the palace, he was betting that he would, for the sake of Little Nine.

Not long after Ye Yuchen left, Ye Yuxi also departed.

When Ye Haoting came to visit Little Nine, she had just gotten out of bed, awoken by the palace maid.

How could Shen Chuwei have known that Ye Haoting, who was so busy every day, would come to see her early in the morning?

She hurriedly dressed and, after washing up, came out to see Ye Haoting seated at the table, having probably been waiting for a while.

Shen Chuwei approached with a mix of surprise and delight, "Your Majesty, despite your countless duties, you’ve made time to see me. It should really be the younger generation visiting you."

Ye Haoting showed a hearty smile, "I haven’t seen you for a couple of days, so I came to check on you. Are you settling in well?"

Without holding back compliments, Shen Chuwei enthusiastically replied, "Quite well, indeed. Good food, good clothes, naturally a good life."

Ye Haoting nodded his head with a laugh, "Indeed, having grown up here, it seems you would still like it even after being away for so long."

Just then, a palace maid served breakfast, placing it on the dining table before retreating.

Before reaching for the utensils, Shen Chuwei made sure to ask Ye Haoting, "Have you had your meal, Your Majesty?"

Ye Haoting replied, "I have already eaten."

"Then I shall eat." Shen Chuwei eagerly grasped her chopsticks, picked up a dumpling and bit into it. The meat filling was delicious.

Ye Haoting sat there watching her eat. Little Nine had always loved to eat; she might be unhappy when not eating, but when she ate, she was definitely happy—possibly even doubly so.