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Xiao Jinyan turned his head to watch her eat with a satisfied expression on her face. This was his favorite sight, dining with her always whetted his appetite.

Shen Chuwei took several bites in quick succession, only to notice Xiao Jinyan staring at her without eating himself.

"Aren’t you eating?"

"Of course." Xiao Jinyan picked up a piece and, like Chuwei, placed one hand beneath his chin to catch the crumbs before taking a bite, but no matter how careful, bits of the flaky pastry inevitably fell into the palm of his hand.

Shen Chuwei glanced at Xiao Jinyan eating the pastry, and indeed, a person with good looks made even the same action appear noble.

She turned her eyes back to her own pastry, eating it up left and right, finishing three in quick succession.

When the horse carriage reached the entrance to the Imperial Palace, the guards carried out a routine check.

As the guards opened the carriage door and saw a strange man inside, they asked, "Princess Jiuyou, who is this?"

Shen Chuwei glanced at Xiao Jinyan and said, "He’s a friend of mine. My father wishes to see him."

The guard, who had been stationed at the palace gate for only three years, had no idea who Princess Jiuyou’s father was.

"May I ask who Princess Jiuyou’s father is?"

Shen Chuwei was also stunned for a moment. Did they really not know that Princess Jiuyou’s father was the National Master?

But she thought about it, and indeed, many in the palace didn’t know that the National Master lived in Wuyou Palace.

"The National Master."

Upon hearing this, the guard was shocked for a few seconds before coming to his senses.

His eyes widened; in his three years at the gate, he had only heard of the National Master through others’ words and had never seen him.

Knowing that the National Master had returned, he wondered if he might even get a glimpse of his true face from Mount Lu.

"So the National Master has already returned; please forgive my ignorance just now."

Seeing the guard’s surprised expression, Shen Chuwei knew the National Master’s reputation was no small matter.

"Can we go through now?"

The guard immediately nodded, "Of course, please proceed, Princess Jiuyou."

After the guard gave them leave, the eunuch drove the carriage on.

Shen Chuwei turned to look at Xiao Jinyan, seeing him lift the curtain to look outside. Since his memories were now those of Nanzhao Country, and he had spent many years in the palace, he should be familiar with it.

"Are you afraid of the National Master?"

Xiao Jinyan let the curtain fall and looked back at Chuwei, "Who isn’t afraid of the National Master? Rather than fear, I would say it’s a matter of respect."

Shen Chuwei nodded thoughtfully, "That’s true. I was also startled when I first learned he was the National Master, but he’s actually quite approachable. Though it helps that I have Feng Wuyou’s favor."

Xiao Jinyan couldn’t help but say, "You don’t believe in the National Master’s judgment?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "I do believe. Even with good judgment, there’s a chance of error, of course. Nevertheless, the National Master is very formidable."

Xiao Jinyan shook his head helplessly.

Once the carriage stopped at the entrance to Wuyou Palace, Xiao Jinyan alighted first. Looking at the familiar Wuyou Palace, it felt as if it was just yesterday.

He turned to help Chuwei out.

Shen Chuwei stepped down from the carriage with ease, thanks to Xiao Jinyan’s assistance, and then they walked side by side into the palace.

As soon as they entered, they saw a chimera lying on the arch bridge, stirring the water with its massive paws, scaring away the fish.

Seeing Chuwei return, the chimera stopped playing in the water, shook the fur on its body, and made its way toward her.

When it came near, it rubbed its enormous head against Chuwei’s arm.

Shen Chuwei rubbed its head and took out a pastry, unwrapping the oiled paper. Holding a piece before the chimera, she teased, "I didn’t lie, did I? I brought you something to eat."

The chimera hummed contentedly and then opened its mouth wide, waiting to be fed.

Shen Chuwei didn’t disappoint it, putting the pastry in its mouth.

Xiao Jinyan observed the chimera’s vast size, which had more than doubled. He couldn’t help feeling a bit sentimental, "The chimera has grown so much."

While feeding the pastry, Shen Chuwei asked, "How big was it before?"

Xiao Jinyan said with a smile, "It was a bit larger than a dog."

Shen Chuwei made a rough comparison and knew just how much the chimera had grown.

"Then it has indeed grown a lot."

Xiao Jinyan added, "The chimera is only close to you, Chuwei. And you still say you’re not called Chuwei?"

Shen Chuwei responded, "You don’t understand, I’ve had this ability since I was little."

Xiao Jinyan stated matter-of-factly, "You indeed have had this ability since childhood."

Shen Chuwei: "..."But she had crossed over from the modern era!!!

After feeding the chimera the last piece of pastry and rubbing its head, she said, "Let’s not talk about that. I’ll take you to see the National Master."

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Alright."

Shen Chuwei led Xiao Jinyan towards the Main Hall, and from a distance, they saw Xue Huai. She called out, "Where is the National Master?"

Xue Huai responded, "Replying to Princess Jiuyou, the Master is in the Study Room."

Having been to the Study Room once, Shen Chuwei then led Xiao Jinyan directly there.

As they approached the door of the Study Room, Shen Chuwei felt a pang of tension, anxious that the National Master might give Jinyan a hard time.