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"Princess Jiuyou, I was wrong, speaking nonsense without clarifying the facts. I hope you won’t take offense."

Shen Chuwei cleared her throat, "Considering the Emperor’s face, I’ll let it go this time, but if there’s a next time, I won’t be so lenient."

Ye Anyu kept her head low, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her dress, acting all haughty even though she was just an imposter. She’s nothing without the support of the National Master—without him, she’s nothing.

Ye Yuxi knew his sister had offended the National Master and Little Jiu. Offending anyone else would’ve been manageable, but the people of Wuyou Palace could not be offended.

"National Master, the younger generation will take their leave," he said, pulling Ye Anyu out with him.

Ye Anyu left unwillingly, following her Crown Prince brother.

Only after they had gone far did Ye Anyu indignantly say, "Crown Prince brother, I really wasn’t lying; that Little Jiu is an imposter."

Ye Yuxi replied displeased, "Do you have proof? The National Master is so capable, how could he not distinguish the real from the fake? If it weren’t for your recklessness, how could you have offended the National Master?"

Ye Anyu, not willing to give in, raised her hand and said earnestly, "Crown Prince brother, I swear, I really did hear her admit she isn’t Feng Wuyou."

Ye Yuxi scolded, "Enough, let this matter rest, and don’t cause any more trouble."

"Crown Prince brother, I’m telling the truth, why won’t you believe me?" Ye Anyu’s frustration was at its limit.

"What you say doesn’t matter. If the National Master believes she’s real, then she is real, understand?"

After saying that, Ye Yuxi left without looking back.

Watching her Crown Prince brother leave her behind and walk away, Ye Anyu clenched the handkerchief in her hand, turned to look towards Wuyou Palace, and refused to believe there was nothing she could do about an imposter.

She withdrew her gaze from the retreating figure and jogged to catch up.

*

Watching Ye Yuxi and Ye Anyu leave, Shen Chuwei felt like she had narrowly escaped disaster. If the National Master had believed them, she would have been finished.

She looked at the National Master and caught him looking back at her. Perhaps feeling guilty, she didn’t dare meet those extraordinarily beautiful eyes.

Jun Moqing said, "Let’s go have dinner together."

Shen Chuwei nodded, "Alright."

When Shen Chuwei and Jun Moqing arrived at the dining room, the meals were already set on the table, and Xiao Jinyan was waiting at the door. Upon seeing them, he stepped forward to greet them.

"National Master."

Jun Moqing glanced at Xiao Jinyan before entering the dining room.

As Shen Chuwei passed by Xiao Jinyan, she poked the back of his hand with her own, and they exchanged a glance before walking into the room in silent agreement.

Because the National Master had promised to help restore Xiao Jinyan’s memory, Shen Chuwei had made several of her signature dishes, most of which were her favorites.

At every meal, the National Master would choose the dishes she had made, while he never touched a single chopstick of food from the Imperial Kitchen, a precision that earned admiration.

Jun Moqing swept his gaze over the dishes, eight dishes and one soup, a mix of both meat and vegetables, then looked at Little Jiu, "Tonight’s meal is quite sumptuous."

Shen Chuwei glanced at Xiao Jinyan and replied with a smile, "Father has been worried about his daughter’s affairs, so I prepared several dishes to honor you. I’m not sure if they suit your taste."

She did not forget to show modesty at the end.

Jun Moqing glanced at Xiao Jinyan again, feeling that his daughter prepared these meals not for him.

Xiao Jinyan felt the weight of the National Master’s gaze and sensed immense pressure.

Jun Moqing looked back at Little Jiu to find her smiling brightly and then felt that the meal must have been prepared for him and not an outsider.

With the National Master not yet starting, Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyan exchanged glances, both feeling an enormous weight upon them.

Jun Moqing picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of fish from the soup, and tasted it— the flesh was tender, with a hint of sourness and more spiciness, just the right amount of heat.

Seeing that the National Master had tried it, Shen Chuwei asked, "Father, this is Pickled Fish. Do you like it?"

Jun Moqing praised, "It’s delicious."

Delighted by the compliment, Shen Chuwei took a piece and placed it in the bowl in front of Xiao Jinyan, "You should try it too, I deliberately made it less spicy for you."

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Hmm."

As he picked up the chopsticks and was about to taste the fish, he felt the chilling gaze coming from across the table. Stuck between eating and not eating, he hesitated.

Jun Moqing coolly observed Xiao Jinyan with the piece of fish in his chopsticks.

Finally, Xiao Jinyan pretended not to notice the National Master’s gaze and bravely ate the piece of fish, unable to savor it properly under the strain.