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Six little ones, munching away on the vegetable leaves in Shen Chuwei’s hand.

Xiao Jinyan had seen enough and took strides towards her.

Shen Chuwei, holding the vegetable leaves, saw a figure approaching from the corner of her eye. Curious, she lifted her head and saw Xiao Jinyan walking towards her.

She dropped the vegetable leaves and stood up, bowing respectfully: "Your Highness."

As Shen Chuwei lifted her head, Xiao Jinyan caught sight of her fair and delicate face and was surprised, "Your face, it’s healed?"

Shen Chuwei curled her eyes with a smile: "Yes, these red spots come quickly but also fade quickly. Your Highness, do you believe my words now?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "No wonder the Imperial Doctor was so sure you hadn’t contracted smallpox. It’s because your face has healed. And it’s fortunate it has."

Otherwise, relying on those two quacks, they definitely would have said it was smallpox.

"Were you frightened today?" But looking at her, she didn’t seem intimidated at all.

Shen Chuwei shook her head: "With Your Highness here, I am not afraid."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan froze, realizing it wasn’t the first time she had said such a thing, which meant she truly trusted him.

If something really happened, he might not be able to stop his father’s decision.

However, to have a woman depend on him to such an extent made it difficult for him to let her down.

He turned his gaze to the six adorable little creatures on the ground, fighting over a leaf.

"They seem to have grown a bit."

Shen Chuwei didn’t see the trivial young ones, but rather a group of chickens, her eyes full of expectancy like a mother yearning for her children to grow up quickly.

"Of course, I feed them every day. They grow fast, so fast that Your Highness might not recognize them in the future."

Xiao Jinyan gave a low chuckle: "How could I fail to recognize them?"

Shen Chuwei didn’t argue, knowing he’d only realize when he saw for himself the drastic changes young chickens can undergo.

"Your Highness, are you going to catch the spies in the East Palace?"

Xiao Jinyan asked in amazement: "How did you know there were other spies in the East Palace?"

Shen Chuwei replied: "I guessed."

Xiao Jinyan, thinking of her break out after eating pastries, tapped her forehead with his hand, "If you were as sharp normally as you are now, you wouldn’t have almost been poisoned and disfigured."

Shen Chuwei touched her forehead, vaguely committed: "I will remember from now on."

"Don’t eat food given by others carelessly, especially here in the Imperial Palace. An error could cost your life, understand?" Xiao Jinyan was not exaggerating; he wanted her to know that one must not just eat away their days, unaware of how they might die.

Shen Chuwei thought for a while and then decided to reveal the truth.

"Your Highness, I can actually detect if the food is poisoned."

Xiao Jinyan clearly didn’t believe her: "Then why were you still affected? Your face was nearly ruined."

Shen Chuwei whispered softly: "Whether I look good or not isn’t important. After all, there are so many beauties in the East Palace, one more or one less of me doesn’t make a difference."

Her soft murmuring was like that of a two-year-old trying to speak, unclear to Xiao Jinyan’s ears.

"What did you say? Speak up."

Shen Chuwei coughed twice: "I mean, I ate the pastries on purpose."

Xiao Jinyan knew from her earlier murmuring that this was not what she had said. Suddenly, he thought that by using Xuetuan, he might be able to hear Shen Chuwei’s inner thoughts. He’d try it next time.

"Why?"

Shen Chuwei laid it out plainly: "Because my father wanted me to vie for favor and speak well of my sister in Your Highness’s presence. If I were disfigured, my father would give up hope on me."

Only then did Xiao Jinyan realize what Shen Chuwei had been through during her visit home. She dared to eat the poisoned pastries, all to ruin her face?

"You don’t need to pay attention to them. Lady Shen’s schemes are too deep; from now on, keep your distance from her, understand?"

Shen Chuwei obediently nodded, "I will heed Your Highness’s advice."

Xiao Jinyan nodded and then cautioned: "Don’t do something so foolish next time. It’s not worth it."

Shen Chuwei’s eyes curved with understanding: "I understand."

Xiao Jinyan’s eyes were cold and deep: "Now that the spy has revealed herself, how can I let her stay?"

Shen Chuwei clenched her fist, "Go for it, Your Highness!"

That way, she could continue enjoying her meals in peace.

Xiao Jinyan looked at her pinkish fist, unable to help but smile, "You’ve just recovered from a serious illness; take good care of yourself."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously; no one could beat her at sleeping.

"I will."

Xiao Jinyan watched her smiling eyes for a long while before he withdrew his gaze and left Xiyun Pavilion.

The first place Xiao Jinyan went was Shen Mingzhu’s Lanyue Hall. Earlier in the Imperial Study Room, he inferred from the words of Noble Consort Yu that there was a spy in Lanyue Hall.

Cai He happily ran in, "Miss, His Highness is here."

Since returning from the Shen Residence, His Highness hadn’t visited Shen Mingzhu once, and being confined to Lanyue Hall, she couldn’t get out.

Now that His Highness was here, how could she not be overjoyed?

She hurriedly checked herself in the mirror, adjusted her hair, and then stood up to greet him.

"Wishing Your Highness safety and health."

Xiao Jinyan strode in, glancing at Shen Mingzhu, "Rise."

"Thank You, Your Highness." Shen Mingzhu stood up, her eyes brimming with a smiling gaze at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, will we dine together today?"

Xiao Jinyan adjusted his robes, indifferently saying, "I am here to pick a capable maid from your Palace Maid quarters to serve in my chambers."

Shen Mingzhu responded with an eager smile, "I will have them all come over, and Your Highness can choose anyone you like."

Xiao Jinyan: "Hmm, let them all come over."

Shen Mingzhu turned to instruct Cai He: "Have them all come over."

"Yes." Cai He hurried out with small fast steps.

Six palace maids entered from outside, lined up in a row, and all bowed before Xiao Jinyan.

"Wishing Your Highness safety and health."

Shen Mingzhu pointed to the six maids before her, a pleasing smile at the corner of her mouth: "Your Highness, all my maids are here. What kind are you looking for?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced over the six maids; their appearance and figure were passable. But looks alone were not enough to tell, so he asked in a stern voice: "Who among you wishes to come to serve in my chambers?"

The six maids dared not answer, all casting a glance at Shen Mingzhu, knowing her temper.

Internally, Shen Mingzhu cursed, Your Highness is asking you, what are you looking at me for? Anyone who didn’t know better might think I was unwilling.

"His Highness is speaking to you. Step forward if you’re willing."

The maids looked at each other, all mildly eager to volunteer.

One of the maids couldn’t hold back and stepped forward, kneeling, "This servant is willing to serve Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan looked down at the kneeling maid, unable to see her face, "Raise your head, let me have a look."

"Yes." The maid slowly lifted her head to look at the Crown Prince on the throne, her eyes somewhat evasive.

Xiao Jinyan asked: "What’s your name? What work do you do?"