The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 100 - 99: Miss Han is So Fragile

Chapter 100: Chapter 99: Miss Han is So Fragile

Qing Ying had come and gone multiple times; by now, the breakfast in front of her had completely gone cold.

The Empress was truly hungry at this moment and reluctantly grabbed the chopsticks Qing Ying offered, "This palace will just taste a bit."

"This servant will pick out the fish bones for you." Qing Ying carefully separated the flesh from the fish bones with her chopsticks and placed it in the Empress’s bowl.

The Empress let out a sigh, thinking that she was an Empress, a mother of the nation, and here she was worrying about her meals every day. If word got out, wouldn’t it be laughed at?

She picked up the fish in front of her and chewed it. Her eyes brightened, the fish was still the usual kind, but the taste was very special. Even though she liked spicy food, she found it delicious.

After finishing the fish in her mouth, the Empress didn’t wait for Qing Ying to serve more dishes, she tightly held the chopsticks and reached into the fish plate, taking another piece into her mouth, and found the second bite just as delightful.

Qing Ying had served the Empress for decades and knew her preferences like the back of her hand, especially in the past two years, as the Empress’s appetite had become increasingly poor, rarely taking a second bite of any dish.

Seeing the Empress pick another piece by herself, Qing Ying asked, "Your Majesty, how does it taste?"

"Not bad," the Empress replied, taking another piece into her mouth.

Delighted by the comment, Qing Ying quickly served a bowl of hot porridge in front of the Empress, "Your Majesty, please have some porridge."

The Empress paired the fish with a bowl of porridge, and only when the fish was left with just the head and tail did she contently put down her chopsticks and wiped the corners of her lips with the handkerchief Qing Ying handed her.

"This fish is well made, it’s the first time for this palace to taste such a special fish."

Seeing the Empress had finished an entire fish and a bowl of porridge, Qing Ying happily said, "Your Majesty, perhaps the Crown Prince knew about your poor appetite and specifically ordered the cook to make this."

Upon hearing this, the Empress sighed, "I hadn’t seen his cold demeanor as being so filial. It must have been hard on him."

Qing Ying smiled, "The Crown Prince was quite charming as a child."

As soon as the Empress heard mention of the Crown Prince’s childhood, she remembered some matters and her expression soured, "Have the meals removed." After speaking, she stood up and left.

Qing Ying sighed and ordered someone to clear the meals away.

*

Xiao Jinyu thought of the Han beauties raised in the estate outside the palace, which he hadn’t visited for some days, so he picked a fine sunny day to leave the palace.

No sooner had Xiao Jinyu stepped into the estate than he heard a melodious sound of the zither. He followed the sound and saw a figure sitting in the Pavilion, a figure he couldn’t quite describe—call him tall, but she was a woman, call her slender, and she didn’t seem as delicate and petite as other women.

Forget it, in any case, she was a beauty, and he couldn’t deny her beauty just because she was tall and fair.

"Miss Han, you seem to be in high spirits today."

Xiao Jinyu walked into the Pavilion with a carefree stride.

Miss Han stopped plucking the zither strings upon hearing him and turned her head towards Xiao Jinyu, "I’m honored that Master Xiao still remembers someone like me."

Xiao Jinyu felt somewhat embarrassed, having left a "fragile" lady in a strange estate, which must have been somewhat frightening.

"Miss Han, I’ve been occupied with many things at home and couldn’t find the time to visit you. Please don’t take it to heart."

Miss Han was noncommittal, "Is Master Xiao here to take me back this time?"

The mention of this made Xiao Jinyu feel even more guilty.

"Miss Han, you don’t understand the situation at my home; it’s very big and very different from other houses. It’s not an easy thing to bring someone over," he said.

Miss Han withdrew her gaze, a touch of cold sadness and disappointment showing in her eyes, "So it seems, during these days Master Xiao was absent, the matter wasn’t being dealt with."

Xiao Jinyu, who couldn’t bear to see a beauty upset, promised, "Miss Han, I guarantee I will arrange it as soon as possible, just give me some time."

Miss Han looked down at the strings of the zither and made no reply.

Xiao Jinyu knew she was truly heartbroken this time, so he changed the subject, "I’ve yet to ask, what is Miss Han’s full name?"

Han Yan, "Han Yan."

Xiao Jinyu silently repeated it, Han Yan, what a unique name.

He suggested with a smile, "Miss Han, you must be bored staying in the estate. How about I take you out for a stroll?"

Han Yan’s voice was clear and cold, "Okay."

Xiao Jinyu instructed, "Pingping, fetch a cloak for Miss Han."

Pingping was a maid Xiao Jinyu had bought to serve Han Yan exclusively.

"Yes," Pingping quickly ran inside the house to fetch a moon-white fox fur cloak and handed it to Han Yan.

Xiao Jinyu had seen his father put a cloak on his mother as a child, the scene was warm and beautiful. As a man, he felt it was his duty to drape it over Miss Han.

"Give it to me."

Pingping had no choice but to hand the cloak to Xiao Jinyu.

Upon seeing this, Han Yan stood waiting.

Xiao Jinyu took the cloak from Pingping and shook it open, about to drape it over Han Yan when he realized she was too tall; the posture he took, raising the cloak, was far from beautiful, it looked rather odd instead.

Han Yan asked, "What’s wrong?"

Xiao Jinyu felt a little embarrassed, "Nothing, it’s better if you sit down."

"Okay," Han Yan sat down again.

Xiao Jinyu looked at the seated beauty, finally finding the right position to fasten the cloak.

After securing the cloak, Xiao Jinyu left the estate with Miss Han, looking like a young nobleman taking his lover out for a stroll.

"Miss Han, if you see anything you like, just tell me and I’ll buy it for you."

Han Yan nodded, "Mm."

After browsing around, Han Yan didn’t make any purchases, but Xiao Jinyu stopped at a stall. He squatted down and gazed at the fuzzy thing in the cage for a while; it looked a little different from the one he had bought previously. The last one had a pointed snout, this one had a flat nose.

Han Yan squatted down too.

Seeing her squat down, Xiao Jinyu turned his head and asked her, "Do you think this one is cute?"

Han Yan nodded her head.

Xiao Jinyu’s peach blossom eyes curved, "I also find it quite cute. It seems girls would find them adorable."

Han Yan, "..."

Xiao Jinyu thought about the five thousand taels of gold he still owed to the Crown Prince and decided to buy a few cute little creatures for him, to ease the repayment deadline.

Xiao Jinyu bought six of them, a lucky six for smooth sailing, implying good fortune.

After picking them up, he turned to Han Yan asking, "Miss Han, didn’t you find anything you like?"

Han Yan shook her head.

Xiao Jinyu thought it was a rare chance to take Miss Han out and they shouldn’t return empty-handed. His gaze caught the hairpins for sale at the stall, quite attractive in design. He walked over, selected one that seemed to fit her gentle beauty, and turned around, preparing to insert it into Miss Han’s hair.

Holding the hairpin, Xiao Jinyu found a suitable spot to place it, admiring it for a moment before smiling, "It looks quite nice."

Han Yan looked down at Xiao Jinyu’s crescent moon-shaped peach blossom eyes, which seemed to sparkle with the joy of doing something pleasing.

After Xiao Jinyu paid, carrying the cage, they headed back.

Pingping, finding it hard to watch, whispered, "Miss Han, your hairpin is crooked." Who ever heard of inserting a hairpin straight into the middle...

Han Yan reached up to touch the hairpin sitting awkwardly in the center of her hair, pulled it out, and reinserted it properly at the side.