The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 167 - 166: Bullying Her While Drunk

Chapter 167: Chapter 166: Bullying Her While Drunk

Shen Chuwei raised her cup and puffed her cheeks, "You take a drink, and I’ll do as I please."

Having said that, she really took a sip from the cup, then placed it down and continued eating her meatballs.

Lady Chang was taken aback. When had she ever said she wanted to drink a glass?

Shen Chuwei, having already had dinner, felt somewhat full after eating two meatballs. As there were still two left on the plate, she hesitated to take more.

Xiao Jinyan saw her gazing at the meatballs without picking up her chopsticks, and having noticed her eat two in succession, he picked up the plate of meatballs and placed it in front of Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei was somewhat startled by the favored treatment as the meatballs were suddenly close at hand.

Lady Chang had just stretched out her chopsticks when she saw Xiao JinYan move the entire plate of meatballs in front of Shen Chuwei, leaving her own chopsticks suspended awkwardly in mid-air.

She quickly withdrew her chopsticks, to avoid embarrassment.

Xiao Jinyan saw it but chose to ignore it directly.

Shen Chuwei noticed this and, subconsciously looking towards Xiao Jinyan, saw him lifting up his cup to drink again.

She realized that Xiao Jinyan was in quite the mood tonight; while she had only eaten two meatballs, he had already downed three cups of wine, despite normally not drinking wine with his meals.

Redirecting her gaze, Shen Chuwei thought, since Xiao Jinyan had asked her to eat, she wouldn’t be polite and ate up the two remaining meatballs.

After finishing, she felt slightly overstuffed and looked up to find Xiao Jinyan still drinking. She reluctantly picked up her cup and took a couple of sips, eyeing the two other people at the table.

She thought to herself that both Xiao Jinyan and Lady Chang appeared to be enjoying their wine as an enhancement to the pleasure, so she should probably find an excuse to leave and not disturb them.

Looking up at Xiao Jinyan, she began, "Your Highness, your concubine..." I’m sleepy and want to go back to sleep...

Before Shen Chuwei could finish, she was interrupted by Xiao Jinyan, "Set the dishes for me."

Shen Chuwei’s remaining words were stuck in her throat—who was she to argue with the Crown Prince?

She stood up, placed Xuetuan on the stool, and approached Xiao Jinyan, picking up a pair of serving chopsticks.

Looking at the table full of mostly untouched delicacies, after countless shared meals, she had a good idea of Xiao Jinyan’s preferences.

She selected dishes that suited his taste and placed them in the bowl in front of him.

Lady Chang sipped her wine slowly, observing Xiao Jinyan and Shen Chuwei. The Crown Prince hadn’t seen Shen Chuwei for so many days, and here she was, anxious to vie for his favor. If the Crown Prince got seduced by Shen Chuwei’s crafty charms, wouldn’t she miss out on staying the night with him?

She put down her wine cup, and in a soft and gentle tone, asked, "Your Highness, may your concubine play a melody to accompany the wine?"

Xiao Jinyan replied indifferently, "I have heard Lady Chang is quite skilled in music. Tonight, I will appreciate it."

"Alright," Lady Chang replied shyly.

The Eunuch Liu Xi had the instrument prepared.

Once it was ready, Lady Chang gathered her skirts and sat before the instrument. Her delicate hands tested the strings before beginning to play.

Lady Chang was a renowned talent, skilled at the zither.

Shen Chuwei finished setting the dishes and reseated herself with Xuetuan, enjoying the music while unconsciously picking up her chopsticks to eat the meat and drink wine, quite contentedly.

Xiao Jinyan, watching Shen Chuwei’s manner, felt like he was at a Restaurant enjoying a performance.

Shen Chuwei was quite curious inside. Had Xiao Jinyan been talking about himself when he mentioned unrequited love?

Xiao Jinyan’s expression seemed a little unpleasant: "..." Which eye of yours saw me pining for Lady Chang?

Lady Chang was clearly proficient in all arts, including zither and literature. Why didn’t he choose her but instead chose someone like her who was good at nothing?

Xiao Jinyan: "..." Because I please!

Shen Chuwei sighed, Xiao Jinyan really didn’t care for me, a concubine without power or influence.

Xiao Jinyan’s drinking paused: "..." Haven’t I treated you well enough?

Shen Chuwei stole a glance at Xiao Jinyan, noting he was still drinking. She had heard that there were only two situations in which a man would drink: one was out of heartbreak, using alcohol to drown sorrows.

The other was out of sheer happiness, drinking to enhance the joy.

Xiao Jinyan was clearly the latter.

The inappropriate events to follow certainly weren’t something she was entitled to watch for free; it was best to slip away early.

Xiao Jinyan didn’t know how much self-control it took to keep from crushing the wine glass in his hand.

"Can’t you think of anything else but these all day?"

He said coldly, "Lady Shen."

Shen Chuwei responded obediently, "Your Concubine is here, Your Highness. Do you have any instructions?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Go and brew a fresh cup of tea for this palace."

"As you command." Shen Chuwei put down her chopsticks and Xuetuan, who was in her arms, and turned to leave.

Just as she stepped over the threshold, she saw Liu Xi and stopped to ask, "Eunuch Liu, could you teach me how to brew tea?"

The tea she drank every day was brewed by Chun Xi, and since everyone has their own preferences for tea, it seemed more appropriate to ask Eunuch Liu for guidance.

So as not to give Xiao Jinyan a chance to get angry.

Liu Xi responded with a smile, "Lady Shen, please come with me."

"Thank you, Eunuch Liu."

"Lady Shen is too polite."

After exchanging courtesies, Shen Chuwei followed Liu Xi to the Side Hall.

Xiao Jinyan continued to drink his wine, listening to the music played by another lady. It was undeniable that her playing was quite good.

It’s just that he was not in the mood to listen.

Once the piece was finished, the lady slowly stood up and bowed, "Your Highness, your concubine has made a humble offering."

Xiao Jinyan complimented, "You’re too modest, Lady Chang."

Lady Chang was very confident in her musical skills, and her earlier humility was just for show. Hearing Xiao Jinyan praise her, she was delighted.

Noticing that Xiao Jinyan was in the mood to drink heavily that night, she gently moved closer, took the wine jug, and said softly, "Your Highness, let me pour you more wine."

Xiao Jinyan, holding his cup and showing no sign of putting it down, said, "You drink too."

Lady Chang’s heart leapt with joy at his words; drinking together meant a greater chance of serving him in bed, so she happily poured herself a drink, toasted to Xiao Jinyan, and then drank it down in one gulp.

Lady Chang’s tolerance for alcohol wasn’t strong.

By the time Shen Chuwei brought the tea over, Lady Chang was already drunk.

Xiao Jinyan was also feeling tipsy; to encourage Lady Chang to drink more, he had drunk three cups in quick succession and was struggling to hold his liquor.

"Liu Xi, take Lady Chang back," he ordered.

"Yes." Liu Xi called over two strong young eunuchs to escort her back to Xinlan Hall.

After placing the teacup down, Shen Chuwei thought of making an excuse to leave, but before she could speak, she saw Xiao Jinyan leaning on the table, rising to his feet with a drunken tone, "Support this palace back to my chamber."

Shen Chuwei glanced left and right, realizing that it was only her and Xiao Jinyan left in the room.

"Alright." She stepped forward, holding onto Xiao Jinyan’s arm, but her petite stature made it difficult to exert force.

It took an immense effort before she could finally help Xiao Jinyan back to his room.

Feeling him start to slip, she quickly reached out to steady his shoulders, "Your Highness, hold on a bit longer, we’re almost at the bed."

Before Shen Chuwei could finish speaking, she was pulled onto the bed by a forceful tug, exclaiming in shock, "Ah!!!"

The soft bedding cushioned her fall, preventing serious pain.

But the real problem was the weight of a grown man pressing down on her, almost knocking the breath out of her body.

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