The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 172 - 171: Feed Pigs?

Chapter 172: Chapter 171: Feed Pigs?

Shen Chuwei desperately made eye signals to Chun Xi, "Chun Xi, are you confused by the busyness?"

Chun Xi failed to catch the signals from her master, instead speaking even more earnestly, "Young Miss, I’ve not made any mistake, the salt was added just right."

Having known that His Highness was coming for dinner, she had specially prepared the leeks because Shen Chuwei had mentioned their wonderful utility before.

Shen Chuwei was almost frantic, "Chun Xi, I heard you say just now that the salt was too much." Her voice trailed off in a prolonged note, as if to plead, Chun Xi, please play along, will you!

"Young Miss, you must be mistaken, that’s definitely not what I said." Chun Xi also desperately made eye signals, implying, Young Miss, we can’t remove the leeks, His Highness will benefit much from eating them.

While the two exchanged signals, each hoping the other would intuit the message in their eyes, Xiao Jinyan reached with his chopsticks into the dish, picked up a small amount of leek, and chewed slowly and deliberately.

After eating, he lifted his eyes to Shen Chuwei: "This palace has tasted some, the flavor is just right, not salty."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuwei turned her head to look at Xiao Jinyan, unable to help but marvel, You’re really quick, even having a taste test yourself.

He picked up some more leeks and ate them, each time only a little, with an elegant and dignified manner she, a foodie, could never emulate.

Seeing His Highness had eaten, Chun Xi contentedly stepped aside to attend to him.

"Really? Just now I heard Chun Xi saying something about too much salt, I must have misheard." She said with an uneasy conscience.

Xiao Jinyan continued to eat without forgetting to comment, "Today’s leeks are a bit tenderer than the ones I had before."

Shen Chuwei: "..." The first crop of leeks, how could they not be tender?

How could Chun Xi bear to pick such tender leeks?

She picked up a piece of braised spare ribs with her chopsticks and attentively placed it into the bowl in front of Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, please have more spare ribs."

"Mhm." Xiao Jinyan picked up the spare ribs in front of him and took a bite, chewing carefully.

Shen Chuwei once again reached into the dish with her chopsticks, grabbing several pieces of spare ribs at once.

She intended to take more, only to see that his bowl was already piled high, and any more would have made them fall out, so she reluctantly put her chopsticks down.

It wouldn’t be too late to add more once he finished eating.

Xiao Jinyan glanced down at his bowl, which was piled up like a small mountain with spare ribs, and then lifted his gaze to Shen Chuwei with a puzzled look. Braised spare ribs were her favorite dish, so why did she distribute so many to him today?

Shen Chuwei bit into a spare rib she had grabbed for herself, noting that Xiao Jinyan was watching her. After swallowing the meat in her mouth, she spoke, since Chun Xi had mentioned that speaking with food in one’s mouth was very rude.

"Your Highness, don’t just watch, eat, the spare ribs taste much better than the leeks." Eat more spare ribs and less leeks, for a better sleep tonight.

Xiao Jinyan said, "Do you consider me yourself?"

As he spoke, he moved some spare ribs from his bowl to hers, "You should eat more, you’re too thin."

Shen Chuwei transferred the spare ribs back to his bowl, while saying, "Didn’t Your Highness previously say this concubine was chubby? I’m currently on a diet."

Xiao Jinyan paused, and flatly denied, "When did this palace say so?"

"Yes, yes, Your Highness never said that, it’s just that this concubine wants to lose weight." Shen Chuwei said with concern, "Your Highness has lost weight with all the recent hard work; it’s better for you to eat more spare ribs."

Indeed, Xiao Jinyan had been working hard these days. Whether he had lost weight was unknown, but his visit to Hehuan Hall today was also for relaxation.

"Alright, this palace will eat them," he responded, picking up spare ribs and chewing slowly.

Shen Chuwei began to eat as well, her favorite braised spare ribs dominating her attention. In no time, she finished all the ribs on the plate.

When she reached for more, she found the plate empty and had to retract her hand, her gaze turning to the untouched spare ribs in Xiao Jinyan’s bowl—still plentiful.

She suddenly regretted giving him so many, as she hadn’t had her fill.

Xiao Jinyan stopped eating the ribs after the third piece, his eyes wandering back to the leeks. He picked up some more and chewed thoughtfully. Without the greasiness of the ribs, the flavor was just right, prompting him to eat more.

Chun Xi, standing aside, was somewhat thrilled upon seeing this. With the prince eating more, the chances of the young miss conceiving a baby would be higher.

Shen Chuwei saw Xiao Jinyan continue to eat and began to worry. If he kept eating like this, he would surely be excited tonight.

If he didn’t stay over, it would be fine.

If he stayed over, she would be in trouble.

Shen Chuwei picked a large bowl and filled it with some Fish Soup, offering it cordially, "Your Highness, the fish soup is delicious, please try some."

Xiao Jinyan lifted his gaze to the bowl in front of him, which was twice the size of his dining bowl, and then lifted his eyes to Shen Chuwei with an inquiring look.

"The bowl is too big."

Chun Xi, embarrassed, wanted to scratch the wall. Who uses such a big bowl? It greatly affects the decorum of mealtime!

Shen Chuwei scrambled to find a far-fetched excuse, "With a big bowl, it’s less likely to spill."

Xiao Jinyan paused, then took the soup bowl from her hands and placed it in front of him, scooping the soup with a white porcelain spoon.

Shen Chuwei knew that Xiao Jinyan’s appetite was not large, and that after finishing the fish soup, he probably would be full and wouldn’t have room for the leeks.

She ate in relief, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the untouched spare ribs in Xiao Jinyan’s bowl. What a waste it would be if he did not finish them!

By the end of dinner, Shen Chuwei had not managed to savor those spare ribs ignored by Xiao Jinyan, watching with heartache as Chun Xi cleared them away.

If only she had known not to serve him so many, such a waste!

Xiao Jinyan sipped freshly brewed tea, noticing Shen Chuwei’s furrowed brows. His tea-sipping halted, and he asked with concern, "What’s the matter, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "This concubine feels fine."

Xiao Jinyan said, "In the presence of this palace, you need not put on a brave front. If you’re feeling unwell, you must tell me at once."

"This concubine understands." Shen Chuwei, watching him continue to sip tea, gripped her handkerchief tightly and hesitantly asked, "Being busy with official duties recently, will Your Highness have to work overtime tonight as well?"

Although overworking is hard, Your Highness, please go and work some more!

Xiao Jinyan casually sipped his tea, "Indeed, it has been somewhat busy recently."

Shen Chuwei let out a sigh of relief. Busy is good—being busy can help solidify the Crown Prince’s position.

Xiao Jinyan quietly ordered, "Have someone prepare hot water. This palace shall bathe."

Shen Chuwei looked incredulously at Xiao Jinyan, "Isn’t Your Highness busy?"

Shouldn’t you be going back to work if you’re busy?

Xiao Jinyan raised an eyebrow at Shen Chuwei, "Being busy means this palace should not rest?"

"This concubine will have the hot water prepared right away." With a guilty air, Shen Chuwei stood and directed Chun Xi to prepare the hot water.

Upon hearing this, Chun Xi strode off happily, working on the task with glee.

How she envied Chun Xi, not having to worry about attending to his bedtime.

Once the hot water was ready, Xiao Jinyan stood up, stretched out his arms as if expecting her to help him undress.

Shen Chuwei approached, taking small steps to undress the Crown Prince. Perhaps because she harbored a slight resentment, her movements were somewhat rough.