The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 183 - 182: A bit clumsy for the first time...

Chapter 183: Chapter 182: A bit clumsy for the first time...

This was not the first time Xiao Jinyan had helped her undress.

Back then, during the autumn examinations, with Chun Xi not by her side, it was Xiao Jinyan who took the initiative to change her dressings.

Now, as he took the initiative to help her undress, the atmosphere felt somewhat off.

Xiao Jinyan had never served a woman by helping her undress, but this time he felt a sudden urge to do so.

Originally, his intention was simply to help her get out of her clothes to make her more comfortable for sleep.

But now, he was entertaining other thoughts.

As he loosened her belt, he observed her reaction. Her cheeks were obviously flushed with a rosy glow, the kind only seen in a young girl’s shy moments.

He continued to peel off her gown, finding women’s clothing more complicated and cumbersome than men’s. As it was his first time, it was somewhat awkward.

Shen Chuwei always felt that Xiao Jinyan did it on purpose, undressing her at such a slow pace; this was hardly just taking off clothes.

"Your Highness, I can do it myself." With that, she quickly took off the rest of her clothes and then slipped under the covers.

Although there was a saying that one can hide from the first day but not from the fifteenth, it was an inevitable matter, sooner or later.

Xiao Jinyan, watching her shy behavior, was not annoyed but rather found it quite endearing; it was just a pity that the rare practice opportunity was missed.

Indeed, women’s clothing could be somewhat troublesome.

Xiao Jinyan teased, "You’re already so shy now, how shy will you be when the time comes?"

Shen Chuwei, seeing Xiao Jinyan with his usually cold expression, speaking such provocative words, thought it wasn’t even time for that yet, was it?

"...when the time comes, turn off the light."

Xiao Jinyan took her literally, assuming that if she couldn’t see, she wouldn’t feel shy.

Shen Chuwei looked at the posture of the two of them, Xiao Jinyan’s hand braced by her side, leaning over to look at her.

She yawned and asked, "Your Highness, did you find the item?"

"I found it, Lu Zhaoyan took it back for research, and the curse should be broken soon, so don’t worry."

Only by lifting the curse could she truly rest easy.

How could such a vicious witchcraft suddenly appear in the Imperial Palace?

Feng Zhaoshun was just an ordinary woman, with an overly simple family background; it was too suspicious.

Shen Chuwei, noticing the fatigue between Xiao Jinyan’s brows, thought he must not have rested well these past days.

"Your Highness, you have been working hard for your concubine these past days, you should rest early."

Xiao Jinyan pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Mm. I shall go bathe." And with that, he stood up and went behind the screen to bathe.

Xiao Jinyan, having finished his bath, came to the bed in his undergarments and looked down at the person who had already fallen asleep.

Lifting the covers, he lay down next to her, then turned to his side and stared at her sleeping face for a while.

His gaze fell upon her lips, and he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss them.

Originally drowsy, Shen Chuwei became somewhat more alert due to the kiss.

Thankfully, it was just a brief touch like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface, and before she could open her eyes, he pulled away.

It was somewhat shocking that the aloof Crown Prince would secretly kiss a girl.

She simply pretended to be asleep, pretending not to know was better.

Xiao Jinyan lay back down again. He had indeed been so busy these days, sleeping only two hours a day; even a body of iron couldn’t withstand that.

The next day, when Xiao Jinyan woke up, he found Shen Chuwei lying very still, nothing like her usual sleeping self.

He knew that this was due to witchcraft involving a poisonous insect, and that it would be very dangerous to continue sleeping like this.

Lu Zhaoyan spent the entire day studying the cloth puppet. Steel needles were stuck into the forehead and the chest, two in each location, and he dared not pull them out rashly.

When Xiao Jinyan arrived, he saw Lu Zhaoyan examining the cloth puppet.

"Haven’t found a way to remove the curse yet?"

Lu Zhaoyan said, "Your Highness, not yet. This witchcraft curse is filled with resentment and is very difficult to undo. It also indicates that the person who created the curse harbors a deep grudge against Lady Shen."

Xiao Jinyan said, "Lady Shen did not provoke Fen Zhaoshun. It was only because I was displeased and punished her."

Lu Zhaoyan, pointing at the charm on the abdomen, said, "The false pregnancy pulse that Lady Shen is experiencing is caused by this charm. Although the charm is easy to remove, the steel needles on the puppet’s body cannot be taken out lightly for fear of backlash."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan’s eyebrows tightened. "Then you must hurry and find a solution."

"This subordinate is trying," Lu Zhaoyan replied as he carefully flipped through the books left by his master.

Xiao Jinyan, anxious, paced back and forth in the study room.

Following the sudden death of Fen Zhaoshun, the Xiaoxiang Pavilion was sealed. His Highness frequented Hehuan Hall daily, and rumors had begun to spread throughout the East Palace.

Concubine Xu visited Hehuan Hall twice and was turned away at the door, so she had no choice but to return home.

On her way back, she encountered Tao Chenghui.

Tao Chenghui stepped forward and greeted her with a bow, a faint smile on her lips, "Where is Concubine Xu coming from?"

Concubine Xu was somewhat puzzled. "I went to Hehuan Hall but unfortunately, I couldn’t get in. I heard that Lady Shen is critically ill, but I don’t know if that’s true or false."

"These are nothing but rumors," Tao Chenghui sighed. "It’s been several days since I’ve seen Lady Shen, and I have no idea how she’s doing now."

"There has been a lot of gossip in the East Palace these days. Initially, there were rumors that Lady Shen had an illicit affair with a guard; now it’s said that Lady Shen won’t live long. I don’t understand why their mouths are so cheap?"

Concubine Xu said resentfully, expressing an urge to slap those gossipers, "And that Fen Zhaoshun, I disliked her from the beginning. I didn’t expect her to reveal her true nature so soon, but she overestimated herself."

"That’s how it is in the palace, where everyone is ruthless in the struggle for favor. Fortunately, Fen Zhaoshun’s schemes did not succeed," Tao Chenghui paused before continuing, "His Highness has been taking Imperial Doctor Wen to Hehuan Hall every day, but it’s unclear how Lady Shen actually is."

Lady Chang, passing by Yixiang Hall and hearing the conversation, stopped in her tracks and listened in. A smug smile formed on her lips.

Lady Shen had been neglected by His Highness for many days, and now, with her foxy ways of gaining favor and whispering sweet nothings by the pillow, her position as Crown Princess was becoming unstable.

Now it seemed quite likely that Lady Shen wouldn’t make it, removing a strong competitor from the scene.

Lady Chang turned to Huai Xiang and said, "Let’s go back."

Huai Xiang, with small, quick steps, followed and said, "Young mistress, Lady Shen has always competed with you for favor. Now, she’s reaping what she sowed."

"Be careful with your words," Lady Chang scolded. She had been burned once before, and it would have been disastrous if the aunt had heard anything.

With her eyes lowered, Huai Xiang replied, "This servant understands."

Lady Chang ordered, "Prepare some delicious snacks. I’m going to pay a visit to Hehuan Hall."

Huai Xiang, perplexed, asked, "Young mistress, if Lady Shen is nearly gone, why bother going there?"

Lady Chang’s lips curled into a smirk. "Isn’t His Highness going to Hehuan Hall every day? I shall merely make an appearance and leave a good impression on His Highness."

With a look of realization, Huai Xiang said, "This servant will get ready at once."

Huai Xiang prepared three kinds of delicious snacks and accompanied Lady Chang to Hehuan Hall.

A little rabbit who had been waiting at the entrance stopped Lady Chang as she arrived, "Lady Chang, Lady Shen is unwell and not fit to receive guests."

Lady Chang spoke gently, "I’ll just take a quick look and leave, not taking much time."

Seeing Xiao Jinyan approaching, the little rabbit bent her knees in salute, "Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Lady Chang turned around and saw Xiao Jinyu standing behind her. She took a deep bow, "May Your Highness live a thousand years of golden peace."