The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 228 - 227 Is this a confession? Please, Imperial Doctor Zhao, diagnose her pulse for happiness

Chapter 228: Chapter 227 Is this a confession? Please, Imperial Doctor Zhao, diagnose her pulse for happiness

The facial features in the painting were now fully crafted, and the strands of hair were nearly complete.

One glance and it was apparent, this was the image of him reading in the horse carriage.

He had not expected that in her eyes, he appeared so focused,

When Shen Chuwei was immersed in her painting, she hardly noticed an additional presence in the room, let alone that of a martial arts man.

This time, Xiao Jinyan didn’t rush to call her but stood behind her in silence, watching her paint.

The hand that held the brush moved diligently, a stark contrast to the use of a writing brush for traditional azure painting.

Her sketch was even more intriguing than an acclaimed master’s work and resembled a living subject.

After painting for a while, Shen Chuwei felt a soreness in her wrist. Stopping for a moment, she suddenly caught the scent of alcohol. Confused, she looked up to find Xiao Jinyan’s tall figure standing behind her.

She was momentarily startled, "Your Highness, how could you walk without making any sound?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "It’s because you were too engrossed in painting."

Shen Chuwei softly denied it, "It was clearly Your Highness who intentionally didn’t let this concubine notice."

Xiao Jinyan didn’t agree or disagree.

Perhaps due to alcohol, he easily enveloped Shen Chuwei in his arms and sat down, placing her atop his lap.

Shen Chuwei was startled for a moment—what was Xiao Jinyan trying to do?

Xiao Jinyan moved swiftly and held her firmly.

The closer the distance, the stronger the scent of alcohol, indicating that he had consumed a considerable amount.

Shen Chuwei turned and looked at him perplexedly, "Your Highness, you’ve been drinking."

Xiao Jinyan kissed her rosy cheek, "Hmm, I’ve had some, but I’m not drunk."

Shen Chuwei’s cheeks flushed with heat, "Why are you drinking, Your Highness?"

"It’s nothing," Xiao Jinyan’s gaze drifted to the sketch pad in her hands, a hint of anticipation in his eyes, "I would like to see how you have depicted me."

Shen Chuwei looked back at the sketch pad, the features on the character were complete, there was no denying it.

She explained, "Your Highness, this is a sketch. It takes a lot of time to draw."

Xiao Jinyan whispered softly near her ear, "Then sketch a bit for now, let me have a look."

"Alright," Shen Chuwei didn’t refuse, holding the sketch pad in one hand and her pencil in the other, she earnestly continued to draw the hair.

Xiao Jinyan examined his own hair in the painting, the brushstrokes creating long strands of black hair that lay scattered against the stark contrast of a white mink velvet blanket.

He asked with curiosity, "Has my hair grown this long?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, "Of course, you were sitting in the carriage. With hair reaching your waist, it would certainly brush against the blanket."

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze returned to Shen Chuwei’s own hair and reached out for a lock. It was smooth and fine, irresistibly soft to the touch.

"Chuwei’s hair has also reached your waist."

Shen Chuwei said, "Compared to Your Highness, this concubine’s hair is a section shorter."

"Indeed, considering your height..." Xiao Jinyan seemed to recall something but unfortunately, the mark was at Xiyun Pavilion.

"I wonder how much you’ve grown in these ten months."

"I probably haven’t grown at all." Shen Chuwei wasn’t keen on height; it didn’t matter whether she was tall or short, it didn’t interfere with her eating.

"Chuwei," Xiao Jinyan had much to say but ended up simply calling her ’Chuwei.’

Shen Chuwei placed the sketch pad and pencil back on the desk, turning her head to look at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, should we rest?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Hmm."

Shen Chuwei was about to get off, but Xiao Jinyan promptly swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed in large strides, laying her down and personally beginning to undress her.

Shen Chuwei’s cheeks reddened as she watched him shed her clothes, closing the bed curtains and sliding under the covers to embrace her and kiss her without hesitation.

These actions were fluid, like one breath, perfected through tacit practice as if performed daily.

After the kiss, before Shen Chuwei could resist, Xiao Jinyan drew her into his arms and kissed her hair, "Sleep now."

Shen Chuwei, a bit stunned, nestled into his embrace, whispered, "Goodnight, Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan murmured softly, "Goodnight, Chuwei."

Shen Chuwei was taken aback, she remembered telling Xiao Jinyan that saying "goodnight" meant "I like you." Did Xiao Jinyan not know?

After a while, full of doubts, Shen Chuwei drifted into a dream.

She had a very long dream.

In the dream, that person was frantically screaming again, "Chuwei, come back quickly."

"Young Mistress, get up quickly, the sun is shining on your bum."

Shen Chuwei opened her eyes with difficulty amid Chun Xi’s continuous chirping, still drowsy despite her eyes being open.

The phrase "the sun is shining on your bum" was originally from Shen Chuwei; Chun Xi had quickly picked it up. Every time Shen Chuwei slept in, Chun Xi would call her that way, even on a day filled with endless rain.

Shen Chuwei rubbed her eyes and asked, "Has His Highness left?"

Chun Xi replied, "He left early."

"Oh," said Shen Chuwei as she languidly uncovered herself. She raised her head to look at Chun Xi, "Do you know what ’goodnight’ means?"

Chun Xi shook her head, "This servant doesn’t know."

Shen Chuwei asked again, "Is there fried dough stick for breakfast today?"

Chun Xi felt she couldn’t keep up with her young mistress’s train of thought; just a moment ago the topic was about "goodnight," and now suddenly it was about fried dough sticks.

"Young Mistress, there’re no fried dough sticks, but there are spring rolls."

Shen Chuwei’s eyes curved in delight, "Spring rolls are good too."

The evening before the Crown Princess’s ceremony, the East Palace, as well as the entire Imperial Palace, was much livelier—with the Ministry of Rites busily preparing for the ceremony.

Having nothing to do, Shen Chuwei felt she ought to be able to move around now.

Chun Xi, call Concubine Xu over," she said.

"Right away!" Chun Xi thought her young mistress must be feeling upset; after all, His Highness was about to welcome a Crown Princess, who would be his legal wife, worlds apart from a concubine.

In no time at all, Chun Xi brought Concubine Xu.

Understandably, Concubine Xu wasn’t in a good mood either, her handkerchief flapping rapidly.

"Lady Shen, tomorrow is the Crown Princess’s ceremony. Concubine Chang will become the Crown Princess. It’s hard to accept," Concubine Xu said indignantly.

Shen Chuwei put down the melon seeds in her hand, "Let’s find something to do to pass the time."

Concubine Xu, bored and with nothing to do, perked up at the mention of an activity, "What is it?"

Shen Chuwei leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Call that Imperial Doctor Zhao for me to take my pulse. Say my period is a month late, I constantly crave sour food, and I’m often sleepy, could it be that I’m fortunate."

Concubine Xu slapped her thigh, as if she had discovered something fun, "I was so upset these days, I almost forgot about that. I’ll have Cai Xia call that Imperial Doctor Zhao right now."

Concubine Xu turned her head and instructed Cai Xia, repeating Shen Chuwei’s words exactly.

Cai Xia acknowledged and quickly jogged out.

The Imperial Medical Bureau visited quite often, and they soon found Imperial Doctor Zhao, who approached with a beaming smile, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, you really are a miracle worker."

"Has something happened to Concubine Xu?" Imperial Doctor Zhao quickly inquired.

Cai Xia explained, "The remedy for conceiving that my mistress asked for last time was for Lady Shen. Now, Lady Shen’s period is a month late. She experiences nausea and sleepiness, and she suspects she is fortunate. Imperial Doctor Zhao, please come quickly and examine her."