The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 237 - 236: Shocked and relieved

Chapter 237: Chapter 236: Shocked and relieved

Xiao Jinyan remembered how Lu Zhaoyan had held Xiao Jiu’s hand without letting go last time, and now he wanted to read Xiao Jiu’s palm?

"Come here," his voice was slightly deep.

Without any doubt, Lu Zhaoyan stepped forward and brought his ear closer, only to hear Xiao Jinyan kindly say one word, "Scram."

"Alright." Lu Zhaoyan turned around subconsciously to leave, but when he reached the door, he realized something was off. Why did His Highness want him to scram?

He returned with confusion, looking at Xiao Jinyan with a very serious expression, "Your Highness, I am serious."

Xiao Jinyan simply threw a sentence at him: "I am serious too."

Lu Zhaoyan left the study room with a sorrowful face.

He met Weichi as he stepped out and let out a long sigh.

Since Weichi was quite familiar with Lu Zhaoyan, seeing him sigh naturally led to a question, "Lord Lu, what’s wrong?"

Lu Zhaoyan was somewhat melancholic: "His Highness told me to scram."

Weichi laughed a bit, not taking it too seriously, "Isn’t that pretty normal?"

"You don’t understand." Lu Zhaoyan sighed and turned to leave.

Weichi grabbed Lu Zhaoyan’s shoulder, comforting him, "You must have said something to upset His Highness. Just don’t say it next time."

Lu Zhaoyan: "..." Are you trying to comfort or question me?

He asked with a warm smile, "Brother Weichi, shall I read your fortune in love?"

Upon hearing this, Weichi generously extended his hand, "Sure, tell me when I’ll be able to get married and have children?"

"I specialize in reading fortunes in love, rest assured." Lu Zhaoyan lowered his gaze to examine the lines on Weichi’s palm, his frown deepening the more he looked.

Weichi, seeing the concern, asked with curiosity, "Lord Lu, what is it?"

"There will be a wife, but..." Lu Zhaoyan hesitated.

Weichi pressed, "But what?"

Lu Zhaoyan spoke with difficulty, "It’s possible you’ll have no children for life."

Weichi was stunned.

He subconsciously thought there was something wrong with himself.

*

Chun Xi thought that the new clothes should be ready, so she took the time to visit the Garment Bureau.

Unfortunately, on her way, she ran into Huai Xiang, who was also there to collect clothes.

Huai Xiang, upon seeing Chun Xi, was full of disdain. If it weren’t for Lady Shen Liangdi, her young master would not have been punished.

Chun Xi didn’t like Huai Xiang either, as Lady Chang always harbored bad intentions.

The two of them were competing with each other, speeding up from their normal pace, turning it into a race.

By the time they arrived at the Garment Bureau, they were both out of breath.

Huai Xiang inquired first, "Eunuch Hua, I’ve come to pick up clothes for my young master."

Chun Xi closely followed, "Eunuch Hua, are the clothes for my young master ready?"

Eunuch Hua glanced at the two of them and eventually turned to Chun Xi with a smile, "Miss Chun Xi, they are ready. I will have someone fetch them for you right away."

Eunuch Hua ordered a little eunuch to bring the clothes from Hehuan Hall.

Huai Xiang was no fool; Eunuch Hua’s attitude toward her was completely different from last time, and she expressed her dissatisfaction, "Eunuch Hua, what about my young master’s clothes?"

Eunuch Hua glanced at Huai Xiang, and his smile faded a little, "Miss Huai Xiang, the clothes for Xinlan Hall need a few more days; they are not ready yet."

"Eunuch Hua, my young master’s clothes were clearly made first, so how come Hehuan Hall’s clothes are ready and mine still need a few more days?"

Eunuch Hua’s expression grew stern, "Miss Huai Xiang seems to have a poor memory; last time, it was Miss Chun Xi who came first, so naturally, we made theirs first."

At first, Chun Xi was surprised, but then she realized that the young master from Xinlan Hall had not become the Crown Princess but was demoted to Lady instead, and Eunuch Hua was truly the epitome of a fair-weather friend.

Still, it was quite satisfying.

The little eunuch brought over the new clothes and handed them to Chun Xi with both hands.

Chun Xi took a cursory glance, accepted the garments, said some polite words, and then turned to leave.

As she passed Huai Xiang, she scoffed and strode away with a twist of her head.

Huai Xiang was furious. Wasn’t her little master also a hen that couldn’t lay eggs? What was there to be so proud of?

Seething, Huai Xiang returned to the Xinlan Hall.

Just as she arrived back at the Xinlan Hall, she saw Concubine Xu. Despite her aversion, she knew she had to keep up appearances.

She stepped forward and curtsied, "Concubine Xu."

Concubine Xu was a restless person, swinging her handkerchief as she made her way to the Xinlan Hall whenever she had some free time.

"Where is Lady Chang?"

Huai Xiang replied, "My mistress is unwell and resting."

"Is that so?" said Concubine Xu, flinging her handkerchief as she walked inside.

Huai Xiang quickly moved to block her way, "Concubine Xu, my mistress is really resting. Please come to visit another time."

Concubine Xu had long been annoyed by Huai Xiang’s arrogance, and she called out, "Cai Xia!"

Cai Xia stepped forward and grabbed Huai Xiang.

Only then did Concubine Xu step inside and saw Lady Chang sitting up in bed. She appeared significantly more haggard than she had a few days ago.

"Lady Chang, how did you fall ill so suddenly?"

Lady Chang knew very well that Concubine Xu’s visit was meant to mock her. Her mouth was even more disliked than a crow’s.

"Concubine Xu, what brings you here?"

Concubine Xu adjusted the peony hairpin at her temple and said with arrogance, "Lady Chang knows that I am a concubine? I thought being confined had made you forget the rules."

The implication was clear: Lady Chang had to greet and pay respect to the concubine.

Lady Chang paused. The palace was the place where propriety and etiquette mattered most; higher status was indeed oppressive, and she understood this better than anyone.

Despite her reluctance to rise from bed, she still lifted the covers, put on her shoes, and performed the necessary courtesies to Concubine Xu.

Watching Lady Chang bowing to her, Concubine Xu felt extremely smug, "Lady Chang, you invited your sisters to the Grand Ceremony a few days ago. It wasn’t that your sisters didn’t want to give you face; it’s just that the Crown Princess’s enfeoffment ceremony was cancelled. Such a pity," she added, with a sigh.

Her words were like salt on an open wound for Lady Chang.

"If Concubine Xu has no further business, I need to rest."

Seeing Lady Chang upset and sad, Concubine Xu felt she had achieved her goal.

"Huai Xiang mentioned you’re unwell; you should see the Imperial Doctor," said Concubine Xu, as she began to walk away, swinging her handkerchief.

No sooner had Lady Chang breathed a sigh of relief than Concubine Xu stopped and dropped a remark, "Remember to seek out Imperial Doctor Zhao, one of our own, someone you can trust."

Hearing this, Lady Chang trembled. Once Concubine Xu had left, she furiously swept everything off the table and hissed, "Concubine Xu, who do you think you are? I have the support of my family. The title of the Crown Princess is mine, and when the time comes, I’ll see how I deal with you."

*

On his way back to the palace, Xiao Jinyan unexpectedly encountered an assassin.

The assassin was highly skilled in martial arts; both Weichi and Qin Xiao were no match for him, and both were seriously wounded.

The assailant’s target was clear; his sword thrust straight for Xiao Jinyan with lightning speed, leaving no opportunity to dodge.

Xiao Jinyan narrowly avoided the sword but was injured by a hidden weapon.

Weichi shouted, "Your Highness!!!"

Having accomplished his mission, the assassin quickly fled the scene.

Xiao Jinyan was rushed back to the East Palace, where Imperial Doctor Wen was summoned to tend to him.

After tearing open the clothing, the Imperial Doctor saw the blackened blood and even the surrounding skin turned black, his expression darkening, "The hidden weapon is laced with deadly poison."