The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 258 - 257: Is this a bad influence on the sister-in-law? Who exactly is the third wheel?

Chapter 258: Chapter 257: Is this a bad influence on the sister-in-law? Who exactly is the third wheel?

Xiao Jinyan was leisurely sipping his tea, remaining silent in response to his younger brother’s words.

Silence was equivalent to consent.

Shen Chuwei was one hundred percent convinced by Xiao Jinyu’s words; Master Lu was indeed miraculous.

When she had the chance, she would ask Master Lu when she could raise little piglets and big white geese.

Princess Xueyan was stunned for a while, as Xueyue Country was indeed some distance away from Daxia, and this was the first time she had heard about the Imperial Astronomical Observatory.

As for that Master Lu, was he really that miraculous?

Princess Xueyan only ate half a bowl of rice, not because she couldn’t eat more, but because there was no more food~

On the dining table, most of the dishes were empty, and the palace maids cleared them away one by one.

Xiao Jinyu took a sip of tea and couldn’t help but sigh, "The tea in the Crown Prince’s palace is still the best."

Xiao Jinyan teased, "You’ve been out for only half a month, yet you speak as if it has been half a year."

Xiao Jinyu nodded thoughtfully, "The Crown Prince is right, I’m not independent enough. After only half a month I already miss home, so I’ve decided to travel more and gain some experience."

After saying that, Xiao Jinyu turned his head to Shen Chuwei and asked with a grin, "Sister-in-law, do you want to go out and play? I’ll take you out when I have some time."

"I..." Shen Chuwei looked at Xiao Jinyan, as it didn’t seem appropriate for her to go out alone~

Xiao Jinyan’s eyes turned cold: "Take care of your own wanderings. Don’t lead Lady Shen astray."

As everyone knew, Xiao Jinyu was the most favored prince, but he only listened to Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyu quickly explained, "Brother, how can taking sister-in-law out be considered leading her astray? I’m just worried that she might be bored in the palace. It’s good for her health to go out and relax."

Then he proudly added, "It’s like Miss Han, who was sullen every day staying in the palace. After taking her out a couple of times, her mood improved significantly."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan turned to Shen Chuwei, "She wasn’t sullen."

Shen Chuwei’s tea-drinking paused, and she looked up at Xiao Jinyan. If possible, she wouldn’t mind going out for a stroll and enjoying some delicious food~

Princess Xueyan watched the two brothers chatting and put down her teacup. She asked in a soft voice, "Your Highness, are you busy this afternoon?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Princess Xueyan and gave a faint "hmm" in response.

Princess Xueyan continued to inquire, "How long will you be busy for?"

Xiao Jinyu replied with a smile, "Princess Xueyan, are you planning to supervise my brother’s work?"

Princess Xueyan smiled and shook her head, "Of course not. I was wondering if after Your Highness finishes, we could go appreciate flowers together and compose poetry."

Having said that, she turned to Shen Chuwei, "Lady Shen, would you like to join us?"

Shen Chuwei glanced at Xiao Jinyan, "I’m not interested in appreciating flowers and composing poetry."

Xiao Jinyan set down his teacup, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes: "The palace will be very busy today."

Princess Xueyan, understanding in nature, said: "It’s alright. I can wait until you’re done. Today is the fifteenth, it’s the perfect time for moon-viewing, and Empress Mother has sent mooncakes early this morning, just in time to be enjoyed."

Embedded in Princess Xueyan’s words was the implication that the Empress endorsed joining together to appreciate the flowers, the moon, and to compose poetry.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyu protested, "Why didn’t Mother send me some mooncakes? I haven’t had mooncakes in so long; I want to eat the ones with the egg yolk and lotus paste."

After speaking, he turned to Princess Xueyan, "What fillings did Mother send you?"

Princess Xueyan thought for a moment and said, "There are several flavors, including mixed nuts, bean paste, lotus paste, egg yolk, and date paste. They all sound delicious."

Shen Chuwei’s eyes lit up—more than just sounding delicious, they were indeed tasty.

Xiao Jinyu looked forward with anticipation: "Then I’ll come tonight too. It’s not about the mooncakes; what’s important is that it’s more fun with more people around."

Shen Chuwei also agreed, "Prince Jinyu is right, it’s more lively with more people."

Xiao Jinyan swept a glance over Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyu, seeing through their intentions in an instant; for the sake of food, they really would throw caution to the wind.

Princess Xueyan was stunned; she had never expected that simply showing off the mooncakes gifted by the Empress would lead to them being targeted.

Xiao Jinyan was busy until the lanterns were lit, while Xueyan arrived early at the East Palace with the mooncakes, waiting for him,

Xiao Jinyan first went to Hehuan Hall and saw Shen Chuwei sitting under the veranda. Upon seeing him, she got up and walked over to greet him.

"Your Highness, have you finished your duties?"

"Mhm," Xiao Jinyan said, taking her hand and leading her outside.

Heh heh! There was no need to say it; he was taking her to join the rendezvous.

The Peony Garden was the perfect place to admire the moon, appreciate the flowers, and recite poetry.

The Hexagonal Pavilion hung six red lanterns, and inside, there was a single sheep-horn lantern lit.

On the stone table, there was a pot of hot tea, two plates of mooncakes, one plate of tea snacks, and one plate of pastries.

Xueyan had been waiting early in the pavilion, and from afar, she saw Xiao Jinyan’s figure. She happily stood up until she noticed someone else following by his side. That person, dressed in a pink gown, was immediately recognizable as Shen Chuwei.

As they approached, she walked up to greet them.

"Your Highness," Xueyan, seeing Shen Chuwei, said with a surprised expression, "Isn’t Lady Chuwei uninterested in reciting poetry?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "It’s more lively with more people."

"Let’s go in," Xiao Jinyan led the way inside.

Xueyan quickly followed.

Shen Chuwei, unhurried, lifted her skirt to walk into the pavilion, and sat down beside Xiao Jinyan, eyeing the mooncakes on the stone table and feeling a sudden temptation.

Xiao Jinyu strode over, "I’m not late, am I?"

Shen Chuwei responded cheerfully, "Not at all, not at all, just right."

"That’s good," Xiao Jinyu said, pleased as he sat down. Noticing the mooncakes, which were just like the box his mother had given him last year, he knew they would taste especially good.

Xueyan had thought Xiao Jinyu was joking at lunchtime. She hadn’t expected that he would actually come.

What was supposed to be a date for two had turned into an occasion for four.

Xueyan looked up at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, how about we compose poems with the moon as our theme?"

Xiao Jinyan said indifferently, "Princess Xueyan, please start."

Shen Chuwei, who had her eyes set on a lotus paste mooncake with egg yolk, picked one up and took a bite, delighted to have reached the yolk inside.

Xiao Jinyu did not want to be outdone. He picked up a bean paste mooncake and began to eat, listening to Princess Xueyan’s poetry and casually complimenting, "Very good, very good."

His demeanor was much like a young man in a teahouse, enjoying a cup of tea while listening to operas.

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement, "Mhm, quite good."

Actually, she hadn’t paid attention to the poetry Xueyan had recited at all.

Xueyan, hearing their praise, felt a bit proud of herself, as composing poetry was also her forte.

Xueyan and Xiao Jinyan each wrote a poem.

Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyu each ate two pieces of mooncake.

There was just one mixed-nut mooncake left at the end, and in tacit understanding, neither of them reached for it, instead opting for the pastries.

Xueyan, seeing Shen Chuwei’s mouth that hadn’t stopped moving, realized she was failing to experience the joy of reciting poetry with the person she liked.

She happily reached for the mooncake, only to find that there was only one piece left in the two plates. She was momentarily stunned.

One out of eight mooncakes remained?

Xueyan glanced at Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyu, who were enjoying mung bean cakes. She could only pick up the last piece, then happily broke it in half, offering one half to Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, have some mooncake.