The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 265 - 264: Little Nine is Jealous! The Wedded Wife Can Only Be Her!

Chapter 265: Chapter 264: Little Nine is Jealous! The Wedded Wife Can Only Be Her!

Chun Xi had no idea what Qin Xiao was thinking, she just wanted to leave with her young master as soon as possible to avoid Qin Xiao recognizing her as the "little brother" they referred to.

Shen Chuwei hadn’t thought of that. She turned to look at Xu Concubine and Tao Chenghui, and seeing that they had both descended, she continued walking forward.

Tao Chenghui, staring at the twin lotus in Shen Chuwei’s hand, said, "Lady Shen, the twin lotus must be cultivated in water, to last for some time."

Shen Chuwei looked down at the lotus, with its delicate petals, careful not to touch it too forcefully, "I thought the same, hoping that it could be kept for a month."

Qin Xiao’s gaze had been fixed on Chun Xi all along, seeing her acting furtively. After being around the Crown Prince for so long, her alertness was exceptionally high.

He stepped forward to intercept Chun Xi, his face cold, "You, stop there."

Chun Xi, out of guilt, was startled and subconsciously hugged Shen Chuwei’s arm tighter, screaming inside her head, praying not to be recognized, or else it would be the end for her.

Shen Chuwei looked up at Qin Xiao, puzzled, "Guard Qin, what are you doing?"

This was the first time Qin Xiao had faced Shen Chuwei directly; he had never dared to look straight before, as Shen Chuwei belonged to his master, and to look at her directly was a great disrespect.

Now that he had looked, he was stunned for a moment.

She indeed looked very similar to Brother Shen, although she seemed a bit shorter.

It was rare to see siblings resemble each other to such an extent.

When Shen Chuwei was dressed as a man, she padded her boots to be seven centimeters taller than usual.

Qin Xiao snapped back to reality and, pointing at Chun Xi, said, "Lady Shen, she is skulking about, there’s something off with her."

Shen Chuwei glanced down at Chun Xi and noticed she kept her head lowered. Suddenly remembering the cross-dressing incident, she realized Chun Xi was afraid of being recognized by Qin Xiao.

She looked confidently back at Qin Xiao, "Where do you see her skulking about?"

Qin Xiao paused for a moment, was everything not already obvious, yet Shen Chuwei could not see it?

He clasped his hands in a salute, "Your subordinate just suspects, Lady Shen, it’s better to be cautious."

"I understand, be at ease, Guard Qin!" Shen Chuwei replied, then quickly walked away with Chun Xi.

Qin Xiao watched Chun Xi for a long time, not withdrawing his gaze until they had left his sight.

When Weichi came by, he saw Qin Xiao staring after the girl, his eyes full of reluctance to let go.

He clapped Qin Xiao’s shoulder forcefully, "What’s wrong? You taken a fancy to that girl?"

Qin Xiao glared at Weichi, "Nonsense! I was just suspicious of her, she was lowering her head, acting guilty."

Weichi nodded in approval, "That’s more like it, considering you’ve accepted the little brother’s love token, you can’t abandon her halfway."

Qin Xiao cursed under his breath, "What love token, don’t talk nonsense!"

Weichi had a knowing look, "I saw it all, no need to pretend, you holding that handkerchief in the middle of the night, pining away."

Qin Xiao was flabbergasted; he had simply dropped the handkerchief by accident and couldn’t return it. He had seen it when coming back from the latrine at night and picked it up, far from pining over it.

If Xiao Jinyan hadn’t been approaching, Qin Xiao would have surely given Weichi a sound thrashing for his baseless words.

On the way back, Chun Xi patted her chest and said, "Young master, we were almost recognized by Qin Xiao just now, he’s so fierce."

Shen Chuwei explained, "He is His Highness’s personal guard, naturally different from ordinary people, with a high level of alertness. You still don’t know if he’s fierce or not?"

Chun Xi remembered how Qin Xiao had helped her during their last outing, and actually, he hadn’t been all that fierce.

"Right, it’s just that sometimes he looks quite fierce."

Upon returning to Hehuan Hall, Shen Chuwei had Chun Xi fetch an aquarium, then placed the twin lotus in it, following which, she took out Spiritual Spring Water from her space and poured it into the aquarium.

The lotus nourished with Spiritual Spring Water would bloom better and last longer.

At night, when Xiao Jinyan visited, he saw the lotus in the aquarium on the short table, the twin lotus, bicolored, an encounter that could be once in a thousand years.

He seated himself on the couch, his gaze shifting to Shen Chuwei, "Why didn’t you come to find me when you went to Taiye Pond today?"

Shen Chuwei answered, "Your Concubine didn’t want to disturb Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan’s eyebrows furrowed tightly, "Why would you think that?"

Shen Chuwei gestured toward the bicolored lotus in the fish tank, "Your Concubine picked the twin lotus."

Xiao Jinyan fixed his eyes on Shen Chuwei, speaking deliberately, "Your Highness wasn’t wanting to accompany Princess Xueyan, nor was he desiring to roam Taiye Pond with Princess Xueyan, today was arranged by the Empress Dowager... Chuwei, do you understand?"

Shen Chuwei lay on the low table, watching the lotus in the aquarium while listening to Xiao Jinyan’s explanation.

Xiao Jinyan, not receiving a response, felt somewhat upset and called softly, "Chuwei?"

Shen Chuwei looked up at Xiao Jinyan, "It’d be better for Your Highness to keep some distance from her."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan’s eyes paused momentarily, then suddenly brightened with relief, "Chuwei, are you jealous?"

Shen Chuwei answered seriously, "Your Concubine is not jealous; I had dumplings only the other day, and I do not wish to have them again so soon."

Xiao Jinyan, of course, knew about the dumplings she had eaten a few days ago, with a mouthful of vinegar flavor.

"I was not speaking of dumplings dipped in vinegar."

Shen Chuwei tilted her head, earnestly asking, "Then what vinegar is Your Highness referring to? White vinegar?"

Xiao Jinyan couldn’t help but reply, "Not white vinegar either."

"Then Your Concubine doesn’t know. When eating dumplings, it’s best with aged vinegar." Shen Chuwei finished her thought, suddenly craving dumplings again.

Xiao Jinyan, "...How can you always be thinking of eating?"

Shen Chuwei replied confidently, "People take food as their heaven, if I miss a meal, I’m terribly hungry."

Xiao Jinyan shook his head helplessly.

*

After returning to the palace, Lu Zhaoyan was called to the Emperor.

In the Imperial Study Room, the Emperor sat upon the Dragon Throne.

The Emperor said, "Lu Aiqing, I plan to marry Princess Xueyan off to the Crown Prince, to be established as the Crown Princess. Calculate the fortunes and tell me the most suitable day, will you?"

Lu Zhaoyan bowed his head, "Your Majesty, your humble servant requires some time; only after observing the stars at night can I accurately determine His Highness’s fortune."

The Emperor trusted Lu Zhaoyan quite a bit and nodded, "Then I will give you two days’ time, and you shall give me an answer in two days."

Lu Zhaoyan responded, "Your servant obeys."

During his stargazing, Xiao Jinyan visited him.

"How is it going?"

Lu Zhaoyan appeared somewhat helpless, "Your Highness, the Emperor only gave your servant two days."

Xiao Jinyan said, "Then do what you must, don’t disappoint me."

Lu Zhaoyan’s face showed difficulty, "Your Highness, this is somewhat challenging. If I claim Princess Xueyan clashes with you, it may cause discontent within Xueyue Country."

Xiao Jinyan was silent for a long time before uttering, "The Crown Princess cannot be her."

That was Xiao Jinyan’s bottom line, the Crown Princess must be Shen Chuwei; he could only marry Chuwei.

*

Shen Chuwei spent three days finishing the sachet, which was embroidered with a smiling face—not a deathly smile but a mischievous one.

Inside, she packed a medicinal sachet that she had personally prepared, which had a calming effect and aided sleep.

During dinner, Xiao Jinyan arrived.