The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 285 - 284: Finally Got It, Extremely Frustrated

Chapter 285: Chapter 284: Finally Got It, Extremely Frustrated

A meaningful glance.

Shen Chuwei lifted her head to look at Xiao Jinyan, and following his gaze downwards, she saw her attire was a camisole which, due to her leaning position, revealed a hint of spring charm at the open neckline.

Due to the heat, she had Chun Xi make her a camisole nightgown on purpose. The fabric was silk, which felt particularly cool to wear.

She lifted her head again to look at Xiao Jinyan, who by now had sat down on the bed.

"This concubine is not uncomfortable."

Xiao Jinyan scrutinized her up and down. These hot days, she had started wearing such attire, only donning it during rest times.

His gaze fell on the open neckline, and the color in his eyes darkened.

He shifted his gaze from her chest to the book in her hands, "What are you doing?"

"This concubine is studying," Shen Chuwei propped herself up to sit, crossing her legs.

Xiao Jinyan felt quite relieved, finally, Chuwei was becoming sensible, "It’s rare for you to be so diligent. What are you studying?"

"Recipes, your Highness. This concubine has realized that many dishes have been eaten several times already. Studying some new dishes to taste something fresh."

Shen Chuwei proudly handed the cookbook to Xiao Jinyan, flipping to the page she was studying to show him.

Xiao Jinyan: "..." So Chuwei’s definition of study was learning how to make delicious food.

He looked at the page before him, where colorful dishes were illustrated. His slender fingers touched the paper, noticing its smooth feel, different from the paper here.

He tilted his head to look at Shen Chuwei, "Where did this cookbook come from?"

Shen Chuwei paused for a moment; she had forgotten that this was a modern cookbook with paper unlike any found here.

Xiao Jinyan always noticed such details ~

"Would Your Highness believe me if I said I found it?"

Xiao Jinyan looked at her with an amused yet serious expression, "What do you think?"

Shen Chuwei blinked her sparkling eyes a couple of times. Under Xiao Jinyan’s gaze, she placed one hand on his shoulder, attempting to put the book back on the nightstand.

Since she was short of stature and had limited reach, she had to sit on Xiao Jinyan’s lap to manage to place the book on the nightstand.

After setting down the book, she looked back at Xiao Jinyan and kissed the corner of his lips proactively, "This is a goodnight kiss."

The implication being, it’s getting late, time to rest.

Xiao Jinyan lowered his eyes to look at the person before him, the depths of his black eyes swirling with unsatisfied desire.

Shen Chuwei hadn’t expected it to be easy to climb up, but now it was hard to climb down.

She realized one issue, in winter Xiao Jinyan’s body was like a furnace, inviting one to come closer.

In summer, his body was so hot that it made one want to stay far away ~

Yixiang Hall

Today was the second time Concubine Xu had met the man in black; she had been living in fear day after day, dreading the time appointed by the man in black.

Whether or not she found the person called Chuwei, she feared the man in black would kill her to silence her.

In the past, they used to say she was haughty and unbending. She was not one to admit defeat in an argument.

She now wondered if that was the reason for her bad luck in encountering the man in black.

The night breeze blew, and a slender figure appeared in the room.

Concubine Xu could see clearly that the man in black had entered from the window, just like last time, coming silently.

The man in black boldly sat down at the round table, crossing his legs in a casual manner as if at home, relaxed and at ease.

"How is it going?"

Concubine Xu clenched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, extremely nervous, shaking her head, "I haven’t found her yet."

The man in black stared at Concubine Xu for a while upon hearing this. She was wearing a purple dress which made her skin appear very pale.

Her coiffure was elegant, and her hair ornaments were luxurious, highlighting her opulence.

One could tell at a glance that she was a pampered daughter of a wealthy family, who had never suffered hardships.

Chuwei would be even more delicate and even lovelier.

Concubine Xu noticed that the attractive almond eyes of the man in black were fixed on her, and defensively she covered herself with her arms, watching the man in black warily, "I’m telling you, I’m the Crown Prince’s woman. If you dare to fancy me, don’t say I didn’t warn you, you will be annihilated."

The man in black looked at her with a fierce glare, unfazed, and he said indifferently, "You are the Crown Prince’s woman?"

"Of course, I am the Crown Prince’s concubine," Concubine Xu huffed, hoping to intimidate him.

The man in black seemed to ponder for a moment, nodding thoughtfully. He toyed with the teacup before him, glancing around the chamber, saying softly, "How long has it been since the Crown Prince last stayed here with you?"

Concubine Xu felt that the man in black was mocking her. She lifted her chin, "His Highness was here yesterday. You just didn’t cross paths."

The man in black chuckled softly upon hearing this, "Quite vain."

Concubine Xu became angry and embarrassed, "What do you mean by that?"

The man in black answered her succinctly, "I have been in the palace recently."

Concubine Xu shuddered with fear, even her voice trembling, "You haven’t been near my hall all this time, have you?"

The man in black did not deny it, "I have been, almost every night."

Concubine Xu: "..."

Oh, my God!

Is this guy a pervert?

Immediately thinking about her lie being exposed, she felt so embarrassed she wanted to hide in a hole.

"So what if His Highness didn’t come? Can’t I make a joke?"

The man in black smiled, "I am also joking."

Concubine Xu: "..."

Concubine Xu was so frustrated her face turned red, but she was powerless before the man’s strength and since he had poisoned her, she couldn’t retort like she normally would.

It was too suffocating.

"Competing with a bunch of women for one man, the so-called scarcity of prey. It’s normal to be alone." The man in black paused before adding, "I definitely won’t let Chuwei compete with so many women for one man."

After hearing the latter part of his statement, Concubine Xu thought, who wouldn’t want to enjoy one person’s love alone? But nowadays, which man doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines?

Xiao Jinyan, being so chaste, was really rare.

She looked at the man in black with curiosity, "Is Chuwei truly the one in your heart?"

The man in black looked at Concubine Xu, his laid-back demeanor bearing an intimidating presence.

Concubine Xu swallowed nervously, "I was just asking. A man who can marry only one woman is already a rare species."

Rare species was a term she had learned some days ago, and she had already put it to good use.

"..." The man in black: "Rare species?"

Concubine Xu hastened to explain, "Don’t get me wrong, that’s a compliment. It means you are loyal and cherish your wife exclusively, which is very rare in this world."

The man in black then understood, his eyes showing fierceness, "No matter who wants to marry Chuwei, if he cannot commit to only marrying her alone, he has no right to do so."

Concubine Xu, filled with envy, said, "You are really good to Chuwei."

The man in black remained noncommittal.

After the man in black left, he left her an antidote.

Concubine Xu took the antidote, glanced around the empty chamber with a sigh. How had she not noticed before that it was so empty?

Concubine Xu tossed the handkerchief aside, undressed, and went to bed.

But the thought of the man in black saying he had been near Yixiang Hall almost every night recently made her too scared to fall asleep.

The next day, Concubine Xu, with dark circles under her eyes, headed toward Hehuan Hall.

On the way, Cai Xia said, "Mistress, the Snow Concubine suddenly fell ill yesterday. I heard she developed a rash on her face."