The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 304 - 303: Eyes and eyebrows similar to Xiaojiu, the concubine is feeling heartache.

Chapter 304: Chapter 303: Eyes and eyebrows similar to Xiaojiu, the concubine is feeling heartache.

After the man in black left, he swiftly used his light-foot Kung fu to reach Yixiang Hall.

At this moment, Lady Xu was sleeping soundly.

The man in black entered as if returning to his own home; he took out the flint and expertly lit the two candles in the room.

The pitch-black room instantly lit up; it was then that he approached the bedside and gazed down at the person on the bed, whose eyes were tightly closed, clearly deep in sleep.

The man in black reached out to push the sleeping Lady Xu, "Wake up."

Lady Xu groggily opened her eyes and, seeing a figure clad in black standing by the bed, let out a scream out of sheer fright.

The man in black, quick as lightning, covered her mouth and nose with his hand.

"Mmm mmm mmm..."

Lady Xu couldn’t scream, but she became much more alert. The man in black carried a faint scent of begonia flowers—a fact she had discovered after many encounters.

She was certain the person standing at the head of the bed was indeed that man in black.

"It’s me," the man in black said, and then he released Lady Xu.

Lady Xu sat up, her blanket sliding from her shoulders to reveal her fair, rounded shoulders and a hint of her enticing collarbone.

Lady Xu did not realize the slipping blanket had exposed such alluring beauty.

The camisole she wore had been a gift from Shen Chuwei, which she found more convenient than a bellyband.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, "Today isn’t the scheduled time; why have you come?"

The man in black, taken off guard, saw it all quite straightforwardly.

Each time they met, Lady Xu was properly dressed. He hadn’t expected her to wear something so bold to bed.

Out of kindness, the man in black bent down and reached for the blanket, intending to cover her with it.

Lady Xu’s motion of rubbing her eyes halted as she saw the man in black’s hand reach out. Instinctively, she pushed his hand away, grabbing the blanket to cover herself.

Angry, she glared at the man in black, "What are you trying to do?"

"Just covering you with the blanket," the man in black responded, and added, "I am not interested in married women."

Lady Xu felt insulted, and huffed, "That sounds as if I would be interested in a man in black who sneaks into the Imperial Palace at night. If I were looking for someone, it would be a cultured and scholarly man."

Lady Xu had known the man in black for more than a month, going from initially being terrified of him to no longer being so afraid.

The man in black was not annoyed but instead consoled her, "Keep dreaming once you fall back asleep."

Lady Xu: "..."

The man in black spoke solemnly, "I have a question for you."

Lady Xu replied unpleasantly, "What is it?"

The man in black got straight to the point, "What’s the name of the woman who moved into Xiaoxiang Pavilion today?"

After Lady Xu answered, she watched the man in black warily, "Do you know her?"

The man in black replied, "She looks somewhat familiar, with features that resemble Little Nine’s."

The man in black almost always slept in Xiaoxiang Pavilion and noticed someone moving in during the day. Driven by curiosity, he saw a woman whose features bore some resemblance to Little Nine’s.

Upon hearing ’resemblance,’ Lady Xu thought of the body double trope and clarified, "She’s not Little Nine; she’s the Crown Prince’s woman. Don’t get any ideas."

The man in black looked at the indignant Lady Xu, "Why are you so agitated?"

Lady Xu, aware of the man in black’s formidable Kung fu, worried what would happen if he abducted Shen Lady during the night.

Or worse, if he harbored any ill intentions towards Shen Lady?

Fearful, Lady Xu stated resolutely, "Shen Lady and His Highness share mutual affection; you cannot have her substitute for the one you have feelings for just because they look alike."

The man in black could not be bothered to explain, merely speaking words she could hardly understand.

"Are you certain she’s not Little Nine?" the man in black paused, then said, "Little Nine is her nickname."

Lady Xu insisted, "Absolutely certain. Her name is Shen Chuwei, not Little Nine."

Refusing to give up, the man in black said, "Her full name is Feng Wuyou."

The name Wuyou was meant to wish for Little Nine to live a life free of worries.

"I’ve told you, she’s not Little Nine, nor is she Feng Wuyou. She’s Shen Chuwei," Lady Xu nearly shouted the last three words, but restrained her volume due to the identity of the man in black.

Inside the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, all was quiet.

Shen Chuwei heard someone calling her Little Nine and stood up, turning to see who was behind her. She then saw a familiar figure standing there.

"Your Highness?"

Xiao Jinyan walked over at a leisurely pace, and in the darkness of the night, her delicate features were not visible, "Why haven’t you gone to bed yet?"

"Didn’t I tell you not to act rashly?" Shen Chuwei reached out to hold his hand, which was warm to the touch.

Xiao Jinyan brought her into his embrace, her body soft and skin slightly cool. In a hushed voice, he said, "I was worried you wouldn’t be comfortable here, so I came to check on you. Don’t worry, no one noticed."

Shen Chuwei felt as if she were being held by a blazing furnace, overwhelmingly warm. This fervent embrace felt like that of long-distance lovers meeting after a long time, though they had just seen each other during the day.

"I am quite comfortable here, Your Highness needn’t worry," she reassured him.

"Then why haven’t you been able to sleep?"

Xiao Jinyan knew Shen Chuwei well—greedy for food and sleep, her being awake at this hour meant she must be uncomfortable.

Shen Chuwei chose not to mention the presence of the thief, not wanting to worry him.

"Your Highness, when will you leave?"

"I’ll depart before dawn," Xiao Jinyan said as he bent down to lift her horizontally, striding towards the bed.

Instinctively, Shen Chuwei wrapped her arms around Xiao Jinyan’s neck, softly laughing at his eager demeanor.

Xiao Jinyan gently laid her down on the bed and leaned over her, "What’s so funny?" As he spoke, his hands were anything but idle.

Shen Chuwei asked, "Did Your Highness sneak through the window in the middle of the night to make an effort toward having a baby?"

Xiao Jinyan neither confirmed nor denied, but instead began kissing her.

He suspected that Little Nine must eat candy every day since he always tasted sweetness when they kissed.

Shen Chuwei asked with some concern, "Jinyan, won’t this be too exhausting for you?"

Xiao Jinyan looked up, "Hmm?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "You come here so late, and have to leave before dawn. An hour is spent in our marital duties, leaving you only two hours of sleep in a day."

Xiao Jinyan showed a hint of frustration, such a perfect atmosphere spoiled by such trivial matters.

"At this moment, your focus should be on me," he replied.

Shen Chuwei earnestly retorted, "Am I not showing my care for you right now?"

"..." Xiao Jinyan said, "It would be more tangible if you kissed me instead."

In response, Shen Chuwei wrapped her arms around Xiao Jinyan’s neck and took the initiative to kiss his lips, mimicking the way he kissed her.

Once the kiss ended, she gasped, asking, "Is that tangible enough?"

Xiao Jinyan chuckled lowly, "Still not enough."

Without a second thought, Shen Chuwei sealed his lips with hers again.

Just as she had had enough and attempted to pull away, a large hand firmly gripped the back of her head, preventing her escape.

When Shen Chuwei felt as if she might drown, Xiao Jinyan finally released her.

"Your Highness, don’t carry the sachet on your person anymore. It’s harmful to your health," she advised.

Xiao Jinyan asked hoarsely, "What about the sachet?"