The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 308 - 307: It’s Amazing to Nurture Life in the Belly

Chapter 308: Chapter 307: It’s Amazing to Nurture Life in the Belly

If it weren’t for the familiar voice, she would have thought that the person in black had come again.

Who would have thought that a midnight snack could lead to getting caught?

With a big mouthful of Mung Bean Cake in her mouth, she hurriedly stuffed it in, trying to swallow it down.

But she swallowed too quickly and started to choke.

Xiao Jinyan looked at her actions, puzzled, "What are you doing?"

Shen Chuwei, hitting her chest, couldn’t speak.

Xiao Jinyan, realizing something was wrong, stepped forward and crouched down, patting her on the back.

Shen Chuwei sighed with relief and finally swallowed it down.

Seeing she was alright, Xiao Jinyan got up and lit the candle in the room, instantly brightening the pitch-black room.

He turned around to look at Shen Chuwei and noticed she was squatting by a low table, and on the table was the Mung Bean Cake, with three pieces left.

It wasn’t hard to guess that little nine had just been squatting there eating Mung Bean Cake.

"Why are you eating something so sweet so late at night?"

Xiao Jinyan walked over and sat down beside her.

"I was hungry and couldn’t sleep. I wanted to eat my fill before going back to bed." Having been caught, Shen Chuwei confidently reached again into the dish and took another piece, biting into it.

Watching her eat ravenously, Xiao Jinyan couldn’t help but feel a bit distressed, "Didn’t you eat your evening meal?"

Shen Chuwei, with her cheeks puffed out, mumbled unclearly, "I did, but I got hungry again."

Shen Chuwei had actually fallen asleep but woke up after just an hour, hungry again.

She was someone who couldn’t sleep when hungry, and too lazy to light a lamp, so she groped her way to the bed in the dark to nibble on some Mung Bean Cake to fill her stomach.

Who would have thought that the very first time she ate in the middle of the night, Xiao Jinyan would show up?

"Look what I’ve brought you?" Xiao Jinyan removed the package he was carrying, opened it, and placed the greased paper package in front of her.

From the moment Xiao Jinyan started to retrieve the package, Shen Chuwei’s gaze was fixed on his hands, then on the package, and when she saw him take out the greased paper package, she knew, Xiao Jinyan had brought her something delicious.

Watching Xiao Jinyan unwrap the greased paper package, the fragrance of tea pastries immediately wafted out. Hungrier than ever, she found the scent irresistible.

The Mung Bean Cake in her hand suddenly didn’t seem as tasty.

After finishing the Mung Bean Cake in her hand, Shen Chuwei picked up a tea pastry and bit into it, feeling extremely satisfied.

Xiao Jinyan stood up to pour her a cup of tea, placing it in front of her, then simply watched her eat.

Watching Shen Chuwei eat was actually quite relaxing and enjoyable.

Once Shen Chuwei had eaten and drunk her fill and rinsed her mouth out, Xiao Jinyan picked her up and carried her horizontally to the bed.

The summer heat was fierce, and one could break out in sweat just from taking off their clothes.

And yet, Xiao Jinyan liked to sleep holding her.

Sleeping next to a furnace in the summer heat would make anyone understand how she felt at that moment.

Xiao Jinyan felt Shen Chuwei’s soft body and cool skin, finding it particularly comfortable to hold.

"Have you settled in well these past few days?"

"Quite well, I feel it’s no different than Hehuan Hall."

Shen Chuwei’s words were partly to comfort Xiao Jinyan, but they took on a different meaning to his ears.

He suddenly remembered Shen Chuwei’s longstanding wish to move back to Xiyun Pavilion, and now that she had moved to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, was she happy about it?

No wonder Xiao Jinyan was overthinking it.

"A few days ago, Mother visited. Did she say anything?"

"The Empress came to bring me some things, and incidentally had lunch as well." Shen Chuwei played with Xiao Jinyan’s hair, which felt cool and comfortable compared to his feverishly hot body.

A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Jinyan’s eyes. His mother had previously been quite cold towards little nine, but now she seemed to have had a change of heart.

"The Empress enjoys spicy food. We had hotpot for lunch, and she didn’t hold back at all."

"Mother’s taste has indeed become more intense."

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement, but suddenly felt a large hand rest on her abdomen. The heat from the palm was scorching.

She looked up at Xiao Jinyan with a puzzled expression, "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Thinking that our child will be conceived here one day makes it feel quite magical."

"Of course." As a modern-day doctor, Shen Chuwei knew far more than Xiao Jinyan did, yet she still found it magical.

Xiao Jinyan leaned in closer, burying his face in Shen Chuwei’s neck, and murmured, "I have to leave for a while. I won’t be able to visit you during the upcoming period."

Shen Chuwei seized Xiao Jinyan’s arm and asked, "Where are you going, Your Highness?"

Xiao Jinyan gave a succinct answer, "To take my father the Emperor’s place in leading our troops to battle."

Leading troops in battle was the fastest way to grasp real power.

But, he would not see Little Nine for a long time.

Shen Chuwei cupped Xiao Jinyan’s handsome face in her hands, looking at him worriedly, "Will it be dangerous?"

Xiao Jinyan kissed the corner of her lips, "There’s definitely danger, but you just wait for me to come back safely."

"If only I could secretly follow you, I might be able to help you turn peril into safety."

Clearly, she was indulging in a pipe dream.

If the Emperor found out she was not in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, he would surely be furious.

Xiao Jinyan gripped her hand tighter, "Stop talking nonsense."

Shen Chuwei: "..."

That night, she, the salted fish, was tossed and turned, tormented for a long time.

Perhaps it was the sorrow of a temporary separation causing some reluctance to let go.

Before dawn broke, Xiao Jinyan sat by the bed, staring at the person on it for a long time by the light of a candle.

Only when it was almost light did he rise and leave.

Upon waking, Shen Chuwei looked at the empty space beside her and felt, for the first time, that she missed Xiao Jinyan a little.

All of a sudden, as if something struck her, she slapped her forehead, "I forgot to ask how long Xiao Jinyan would be gone."

The day Xiao Jinyan led the troops himself, sounds of firecrackers echoed through the Imperial Palace, actually produced by the cracking of whips.

Unfortunately, Shen Chuwei could not see Xiao Jinyan in his armor.

But she could imagine it: he must have looked exceptionally dashing and irresistibly handsome.

After Xiao Jinyan left, Shen Chuwei became increasingly sleepy. After finishing her noontime meal, she lay down on the couch and fell asleep.

Only when night fell did Chun Xi wake her up.

Shen Chuwei loved to sleep, something Chun Xi had always known, so she didn’t think much of it.

After the evening meal, Shen Chuwei washed up and went back to sleep again.

In the dead of night

A shadowy figure cloaked in black approached the bed like a ghost, holding a candle, leaning in to observe Shen Chuwei closely.

At that moment, Shen Chuwei was sound asleep, the kind where not even thunder could wake her.

Naturally, she didn’t notice someone had sneaked into her bedroom, scrutinizing her with a candle.

The person in black stared for quite a while; her features really did resemble those of Little Nine, only the ages differed.

If Little Nine were to grow up, she would likely be just as adorable.

He wasn’t certain Shen Chuwei was the one he was looking for.

"If you really were Little Nine, how wonderful that would be. It’s been so many years, and everyone is nearly at their limit."

After watching for a good while, the person in black extinguished the candle and left for Yixiang Hall.

Unlike last time’s intrusion, this time the black-clad figure didn’t enter directly. Instead, he assessed the situation from outside and noticed that Concubine Xu wasn’t bathing before climbing in.

Concubine Xu was about to undress and rest when she saw an additional shadow on the wall, moving toward her.