The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 422 - 386: The Empress despises me, super sweet

Chapter 422: Chapter 386: The Empress despises me, super sweet

The Empress heard the movements at the door and quickly put away the small clothing, then she pulled back the covers and lay down, her back toward the outside.

As the footsteps behind her grew nearer, she closed her eyes and feigned sleep.

Seeing that the Empress had already gone to bed, the Emperor sat down by the bed, his gaze dropping to regard her for a few moments before reaching out to check her forehead, and found no fever.

He softly called out, "Lingling."

With her eyes closed, the Empress ignored the bastard Emperor, thinking that if she kept up the act, the bastard would leave. Contrary to any logic, however, the cad flipped her over, giving her no choice but to wake up.

The Emperor’s hand touched the Empress’s face, calling out again, "Lingling, wake up."

Left with no other choice, the Empress had to open her eyes or else be found out.

As soon as she opened them, she saw the bastard Emperor sitting beside the bed, looking down at her, his hand on her face.

Without showing any emotion, she turned her head away, dodging the hand on her face.

"Why has Your Majesty come?"

The Emperor’s hand paused where it was, and as the covers slipped from her shoulder, he covered her again, "Qing Ying said you were feeling unwell, where does it hurt?"

The Empress glanced at the covers on her body and replied indifferently, "This Concubine is fine, Your Majesty is too concerned."

The Emperor said warmly, "In front of me, there’s no need to be strong. If you’re not well, you must speak up so that the Imperial Doctor can look you over. You mustn’t be hard on yourself."

The Empress simply responded, "This Concubine understands."

The Emperor took the Empress’s hand; it was a bit cold, likely from being outside too long, but he didn’t give it too much thought.

"The date for the Crown Princess’s installation has been set; it will be on the eighth of next month—a good day."

The Empress looked down at her hand clasped in the bastard Emperor’s palm and silently withdrew it.

"The eighth, indeed a good day."

The Emperor looked at his now empty hand and then at the Empress’s detached expression, which seemed somewhat different from before.

"Lingling, are you still angry with me?"

The Empress lifted her eyes to look at the bastard Emperor, "This Concubine wouldn’t dare."

"What wouldn’t you dare? Running away from the palace with your son’s wife, staying under the same roof as another man, daring to make demands with me... Which of these actions show your reluctance?" The Emperor’s voice carried a hint of helplessness.

The Empress didn’t feel guilty, because she had indeed done all those things, without the slightest hesitation.

"Does Your Majesty still believe that my relationship with Brother Night is dubious?"

The Emperor sighed, "I haven’t stopped trusting you. That day, I lost my temper and said things I shouldn’t have. We’ve been husband and wife for over twenty years—surely I understand what kind of person you are."

The Empress chuckled bitterly to herself. Of course, he understood her, for he had spent much effort since their first meeting—how could he not have tried to understand her preferences?

She always thought that power and machinations were far from her, only to find herself engulfed in them without realizing it.

"This Concubine is tired. If Your Majesty has no other matters, then this Concubine will rest," the Empress hinted that she wanted him to leave.

"I too am somewhat tired," the Emperor said as he began to undress himself.

The Empress could not help but roll her eyes as she watched him. Qing Ying had clearly said she wasn’t feeling well, and yet he still wanted conjugal rights?

Madness!

After undressing, the Emperor lifted the covers to crawl into bed and then held the Empress from behind. It had been two months apart, and she had no idea how much he missed her.

The Empress, pushing against the bastard Emperor, tried to shove him away, expressing her discontent, "Your Majesty, this Concubine is not feeling well."

As a woman, the Empress lacked the strength of a man. Held tightly in the Emperor’s embrace, she couldn’t break free and rolled her eyes in irritation.

"Lingling, I won’t do anything, I just want to hold you," the Emperor said.

Empress: "..."

"Lingling, when I first met you, you were just..."

The Emperor’s words were cut off mid-sentence by the Empress, "Your Majesty, this Concubine is tired."

"Then sleep," the Emperor said, who was also quite tired after searching for two months and not having had a good night’s sleep.

The Empress closed her eyes, but being held by someone like this, she couldn’t ignore it and couldn’t sleep well at all.

On the contrary, the Emperor, for once, had a good sleep.

At the break of dawn, Eunuch Li reminded the Emperor that it was time to wake up for the early court.

The Emperor was reluctant to leave the bed, but with important matters to announce that day, he had to rise.

After dressing, he looked at the still-sleeping Empress, bent down to kiss her lips, and then left, satisfied, for the morning court.

When the Empress awoke, it was already broad daylight.

After grooming and dressing up again in the Phoenix Robe and wearing the Phoenix Crown, the Empress sat on the throne of Fengyi Palace.

The various concubines from other palaces came in successively to offer their greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.

Seated on the throne, the Empress looked down at the dozens of concubines below—whether they had served their duty by her bedside or not, they were all beauties, one in ten thousand.

The Emperor had never favored one concubine alone to such an extent, not even the once highly favored Consort Xu.

With Fengyi Palace closed, the harem was abuzz with speculation. After two months, the imperial consorts began to see the Empress again.

Although the rumors of the Empress eloping had been dispelled, they were all curious about what had happened to her during those two months. Had she really been ill, or had something happened?

But nobody dared to ask directly.

Consort Yun inquired with a smile brimming with goodwill, "Empress, His Majesty mentioned you were feeling unwell, have you recovered a bit now?"

The Empress held her teacup leisurely, sipping her tea as she glanced at Consort Yun’s feigned smile, "My health is very good, thank you for your concern, Consort Yun."

Consort Yun, holding a handkerchief, said no more.

The other consorts harbored their own thoughts.

One thing was clear: as long as the Empress was well, her position did not belong to them.

Today, the Imperial Workshop and the Sewing Bureau came to take measures for Shen Chuwei’s Crown Princess dress and head accessories.

At that moment, Shen Chuwei was like a doll, letting a group of masters measure her, taking her sizes.

After the measurements were taken, the group finally left.

Chun Xi looked on, even more excited than Shen Chuwei, "I wonder what the Crown Princess’s dress will look like. It must be more beautiful than what Lady Liang wore that time."

Shen Chuwei looked at Chun Xi’s excited appearance, feeling as if Chun Xi was the one about to be made Crown Princess.

Contrary to Chun Xi, what Shen Chuwei was looking forward to was the delicious food that would surely be abundant on the day she became Crown Princess.

"Let’s go to Xiyun Pavilion and see those little chicks."

Being away from the estate for two months, the hens had laid many eggs, and since no one ate them, Little Guizi let the hens hatch the chicks, which had come out of their shells only a few days ago.

At this moment, Taotao and Susu were sleeping.

Shen Chuwei and Chun Xi made their way to Xiyun Pavilion.

Little Guizi, aware that Shen Chuwei was about to be made Crown Princess, greeted her with a joyful smile, "Congratulations to my young mistress, blessings to my young mistress."

Shen Chuwei knew they were all happy for her, "On the day I’m made Crown Princess, I’ll treat you all to something delicious, and each of you will get an extra three months of allowance."

Little Guizi and Gui Xiang quickly expressed their thanks, "Thank you for your generosity, young mistress."

"Let’s go see the chicks." Shen Chuwei went straight to the small house next to the chicken coop, where dry straw was spread all over. It was neatly enclosed, keeping the cold wind from getting in, and the chicks were well cared for.

Shen Chuwei purposely counted them, totaling thirty. Not a bad number.

Little Guizi lifted another cotton blanket, smiling at Shen Chuwei, "Young mistress, the ducklings have hatched too."

"Really?" Shen Chuwei walked over excitedly, and peering down, she saw three ducklings, quacking away with their tiny, still-wet down feathers, probably just out of their shells.

There were about a dozen more duck eggs, which would probably all hatch within a few days.

Xiyun Pavilion and Xiaoxiang Pavilion had been connected, with a door installed between them.

Because of last year’s confinement, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, her farm had expanded by more than double.

Xiao Jinyan, returning to Hehuan Hall without seeing Xiao Jiu, only saw the children sleeping sweetly and learned from the little rabbit that she had gone to Xiyun Pavilion.

He then went to Xiyun Pavilion and saw Shen Chuwei standing under a tree, holding a bright red fruit, which she wiped with a handkerchief before taking a bite.

In Xiao Jinyan’s eyes, Shen Chuwei’s gluttonous nature would not change with age, in fact, it seemed to be growing stronger.

He walked towards her.

"Lady Shen."

Shen Chuwei, hearing the voice, turned back and saw Xiao Jinyan walking towards her. Her eyes curving into a smile, "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

"Of course, I’m here to see you." Xiao Jinyan approached her, observing her cherry-stained lips, wet with juice.

He leaned down and kissed her lips a few times, tasting the anticipated sweetness.

The sudden kiss left Shen Chuwei frozen.

Who would have thought the composed, aloof, and uninterested in women Crown Prince would kiss her in an orchard?

Xiao Jinyan laughed softly, "So sweet."

Shen Chuwei: "..." Was he treating her mouth like a cherry to be nibbled?

She stuffed the remaining cherries in her hand into her mouth and continued eating.

Chun Xi, standing not too far away, saw this scene and covered her face in embarrassment.

Qin Xiao saw it too and after a few seconds of hesitation, he followed them.

Xiao Jinyan took out a square handkerchief and wiped the corners of her mouth, "You’re about to be the Crown Princess; let others like Little Guizi manage these affairs. You should also start to learn how to manage the East Palace."

Shen Chuwei was taken aback, having forgotten this point. As Crown Princess, she would indeed need to manage the East Palace.

Xiao Jinyan took her hand, "Come on, I’ll take you to a place."

PS: Three Chapters.