The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 446 - 399 The secret information in the hidden compartment is too much, there are unexpected things _2

Chapter 446: Chapter 399 The secret information in the hidden compartment is too much, there are unexpected things _2

Xiao Jinyan chuckled lowly, "I know my limits."

Shen Chuwei: "..." I don’t believe you, damn it! Talk about limits, letting me rest at the fourth watch is already good enough.

Just as Shen Chuwei had expected, the light in the room remained on until the fourth watch.

The next day, Shen Chuwei skipped her morning meal and went straight to the study room.

The guard at the Crown Prince’s bedchamber saw the Crown Princess and, giving a bow as a sign of respect, allowed her to pass.

Shen Chuwei smoothly made her way to the study room and pushed the door open to enter.

Inside the study room, it was empty and so quiet that she could hear her own heart beating anxiously with guilt.

She went to the bookshelf she had examined the day before, pressed the glass lamp, and heard a "click" as a secret compartment opened, revealing its contents.

She picked up the painting she had looked at yesterday, opened it again, and because she had seen it before, was able to accurately locate the part she wanted to examine.

First, her gaze moved downward, spotting a line of small characters next to the name.

Brother Jinyan, remember to come back and find me!

These small characters were clearly not written by the same person who wrote the name "Feng Wuyou."

Although the handwriting was a bit ugly, it was still recognizable as actual characters.

She stared at the painting for a while, indeed, it had a slight resemblance to her, no, it was to the original owner.

After looking at the painting, she reached into the secret compartment and pulled out a stone, oh, not a stone, but a jade stone.

The jade stone was about the size of a palm, dual-sided, one smoothly polished and gleaming with blue light, and the other rough and uneven.

She examined the jade stone in her hand and noticed there were both a painting and inscriptions on it.

The painting resembled modern minimalist drawings, with two characters having oversized heads and tiny bodies, clearly a boy and a girl.

Happy Birthday, Brother Jinyan!

Shen Chuwei stared at this birthday greeting in confusion; did ancient times already have the vocabulary for ’happy birthday’?

Looking at the painting and the jade stone in her hand, she searched her memory for any trace of Feng Wuyou but found none.

She placed the painting and the stone back into the secret compartment and pressed the glass lamp again; the compartment closed.

She left the study room full of doubts.

She originally wanted to ask Concubine Xu and Lady Liang if they recognized someone named Feng Wuyou, but today was the day the Dowager Empress returned to the palace, and she had no time to inquire.

Shen Chuwei, dressed magnificently under Chun Xi’s assistance, followed Xiao Jinyan to welcome the Dowager Empress.

As the Dowager Empress’s Phoenix Carriage entered the palace gate, many people knelt down in a whoosh.

Shen Chuwei knelt beside Xiao Jinyan, not daring to raise her head.

The Emperor, accompanied by the Empress, stepped forward to greet the Dowager Empress as she descended from her carriage.

This year, the Dowager Empress was sixty-five years old, with hair graying, but her elegant demeanor and regal aura remained undiminished.

A youthful maiden stood close to the Dowager Empress, with beautiful autumnal eyes and an exceptional appearance.

In unison, the Emperor and Empress said, "Your filial son welcomes Mother back to the palace."

The Dowager Empress looked at the Emperor with a smile full of warmth and kindness, "It’s been two years since I’ve been back, and neither the Emperor nor the Imperial Palace has changed."

The Emperor replied with a hearty laugh, "Mother seems to have grown younger."

By the Dowager Empress’s side, the youthful maiden graciously curtsied, "This commoner greets Your Majesty and the Empress."

The Emperor swept his eyes over the young lady with a flicker of puzzlement.

The Dowager Empress held Wanxin’s hand, introducing her with a jovial laugh, "Oh yes, this is a maiden I have rescued two years ago. Her name is Wanxin. She’s proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and also serves well; I decided to keep her by my side and bring her back."

The Emperor suddenly understood, "So that’s the case. As long as Mother likes her, it’s all good."

The Emperor, along with the Dowager Empress and their entourage, went back to the Dowager’s palace, Cining Hall.

Shen Chuwei stood up with Xiao Jinyan’s assistance, massaging her knees. Having knelt for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, her knees were probably bruised.

Seeing her actions, Xiao Jinyan murmured softly, "Let’s go back, I’ll take a look at it for you."

Shen Chuwei nodded, "Alright."

Concubine Xue watched as Xiao Jinyan held Shen Chuwei’s hand, feeling dissatisfaction and jealousy in her heart.

Is it just because she gave birth to two children?

If I were to serve in his bedchamber, I could give birth to two sons as well.

Xiao Jinyan heard Concubine Xue’s mutterings and scoffed in his mind: You probably won’t get the chance.

Lady Liang’s gaze stayed on the Dowager Empress. It should have been a joyous occasion for the Dowager Empress to return, for she often visited the palace to accompany her aunt and the Dowager Empress, who was very fond of her and had even said that the position of the Crown Princess was hers by right.

However, seeing a young girl of about fifteen or sixteen by the Dowager Empress’s side, holding hands and laughing so joyously, she felt an immediate sense of crisis.

The Emperor, delighted by the return of the Dowager Empress, sent people to ask the Crown Prince to bring the Crown Princess and the children to greet the Dowager Empress.

Xiao Jinyan and Shen Chuwei, each holding Taotao and Susu, went to the Cining Hall.

On their way, they encountered Lady Liang, who curtsied.

"Your Highness, Crown Princess, where might you be going?"

Xiao Jinyan replied indifferently, "To pay respects to the Dowager Empress."

Lady Liang spoke softly, "This concubine is also on her way to pay respects to the Dowager Empress. May I join you?"

"Suit yourself," said Xiao Jinyan, carrying Taotao and leading Shen Chuwei up front.

Lady Liang might have been displeased inwardly, but it didn’t show. In her opinion, the Dowager Empress wouldn’t like a talentless and indecorous woman like Shen Chuwei.

Preferring peace and quiet, the Dowager Empress sent away many who had come to greet her.

Xiao Jinyan, with Shen Chuwei and their family of four, bowed to the Dowager Empress, "The imperial grandson pays respects to Grandmother Empress."

Lady Liang could only bow after them.

The Dowager Empress gestured, "Rise, it’s not easy holding the children."

Xiao Jinyan: "Thank you, Grandmother Empress."

When the Emperor saw Susu and Taotao, he took Susu from Shen Chuwei’s hands, saying with a smile, "Mother, this is the Crown Princess, and the children are already four months old, very endearing."

The Dowager Empress examined the great-grandson in the Emperor’s arms, "Indeed, quite charming."

Then, she turned her gaze to the Crown Princess, scrutinizing her from head to toe. She had seen the eldest daughters of the noble families and high-ranking ministers, but the Crown Princess look unfamiliar.

"Why does the Crown Princess look somewhat unfamiliar? From which family does she hail?"

ps: Second update