The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 98 - 97: Testing with Xuetuan

Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Testing with Xuetuan

Tao Chenghui had just reached Xiyun Pavilion when Shen Chuwei woke up from her noon nap, sitting on the couch drinking tea to refresh her mind.

Tao Chenghui stepped forward and curtsied, "Sister Shen, have your injuries healed somewhat?"

Upon seeing Tao Chenghui’s arrival, Shen Chuwei’s gaze instinctively turned towards Ding Xiang, mainly because Tao Chenghui almost always brought her delicious treats.

In the modern era, the aunt next door used to bring her tasty food every now and then.

Seeing Ding Xiang carrying a food container, she knew that Tao Chenghui had brought something tasty for her again.

"It’s much better now. Sister Tao, please sit and chat."

Tao Chenghui lifted her skirt to sit down, took the food container from Ding Xiang’s hands, placed it on the low table, and smiled as she took out a plate of snacks and put it in front of Shen Chuwei.

"This is a snack from a lane in the Jiangnan area, my brother specially had it rushed back for you to try—see what you think."

Shen Chuwei’s eyes were drawn to the plate of snacks in front of her, which looked a bit like fried tofu, golden on the outside. Curious, she picked up a piece, took a bite, finding a crispy layer on the outside and sweetened red beans inside, sweet but not cloying.

Tao Chenghui watched Shen Chuwei eat, her manner wasn’t exactly graceful or dignified, but it was very appetizing, making her, who had already eaten a few pieces, want to eat another.

Tao Chenghui originally intended to inform Shen Chuwei that the Empress wanted to elevate Lady Chang to the position of Concubine, but seeing that Shen Chuwei was fully focused on the food, she decided not to bring it up, so as not to disturb her enjoyment of the snacks.

She glanced around the room. Although she was promoted to Lady, the furnishings had barely changed.

Her keen eyes spotted a flour figurine in the white jade vase, which bore a seven to eight resemblance to His Highness, even the colors of the clothes matched those His Highness often wore.

Such folk items did not exist in the Imperial Palace.

Could it be that His Highness had someone make a flour figurine for Shen Chuwei while he was out?

Tao Chenghui looked at Shen Chuwei with amazement, as if she had discovered something astonishing, while Shen Chuwei was busy enjoying a red bean roll.

After spending so much time together, she knew how much she enjoyed eating.

Tao Chenghui did not stay long, and before leaving, Shen Chuwei gave Tao Chenghui a liter of melon seeds.

It was proper to reciprocate; one cannot always be on the receiving end.

Shen Chuwei ate six pieces and saved three for later.

*

Ever since returning from Xiyun Pavilion, Shen Mingzhu grew increasingly resentful. Why should a country girl receive His Highness’s favor?

She is the legitimate eldest daughter of a minister, superior in the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—how could she not be better than Shen Chuwei?

His Highness must be blind to fancy such a coarse girl.

Shen Mingzhu was wallowing in frustration when she saw Lady Xu Liang waving her handkerchief as she walked in, her face immediately turning cold.

Shen Mingzhu and Lady Xu had known each other since childhood and were somewhat famous among the daughters of Capital’s nobility.

The two had always compared themselves against each other; outwardly calling each other sisters while competing in secret.

"What brings Lady Xu to Lanyue Hall with so much spare time?"

"Nothing much, just stopping by for a visit. Lady Shen’s place seems quite deserted," Lady Xu found a stool, bent over to wave her handkerchief and clean off the dust before sitting down.

Shen Mingzhu saw this act clearly as a mockery, implying that her place was so deserted that it was covered in dust.

Grinding her teeth, she said, "Lady Xu has come, hasn’t she?"

Lady Xu feigned ignorance of her words, "I thought Lady Shen, now in favor, would lift everyone with her, even Lady Shen would be favored too, but it seems I was wrong."

Shen Mingzhu’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, why mention exactly what should not be brought up?

You know the relationship between me and Shen Chuwei very well, don’t you?

"Lady Xu really has a sense of humor. I, a legitimate daughter, needing to borrow the light of a base-born? Surely not," Shen Mingzhu retorted.

"Although Shen Chuwei is a base-born, she’s made quite a splash. Overturned, like a salted fish, rising three ranks in a single leap to become a Lady," Lady Xu emphasized her last sentence deliberately.

Shen Mingzhu huffed, "It was just a blind cat running into a dead mouse, she can’t be that lucky all the time."

Lady Xu pretended to sigh, "But His Highness dotes on her, doesn’t he?"—His Highness doesn’t dote on you; how infuriating for you!

Shen Mingzhu couldn’t hold back and rolled her eyes, "..." Will you just shut up!

Xu Lady Lady calmly ignored the exasperated Shen Mingzhu and continued, "Do you know that the Empress intends to appoint Chang Lady as Concubine and temporarily manage the affairs of the East Palace?"

Shen Mingzhu had been extremely depressed these past few days; how would she know about this?

Upon hearing this, a trace of hope suddenly rose in her heart.

Why bother currying favor with that wretch Shen Chuwei?

After Xu Lady left, Shen Mingzhu bathed and changed her clothes, then took some gifts and went to Xinlan Hall.

*

Liu Xi pushed open the door of the Study Room and inquired, "Your Highness, where would you like to dine this evening?"

Since Your Highness favored the meals at Xiyun Pavilion, Liu Xi was uncertain about Your Highness’s wishes, so he would always ask one hour in advance.

Xiao Jinyan looked up and saw the figurine in the pen holder, representing Shen Chuwei dressed as a man, wearing a face covering, her clear eyes astonishingly lifelike.

The floral hairpin above her eyebrows made her eyes look even more beautiful.

He wondered how far she had gotten with those few books.

"Let’s go to Xiyun Pavilion now."

"Yes."

Before leaving, Xiao Jinyan saw Xuetuan sleeping on the couch and after a moment’s thought, bent down to pick her up.

Xuetuan squinted at Xiao Jinyan and then closed her eyes again; she wasn’t stupid, being carried was much more enjoyable than walking.

Xiyun Pavilion

Shen Chuwei watched the chicks in the chicken coop grow significantly larger, their soft down feathers almost gone, replaced by less attractive new feathers.

After checking the chicken coop, she went to see how the digging of the Fish Pond was coming along.

Little Guizi and Little Anzi were energetically shoveling away, having already made a visible pit.

Shen Chuwei nodded in satisfaction, "Tonight you’ll get a leg each."

Little Anzi and Little Guizi’s faces lit up with joy, saying in unison, "Thank you for the reward, Young Master."

Shen Chuwei looked at the Fish Pond; although she didn’t have any fry now, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t have any in the future. There was always a way to obtain some.

It’s good to be prepared.

When Xiao Jinyan arrived at Xiyun Pavilion, he found Shen Chuwei was not in the room.

Seeing this, Liu Xi stepped out and asked the little rabbit, "Where is Lady Shen?"

"Lady Shen is in the back yard, this servant will go call the Young Master right away." The little rabbit said and then trotted off toward the backyard.

Xiao Jinyan lifted the hem of his garment and sat down on the couch. He saw five books laid out on the low table, books that he had given her, one had been opened to the first page.

And a plate of pastries.

Having eaten very little at lunch, he felt somewhat hungry at the sight of the pastries. Because he was in Xiyun Pavilion, without a second thought, he reached into the plate and with his slender fingers took one and bit into it—it was a bit too sweet.

Xiao Jinyan was particularly picky when it came to eating. If it was too sweet, he wouldn’t eat it; too spicy, he wouldn’t eat it. He didn’t eat scallions, he didn’t eat vinegar.

Little rabbit ran to the backyard and shouted to Shen Chuwei, "Young Master, Your Highness is here."

Shen Chuwei thought about the three pastries remaining on the low table; Xiao Jinyan had a record of not leaving any for her.

Without a second thought, she gathered her skirts and ran into the house as if flying.

Chun Xi, upon seeing this, felt somewhat relieved; the Young Master was starting to care more and more about His Highness, so eager to meet with him. His Highness would surely be delighted.

She followed after, chasing after her.

Little rabbit only felt a gust of wind flash by, and when she looked again, the Young Master had disappeared from sight.