章節 4: Chapter 4: Deep Love for the Crown Prince

At night, a few oil lamps were lit inside the room, but the light remained dim.

Shen Chuwei fought a battle by lamplight, as there was no other way; she still hoped that His Highness, the Crown Prince, would order the Imperial Kitchen to send meat to the Xiyun Pavilion.

Xuetuan nestled beside Shen Chuwei in an utterly lazy posture, lifting its noble head to stare at her, its blue pupils sparkling and compelling under the candlelight.

Even though Shen Chuwei knew that Xuetuan was Xiao Jinyan's beloved pet, who could bear to turn away such an adorable cat?

Seeing that Xuetuan kept looking up at her, Shen Chuwei took out a sausage from the Space, unwrapped it, and placed it in front of Xuetuan, allowing it to eat at leisure.

Xuetuan had tasted sausage many times before and recognized the aroma immediately; it was the delicacy it had longed for.

It did not stand on ceremony and began to eat gracefully.

At first, Chun Xi was particularly hopeful that Shen Chuwei's embroidered sachet would regain favor with His Highness, the Crown Prince.

But when she saw the sachet embroidered by Shen Chuwei, she had a bad feeling; if His Highness, the Crown Prince, saw this sachet, would he send them both, master and servant, straight to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion?

"Young Mistress, why don't I do the embroidery?"

Shen Chuwei flatly refused, "No need, the gifts for His Highness, the Crown Prince, must be done by myself, only then can my sincerity be shown."

Chun Xi was overjoyed, the Young Mistress had finally come to her senses about gaining favor.

She curiously examined the pattern and asked, "Young Mistress, what are you embroidering here?"

Shen Chuwei replied without looking up, "A smile, it represents my deep affection for His Highness, the Crown Prince."

In fact, online it signifies an expression of speechlessness~

Chun Xi always felt there was something strange about this smile.

Xiao Jinyan had come here in search of Xuetuan, not expecting to overhear the conversation between the master and servant.

Compared to Shen Lady's insincere actions, Shen Chuwei did not seem too bad, not relying on the hands of others.

Through the cracks in the window, Xiao Jinyan saw Shen Chuwei on the couch, seriously embroidering with a needle in her hand, and Xuetuan lazily nestled beside her.

A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes; why did Xuetuan, who typically kept to itself, show closeness to Shen Chuwei?

As Xuetuan lay comfortably, it suddenly stood up, its blue eyes looking outside the window, and the next second, it leaped out.

Shen Chuwei merely looked up and, knowing that Xuetuan was returning to Xiao Jinyan's chambers, paid no further mind.

Xiao Jinyan, holding Xuetuan, did not linger and quickly left.

Chun Xi earnestly said, "Young Mistress, not to discourage you, but the Crown Prince definitely won't like this embroidery."

Shen Chuwei smiled with a twinkle in her eyes, "Isn't that just perfect? If he doesn't like it, then he won't ask me to embroider for him in the future."

Three days later, at dawn,

While Shen Chuwei was sleeping groggily, she heard the sound of rummaging through boxes and drawers. Squinting, she saw Chun Xi half-inside the wardrobe.

"Chun Xi, what are you doing?"

Without lifting her head, Chun Xi replied, "Aren't you supposed to meet the Crown Prince today, Young Mistress? This servant is finding you new clothes and will do your makeup beautifully so that His Highness, the Crown Prince, will be smitten at first sight."

"I'm just going to deliver a sachet," Shen Chuwei continued to sleep, hugging the cat pillow.

Chun Xi spoke with serious intent, "Young Mistress, the sachet is already a hopeless cause for gaining favor; we must rely on beauty to win the affection of His Highness, the Crown Prince."

Chun Xi took out a set of pale pink flowy garments and pulled the still sleey Shen Chuwei to sit in front of the dressing table for a thorough makeover.

Shen Chuwei looked at herself with a head full of Pearl Flowers and headdresses so heavy she couldn't raise her head. She reached to pull them off but was stopped by Chun Xi and had to give up.

Once ready, Shen Chuwei, holding her embroidered sachet, set off for the Crown Prince's chambers, accompanied by Chun Xi.

On the way, Shen Chuwei took the opportunity when Chun Xi wasn't looking to pull off the pink Pearl Flowers and stuff them into her sleeve, and then, a golden headdress into her sleeve as well.

Phew! That was much more comfortable.

By the time she reached the Crown Prince's chambers, only two or three silk flowers remained atop her head.

As Shen Chuwei stepped into the Crown Prince's chambers, she noticed many beauties inside.

When Lady Xu saw Shen Chuwei, a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, "Isn't that Sister Shen? Is your stay at Xiyun Pavilion to your liking?"

Chun Xi whispered a reminder, "Young Miss, that's Lady Xu, her rank is higher than yours, you must pay respects."

Shen Chuwei curtsied, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Xu, I am very happy living in Xiyun Pavilion."

Lady Xu scoffed internally, how could one be happy living in such a remote place? Quite the act she's putting on!

Glancing at Lady Chang not far away, she suddenly smiled and prompted, "Sister Shen, since you pushed Sister Chang into the water, and since she has let bygones be bygones, shouldn't you apologize to Sister Chang?"

"Sister Xu is right, Sister Chang is magnanimous, she pleaded on your behalf in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, otherwise, you would have already been demoted and locked up in Xiaoxiang Pavilion," said Lady Feng, clasping Lady Chang's arm, walking past the peony bushes. Dressed in yellow and pink flowing fairy dresses, they appeared like two fluttering butterflies amidst the flowers, approaching gracefully.

Lady Chang covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed twice, "It's not entirely Sister Shen's fault for the drowning incident, it's my fault for being light-bodied and falling into the water with just a push. Sister Shen was also quite ill."

Shen Chuwei curtsied again, smiling as she continued the conversation, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Chang, I am much better now."

Lady Chang covered her mouth and coughed lightly, who was concerned about her?

Lady Feng couldn't help but roll her eyes, was this person an idiot?

Lady Xu, barely containing her laughter, asked, "Sister Shen, surely you did not come here because you heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had requested the National Master's Office to pray for our well-being?"

Shen Chuwei's eyes lit up, "Is there going to be a riverside banquet?"

Chun Xi tugged at Shen Chuwei's sleeve, My dear lady, what do prayers have to do with a riverside banquet?

Lady Xu covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Look at my memory, I forgot that Sister Shen was punished and is not eligible to receive blessings from the National Master's Office. Your coming here is fruitless."

Shen Chuwei uttered in disappointment, "Oh."

"The head of the National Master's Office, Master Lu, will observe the stars and calculate fortunes tonight. His Highness especially invited Lu Zhaoyan to pray for blessings for us sisters, thanks to Sister Chang," laughed Lady Feng, as she flattered shamelessly.

Lady Xu snorted internally, Lady Feng is so disgusting, always acting as if everything good comes from Lady Chang's grace. Did His Highness personally tell you that? Just making things up?

Lady Chang coughed lightly, "Why would it be for my sake? His Highness is doing this for the well-being of all the sisters."

Shen Chuwei, her face a picture of curiosity, asked, "Is that Master Lu very impressive?"

"Of course, he is, Master Lu is a disciple of the National Master. Five years ago, he predicted that His Highness would return safely, and indeed His Highness returned unharmed," said Tao Chenghui.

Lady Chang looked somewhat uncomfortable, gripping her handkerchief tightly. If not for Lu Zhaoyan, she would already be the Crown Princess, and the future Empress in waiting.

Shen Chuwei nodded thoughtfully.

Eunuch Liu called out, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Starting with Lady Chang, a group of young misses paid their respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.

"Concubine pays respects to Your Highness, may Your Highness live in peace and prosperity."

"You may rise," Xiao Jinyan's gaze swept over the crowd, landing on Shen Chuwei in the corner. What a coincidence.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Shen Chuwei stood up, looking ahead at Xiao Jinyan. With a group of women blocking the front, it was not easy to offer a sachet; she could only wait.

At that moment, Eunuch Liu placed paper and pen on the table, "Ladies, please write down your birth details and wishes, then fold them well and place them in the blessing burner to burn."

The young misses proceeded according to their rank, starting with Lady Chang. She wrote down her birth details and wishes, folded the paper nicely, and walked up to the blessing burner.

The blessing burner stood around one meter sixty-five tall, requiring those of shorter stature to stand on tiptoe.

Lu Zhaoyan stood in front of the blessing burner, his expression cool as he guarded it.

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