The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading-Chapter 16 - Your Highness, will you calculate our marital fate
Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Your Highness, will you calculate our marital fate?
Chapter 16 -16: Your Highness, will you calculate our marital fate?
Chun Xi took the two plates of pastries away.
Shen Mingzhu felt a surge of acid in her heart at the thought of Shen Chuwei having attended to the Crown Prince last night.
What right did a country-born illegitimate daughter have to compete with her for affection?
She certainly didn’t deserve the Crown Prince’s favor.
Hugging a cat-shaped pillow, Shen Chuwei looked out the window, where beside the tree, a sapling had sprouted new tender leaves.
They have trees now.
Why not plant some flowers?
Sitting stiffly with a bit of embarrassment, Shen Mingzhu took an exquisite box from Qiuju’s hands and opened it in front of Shen Chuwei.
“I came today especially to congratulate my sister.
This is a gift I’ve prepared for you.”
Inside was a gold bracelet inlaid with rubies, commonly known as “pigeon’s blood,” a very rare quality.
Shen Chuwei gave the ruby gold bracelet a faint glance, picked it up to examine for a moment, then put it back.
“Thank you for the gift, Sister.”
Shen Mingzhu knew that Shen Chuwei really liked this bracelet; that’s why she thought of offering it to bridge the gap and dispel Shen Chuwei’s previous doubts about the incident in the water.
What is that expression supposed to mean?
“Sister, let me help you put it on,” Shen Mingzhu said as she picked up the ruby gold bracelet, reaching out her other hand warmly to grab Shen Chuwei’s hand.
Shen Chuwei yawned and naturally retracted her hand, “Sister, you’re too polite.
It’s better to keep such valuable jewelry put away, what if it gets bumped or scratched?”
Shen Mingzhu’s hand hung awkwardly in mid-air.
After all her efforts to make amends, Shen Chuwei was still acting coy?
Just then, Eunuch De from the Imperial Kitchen came in with a flattering smile, followed by the little eunuchs who brought the lunch.
“Miss Shen, these are all prepared by the servant as commanded by His Highness.”
As soon as Eunuch De finished speaking, the little eunuchs carrying the food boxes came over, opened them, and arranged the dishes on the table one by one.
Lion’s Head meatballs, braised pork ribs, venison, steamed perch, and more.
Shen Chuwei was surprised to find that the dishes were all the ones she had picked the most last night.
Xiao Jinyan actually remembered them?
Chun Xi served Shen Chuwei a bowl of rice.
Seeing the delicious food, Shen Chuwei forgot about Shen Mingzhu sitting to the side.
She picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a piece of venison, having found it tasty the night before.
Chun Xi saw that Lady Shen, pretending not to notice, let her sit there awkwardly.
Shen Mingzhu, who had been fasting for a month, felt her mouth water at the sight of the table full of delicacies.
She was already salivating with craving.
Surely a country girl won’t know any manners. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Sitting here and not even thinking to invite her to share the meal?
Shen Mingzhu coughed lightly, trying to draw Shen Chuwei’s attention.
Shen Chuwei did notice Shen Mingzhu, and was a bit surprised, “Sister, haven’t you gone back to have your meal yet?”
Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help rolling her eyes—didn’t she know whether she had returned to eat or not?
“We sisters haven’t dined together for a while.
Today, I will keep my sister company during the meal,” Shen Mingzhu said with a smile as she walked over.
Shen Chuwei smiled faintly, “Sister, you’re too polite.
I have Chun Xi to accompany me for the meal.
You should attend to your own affairs; there’s no need to go out of your way to accompany me.”
Shen Mingzhu had just approached the stool, indecisive about whether to sit or stand.
Could a palace maid even compare with her?
Chun Xi sat down in front of Shen Chuwei with a bowl of rice, started picking up food, and ate.
Shen Mingzhu’s face couldn’t take it anymore, and she left
Shen Chuwei, while rubbing her bloated stomach, said, “You can’t judge anything by its appearance alone.
There’s a saying, is there not, that unsolicited favors are suspicious, either conniving or thievery.”
“You’re right, young mistress.
I’ll put it away,” Chun Xi said as she took the box to the storeroom.
*
Having finished his lunch, Xiao Jinyan fed some dried fish to Xuetuan, who ate with relish.
Suddenly recalling Shen Chuwei, who had been engrossed in gnawing on ribs, he asked, “When did Shen Fengyi leave the sleeping quarters today?”
Eunuch Liu bowed and replied, “To report to Your Highness, young master Shen returned to Xiyun Pavilion at the hour of si.”
Xiao Jinyan slightly curled the corner of his lips and commented, “She really can sleep.”
Eunuch Liu found it odd—why wouldn’t Shen Fengyi be able to sleep?
Weren’t you the clearest about that?
Xiao Jinyan said, “…Send for Lu Zhaoyan to see me.”
“As you command.” After Eunuch Liu left, it wasn’t long before Lu Zhaoyan arrived.
Xiao Jinyan sat on the throne holding Xuetuan, who lazily nestled beside him, squinting at Lu Zhaoyan.
Lu Zhaoyan stepped forward and bowed in salute, “This humble official greets Your Highness.”
Xiao Jinyan said, “Dispense with the formalities.”
Lu Zhaoyan said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
When Xiao Jinyan faced Lu Zhaoyan, he got straight to the point, “The heart-reading technique is somewhat effective on Shen Fengyi.”
Lu Zhaoyan was somewhat surprised, “If the heart-reading technique works on Shen Fengyi, why do you still seem troubled, Your Highness?”
Xiao Jinyan did not intend to hide anything and told the truth, “The heart-reading technique sometimes works on her, and at other times it doesn’t.
I wish to know who she truly is and what her intentions might be.”
In his position, many eyed him with covetous intentions.
The so-called seen arrows are easy to dodge, but hidden ones hard to guard against.
Especially those close at hand, one could not be too cautious.
Lu Zhaoyan replied, “Your Highness, if you distrust Shen Fengyi, you could always test her.”
As for how to test her, he didn’t need to elaborate.
You were incredibly astute, Your Highness, and had numerous strategies at your disposal.
Xiao Jinyan lowered his gaze in thought, musing that she was just a woman after all.
If she did not touch his bottom line, why waste his energy on her?
Seeing the Crown Prince silent, Lu Zhaoyan suddenly suggested, “Your Highness, this humble official can also calculate marital fate.
Would you like to give it a try?”
“Marital fate?” Xiao Jinyan snorted lightly, “Not interested.”
The women of the East Palace had already sufficed to annoy him, a good match?
Living among the royal family, amid power and influence, he had become accustomed to insincerity, flattery, deception, and covert attacks.
How could there be true sincerity?
Lu Zhaoyan still wanted to calculate marital fate for Xiao Jinyan because he was curious to know what sort of woman could move a cold and detached person like him.
After being moved, would he remain clear-hearted and lacking in desire?
Unfortunately, Xiao Jinyan did not grant him that opportunity.
*
Shen Chuwei’s service during the bedtime hour had given Lady Shen a sense of crisis.
The moment she returned to Lanyue Hall, she began an assortment of beauty treatments.
Floral baths, skincare essence, and creams were used in turn.
“Young mistress, you’re naturally beautiful, far more so than Shen Fengyi.
If His Highness were to see you, he’d be utterly captivated,” Cai Xia complimented as she rubbed Shen Mingzhu’s arm.
Shen Mingzhu lifted her chin proudly, “Help me dress, I want to see His Highness earlier to avoid being preempted.”
“Yes, young mistress.”
The clothes were chosen by Shen Mingzhu herself, a thin and transparent goose-yellow overcoat that had a low neckline, which nicely showcased her ample figure.
Looking at her exquisitely made-up face in the mirror, Shen Mingzhu asked, “Is the food ready?”
“It’s ready, young mistress.”
“Then let’s go.” Shen Mingzhu swayed her hips as she left the room.
