The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading-Chapter 37 - Can’t lose face
Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Can’t lose face
Chapter 37 -37: Can’t lose face
Yet Xu Chenghui, born with a proud disposition, had just spoken those words and now desired a taste but couldn’t swallow her pride.
Shen Fengyi remained aloof, not taking the initiative to offer a courtesy, leaving Xu Chenghui with no way to step down gracefully, only fuming in silence.
Tao Chenghui glimpsed Xu Chenghui’s puffed cheeks, holding back a laugh as she continued to crack sunflower seeds.
After cracking sunflower seeds for a while, Tao Chenghui dusted off her hands, took a brocade box from Ding Xiang, and placed it in front of Shen Chuwei to open it, warmly saying, “Sister Shen, I noticed that your hairstyle is too plain, so I thought I’d gift you a set of hairpins.”
Xu Chenghui looked over out of curiosity and saw that the brocade box contained a set of peach blossom hairpins, all exquisitely designed.
“Sister Tao is quite generous indeed.” But in her heart, she snorted disdainfully, presuming that Tao was eagerly currying favor with Shen Chuwei.
Tao Chenghui modestly replied, “Sister Xu, you are too modest.
You always wear the finest clothes, and us sisters naturally can’t compare.
This set of hairpins is a token of my affection, and I hope Sister Shen won’t find it wanting.”
Xu Chenghui, who knew how to appreciate good items, recognized at a glance that the set of peach blossom hairpins was crafted by a master.
Who would spurn such a valuable gift?
Shen Chuwei had little interest in jewelry and hairpins, but when she saw that set of peach blossom hairpins, her eyes lit up—wasn’t this the set she had seen in the museum?
So expensive and valuable!
She accepted it with a smile, “Thank you, Sister Tao, for the gift.”
Tao Chenghui: “As long as you like it, sister.”
Xu Chenghui also brought a gift, but seeing Tao Chenghui present such a valuable one, she felt a bit embarrassed to offer hers.
If others found out her gift was inferior to Tao Chenghui’s, wouldn’t she die of embarrassment?
Yet, not presenting anything while sitting there also felt awkward.
Shen Chuwei kept her eyes on the bonfire, estimating that the sweet potatoes should be done, and prompted, “Chun Xi, they should be ready.”
“Master, your servant will fetch them now.” Chun Xi knew her master too well—she must be eagerly anticipating a taste.
Chun Xi moved aside the firewood and dug out the buried sweet potatoes.
Tao Chenghui and Xu Chenghui, both daughters of wealthy families, had never even seen, let alone eaten, sweet potatoes.
Curious, they watched Chun Xi’s actions, seeing her extract five silver objects and looking on with fascination.
Tao Chenghui asked curiously while eyeing the silver items, “Sister Shen, are these sweet potatoes?
Why aren’t they red?”
Shen Chuwei answered, “Of course they’re red.
You’ll see in a moment.”
After Chun Xi pulled out the sweet potatoes, she opened the foil one by one and let the sweet potatoes cool.
Seeing this, Tao Chenghui laughed, “Sister Shen, they really are red.”
Shen Chuwei waited a moment before eagerly grabbing a sweet potato with her bare hands, blowing on it, and starting to peel it.
Xu Chenghui looked on disdainfully—how could one eat food that had been on the ground?
She really was like someone from the countryside, with no sense of propriety.
As the roasted smell of sweet potatoes filled the air, Tao Chenghui, too, began to crave one, “Sister Shen, do you mind if I have one?”
Though Shen Chuwei was protective of her food, when there was an abundance of sweet potatoes, she would be a bit more generous.
“Not at all.”
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Tao Chenghui stopped cracking seeds and picked up a roasted sweet potato from the ground.
Following Shen Chuwei’s lead, she peeled off the skin, and the rich aroma of the roasted sweet potato hit her senses.
She blew on it and took a bite.
“This tastes pretty good.”
Shen Chuwei enjoyed her roasted sweet potato, for of course, it tasted good, or else why would she waste a patch of land to grow them?
Xu Chenghui watched them pick up sweet potatoes from the ground to peel and eat directly, enticed by the fragrance that wafted over, wanting to taste the sweet potatoes too, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask as openly as Tao Chenghui did.
Tao Chenghui’s father was a merchant, strong in social skills, and somewhat familiar with others, so she didn’t have the issue of losing face—it all depended on whether she wanted to.
From the moment Shen Chuwei planted the sweet potatoes, her thoughts were of when she could finally eat them.
Now that she could, she gobbled down two, patting her satisfied belly.
Xu Chenghui watched Shen Chuwei’s actions, unrefined in her eyes.
Then looking at Tao Chenghui eating her second roasted sweet potato, was it really that delicious?
She glanced at the ground and noticed another one, hesitating for a long time about whether to just pick it up and eat it, but before she could reach out, she saw Chun Xi pick it up, peel it, and start eating right away.
Immediately, she felt irritated, “Chun Xi, without the master’s order, how can you eat the master’s food?”
Chun Xi paused in eating the sweet potato.
Shen Chuwei glanced at Lady Xu and said indifferently, “In Xiyun Pavilion, Chun Xi can eat whatever she wants.”
Lady Xu said, “Sister Shen, it’s not that I want to criticize you, but even if you dote on a servant, you can’t abandon all the rules.”
Shen Chuwei raised an eyebrow, “I please.”
Lady Xu’s expression soured slightly, “I’m tired, I’ll be going back now.”
After saying that, she huffily left Xiyun Pavilion.
It was only after leaving Xiyun Pavilion that she remembered the purpose of her visit, but she had forgotten it because of the sunflower seeds and sweet potatoes.
She could only return to Yixiang Hall, holding back her anger.
Tao Chenghui, having eaten his fill, left Xiyun Pavilion.
Shen Chuwei lay on the soft couch like a salted fish, too lazy even to roll over.
Chun Xi came over with a giggle, propping her hands on the soft couch to look at Shen Chuwei, “Young Master, should I go see if Your Highness wants to come to Xiyun Pavilion for dinner tonight?”
Shen Chuwei immediately rejected, “Don’t go.”
Chun Xi looked puzzled, “Why not, Young Master?
Aren’t you and His Highness on very good terms right now?”
“Not only does his presence affect the speed of my eating, but it also affects my sleeping position.”
Whenever Xiao Jinyan came, she had to sleep against the wall—how stifling!
“Young Master, you haven’t eaten any less when His Highness is here.
Besides,”
Chun Xi said blushing, “To conceive a baby, this position will certainly be affected.”
Shen Chuwei looked at Chun Xi with a mischievous smile, “You sure know a lot.”
Chun Xi was serious, “Young Master, I’m discussing serious matters.”
No matter how Chun Xi persuaded her, Shen Chuwei refused to let her go ask.
If Xiao Jinyan came, she had no way to refuse, but she couldn’t refuse herself from offering, could she?
Unable to convince her, Chun Xi could only ask, “Young Master, what would you like for dinner?”
Shen Chuwei, with one leg propped up, thought for a moment, “Sesame Sweet Dumplings.”
“Alright, I’ll go make Sesame Sweet Dumplings right now,” Chun Xi said as she got up to prepare dinner.
With steaming hot Sweet Dumplings served at the table, Shen Chuwei indulged in a delightful meal, then lay on the soft couch, chewing on Beef Jerky while enjoying the scenery outside the window, utterly at ease.
While sorting out the wardrobe, Chun Xi saw a piece of Shu brocade and said, “Young Master, this is the Shu brocade Xu Chenghui sent you.
How about I take it tomorrow to make you a garment?”
Shen Chuwei looked over lazily, noticing that the color of the Shu brocade was soft and suitable for making pajamas.
“Sure, I’ll draw you a diagram, and you’ll make me two sets of pajamas.”
“Okay,” Chun Xi replied as she finished tidying up and began to prepare the hot water.
Shen Chuwei loved soaking in hot baths, and because Xiao Jinyan was there the previous night, she didn’t dare to soak for fear of making the Crown Prince wait too long and getting angry.
Once the hot water was ready, Shen Chuwei took off her clothes and stepped into the bathtub, the warm water embracing her body and melting away the fatigue of the day.
She spent her days either eating or sleeping, which was quite tiring—
Just as Chun Xi stepped out, she saw the Crown Prince entering from outside, feeling joy in her heart, as the chances of the Young Master conceiving a baby just increased.
