Chapter 9 Sadness and Despair? Nonexistent

Shen Chuwei thought to herself that if the enemy made no move, she would not react. Perhaps the Crown Prince would find her boring and lacking interest, then let her go back to sleep.

Some time passed, and Xiao Jinyan, seeing that Shen Chuwei was still standing without moving, was in no rush. He picked up his documents and continued reading.

Let's see how long you can keep up this pretense.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Chuwei glimpsed the Crown Prince reading and thought that once he tired of reading, he would probably lose interest altogether.

Because that's how she felt; when tired, all she wanted to do was sleep and nothing else.

After a while, Xiao Jinyan hadn't heard Shen Chuwei's inner monologue and found it odd. Lifting his head, he glanced at her and saw that she was still looking down.

"Shen Fengyi?"

Shen Chuwei, who was dozing off, was startled awake by the icy voice. As she was frightfully bowing in greeting, she realized her legs had gone numb, and not being able to stand firm, she fell toward Xiao Jinyan's embrace.

Xiao Jinyan sneered inwardly, thinking she was pretending to be unsteady to fall into his arms? To further seduce him into taking her to bed?

This sort of seductive ploy is something I have seen all too often in the palace.

He snorted and deftly stood up to avoid her.

Shen Chuwei fell flat on her face... it hurt!

Is Xiao Jinyan even a man? He didn't even bother to help her.

The kind of woman Xiao Jinyan detested most was standing right in front of him. Without a shred of pity and even less patience, he said coldly, "You may leave now."

Hearing that she did not need to serve in bed, Shen Chuwei disregarded the numbness in her legs, propped herself up on a chair, stood up, and bowed to the Crown Prince: "This concubine takes her leave."

Then she moved out at an extremely slow pace.

Hurry up, hurry up. What if the Crown Prince changes his mind?

She most certainly did not want to serve in bed~

Xiao Jinyan watched with a detached gaze until that petite figure had left and was out of sight, not hearing even a whisper of cursing or complaining.

How could she possibly not have any grievances after her plan didn't succeed and she took a tumble?

Xiyun Pavilion

Back in her own room, Shen Chuwei took off her clothes, pulled back the covers, and lay down on the bed, clutching her cat pillow with a satisfied expression, "Nothing beats the comfort of one's own bed."

The cat pillow was crafted based on a design drawn by Shen Chuwei, made by Chun Xi.

Chun Xi, feeling quite delighted, was tidying up the silk and brocade in the wardrobe, planning to make some beautifully customized garments for Shen Chuwei.

Hearing the commotion from the next room, she walked in with curiosity and saw Shen Chuwei on the bed.

"Young Mistress, didn't you go to serve the Crown Prince in bed? How come you're back?"

Clutching the pillow, Shen Chuwei looked at Chun Xi with a relaxed face: "Didn't have to serve, so I came back."

"Ah?" The joy on Chun Xi's face vanished, replaced by a worried tone, "Young Mistress, did the Crown Prince send you away?"

"That's right," yawned Shen Chuwei, barely able to keep her eyes open, "I'm going to sleep; we can talk about anything else tomorrow."

Chun Xi looked concerned, "Being sent back from serving in bed, you are the first, Young Mistress. Who knows how the other ladies might laugh at you behind your back."

By this time, Shen Chuwei was already sound asleep.

Chun Xi, looking at the sleeping Shen Chuwei, sighed helplessly, "Such a good opportunity missed, it will be difficult to serve in bed in the future."

Just as Chun Xi had said, the topic of Shen Chuwei being sent away by the Crown Prince after serving in bed became gossip for the other ladies in the palace after tea and meals.

Xinlan Hall.

Lady Feng laughed, "I heard that last night Shen Fengyi was chased out of the sleeping quarters by the Crown Prince."

Xu Chenghui also laughed, "Indeed, I even heard that Shen Fengyi was sent away while serving in bed. It'll probably be hard for her to turn things around now."

Lady Chang sipped her tea from her cup.

She had been shocked for quite a while after hearing the news of Shen Fengyi serving in bed the previous night and hadn't slept well all night.

"Shen Fengyi thought she was so clever, angering His Highness. We sisters should take this as a warning," said Lady Chang, speaking indifferently.

"Lady Chang is right," agreed Lady Feng wholeheartedly, continuing, "Shen Fengyi is arrogant just because His Highness accepted her fragrance pouch. Being chased out in the middle of the night, she's the first to be expelled from the palace's sleeping quarters; how pitiful."

Lady Chang took another sip of tea, feeling quite pleased with herself.

Lady Xu heard the news of Shen Fengyi being expelled from serving His Highness's sleeping quarters early in the morning and couldn't stop smiling.

Really thought that being accepted by the Crown Prince meant you could shoot straight to the heavens? Hilarious!

She was somewhat eager to see Shen Fengyi's pitiable, heartbroken figure.

"Cai Xia, I want to change into a different dress and go to Xiyun Pavilion to have a look," she said.

Cai Xia took out a rose-red flowy immortal dress, helped the master put it on, and styled a noble and graceful hairstyle, inserting two ruby-studded golden hairpins at each side of the hair.

Lady Xu was graceful and alluring, especially in the rose-red flowy immortal dress, the picture of nobility.

"Little mistress, Shen Fengyi has been cast out by His Highness, the Crown Prince, with no hope of favor. Why bother seeing her?" Cai Yun asked, perplexed.

"Of course, to see how heartbroken and distraught she is!"

Lady Xu straightened her hairpins and sashayed to Xiyun Pavilion.

Xiyun Pavilion was desolate and remote, even more so on the inside, without even a junior eunuch to run errands.

Chun Xi was cleaning when she saw Lady Xu and came forward to bow. "Greetings to Lady Xu."

Lady Xu lifted her handkerchief with a hint of disdain and asked, "Where is your young mistress?"

Chun Xi replied, "Replying to Lady Xu, my mistress is resting on the couch."

Lady Xu thought to herself that Shen Fengyi must have spent the night in heartache, unable to sleep. Her lips curled into a smirk, "I'll go in and take a look."

Upon entering, she saw Shen Chuwei lying on the soft couch, legs crossed, leaning on the backrest, leisurely eating, not at all as she had imagined.

Seeing Lady Xu, Shen Chuwei's strawberry eating paused, and although she didn't feel like moving, she got up to pay her respects.

"Sister, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Lady Xu sat down on the couch, straightened her hairpins, and said, "I heard that little sister offended His Highness and was cast out. I was worried you might be distressed, so I came to check on you."

"Sister worries too much; I don't have time for that," Shen Chuwei returned to the couch, hugging the fruit plate and continuing to eat strawberries. They were fresh and juicy, truly delicious.

Lady Xu watched Shen Chuwei's way of eating, so bold; where was the decorum that a concubine should have?

Not a trace of sadness or sorrow from losing favor.

Yet watching her hold those red fruits, eating them with such relish, it was quite tempting.

But as Lady Xu waited, she saw no sign of Shen Fengyi offering any to her.

She couldn't help but complain inwardly. Had Shen Fengyi no sense of hospitality?

When a guest comes, shouldn't you take the initiative to offer them something?

She finally asked, "Little sister, what are you eating?"

Shen Fengyi spoke with her cheeks bulging, half a strawberry in her mouth, her words muffled, "I am eating strawberries."

Lady Xu asked, "Oh? How come I've never heard of them?"

In her mind, she thought of course the next question would be, would sister like to try some?

But sadly, Shen Chuwei had never been one to play by the rules; with the last batch of strawberries, of course, she intended to enjoy them fully.

The new crop wouldn't be ready for another month.

She took another bite of strawberry, smiling comfortingly, "Don't worry, His Highness hasn't heard of them either."

Lady Xu: "..." What did it matter to her whether His Highness had heard of them or not? Idiot!

The more deliciously Shen Chuwei ate, the more Lady Xu craved them. The strawberries looked so appetizing.

"Little sister, may I ask what the strawberries taste like?" Up next, even a fool would know to invite her to try some.