Chapter 114: Chapter 113: Is this Bullying Until Crying?

Chapter 114: Chapter 113: Is this Bullying Until Crying?

Xiao Jinyan let go of her hand upon hearing her words and incidentally pulled away the pen in her hand, his fingertip brushing the palm of her hand, discovering it to be wet and warm.

Shen Chuwei observed Xiao Jinyan’s actions, especially when his finger pads touched her palm, it felt as if she’d been scorched, leading her to instinctively withdraw her hand.

Xiao Jinyan lowered his gaze toward Shen Chuwei, deducing that the sweat in her palm was mostly due to nervousness.

He spoke softly, “Why are you nervous?

If it’s not well written, I won’t blame you for it.”

Really, she wouldn’t be blamed for gripping the pen firmly, being taught hand-in-hand by His Highness the Crown Prince, who could write effortlessly in this position!

Moreover, she was a beginner.

“Your Highness is teaching your concubine so earnestly, it’s inevitable that I feel a bit nervous,” she said.

Shen Chuwei’s voice was soft as cotton candy, one could tell she was shy just by listening.

“You’ll get used to it.”

Shen Chuwei stole a glance at Xiao Jinyan behind her, their position almost as if Xiao Jinyan were holding her from the back.

Who wouldn’t be flustered being held by such a top-level handsome guy?

She quietly pulled her hand back into her sleeve, fearing that Xiao Jinyan would push the pen back into her hand and continue teaching her how to write.

Xiao Jinyan saw her motion and thought he had frightened her by being too harsh.

He had clearly said he wouldn’t blame her, so why was she still worried?

“I’m not expecting you to make progress in one day, take your time.”

Hearing his tone, Shen Chuwei felt like he intended to continue teaching her, so she lifted her small face to divert attention, “Your Highness, it’s the afternoon now, don’t you need a nap?”

Xiao Jinyan, busy with countless matters every day, only rested when he was utterly exhausted.

At this moment, seeing Shen Chuwei’s writing, he felt it was necessary to teach her properly, lest others see her writing in the future and laugh at her.

“I’m not tired right now.”

“Your Highness, you are busy with official duties every day.

Taking a nap can help adjust your bodily functions and provide time for rest, which can make your work more efficient, and your body won’t be overwhelmed,” she said.

Shen Chuwei spoke earnestly, every sentence considering Xiao Jinyan’s health, because if Xiao Jinyan took a nap, she would have the chance to nap too, instead of practicing such exhausting writing!

But on second thought, given the Crown Prince’s workload, it’s necessary for him to nap daily; otherwise, if he became Emperor and ruined his health, it would be more than a loss.

As the Crown Prince, Xiao Jinyan was used to people fawning over him with flattery, even the Empress had never spoken to him in such a personal manner.

“It’s kind of you to think so much for my sake, you practice on your own first, I’ll rest for a while.”

Shen Chuwei watched as Xiao Jinyan put the pen back in her hand, turned, and walked behind the screen, the sound of rustling clothes as he undressed reaching her ears.

Even without seeing, she could imagine Xiao Jinyan lying on the couch for a nap, making her long for the soft couch at Xiyun Pavilion.

She pulled her gaze back, looking at the pen in her hand with some sorrow, “Pure as snow on the mountain, bright as the moon among the clouds.

I hear you hold a dual heart…”

He didn’t include her for a nap!

Shen Chuwei sat in the chair, holding the brush and inadvertently started to draw instead of write.

Xiao Jinyan got up from his nap after a while and got dressed.

When he was neatly attired and came out, he saw a delicate figure lying on the desk.

As he approached, he saw her eyes tightly closed, her small face resting on her arms, oblivious to the world around her.

He lowered his eyes to the rice paper pressed under her hand, carefully lifted her hand, and pulled out the rice paper, examining the drawing in front of him attentively.

On the drawing were three little figures; two figures were lying in bed asleep, and another figure was sitting on a chair crying a river, appearing utterly heartbroken.

Xiao Jinyan looked at the three little figures in the drawing and felt oddly familiar.

He searched the desk again and found that during his naptime, Shen Chuwei had drawn this picture and written just one line of poetry.

Pure as snow on the mountain,

Bright as the moon among the clouds.

I hear you hold a dual heart…

Xiao Jinyan looked at the incomplete poem, glanced again at the drawing, and suddenly understood the meaning behind the poem and the drawing.

His gaze turned to the sleeping Shen Chuwei; in her little head, she still believed Lady Liang was his beloved, and thus she was heartbroken.

Xiao Jinyan stretched out his hand wanting to wake her up, but just as his hand came close to her shoulder, he retracted it and simply scooped her up, walked behind the screen, laid her on the couch, and tucked her in.

“Little head, all you do day by day is let your imagination run wild!”

Xiao Jinyan sighed helplessly, turned, and went back to the desk to continue working.

When Shen Chuwei woke up and realized she was lying on the couch, she quickly got up in shock.

As a minor concubine to the Crown Prince, falling asleep without permission could be grave; if he got angry, she might not be able to keep her position.

Shen Chuwei put on her shoes in a fluster and hurried out from behind the screen, only to see Xiao Jinyan sitting upright at the desk, his cool, handsome features revealing no sign of anger.

“Awake?” Xiao Jinyan heard the rustling sound and knew Shen Chuwei had woken up.

Shen Chuwei, feeling guilty, was startled and immediately walked over to Xiao Jinyan, “Your Highness, your concubine accidentally fell asleep.”

Really, it wasn’t her fault; Duke Zhou insisted on dragging her to play chess, it was an invitation she couldn’t refuse!

Xiao Jinyan put down the pen in his hand, looked over, and seeing her panicked footsteps and careful demeanor, he thought she had been frightened.

“I don’t blame you, there’s no need to panic.”

Shen Chuwei let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Xiao Jinyan took out an embroidered box from the side and handed it to her, his voice clear and gentle, “This is my favorite pen, and now I’m giving it to you.”

Shen Chuwei looked at the exquisite box before her, with subtle patterns that indicated the pen’s value.

She accepted the box with a sense of overwhelmed honor.

This was Xiao Jinyan’s favorite pen, yet he had given it to her, someone who didn’t enjoy writing.

It seemed like a waste of resources.

Xiao Jinyan emphasized further, “This pen is one of a kind, worth more than a thousand gold pieces.”

The moment Shen Chuwei heard this, the pen in her hand felt not like a pen, but rather like a thousand taels of gold, instantly so heavy she needed to hold it with both hands.

Back when she was in school, she was known for frequently changing pens.

This precious pen given to her–what if she accidentally dropped it?

“Your Highness, this pen is too precious,” she said, feeling hesitant to accept it.

Xiao Jinyan hummed silently in his heart; it was precisely because it was valuable that he was giving it to her, something no one else had, including Lady Liang.

Now, she should realize Lady Liang was not the one in his heart.

“Practice writing with this pen every day, I believe you will improve,”he said.

Shen Chuwei looked mournfully at the pen in her hand, a hot potato; she’d barely escaped reading, only to be bound by writing.

When would these tedious days end?

Not only that, but before leaving, Xiao Jinyan also gave her a book, saying it was for copying and practicing writing when she had nothing to do.

Back at Xiyun Pavilion, Chun Xi saw Shen Chuwei with a dejected face and thought she had been bullied.

“Miss, did His Highness scold you?”