Chapter 124: Chapter 123: Drunk Courage Chapter 124: Chapter 123: Drunk Courage Chun Xi, upon hearing this, finally felt relieved, “Little Mistress, His Highness’s favor is extremely rare.

You must be careful and not let others take advantage of the situation.”

“…” Shen Chuwei: “Chun Xi, how much cured meat is left?”

Chun Xi answered, “There are still five catties left.”

“You must hurry and have the Imperial Kitchen send over one hundred catties.” Shen Chuwei felt it was necessary to stock up, otherwise, with people coming over to mooch meals every other day, how many meals would the cured meat last?

If she didn’t manage to control herself tonight and Xiao Jinyan got angry, not allowing Chun Xi to go to the Imperial Kitchen to get food, it wouldn’t be good to be without meat.

If only she could raise a few piglets.

Chun Xi was startled by the request for one hundred catties, “Little Mistress, isn’t one hundred catties a bit too much?”

“It’s not too much; see if you can also get some chickens and ducks.”

“Then this servant will go to the Imperial Kitchen tomorrow to check.”

Ever since Shen Chuwei gained favor, every time Chun Xi went to the Imperial Kitchen, Steward De and Steward Qian always greeted her with smiles and gave her whatever she requested.

Shen Chuwei simply intended to stock up on food now to avoid cravings later on.

As it turned out, Shen Chuwei was right to prepare in advance.

But most importantly, she couldn’t sustain the appetites of so many who came for free meals.

Shen Chuwei had drunk five or six cups without feeling a hint of intoxication, then poured herself a few more, still no effect.

She sighed; it seemed she would have to drink some stronger liquor tomorrow; otherwise, how could she use alcohol as an excuse to provoke Xiao Jinyan into anger?

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Shen Chuwei went to bathe.

Chun Xi had prepared the hot water early as usual, sprinkling the bathtub with fresh petals and essential oils, just like every other day.

Shen Chuwei said n times that there was no need for these fancy frills, but Chun Xi stubbornly refused to listen.

She even said, “Little Mistress, I heard from an old matron in the palace that even the coldest of men eat meat, especially in bed…”

Chun Xi blushed with embarrassment after her lengthy explanation.

Shen Chuwei remained indifferent, taking out a spring picture from the drawer to show Chun Xi.

Chun Xi took one look and ran off, covering her face.

From then on, she was too embarrassed to bring up the topic.

Shen Chuwei sat in the bathtub, soaking in the warm water which felt especially comfortable on her body.

She hadn’t felt it while drinking, but now she felt extremely hot.

“Could it be the alcohol taking effect?”

Shen Chuwei, filled with suspicion, got out of the bathtub.

Xiao Jinyan entered from outside, his body bearing the cold of the journey as he stood by the door to warm himself by the fire.

Chun Xi walked over with a beaming smile and bowed, “Your Highness, the Little Mistress is bathing in the inner room.”

Xiao Jinyan warmed himself for a while before he proceeded to the inner room.

Hearing the noise at the door, Shen Chuwei knew Xiao Jinyan had arrived.

She hurriedly put on her undergarment and reached for her robe to put it on.

Due to the effects of the alcohol, her limbs felt weak, and she struggled to get dressed.

The footsteps grew closer, and Shen Chuwei fumbled for ages but couldn’t properly tie the sash of her robe.

Xiao Jinyan was about to sit by the couch when he heard a “bang” and promptly stood up, thinking Shen Chuwei had fallen, and he hastened behind the screen.

When he arrived behind the screen, he found that Shen Chuwei hadn’t fallen; it was a clothes rack that had toppled.

And there was Shen Chuwei, leaning on the bathtub with her robe wide open, the pink undergarment clearly visible.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Chuwei looked up to see two Xiao Jinyans in front of her, she furrowed her brows, and reached out trying to grab hold of him, “Your Highness, don’t move, you’re making your concubine dizzy.”

Xiao Jinyan glanced down at her small, flushed face, and her hand pulling at his lapel, trying to steady herself.

“I’m not moving.”

After trying for a while, Shen Chuwei finally caught hold, and her other hand followed, clinging to him.

She smiled with joy, “Your Highness, I caught you.”

Xiao Jinyan watched her for a while and then realized something was wrong.

He leaned in close and caught the scent of alcohol, “Have you been drinking?”

At this moment, Shen Chuwei still retained a bit of sobriety and proudly said, “This concubine has been drinking Fruit Wine, which won’t cause drunkenness.”

It was now the dead of winter, and even though the room was heated with red charcoal, dressing so thinly could easily lead to catching a cold.

“Go to the bed to avoid catching a chill.”

As Xiao Jinyan spoke, he grabbed her hand and walked toward the bed.

Shen Chuwei looked down at the hand holding hers and then reached out to hold that good-looking hand with her other hand.

But at this moment, Shen Chuwei could hardly walk straight.

Xiao Jinyan took such long strides, how could she keep up?

She pouted displeasedly, “Your Highness, please slow down, your concubine can’t keep up.”

Xiao Jinyan, with a stern face, slowed his pace to allow her to follow.

When they reached the bed, Xiao Jinyan stopped walking and turned to look at Shen Chuwei, saying in a deep voice, “Why drink if there’s nothing wrong?”

Shen Chuwei hadn’t noticed that Xiao Jinyan stopped walking and bumped right into his chest, grimacing in pain.

“Ouch, that hurts.”

Xiao Jinyan hadn’t expected her to bump into him like that.

Hearing her cry out in pain, he sat down on the bed and closely examined her face.

“Not being careful while walking, where did you hit yourself?”

Shen Chuwei pointed at her nose and said, “I hit my nose.”

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze fell on her pert nose, which was red at the tip, seemingly not lightly hit.

Shen Chuwei stared at Xiao Jinyan in front of her for quite a while until she saw three Xiao Jinyans swaying in front of her, making her head spin even more.

She reached out trying to steady Xiao Jinyan’s face, “Your Highness, can you please stop swaying?”

Xiao Jinyan’s face was suddenly grabbed by two hands.

He frowned, took hold of those two hands, and said sternly, “I haven’t moved.

You’re the one who’s drunk.”

The after-effects of the Fruit Wine were particularly strong.

By now, Shen Chuwei was thoroughly drunk and didn’t realize it at all.

“This concubine isn’t drunk.

It’s You Highness who’s moving around.”

Xiao Jinyan simply ignored Shen Chuwei’s words.

Seeing her with the lapel of her garments wide open yet oblivious, he found that this sort of look was the most alluring.

“Why did you drink?”

Shen Chuwei chuckled twice, “Because one’s braver after drinking.”

Xiao Jinyan was utterly confused as he released her hands.

He had a feeling that she had a reason for suddenly drinking tonight.

Braver after drinking?

Was she seeking courage from the wine for something?

“What do you mean?”

Shen Chuwei reached out to encircle Xiao Jinyan’s neck and settled herself into his lap.

Xiao Jinyan was stunned for quite a while as he looked at Shen Chuwei who suddenly sat in his lap, puzzled by her intentions.

If it were any other woman, this action would be a clear attempt at seduction.

But with Shen Chuwei, the intent was completely different.

Having been with her for some days, he knew her to some extent.

Though she liked him, she had never tried to seduce him vulgarly.

On the contrary, she was always considerate of him.

Shen Chuwei stared at the handsome face before her for a long while, “Is Your Highness angry?”

Xiao Jinyan realized that a drunk Shen Chuwei seemed somewhat foolish.

Why would she ask him out of the blue if he were angry?

“Why should I be angry?”

To the intoxicated Shen Chuwei, her mind was a mess, yet she was still preoccupied with whether Xiao Jinyan was angry.

What to do if he isn’t angry?