Chapter 136: Chapter 135 Shock!

His Highness Actually Took Her Hand on His Own Chapter 136: Chapter 135 Shock!

His Highness Actually Took Her Hand on His Own In recent days, who Your Highness would bring to the New Year’s Eve family banquet had become the talk of the town during leisure time.

Whomever Your Highness takes indicates who is favored.

By saying this, Lady Chang first clarified that her own absence was due to catching a cold, and not because Your Highness chose not to take her.

Then, she stirred up trouble between Shen Chuwei and Concubine Xu, with every sham friendship potentially giving rise to all sorts of jealousy and competition for favor.

At this moment, Shen Chuwei was feeling rather drowsy, and if it hadn’t been for Tao Chenghui and Concubine Xu each holding onto her, she probably would have longed to find a sheltered spot to doze off for a while.

Listening to Lady Chang’s words, she guessed that Lady Chang claimed to have caught a cold on purpose, not because she didn’t want to attend the New Year’s Eve banquet, but because she wanted Xiao Jinyan to coddle her.

As a result, Xiao Jinyan, with his proud and tsundere nature, thought that Lady Chang didn’t want to go with him and, in a fit of anger, left Xinlan Hall and came to her Xiyun Pavilion, leading to last night’s events.

She, the inadvertent beneficiary, had picked up a bargain.

“It’s truly rare for Lady Chang to enjoy plum blossoms while suffering from a cold; it’s such a pity that she cannot attend the New Year’s Eve banquet,” Concubine Xu said with a smile towards Shen Chuwei by her side, “Since Your Highness dotes on Lady Shen so much, surely Lady Shen is the one attending the banquet tonight.”

The implication was clear, it was curious how one could be out to enjoy the plum blossoms with a cold, yet be unable to attend the New Year’s Eve banquet!

Concubine Xu might not be as scheming as others, but she was not foolish, either.

Your Highness visits Xiyun Pavilion every other day, so Shen Chuwei’s chances of attending are quite high, and although she too wanted to go, Your Highness didn’t take her along.

However, she was delighted at the thought of Lady Chang not being able to go!

Lady Chang clenched the small handkerchief in her hand; Concubine Xu’s blunt statement made it hard for her to save face.

She held up the handkerchief, coughed a few times, and said in a hoarse voice, “No matter how much Your Highness dotes on Lady Shen, Concubine Xu is after all a concubine, how could Lady Shen dare to overstep Concubine Xu?”

As she spoke, Lady Chang looked at Shen Chuwei with a smile, “Lady Shen, don’t you agree with this reasoning?”

Shen Chuwei spread her hands helplessly and shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know as much as Lady Chang does; I only know to follow Your Highness’ arrangements.”

She meant that they could carry on their squabbles as they wished; as for herself, she would eat what she wanted to eat and drink what she wanted to drink!

The smile on Lady Chang’s lips stiffened.

Concubine Xu adjusted the Pearl Flower in her hair bun, “Lady Shen is right, how could we know as much as Lady Chang does?

Whatever Your Highness says goes, and we just listen.”

The conversation had reached a point where there was nothing more to say, nor a need to continue.

Lady Chang took her leave early, using her alleged cold as an excuse.

After being punished, Lady Li had become much more restrained and turned to follow Lady Chang out.

Concubine Xu snorted, “It’s clear that Your Highness simply didn’t want to take you, and yet you insist on saying it’s because you caught a cold and couldn’t go.”

Shen Chuwei thought to herself that it was none of her business!

There was still half an hour left until the New Year’s Eve banquet.

After her bath, Shen Chuwei had Chun Xi assist her in putting on new clothes.

Chun Xi had taken the fabric gifted by the Empress and had new clothes made at the Sewing Bureau in advance; tonight was the perfect occasion to wear them.

Upon seeing the elaborate dress that would hinder her speed of eating, Shen Chuwei expressed distaste, “Chun Xi, choose another one.”

“Young Miss, tonight is the New Year’s Eve banquet, and the Imperial Family places great emphasis on etiquette, especially in attire.

If you’re not dressed properly and displease Your Highness, then forget about attending the banquet,” Chun Xi said.

With those words, Chun Xi immediately caught Shen Chuwei’s attention: “I’ll wear it.”

After donning the formal attire, Chun Xi pulled her to the dressing table for a thorough makeover.

As Chun Xi inserted two golden hairpins into her hair, Shen Chuwei worried about her neck.

When Shen Chuwei was fully dressed and Chun Xi was helping her walk out of the Xiyun Pavilion.

Xiao Jinyan was also dressed with great solemnity tonight, and when he saw Shen Chuwei in her resplendent dress, clearly dressed up from head to toe.

People say a man is judged by his clothes, as a horse by its saddle, and Shen Chuwei, dressed in this attire, immediately had the air of a Crown Princess.

“This dress is not bad.”

Chun Xi, hearing this, felt somewhat proud; her judgement was not wrong.

“Let’s go,” Xiao Jinyan withdrew his gaze and took the lead to walk away.

Shen Chuwei wanted to lift her dress hem, but was stopped by Chun Xi, “Miss, you mustn’t lift your dress; it’s against decorum.”

“All right then,” Shen Chuwei lowered her gaze at the hem of her dress, allowing it to drag along the floor as she walked slowly, careful not to fall.

Xiao Jinyan, whether deliberately slowing his pace or matching Shen Chuwei’s stride, did not walk quickly.

As they neared the Daming Palace, Shen Chuwei accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress and lost her balance, plunging straight into Xiao Jinyan.

“Ah!!!” Panic flashed across her eyes–if she fell, the family banquet would be missed.

“Miss!” Chun Xi wanted to reach out to help, but it was already too late.

Xiao Jinyan, with quick reflexes, hastily extended his arms and caught the person who was about to fall to the ground securely in his embrace.

Shen Chuwei clutched tightly onto Xiao Jinyan’s sleeves, letting out a long sigh of relief; she almost missed the New Year’s Eve family banquet.

Looking up at Xiao Jinyan, she said sincerely, “Thank goodness for Your Highness’s presence, otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Xiao Jinyan cast his eyes down and glanced at the hem of Shen Chuwei’s dress, noting that, being a formal dress, its hem was very long and could easily cause her to stumble.

He reached out his hand towards Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei looked at the hand suddenly extended towards her and, with a puzzled face, turned to Xiao Jinyan, “Your Highness, what is this for?”

Xiao Jinyan replied, “The path is slippery at night, it would be better if I lead you by hand.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Shen Chuwei, somewhat flattered, hesitated for a moment before placing her hand into that attractive large hand, which then clasped hers, its warm palm making her feel slightly feverish.

This was the first time Xiao Jinyan had held a girl’s hand, and he did it naturally, without feeling there was anything amiss.

With Xiao Jinyan by her side, Shen Chuwei did not stumble again and successfully followed him into the Daming Palace, taking her place beside him.

The Emperor sat upon the Dragon Throne, with the Empress seated to his right.

The concubines took their seats on either side, and below the King were the Princes’ seats.

The delicious dishes were brought in succession by the palace maids.

Shen Chuwei stared at the dishes in front of her that she had never seen before, licking her lips in anticipation for the Emperor to speak so she could start eating.

Music from the imperial court resounded, and six dancers danced gracefully in the center of the vast palace.

When the Emperor raised his goblet, Shen Chuwei followed Xiao Jinyan’s action, picking up the wine cup, waiting for the Emperor to finish speaking, and then, like Jinyan, drained the cup.

Shen Chuwei, looking at the dishes she could not name, picked some up with her chopsticks and placed it in her bowl.

After tasting it and finding it delicious, she added more to her bowl.

It did not take long before she finished everything.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinyan pushed his serving in front of her.

Noticing the suddenly increased portion of food before her, Shen Chuwei turned her head to see Xiao Jinyan watching her; she gratefully arched her eyebrows and eyes at him, then lowered her head and continued eating.

This scene was witnessed by the nearby Concubine Yun, who also noticed that the Crown Prince had not brought the Empress’s niece to the family banquet, pretending to be unaware.

“Is this lady beside the Crown Prince the Empress’s niece, Lady Chang?

I have heard that Lady Chang is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

I wonder if we might be fortunate enough to witness her talents today?”

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Cover change, spicy!

Changed to a cute male and female lead cover