Chapter 65 – 65 64 No Chance to Sow Discord

Chapter 65: Chapter 64: No Chance to Sow Discord Chapter 65: Chapter 64: No Chance to Sow Discord Lady Chang smiled and, with the support of a maid, sat down.

The Empress eyed Lady Chang’s foot, which had been swollen quite high when she saw it a few days ago; it looked so painful even to her.

“Lanlan, if you’re injured, you should rest well and recover; there’s no need to come to see me,” she said.

Lady Chang said gently, “The one I hold dearest in the palace is Auntie; seeing Auntie is what gives me peace of mind.”

Hearing her words, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but retort, “Lady Chang, your statement is incorrect.

The person who should be the closest to you is my brother.”

Lady Chang was taken aback.

Xiao Jinyu turned to look at the Empress, “Mother, do you think what I said is right?”

The Empress, seeing her son’s earnest expression, smiled helplessly, “Right, right, husband and wife are as one; indeed, closer than me.”

Xiao Jinyu reminded her seriously, “Mother, you’ve forgotten.

The Crown Princess is the one united in marriage with my brother; Lady Chang is just a concubine.”

The Empress had always thought of Lanlan and the Crown Prince as a pair, and this had led her to unconsciously think this way.

Now that her son reminded her, she realized that Lanlan was indeed a lady.

“Right, I almost forgot; Lanlan is not yet the Crown Princess.”

Upon hearing the word “concubine,” Lady Chang felt her whole demeanor falter.

The position of Crown Princess was supposed to be hers; it was due to the absurd utterances of the Royal Astronomers that she ended up becoming a lady, not even a concubine.

She said gently, “Auntie, there’s something I wish to ask of you today.”

The Empress asked curiously, “What’s that?”

Lady Chang said, “Auntie, my personal maid Dongmei has been detained by His Highness in the Punishment Bureau.

Dongmei offended His Highness only because she was worried for me.

I hope Auntie can arrange for Dongmei to be released from the Punishment Bureau.”

The Empress chuckled, “I thought it was something serious, is that all?”

Hearing the tone of the Empress, Lady Chang knew that there was hope for rescuing Dongmei, and she nodded forcefully, “Yes, Auntie, that’s exactly it.

Dongmei and I have grown up together since we were little; I can’t bear to see her suffer in the Punishment Bureau.”

Xiao Jinyu frowned slightly, “Lady Chang, this concerns the East Palace; why should you involve Mother in the affairs of the East Palace?

This could create conflict between my brother and Mother.

Outsiders who don’t know better might think that my brother, as the Crown Prince of the East Palace, can’t handle even the smallest issues and needs Mother’s intervention.”

The Empress was somewhat taken aback by her son’s words and suddenly felt as if he had grown up somehow, speaking so sensibly.

But then again, Jinyu was already sixteen; he had indeed grown up.

Lady Chang’s face changed color, “Prince Jinyu, I did not mean that.” She hurriedly looked at the Empress and explained, “Auntie, Lanlan didn’t intend that, please don’t misunderstand me.”

The Empress’s gaze moved from her son to Lady Chang, and she said meaningfully, “Lanlan, Jinyu is right.

It’s better for the Crown Prince to handle things in the East Palace.

It’s just a maid; I can assign two from the palace to you.”

Lady Chang was persistent, “…But Dongmei is my personal maid.”

Xiao Jinyu replied, “Then you should speak to my brother.

He’s not the kind of person who can’t discern right from wrong.”

Lady Chang was stunned.

The Empress turned to her son, noticing he was a bit brusque today, but everything he said made sense.

“Alright, let’s leave this matter for the Crown Prince to deal with.

Otherwise, he might think that I am always interfering in the affairs of the East Palace,” she said.

Xiao Jinyu spoke with a grin, “Mother, he’s the Crown Prince and is fully capable.

He’s worried that managing the inner palace along with the East Palace would be too taxing for you.”

The Empress couldn’t help but laugh, “You always know just what to say.”

With the conversation reaching this point, Lady Chang dared not say anything more.

To save Dongmei, she would have to approach His Highness, but he was so resolute that she probably wouldn’t even get the chance to speak.

Xiyun Pavilion

When Shen Chuwei woke up, it was already time to light the lamps.

Chun Xi, lying by the bedside, asked, “Miss, are you awake?

Are you thirsty?”

Shen Chuwei said, “Thirsty.”

Chun Xi turned around, poured a cup of warm water, and carefully assisted her master in drinking.

After drinking water, Shen Chuwei said, “Let’s start the meal; I’m starving.”

Chun Xi said gently, “Miss, don’t speak of death so lightly; it’s inauspicious.”

Accustomed to Chun Xi’s motherly nagging, Shen Chuwei acknowledged her concern, “Understood, let’s eat.”

Chun Xi said, “Miss, His Highness hasn’t arrived yet; let’s wait a little longer.”

Feeling her empty stomach, Shen Chuwei asked, “Then when will His Highness arrive?”

“Let me go and check,” Chun Xi stood up and scampered out, only to see the Crown Prince entering as she left.

She approached and curtsied, “May Your Highness live a life of golden peace.”

Xiao Jinyan asked, “Is she awake?”

Chun Xi replied, “The Miss just woke up; she’s waiting for Your Highness to dine together.”

Xiao Jinyan stepped in and saw Shen Chuwei holding her stomach, clearly hungry.

“Does your wound still hurt?”

Shen Chuwei hesitated; it was painful, but admitting it might mean no meat for dinner–it was a tough choice to make!

Observing her delicate eyebrows knitting together, Xiao Jinyan said gently, “There’s no need to put up a front in front of me.”

Shen Chuwei blurted out, “Your Highness, I want to eat meat.”

Taken aback by her unexpected response, Xiao Jinyan paused for a moment, “Is that all?”

Shen Chuwei blinked her beautiful, large eyes, “Your Highness, it was you who said I didn’t need to put up a front.

I couldn’t help myself.”

“I was asking if your wound hurts.”

“…Of course it hurts.”

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze shifted to her chest.

Even through her clothing, he knew the wound’s depth and severity; how could it not hurt?

“Tonight, you can have meat.”

Shen Chuwei’s eyes curved with joy; finally, her suffering had turned to bliss!

Chun Xi came over with a smile in her eyes, “Your Highness, the meal is ready.”

Xiao Jinyan replied, “Mm.”

“Miss, let me help you up for the meal,” Chun Xi said, knowing her mistress had been hungry for a while.

She quickly came to the bedside, pulled the covers back, and helped Shen Chuwei out of bed.

Xiao Jinyan stood by the bed, eyes lowered, watching Chun Xi with her tiny arms and legs, wondering how much strength she could possibly have.

Chun Xi cautioned, “Miss, take it slow; don’t bump your wound.”

Watching the scene unfold, Xiao Jinyan stepped forward and said in a cold tone, “Can you really help her without touching her wound like this?”

Startled, Chun Xi’s grip slackened, causing Shen Chuwei to nearly tumble back onto the bed.

Fortunately, Xiao Jinyan extended his hands just in time to wrap around Shen Chuwei’s waist and stabilize her shoulder to prevent her from falling and aggravating her wound.

Shen Chuwei thought she was about to fall and quickly closed her eyes, but the anticipated pain didn’t come.

Opening her eyes, she saw Xiao Jinyan’s magnified handsome face, and paused.

Frightened, Chun Xi’s complexion changed.

She stepped back, and seeing the Prince supporting her mistress, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Jinyan effortlessly carried Shen Chuwei horizontally and without a word walked to the dining table, setting her down on a chair.

Having rested for a few days, she was now able to sit up, but she still had to avoid any excessive movements.