If I don’t like it, will you stop doing it in the future?
Shen Yanshui looked at the plump-faced chief eunuch Zheng Yuande standing behind him, who appeared to be in his twenties.
She truly didn’t have the courage to let the Crown Prince eat something she had already tasted.
Seeing this, Zheng Yuande was overjoyed and immediately gave orders for the kitchen to prepare another serving of easily digestible late-night snacks.
Anything requested by the Crown Prince arrived far more quickly than what Shen Yanshui had paid for.
In no time, the food was laid out, but it wasn’t as extravagant or lavish as she had imagined.
Aside from another serving of what she had previously ordered, there was also a four-delicacy soup, a fish soup, and a shredded chicken congee. Compared to his status, it could even be described as modest.
Each dish looked light and easy to digest.
She stood properly by his side, serving him dishes and ladling congee, smiling as she said, “Your Highness, please try this shredded chicken congee. I also had a bowl during dinner. I wonder which chef prepared it—it smells absolutely delightful.”
Listening to her sincere and cheerful voice, Cui Yu almost couldn’t help but suspect that Donggong had changed its head chef today.
But after tasting it, the flavor was exactly the same as usual.
Anything presented to him naturally wouldn’t be lacking, yet he couldn’t sense the joy and satisfaction she expressed in her tone.
He said in a low voice, “There’s no need to stand and serve. Sit down and eat together.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw unmistakable surprise and delight in her eyes.
Zheng Yuande watched wide-eyed as Shen Zhaoxun, with a beaming smile, curtsied to thank His Highness before calmly sitting down—just like that.
Shen Yanshui was indeed very happy. After all, this Crown Prince before her didn’t seem to have a bad temper, nor did he mind her impropriety. Now, he was even letting her enjoy a free meal—how could she not be delighted?
With one spoonful of the fish soup, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes in delight at the aroma. With a taste like this, she felt she could easily eat two more bowls!
However, culinary delights should be shared equally—none should be left out.
After finishing half a bowl of fish soup, she had another half-bowl of four-delicacy soup. The freshly prepared golden chicken couldn’t go to waste either. Indeed, the food served to the Crown Prince was different—she felt the chicken was even more tender and delicious.
“Mmm~” The moment it entered her mouth, she couldn’t help but utter the highest praise for the delicacy.
Zheng Yuande’s eyes nearly popped out!
He had never seen a woman like this. In Changqing Palace, weren’t all the women constantly on edge, attending to His Highness? Who actually ate? Didn’t they all claim to be full after just a few bites?
They were all afraid of making a fool of themselves or leaving a bad impression in front of His Highness.
He had never seen a woman who ate so heartily and with such relish in front of His Highness.
Cui Yu was also somewhat surprised. He watched her for a while and realized she was genuinely focused on eating.
Although she ate quickly, her movements weren’t crude. The satisfied and joyful expression on her face gave the illusion that the food in her bowl was far more delicious than what was on the table.
When she ate the four-delicacy soup, he noticed that although she finished the bowl, her expression was noticeably more subdued.
He lowered his gaze to the four-delicacy soup before him and suddenly felt as though it had lost its flavor.
After finishing one piece of golden chicken, Shen Yanshui immediately wanted to take a second. Looking up, she noticed the Crown Prince beside her had stopped moving and put down his spoon. She grew a bit anxious—if he stopped eating, how could she continue?
With a face full of sincere concern and anticipation, she said, “Why isn’t Your Highness eating? This golden chicken is even more delicious than what I had earlier. I wonder how it’s made—it even has a faint aroma of wine. Would Your Highness like to try some?”
Cui Yu looked up and saw the earnest expectation in her eyes. After a brief pause, he nodded slightly.
The eunuch serving nearby, who was attentively observing his master’s expression, immediately picked up a piece of golden chicken.
Seeing him start eating again, Shen Yanshui smiled happily and quickly took another piece of the golden, fragrant chicken.
After a while, Shen Yanshui finally felt satisfied, comfortably full to about eighty percent. Just as she picked up a thumb-sized peach blossom pastry and took a bite, she looked up and saw the Crown Prince beside her eating slowly and gracefully, his every movement elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Cui Yu unhurriedly set down his bowl and chopsticks and picked up a peach blossom pastry to eat.
Seeing that he had also eaten quite a bit, Shen Yanshui smiled and said, “Your Highness, would you like to take a stroll in the courtyard to aid digestion?”
“Mm,” Cui Yu did not refuse. He was always disciplined, especially in matters of food, but it seemed he had unintentionally eaten a bit too much just now.
Zheng Yuande glanced at the table and smiled cheerfully, having long forgotten everything else. As long as His Highness could eat well, nothing else mattered.
After rinsing their mouths and washing their hands, the two walked out of the East Side Hall, with Shen Yanshui half a step behind Cui Yu.
Shen Yanshui looked up at the night sky outside. A silver moon hung high, stars twinkled brightly, and moonlight spilled across the bluestone-paved courtyard, illuminating the otherwise dim space.
Just as she was thinking of a topic to discuss, she suddenly heard a deep, clear, and slightly low voice beside her.
“What do you usually do at home?”
Shen Yanshui glanced at him sideways. From where she stood, she could clearly see his expression. Both his voice and demeanor appeared gentle and calm, yet she inexplicably felt that the Crown Prince’s mood was not particularly good.
She grew more cautious inwardly and replied with a smile, “Your Highness, I am rather dull-witted. Since childhood, I’ve been somewhat playful. Unlike my elder sister, who excels in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery, I am only mediocre in needlework. In my daily life, I enjoy fishing, gardening, swinging, playing Cuju, polo, and of course, indulging in all kinds of delicious food.”
She knew the Crown Prince must be fully aware of her background. Regardless, if possible, it was best to distance herself from her elder sister and make the Crown Prince believe she was not aligned with Consort Lan or anyone else’s faction.
Her future life would be spent within the Donggong, and if she could improve her quality of life, she naturally would.
Chunping and Zheng Yuande, following at a respectful distance behind, listened to her words. One felt their vision darken repeatedly, while the other was startled again and again!
Chunping: Mistress, even if we aren’t skilled in anything, we shouldn’t say such things in front of the Crown Prince!
Zheng Yuande: Such a perfect opportunity to be alone with His Highness, and instead of making a good impression, she bluntly exposes her shortcomings without any reservation. I’ve truly never seen anything like this…
Couldn’t she at least pretend a little? Even if she wasn’t skilled in things like needlework, weren’t there servants below to take care of it?
How could she just blurt everything out with a casual question from His Highness? Wasn’t that a bit foolish?
Cui Yu glanced back at her, seeing her smiling with eyes curved like crescent moons. His expression shifted slightly. He could tell she enjoyed eating, but…
“You know how to play Cuju and polo? Did your family hire a tutor to teach you?”
Shen Yanshui seemed a little embarrassed as she smiled softly and replied, “Your Highness, it wasn’t a tutor hired by my family. In fact, my father and mother both taught me that women should be chaste, quiet, virtuous, and refined. They didn’t like me playing Cuju or polo. The tutors my family hired were all for music, chess, calligraphy, painting, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and needlework.”
“I had a bit of interest in playing the zither and painting, so I learned a little. As for the rest, I probably didn’t have the talent, so I didn’t force myself.”
As she spoke, her smile was genuine, and she didn’t seem to think there was any problem with not knowing those things.
Cui Yu looked at the smile on her face and frowned as he asked, “Since your parents didn’t allow it, why did you still learn?”
Shen Yanshui tilted her head to look at him and replied with a natural smile, “Because I liked it!”
Then, she pursed her lips and smiled, “Besides, I wouldn’t run off and tell them I was playing Cuju or polo. I played in secret, and aside from my personal maids, no one else knew.”
Cui Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, not minding how she sometimes referred to herself as “this humble one” and other times as “I.”
Shen Yanshui’s beautiful, expressive peach-blossom eyes instantly lifted at the corners with pride, as if reflecting scattered stars, dazzling and radiant.
She blinked and said, “They said it themselves—a woman should follow her husband after marriage. Now that I belong to Your Highness, even if my father and mother found out, they couldn’t control me anymore.”
Cui Yu looked at her lively and spirited appearance and unconsciously let out a light chuckle. The heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart seemed to loosen slightly.
He just didn’t know how long such lively and vibrant eyes could last in this palace.
His voice suddenly deepened slightly, “Then why did you tell me? Aren’t you afraid that I might not allow or like it either?”
Shen Yanshui’s heart trembled, startled by his sudden change in expression, but it was only for a brief moment before she realized he was deliberately trying to scare her.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words, but then she remembered that this Crown Prince was only in his twenties, just coming of age. Looking at his stern yet still exceptionally handsome face, her mood brightened again.
“Because Your Highness asked,” she murmured softly, “Your Highness… don’t you like it?”
Cui Yu paused for a moment before suddenly asking, “If I didn’t like it, would you stop doing it from now on?”