Shen Chao returned to her room, holding the heavy pouch.
As a second-rank female official, she did not have to share a large communal bed with ordinary palace maids. Instead, she shared a room with another female official.
The room was not spacious. Two canopy beds took up almost all the floor space, leaving little room to walk. In the middle of the room stood a square table.
After entering, she poured herself a large cup of cold tea to calm her nerves, then turned her attention to the pouch.
The pouch was made of snow-blue Shu brocade, embroidered with a qilin hidden pattern. At a glance, it was clear that its owner was someone of extraordinary status.
She opened the pouch and found it filled with small gold beads used for rewards. They varied in size, but each was plump and perfectly round.
Shen Chao weighed it slightly in her hand—it amounted to about thirty taels.
She couldn’t understand why Xiao Yanli was fixated on her. For now, Xiao Yanli had not made any moves, so she could only wait and see what he intended to do.
With a creak, the door opened. It was her roommate, Zhixia, returning.
"Sister Caichun, I just went to collect this month’s letters and brought yours back too!"
Shen Chao thanked her and eagerly took the letter, tearing it open to read.
It was a letter from her mother and younger sister. Her sister rambled on about many things—how the weather had turned cold, how the osmanthus flowers had bloomed, and how she and their mother had gathered the blossoms to make osmanthus honey. In the next letter delivery, they could ask a eunuch to bring a small jar into the palace for her.
She also mentioned that she was nearing the age for marriage, and the mistress had begun looking for potential matches for her.
Reading this, Shen Chao’s eyes darkened.
Her memory of the mistress was still fixed on the day she entered the palace. The mistress had looked at her as if she were already dead, certain she would never return.
Given the mistress’s deep-seated hatred for her and her mother, Shen Chao doubted she would find a good match for her younger sister.
She was waiting, waiting for the Empress to set a date for her to leave the palace, so she could return quickly to her mother and sister and protect them!
"Hey, why does this pouch look so familiar?"
Shen Chao snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly tucked away the letter and the pouch, placing them in her cosmetic case.
"It was a reward from a noble."
Zhixia raised an eyebrow slightly but asked no further.
While serving in the palace, nobles often rewarded those below them for performing small tasks.
Of course, these matters were not to be spoken of openly.
Zhixia was no fool and naturally did not press further.
Shen Chao spent the next two days on edge, constantly torn over whether to make that accursed sachet. Every time she started working on it, she felt suffocated with frustration.
Whenever she thought of Xiao Yanli’s upturned phoenix eyes gazing at her with mockery, she couldn’t suppress her anger. She picked up a pair of scissors and shredded the half-embroidered lotus into pieces.
The young palace maids serving her were baffled, cautiously observing Shen Chao and wondering why Sister Caichun, who was usually the most even-tempered, seemed so irritable.
"What task did Her Ladyship give Sister Caichun? She’s been so agitated these past few days."
"Maybe it’s her monthly cycle. I’ve heard that unmarried older women become especially irritable during their periods."
"Oh, I’ve heard that too! They say if a woman reaches a certain age and doesn’t balance yin and yang, her temperament changes drastically. So it’s true!"
Shen Chao, who overheard this: "…"
During the day, she cut up embroidery patterns, and at night, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She feared Xiao Yanli would suddenly appear and demand the sachet, and if she couldn’t produce it, he might strangle her to death.
With this thought, she had no choice but to get up and grope her way out into the darkness.
It was already late at night, and the Phoenix Palace was locked, so she couldn't leave and had no choice but to go to the side hall.
Apart from the main hall where the Empress resided, the Phoenix Palace also had two side halls, one to the east and one to the west. If the Empress didn't summon Shen Chao, she would usually stay in the East Hall to work.
She pushed the door open quietly, lit a lamp, picked up the shredded lotus pattern from earlier in the day to examine it, then took a piece of dark green satin and began cutting it.
Since the Empress often used these embroidered items to reward female relatives, Shen Chao worked quickly. After cutting out a piece of fabric, she picked up an embroidery needle and began threading it.
In no time, a cluster of golden osmanthus flowers appeared on the satin, as vivid as real blossoms.
"You're not sleeping at night and instead come here to embroider?"
A male voice sounded from above her head. Shen Chao was so frightened that she felt her soul leave her body, throwing everything in her hands aside. Her hand moved faster than her mind, covering her mouth to prevent herself from screaming and attracting fatal trouble.
The other person reached out a long arm and picked up her embroidery, his fingertips brushing over the newly formed osmanthus flowers as he smiled lightly.
"Is this for me?"
Shen Chao stared at him, her eyes wide as saucers, unable to understand why he would appear here at this hour!
But her first thought was to bow in greeting. However, Xiao Yanli was faster. With a long stride, he closed the distance between them, trapping her against the table.
Shen Chao's lower back pressed against the hard wood, and she was so close to Xiao Yanli that she could feel the rhythm of his breathing. Every time his exhaled breath brushed against her neck, she couldn't help but tremble.
Yet Xiao Yanli seemed completely unaware, keeping her trapped while carefully examining her embroidery.
As if to see the pattern more clearly, he leaned forward slightly, his warm body pressing against Shen Chao's chest through the thin fabric of her clothes. Shen Chao instantly felt her scalp tingle, her mind in turmoil.
"Y-Your Highness, why are you here?"
Shen Chao stiffened her neck, trying her best to ignore the continuous warmth.
Xiao Yanli seemed to have admired the embroidery enough—or perhaps had teased her enough—and slowly straightened up, sitting down beside her.
"I played chess with Father too late tonight, so I stayed over."
His jade-like fingers toyed with the fabric, his tone casual and light, making it impossible for Shen Chao to gauge his mood.
Shen Chao knew that the Emperor was staying at the Phoenix Palace tonight.
But when had Xiao Yanli arrived? Why hadn't anyone announced him?
While Shen Chao was lost in thought, Xiao Yanli flicked his wrist and tossed the fabric back into her lap.
He lifted his chin slightly, looking like a proud cat.
Shen Chao glanced at the fabric and understood that he wanted her to continue, so she picked up the needle and thread and resumed embroidering.
But this time, her movements were far from as smooth as before—her hands were trembling.
It was early autumn, and the hall was not heated. Xiao Yanli sat beside her wearing only a pale yellow inner robe. His hair was loose and unadorned, falling over his shoulders in dark waves. Combined with his still-youthful features, he had an androgynous beauty under the dim, warm lamplight.
After finishing one osmanthus flower, Shen Chao cautiously glanced at Xiao Yanli. He continued to gaze at her intently, making her heart race while also giving rise to a strange thought.
Why did the Crown Prince's attitude resemble that of a cat exposing its belly to her?
Was he trying to seduce her?