Chapter 236 Shen Cong is actually quite pitiful.

Li Nanke knelt on the blanket, imitating him, resting her arms on the small table, supporting her chin with her hands, and tilting her head to examine Shen Cong.

Her round eyes were clear and bright, filled with undisguised curiosity.

Shen Cong frowned slightly, his voice carrying a hint of displeasure.

"What are you looking at?"

"Okay, I understand!"

Li Nanke suddenly clapped her hands and spoke with a grin.

"Ninth Brother, do you also want to go to the temple fair, but you can't find any friends to go with you? Ninth Brother, are you jealous that I have friends to go with?"

Shen Cong froze almost imperceptibly for a moment, then sneered disdainfully.

"What a joke! Would I be jealous that you have friends around?"

"If you're not jealous that I have friends, then you're jealous that I get to go to the temple fair, right?"

"Hmph, it's just a temple fair. If I want to go, someone can carry me there anytime!"

An angry look flashed across the boy's pale face, and a fleeting look of embarrassment at being exposed crossed his eyes, which Li Nanke caught.

She sighed inwardly.

Because of his weak health and frequent vomiting of blood, Shen Cong spent most of his time recuperating at the Xuan Prince's residence, except when he went to the palace and the Imperial Guard's office.

Over the years, he must have felt quite stifled inside.

Li Nanke felt that if she were kept locked up in the Marquis of Anping's residence and not allowed to go out freely, she would definitely go crazy from being cooped up.

Thinking about it this way, Shen Cong is actually quite pitiful.

Her eyes darted around, and she said to Shen Cong with a grin, "That makes sense. Ninth Brother is His Majesty's most favored prince, so naturally he can go wherever he wants."

Oh dear, how come I didn't think of that? I even bought some delicious snacks for Ninth Brother when I went to the temple fair today.

Now it seems Ninth Brother probably doesn't care either, since you can always have someone carry you to the temple fair and buy whatever you want to eat.

Shen Cong narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully examining Li Nanke.

"You even bought something for me?"

Li Nanke spread his hands.

"Luckily, I forgot to take it when I came downstairs. Anyway, Ninth Brother doesn't care about it."

Shen Cong's lips moved slightly, and after a moment, he let out a soft hum and turned his head away.

Erfeng glanced speechlessly at his stubborn master, then grinned and approached Li Nanke.

"Did Miss Ke'er really bring food for our Prince? Is it in the carriage? I'll go get it."

As soon as he finished speaking, he dashed out and disappeared in an instant.

This startled the snow eagle that was lying under the eaves, which jumped up alertly and chased after it like an arrow, the bell around its neck ringing far and wide.

Erfeng came and went like the wind, returning in the blink of an eye with a food box in his hand.

Li Nanke took out a white porcelain bowl and placed it in front of Shen Cong.

Smiling, she said, "This is the most famous Zhang Family Plum Blossom Soup Dumpling at the temple fair. I heard that it is made by kneading dough with white plum and sandalwood juice, pressing it into plum blossom-shaped pieces, and then cooking it in chicken broth."

I found it delicious and flavorful, and I thought it would be great if Ninth Brother could try a bowl too, so I bought one for him to have a taste.

"Oh, and this too, buttered abalone and snails."

She then took out a white porcelain plate from the food box, on which six pastries were neatly arranged, each with a round bottom and a pointed spiral shape at the top.

"I heard it's made by mixing cheese and icing sugar together. It's crispy, sweet and delicious. Ninth Brother, give it a try."

Shen Cong lowered his eyes and looked at the two dishes that were pushed in front of him.

He had naturally eaten plum blossom soup dumplings and ghee-fried abalone and snails before, as they were often served at banquets in the palace.

However, the dishes served at the palace banquets were made in the imperial kitchen and then delivered to various palaces, by which time they were already cold.

The bowl of plum blossom soup dumplings in front of us is still steaming hot.

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the food box. Inside, there was a warming plate for keeping the food warm.

"Was it really bought for me?"

He raised an eyebrow, looking at Li Nanke with a mixture of belief and doubt.

Li Nanke felt a little guilty.

Of course not, she brought it for her grandmother at home.

I only had this food to appease Chen Cong, and I had nothing else on hand.

I'll bring it to Grandma next time.

She blinked her round, grape-like eyes and nodded earnestly.

"Of course, plum blossoms are cold in nature, which is very helpful in relieving the blood curse on your body. Ninth Brother, eat it quickly, the taste will change if it gets cold."

Shen Cong gave her a deep look, then slowly picked up the spoon and took a sip.

The flatbread was soaked until it was a little soft and mushy, but the aroma of the chicken soup had just blended in, and the subtle savory flavor filled my mouth, turning into a warm feeling that flowed down into my stomach.

Upon seeing this, Erfeng immediately ordered the servants to prepare the meal.

"Miss Ke'er hasn't had lunch yet, has she? She can have lunch with the Prince."

Shen Cong glanced sideways at Er Feng.

"She dares to make decisions for me? Did I agree to let her stay for dinner?"

Erfeng chuckled dryly.

Li Nanke ate a lot at the temple fair, but he wasn't actually hungry and hadn't planned to eat.

Hearing Shen Cong say this, she couldn't help but puff out her cheeks.

"Ninth Brother is too stingy. I brought you snacks, can't I exchange them for a bite of rice? I eat very little, just a little bit is enough for me."

She pinched the two fingers together, leaving only a tiny gap in the middle.

"Really, just a little bit, I promise I won't eat more."

Shen Cong glanced at her, gave a soft snort, and continued to eat his soup noodles.

Seeing this, Erfeng quickly gave the servant a wink.

The servant quickly brought Shen Cong's lunch, four dishes and a soup, filling the small table to the brim.

Li Nanke sat cross-legged opposite Shen Cong, eating while pondering how to bring up Shen Cong's story about Shen Xu and the Blood Curse.

After thinking for a moment, I decided to start with what I saw and heard at the temple fair.

"Ninth Brother, let me tell you, the temple fair was so lively today..."

Shen Cong listened quietly as she chattered about the interesting things that happened at the temple fair. Before he knew it, he had finished a bowl of soup noodles and even ate half a bowl of rice.

He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, his lips curving into a barely perceptible smile, before he mischievously interrupted Li Nanke.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"ah?"

Li Nanke, who was still racking his brains for a topic, froze for a moment.

Shen Cong scoffed, "After all that rambling, what's the point?"

Li Nanke opened his mouth and blurted out.

"The important thing... is that I ran into Chen Xu today!"

Shen Cong's expression changed, and he grabbed Li Nanke's arm.

His gaze was fixed on her. "Where is she? Where is she now?"

Li Nanke stared at the undisguised eagerness and excitement in his eyes, opened her lips, and then shook her head.

"I have no idea."

"Where did you meet him? Tell me the details... Never mind, Erfeng, you immediately take men to seal off the temple fair, I'll go to the palace to report to my brother the Emperor."

Shen Cong released Li Nanke's arm and got up to walk out.

Li Nanke suddenly jumped up and grabbed him.

"Are you absolutely determined to find Shen Xu and bring him back?"

Shen Cong frowned and glanced at her, without the slightest hesitation.

"Of course, he is my elder brother's legitimate son, and my own nephew!"

Li Nanke's hands, gripping his sleeve, twisted nervously together.

"What if... I mean, what if Shen Xu kills you in the future?"