Chapter 87 Late Night Visitors

Xiao Yuan stopped in his tracks instantly and looked at Ling Chenyi again, frowning slightly.

"As for what happened this morning, you were in Fengtian Palace, and I think Qing'an hasn't passed the news to you yet."

Xiao Yuan was silent for a while before he walked out again, "What disease could she have?"

With her bad temper, it would be polite not to make Concubine Shen angry to death.

Ling Chenyi spread his hands, "Noble Concubine Shen's health is bad, and there are countless people in the palace who want to take advantage of this opportunity to attack her. With Miss Shen here, at least it's safer, after all, she's one of ours."

Xiao Yuan did not speak. The carriage went all the way back to the Fourth Prince's residence. Before getting off the carriage, he said to Ling Chenyi, "Send the porcelain to my residence in the evening."

“…”

"You want to go to the palace in person?" Ling Chenyi frowned, "It's not a good idea. After all, she is your father's concubine. You are here in the middle of the night..."

The rest of the words were swallowed back under Xiao Yuan's extremely oppressive gaze.

"Okay, then you should be safe and be careful."

Xiao Yuan responded calmly and walked back to his house.

It gets dark especially early in winter. When Shen Anan woke up, it was already dark outside the window. Mo Xiang lit a candle in the hall.

"Girl, you're awake."

"Yeah." Shen Anan looked at the unfamiliar environment, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Is there any movement from the Imperial Concubine?"

Mo Xiang said, "Not long after the young lady fell asleep, the imperial physician came and checked the young lady's pulse and prescribed some medicine."

"Yeah." Shen Anan nodded, put on her clothes and stood up. After Mo Xiang finished grooming her, she went directly to Concubine Shen's palace.

"You've woken up, just in time, it's time for dinner." Concubine Shen was leaning on the couch. When she saw Shen An'an coming in, she immediately took the note in her palm and handed it to Aunt Yu.

Shen Anan glanced at the note, her expression unchanged.

Concubine Shen seemed to be in a very good mood, and spoke to Shen Anan even more softly, "Sit down and see if the food suits your taste. If not, tell them to redo it later."

“Thank you, auntie. I can eat anything. I’m not picky.” Shen Anan bowed, a little puzzled by Concubine Shen’s attentiveness.

The next step was a whole set of poison testing procedures. After the silver needles were used and the palace maids had also eaten them, and after confirming that there was no attack, Concubine Shen was supported by Aunt Yu to sit down.

The food was already a little cold at this time, but thinking that Concubine Shen should be like this every day, I am afraid that she has never eaten any hot food.

The two of them ate very quietly, and no one spoke. It must be said that the food in the palace was indeed exquisite, and the taste was incomparable to that of the chefs outside.

But Concubine Shen didn't eat much. Shen Anan never saw her take more than three bites of any dish. No wonder her waist was so thin.

It could also be the palace rules that prohibit revealing one's preferences.

Concubine Shen put down her chopsticks, and Shen Anan followed suit. As soon as Aunt Yu raised her hand, a palace maid immediately came forward to collect the leftovers from the bowl and chopsticks.

Next came mouthwash and snacks. Shen Anan looked at how even a bowl of mouthwash was served in a glass cup, and couldn't help but sigh. Perhaps this was the luxury and wealth that Concubine Shen wanted at all costs.

“Don’t like it?” Seeing Shen Anan in a daze, Concubine Shen couldn’t help but ask.

"No, I just don't have the habit of having snacks after meals."

Concubine Shen nodded, said nothing, picked up a piece of peach blossom cake and put it in her mouth.

Shen Anan thought that she would bring up the matter of marriage with the Fourth Prince again and threaten her with both kindness and force, but unexpectedly, Concubine Shen said nothing and didn't even mention it.

Shen Anan did not speak and sat quietly, and Concubine Shen had no intention of letting her leave.

After staying there for a while, a young eunuch hurried into the hall and reported something in a low voice, which was then conveyed to Concubine Shen by Aunt Yu.

"Yeah." Concubine Shen put down the peach blossom cake and took the handkerchief handed over by Aunt Yu to wipe the remaining crumbs from her fingers.

"An An."

"Hmm?" Shen Anan looked up.

"I have a guest coming, and I asked Aunt Yu to go and greet him, fearing that she would be negligent. I am not feeling well, so I have to trouble you to go."

? ? ?

Shen Anan raised her eyebrows. In the middle of the night, apart from the emperor, what kind of noble guest would dare to visit the imperial concubine's palace at night?

If she were a woman, she wouldn't have to hide it like this. A series of thoughts ran through Shen Anan's mind, and her almond-shaped eyes darkened.

I hope she hasn't committed any crime that would punish her entire clan! ! ! !

In just a moment, Shen Anan restrained her thoughts, and even felt a little ridiculous about her own drifting thoughts. If that was the case, she probably wouldn't have the courage to let her know.

"Yes." Shen Anan stood up and left the palace under the guidance of the young eunuch.

Concubine Shen said calmly, "In the past, I would send someone to deliver the message, but this time I actually came here in person."

Aunt Yu smiled faintly, "The Fourth Prince may have other intentions than drinking."

Concubine Shen chuckled. It was her niece's ability that allowed her to lure the man here so easily.

Shen Anan followed the young eunuch along the darkest path in the palace. After turning around for a long time, they came to a place where they couldn't see their hands in front of them.

She frowned, and the strange feeling in her heart surged up again uncontrollably.

"Cousin, please wait a moment." After the little eunuch said this, he took a few steps forward. The scattered moonlight made it impossible to even tell the direction, but Shen Anan heard the sound of birds from the little eunuch.

It blends in with the birdsong that occasionally rings out in the palace, and there is no way to tell the difference at all.

Ventriloquism? There is such a capable person around Concubine Shen.

Shen Anan only thought for a moment, then immediately retracted his gaze, staring at the surroundings with a vigilant look.

"Master." As the young eunuch knelt down and saluted, a dark shadow walked out from the darkness. His hood covered half of his face, so his appearance could not be seen at all.

Shen Anan's heart sank to the bottom of the valley, her hands and feet felt a little cold, Concubine Shen... Was she crazy? How dare she meet in private...

Before she could finish her thoughts, the man's voice made her freeze in place.

"Why are you in a daze? Don't you recognize me?"

The man's voice was cool and teasing as he slowly approached her, his stern features becoming more apparent.

Before Shen Anan could react, she felt something slightly cool touching the tip of her nose. When she came to her senses, she realized that it was Xiao Yuan's fingertips.

She immediately stepped back and looked at him warily, "What are you doing?"

The darkness enveloped Xiao Yuan's figure, and Shen Anan felt her body and mind chilled. "The imperial concubine is your father's concubine, you..."

Before she finished speaking, she was hit on the forehead, neither lightly nor heavily. Xiao Yuan said in a cold voice, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

The repeated closeness made Shen Anan extremely uncomfortable. She distanced herself from him and said, "Just talk, why are you doing this?"

They don't have such a good relationship. At most, they no longer have any resentment towards each other and keep to themselves.

Xiao Yuan glanced at her and said, "Weren't you the one who started to daydream and talk nonsense first?"

Shen Anan just felt that it was very awkward to get along like this, and said coldly, "That's because you guys did something ugly in advance."

Breaking into the imperial concubine's palace in the dead of night would make anyone guess.

Xiao Yuan raised his hand, and Shen Anan immediately glared back, "Don't touch me."

Xiao Yuan's eyes fixed on her little face for a moment, and he lowered his arms very naturally. Shen Anan frowned again.

Could it be that this man took the wrong medicine today? Or is there something wrong with your brain? How strange.

Xiao Yuan stared at her cold face, impatience and annoyance in his eyes, and his lips curled up.

She retreated and he advanced, she retreated again and he advanced again. The road was so long that it blocked people at the end and naturally there was no way to retreat.

"You're not leaving?"

Shen Anan came back to her senses, and without saying anything, she took the lead and walked along the way she came to the palace where Concubine Shen lived.

She had never imagined that Concubine Shen's guest was actually Xiao Yuan. She had already begun to regret in her heart. If she had known it would be so exciting, she would never have come even if Concubine Shen died.

She began to think about how she hadn't noticed anything between them in her previous life...

"What are you thinking about?"

Shen Anan lied without breaking the shell and said, "It was dark and the road was slippery. I was thinking about how to bring the Fourth Prince over safely without being discovered."

These words sounded very sarcastic. Xiao Yuan curled his lips silently and did not respond.

After a while, he pretended to be curious and asked, "Isn't today Miss Shen's engagement day? Why are you..."

Before he finished speaking, he bumped into the back of Shen Anan in front of him. Shen Anan stumbled forward, and Xiao Yuan immediately reached out and pulled him back.

Before Shen Anan could glare back, someone grabbed her waist from behind. Her whole body froze, and she gritted her teeth, "Let go."

"Are you sure?" Xiao Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly and let go of Shen Anan's hand before she could make a move.

After shaking for a few times, Shen Anan managed to stabilize himself somewhat awkwardly.

"We were walking just fine, why did you stop suddenly? You almost made me fall." Xiao Yuan said preemptively.

Shen Anan's chest felt stuffy with anger, "Weren't you the one who mocked me first?"

She just wanted to turn around and glare at him.

Yesterday in the suburbs, Xiao Yuan and Ling Chenyi were on-site spectators and knew the reason very well. To ask this question today would be nothing but a mockery.

Xiao Yuan pulled the corners of his lips, "I still remember that day in the hunting forest, Miss Shen swore a solemn oath, but now she has suddenly changed her nature. I am just a little curious."

Shen Anan glanced at him coldly, "When did the Fourth Prince become so gossipy?"

As they were talking, the two had already arrived at the palace gate, and Shen Anan stood aside, with no intention of going in.

Xiao Yuan raised his eyebrows, "Don't you want to go in together? Aren't you curious about why I'm looking for Concubine Shen?"

Shen Anan’s expression remained unchanged, “Not curious.”

It would be a lie to say that I wasn't curious, especially since Qing'an, who had been following behind, was holding something in his arms, and Concubine Shen's words and actions involved the survival of the Shen family.

But... Shen Anan added, "I am afraid that my eyesight is not strong enough, I don't know how to advance and retreat, and it irritates my ears."

Before she could glare at him this time, Xiao Yuan bent his finger and tapped Shen Anan's forehead again, "You are a lady from a wealthy family after all, how can you be so filthy."

Shen Anan was furious, "Am I dirty, or is it your heart?"

The only benefit that could be generated between him and Concubine Shen was that one, which was also the reason why Concubine Shen insisted on marrying her to Xiao Yuan. There was nothing wrong with her not wanting to get involved in those right and wrongs.