One of the gentlemen didn't fall asleep so easily. He had a helpless expression on his face as he held the person in his arms. It's unclear how long he struggled internally before finally falling asleep.

The next day, when Shen Wan woke up, Xie Jingyan was nowhere to be seen in bed. She stretched and stayed in bed for a while before getting up.

She ate a bowl of noodles last night, so she wasn't that hungry this morning and only ate a little more than half of what she usually eats. Yinshuang thinks that if the princess keeps eating like this, the little bit of weight she's gained will disappear very quickly.

After breakfast, Shen Wan took Yin Shuang and Hai Tang for a stroll in the garden. However, as soon as they arrived, Qiu'er ran over and said, "Your Highness, the Empress requests your presence in the palace."

What did Empress Song want with her in the palace again?

A hint of impatience flashed in Shen Wan's eyes.

"Prepare the carriage."

After instructing the maid, Shen Wan turned and returned to Moyuxuan. She changed into a dress, and after the maid informed her that the carriage was ready, she took Yinshuang into the palace.

On the way to the palace, Shen Wan kept guessing what Empress Song wanted to do with her. When she couldn't figure it out, she stopped trying to make herself guess.

Upon arriving at Fengyi Palace, Shen Wan stepped into the hall and saw Empress Song sitting on the phoenix throne, dignified and elegant. Shen Wan curtsied and bowed. Empress Song looked Shen Wan up and down, her eyes seeming as if she were seeing Shen Wan for the first time.

Empress Song asked, "I heard that yesterday Prince Ling carried you from the main gate of Prince Ling's residence back to Moyuxuan. Is his illness cured?"

Shen Wan frowned almost imperceptibly.

She knew there must be spies of Empress Song and Xie Jingyin in the Ling Prince's mansion, but these spies could simply not pass on any information. Why make such a big deal out of this and let it reach Empress Song's ears, and even summon her to the palace to question her? With the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet just around the corner, was Empress Song really that free?

Shen Wan was displeased, but she kept her expression hidden and said, "Your Highness's vomiting has improved."

"It's good that things are getting better," Empress Song said.

Shen Wan looked at Empress Song and asked, "I wonder why Your Majesty summoned me to the palace...?"

She didn't think Empress Song was looking for her out of concern for Xie Jingyan; there must be something else going on.

Empress Song picked up her teacup, gently stirred it a couple of times, and then said, "It's not a big deal that I called you here. It's just that pregnant women crave sweets. Princess Jin wants to eat dragon beard candy, and the Imperial Chef who is best at making this dessert was given to you by the Emperor. That's why I called you here."

Shen Wan, "..."

real.

Shen Wan almost swore.

She knew that Empress Song cherished the child in Fu Shu's belly, but she couldn't control how much Empress Song doted on Fu Shu.

She could understand a pregnant woman's cravings, after all, she herself, who wasn't pregnant, also experienced the frustration of wanting something she couldn't have.

but!

If Fu Shu wanted to eat the dragon beard candy made by Imperial Chef Li, she could have simply sent someone to the Ling Prince's residence to ask Imperial Chef Li to make some and send them to the Jin Prince's residence. If that wasn't possible, she could have asked the Imperial Chef of the Jin Prince's residence to learn how to make it. Was it really necessary to summon her to the palace and give her the order in person?!

Isn't it tiring to travel by carriage into the palace and then walk all the way to Fengyi Palace?!

Suppressing her dissatisfaction, Shen Wan smiled and asked, "Does the Empress want the Ling Prince's residence to make dragon beard candy and send it to the Jin Prince's residence, or does she want Imperial Chef Li to teach the Imperial Chef of the Jin Prince's residence how to make dragon beard candy?"

Empress Song took a sip of tea, put down her teacup, and said, "It's not good to always trouble Imperial Chef Li. Let the Imperial Chef of Prince Jin's residence learn from him."

Shen Wan responded.

Empress Song said, "It's alright, you may leave."

Shen Wan curtsied and then left with Yin Shuang.

Once outside Fengyi Palace, with no one around, Yinshuang couldn't help but say, "You summoned the Princess to the palace for such a trivial matter..."

The Emperor wanted to hold his eldest grandson, and the Princess Consort of Jin wanted to eat some dragon beard candy made by Imperial Chef Li. The Princess Consort would not disagree; it was obvious that she would not refuse. Yet, Empress Song insisted that the Princess Consort come to the palace. If it wasn't a deliberate attempt to manipulate the Princess Consort, Yinshuang would not believe it.

Seeing that Shen Wan wasn't angry, Yin Shuang whispered, "Isn't the Princess angry?"

How could I not be angry?

Getting angry won't help; it's the Empress. If the Empress summons her, she can't refuse to go to the palace.

But she wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Shen Wan walked towards the horse parking area, and halfway there, she suddenly cried out in pain.

Yinshuang was startled and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Shen Wan winced in pain, "I twisted my ankle..."

Yinshuang quickly helped Chenwan up, "This servant will have someone fetch the imperial physician for you."

Shen Wan said, "It's just a sprain. I can just apply some medicine when I get back to the Prince's residence. Don't keep the Prince waiting."

Yinshuang said, "If Your Highness knew that the Empress summoned you to the palace to find Imperial Chef Li to make dragon beard candy for Princess Jin, he would definitely be very angry..."

Shen Wan then said, "You mustn't tell the Prince about this. If he asks, just say that the Empress summoned me to the palace because she was concerned about his illness. Do you understand?!"

Yinshuang nodded, "This servant has remembered."

Yinshuang helped Shenwan limp towards the horse parking area, where they boarded a carriage and left the palace. Meanwhile, a young eunuch hurried into the imperial study.