She looked at Xiao Xueying with pity, but said nothing.

*

After Consort Xiao and the other two left, Shen Youying felt a bit listless.

After taking a bath and changing her clothes, she skipped lunch and went to catch up on her sleep.

When she woke up from her afternoon nap, she realized that someone had appeared next to her at some point—Xue Shen was sitting beside her, reading a military book.

The servants who were serving in the room were all sent out. When it was just the two of them, he no longer bothered to pretend. He propped up one long leg, making him look very casual and relaxed.

Shen Youying huddled under the covers, scrutinizing him, when she suddenly remembered the words the Crown Princess had once spoken.

Xue Shen in his youth must have been just as carefree, unconventional, and unrestrained.

Shen Youying looked at him and shrank her face further into the quilt.

Xue Shen noticed she was awake, turned his head to her side, and asked gently, "Awake? Are you thirsty? Danzhu said you didn't have lunch?"

The gentler he was, the more distressed Shen Youying felt, her mind filled with the words of Madam Yao.

If the two of them had gone from acquaintances to lovers, she could openly express the knot in her heart; but unfortunately, her intimacy with Xue Shen had only lasted a few days. Sometimes, Shen Youying couldn't even tell whether his gentleness towards her stemmed from liking her or simply from satisfaction with her body.

Moreover, she knew before she married into the family that his harem was never short of beautiful women, and she never expected to be with him for life. Now she has no right to say anything more.

Shen Youying suppressed her emotions, convinced herself to hide all her grievances and sadness, and shook her head with a smile: "Well, I didn't have much of an appetite at noon."