Shen Yuewei did not completely abandon her shop while taking care of the Crown Prince. She would still spend one or two hours each day at "Jinwei Ji" to handle affairs, but the time was shorter, and she was always accompanied by guards disguised as shop assistants arranged by the Crown Prince.

That day, she was checking the accounts of a newly arrived batch of Shu brocade in the back room. Her back was a little sore, so she leaned back in her chair to rest for a while. Manager Wang came in quietly, his face showing a hint of solemnity and respect: "Boss, there is an eunuch outside... who says he is from the palace and wants to see you."

The palace? Shen Yuewei's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly sat up straight. Could it be the Empress's side? Or...? She immediately thought of Xiao Chengjing's injury!

She composed herself, straightened her clothes, and, supported by Chun Tao, walked to the front of the shop. There, she saw a middle-aged eunuch in palace attire, with a fair complexion and no beard, standing with his hands behind his back, surveying the shop's furnishings. His demeanor was composed, his eyes sharp, and he was followed by two unassuming attendants. The atmosphere inside the shop was somewhat tense.

"This humble woman, Shen Yuewei, greets Your Excellency." Shen Yuewei stepped forward and curtsied respectfully. She was unsure of the other party's identity, but since he was a visitor from the palace, she had to be mindful of proper etiquette.

The eunuch turned around, his gaze lingering for a moment on Shen Yuewei's noticeably protruding belly. His expression was complex before he revealed a seemingly warm but scrutinizing smile: "Miss Shen, there's no need for such formalities. My family name is Li. I have come to Jiangnan on His Majesty's orders to visit His Highness the Crown Prince and... to extend my greetings to Miss Shen."

The Emperor's people! Shen Yuewei's heart trembled, but she tried her best to remain calm: "I am grateful for Your Majesty's concern. I am terrified. Your Highness the Crown Prince..." She carefully chose her words.

"His Majesty is aware of His Highness's injuries and is furious, ordering a thorough investigation!" Eunuch Li's tone turned cold, carrying the oppressive weight of imperial authority. "His Majesty instructed me to tell His Highness to rest and recover peacefully. The matter of Jiangnan will be decided by His Majesty! As for Miss Shen..." His gaze fell again on Shen Yuewei's abdomen, his tone softening slightly, "His Majesty said that His Highness's offspring are the foundation of the nation. Miss Shen has rendered meritorious service in protecting him, and should also take good care of herself and focus on her pregnancy. These are the medicinal herbs His Majesty has bestowed upon Miss Shen to aid in her pregnancy and nourish her body." With a wave of his hand, an attendant behind him presented a tray covered with bright yellow silk.

"This commoner kowtows to express her gratitude to Your Majesty!" Shen Yuewei hurriedly knelt down to thank the Emperor, her heart filled with turmoil. The Emperor not only knew of the Crown Prince's injury but also of her pregnancy! Furthermore, he explicitly stated, "Your Highness's offspring are the foundation of the nation!" This was both a reassurance and a warning! It meant that she and her child were completely exposed to the Emperor's gaze, with no way out!

Eunuch Li offered a helping hand, saying, "Miss Shen, please rise. I must go visit His Highness, so I won't trouble you any longer." He gave Shen Yuewei a deep look, his eyes seeming to say: Take care of yourself. Then he turned and left with his men.

The emperor's gift was treasured by Zhang Mama, who meticulously prepared it daily according to the imperial physician's prescription, adding it to Shen Yuewei's medicine and meals. The medicinal herbs were of excellent quality, making the resulting soups less bitter and more nourishing. Shen Yuewei's complexion visibly improved, and the baby in her womb became increasingly lively and energetic.

What made Shen Yuewei both amused and exasperated was that Xiao Chengjing seemed to have gotten an "inspiration" from it. Although he was recuperating from his injuries, he began to pay extra "attention" to Shen Yuewei's diet. One afternoon, Shen Yuewei had just returned from her work at "Jinwei Ji" when she saw Xiao Chengjing leaning against the couch, with several plates of exquisite pastries on the small table in front of him, which vaguely resembled the imperial cuisine of the palace.

"You're back?" Xiao Chengjing looked up and gestured for her to sit down. "Try it. I had someone make it according to the imperial kitchen's recipe, saying it's good for pregnant women." His tone was calm, but his eyes held a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

Looking at the exquisite lotus-shaped pastries and the soft, sweet jujube and yam cakes, Shen Yuewei felt a warmth in her heart, yet also a touch of helplessness. She picked up a lotus-shaped pastry; its crispness and sweetness were truly incomparable to ordinary street snacks. "It's delicious, thank you for your trouble, Your Highness." She paused, looking at his still pale face, "But... Your Highness should focus on recovering from your injuries; there's no need to trouble yourself with such trivial matters."

"I have nothing to do." Xiao Chengjing took a sip of tea, his gaze falling on her satisfied expression. "I'm glad you're happy."