Junxuan glanced at Shen Yunxi with a half-smile before looking away and picking up his chopsticks to reach for the snacks Shen Yunxi had made.

Shen Yunxi made three plates of snacks: peach blossom pastries, chestnut cakes, and candied sweet potatoes. They looked quite appealing and tempting. Junxuan's chopsticks immediately reached for the peach blossom pastries, mainly because the little peach blossoms looked so pretty that it made him want to try them.

One bite of the peach blossom pastry releases a delicate peach blossom fragrance that spreads throughout the mouth, its aroma lingering, subtly sweet but not cloying, and soft and fluffy.

"These little snacks are quite good; Miss Shen is very skillful," Junxuan said.

The Empress Dowager was delighted, knowing that Junxuan truly liked the pastries made by Shen Yunxi. After all, he didn't usually like these kinds of things, so a word of praise was a sign of his genuine appreciation.

"It seems that Yunxi is indeed skillful. I must try some too." The Empress Dowager also picked up a piece of peach blossom pastry with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, she was overwhelmed with the taste and her eyes lit up. "It is very delicious. Yunxi, what are you standing there for? Sit down quickly and have a taste."

Shen Yunxi paused, then smiled, "Your Majesty need not worry about Yunxi. Yunxi is not hungry yet. You and the Emperor can have your meal."

She was afraid that if she sat down to eat with Junxuan, she wouldn't be able to eat, or she would choke.

"Why are you being shy, girl? Sit down quickly, the Emperor won't mind." The Empress Dowager teased Shen Yunxi with a smile, genuinely believing that she was embarrassed.

In fact, Shen Yunxi wasn't embarrassed at all; she simply didn't want to dine at the same table as Junxuan, that was all.

Since the Empress Dowager had already spoken to this extent, it would be somewhat presumptuous for Shen Yunxi to refuse again. Helpless, she had no choice but to agree, "Yes, thank you Your Majesty, thank you Your Majesty."

"No need for thanks," Junxuan replied.

He had seen Shen Yunxi's expression just now; she seemed genuinely unwilling to sit down. When he arrived, she was still sitting with the Empress Dowager, so her current unwillingness must be because of him.

If Shen Yunxi approached him in a different way, he would have to admit that this method would indeed attract his attention more effectively.

Unfortunately, she was the Empress Dowager's person after all, so even if he had some ideas, he wouldn't change his original decision.

Shen Yunxi ate her meal as quickly as possible. Born into a noble family, she naturally adhered to the principle of not speaking while eating or sleeping. After finishing her meal, she immediately stood up and went to serve the Empress Dowager from behind.

If the Empress Dowager needed anything, she could prepare it for her immediately.

Junxuan ate his meal silently, his eyes fixed straight ahead, but in reality, his peripheral vision kept lingering on Shen Yunxi. He just wanted to know what Shen Yunxi was up to.

After the Empress Dowager finished eating, Granny Tian stepped forward to wipe her mouth, while Shen Yunxi helped the Empress Dowager walk towards the soft couch.

Junxuan put down his chopsticks, but all the snacks Shen Yunxi made today were eaten, most of them ending up in Junxuan's stomach. Meanwhile, a lot of the food prepared by the royal chef was left, so it seems he wasn't as popular as Shen Yunxi.

"Your Majesty, the pastries made by Yunxi today seem to suit your taste. If you like them, I will have her make some for you next time. What do you think?" the Empress Dowager asked tentatively.

If Junxuan agrees, it means he doesn't dislike Shen Yunxi that much, and Shen Yunxi will definitely still have a chance.

Before Junxuan could speak, Shen Yunxi interrupted him.

"Your Majesty is joking. The imperial chefs in the palace are all sourced from all over the country, and their pastries are far more delicious than Yunxi's. Your Majesty only thinks Yunxi's is good because you care about her; in fact, Yunxi's is only average. So, please don't let Yunxi send them to the Emperor. The Emperor respects you and wouldn't want to refuse, and Yunxi doesn't want to lose face," Shen Yunxi said with a charming smile.

It was indeed inappropriate to interrupt, but Shen Yunxi was unwilling to agree. If Junxuan really agreed out of respect for the Empress Dowager, that was not what she wanted to see.

Therefore, she could only interrupt Junxuan and tell him not to agree.

Junxuan gave Shen Yunxi a deep look, which made Shen Yunxi feel a little uneasy, as she felt that his gaze was strange.

Sure enough, Junxuan spoke the next moment.

"Miss Shen, there's no need for such modesty. The pastries you made today were indeed delicious; I've never tasted such good pastries before. If you make any more in your spare time, please have the Empress Dowager send some over to me. It's rare for me to have such a culinary desire," Jun Xuan said eloquently.

Shen Yunxi's smile was somewhat stiff. She really couldn't understand what Junxuan was thinking. He clearly loathed her, so why would he praise her in front of the Empress Dowager? She knew that Junxuan harbored resentment towards the Empress Dowager and therefore disliked her as well.

The Empress Dowager immediately smiled and said, "Since Your Majesty likes it, then if Yunxi makes it in the future, I will definitely have Xiao Anzi send a portion to Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty still have important matters to attend to? In that case, I will not keep you any longer. It is more important to attend to important matters. Yunxi, please see Your Majesty out for me. I want to rest for a while now, as I ate a bit too much for breakfast."

Shen Yunxi could tell at a glance that the Empress Dowager hadn't eaten much at all, yet she still asked her to escort Junxuan, clearly creating an opportunity for her.

There are some things that are really hard to say to the Empress Dowager now, otherwise the Empress Dowager will think that she is not a devoted person, and that she doesn't like Junxuan anymore after just one trip to Yanshantang.

But if this continues, who knows what the Empress Dowager might do to help.

For a moment, Shen Yunxi felt somewhat strained.

It seems the safest approach would be to speak to the Empress Dowager after some time has passed. This way, it could be said that after spending time together in the palace, Shen Yunxi discovered that Junxuan was not the ideal husband, thus causing the Empress Dowager to give up the idea of ​​matchmaking between her and Junxuan.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Shen Yunxi curtsied slightly. "Your Majesty, please."

Junxuan chuckled, got up and walked out the door, but he shortened his steps, as if to make sure Shen Yunxi could keep up with him.

Shen Yunxi followed behind Jun Xuan with her head down the whole way, without saying a word. She planned to send him out of the palace and come back, not wanting to take another step, so as not to make either of them feel uncomfortable.

Familiar roads and familiar people filled Shen Yunxi with mixed feelings, perhaps more of a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both emotion and reflection).

During her two-year stay in the palace, Shen Yunxi traversed every corner of the palace. Back when Jun Xuan personally led the army on a military campaign, she was bullied by other concubines, and she survived by walking step by step in the palace.

Unfortunately, he couldn't hold on until Jun-hyun returned.

Not being able to see him one last time became Shen Yunxi's obsession, but unexpectedly, on the day of her rebirth, this obsession disappeared.

Since we were never meant to be, it's better for us to each go our separate ways.

"Bang!"

While pondering, Shen Yunxi felt a jolt in her body, and her mind went blank.