Chapter 40: Being spoiled and arrogant (more)

Chang Liang Di raised her eyes and glanced at Xu Liang Yuan, whose attitude was even more arrogant than her. She glanced at Shen Feng Yi again and saw that she was eating grapes, one grape at a time...

Chang Liangdi didn't know whether His Highness would stay with her tonight. In order to avoid embarrassment, she planned to take over and leave herself a way out. However, before she could open her mouth, the quick-talking Li Liangyuan took over.

"Need I say this? Today is Sister Chang's birthday, and His Highness must accompany Sister Chang. As for Sister Shen," Li Liangyuan smiled and looked at Shen Fengyi: "Sister Shen will not compete with Sister Chang for His Highness, right?"

Li Liangyuan's words were meant to remind Shen Fengyi that even if His Highness doted on her, she should not compete with Chang Liangdi for favor at this time.

Everyone looked at Shen Fengyi, and they were all looking forward to how she would answer.

Shen Chuwei's mind was on food, and she didn't care what they were talking about at all. Naturally, she didn't hear Li Liangyuan directing her anger at her.

After eating the grapes and cherries, she couldn't help but praise in her heart that Chang Liangdi was worthy of being the apple of Xiao Jinyan's eye, and the fruits in the palace were always fresh.

Think about her Xiyun Pavilion. She has been there for half a year and hasn't seen any fruit peels or even the shadow of any fruit.

Chunxi understood what Li Liangyuan meant. He lowered his eyes and watched his master concentrating on eating. He pretended to be deaf and dumb and did not remind him so as not to put his master in a dilemma.

Tao Chenghui glanced at Shen Fengyi, smiled, lowered his eyes and drank his tea, without reminding him.

Li Liangyuan waited for Shen Fengyi's answer, but she saw her lowering her head to eat and ignoring her completely. The smile on her face froze.

She was a little unhappy: "Shen Fengyi?"

Shen Chuwei raised his head and looked at Li Liangyuan, looking expectant, "Is the feast about to begin?"

"..." Li Liangyuan: "How can we start the feast when His Highness hasn't arrived yet?"

"Oh, then let's wait a little longer." Shen Chuwei was not in a hurry and continued eating the cherries.

Li Liangyuan's face looked a little unhappy. Isn't it just relying on the favor of His Highness? She doesn't take anyone seriously.

Not only Li Liangyuan thought so, most people present thought so. Even the little palace maid standing guard nearby felt that Shen Fengyi was being arrogant because of his favor and didn't even take Chang Liangdi seriously.

Xu Liangyuan had long guessed that Shen Fengyi was pretending to be stupid by eating, but she was also very curious whether His Highness would stay in Xinlan Palace or go to Xiyun Pavilion tonight?

Another half hour passed, and there was still no sign of His Highness.

Shen Chuwei had almost finished the tea and fruit in front of her when she realized that His Highness had not arrived yet.

Tao Chenghui saw that the fruit plate in front of Shen Fengyi was empty, so he brought his own fruit plate to her and said, "Sister Shen, I still have some here, you can eat first."

Tao Chenghui came to Xiyun Pavilion the most often, and Shen Chuwei became quite familiar with her. She smiled and said, "Thank you, Sister Tao."

Tao Chenghui smiled and said, "We are sisters, you are welcome."

Shen Chuwei was not polite either, took the fruit plate and continued eating.

Everyone has been waiting for so long, and they can't help but wonder whether His Highness will come?

"Why hasn't Your Highness come yet? Did you forget?"

"Today is Chang Liangdi's birthday. Your Highness will not forget it."

"It's past dinner time. Will His Highness not come?"

Chang Liang Di looked around but didn't see His Highness coming. She listened to the discussion below, clutching her handkerchief with her little hands, and whispered to Dong Mei, "Go ask."

"Yes." Dongmei left Xinlan Palace and trotted to the prince's bedroom.

Seeing Eunuch Liu outside the study, she asked anxiously, "Eunuch Liu, today is Chang Liangdi's birthday, and we are waiting for His Highness to start the feast."

"Miss Dongmei, His Highness is busy with important matters and can't go for a while."

Dongmei was so anxious that she was running around in circles. "But Chang Liangdi and the ladies are all waiting. Can you please ask Eunuch Liu to inform them?"

"Then let's go in and ask." Eunuch Liu pushed open the study door and went in.

Wen Chengjun and Yang Qing stopped talking when they saw Eunuch Liu come in.

"Your Highness, someone from Xinlan Palace asked when you will be there." Eunuch Liu asked.

Xiao Jinyan picked up the teacup and took two sips, then replied calmly, "Tell her that I will be there later, so let them eat first."

"Yes." After coming out, Eunuch Liu relayed His Highness' words to Dongmei, but he was very tactful.

"When His Highness is done with his work, he will go over to celebrate Chang Liangdi's birthday."

After Eunuch Liu said this, Dongmei felt embarrassed to urge him any further, so she had to return to Xinlan Palace and relay His Highness' words to Chang Liangdi.

"Don't worry, my lady. His Highness will be here later."

Chang Liang Di was relieved when she learned that His Highness would come. She looked at everyone with a smile on her face, "His Highness is busy with official duties and will come later. Sisters, please have your meal first."

After Chang Liangdi gave the order, the palace maids began to prepare the dishes, put them into the running water, and serve the dishes with the water.

"I told you, how could Your Highness forget Chang Liang Di's birthday?"

"Your Highness is so busy, yet he still takes time out to celebrate Chang Liang Di's birthday. This is something the sisters envy."

It was Shen Chuwei's first time to attend a buffet. When she heard the meal start, she couldn't wait to pick up her chopsticks, her eyes fixed on the food that was flying towards her. Everyone was busy fawning over Chang Liangdi, so the food was hardly touched. She picked up the food and put it in her bowl and ate it slowly.

When the meeting was almost over, the shrill voice of Eunuch Liu was heard: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

When the women heard that the prince was coming, some of them looked in the mirror, some of them put on makeup, some of them straightened their clothes, all wanting to let the prince see their most beautiful side.

Among them, except Shen Chuwei, she was reluctant to put down her chopsticks and kept picking up dishes and putting them into her bowl.

"May your highness be blessed with good health."

When everyone had paid their respects to Xiao Jinyan, Shen Chuwei squatted silently at the back, still chewing a four-happiness meatball in her mouth.

Xiao Jinyan appeared in Xinlan Palace wearing a black satin robe. He lowered his eyes and glanced at everyone. His sight fell on a pink figure. Even with his head lowered, he could see that her cheeks were bulging, indicating that she was eating something secretly.

"Get up." Xiao Jinyan retracted his gaze and sat down in the first seat.

The ladies took their seats one by one.

Chang Liangdi sat on Xiao Jinyan's right.

Shen Chuwei sat back in her seat. Her seat was quite far away from Xiao Jinyan, so she was not afraid of being discovered while eating.

Xiao Jinyan said calmly: "Today is Chang Liangdi's birthday. I was busy with official duties and came a little late."

Chang Liang Di smiled gently: "Your Highness can come to celebrate my birthday, I am already overjoyed."

"This is a birthday gift I prepared for you."

As soon as Xiao Jinyan finished speaking, Eunuch Liu presented him with an exquisite brocade box.

"Sister Chang, please open it and let the sisters open their eyes."

"I'm really curious about what gift His Highness has prepared for Sister Chang. Sister Chang, please let the sisters have a look."

"The gift Your Highness prepared is definitely unique."

Xu Liangyuan stared at the brocade box curiously for a few seconds, and felt that it looked familiar.