Chapter 32: The Deal

Shu Ruohua beamed with a sweet smile.

While observing Xiao Che’s expression, she flattered him profusely.

Xiao Che remained expressionless the entire time.

Raising her brows alluringly, Shu Ruohua teased, “Well then, once the vegetables start growing, you can come eat whenever you like. I won’t be stingy at all.”

Xiao Che sneered, “Heh~”

He hadn’t expected someone as stingy as Shu Ruohua to offer food as a bargaining chip.

The corners of his lips curled slightly. “Are you trying to make a deal with me?”

Shu Ruohua, “…”

She did her best to calm the fury rising in her heart. If I weren’t afraid of you tattling, who would want to make a deal with you?!

She forced a smile onto her face.

“How can this be considered a deal?”

“I’m sincerely inviting you to come eat.”

“Homegrown vegetables are much fresher than the ones you buy. I bet you’ve never had anything like it!”

Xiao Che let out another cold laugh.

“If you’re that sincere, then let’s start tonight.”

As he spoke, he deliberately turned to Qian Ning and said, “Prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks for dinner.”

Qian Ning’s face immediately lit up with joy. “Yes, Your Highness!”

Finally, the Crown Prince is going to dote on her lady!

After giving Shu Ruohua one last glance, Xiao Che turned and left.

Shu Ruohua, “…”

Wait, what did she just say?

She clearly said after the vegetables were grown, then he could come eat—didn’t she?

How did it become starting tonight?!

“AHHH!!!” she shouted in frustration.

Xiao Che was clearly doing it on purpose. He knew perfectly well there was hardly any food at Lengfeng Pavilion, yet he still insisted on coming to compete with her for food.

Shameless!

Watching his retreating figure in the distance, she wished she could slap him with a slipper.

Not far away, a faint trace of a smile flashed in Xiao Che’s eyes.

…

By the time they had finished planting all the vegetables, it was already noon.

Somehow, word of the Crown Prince spending the night at Lengfeng Pavilion had spread throughout the entire Eastern Palace.

Even Side Consort Yang, who was under house arrest, had heard the news.

She secretly swore that once she was free, she would never let that vixen Shu Ruohua off the hook.

In Liuli Hall—

Side Consort Jing nearly exploded with rage when she heard.

Recalling how the Crown Prince had only taken her along during the royal hunt, she had believed herself to be his favorite.

But that lowly Shu Ruohua—what kind of witchcraft did she use? Even after being thrown into the Cold Palace, she was still trying to steal the Crown Prince from her.

She bit her lower lip. The Crown Prince must have been bewitched by Shu Ruohua.

No, she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

She summoned Qiu Yue.

Telling her to prepare some pastries, she was determined to go to the Crown Prince today and remind him of her presence—before Shu Ruohua could seduce him away completely.

In the main hall—

After a simple lunch, Xiao Che was reading a book.

Eunuch Lin entered, “Your Highness, Side Consort Jing has arrived.”

Xiao Che’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. “Let her in.”

Eunuch Lin replied, “Yes.”

Soon, Side Consort Jing walked in.

She bowed gracefully to the Crown Prince, then took the pastry box from her maid Qiu Yue and slowly approached Xiao Che.

“Your Highness, I made these pastries myself. Would you like to try one?”

She smiled gently and took out the pastries.

Just as she was about to hand them to him, Xiao Che suddenly rejected them. “I don’t like pastries.”

The smile on Side Consort Jing’s face froze instantly.

All the concubines in the Eastern Palace knew the Crown Prince disliked the harem.

He had never touched a single concubine. Even the Crown Princess, to whom he had been married for two years, had never been touched.

But ever since the royal hunt, everyone believed that the Crown Prince favored Side Consort Jing.

That she would soon be summoned to share his bed and become the most powerful woman in the Eastern Palace.

Side Consort Jing had believed that too.

Until now…

In front of everyone in the main hall, the Crown Prince had just said he didn’t like pastries.

But the implication was clear to all—

The Crown Prince simply didn’t like her pastries.

…

(End of Chapter)