Chapter 45 – Shut Out at the Door

“Yes, he got scared by a cabbage worm just now, started gagging, and then left.”

Shu Ruohua responded absentmindedly.

Her entire attention was on the cabbage worms on the potato leaves. She had to get rid of them as soon as possible—otherwise, the potatoes would suffer.

Qian Ning: “…”

Ever since Shu Ruohua had woken up, Qian Ning noticed that her temperament had completely changed. She had no interest in competing for favor whatsoever.

But she never would’ve imagined that her young lady would actually drive the Crown Prince away!

At this rate, when would they ever be able to move out of the Cold Fragrance Pavilion?

She looked at Shu Ruohua helplessly, her gaze filled with the same disappointment as a mother looking at a hopeless child.

The Crown Prince must have been truly upset tonight—why else would he leave?

After thinking about it for a long while, she decided she couldn’t just sit around and wait anymore. She needed to help her young lady take the initiative.

She ran to the kitchen, packed a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes and some rice into a food box, then brought it to the backyard to find Shu Ruohua.

In the backyard—

Shu Ruohua had just finished catching bugs and was getting ready to go back in for dinner.

Qian Ning ran over and shoved the food box into her hands. “Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince left without dinner. He must be angry with you. I think you should personally deliver this meal to him.”

Shu Ruohua nearly choked. “You want me to bring him dinner?”

Qian Ning nodded solemnly.

She was about to add something else—“I believe that…”

But Shu Ruohua suddenly cut her off.

At that moment, she felt like a whole flock of crows had flown over her head.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she sighed, “Alright, stop talking. I’ll go!!”

Qian Ning had been about to nag endlessly—like an old woman’s never-ending foot cloth, long and stinky. Shu Ruohua had no desire to listen to all that.

…

At the same time, in the Crown Prince’s residence—

Eunuch Lin had assumed Xiao Che would be dining at Cold Fragrance Pavilion, so he hadn’t prepared any dinner.

Now, he was on night duty outside the hall.

Xiao Che suddenly returned, and his expression didn’t look good.

Eunuch Lin hurried over to greet him respectfully.

Xiao Che ignored him completely and walked inside with a cold, blank expression.

Seeing this, Eunuch Lin didn’t dare say a word.

But logically speaking, at this hour, Xiao Che should’ve been eating at Cold Fragrance Pavilion.

Could he have argued with the Crown Princess?

Eunuch Lin waited outside the door for quite a while, until he thought Xiao Che might’ve calmed down a bit. He was just about to go in and ask whether His Highness wanted dinner…

…when Shu Ruohua and Qian Ning appeared.

Eunuch Lin immediately stopped what he was doing and stepped forward to greet her. “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Although the Empress had already stripped Shu Ruohua of her title, Xiao Che had never acknowledged or enforced it himself.

So Eunuch Lin still treated her with utmost respect.

Besides, Xiao Che had been frequently visiting Cold Fragrance Pavilion lately—Eunuch Lin definitely didn’t dare neglect her.

“Please rise, Eunuch Lin,” Shu Ruohua responded. “May I trouble you to inform His Highness that I’ve brought him dinner?”

Eunuch Lin bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”

He hurried inside to report.

At that moment, Xiao Che was reading a military manual.

Whenever he was in a bad mood, he would read military strategy. He believed the tactics in those books could help him regain emotional control.

Eunuch Lin entered and respectfully bowed. “Your Highness, the Crown Princess has arrived. She says she’s brought you dinner.”

Xiao Che’s black eyes tightened slightly as they remained fixed on the page.

“Not seeing her.”

His voice was icy and sharp.

Eunuch Lin had rarely seen him like this before. That tone startled him so badly he gave a little shiver.

He didn’t dare ask further and quickly backed out.

Outside the hall—

When Shu Ruohua learned that Xiao Che refused to see her, she couldn’t have been happier.

Of course, though she was delighted, she couldn’t show it.

She could only turn with a sigh and say dejectedly to Qian Ning, “Let’s go, then!”

Qian Ning: “…”

“Miss, His Highness is clearly angry with you! You can’t leave now!”

If her young lady really left now, the Crown Prince would probably get even angrier.

Shu Ruohua was about to argue—

Eunuch Lin suddenly interjected, “Your Highness, please don’t worry. The Crown Prince is simply upset for the moment. If you’ll wait just a bit longer, this old servant will go back in and try to persuade him again.”

Before Shu Ruohua could respond, Eunuch Lin had already gone back inside.

Shu Ruohua: “…”

…

(End of Chapter)