Chapter 48: Sharing the Evening Meal

Inside the Crown Prince’s sleeping quarters.

Shu Ruohua looked at Consort Jing’s departing figure with deep sympathy in her eyes.

In her heart, she clicked her tongue in amazement: Truly, serving the emperor is like dancing with a tiger—absolutely terrifying.

Xiao Che frowned. “What are you staring at?”

Shu Ruohua didn’t hear him at all and was still lost in her own thoughts.

She absolutely must keep her distance from Xiao Che from now on. He’s far too dangerous.

At her side, Qian Ning had already tugged on her sleeve several times. “Miss, Miss.”

Shu Ruohua finally came back to her senses and whispered, “What is it?”

Qian Ning’s face was full of helplessness, and her gaze flicked toward the Crown Prince.

Shu Ruohua immediately felt a chill run down her spine.

She instinctively turned to look in Xiao Che’s direction.

His expression looked even more unpleasant than when he had driven Consort Jing away earlier.

“You came to bring Gu his dinner, or are you sleepwalking?” he asked coldly.

No matter how he looked at her, she seemed like someone who was sleepwalking. He had called her multiple times, yet she acted like he didn’t exist.

Shu Ruohua choked on her words. “I… no, no, I—I most definitely came to bring Your Highness your dinner.”

She stammered as she forced a smile.

Xiao Che remained expressionless, his dark eyes furrowed in displeasure.

Shu Ruohua stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do next…

Thankfully, Eunuch Lin reminded her, “Your Ladyship, you should serve His Highness some food.”

Shu Ruohua: “…”

Only then did she remember that she held the position of the Crown Prince’s lesser consort.

She immediately stepped to his side, picking up some food as she said, “Your Highness, please try this—it’s freshly harvested potatoes from today.”

Only then did a trace of warmth return to Xiao Che’s face.

He tasted a bite of the shredded potatoes. Indeed, the fresh potatoes were quite delicious.

He was just about to eat more when something occurred to him.

Without changing his expression or even looking at Shu Ruohua, he asked, “You… have you eaten yet?”

He had only just returned to the palace quarters when Shu Ruohua showed up. Judging by the time, she probably hadn’t eaten yet.

At first, Shu Ruohua didn’t even realize he was speaking to her.

When no one else responded after a long moment, she finally realized Xiao Che was asking her.

“I…” She was about to say that she had already eaten.

After all, she had just witnessed what happened to Consort Jing.

If she wanted to stay safe right now, the best move would be to say she had eaten, serve him quickly, and get out of there as soon as possible.

However…

Before she could finish speaking, Qian Ning suddenly spoke up. “Replying to the Crown Prince: My lady was so anxious to see Your Highness that she rushed over without eating.”

Shu Ruohua: “…”

Was this the monkey who invited a pig teammate?

Xiao Che looked up at Eunuch Lin. “Prepare dinner. Gu will dine with the Crown Princess.”

Eunuch Lin immediately acknowledged the command.

Shu Ruohua: “…”

It felt like a massive stone had suddenly crushed her. Her whole body felt burdened and oppressed.

Before even half a cup of tea’s time had passed, nearly twenty maids carrying dishes walked in through the doorway.

Shu Ruohua had never seen such a scene before and stood there dumbfounded.

Eunuch Lin was about to instruct them to place the dishes on the table.

But there were far too many—more than twenty dishes.

Shu Ruohua quickly waved them off. “No, no, just—just a few will do…”

She frowned, her expression clearly reading: I can’t take this anymore.

Eunuch Lin looked at Xiao Che in slight dilemma. Xiao Che gave a small nod to signal his approval.

In the end, only four dishes—personally selected by Shu Ruohua—were left.

Four dishes for two people, she felt, were more than enough.

No need to waste food.

But the rest of the meal was so stifling for Shu Ruohua.

From the moment she sat down to when she began eating, Xiao Che didn’t say a single word.

Shu Ruohua wanted to find something to talk about with him, but she was afraid one wrong word would provoke Xiao Che’s displeasure—and then she’d really be doomed.

So, in the end, she could only keep her head down and eat her rice silently.

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(End of Chapter)