Chapter 26: A Bowl of Porridge

From the look on Eunuch Lin’s face, it was clear he didn’t know how Shu Ruohua was doing.

Come to think of it, it had indeed been several days since he last visited Lengfeng Pavilion.

Without wasting any more words with Eunuch Lin, he stood up and headed straight outside.

Startled, Eunuch Lin quickly chased after him. “Your Highness, where are you going?”

The Crown Prince hadn’t eaten much the whole day, and now he was leaving again without food. Eunuch Lin was flustered, not knowing what was going on.

Xiao Che didn’t respond.

His figure disappeared from Eunuch Lin’s sight in the blink of an eye.

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In Lengfeng Pavilion.

Shu Ruohua had originally planned to plant vegetables the next day.

But this afternoon, she simply couldn’t hold back her industrious spirit and dragged Qian Ning out to the backyard to plant chives.

Just thinking of chive dumplings made her mouth water.

Qian Ning approached carrying a small bowl of rice porridge and a plate of shredded potatoes.

Because Shu Ruohua had been trying to lose weight recently, she only drank porridge at each meal.

Naturally, the plate of shredded potatoes became Qian Ning’s side dish.

The two were just about to eat.

Suddenly, a man in a light blue robe entered their view.

“Skin like jade, elegant brows and bright eyes, gaze deep as a pool, tall and handsome.”

Staring at the man, Shu Ruohua muttered her evaluation aloud.

By the time she finished, the man had already walked up to them.

“It’s you?!”

The moment she recognized Xiao Che, she stood up in surprise.

In the past, every time Xiao Che came, he was dressed in black nightwear. The sudden change in his attire caught Shu Ruohua completely off guard.

At the same time, Qian Ning had already stepped aside to greet him properly.

Xiao Che waved his hand slightly, signaling her to rise.

But his gaze remained fixed on Shu Ruohua.

He didn’t know why, but today Shu Ruohua seemed different from usual—though he couldn’t quite say what was different.

Seeing how startled she was by his appearance, his lips curved slightly. “No need for formalities. Sit.”

He spoke in all seriousness, face devoid of any expression.

Shu Ruohua: “…”

All she had done was stand up in surprise—who gave him the impression she was going to bow?!

Forget it. She couldn’t be bothered with him.

She plopped back into her seat and continued sipping her porridge.

Xiao Che, making himself completely at home, sat down on a nearby stool.

He picked up the bowl that had been prepared for Qian Ning and held it out toward Shu Ruohua.

“A bowl of porridge.”

Shu Ruohua: “Huh?”

Mid-sip, she nearly sprayed her porridge out.

Her instincts screamed: Did I just hallucinate?

But Xiao Che still held the bowl in front of her.

Shu Ruohua didn’t respond for a long time.

Seeing this, Qian Ning hurriedly whispered to her, “Miss, Miss…”

The Crown Prince coming to Lengfeng Pavilion for a meal—this was something unprecedented!

Surely her mistress had gone silly with joy and needed a little nudge back to her senses.

However…

After staring blankly at Xiao Che for a moment, Shu Ruohua’s mind suddenly conjured an image of a chick snatching food from others.

He’s such a high-ranking official, surely he’s not short on money. And yet he comes here to fight over food with me?

This is outrageous!

But then again, he had helped her before, and the rice was his to begin with.

If she didn’t give him porridge now, he’d probably call her stingy.

But if she gave it to him… honestly, she just couldn’t bear it.

So…

She decided to pretend she hadn’t heard.

Lowering her head, she continued drinking her porridge.

She let out a long breath, then quietly exhaled and started gulping down her porridge in big slurps.

She made it look as if it were the most delicious thing in the world.

She completely ignored the bowl Xiao Che still held in front of her.

Xiao Che: “…”

He was speechless at how fiercely Shu Ruohua guarded her food.

Honestly, he asked himself—had he treated her badly lately?

Why is this woman so stingy?!!

…
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(End of Chapter)