Shen Xihe felt stifled hearing his words, yet somehow felt he made sense, leaving her momentarily unable to react and standing helplessly on the spot.

Though Xiao Huayong couldn’t see, he could sense the stagnant atmosphere around Shen Xihe. He quickly softened his tone: “I… I just want you to treat me better…”

Looking at the dejected Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe reflected on how this person always managed to make her appear like a heartless, unfaithful lover.

Yet he still had a bunch of twisted logic: “I’ve suffered such serious injuries, yet Youyou remains so cold to me. In the past, Youyou frequently visited the Eastern Palace. If someone said Youyou was heartless toward me, others wouldn’t believe it. Why is it that now when I’m so gravely injured, Youyou remain unmoved? Others will surely doubt whether my injuries are real.”

Shen Xihe: …

Fine, she supposed this was a case of lifting a rock only to drop it on her foot. Her previous courtesy and visits to the Eastern Palace had now become his reason to demand favors. If it hadn’t been her own choice, Shen Xihe would have suspected he had been plotting since then!

“What does Your Highness want?” Shen Xihe asked with an implicit warning.

Hearing Shen Xihe’s cold tone, Xiao Huayong didn’t dare push too far, only testing the boundaries of her tolerance: “I want to eat Youyou’s wontons.”

Just cooking a meal, that was within her acceptable range. Shen Xihe had just turned and taken a step when she heard him say from behind: “Youyou, the kitchen in Yong’an Palace is full of mixed company. Whether Youyou put in effort or not, everyone will see.”

Shen Xihe: …

Was he afraid she would carelessly make him some simple noodles to brush him off?

He probably didn’t know how meticulous her standards for food were. When outside, she might compromise due to limitations. Otherwise, even a bowl of simple noodles made by her had to be perfect in appearance, aroma, and taste.

Xiao Huayong hadn’t lied to Shen Xihe – Yong’an Palace’s kitchen was indeed crowded. This was because the Empress Dowager hadn’t been in the palace for several years. However, as she was the Empress Dowager, the Emperor’s birth mother, no one would plot against her. The Empress Dowager also couldn’t be bothered to strictly manage them, preferring to let them keep each other in check while she enjoyed her peace, avoiding giving the impression of disliking anyone and causing trouble.

The kitchen in Yong’an Palace was well-stocked with ingredients. After arriving, Shen Xihe selected ingredients and had servants clean them, instructed the noodle specialist to knead the dough, while she prepared the fillings herself.

She also wanted to eat wontons, so she made Twenty-Four Seasonal wontons – twenty-four different fillings, and twenty-four different folding patterns.

While making the wontons, her irritation gradually dissipated. Thinking about how much effort he had put in just to get a bowl of food, and how he was, after all, the Crown Prince – it wasn’t easy for him either. So she became increasingly focused on her cooking and made a portion for the Empress Dowager too.

The palace chefs were skilled too, but seeing Shen Xihe’s familiar technique and how each wonton she made was perfectly round and appealing, they couldn’t help but marvel.

Due to the many people and loose tongues in Yong’an Palace, before the wontons could even be cooked and served to Xiao Huayong, news that Princess Zhaoning had thoughtfully made Twenty-Four Seasonal wontons for the Crown Prince had grown wings and flown to every corner of the palace.

Emperor Youning had just finished handling state affairs and was inquiring about the progress of Princess Yangling’s case and Xiao Huayong’s poisoning when he heard this news. He decided to temporarily set aside the cases with no leads and came to Yong’an Palace with Liu Sanzhi.

When Shen Xihe brought the wontons, she saw the Emperor was there too.

“The Emperor and I are fortunate today to benefit from Seventh Son’s luck and taste Zhaoning’s cooking,” the Empress Dowager teased.

Shen Xihe had made four portions, anticipating unexpected situations, and sure enough, here was the unexpected situation.

The wontons, each with different shapes and different fillings, created anticipation as people ate them, eager to taste what filling was in each one. The Empress Dowager and Emperor ate with continuous praise.

Things weren’t going so smoothly on the Crown Prince’s side. He couldn’t see, and the servants attending him seemed to lack coordination, often missing his mouth or holding things too close, frequently causing him to accidentally knock things over. Emperor Youning watched with furrowed brows.

Shen Xihe wasn’t sure if Xiao Huayong was deliberately acting blind for the Emperor, so she silently ate a few more.

After Xiao Huayong knocked another wonton into his bowl, Emperor Youning finally said sternly: “How are you serving? If you can’t even properly attend to your master, what use are you?”

In the Emperor’s anger, guards, servants, and palace maids all dropped to their knees simultaneously, not daring to breathe.

“Your Majesty, please calm down,” Xiao Huayong spoke weakly. “It’s because I suddenly lost my sight and they haven’t adjusted yet. It’s all my fault, Your Majesty shouldn’t blame them.”

Since Xiao Huayong spoke up, Emperor Youning had to wave his hand to dismiss them. He turned as if to select someone to serve Xiao Huayong.

Seeing this, Shen Xihe stood up: “Let me.”

She had a small appetite and was already full after eating a few wontons, having finished her small bowl.

The corners of Xiao Huayong’s lips immediately turned up imperceptibly despite his covered eyes. Seeing this, Shen Xihe deeply felt he had done it deliberately!

With Shen Xihe feeding him, Xiao Huayong suddenly became very cooperative, eating perfectly every time.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager smiled: “Zhaoning knows how to take care of people. I’ll entrust Seventh Son to Zhaoning these days.”

Shen Xihe: …

So, did this mean she would have to go to the Eastern Palace every day to take care of Xiao Huayong? They couldn’t expect a blind person to come here, could they?

“The Empress Dowager’s trust, Zhaoning dares not fail to live up to,” Shen Xihe could only agree.

Turning her head, she saw Xiao Huayong’s smile grow deeper. She gave him a stern look but still finished feeding him the bowl of wontons.

Afterward, with the Empress Dowager’s entrustment, when Xiao Huayong needed to return to the Eastern Palace, he shamelessly asked for her accompaniment.

On the way, being supported by Tianyuan and the servants wouldn’t do – he either twisted his ankle or missed steps, making everyone anxious. After another stumble, Xiao Huayong said: “Youyou, could you support me? They aren’t careful enough…”

Tianyuan: …

I’m very attentive, Your Highness is just too calculating!

His deliberate actions were so obvious that even Hongyu and Zhenzhu could see through them, both holding back their laughter.

Shen Xihe stepped forward to support him, and he grabbed her hand, his rosy lips showing a triumphant smile.

As soon as they entered the Eastern Palace, Shen Xihe pushed him away and reached up to pull off the cloth covering his eyes: “Even the best medicine will harm the eyes if applied too long.”

Suddenly exposed to light again, Xiao Huayong smiled: “Don’t be angry, Youyou. I was just putting on a show for others. Shouldn’t we let them truly believe I’ve just gone blind? It will be better in a few days.”

Then he shamelessly asked: “How was my acting just now?”

“When it comes to acting, who in this world could compare to Your Highness?” Shen Xihe said with a cold smile. “That’s why I dare not trust Your Highness’s sincerity.”

Hearing this, Xiao Huayong still smiled: “Youyou is speaking in anger again. Acting is seen with the eyes, and true feelings are felt with the heart. Youyou… won’t you try feeling with your heart?”