1 Chapter 1: Becoming the Small Wife of the Crown Prince

"I've never seen such a foolish master, pushing the most favored Lady Chang into the water and angering His Highness the Crown Prince to such a degree, I'm afraid our days of receiving favor may be over,"

"What's the difference between Xiyun Pavilion and the Cold Palace? We servants will probably never see the light of day again. It's best to find a favored master while we can."

Shen Chuwei leaned lazily on the soft couch, listening to the two Palace Maids complain while she fed a cat with ham sausage.

Two months ago, the original body and Lady Chang fell into the water together, resulting in a high fever that never subsided, and she never woke up again, thus she became the original body.

The original body was the daughter born out of wedlock to Minister Shen, at the tender age of fifteen, she entered the palace with her legitimate elder sister, Shen Mingzhu. Officially, it was said they would support each other and share honor and disgrace.

But bluntly put, the original body was just a pawn for Shen Mingzhu, disposable cannon fodder at any time.

After entering the Imperial Palace, she tried to seduce His Highness the Crown Prince over and over again, hoping to win his favor with her beauty and turn her life around.

Unfortunately, the original body had beauty but not enough intelligence. Not only did she irritate His Highness the Crown Prince, but she also aroused Shen Mingzhu's suspicions of disloyalty.

Lady Chang was the favorite niece of the Empress, originally destined to be the Crown Princess, but due to the Celestial Observatory's night readings of the stars, which indicated that the Crown Prince should not take a wife at the time, Lady Chang was granted her title instead.

Shen Mingzhu, also a Lady, saw Lady Chang as her greatest competitor.

Thus leading to the original body pushing Lady Chang into the water, killing two birds with one stone.

Lady Chang became seriously ill from the incident and nearly lost her life.

Strangely enough, when the original body pushed Lady Chang into the water, she was labeled a jealous woman, and the crime of murder was as good as certain.

Although His Highness the Crown Prince was furious, he merely moved her to the remote Xiyun Pavilion, confining her for three months, and reduced her serving Palace Maids from four to two, leaving her with just a minor Eunuch for odd jobs.

Beyond that, there were no other punishments.

Even stranger, as eyewitnesses, Shen Mingzhu and Lady Xu both suffered confinement for one month, with three months' salary deducted.

Others might transmigrate into the role of a noble concubine or princess, enjoying wealth and leisure without a care in the world.

But she had transmigrated into a little cannon fodder with the same name and surname.

Thankfully, the Space was still there to store items.

It contained a fair amount of vegetable seeds, flower seeds, fruit tree saplings, hot pot base ingredients, and so on.

There was also a Spiritual Spring in the Space, the spring water not only promoted rapid plant growth but also had detoxifying properties.

Otherwise, there would be no joy in coming to the ancient times.

Shen Chuwei continued to tease the well-behaved cat, which was squinting its eyes, enjoying her feeding.

Those deep blue eyes, graceful bearing, and soft, glossy fur, it looked like a rare breed no matter how she looked at it, but Shen Chuwei automatically ignored this fact, treating it as a masterless stray cat～

In the inner court of the Imperial Palace, where the years were long, Shen Chuwei decided to keep the cat to pet and pass the time when bored.

"Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived," Chun Xi came running in, her eyes and brows smiling.

"So he's here, what are you so happy about?" Shen Chuwei slowly shifted her position.

"Master, His Highness the Crown Prince has come to see you, which means there's still a chance for you to win favor!"

"He has so many women, how many of them come here favored? What if he's here to pick a fight?"

Just as he reached the doorway, Xiao Jinyan heard precisely these words and his eyes darkened.

Shen Chuwei bent down and a pair of white boots with embroidered four-clawed dragon patterns and gold-trimmed edges entered her field of vision.

Looking up, she saw a plain satin robe, the hem outlined with gold thread, embroidered with dragon patterns.

Further up, her gaze collided with a pair of eyes as cold as ink, and she shivered involuntarily.

His eyes are so cold～

However, Crown Prince Xiao Jinyan was indeed a rare beauty, standing out with an exceptional figure.

His features were as delicate as a painting, his nose high and straight, his gaze restrained and aloof.

At nineteen, he radiated nobility and an aura that was entirely his own, instilling awe in those who saw him.

Crown Prince Xiao Jinyan looked down coldly at the woman putting on her shoes, "How do you plan to welcome this palace?"

Shen Chuwei, upon hearing the words, put on her shoes and knelt down to perform a salute, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, you manage myriad affairs every day, and yet you find time to visit this humble concubine, who is overjoyed beyond measure. Wish Your Highness, the Crown Prince, everlasting peace and safety."

As the saying goes, one can get through a thousand things, but flattery never fails.

Xiao Jinyan's brows furrowed slightly, "Have you seen a completely white cat?"

A completely white cat?

Could it be the one that always comes here looking for food?

Before Shen Chuwei could reply, an icy interrogative voice demanded, "What have you done to this palace's beloved pet?"

"Nothing much, just fed it some melon seeds and rice, a sausage..." Shen Chuwei looked up towards the low table, where the spirited cat from before now lay motionless.

As she was about to explain, she saw a figure flash before her eyes. Xiao Jinyan stood before the low table, lifting the limp cat to inspect its condition.

"You dare poison this palace's beloved pet?" Xiao Jinyan's face was dark as he looked at the audacious woman before him.

This cat, named Xuetuan, was Xiao Jinyan's cherished animal.

Lately, Xuetuan always liked to wander off, and it showed signs of lost appetite.

Xiao Jinyan had followed it discreetly today and discovered that Xuetuan made its way to Xiyun Pavilion.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, cats are so adorable and lovable; how could this humble concubine bear to harm it? I haven't even had enough time to enjoy its company! Perhaps the cat is just sleepy..."

She actually said Xuetuan was adorable and lovable?

Despite being a cat, Xuetuan is actually quite fierce, and no one aside from him could approach it.

"Are you implying that I have wronged you?"

An unfounded accusation falling upon her, Shen Chuwei's body trembled, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is wise and valiant, keen-eyed; you wouldn't let a villain off the hook, and you surely wouldn't wrongly accuse a good person."

Xiao Jinyan scoffed, "Guards, take Shen Fengyi to Xiaoxiang Pavilion."

Having been here for some time, Shen Chuwei knew all too well what Xiaoxiang Pavilion meant—adjacent to the Cold Palace, rumored to be haunted, so eerie that no one dared to go there even during broad daylight.

The main thing is, the strawberries she'd planted were just about to ripen in a couple of days. If she were taken to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, she'd miss out on them.

Even if she had to go, it wouldn't hurt to eat her fill of those strawberries before she did!

In her agitation, Shen Chuwei grabbed Xiao Jinyan's hand and found that his hands were truly large... and nice to touch~

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this place is quite remote, too. If you investigated and found the truth, and it truly was this humble concubine's doing, then it wouldn't be too late to send me to Xiaoxiang Pavilion."

Shen Chuwei spoke with tears streaming down her face.

Xiao Jinyan's voice was cold, "Release me at once."

Shen Chuwei blinked her pretty eyes, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, could you give me a few days' grace?"

Xiao Jinyan: "..."

Shen Chuwei continued to bargain, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, how about you punish this humble concubine with another month of house arrest instead? There are still palace maids and eunuchs in service to this concubine in the palace. If two were taken away, would that be satisfactory to you?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan hesitated, then glanced at the three kneeling servants before him and asked with a cold voice, "Which of you is willing to stay and accompany Shen Fengyi to Xiaoxiang Pavilion?"

Shen Fengyi had clashed with Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and even poisoned Your Highness's beloved pet. Once into Xiaoxiang Pavilion, there would be no turning back.

No, from the moment she pushed Lady Mingzhu into the water, her chances for favor had already dwindled to none.

Only a fool would choose to stay and enter Xiaoxiang Pavilion with Shen Fengyi, to suffer for a lifetime.

Chun Xi knocked her head on the floor, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this servant is willing to accompany my master to Xiaoxiang Pavilion."

Shen Chuwei was touched to tears, truly, adversity reveals true friendship!

Alright, from now on, I'll look after you!

...

...This is an imaginative historical fiction; all settings come from the whimsical mind of author Yun Si. Logic is abandoned! As light-hearted as a pet story!

Note (Xuetuan is a spiritual beast, which can eat anything)