Candlelight cast swaying shadows through the bedchamber in the still of night. Dressed only in his inner robes, Shen Yangge was still eating the snacks on his plate and failed to notice Chu Xuanzhen returning after finishing his work.
He held an osmanthus cake between three slender, fair fingers. A scattering of sweet white powder dusted the pale green cake, making it look particularly appetizing.
It made one want to taste it from those fingers, to find out what it tasted like.
Shen Yangge turned a page. Perhaps something had caught his eye, because even his chewing paused for a moment.
His brows creased slightly, his almond-shaped eyes fixed on the page without blinking.
The servant attending him caught sight of the Crown Prince and was so frightened that he nearly dropped to his knees, only to be stopped by a look from the Crown Prince.
He lowered his head again and stared at his shoes, making no further move.
Had Shen Yangge not been so absorbed, he might already have noticed the servant acting strangely, along with Chu Xuanzhen standing at the bedchamber entrance.
Just then, the candlelight in the bedchamber dimmed considerably. It seemed the candles were due to be replaced.
Shen Yangge waited a good while, but the candlelight only grew dimmer. Clearly, no one was replacing them, so he looked up.
Seeing the servant beside him standing ramrod straight with his gaze lowered, Shen Yangge's heart skipped a beat, and he turned his head.
Chu Xuanzhen came into view and slowly approached. He wore a crescent-white robe with broad sleeves, and even the flickering light in the bedchamber could not obscure his indescribably noble bearing.
Shen Yangge had no idea how long Chu Xuanzhen had been standing there. Suddenly a little annoyed with himself, he hurriedly