Lady Fiancée of the Chapter 46

Chapter 46

to wait for another time to look for the culprit," Ye Qingyan replied."What if I bring Miss Qin here and she still can’t donate blood Then should Princess Ye not deal with finding the culprit" The ol...Chapter 46

Night Tianqiong watched the two of them leave, and his handsome face instantly darkened like a storm cloud. You這傢夥，把我當透明人了嗎？居然就這樣視而不見地走了！ He clenched his fist in his sleeve as veins on his forehead bulged.

Night Tianyu was enjoying his meal when the two suddenly left without warning; he didn't even have time to stop them, much less retaliate. Stunned, he watched Cloud Qianyue's figure float away and exclaimed, "Eh When did Yue Sister’s light-foot skills become so incredibly proficient"

Night Tianqiong’s dark face froze in shock as he noticed how gracefully Cloud Qianyue moved like the wind. Indeed, her agility was vastly different from before—improved by who knows how many levels. He pursed his lips tightly and narrowed his pitch-black phoenix eyes.

Right then, from a height of three zhang (Chinese unit of measurement), Cloud Qianyue seemed to lose control of her momentum and cried out as she fell towards the ground; there was no trace of the elegance she just had. Her body twisted like that of a large shrimp, completely uncontrolled, and she screamed in terror, "Night Qingran, come save me!"

Night Qingran seemed equally startled when he saw Cloud Qianyue falling towards the ground; he quickly dashed over to her side at lightning speed and caught her just as she was about to hit the ground. That spared her from kissing the earth, and he angrily scolded, "You little brat! Your light-foot skills aren’t good yet you still try to show off If I hadn’t caught you, you’d be eating dirt!"

Cloud Qianyue’s heart was racing as she patted her chest; her voice quivered with fear and timidity. "I thought it felt pretty good at first, but then I don't know what happened to me and I just fell down. What kind of lousy skill is this I never want to learn it again."

"You’re too stupid to learn properly in the first place; yet you blame Cloud Grandpa," Night Qingran scolded her, calling her "stupid" for emphasis.

“You're the one who’s stupid!” Cloud Qianyue glared at him angrily. “Fine, I’m stupid! Are you smart You’re all so smart! Is it okay if just I am not” She continued with a huff. "Then I’ll stay away from all of you and never seek you out again."

With that said, Cloud Qianyue angrily shook Night Qingran off her shoulder and walked ahead.

"Wait, I didn’t mean it like that…" Night Qingran hurried to catch up with her.

"You did," Cloud Qianyue ignored him.

“But you’re not stupid. In fact, you’re very smart; your posture was so beautiful just now, and if you hadn’t fallen it would have been even more beautiful… No, falling is also pretty…” Night Qingran seemed to be trying to placate her but his words were a bit careless.

“You still think that!” Cloud Qianyue’s face turned dark with anger.

"Fine, I won’t say it anymore, I won’t… Just now when you fell down, I didn’t see anything, I absolutely didn’t see…" Night Qingran feigned surrender.

“You better not have seen,” Cloud Qianyue warned him hatefully. “If anyone dares to spread this around, I’ll dig up your family’s ancestral graves. Anyone who does the same will face the same.” She glanced over in the direction of Night Tianqiong and others as she spoke loudly enough for them all to hear her warning before marching back.

“Alright, I won’t say it. If anyone talks about you falling because your light-foot skills aren't good, this little prince will dig up their ancestors’ graves too.” Night Qingran immediately assured her and seemed to look over in the direction of Night Tianqiong and others before hastily following Cloud Qianyue closely.

"That’s much better," Cloud Qianyue praised him as if she was a child who had just received praise.

Night Qingran mumbled something indistinctly, but the two of them no longer used their light-foot skills and walked side-by-side down the mountain.

Prince Tianyu’s eyes widened in shock as he swallowed a piece of fish that was stuck in his throat. He seemed to regain his senses only after they had left; he then quickly swallowed the fish and looked at Night Tianqiong, asking, “I didn’t go blind just now, right I thought her light-foot skills improved so much suddenly, but it turns out she’s all show.”

Night Tianqiong also turned his gaze away; his shock vanished without a trace. "You weren’t hallucinating earlier; you saw nothing."

Prince Tianyu was taken aback for a moment, “Princely Brother, you don’t really fear that little girl digging your family’s ancestral graves, do you Even if she had the nerve, wouldn’t Night Qingran dare to His ancestors are related to ours; who in their right mind would dig up their own relatives’ graves”

Night Tianqiong snorted. “In any case, you didn’t see anything. This matter is not to be discussed with anyone else!”

Prince Tianyu blinked twice, looking at Night Tianqiong in puzzlement. "Princely Brother, are you covering for Yue Sister In the past, you wouldn’t do such a thing; what happened now"

"Shut up!" Night Tianqiong seemed to be irritated and his voice darkened slightly. “Fourth Brother, Father Emperor clearly stated that I am leading all the princes to Lingtai Temple for prayers, and they must follow my orders—no exceptions. That includes you.”

Prince Tianyu immediately shut up, concealing the sharp light in his eyes as he nodded respectfully. “Yes!”

Night Tianqiong then looked at Rong Linglan, Leng Shuli, and Qin Yuning; his voice was icy with authority. "The same goes for you three; what happened earlier must not be mentioned to a single soul. Do you know the consequences"

“Yes, we didn’t see anything,” the three women immediately lowered their heads.

"Fourth Brother, since you ate that person's fish, it is your responsibility to put out the fire and clean up without being noticed by the monks in the temple," Night Tianqiong glanced at the spot where Cloud Qianyue and Night Qingran had been causing a commotion; he then left an instruction for Fourth Prince who was still eating fish, before turning around and walking down the mountain.

If it weren’t for the report from his bodyguard that Cloud Qianyue had been brought to the back mountain’s spring water by Night Qingran to roast fish, he would have remained in the Bodhidharma Hall listening to Rong Jing and Venerable Lingyin's discourse on Buddhism. How could he possibly come all this way for nothing Now it was time to return.

Both Rong Linglan and Leng Shuli had expressions of resentment flashing across their eyes; women’s hearts are the most sensitive, and when Prince Tianyu suddenly came here only because someone roasted fish, they knew something must be up. They followed him without hesitation and were shocked to learn that it was for Cloud Qianyue. Now he even warned them not to leak a single word about her falling due to poor light-foot skills; in the past, Prince Tianyu would never do such a thing, but now he had. Their hearts suddenly felt uncertain.

The two exchanged glances and silently agreed that they must find a way to secure Prince Tianyu’s heart as his identity and Cloud Qianyue’s were of equal status; the emperor wouldn’t refuse him if he wanted to marry her. All their plans for so many years would be in vain! Deciding on this, they followed Night Tianqiong closely.

"That's much better," Cloud Qianyue praised and seemed as happy as a child.

They heard something mumbled but unclear from Night Qingran. The two of them stopped using their light-foot skills and walked side-by-side down the mountain.

Prince Tianyu’s eyes widened in surprise; his mouth was full with fish that he had to swallow hurriedly. Once they were out of sight, he seemed to have recovered from his shock and swallowed the fish before looking at Night Tianqiong, "Did I really see correctly just now So her sudden improvement in light-foot skills is all for show"

Night Tianqiong also turned away, the look of surprise gone from him. He said to Prince Tianyu, "You didn’t hallucinate; you saw nothing."

Prince Tianyu was momentarily stunned, “Princely Brother, do you really fear that little girl digging your family’s ancestral graves Even if she had the nerve, wouldn’t Night Qingran dare to His ancestors are related to ours—no one would dig up their own relatives’ graves!”

Night Tianqiong snorted. “You didn’t see anything and that’s it. This matter is not to be discussed with anyone else!”

Prince Tianyu blinked his eyes twice, looking puzzled at Night Tianqiong. "Princely Brother, are you covering for Yue Sister You’ve never done such a thing in the past; why now"

"Shut up!" Night Tianqiong’s voice darkened slightly as he said, “Fourth Brother, Father Emperor instructed me to lead all princes to Lingtai Temple for prayers and they must follow my orders—no exceptions. Including you.”

Prince Tianyu immediately shut his mouth and nodded respectfully. "Yes!"

Night Tianqiong then looked at Rong Linglan, Leng Shuli, and Qin Yuning with a voice cold as ice but full of authority. "You three mustn’t mention what happened earlier to anyone. Do you know the consequences"

“Yes, we didn’t see anything,” the three women immediately lowered their heads.

"Fourth Brother, since you ate that person's fish, it is your responsibility to put out the fire and clean up without being noticed by the monks in the temple," Night Tianqiong glanced at where Cloud Qianyue and Night Qingran had been before leaving a final instruction for Prince Tianyu who was still eating. With that, he turned around and walked down the mountain.

Prince Tianyu’s eyes widened; his mouth was full of fish which he hurriedly swallowed once they were out of sight. He then looked at Night Tianqiong and asked, "Did I see correctly earlier So her sudden improvement in light-foot skills is just for show"

Night Tianqiong replied without turning back, the surprise gone from his face, “You saw nothing.”

Prince Tianyu was momentarily stunned. “Princely Brother, do you really fear that little girl digging your family’s ancestral graves Even if she had the nerve, wouldn’t Night Qingran dare to His ancestors are related to ours—no one would dig up their own relatives’ graves!”

Night Tianqiong snorted. “You saw nothing and there it is.”

Prince Tianyu blinked twice, looking confused at Night Tianqiong. "Princely Brother, are you covering for Yue Sister You’ve never done such a thing in the past; why now"

Prince Tianyu immediately shut his mouth, the sharpness in his eyes gone as he nodded respectfully. "Yes!"

Night Tianqiong then turned to Rong Linglan, Leng Shuli, and Qin Yuning with a voice cold but full of authority. “You three mustn’t mention what happened earlier to anyone. Do you know the consequences”

“Yes, we didn’t see anything,” the women immediately lowered their heads.

"Fourth Brother, since you ate that person's fish, it is your responsibility to put out the fire and clean up without being noticed by the monks in the temple," Night Tianqiong glanced at where Cloud Qianyue and Night Qingran had been before leaving a final instruction for Prince Tianyu who was still eating. With that, he turned around and walked down the mountain.

After they left, the fire continued to burn劈裡啪啦響聲不斷。

The cloud of smoke remained billowing in the air, and the scent of burning herbs permeated the surroundings. The remaining dry wood burned with a persistent crackle.

Meanwhile, Cloud Qianyue and Night Qingran had already reached the foot of the mountain. She turned around and smirked, recalling her earlier plan to distance herself from those she disliked and forgetting about the precautions regarding her light-foot skills. Fortunately, upon hearing Prince Tianyu's words, she quickly pretended to lose control and fall from a height of three meters. Knowing that Night Qingran would catch her, she released all her true qi, making it appear completely genuine.

Night Qingran looked back with a smile and lightly tapped Cloud Qianyue's head. "Who said you're dumb You're much smarter than anyone else!"

Cloud Qianyue rolled her eyes. “I’m smart from the start! It’s just that you always call me stupid.”

Night Qingran laughed, recalling how he had been surprised when Prince Tianyu mentioned her sudden improvement in skills and immediately realized she was playing a clever trick to avoid suspicion. He felt amused by her ingenuity.

Cloud Qianyue smiled, feeling proud of her ability to convincingly fake things.

The two returned to the back mountain estate with light steps.

At the entrance of the annex, Yun Qianyue yawned drowsily and said to Ye Qingran, "Aren't you going to the Dharma Hall Go ahead! I'm heading back to sleep."

Ye Qingran looked towards the courtyard in the west pavilion, frowned, but didn’t move his body. "Why are you staying with that weak beauty in one yard He arranged it for you, right Don't know what Cloud Grandpa was thinking, actually entrusting you to a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"Hmm, who knows what the old man is thinking," Yun Qianyue said nonchalantly.

"I live at the Zen Monastery on Eastern Mountain, it’s also quiet there. Why don’t you stay with me" Ye Qingran suggested.

“Too lazy to move,” Yun Qianyue waved her hand. "Go quickly! I'm so sleepy."

"Or should I move here" Ye Qingran frowned, his eyebrows knitted like a braid.

“This place has only two yards; where would you stay It's just for a few days and he won’t eat me. If anything, I might eat him up first.” Yun Qianyue was too lazy to argue anymore as she stepped into the yard and waved at Ye Qingran, "Why aren't you going yet If you wait any longer, they’ll have already dispersed. Why don’t you also observe how Rong Jing argues his case Try your best to get him ordained. If you can remove this great evil for us, then you'll be a meritorious official of the entire Heaven Sacred Kingdom."

Ye Qingran's frown relaxed upon hearing her suggestion and he agreed readily. "Alright, I will definitely find a way to force him into ordination. That weak beauty is someone I’ve always wanted to see ordained."

"Okay, good luck then!" Yun Qianyue waved until she was tired and stopped.

“You sleep well then, I’ll come and look for you early tomorrow morning.” Ye Qingran said.

“No need to. I think I'll just keep sleeping through the night. See me tomorrow,” Yun Qianyue replied.

"Alright, then I will take you out tomorrow to play. We'll go up South Mountain to look at the white magnolias," Ye Qingran said as he watched Yun Qianyue stagger in a daze into her yard and wondered why this little girl liked sleeping so much. The once-in-a-decade grand ceremony for blessing, debating Buddhist laws, and listening to Buddha’s voice had no significance to her whatsoever. Many people were struggling to break their heads just to get here to listen to the teachings of Dharma in Lingtai Temple; she was actually coming to sleep. Probably counting all the people in this temple right now, only she would be doing that.

“Alright then, I’ll see the white magnolias tomorrow,” Yun Qianyue responded.

Seeing her agreement, Ye Qingran turned and strode towards the Dharma Ancestor Hall.

Yun Qianyue walked to the door of the yard and pushed it open. Both inside and outside were silent, clearly showing that those three maids hadn’t returned yet. She stepped into the room and then called out softly: "Mo Li!"

"Miss!" Mo Li responded.

Yun Qianyue looked at Mo Li and thought to herself, This kid is indeed diligent, always here when needed! Lazily giving orders, she said, "I'm going to sleep. Even if the Heavenly Emperor himself comes now, no one is allowed to wake me up unless I come out myself."

“Yes,” Mo Li responded.

Satisfied with his reply, Yun Qianyue closed the door and walked a few steps to her bed, throwing herself down. Muttering to herself, "Eat then sleep, sleep then eat, play after eating well... Ah ah ah, if not for Cloud Muhan forcing me to learn literacy, or this troublesome matter of being an actress, life would be like that of a deity..."

Mo Li's face twitched violently outside the door and he hid himself.

Satisfied after mumbling enough, Yun Qianyue closed her eyes. She would soon meet Duke Zhou in her dreams.

Awhile later, Fourth Prince strolled over to this annex on the back hill. He first sized up the yard of west pavilion and then looked at the one for east pavilion. His phoenix-like eyes were deep, as if thinking about something; after a moment, he smiled slightly and stepped into the yard.

“Fourth Prince, please stop here!” Mo Li appeared in front of Ye Tianyu, blocking his way.

"Hn" Ye Tianyu was surprised. "Who are you"

"I am Miss Qianyue’s bodyguard. She just instructed me to say she needs sleep and no one is allowed to disturb her," Mo Li said expressionlessly.

“You are her personal guard, why have I never seen you” Ye Tianyu asked Mo Li puzzledly.

"Miss Qianyue has never summoned me before. Therefore it’s normal that Fourth Prince hasn’t seen me," replied Mo Li expressionlessly: "If Fourth Prince wishes to see my lady, please come back when she wakes up. If you have something important for Miss Qianyue, I will inform her."

"It is so then, Moon Sister has been hiding this covert guard well." Ye Tianyu nodded and glanced at the tightly closed doors and windows; he could not see inside through the curtains. He withdrew his gaze, "I don’t have anything important either! Just wanted to come over for a chat. Where’s Ye Qingran"

"The Young Prince took Miss Qianyue there and left for the Dharma Ancestor Hall," Mo Li said.

“Alright then, I won’t disturb her since she's sleeping. I’ll go to the Dharma Ancestor Hall too and come back when she wakes up,” Ye Tianyu said as he turned around and left the annex. His mind was no longer puzzled; given that Old Duke Rong had arranged such a highly skilled covert guard for Yun Qianyue, her martial arts skills must be pretty poor indeed. This means what she displayed earlier by the Perfumed Spring Water was just showmanship.

Seeing Fourth Prince leave, Mo Li hid again.

Yun Qianyue woke up when she knew Fourth Prince had come; listening to his footsteps fade away, she drifted back into slumber.

No one disturbed the annex anymore.

Awhile later, Cai Lian, Ting Xue and Ting Yu returned to the annex. The three of them started chattering about today's interesting events. But when they entered the yard and saw it was quiet inside, their voices immediately fell low. Cai Lian walked to Yun Qianyue’s room door and quietly pushed it open for a look before giving the other two a shushing sign; the two understood and thought how Miss could really sleep! She closed the room door tightly as they tiptoed back into their rooms.

At night, Lingtai Temple's bell sounded.

Yun Qianyue woke up and opened her eyes to see it was already dark. She stretched lazily and got out of bed after pushing away the quilt. After walking over to the table for a glass of water, she drank it greedily until quenched; then she walked to the window and pulled back the curtains. A beam of moonlight shone through the window, lighting up the night sky full of stars.

“Miss, have you woken up” Cai Lian’s voice came from outside when she heard movement in the room.

"Yes," Yun Qianyue responded.

Cai Lian pushed open the door and entered to adjust the wick of the lamp on the table, making the room instantly bright. She smiled at Yun Qianyue’s silhouette standing by the window, "Miss, you really can sleep! Servants have been back for half a day already but haven’t seen you wake."

"I knew when you returned but I only just fell asleep after being dragged to roast fish on the hillside by Ye Qingran," Yun Qianyue recalled how tasty and tender those grilled fish were today as she said this.

“So that’s why Miss and Young Prince Ye roasted fish in danger of setting the back mountain ablaze Someone set a fire to grill fish there later, forgot to put it out before leaving, so that fire ignited the dry wood around and nearly burned down the whole mountain. Fortunately some monk found it early; otherwise consequences would have been unimaginable!” Cai Lian exclaimed.

“Hmm” Yun Qianyue was taken aback and turned to look at Cai Lian.

"Yes! When I heard about it, I thought which bold person dared to kill inside the sacred Buddhist site. I didn't expect it would be Miss and Prince Ran. If it were you two, there wouldn’t have been anything strange."

Cloud Qianyue frowned as she pondered for a moment before remembering that they had not extinguished the fire when she and Ye Qingran left. She estimated that Night Tianqiong and others also hadn't put out the fire when they left. She asked, "What happened later Was there any consequence"

"Even Master Lingyin who was lecturing in Bodhidharma Hall, Crown Prince Jing, and Venerable Ciyun from Lingtai Temple, along with several elders of the temple were alerted! Fortunately it was discovered early, so the fire was extinguished without causing much loss. Originally Venerable Ciyun was angry and wanted to investigate, but Crown Prince Jing said that since today is a grand occasion, someone killed fish for celebration and blessing. Since no major disaster has occurred, there's no need to pursue this matter further. If it happens again in the future, he would definitely追究到底。Lingyin Master also agreed with him, so Ciyun didn't continue pursuing the issue and let it go. But they have ordered monks to strictly monitor the area and prohibit people from grilling fish there anymore." Cailian smiled and said, "Miss, Crown Prince Jing must know that this is related to you, so he helped you out. Otherwise, this would be a great offense against Buddha. You and Little Prince are too reckless. If this matter reaches His Majesty, who knows what blame will come upon you both."

"Oh no, we can't grill fish anymore! What a pity!" Cloud Qianyue exclaimed.

Cailan helplessly looked at Cloud Qianyue; she had said all this but Miss only knew that they couldn’t grill fish anymore. None of the other words registered in her mind. She repeated, "Miss, I’m saying Crown Prince Jing helped you."

"Hmm, he acted on a trust and would naturally cover for me to report back properly; otherwise, he wouldn't be off the hook either." Cloud Qianyue was unconcerned.

"But Miss said there's no connection between you and Crown Prince Jing at all. How come now you admit that if something happens with you two, he won’t be able to escape being involved" Cailan found it amusing. For some reason, her mistress had a bad relationship with Crown Prince Jing. If other women could get his favor, they would surely smile in their dreams; yet my lady wished the prince as far away from her as possible.

Cloud Qianyue harrumphed and felt no shame for contradicting herself earlier; she dodged the question by asking another one: "What about Prince Ran Was he at Bodhidharma Hall when you left"

She remembered that when Night Qingran sent her back, he had gone to Bodhidharma Hall.

"Prince Ran went to Bodhidharma Hall but didn’t stay long. I saw him full of vigor as he entered the hall, sat for a short while before constantly yawning and dozing off. Later on, he kept yawning as he left. Probably went back home to sleep like you," Cailan recalled with amusement. The young prince probably couldn't endure listening to Buddhist scriptures.

"Prince Ran is truly my kindred spirit!" Cloud Qianyue sighed in admiration.

Cailan laughed out loud, "You and Prince Ran share similar interests!"

"Hmm," Cloud Qianyue agreed. She turned around to look at the western courtyard; it was pitch black inside. She asked, "Is Rongjing still discussing with that old monk Or has he returned to rest"

"They say Crown Prince Jing was lecturing in Bodhidharma Hall with Master Lingyin, but mostly Master Lingyin was speaking while Crown Prince Jing occasionally chimed in with concise and incisive remarks. Even Master Lingyin praised him repeatedly for his profound understanding of Buddhism and high悟性。But Master Lingyin lamented that he is not the type Buddha wishes to accept into His fold. The crown prince's destiny is rooted in secular life, so they are無緣無故。Later on, after their discussion, Crown Prince Jing was invited by Lingyin Master to play chess at his residence. He hasn't returned yet!"

"So it seems Night Qingran didn’t succeed today" Cloud Qianyue sighed; the dead monk, always opposing me!

"Miss, what success did you mean for Prince Ran" Cailan asked.

"Of course, trying to get Rongjing to become a monk," Cloud Qianyue said.

“Oh my good Miss, I told you already! Crown Prince Jing can’t possibly become a monk; he’s the only direct descendant in the Royal House of Honor. Even if you dislike him, you still shouldn't wish for that to happen. How well he treats you; your behavior is too heartless,” Cailan glared at Cloud Qianyue.

Cloud Qianyue humphed; she knew her desire was inappropriate and remained silent.

"But today when I returned, seeing Miss asleep, I wanted to pray for blessings under the wish tree. But then I saw Crown Prince questioning Fourth Prince. So I hid behind a rock and listened. The crown prince asked why the fire nearly burned down the mountain if he had ordered Fourth Prince to extinguish it; Fourth Prince said he forgot. The crown prince seemed very angry but could do nothing about it," Cailan whispered in Cloud Qianyue's ear.

"Hmm!" Cloud Qianyue nodded; fourth prince probably ignored that fire entirely!

The crown prince left, and so did Fourth Prince. Cailan thought of telling Miss later but decided against it. She whispered, "I think the crown prince seems very protective of you two."

Cloud Qianyue snorted coldly; he would protect me He’s probably worried about His Majesty questioning him if something went wrong. Given his position, a fire in Lingtai Temple during this festival would be a major disaster; both Night Qingran and I would have problems, but so would the crown prince for not supervising properly. Fourth Prince must have planned to use that excuse. It's merely a royal rivalry. If fourth prince really forgot something small like that, he wouldn't survive in the palace!

Cailan sighed; no wonder when she saw him leave and fourth prince smirked so frighteningly! Miss is indeed clever.

Fourth Prince isn’t ruthless enough, thought Cloud Qianyue. If I were him, without putting out that fire, why not escalate it further, even burning down this mountain Then the benefits would be huge, damaging both me and Night Qingran’s reputations while also undermining the crown prince's position; he wouldn't just leave things as is.

"Miss" Cailan was startled.

Cloud Qianyue realized she had said too much, smiled at Cailan, "I wished this place would burn down. Those monks have nothing better to do than reciting scriptures all day; it's annoying and keeping me awake."

Cailan exhaled deeply; Miss must be joking! This scenic spot, the pretty flowers blooming everywhere, even the grilled fish she enjoyed - if it burned down, everything would be destroyed!

“True, fortunately Fourth Prince didn’t do that,” Cloud Qianyue sighed at her own thoughts. If it really burned down, it’d be such a waste.

Moreover, there’s Miss too! She recently set fire to Wanshun Tower and now this would be another disaster; if true, she might face real punishment. Fourth Prince seems kind toward you but isn’t truly foolish or ruthless – remember He said he wouldn’t blink an eye about killing servants.

“You’re right,” Cloud Qianyue nodded. "Fourth Prince doesn't seem like the soft-hearted type. But he might have other plans; if so, Night Qingran and I would get punished but not severely. Since he was ordered to put out fires by the crown prince, his negligence would also be his responsibility. He wouldn’t do something that benefits others at his own expense,” she added.

"Right! That’s probably why Fourth Prince didn’t escalate it," Cailan agreed heartily.

“Forget them; they’re troublesome. I’m hungry, where's the food” Cloud Qianyue waved dismissively; Night Tianqin and fourth prince can fight their own battles. She had better things to do than analyze their actions.

"Crown Prince Jing’s guard Xiangge told me earlier that he wants Miss for dinner tonight. Therefore, I didn’t prepare food," Cailan softly said, "If you’re hungry now, shall I go check if he has returned If not, I’ll look for him with Lingyin Master; their residence is close by."

"Who's dining with him No way! Go do it right away,” Cloud Qianyue waved her off.

“Miss, Crown Prince Jing said we aren’t part of the temple’s residents and can eat freely. He ordered fish in his small kitchen; they’re caught from the river here. Are you sure you won’t have any I can’t cook it myself even if our housekeeper couldn't either,” Cailan explained.

“Sure, why not! Go fetch him immediately for dinner,” Cloud Qianyue instantly said.

"As you wish," Cailan giggled and ran off, knowing Miss would be most enthusiastic when it came to food or sleep. She thought Crown Prince Jing knew she wouldn’t join him so he made this arrangement.

Cloud Shanyue already imagined the taste of lotus seed flower-fried fish; did it surpass Night Qingran’s lily leaf-grilled fish With this thought, she couldn't wait any longer and left her room right after Cailian.

The mountain temple at night was cool due to its location beside the river.

Cloud Shanyue leisurely opened the door of West Courtyard's yard. It was dark inside with no fish smell detected; she frowned, finding it empty without even a trace left behind. She decided to stay and wait for him since he claimed there would be food; otherwise, she’d make him conjure up some lotus flower-fried fish! Thus, heading straight towards the main house.

Opening the door, stepping into the room, a clean fragrance welcomed her. The setup was identical to hers but cleaner instead. She wanted to light a lamp but didn't have any lighting materials; fortunately, moonlight provided enough illumination. She then sat on the soft bedstead.

Soon after, Cai Lian entered the courtyard of the western wing. Before she arrived, a laughing voice was heard: "Prince Ji really spoke the truth; Miss must be waiting in his room at this moment. He told me not to return to the eastern wing and just come back here to tell Miss that you have to wait for him for a while. He will be back soon."

“Mm-hmm!” Yun Qianyue pursed her lips, wondering why he wasn’t called Zhuge Liang instead.

Cai Lian walked in and took out flint from her bosom to light the lamp. She adjusted the wick and the room brightened up. Cai Lian said to Yun Qianyue, "Miss, you wait for Prince Ji! We servants are not as fortunate as you; we ate the lotus flower braised fish with snow peas. I went with Ting Xue and Ting Yu to get our meal in the temple at the front. This Lingtai Temple’s vegetarian food is really delicious."

“Mm-hmm!” Yun Qianyue waved her hand dismissively, thinking that Rong Jing was so miserly that he probably only made enough lotus flower braised fish for her to eat and definitely not enough for them.

Cai Lian turned around and left.

Yun Qianyue’s gaze aimlessly wandered the room until it landed on a book placed by the pillow next to the bed. She remembered that Rong Jing was holding this book in his hand when he got into the carriage when they first arrived here. She walked over and picked up the book, only to find that it was actually a miscellaneous volume of notes.

This miscellaneous volume differed from the ones that Yun Muhan read about martial arts stories and anecdotes; it was instead a record of maps of the world. As she flipped through casually, she saw that in addition to recording the landscapes of different places, there were also odd events happening at these places, as well as information on the local family clans and their current status. It also included a brief introduction about famous people who lived in each place.

Yun Qianyue was amazed by how extensive this book was; she thought that Rong Jing must have had such an excellent collection of books. She naturally wanted to take a look at it too.

Holding the book, she went back to sit on the soft couch and began reading from page one. Her abilities honed in her previous life already sank into her bones; thus, Yun Qianyue read very fast, seeing ten lines at once, while still paying attention to every word and remembering it all.

From when she arrived here until now, the day after she woke up hadn’t been a good one. She had been captured by Yun Muhan and confined in the Qianyue Pavilion to learn how to read; dealing with Yun Muhan was already enough to exhaust her brain, making her hate books instead of enjoying them. In this world, most of what she knew came from asking Cai Lian occasionally about it, and all she knew was that this wasn’t the ancient times in her previous life, but a different era altogether. Now with such a book, she finally got to learn more about this world.

It turned out that a hundred years ago, the land was ruled by a royal family surnamed Mengmuo. However, later on when their descendants were only interested in pleasure and favored corrupt officials, the nation’s fortune declined, leaving people struggling for survival. During that time, many regional vassal kings grew powerful until they eventually overthrew the imperial rule of the previous dynasty. Then came an emperor from a commoner background named Ye Zhuolan, who defeated the various regional vassals and seized control of the country. After taking the throne, he didn’t get rid of his subordinates like a rabbit would to its dog; instead, he was thankful for their loyalty and ennobled them accordingly, thus giving rise to today’s four imperial clans: the Rong Wangfu, Yun Wangfu, Xiaoqing Wangfu, and Dexing Wangfu.

When Emperor Zhuolan unified the land a hundred years ago, he didn’t exterminate all regional vassals but instead recruited them; as such, there were some small countries left in existence. These small states willingly submitted to the country and paid tribute every year.

Yun Qianyue thought that this ancestor emperor must have been a wise ruler with a broad mind because how many emperors in history had such magnanimity All of them were willing to share hardships but not glories. This emperor’s most admirable trait wasn’t his remarkable achievements, but rather his devotion; since the Yun Wangfu was the only imperial clan that he married into and where the woman he deeply loved came from, he didn’t have any other concubines or wives in his harem. Because of this woman, he passed on a legacy to ensure that future generations would marry women from the Yun family as their consorts, thus leading to her current entanglement with the imperial clan.

A century had already gone by and these small countries were growing stronger and more powerful. Although the Tiansheng Dynasty was still flourishing after a hundred years, its governance wasn’t as efficient; officials were corrupt, people sought pleasure instead of progress, and occasional minor wars couldn’t shake the strong foundation of this country. As such, all citizens enjoyed themselves to no end.

In these conditions, small neighboring countries worked hard to grow stronger until they became mighty nations. The most rapidly developing one was called Nanyang. Currently, it had become the second largest country after Tiansheng; there were also Xiyan and Beiqi, which weren’t as strong as Nanyang but still ahead of other smaller countries that hadn’t yet developed much. These small states were far away from the large nation and didn’t receive a lot of care from them. Thus, to survive, they had no choice but to rely on their neighboring nations: Nanyang, Xiyan, and Beiqi. So although Tiansheng was still considered as a major country, these smaller countries were already forming an alliance with Nanyang leading the way.

Yun Qianyue read all of this while admiring it; the politics in this era was quite interesting!

"It seems that you like to read books more than I thought! You just don’t like them if they’re not to your taste," Rong Jing’s voice suddenly sounded from outside.

Upon hearing his voice, Yun Qianyue immediately raised her head and saw him sitting at the table drinking tea. She was startled; had she been so engrossed in reading that he could enter without making a sound If this had been someone trying to kill her, surely he would have been long dead already. It seemed like alertness wasn’t part of her persona anymore since she’d lost her identity as Li Yun. Her mood immediately darkened and she glared at him: "You didn’t knock before coming in"

Rong Jing glanced at her, then slowly said: “This is my room.”

Uh, Yun Qianyue suddenly remembered that this was indeed his place. She felt embarrassed and angrily asked: "Why did you take so long And where’s the fish"

"I’m cooking it right now!" Rong Jing replied.

"What do you mean ‘right now’ Do you want to starve me to death" Yun Qianyue’s eyebrows immediately shot up.

"You ate so many fish at lunch and then slept for half a day. I think it’s reasonable to give you some time to digest, right Otherwise, how could you even eat your fish dish" Rong Jing raised an eyebrow.

"Then why didn’t you mention that I hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning It would have been digested long ago!" Yun Qianyue looked at him blankly.

"Did you say anything about not having breakfast If you had, then I would have known," Rong Jing said innocently.

“You’re supposed to be a master of divination. You can predict things like me and Ye Qingran almost burning down the mountain while grilling fish at the back hill, but why couldn’t you predict that I’d wait for you in your room” Yun Qianyue asked angrily, suspecting him of deliberately ignoring her.

"Divination doesn’t tell everything. For instance, when you said you were coming here to sleep, how could I know that you would go grilling with Ye Qingran and nearly cause a disaster If I had known earlier, I would have brought you along to listen to the teachings of Master Lingyin and bathe in Buddha’s light. Would it have been possible for you to burn down the entire mountain then" Rong Jing set his teacup down.

Yun Qianyue was speechless but felt a bit resentful, so she added: "It wasn’t my idea to go grilling; Ye Qingran forced me."

"Right, I know you didn’t want to go. It was Ye Qingran who dragged you," Rong Jing nodded.

“That’s right! So it’s not my fault,” Yun Qianyue thought he understood her well enough to shift all blame onto Ye Qingran without feeling guilty about it, since he was the little devil and had a reputation that could shield others from trouble. She was just an accomplice who was forced into it.

"Right, so I sent your grandfather a letter this afternoon to inform him of how Ye Qingran dragged you off to grill fish at the back hill today and nearly caused a disaster. In my letter, I emphasized that it’s not your fault; it's all because of Ye Qingran," Rong Jing said gently.

"What You told my grandfather" Yun Qianyue widened her eyes in surprise.

“Yes,” Rong Jing nodded. "It can’t be hidden, and you know the Emperor wouldn’t let it slip by either. Since your grandfather entrusted me with taking care of you, I have to report such matters. As long as it’s not your fault, then my responsibility isn’t compromised; it was all because Ye Qingran dragged you away recklessly, right Otherwise, you would still be sleeping in the room.” Rong Jing said while setting his tea cup down.

Yun Qianyue felt speechless but also annoyed. “He didn't drag me there; I went voluntarily,” she insisted.

"Right, I know it wasn’t your idea to go," Rong Jing nodded in agreement.

“Exactly! So it's not my fault,” Yun Qianyue thought he understood her and shamelessly pushed all responsibility onto Ye Qingran. After all, the guy was a little devil and had a reputation that could shield others from trouble. She was just an accomplice who was forced into it.

"Right, so I informed your grandfather in my letter about this incident. In particular, I emphasized that you aren't to blame; everything is due to Ye Qingran," Rong Jing said calmly.

“What You told my grandfather” Yun Qianyue’s eyes widened in shock.

"Yes. This couldn’t be concealed from your grandfather, and I know he wouldn’t let it pass without mentioning it to the Emperor or other officials. Your grandfather entrusted me with looking after you, so I have to report matters like this properly. If it isn't your fault, then it's not because of any oversight on my part but due to Ye Qingran’s reckless actions dragging you away," Rong Jing looked at Yun Qianyue and slightly raised an eyebrow, adding a touch of beauty to his already perfect face with the slightest change in expression.

Yun Qianyue was speechless. Though she had gone willingly, her earlier statement that Ye Qingran dragged her there left no room for denying it now. She felt like biting her tongue and couldn’t refute a single word. "The messenger just returned to say your grandfather is extremely angry, scolding Ye Qingran for daring to take you out recklessly! The Perfumed Spring Mountain is where it is Lingtai Temple is what it stands for Especially today being such a special day If the fire had really spread across Perfumed Spring Mountain and Lingtai Temple, you two would have committed a grave offense. Not only would the Astronomical Bureau use this to their advantage but also court officials would do the same. Given your and Ye Qingran’s reputation for mischief, dissatisfaction with you from the officials in the capital has long existed; now with all pointing fingers at you, there will be no way to refute it. At that point, even if the Emperor doesn’t punish you, he won’t appease the public anger," Rong Jing added.

Yun Qianyue sniffed, thinking about how a simple act of grilling fish had turned into such a serious matter! She felt thankful to the fourth prince for not stirring up more trouble. Otherwise, she and Ye Qingran would likely be in prison now rather than here awaiting her fish dish. This thought immediately quelled any remaining temper.

"So you informed my grandfather" Yun Qianyue’s eyes widened.

“Yes,” Rong Jing nodded. "Your grandfather entrusted me with your care, and I reported the incident to him this afternoon. I emphasized in the letter that it wasn’t your fault, but due to Ye Qingran," said Rong Jing in a soothing tone.

"What You told my grandfather" Yun Qianyue's eyes widened in shock.

“Yes. This matter couldn't be concealed and I know your grandfather would report it to the Emperor or other officials if he knew about it. Since your grandfather entrusted me with looking after you, it’s my responsibility to inform him properly. As long as it isn’t your fault, then it isn’t due to any oversight on my part but because of Ye Qingran's reckless actions dragging you away,” Rong Jing said while setting his tea cup down.

Yun Qianyue was speechless and felt annoyed, realizing she had no argument. "So your grandfather is extremely angry, scolding Ye Qingran for daring to take you out recklessly! Perfumed Spring Mountain is where it is Lingtai Temple stands for what it does Especially today being such a special day If fire had really spread across Perfumed Spring Mountain and Lingtai Temple, you two would have committed a grave offense. Not only would the Astronomical Bureau use this to their advantage but also court officials would do the same. Given your and Ye Qingran’s reputation for mischief, dissatisfaction with you from the officials in the capital has long existed; now with all pointing fingers at you, there will be no way to refute it," Rong Jing added.

"Your grandfather instructed me that from tomorrow onwards I must look after you strictly and never let Ye Qingran drag you around again to cause mischief. So if you can’t sleep, starting from tomorrow I’ll accompany you to the Dharma Hall for a Buddhist chanting session," Rong Jing said calmly.

“What” Yun Qianyue jumped up. "You want me to follow you to the Dharma Hall"

"Yes." Rong Jing nodded.

"No way!" Yun Qianyue declared, looking straight into his eyes and adding firmly: "I’d rather die than go."

“I knew you wouldn’t want to go. So I already arranged with Master Lingyin that tomorrow I won't attend the Dharma Hall session; instead, I’ll stay by your side,” Rong Jing nodded slowly.

"You..." Yun Qianyue’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“What Do you actually want to go to the Dharma Hall” Rong Jing raised an eyebrow.

"No!" Yun Qianyue ground her teeth.

"Hmm, that's good then. Let's settle on it like this," Rong Jing nodded and said in a warm tone: "I heard from Mo Li that Ye Qingran invited you to go to Nanshan to see the Camellia trees Since you want to see them, I'll accompany you tomorrow! Ye Qingran can't come now anyway; I've sent Xian Ge with another letter Cloud Grandpa wrote him. In this letter, Cloud Grandpa said that during his stay at Fragrant Spring Mountain these days, he's not allowed to look for you again. If he doesn't listen and still acts wildly and carelessly by your side, he won't be permitted to see you in the future, so Ye Qingran will definitely follow what Cloud Grandpa says."

"You…" Yun Qianyue stared at Rong Jing, not knowing how to describe him anymore.

"However, even without Cloud Grandpa's orders, he likely won't be able to come see you tomorrow to view the Camellia trees because just now it was reported that the Emperor sent someone to announce an edict saying there are some matters at the Military Affairs Office and he must return immediately to handle them. It’s probably already the case that he has set off down the mountain. So, you don’t need to feel guilty towards him either. After all, he’s played around in Fragrant Spring Mountain too many times before, so it doesn't matter if he misses one round."

Yun Qianyue had a lump of resentment stuck in her heart and was furious that this person... This guy… Truly had an evil heart. Her grandfather and the Emperor worked together; Ye Qingran had just arrived and was sent back immediately. He didn’t believe that something would happen so conveniently at the Military Affairs Office, even if there were real matters to handle, perhaps it could also be attributed to his efforts. She fumed for a while and wanted to punch that amiable and elegant face, but she estimated that before hitting him, she’d get hit herself first. So she glared at him angrily: "I want to eat the Begonia Braised Fish!"

Yun Qianyue’s voice was loud and her anger wasn’t hidden in the slightest.

Rong Jing nodded and instructed outwardly, "Xian Ge, go see if the Begonia Braised Fish is ready."

"Reporting to Young Master, it's already done!" Xian Ge said lightly, obviously having heard everything he just said. His admiration for his young master had increased another notch; it seemed that this relieved him of the humiliation from earlier when Yun Qianyue made him speechless during the day. He was feeling utterly refreshed.

"Then bring it here quickly!" Rong Jing ordered again.

"Yes, sir!" Xian Ge immediately went downstairs.

Yun Qianyue rolled up her sleeves; she had to eat this guy up as Begonia Braised Fish today. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to forgive his evil intentions.

In no time, Xian Ge came back with a tray. His movements were agile—nowhere near the image of an aide carrying martial arts skills. He was more like Rong Jing’s personal waiter. The way he presented dishes was pure and correct.

Yun Qianyue stared at the dishes on the tray. There were six plates, all with light vegetarian dishes—no Begonia Braised Fish in sight, not even a fish bone. She looked at Rong Jing, "Where’s the fish"

"The fish" Rong Jing asked Xian Ge.

"Reporting to Young Master, the fish is still in the pot! I brought these vegetarian dishes first," Xian Ge said.

Yun Qianyue didn’t speak anymore and got up. She walked over to sit opposite Rong Jing at the table, still somewhat sulky.

Rong Jing ignored her and sat elegantly, slowly sipping his tea as usual without hurry.

Xian Ge went back downstairs and came back in a short while with another tray. This time there were two bowls of porridge on the tray. He gently placed one in front of Rong Jing, and another in front of Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue glanced at the porridge but didn’t say anything.

Xian Ge went down again; this time without a tray, he came back with a small plate carrying one tiny fish. It was extremely small—less than a third of the two-pound fish Yun Qianyue and Ye Qingran had eaten at noon.

Yun Qianyue’s eyes narrowed immediately as she looked at Rong Jing, "This is Begonia Braised Fish"

Rong Jing looked at Xian Ge.

Xian Ge nodded, “Reporting to Miss Yun Shallow Moon, this is the Begonia Braised Fish."

"Rong Jing! You're deliberately doing this, right Are you trying to play with me" Yun Qianyue was thoroughly annoyed. She abruptly stood up and pointed at Rong Jing. If he had moved Ye Qingran away that was fine; if he planned to stick to her every move tomorrow under the guise of company but actually monitor her, it would be tolerable as well. Not letting her sleep was also within acceptable limits. But why this tiny fish she could swallow in two bites A pile of vegetarian dishes, didn’t know I’m a carnivore or what No meat isn’t enjoyable, eating that is just ridiculous!

"Xian Ge, what happened" Rong Jing’s expression remained unchanged but his voice dropped slightly.

Xian Ge immediately bowed and placed the small dish in front of Rong Jing. He quickly explained: "Reporting to Young Master, this Begonia Braised Fish is yours; Miss Yun Shallow Moon's fish is still in the pot and I haven’t brought it."

"Hmm, then hurry up and bring it over! Look how anxious you've made her," Rong Jing nodded. He waved his hand at Xian Ge while addressing Yun Qianyue with a warm tone: "I know you love fish; there's no way I'd let you not have enough. Sit down! Xian Ge will come back."

Yun Qianyue was sure it had been intentional; absolutely deliberate! She must’ve offended his little aide, and now the karma came to her. Her fury had nowhere to vent, as if the lava from a volcanic eruption was suddenly held back. Suddenly she slammed her hand on the table with a bang, loudly declaring: "I'm not eating!"

"Not eating is fine too. Anyway, it’s unsuitable to eat too much at night and have trouble sleeping. I’ll keep the Begonia Braised Fish for you and you can eat it tomorrow," Rong Jing nodded seriously.

Yun Qianyue nearly spat blood out in shock; her body that was about to leave suddenly sat back down again. She glared at him, "Who said I won’t be eating I was joking! Not only will I eat, but I'll eat a lot, and if it means staying up all night, so be it—no need for you to care."

"Alright, then eat more if you want. If necessary, I’ll stay awake with you," Rong Jing seemed無奈地歎息了一聲。

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes fiercely and had a face as black as soot; she was too lazy to talk to this person anymore. She felt that she was still alive today without being driven to death because of her martial arts training. This guy truly infuriated her!

"Miss Yun Shallow Moon, here is your Begonia Braised Fish!" Xian Ge came back in with a large tray, placing a three-pound fish in front of Yun Qianyue. He didn’t dare look at her face and kept his distance from her as if fearing she’d hit him; he probably thought that even though Young Master Rong Jing would defend Miss Yun Shallow Moon, it was useless to get hit for no reason. His voice carried a hint of caution: "If this isn't enough, there are several more in the pot! Please tell me how much you want."

Yun Qianyue glanced at the porridge but didn’t say anything.

Xian Ge left again and soon returned with another small plate carrying a large fish. This time it was significantly larger, more than three pounds, unlike the tiny one before.

Yun Qianyue’s eyes narrowed in anger as she looked at Rong Jing: "Is this Begonia Braised Fish"

Rong Jing looked at Xian Ge.

Xian Ge nodded, “Reporting to Miss Yun Shallow Moon, this is the Begonia Braised Fish."

"Rong Jing! Are you deliberately doing this You’re trying to play with me!" Yun Qianyue was thoroughly annoyed. She abruptly stood up and pointed at Rong Jing.

“Xian Ge, what happened” Rong Jing’s expression remained unchanged but his voice dropped slightly.

Xian Ge immediately bowed and placed the large dish in front of Rong Jing. He quickly explained: "Reporting to Young Master, this Begonia Braised Fish is yours; Miss Yun Shallow Moon's fish is still in the pot and I haven’t brought it."

Yun Qianyue nearly spat blood out in shock; her body that was about to leave suddenly sat back down again. She glared at him, "Who said I won't be eating I was joking! Not only will I eat, but I'll eat a lot, and if it means staying up all night, so be it—no need for you to care."

"Alright, then eat more if you want. If necessary, I’ll stay awake with you," Rong Jing seemed無奈地歎息了一聲。

"It tastes much better than today's lily leaf baked fish!" Yun Qianyue thought that even though she had been upset, it was worth it at this moment. She forgave Rong Jing for what he did. After all, no matter how long she practiced, she would never be able to make a fish like this; or maybe if someone else hadn’t made it, she wouldn’t have known it could even be done in the first place and also wouldn’t get to eat it.

“Mm, so don’t go looking for Ye Qingran for more fish anymore. He really can't make them!” Rong Jing said.

"Mm!" Yun Qianyue nodded her head.

The moment Xiangge walked out of the room and heard their conversation, he nearly stumbled over his feet in amazement. His admiration for his master had risen to a whole new level; now it was like an endless river surging forward. First, he lowered Miss Qianyue’s spirits to rock bottom by destroying all that she’d obtained up till then. Then, he immediately restored her confidence and made her feel reborn. Shivers ran down Xiangge's spine as he quickly walked away.

"Yah! A whole day of work for such a fish, how much does it cost" Yun Qianyue mumbled while eating; she wanted to know the answer very badly indeed.

“About 100 taels of silver!” Rong Jing reported, then added: “Each fish costs 100 taels.”

Puh! Yun Qianyue nearly choked on a bone in her throat. She coughed and eventually spat the fish bone out before pointing an accusatory finger at Rong Jing with chopsticks. "You’re really squandering money!"

In this world, silver and gold weren’t very common as currency; copper coins were used instead, which was called “wen”. One wen could buy a steamed bun stuffed with meat, and an ordinary family would spend just several taels of silver a year. But it cost 100 taels to make such a single fish—how could this not be squandering

“Mm, indeed that is squandering money. So today I’m letting you eat for free. Eat as much as possible and then next time if you want more, pay me back. Otherwise I don’t know why I would feed you for free every single day” Rong Jing elegantly picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth before answering seriously.

Yun Qianyue was stunned; Xiangge had obviously told him everything she’d said. She clenched her teeth as she replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll eat enough to cover the cost today for sure. And next time you want me to come over, don't expect me to show up unless you pay.”

“Mm,” Rong Jing nodded.

Yun Qianyue didn’t say another word and began eating even more quickly with each bite. The more she ate the better it tasted; she felt very relaxed overall. She thought to herself while eating that 100 taels of silver really was a lot for such a dish! No wonder Ye Qingran said this fellow would ruin everything he touched. He killed a blood-sweating warhorse, rode in a carriage made from sandalwood, and one fish cost him 100 taels of silver. There probably wasn’t another person alive who could spend money as recklessly as he did. On the other hand, this fellow seemed to know how to enjoy life very well.

“Although delicious, this fish is a little salty,” Yun Qianyue said when she had eaten half of it and was feeling thirsty. She drank some congee from the bowl in front of her and found that it tasted very good too. “Having such congee with this fish makes it less salty.”

“Mm, it’s lily leaf congee made from half a branch of lilies,” Rong Jing replied as he took a sip of the congee.

Yun Qianyue drank two more sips and found that it smelled very fragrant. She quickly finished off the bowl and placed it aside before calling out, “Xiangge, I want some more congee.”

“Yes!” Xiangge immediately brought in another two bowls of congee as if he had anticipated this.

"Give them all to her. I don’t need any," Rong Jing said and shook his head.

Xiangge placed the two bowls of congee down in front of Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue nodded with satisfaction as she began eating another bowl; it was still hot from just being cooked and smelled better than the other, which had cooled off. She immediately started drinking again.

Xiangge looked strangely at Yun Qianyue before turning around to leave.

"Why am I still thirsty! Bring me some water!" Yun Qianyue suddenly thought these two bowls of congee tasted salty all of a sudden. She put down her bowl and called out to Rong Jing.

Rong Jing had already prepared a cup of water for her. He handed it over and reminded her, “It’s hot; drink slowly!”

Yun Qianyue took the cup with her hand. She didn’t seem to feel any heat as she gulped down the whole thing in one go, which finally quenched her thirst a little bit. Putting down the water cup and picking up her chopsticks again, she looked at the fish and suddenly felt full. She frowned and forced herself to eat another bite but found it less delicious now. "There’s an old saying that says when you’re hungry even chaff tastes like honey while after you’ve had enough eating honey won’t taste sweet anymore. And indeed this is true!"

“Then don’t eat any more; it will just make you feel uncomfortable.” Rong Jing said.

"No way, why can’t I eat It’s a hundred taels of silver for such fish! Today at noon I ate a fish over two catties in weight and shared another one that was about seven or eight catties with Ye Qingran. If not for the annoying Night Tianqing who came to visit, I would have had more than this as well. Altogether it should be around four catties but now there’s only three catties of fish here and I’ve eaten half a bowl already; that makes about one catty… That can’t be right! When did I ever eat so little Even if I’m feeling poor today, I still would have managed to finish this single dish!" Yun Qianyue scratched her stomach doubtfully. It was very full but she didn't understand why.

Was it because all the food from earlier had not digested yet

Rong Jing gave her a pitying look and explained, “You’ve already eaten about one catty of fish today. Then you drank three bowls of congee and also a cup of water. Your stomach isn’t that big so where could all the food go”

Yun Qianyue immediately understood as she stared at the empty bowl, cup and three other empty bowls in front of her. She was filled with regret: “Why did I drink this congee It’s very tasty but also ordinary; it took up so much space for nothing!”

“Mm, remember that if you want to eat more fish next time, don’t drink any congee,” Rong Jing said.

Yun Qianyue pursed her lips and agreed with a nod. If she continued eating like this she would burst her stomach for sure so she put down her chopsticks and looked at Rong Jing who was elegantly eating the fish again, savoring each bite more than before; which made Yun Qianyue jealous immediately. Just as she was about to leave, however, something occurred to her and she suddenly stood up and slammed her hand on the table in anger: “You did this on purpose! That first bowl of congee you gave me was bland but the other two were salty! You want to trick me into drinking more water so I’ll stop being thirsty”

Rong Jing had already prepared a glass of water for her, which he handed over and said: “It’s hot; drink slowly!”

Yun Qianyue took the cup with her hand. She didn’t seem to feel any heat as she gulped down the whole thing in one go, which finally quenched her thirst a little bit.

Putting down the water cup and picking up her chopsticks again, she looked at the fish and suddenly felt full. She frowned and forced herself to eat another bite but found it less delicious now. "There’s an old saying that says when you’re hungry even chaff tastes like honey while after you’ve had enough eating honey won’t taste sweet anymore. And indeed this is true!"

“Then don’t eat any more; it will just make you feel uncomfortable.” Rong Jing said.

Was it because all the food from earlier had not digested yet

Rong Jing gave her a pitying look and explained, “You’ve already eaten about one catty of fish today. Then you drank three bowls of congee and also a cup of water. Your stomach isnsufficiently large to hold all that so where could it have gone”

“Mm, remember that if you want to eat more fish next time, don’t drink any congee,” Rong Jing said.

Just as she was about to leave, however, something occurred to her and she suddenly stood up and slammed her hand on the table in anger: “You did this on purpose! That first bowl of congee you gave me was bland but the other two were salty! You want to trick me into drinking more water so I’ll stop being thirsty”

“I indeed made that first bowl of congee mild but the next ones are made with lotus leaves and orchid flowers respectively. Lotus leaf congee should be a bit milder while the other two should taste a little saltier for better flavor. You asked Xiangge to bring them in yourself, so how could you blame me I only gave you water because you wanted it,” Rong Jing said with an amused smile.

Yun Qianyue turned around and shouted outside, “Xiangge! Is this really your doing”

"Miss Yun, I didn’t do anything on purpose. The lotus leaf congee was prepared for you but the other two were made by me and our cook to drink ourselves; we just finished cooking them so you got them first as there’s nothing else left for us," Xiangge said in a cold voice.

“F*ck! Can’t he eat anything that isn’t this expensive” Yun Qianyue wanted to slap him, gritting her teeth and saying, “Eat the fish then. I hope you choke on it.”

"Thank you for your concern Miss Yun. I will be careful not to burst my stomach," Xiangge said before quickly leaving.

Yun Qianyue gritted her teeth and said, “That’s what kind of master gets that kind of servant!” She then turned back to Rong Jing with a frustrated look on her face, saying, "If I can’t eat it today, I’ll come tomorrow. You won’t be able to run away."

“You just have to prepare enough silver and I will cook for you whenever you want,” Rong Jing said.

"Ask for money Dream on!" Yun Qianyue threw those words at him and left the room, thinking of all the days she would come back and ask for fish without paying, making him go bankrupt. She then walked into the kitchen where a light was still burning, looking to find Xiangge.

Rong Jing looked out of the window, smiling when he saw her empty plates and bowls on the table and shook his head amusedly.

——

Thank you to the readers who sent diamonds and flowers!

小豬100200 (1 diamond), melon123 (1 diamond), 蔡dyna (1 diamond), 呂奶奶 (1 diamond), 夢淩如若琉璃 (5 flowers), zou6602xian (1 flower), 985115 (1 flower)."Little girl, you're trying to crack a stone with an egg! The Advisor showed mercy on you!" Nan Lingrui's voice suddenly came through telepathy.Cloud Qianyue harrumphed and replied via telepathy, "He...

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