Chapter 177   Postponing the Wedding

Yun Shimo’s eyes were so profound that they resembled the bottomless sea.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry I cannot give you an answer yet. Because... right now I’m too busy to consider this matter.”

Yun Shimo said softly.

Princess Qianyang’s eyes showed some disappointment. Yet her lively eyes still gazed into Yun Shimo’s. “You mean... your wedding next month will be postponed?”

Yun Shimo started to smile a little. “Your Highness is smart.”

Princess Qianyang heard him and started to rejoice. In other words, Yun Shimo had felt something for her?

Although Yun Shimo did not make an indication, the fact he was here meant that she was still alluring. And her allure wasn’t a little too.

Given his character, he would surely not have come if he didn’t like her.

With this thought, Princess Qianyang became extremely pleased. The faint blush on her face took on a deeper color and her body burned.

“Your Highness... you like me... don’t you?” Princess Qianyang still pursued her earlier topic. Yun Shimo glanced at her pretty face and pursed his lips.

Although he did not reply, his eyes were shining with a gentle light.

Princess Qianyang looked into his gentle eyes and her entire body shook. She was almost about to dash over and pinned her arms around Yun Shimo’s neck. Unfortunately, she was entranced by his gentle look.

“Princess, it’s getting late. I shall take my leave.” Yun Shimo’s quiet voice broke her stupefied stare. When Princess Qianyang came to herself again, she nodded bashfully.

“Very well... tomorrow night.... Could Your Highness come and visit Qianyang here again?”

Princess Qianyang was nervously clenching the hem of her skirt with both hands. Her heart was thumping, her entire person burning as if she was on fire.

“Alright!”

The cold male voice made Princess Qianyang tremble. She joyfully raised her head and gazed at the man before her, her eyes full of blissful surprise.

“I shall take my leave, Your Highness.”

With these words, Yun Shimo’s figure disappeared like a streak of lightning before Princess Qianyang’s eyes.

When she came to herself, she felt a little annoyed. She in fact wanted an embrace from Yun Shimo, but she was too enthusiastic, too direct. But it was really because Yun Shimo was really so dazzling that she wanted almost to rape him!

The next morning.

When Hua Qiyue had just finished her breakfast with the adorable Tianci, Youshui came to report the arrival of Yun Shimo.

Now, whenever Yun Shimo visited Hua’s Mansion, he would bypass the Old Madame and Hua Liting. After all, those two elders of the Hua family were known to welcome him greatly. They had ordered their servants to bypass them and take Yun Shimo directly into Hua Qiyue’s Cuihua Court.

Hua Qiyue was combing Tianci’s black hair when she heard footsteps and the distinct clicking of the bead curtain. She raised her head and was soon staring into a profound pair of eyes.

“Why are you here again?”

Hua Qiyue’s voice sounded very cold.

Naturally, she still minded it. Whenever she remembered Princess Qianyang’s request to be granted marriage, and the fact that Yun Shimo did not react, she became angry. She was so upset that she was reluctant to see him again.

Yun Shimo gave a faint smile. He lowered his voice consciously. “My mother wants to see you and Tianci.”

Hua Qiyue started. Madame Yun? In her impression, that lady was so easy to get along with. Every time she saw her, she would feel like she was meeting her own mother.

She was planning to pay her respects to her father and mother at their graves. She was preparing for it. Yet if Madame Yun would like to see her and Tianci, she could leave this matter to Butler Wang.

After all, Tianci had stayed in the tower for a time and Madame Yun had taken good care of him. Hua Qiyue still had a favorable impression of the lady.

The requests of an elder can’t be easily turned down.

Hua Qiyue could only bring Tianci to Prince Nan’s mansion with a grim face.

After they entered the tall tower, Madame Yun was delighted. She embraced Tianci and gifted him with several Magic Crystals. She also gave him a specially prepared pot of sour-and-sweet red berries.

This sort of snack was very tasty, sweet and slightly sour. It could stimulate the appetite. So Tianci liked Madame Yun quite a lot.

“Qiyue, haven’t seen you for a while. Come, let Mother look at you.”

Madame Yun was pulling Tianci, smiling. Hua Qiyue had a big shock. Mother? What’s up, eh?

“Hoho, in my heart, you will always be Prince Nan’s consort.” Madame Yun said with a smile. It was such a conservative feudal society, yet she harbored such admiration for the bold, audacious Hua Qiyue. She was also a special woman, one must say.

Hua Qiyue was quite embarrassed. She walked over, red in the face. “Madame... you are too kind. I am overwhelmed by your kindness.”

“I know that Princess Qianyang has requested marriage. Why, if the Emperor agrees with it, we will only have a way out—run!” Madame Yun said with a smile. She swept a gaze at Yun Shimo, who was motionless like a block of wood.

Yun Shimo was looking somewhat awkward. “Mother, Qiyue, Tianci, I’m going out for a while. Look me up when you have finished.”

After that, Yun Shimo left hurriedly.

Madame Yun saw his quickly departing figure and shook her head. “This boy has always been shy and reticent. Qiyue, don’t take it to heart. Even if he didn’t reject the proposal in front of the Emperor, it was just because of the Emperor. Don’t worry.”

Madame Yun continued to express her “loyalty” toward Hua Qiyue. Hua Qiyue jerked the corner of her mouth and gave a faint laugh. “Don’t worry so much, Madame. It’s not worth my concern.”

Tianci was by the side pouting his small mouth. Not concerned? If that was the case, why was she pulling a face the whole day long?

Madame Yun nodded. “That’s good then. Anyway, Shimo must have his own reasons. I guess he must be cooking now.”

Tianci immediately widened his eyes and tugged Hua Qiyue’s hand hurriedly. “Mom, let’s go see if Dad’s in the kitchen.”

Hua Qiyue had no choice but to bid Old Madame Yun farewell, leaving the tower with Tianci. On their way to the kitchen, she saw Ji Feng, Ji Jing, Huangfu Xuan and the others.

“Uncle Feng!”

Tianci saw Ji Feng and was delighted. He waved his little arms and dashed over. Ji Feng carried him in his arms with a chuckle. “Tianci, here to see your Dad again, eh?”

“Yes, yes! Uncle Feng, what do you have for me this time?” The little fellow was blinking his eyes, posing a question. Ji Jing gave a faint smile and immediately took out a long fruit, as big as a human palm. The fruit was yellowish. “This is the Yellow Immortal Fruit. It doesn’t have any use but tastes great and is rare in our country. Try one!”

Ji Jing’s voice had just faded when Tianci took the fruit in his hands. “Thank you, Sister Jing!”

Ji Feng jerked the corner of his mouth. Tianci called him “Uncle” and Ji Jing “Sister.” Well, he didn’t want to be an old man.

Hua Qiyue took in everything with a smile. These friends had always treated her with great sincerity right from the start. They were never calculative.

“Wow, taste great indeed! Mom, won’t you have you a bite?” Tianci ran over to Hua Qiyue and started showering her with affection. Hua Qiyue shook her head and caressed his head.

“You eat. Mom’s not very hungry.”

“Tianci, this is a Man-Hunting Insect.” Suddenly, in Ji Feng’s hand was an insect with gossamer wings. Its entire body was light green, with a pair of large, bewitching eyes.

Tianci saw the insect and instantly whooped with joy.

He took it gingerly. “Uncle Feng, thank you. But this insect’s called the Man-Hunting Insect. We can locate someone with it?”

“You can. But only within a boundary of 250 kilometers. Beyond this, you won’t be able to trace your man,” Ji Feng answered.

Huangfu Xuan stood silently on one side. He seemed to have changed from the exuberant character he once was and was now very quiet. Hua Qiyue had to give him a second look. She was feeling quite baffled.

Huangfu Xuan suddenly met Hua Qiyue’s eyes but panicked and shifted his gaze away. He could not help but redden. Hua Qiyue stopped for a while and felt her scalp tingle. She dared not look at Huangfu Xuan again.

This guy used to be wildly arrogant. Why was he so much of a sissy now?

“How do you locate a person with it?”

“Just touch the insect with some personal belonging of the man. Then flicked it with your fingers. It will locate the man for you.” Ji Feng smiled.

Tianci liked it even more now. He quickly gobbled the Yellow Immortal Fruit in his hands and started playing with the Man-Hunting Insect.

It was the first time Hua Qiyue had heard of this insect too. It was brought over here on the behest of Ji Feng from Mingcang Kingdom. This insect was very precious, worth 1,000 taels of gold. It was too expensive for the common man to own.

Of course, only large clans could afford such insects. But there were many members in a large clan and it was very easy to locate another person. Therefore, demand for this insect remained low.

But sometime this insect would be very helpful. At least Hua Qiyue would agree with it two years later.

The company followed Tianci to the kitchen. They looked into the kitchen lingering with faint smoke and were immediately stunned.

Who was the person so busy at the stove?

Yun Shimo was all in black—handsome, indifferent and cold. He was cooking?

“Dad!” Tianci’s loud voice rang out, because he had sniffed an aroma he liked very much—that of Steamed Chicken with Red Dates and Green Tea, Wrapped in Lotus Leaves.

This dish could only be had in Prince Nan’s mansion. It could not be found in restaurants and stalls elsewhere. It was a culinary invention of Yun Shimo, carrying with it the scent of tea and lotus leaves. There were many goodies stuffed in the chicken belly—Ginseng, shiitake mushrooms, red dates and many more. The steamed dish was extremely fragrant.

Tianci loved this dish, so he liked to go here. Of course, it was also because this was the home of his acknowledged father.

Yun Shimo turned his head back embarrassedly when he saw Hua Qiyue and the company. He jerked the corner of his mouth awkwardly. He did not expect that his flustered state of cooking could be witnessed by them.

Ji Jing widened her big eyes. She saw Yun Shimo’s face which was formerly very handsome and instantly burst out laughing. “Hahahaha... Yun Shimo, your face... hahaha, you’re turning into a tabby cat!”

Ji Feng and Huangfu Xuan gave him a contemptuous look, shaking their heads repeatedly. So, one could resort to this to ingratiate with one’s beloved and future son!

In Changjing Kingdom, no male master would ever cook. If this matter leaked out, it would become a great joke.

Hua Qiyue also twitched the corner of her mouth. There were indeed a few black scratches on Yun Shimo’s handsome face. He must have made them by accident when feeding the firewood.

Tianci dashed over. The Man-Hunting Insect was clinging to his hair. It seemed to like its little master very much.

Tianci grabbed Yun Shimo’s sleeves with both hands and started to whoop with joy. “Hey hey hey, are you steaming chicken, Dad? Tianci loves it! You’re great, Dad!”

The little fellow was fawning so much that Hua Qiyue was tempted to drag him away.