Helian Duo didn't say a word. Instead, he raised his eyes and looked in Zhu Que's direction. The latter felt a chill run down his spine under this look. He shrank back, glanced at Cheng Xiran, and seeing her nod, he then withdrew.
"What do you want to talk to me about, Your Highness? And you even had to dismiss the others?" Cheng Xiran sensed the killing intent and took several steps back in succession. "You're not going to do something, are you? Let me tell you, I'm still an unmarried girl."
"I'm not interested in you. Is the butcher in Anecdotes of the Capital me?"
The butcher? So it was about this. She thought he was going to do something else. It was really scary.
"To prevent the readers from finding the people involved, I used other names for all the characters in it. I planned to write a tragic love story between the butcher and the eldest young lady later. After all, people these days like to read such stories." Cheng Xiran picked up the teacup and sat back down. She took a sip and felt that there was a strange taste, so she put it down.
A tragic love story?
Helian Duo frowned slightly and slowly stepped forward. "So, you're planning to develop a tragic love story with me? Are you using Anecdotes of the Capital to remind me?"
"You're overthinking. I don't have such an intention at all. I just want to attract more readers to Anecdotes of the Capital. It will be beneficial for our future development."
"Better be so."
"Of course it is. Do you think I wrote you into the story because I'm really interested in you? It's just that you happened to save me, so I appropriately added you to the article." Cheng Xiran replied with a pout. She wondered what was going on in this prince's mind all day long.
For some reason, Helian Duo used to be very happy when he heard such words, but now he felt his heart was blocked. It must be because Cheng Xiran had written him as a butcher. There was no other reason.
Before they knew it, it was dusk. Master Cheng knew that Helian Duo was in her courtyard, so he specially ordered someone to prepare dinner and invited him to have it. Since the invitation was out, Helian Duo couldn't refuse. He had no choice but to go and deal with it.
Coincidentally, the Cheng family used to have dinner in their own courtyards. But when they learned that Helian Duo was in the mansion, they all rushed to the front hall to watch the fun.
Helian Duo greeted the old lady politely. The people of the Cheng family paraded in front of him one by one like a revolving lantern before they took their seats one by one.
After all this fuss, Cheng Xiran felt that she could hardly sit still. She had to suppress her impatience and wait for them to finish talking.
Among them, Cheng Zhiyue and Mrs. Liu were the most excited. They whispered to each other, and Cheng Zhiyue could hardly contain the smile on her face. From time to time, she would look up and steal glances at Helian Duo.
Tsk tsk.
Cheng Xiran really looked down on her. It was just a man. Just because he was good - looking didn't mean he could be eaten. This look of having never seen a man before was really embarrassing.
During the dinner, Mrs. Liu entertained Helian Duo like the mistress of the family. She picked up food for him and poured wine for him. The old lady sat in the middle looking calm, as if nothing had anything to do with her.
A pair of chopsticks picked up a piece of meat and put it into her bowl. Cheng Xiran frowned and glanced at the owner of the chopsticks. Helian Duo was talking to Master Cheng. She didn't care about anything else. She just wanted to finish eating and run away. She still had her book to finish.
Seeing that Helian Duo had picked up a piece of meat for Cheng Xiran but not for Cheng Zhiyue, Mrs. Liu felt a bit uncomfortable. She forced a charming smile and tried to please Cheng Xiran. "Xiran, the meat today is a bit greasy. You're a girl, so you'd better eat less. Come, have a sip of fish soup."