"Let's go have wontons. I suppose the great Prince Regent won't be interested in this, right?"
For some reason, as soon as he softened his tone and gentled his gaze a bit, all of Cheng Xiran's anger seemed to dissipate instantly. She hated this about herself, but she had to admit and accept this fact.
"Wait for me to change my clothes. Otherwise, if I'm recognized all of a sudden, I'm afraid I'll scare people."
After dropping these words, Helian Duo turned around and went back into the Flower Beauty Pavilion.
Cheng Xiran obediently waited to one side. The madam of the brothel came closer, looking extremely curious. "So Young Master Cheng and the Prince Regent are friends? Well, it's not really surprising. After all, Young Master Xue and the Prince are old acquaintances, so it's only natural that you have a bit of a connection with him."
Cheng Xiran crossed her arms in front of her chest and said self - assuredly, "I'm not just casually acquainted with the Prince. Our friendship runs deep!"
She emphasized the latter part of the sentence. Hearing this, Mu Li beside her had a flash of suspicion in her eyes.
The madam found this kind of over - explanation a bit strange, but she just smiled. "Yes, yes, yes. You are all noble people. Naturally, you're different from us ordinary folks."
Cheng Xiran chatted with the madam for a while and also helped Mu Li fend off a lot of the madam's overtures.
It wasn't until Helian Duo came out again that the madam finally gave up on eyeing Mu Li and left awkwardly, muttering about it being a pity. She then earnestly invited Cheng Xiran to come to the Flower Beauty Pavilion more often, bringing Mu Li along.
Helian Duo was dressed in the same outfit as this morning. Wearing a veil and with a completely changed makeup, even the madam didn't recognize him.
The three of them walked together on the long and deserted street. The oncoming wind carried the unique chill of the autumn night. Cheng Xiran couldn't help but pull her cloak tighter. Still feeling cold, she quickened her pace, thinking that the faster she got to the wonton shop, the sooner she'd get warm.
Helian Duo slowly followed behind and couldn't help asking Mu Li, "A Li, did Cheng Xiran do this to you?"
Hearing him mention her, Cheng Xiran slowed down until she was walking side by side with them, right in the middle.
Mu Li nodded slightly. Seeing Helian Duo burst out laughing, she couldn't help speaking up for Cheng Xiran. "I think she did a great job. Miss's makeup skills are no worse than the Prince's disguise skills."
"Come on, she can't compare with me..." Helian Duo smacked his lips and continued, "I've been walking around the capital in this disguise for the past two days, and no one has recognized me at all."
Yeah, right. You're so amazing, Cheng Xiran silently scoffed in her heart.
"Bullshit. I recognized you just by taking a look at you this morning. It shows that your disguise isn't that successful. You've just changed your appearance a bit, and with a closer look, you can still be recognized."
Mu Li beside them was a bit helpless. She watched as they bickered all the way to the wonton shop without reaching a conclusion. Not knowing which side to take, she just quietly watched.
The wonton - selling old woman saw Cheng Xiran but didn't recognize her. She just asked, "Good evening, three guests. Do you want three bowls of wontons?"
Seeing Cheng Xiran nod, she went to the side to cook them.
Cheng Xiran propped her chin on her hands and watched as the old woman put the white wontons one by one into the boiling water. A smell of meat filled the air. Looking at the rising steam, she felt much warmer.
But when she came to her senses, she realized that she was wearing Helian Duo's outer robe.
Just as she was about to ask, the old woman came over with bowls of wontons in her hands, shouting, "Wontons are here! Three guests, enjoy your meal!"
Cheng Xiran started eating without caring about the heat, which made Helian Duo on the side roll his eyes.
By now, Helian Duo had taken off his veil. His handsome face was even more distinct in the moonlight. His charming eyes seemed to be filled with moonlight, making people unable to look away.
Cheng Xiran subconsciously moved a bit towards Mu Li, trying to stay away from him. She was afraid that if her actions were too obvious and he noticed, he would surely laugh at her. Helian Duo noticed this and couldn't help asking, "Are you afraid of me?"
"No, of course not. Why would I be afraid of you..."
Cheng Xiran forced out a couple of laughs and then lowered her head to focus on eating.
The old woman sitting there wrapping wontons interjected, "This knight is handsome, but there's a hint of killing intent in his eyes. No wonder your friend is scared of him."
Cheng Xiran almost choked on the wonton in her mouth.
"So it's you!"
Suddenly, a fierce voice came from behind the three of them.