Cheng Xiran found it both amusing and ridiculous. She couldn't help but cover her face with her hand to avoid being seen by Helian Duo.
Helian Duo was tired of explaining. In the end, he simply stopped arguing with Young Master Zhang. He just called for Zuo Yan. "Since Young Master Zhang is not convenient to stay for dinner, this king will not force you to stay. Zuo Yan, see our guest out properly. Don't neglect Young Master Zhang."
Zuo Yan invited him to leave, but Young Master Zhang disdained to respond. He just took a step forward and suddenly ordered Cheng Xiran, who had remained silent all this time, in an overbearing manner. "Have you forgotten your old love just because you have a new one? How could you abandon Young Master Cheng just because of those rumors outside? So what if the king's preference for men is known? How could you do this to him when he relied on you so much?"
Cheng Xiran couldn't hold it in any longer. She could only keep drinking tea and occasionally glance at Helian Duo. It was obvious that Helian Duo was already impatient. He even seemed to have the urge to punch someone.
Zuo Yan also patiently persuaded him on the side. "Young Master Zhang, the king is in a bad mood today. Why don't you come back another day to ask? I can't guarantee what will happen if you keep asking."
Young Master Zhang knew Helian Duo's temper...
He chose his own life over Young Master Cheng.
Seeing him leave in a rather embarrassed manner, Cheng Xiran couldn't help but sigh. "It's said that even heroes have a hard time resisting the charm of beautiful women. I think this Young Master Zhang has a hard time resisting the charm of men."
"You have the nerve to tease. It's you who has been on his mind day and night..." Helian Duo gradually withdrew the coldness from his eyes and then said, "Why don't you dress up as Young Master Cheng for him again? It would be a way to fulfill his painstaking efforts."
Cheng Xiran flatly refused. "Forget it. I'd rather continue being Miss Cheng. He seems so crazy. I don't know what outrageous things he might do if he really saw me."
Helian Duo enjoyed this dinner very much. He ate half a bowl more rice than usual.
It seemed that Cheng Xiran was also a great appetizer.
Seeing that the night was getting deeper outside, it was not suitable for a young lady like her to stay in the prince's mansion any longer. So after having a couple of cups of tea with Helian Duo, she asked to leave. "If I don't go back now, my father will surely ask endless questions. I'll leave first."
Helian Duo didn't try to keep her. He just asked Zuo Yan to escort her back in person.
Even though Mu Li was there.
Not long after they left the prince's mansion, Zuo Yan started to talk a lot. Cheng Xiran then realized that he was actually a very talkative person. Maybe after working under Helian Duo for a long time, his personality had been suppressed. That's why he usually had a cold face like his master, which had caused a lot of misunderstandings.
Zuo Yan told Cheng Xiran a lot of things, mostly about the changes in Helian Duo since she came to his side. Of course, with such a lovely person around, Helian Duo naturally changed for the better.
"It would be great if Miss Cheng could always stay by the king's side."
Zuo Yan's sincere words really touched Cheng Xiran's heart.
However... Helian Duo didn't seem to have any romantic feelings for her.
Moreover, considering her own identity and the uncertain stance of the Cheng family, she couldn't whole - heartedly like or love him. In that case, she could only suppress this rare feeling of affection.
After sending her to the Cheng mansion, Zuo Yan said a few words to Mu Li and then left.
Cheng Xiran returned to her own courtyard full of energy. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Cheng Zhiyue waiting for her there.
Under the gentle moonlight, her face looked extremely hideous.
"Cheng Xiran, did you tamper with my dance dress? Otherwise, how could it have split?"
Her accusing tone really annoyed Cheng Xiran.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. After giving a signal to Mu Li beside her, she glared fiercely at Cheng Zhiyue. "I advise you not to provoke me anymore. Otherwise, I don't know what means A Li will use on you."
Seeing Cheng Zhiyue's face change slightly, she couldn't help but加重 her tone. "Also, out of the fact that we are family, I'll kindly remind you one more time. Before A Li was brought back by me, she was an assassin in the jianghu. She has some skills."
Cheng Xiran rolled her eyes at her. Seeing her showing a look of fear, she just despised her for being so spineless in her heart.
After returning to the inner room and taking a short rest, she heard Yun'er, who came in with water, say that Cheng Zhiyue had swaggered away.
"This Cheng family is really unbearable."
She laughed at herself.
Zhuque deliberately lowered her voice and said, "The old lady was unwell and stayed in her own courtyard all day today. Prime Minister Cheng didn't come back until evening. Sun Yanyan and Mrs. Liu have caused a lot of trouble during the day."
Wasn't the fight between women just those common little tricks?
Zhuque seemed to see through her thoughts. She said mysteriously, "Hey, it's different today. Sun Yanyan has only been in the mansion for two days, but she actually dared to openly oppose Mrs. Liu. She didn't show any sign of weakness at all. She doesn't seem as weak as she looks on the surface."
Cheng Xiran just casually replied with an "oh". She was only slightly on guard against Sun Yanyan for now, but it wasn't that serious yet.
Zhuque asked her some interesting things about the Hundred - Flower Banquet. Cheng Xiran patiently explained them all, including every delicate dish she had eaten and every dance she had watched. She described them vividly.
She finally stopped talking when she was tired.
"Come quickly! The lady wants to harm me! Come and save me!"
Cheng Xiran didn't know how long she had been sleeping. Anyway, this sentence kept echoing in her ears. At first, she thought she was dreaming. But when she woke up and saw Zhuque pacing carefully back and forth in the room, she realized it wasn't a dream.