Xie Lang watched as Lady Liu left with a smile on her face, while Xie Yun beside him glared at him jealously. Xie Lang was instantly shocked as he looked at Shen Mingzhu, his eyes filled with surprise and deep suspicion. "Your Highness is standing up for me?"
Shen Mingzhu did this on purpose to set Lady Liu and Concubine Wang against each other. Now neither of them dared to provoke her, so the only possible reason for her actions was to get even for Xie Lang.
Lady Liu's maternal family was far less powerful than the Xie Mansion, and the wealth of the Xie Mansion was far less than Shen Mingzhu's. So this set of jewelry from the palace was like a carrot dangled in front of a donkey for Lady Liu. Even though she knew it was a trap, she still wanted to take a bite.
Lady Liu had a son and a daughter, so she naturally had to find ways to save up for their dowries and betrothal gifts.
"Hmm?" Shen Mingzhu looked at him when she heard this, her expression calm. She glanced at Xie Lang and said, "I'm willing."
"Spending a little money to watch dogs fight each other is worth it."
Xie Lang looked at her expression and couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, then I hope Your Highness will be willing a few more times in the future."
They sat down in front of the small stone table. After they finished talking, they fell into silence.
Shen Mingzhu was too lazy to talk, while Xie Lang couldn't think of a suitable topic. So one looked up at the sky while the other looked down at the ants on the ground.
When Chun Tao finally found them, she saw her Highness and the son - in - law looking harmonious. She was instantly surprised, then said, "Your Highness, this servant has settled Young Master Qing Zhu properly."
"Okay." Shen Mingzhu nodded. "Do you know the way around the Xie Mansion?"
"This servant memorized the map of the Xie Mansion a few days ago and also walked around with someone. Where does Your Highness want to go?"
Shen Mingzhu thought for a moment after hearing this, then said to Chun Tao, "Just wander around and find our way back."
When she turned around, she saw that the corners of Xie Lang's mouth, which had been upturned, had somehow drooped. He was looking at Shen Mingzhu with a deep look in his eyes, as if there was a trace of barely noticeable anger.
What was going on?
Shen Mingzhu directly tugged at his sleeve, wanting to hear his thoughts.
[Qing Zhu? Tsk, I wonder where he's been settled. I'll find a way to... ]
Shen Mingzhu: "???"
Why did Xie Lang dislike Qing Zhu so much? Could it be that he really wasn't the master behind the small building?
Shen Mingzhu was extremely puzzled. So she said to Xie Lang, "Let's go."
Xie Lang stood up. Seeing Shen Mingzhu tugging at his sleeve, he turned to look at her, his expression solemn. "Your Highness is tugging at my sleeve. Where do you want to go?"
"Maybe we should go and see Your Highness's Qing Zhu?"
When Shen Mingzhu heard this, she immediately let go of his sleeve and even took a step back to create some distance. She said to Xie Lang, "Do you want to see Qing Zhu?
"Let Chun Tao take you there. He's outside now."
Xie Lang only felt the anger rising in his heart. The look in his eyes when he looked at Shen Mingzhu was filled with unconscious resentment. But Shen Mingzhu didn't explain after she finished speaking and just walked forward.
"Master Xie." Chun Tao lowered her voice when she passed by Xie Lang. Obviously, she wanted to do a favor for this handsome son - in - law who was obviously more favored than Qing Zhu. "Qing Zhu has been arranged to make perfume in a shop outside the mansion."
After saying that, she walked forward quickly to lead the way for Shen Mingzhu.
Xie Lang was stunned when he heard this. The anger on his face instantly disappeared, and there was even a trace of indescribable pleasure in his heart.
Realizing his emotional change, Xie Lang sighed as he looked at Shen Mingzhu's back, then chased after her directly.
...
After they returned to the room, the atmosphere between them became inexplicably harmonious. Shen Mingzhu noticed that Xie Lang's attitude towards her had suddenly become gentle. He even took the initiative to serve her food. She put down her chopsticks and looked at him suspiciously.
"Your Highness doesn't like this?"
Xie Lang laughed when he heard this. Then he picked up some extremely tender stewed chicken with his chopsticks and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Then Your Highness should try this. I asked someone to stew it yesterday. I added some things. It's very nourishing."
Only then did Shen Mingzhu notice that Xie Lang had been serving her food, while his own bowl was empty and the rice in it was plain.
"You..." Shen Mingzhu looked at Xie Lang. She took a sip of water uncomfortably. "Do you have something to ask of me?"
Xie Lang's hand paused as he was picking up food. He was almost laughed at by Shen Mingzhu. He took a deep breath, worried that he might suffocate if he couldn't catch his breath.
"Eat first." Xie Lang gave Shen Mingzhu a half - smiling look and patiently explained, "Let's not talk while eating. Otherwise, getting angry during a meal is bad for our health."
Shen Mingzhu realized later that Xie Lang seemed a little angry, so she shut up and continued eating.
The chicken melted in her mouth and had a faint medicinal fragrance. The natural freshness of the chicken was not covered up; instead, it was even more delicious.
Shen Mingzhu was a picky eater and could immediately tell that the ingredients were extraordinary.
She had recently lost her appetite for chicken and preferred fish, so she hadn't asked the small kitchen to prepare it. So this dish might have been made with ingredients that Xie Lang had paid for out of his own pocket.
Thinking of this, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but look up at Xie Lang. She saw a faint smile on his face as he asked, "How is it?"
"It's not bad."
So Xie Lang picked up another piece of chicken for Shen Mingzhu, then took a small bowl and filled it with soup to let it cool.
Seeing the rare gentleness on his face, Shen Mingzhu subconsciously reached out her hand to listen to his thoughts, but unfortunately, Xie Lang still had something in his hand.
Shen Mingzhu hesitated for a moment as she looked at him. She slightly got up and tucked the stray hair on Xie Lang's forehead behind his ear, then naturally withdrew her hand.
[How could it not be delicious? Shen Mingzhu has a really discerning palate and a sharp tongue. Tsk, it seems I have to earn more money recently.]
[What are you doing, Shen Mingzhu!]
Her fingertips brushing past his earlobe brought a tingling sensation, like being caressed by a feather. But Xie Lang felt as if his heart had been hit hard by a heavy object. He instantly stood still.
What was wrong with Shen Mingzhu! Why did she always touch him?
Shen Mingzhu saw Xie Lang standing still. Chun Tao even gave her an appreciative look. She instantly realized that her words and actions might have crossed the line recently in order to listen to Xie Lang's thoughts.
"Your hair was loose." She calmly said to Xie Lang. Then she picked up some food and put it in his bowl. "Eat. It's not a big deal."
Seeing that Xie Lang was still in a daze, Shen Mingzhu said, "What? Is there something else?"
Shen Mingzhu's preemptive move left Xie Lang unable to react for a moment. When he came to his senses, he was already chewing the food she had picked for him, and half of the white rice in front of him was gone.
He had eaten too much white rice in a few mouthfuls and was choking. So he picked up the soup beside him and took a sip. Just after he finished drinking, he saw Shen Mingzhu looking at him with an unfathomable expression.
What now!
Xie Lang lowered his head following her gaze and saw that the spoon in the bowl seemed to be Shen Mingzhu's. Obviously, Shen Mingzhu had just finished drinking and casually put the spoon in it, but he hadn't noticed and just picked it up and took a sip.
For the first time, Shen Mingzhu saw helplessness in Xie Lang's eyes. So she said mischievously, "Ah, it's okay."
"Master Xie needn't be polite. This soup was also made with the ingredients you got. If you like it, this palace will ask someone to make it for you every day in the future."
Xie Lang's earlobes were red as if they were bleeding.
The room suddenly fell silent. Shen Mingzhu calmly continued eating while admiring Xie Lang's expression. Then she saw Chun Tao go out and come back with an indescribable expression on her face.
"What's the matter?"
She asked. Chun Tao was startled at first, then leaned over and whispered in Shen Mingzhu's ear, "Your Highness... The Emperor has sent some... some rather... "
"Rather difficult - to - handle... "
What?