Xie Fengran had no choice but to pick up the spoon and scoop up a mouthful of the steamed egg custard.
It had to be said that the egg custard at Jingyueju melted in the mouth. The seafood had no fishy smell at all, only a sweet and fresh flavor, blending with the fragrance of the egg custard.
Xie Fengran took a bite, then rather unreservedly scooped up another mouthful. After thinking for a while, she took a third bite.
She finished a small bowl of seafood - stewed egg in three mouthfuls. Putting down the spoon, her face inexplicably felt a bit hot.
Qin Junxing couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. He asked maliciously, "How's the taste?"
Xie Fengran felt annoyed and ashamed. She said blusteringly, "I've eaten. Now, Your Highness, you can say what you want to say!"
Seeing that she was annoyed, Qin Junxing stopped teasing her. It wouldn't be good if he scared her away.
However, this girl was truly interesting.
Thinking of Xie Fengran's cute look when eating the egg custard just now, Qin Junxing couldn't help but cover his mouth with a fist and cough lightly. Then he said, "Miss Xie, have I offended you recently?"
Xie Fengran was a bit annoyed at first, but after hearing this rather inexplicable question, she instantly sobered up. She immediately understood what Qin Junxing was going to say, but she couldn't admit it.
"Why does Your Highness say so?"
"If I haven't offended you, why did you reveal my whereabouts to Miss Zhang?"
A look of vigilance flashed across Xie Fengran's face. She was thinking about how to respond.
Qin Junxing picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea. He brought it to his lips and watched Xie Fengran's expression.
"Your Highness has misunderstood. I'm not familiar with Miss Zhang. How could I reveal your whereabouts to her?"
"For some things, you don't need to be familiar with someone to reveal them," Qin Junxing tapped on the table and lowered his voice. "Miss Xie, since I've invited you here today, I've already investigated clearly. Is it useful to argue?"
Xie Fengran was a bit shocked. That day on the busiest street in the East Market, Qin Junxing had managed to figure out this matter overnight and cornered her. It seemed that this man had quite a lot of influence in the capital.
But she said on the surface, "If Your Highness has already decided that it was me, then whatever I say is just arguing. Your Highness can do as you please!"
"You're really not afraid of me. You're quite bold!" Qin Junxing sat up straight. At that moment, Xie Fengran felt a sudden burst of killing intent. It was a suffocating feeling that was hard to resist.
Xie Fengran was extremely frightened. This man's imposing manner was so powerful.
What did he want to do?
Qin Junxing was satisfied to see the fear in Xie Fengran's eyes. He withdrew his imposing manner and said to her, "Miss Xie, the only woman who can be my princess is you. If I catch you playing such tricks again in the future, don't blame me for going directly to the palace to ask for an imperial edict of marriage."
"Qin Junxing!" Xie Fengran stood up abruptly, pointing at Qin Junxing and shouting angrily, "Your Highness, what on earth do you like about me? Can't I change it?"
"Change?" Qin Junxing raised his eyebrows. "Family background, appearance, personality? Can Miss Xie change all these?"
"You..." Xie Fengran today truly saw what a rascal was.
The young masters from the noble families in the capital, even if they took a fancy to a girl, were always euphemistic and reserved. Even the powerful Crown Prince wouldn't dare to say such things directly like this man.
But this man's words were so air - tight that it was maddening, and his way of doing things was so simple and direct that it was hard to refuse.
She wanted to get angry and scold him, but in fact, he hadn't done anything out of line. It was just a meal, and she had already eaten the egg custard. She couldn't spit it out, so she couldn't say much.
Qin Junxing seemed not to notice Xie Fengran's anger. He reached out and picked up the bowl in front of Xie Fengran. He picked up a few strands of crab - roe noodles and held them in front of her. "It's almost noon. I'll let you go after you've eaten your fill."
Xie Fengran was surprised that this man didn't pursue the matter of her tricking him.
Qin Junxing seemed to see through what Xie Fengran was thinking. He explained, "Miss Xie, in our Northern Frontier, when a man takes a fancy to a girl, he just carries her back home to get married and consummate the marriage. There aren't so many formalities. If he is good to someone, it's for a lifetime."
"Although I was born in the capital, I grew up in the Northern Frontier. I can't learn this kind of euphemism. When I say I want to marry you, I really mean it."
"You're the woman I, Qin Junxing, have taken a fancy to. Don't even think about running away. You can't."
Qin Junxing's eyes were very bright and pure, with a determined look that made people not dare to look directly at him.
Xie Fengran lowered her head to eat the noodles and didn't dare to look up at his expression.
Such a passionate and vow - like confession made Xie Fengran instinctively want to run away.
She couldn't figure out why Qin Junxing had set his heart on her.
Thinking like this, she asked. Who would have thought that His Highness put on a mysterious look and said, "It can't be said!"
"..." Xie Fengran really wanted to throw a bowl of noodles in his face.
But unfortunately, she could only think about it. His Highness's fighting ability was something she couldn't catch up with even if she trained for two lifetimes.
She could only lower her head to eat the noodles, as if eating more could make up for the mental blow she had received here!
Seeing that Xie Fengran was eating happily, Qin Junxing didn't disturb her. He just quietly watched her eat.
Xie Fengran's etiquette was very good. Watching her eat a bowl of noodles was a pleasure to the eye. It could be seen that the old lady of the Marquis's Mansion had really taught her with great care.
Qin Junxing curled the corners of his mouth. That day he had discovered that under this girl's mask of a gentle and virtuous young lady, her personality must be very interesting.
Now it seemed that he was right!
His eyes were really good!
Xie Fengran also had a good appetite. She had been worried and tired these days and hadn't eaten well. This meal made up for it.
After finishing the meal, Xie Fengran drank some tea to rinse her mouth. She stood up, curtsied to Qin Junxing, and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your hospitality. But in the capital, I, Fengran, have no say in my marriage. Moreover, I'm interested in the women's college and don't want to talk about marriage too early. So I have to disappoint Your Highness's kindness."
Xie Fengran was a bit nervous, not knowing if these words would anger this master. Who would have thought that Qin Junxing's expression didn't change at all. He just quietly looked at her.
His Highness's gaze was so real that it was really hard to bear. Xie Fengran lowered her head and quickly said, "Since that's the case, this subject will take her leave."
After saying that, she walked towards the door. Qin Junxing still didn't stop her.
When Xie Fengran reached the door, the door of the small courtyard opened automatically, revealing the guard and Liu Yi.
The guard saluted and said, "Miss Xie, the carriage is waiting at the back door. I'll lead you there."
Xie Fengran resisted the urge to look back and replied, "Okay, lead the way."
Once out of the range behind her, Xie Fengran quickly held Liu Yi's hand and walked out quickly.
The guard led Xie Fengran out along the way they had come. Uncle Feng was already waiting there.
Seeing Xie Fengran, he breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly. He got out of the carriage, opened the curtain, and invited Xie Fengran in.