After Hou Chen left, Yi Zhici finally shed all her weariness and rushed off to take a bath.
Zhong Yi attended to her on one side. "My lady, what on earth did you do last night? Why did Zhong Qing flat - out refuse to come on duty today and say she'd come back after you sobered up?"
"… I didn't do anything, did I?" Yi Zhici shook her head. "But if Zhong Qing doesn't come, I won't be able to drink the hangover soup she makes. My head still aches."
Zhong Yi fetched the Chinese honey locust and flower petals. "There's hangover soup. Zhong Qing specifically told me to make sure you drink it when you wake up. I'll heat it up in a moment."
"Okay," Yi Zhici still scrutinized the bracelet. "Do you think who put this bracelet on me? … Lin Yuan? But if Lin Yuan put it on me, why didn't he tell me?"
"Young General Lin went hunting with the emperor early this morning and hasn't come back yet."
Yi Zhici was puzzled. "Did Young General Lin go hunting with the emperor alone?"
Zhong Yi replied, "No. General Lin Qiong, Young General Lin, and Lord Hou went hunting with the emperor. The emperor specifically asked them to go. Others didn't go."
"Oh, I see."
Zhong Yi looked utterly confused and then said, "My lady, in terms of martial arts, knowledge, and experience, Lord Hou's Heir isn't inferior. Why does it seem that he isn't as highly regarded as Young General Lin?"
"Because of military achievements," Yi Zhici shook her head. "The Lin family has been guarding the southern border for generations and has countless military merits. Even in that military drill in the palace last time, Lin Yuan came out on top. It seems the Lin family is going to be granted a title."
She had been looking all serious, but the next moment, her face broke into a brilliant smile. "I feel kind of proud just thinking about it."
"Why are you proud just because the Lin family is going to be granted a title, my lady?"
"Because I have good taste, hahaha…"
After the bath, Yi Zhici tidied herself up and went to see Yi Junshi.
Yi Junshi had just returned from the morning hunt and was having breakfast with Gu Weifeng in the main hall.
Lin Qiong and Lin Yuan were also there.
Yi Zhici stood at the door, not knowing whether to go in or turn back.
"Yuyang?" Gu Weifeng, sitting in the main seat, spotted Yi Zhici hesitating at once. "Come here and have some breakfast with us."
Yi Zhici walked in. "Your Majesty, may you be in good health. General Lin, may you be well. Young General Lin, may you be well."
Yi Junshi clicked his tongue. "Sure enough, once a daughter grows up, things are different. She has eyes only for others and doesn't even see her own father."
As soon as the words "has eyes only for others" came out, Lin Yuan nearly snapped the chopsticks in his hand.
Yi Zhici's face flushed instantly. She lowered her head, said nothing, and quickly scurried to Yi Junshi's side.
Gu Weifeng said, "Yuyang came just in time. Lord Jing once mentioned your marriage to me. There's no one else here. Tell me the person you fancy. I'll consider it and issue an imperial edict for the marriage."
Indeed, there was no one else…
The person she fancied and his father were both here…
Yi Zhici cursed Gu Weifeng in her heart for a long time. Then she looked up with a pure and innocent sweet smile. "Your servant girl hasn't found a particularly suitable person yet. Your Majesty, could you give your servant girl some time to think it over?"
Yi Junshi shook his head in disgust. "Who was it that told me…"
But Yi Zhici covered his mouth.
Lin Qiong didn't understand the interaction between the father - daughter pair and asked in confusion, "Could it be that the person the princess fancies is not well - matched with her, so His Majesty can't issue an edict for the marriage?"
Yi Zhici forced a smile so hard that her face was about to freeze. "General, you're joking. How could there be a mismatch? Hahaha."
"If so, what are you still worried about, Yuyang?" Gu Weifeng said. "It's quite rare to see Yuyang, who is usually so bold and decisive, afraid of something."
Yi Zhici rolled her eyes in her heart. I've never been bold and decisive. I've always been quite afraid of you…
Since Yi Zhici entered the hall, Lin Yuan hadn't said a word. Now he slowly spoke up, "Then, Your Highness, what on earth are you afraid of? Are you afraid that your marriage will break the hearts of all the young masters in the capital?"
His eyes were deep, as if he wanted to look at her closely across the empty center of the hall. Those deep eyes seemed to hold only her.
Lin Yuan smiled self - deprecatingly. "Don't be afraid. There are so many men in love with Your Highness. Someone is bound to be heart - broken anyway. Whether it's one more or one less, Your Highness needn't take it to heart."
These words, on the surface, seemed to be counseling and even consoling her. But the tone in which Lin Yuan said them seemed a bit off…
Yi Junshi squinted his eyes, as if he had noticed something amiss.
"N—o— n—e—e—d— f—o—r— y—o—u—n—g— g—e—n—e—r—a—l— t—o— w—o—r—r—y!" Yi Zhici felt upset and said each word slowly.
How could this be… It seemed that he didn't care at all about who she fancied?
Then why did he give her this bracelet?
Heartless scoundrel!
She stormed out of the main hall in a huff without even having breakfast.
Lin Qiong was still in the dark. He said to Lin Yuan, "You have a good relationship with the princess. You even counseled her. But look at yourself. When are you going to marry a wife for me?"
Lin Yuan lowered his head, said nothing, and just ate his breakfast obediently.
Gu Weifeng had witnessed this seemingly chaotic drama. Now his interest was piqued. "Someone, make arrangements. The younger generation will go hunting today according to the list of volunteers."