Chapter 1789: Chapter 1789

Chapter 1789: 071. Onset departure_3

Cheng Yuexiu hadn’t had a chance to speak before Yan Ruchun already looked at Lin Yuan and the others: “The two dishes you made at the Palace Banquet were quite good. Mu Qing has been reminding me to get a taste from you. It’s perfect timing; there’s no time like the present. You can’t escape today.”

“Yes, yes, even Your Majesty said that the Capital Sauce Shredded Pork was delicious. I’ve been craving it for days; I can’t sleep! Yuanyuan, you have to satisfy me, won’t you?”

Xu Muqing’s eyes lit up, and she tightly hugged Lin Yuan’s arm, shaking it in a coquettish manner, just like Xiao Linshuang.

Unfortunately, she was too fat and hadn’t shaken her arm a few times before Lin Yuan was about to lose her balance.

“You’re all going? Then I want to go too!”

Tian Xuan immediately stood up and grabbed Lin Yuan’s arm from the other side. Suddenly, Lin Yuan was sandwiched between the two, and even if she didn’t want to go, she had to.

Cheng Yuexiu’s face showed some embarrassment. Although she had hosted a few people for a banquet and had prepared the dishes, she had been so busy quarreling that she forgot about the meal.

“So, the ladies were all hungry; let’s start the feast then. Sorry, I’ve been too busy and confused.”

Cheng Yuexiu quickly called the maids to start the meal, but before she could finish speaking, Xu Muqing interrupted her mercilessly.

“How can the food from your mansion compare to Yuanyuan’s craft? Forget it, forget it. We won’t eat here today; let’s head to Dong Tian!”

Cheng Yuexiu bit her lip tightly, her face reddened with shame.

Yao Hanai gave Cheng Yuexiu a schadenfreude glance and spoke up: “Princess Pingxi’s skills are now renowned throughout the Capital. I’ve long admired them; I wonder if I could…”

“Oh dear, my stomach is growling, let’s hurry and go, shall we?”

Before Yao Hanai could finish her sentence, her words were drowned out by Xu Muqing’s loud voice.

Yao Hanai had always carried herself as a gentlewoman, speaking softly, and next to Xu Muqing, her voice seemed as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.

Yao Hanai’s mouth twitched with embarrassment but she stopped speaking, immediately shaking her sleeves and sitting rigidly in her chair.

Fussed over by Xu Muqing and the others, Lin Yuan had no choice but to agree to leave with them; after all, she didn’t want to dine with Cheng Yuexiu and Yao Hanai.

The group immediately apologized to Cheng Yuexiu and happily left together.

Cheng Yuexiu forced a smile as she sent them on their way, and when she returned to the flower hall, her face was almost contorted with anger.

Yao Hanai coldly smiled, mocking: “If you don’t have what it takes, don’t invite people carelessly; and if you do, what then? Isn’t it just waiting to be criticized?”

Having just felt anger from Lin Yuan, and now being criticized again by Yao Hanai, Cheng Yuexiu’s anger grew even greater. She chuckled sarcastically, glanced sideways at her, and mocked: “Yes, I’ve been criticized, but it’s still better than trying hard to fit in and being turned away, right?”

Facing Yao Hanai’s anger, Cheng Yuexiu showed no previous timidity, instead smiling calmly.

“Anyway, I’m leaving Dayong next month to go to Xiliang. Even if I say something that offends Miss Yao, I’m afraid… I’m afraid you can’t do anything to me. Moreover, Miss Yao is no longer the Capital’s top talent, I advise Miss Yao to put more thought into how to marry into the Second Prince Mansion sooner rather than mock me.”

Cheng Yuexiu, being someone destined to marry far away, invited Lin Yuan and the others today with a mindset ready for the worst.

Since she’s leaving, she can easily offend those in the Capital whom she can’t normally afford to. What happens after offending them? It doesn’t matter; can they follow her to Xiliang for revenge?

Stung by Cheng Yuexiu’s words, hitting the heart painfully, Yao Hanai bit her lip and coldly said: “Cheng Yuexiu, you’re about to leave this troublesome Capital, but don’t forget, your Cheng family will remain. Aren’t you afraid I’ll take action against your father?”

Cheng Yuexiu tilted her head back with a laugh, as if she’d heard the most amusing thing in the world.

“Against my father? Feel free! Now that I’ve been chosen by the Imperial Court to marry into Xiliang, I’m a prosperous subject of Dayong. What do you think will happen to my father? Rest assured, as long as I’m here, Your Majesty won’t touch my father easily. So, why would I fear you?”

With disdain in her eyes towards Yao Hanai, Cheng Yuexiu continued: “Besides, once you’ve entered the Second Prince Mansion, will you even consider taking action against my father? As someone from outside, I advise you: after marriage, change your ways. Be gentle when needed, and coquettish when needed. If you can’t win the Second Prince’s heart, make sure he is captivated by your body. Just don’t lose his favor.”

Such blunt words made by Cheng Yuexiu were too daring for Yao Hanai to endure. Her ears flushed red on the spot, she spat out “shameless” and flounced off, without even saying goodbye to the host. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

Watching Yao Hanai’s indignant figure storming off, Cheng Yuexiu felt entirely relaxed and coldly muttered to herself: “Capital’s top talent? Ha, just wrapped in arrogant airs. Inside, even more sordid than anyone!”

A trace of sarcasm appeared at the corner of Cheng Yuexiu’s mouth, instantly thinking of Yao Hanai’s scene with Zhao Hongsheng being discovered in the inn.

Then another thought flashed through her mind: if she had been more ruthless back then and had cast off her reserve to win Ma Junying over, would her situation today have been different?

Lin Yuan and the others left Cheng Mansion and headed straight to Dong Tian.

Dong Tian is a tavern, usually open even during the New Year, though it’s been quieter these few days due to the holiday.

Sitting in the elegant room upstairs, listening to Xu Muqing and Tian Xuan urging her non-stop to make Capital Sauce Shredded Pork and Fish-flavored Shredded Pork, Lin Yuan’s mouth twitched.

She thought this was an excuse for leaving Cheng Mansion, but it turned out to be true!

All the way, she heard the two talk about Capital Sauce Shredded Pork; even Xu Muqing had remembered Lin Yuan’s Fish-flavored Eggplant and Fish-flavored Eggs mentioned at the Palace Banquet.

This girl’s brain wasn’t always the sharpest, yet she remembered the dish names so well?

Lin Yuan helplessly held her forehead, shook her head, and went to the small kitchen. She cooked up a storm: Fish-flavored Shredded Pork, Fish-flavored Eggplant, Fish-flavored Eggs, Fish-flavored Tofu, Fish-flavored Lotus Balls, Fish-flavored Potatoes, and even a Fish-flavored Stir-fry at the end.

In short, she wouldn’t stop until they got tired of eating!