Сhaptеr 7: Zhаоzhао’s Lips… So Soft
“Тhis is Мountain Dеlicaсiеs Раviliоn.”
Рei Yаn hаd rеsеrved a tаble at Mountаin Dеlicасiеs Раvilion.
During thе first thrее yeаrs аfter thе new empеror аscended thе thronе, the соurt was unstablе. Pei Yan hаd bееn busу shuttling betweеn vаriоus gоvernment оfficеs, often unаble to rеturn home еven oncе in tеn dаys оr hаlf a month. Now thаt he finаllу had somе free timе, Pеi Yаn wаnted tо spend quаlity time with his Zhаоzhаo.
He had asked his friends, and thеу said that acсоmpanying а girl usuаlly involved just two things: shopping and dining.
“Mountain Delicacies Pavilion is the finest in the capital…”
“I know!” Yun Zhaozhao’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled as she excitedly interrupted Pei Yan, lifting the hem of her skirt and happily running into Mountain Delicacies Pavilion.
Pei Yan’s gaze darkened slightly as he followed closely behind Yun Zhaozhao.
[How does Zhaozhao know about this?]
[Who told her… Mother?]
“Xiao Shuyue has bragged about it in front of me several times!” Yun Zhaozhao said unhappily. “She called me a country bumpkin, saying that if I’ve never been to Mountain Delicacies Pavilion, I wouldn’t know where the best food in the world is.”
Xiao Shuyue had sent her several invitations to dine at Mountain Delicacies Pavilion.
Yun Zhaozhao had thrown them all away!
She would never give Xiao Shuyue a chance to show off!
So what if she’s the second daughter of a marquis’ household? Others might scramble to curry favor with her, but Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t care less.
[Quick! Quick, find a place to hide!]
Suddenly hearing an unfamiliar inner voice, Yun Zhaozhao paused her steps on the stairs and instinctively turned to look around.
“Cousin, what’s wrong?”
Grand Tutor Pei, who was known for his cleanliness and keeping others at a distance, was now pressed close to Yun Zhaozhao!
He stood behind Yun Zhaozhao, leaning down and discreetly taking a light sniff. [Zhaozhao is so sweet… so fragrant…]
Cousin is at it again!
Yun Zhaozhao’s ears flushed red, and her neck tingled as she dodged to the side. Then, tugging on Pei Yan’s sleeve, she subtly signaled with her eyes, “Cousin, look at that person sneaking around—they don’t seem like a good person!”
Pei Yan slowly shifted his gaze away from Yun Zhaozhao and, through the gaps in the stairs, spotted a maid hiding something inside a vase.
Though the behavior was suspicious, Pei Yan didn’t care.
But seeing Yun Zhaozhao still staring in that direction, Pei Yan instructed Leng Zhu, “Investigate.”
Leng Zhu lived up to his name—cold and upright, standing in the background like a bamboo, almost invisible unless called upon.
“Cousin, let’s go.”
“Mm!” Yun Zhaozhao didn’t hear any more inner voices and, seeing that Pei Yan had sent someone to investigate, she set aside her curiosity and happily entered the private room on the third floor.
The dishes, which had been pre-ordered, were quickly served as soon as they arrived!
The entire table was filled with Yun Zhaozhao’s favorite dishes.
Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t help but feel pleasantly surprised and curious. “Cousin, how did you know what I like?”
Pei Yan used serving chopsticks to place food on her plate, his handsome face expressionless as he said, “I asked Mother.”
But his heart was honest. [Zhaozhao is picky… she only picks the dishes she likes…]
After sharing a few meals together, Pei Yan had memorized all of Yun Zhaozhao’s favorite foods. Hearing his inner thoughts, Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t suppress the smile on her lips.
If she couldn’t read minds, she would never have known how much her cousin cared about her deep down!
Did her cousin like her no matter what she was like?
Yun Zhaozhao began to let loose, no longer imitating noble young ladies who chewed each bite ten times, maintaining elegance and grace in every movement.
Eating like that was exhausting and never left her full.
Yun Zhaozhao ate freely, ending up slumped in her chair with a slight roundness to her belly.
“Cousin, I’m full.”
Pei Yan had barely eaten anything himself, as he didn’t care much for food and had spent the entire time serving Yun Zhaozhao. Seeing that she was full, Pei Yan reached out and gently brushed his thumb across the corner of Yun Zhaozhao’s lips.”There’s a grain of rice stuck here.”
Pei Yan’s eyes were deep as he touched Yun Zhaozhao’s small mouth. [Zhaozhao’s lips… so soft.]
Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t help but blush. She turned away and wiped the corner of her mouth with her hand. There was also a hint of flustered annoyance in her eyes. Couldn’t her cousin just stop thinking about it?
She wouldn’t let him kiss her before they were married!
“Knock, knock!”
Leng Zhu knocked twice on the door and called out softly, “My lord, young mistress, there’s trouble downstairs. The second young lady of the marquis estate has fallen ill, and they can’t find the life-saving medicine.”
Yun Zhaozhao instinctively asked, “Which marquis estate? Which second young lady?”
“It’s the Loyal and Brave Marquis Estate, Second Young Lady Xiao Shuyue.”
Yun Zhaozhao immediately pushed open the door and went downstairs, heading straight for the private room directly below theirs. Inside, chaos reigned, with both crying and scolding.
“You useless fools! I told you a thousand times, the young lady’s medicine must be carried with her at all times! Go back and get the medicine! Fetch a doctor!”
“It’s too late, wuwuwu—”
Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t squeeze her way in. Just then, Pei Yan stood beside her, his presence radiating a chilling coldness that effortlessly froze a path through the crowd of onlookers.
Yun Zhaozhao squeezed in and took a look, startling herself!
Was this swollen face really Xiao Shuyue?
Her face had swollen to nearly twice its size! Her eyes were reduced to mere slits, and her lips had puffed up like large sausages—so ugly it hurt to look!
“What happened to Xiao Shuyue?”
“My young lady ate something she shouldn’t have. The medicine was always supposed to be with her, wuwuwu!”
Xiao Shuyue’s head maid, Yu Shi, cried bitterly, filled with regret. [I told the young lady not to eat it, but she insisted on taking a bite! Without the medicine, it’s over, wuwuwu!]
Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth. Did Xiao Shuyue bring this upon herself by not controlling her mouth?
What a talent!
Suddenly, her sharp eyes noticed a maid in the room who looked very familiar—wasn’t she the one who had been sneaking around outside earlier, hiding something?
Could what she hid be…!
“Cousin!” Yun Zhaozhao turned anxiously. The moment their eyes met, it was as if their minds connected. Pei Yan immediately ordered Leng Zhu, “Find it!”
Leng Zhu rushed toward the vase and retrieved a bottle of medicine from inside.
“Look! Is this it?” Yun Zhaozhao pointed at the medicine bottle and asked Yu Shi.
Yu Shi was both shocked and overjoyed. She snatched the bottle and nodded repeatedly. “Yes! This is it!”
Yu Shi immediately poured out three pills and fed them to Xiao Shuyue with water.
The effect was immediate!
Xiao Shuyue stopped gasping, her face was no longer as red, though she wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.
Yu Shi patted her chest, heaving a long sigh of relief, but couldn’t help looking at Yun Zhaozhao with confusion. “You’re Miss Yun? How did you have my young lady’s medicine bottle?”
“Look! It was her who hid the medicine bottle.”
Following Yun Zhaozhao’s fair, slender finger, Yu Shi glared at the maid in the corner. “Xiao Guo! Why did you hide the young lady’s medicine bottle?”
“It wasn’t me!”
Xiao Guo shook her head like a rattle drum, unable to hide the hatred in her eyes as she glared at Yun Zhaozhao. [How did she know? I can’t admit it!]
Xiao Guo immediately turned the tables. “Sister Yu Shi, don’t believe her! Have you forgotten she has a grudge against the young lady? She must have stolen the medicine out of revenge, trying to harm the young lady’s life!”
Yu Shi, holding Xiao Shuyue, was half-convinced and half-doubtful, feeling torn.
Who should she believe?
Pei Yan stepped forward and said coldly, “My cousin and I saw her hide the medicine bottle together.””Grand Tutor!” Yu Shi immediately responded without hesitation, “The Grand Tutor would never lie! Guards! Seize Xiao Guo and send her to the authorities!”
“Grand Tutor, thank you for saving my young lady! The Loyal and Brave Marquis Estate will surely visit to express our gratitude!”
Pei Yan’s gaze turned icy: “You’re thanking the wrong person.”
Yu Shi awkwardly looked toward Yun Zhaozhao…