Xie Yanzhao buried his face in her fragrant hair and took a deep breath.
She was his.
She could only ever be his.
Tianlu Residence was known as the number one restaurant in the world. With its upturned eaves and magnificent architectural details, it was an imposing and splendid establishment. Its true owner was none other than the current Crown Prince, Xie Yanzhao.
Inside a private room on the third floor, Shen Tinghe was leaning over the table, eating the shepherd’s-purse wontons Yuan Chi had just bought.
The broth was clear and the filling fresh, while the rising steam softened her satisfied features.
Xie Yanzhao had come today for two reasons. First, to hear Tianlu Residence’s manager, Ji Chang, report on the accounts. Second, to hear his report on the information they had recently gathered from various sources.
Ji Chang stood respectfully to the side, while Yuan Chi waited quietly by the door.
Xie Yanzhao sat beside Shen Tinghe. He held the account book in his hands, but his gaze kept drifting toward her puffed-out cheeks as she ate.
“Is it really that delicious?” he asked, setting the account book down. His voice carried its usual gentleness.
Shen Tinghe nodded, her eyes sparkling. “Of course it is! That old man has been selling them at the entrance of the alley for twenty years. His wontons taste the most authentic.”
As she spoke, she scooped up a plump wonton with her porcelain spoon and naturally held it to Xie Yanzhao’s lips.
“Here, try one. It’s really fresh.”
Ji Chang was secretly startled.
Wasn’t the Crown Princess being a little too spoiled by His Highness? How could His Highness possibly share food with someone else
He ate it?!
Before Ji Chang could finish his thought, he saw Xie Yanzhao lean forward slightly and calmly take the wonton from the spoon.
His brows moved faintly.
“Not bad.”
Shen Tinghe immediately smiled, as though the one receiving the approval were actually her.
Xie Yanzhao looked toward Ji Chang.
“Has this year’s Qiuhuaniang been opened yet?”
Ji Chang quickly composed himself and respectfully replied, “Your Highness, the jars are being opened today. As in previous years, we found a person blessed with the Five Fortunes someone with both parents still living and a household full of children and grandchildren to open the jar.”
Shen Tinghe turned her head curiously when she heard this.
“You even have to find someone blessed with good fortune to open the jar? Then I want to do it too! Do I count as someone blessed with good fortune?”
Her eyes shone with eagerness, purely because she wanted to join in the fun.
“You can’t play with this.” Xie Yanzhao gently pressed down on her hand.
“Why not?” she asked, puzzled.
Ji Chang explained at the appropriate moment, “Your Highness, Crown Princess, asking a fortunate person to open the jar is meant to borrow their good fortune and pray that the wine will be rich and mellow, with blessings lasting for generations. The first jug of wine drawn after the jar is opened is called ‘Blessing Wine.’ The very first ladleful carries the best symbolism.”
Xie Yanzhao instructed Ji Chang, “After the jar is opened, send the first ladleful here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Shen Tinghe’s eyes lit up.
“Then I’ll get to drink the Blessing Wine this year too!”
Looking at her delighted expression, a trace of helpless indulgence appeared in Xie Yanzhao’s eyes.
“Which year have you not received the first ladleful of the Qiuhuaniang you drank before?”
Shen Tinghe froze and blinked.
The Qiuhuaniang she had drunk in previous years had always been sent directly to the residence by Xie Yanzhao’s orders. She only knew that he had specially reserved the finest wine for her, but she had never known there was such a tradition behind it.
So the fine wine she had always thought of as an ordinary drink they simply shared had actually been the most precious and auspicious “first ladleful of Blessing Wine” every single year.
It felt as though her heart had been wrapped in warm honey, soft and swollen with sweetness.
She muttered softly, “You give it all to me every year… Isn’t that too much good fortune?”
Xie Yanzhao reached out and gently brushed his knuckles against her delicate cheek. His tone was calm yet certain.
“Someone has to drink the first ladleful. Since that is the case, naturally, it should be my Yuanyuan.”
His Yuanyuan deserved to possess everything in this world that was best including every beautiful blessing and auspicious meaning.
Shen Tinghe immediately rose and threw herself into Xie Yanzhao’s arms. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and rubbed against him, her voice soft and dependent.
“Brother is the best.”
Xie Yanzhao naturally wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her securely against him. The corners of his lips curved upward silently.
Not long afterward, Ji Chang personally brought over a white jade wine jug. The jug was only about the height of a palm, translucent and warm to the touch, with amber-colored wine faintly visible inside.
Xie Yanzhao held the jug and poured a cup for Shen Tinghe.
Just as Shen Tinghe was about to taste it, a burst of rather boisterous laughter drifted faintly in through the window.
The speakers were using a foreign language. Their voices were excited and carried an undisguised vulgarity.
The sound came from the private room next door. Perhaps they had opened their window and, assuming that no one could understand Yuansha language, they spoke without the slightest restraint.
Neither Shen Tinghe nor Xie Yanzhao understood Yuansha language, but Yuan Chi did.
Dangyu Chaoge: “This Crown Princess of Dazhao really is a rare beauty. Such a slender waist and snow-white skin, with eyes that seem to hold spring itself. No wonder Xie Yanzhao has no interest in Tuoya. If I could have such a beauty, I would definitely spend day and night entangled with her. That feeling must be intoxicating beyond words! Hahaha!”
Another person immediately echoed him with a flattering, obsequious laugh.
“The prince is absolutely right. Once we return to Yuansha, this subordinate will do everything in his power to find you a woman with similar looks and bearing for your enjoyment. I guarantee she will satisfy Your Highness.”
A knowing, lecherous burst of laughter followed.
Yuan Chi’s brows furrowed tightly, and a sharp, murderous glint flashed through his eyes.
He stepped forward and quickly whispered everything they had just said into Xie Yanzhao’s ear.
The warmth in Xie Yanzhao’s features instantly disappeared, replaced by a layer of frost. The air around him turned cold.
He did not look toward the room next door. He merely gave Yuan Chi the slightest nod and a chilling glance.
Yuan Chi understood immediately. He silently cupped his fist and swiftly left the private room.
“What happened?” Shen Tinghe noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere and looked up at him.
After several cups of Blessing Wine, her cheeks had turned crimson. Her lips were rosy, and her eyes, hazy and moist from the alcohol, looked even more alluring without her realizing it.
Xie Yanzhao reached out and pulled her back onto his lap.
His arms encircled her, holding her firmly in an unmistakably possessive embrace.
He did not answer. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed her wine-scented red lips.
After a long while, he finally pulled away slightly. His thumb brushed over her slightly swollen lips as he spoke in a low voice.
“Nothing. Just some filthy words that weren’t worth hearing. Yuanyuan doesn’t need to know.”
Shen Tinghe did not care.
After all, Xie Yanzhao would take care of everything.
She obediently nestled in his arms. The alcohol made her increasingly languid, and also bolder.
She tugged lightly at the front of Xie Yanzhao’s robe and pleaded softly, “Brother, I want some more…”
Xie Yanzhao was helpless.
His Yuanyuan had always loved her wine.
He picked up the cup again and took a sip himself, but did not swallow it. Instead, he leaned down and slowly passed the mellow wine into her mouth.
The sweet fragrance of Qiuhuaniang lingered between their lips and teeth.
When they finally parted, he rested his forehead against hers and warned her softly,
“Last cup.”
Shen Tinghe smacked her lips and began to act spoiled, rubbing her flushed cheek against his chest.
“You fed it to me too quickly just now. I didn’t even get to taste it properly… This cup doesn’t count.”
Xie Yanzhao let out a low laugh and gently pinched her tender cheek with his fingertips.
“My little Yuanyuan who’s trying to get away with it there really is no more wine for you today.”