As soon as they got out of the carriage, Yu Jiao paused for a moment, then silently took Chu Yin’s hand.
Chu Yin raised an eyebrow; she was getting bolder by the moment.
The next second, Yu Jiao looked up at him, smiling. “Your Highness, don’t be afraid. I won’t let them say anything bad about you.”
She still remembered the remarks they had made about him in front of White Jade Tower last time.
Chu Yin scoffed with disdain.
This little rabbit didn’t seem very clever; the ones who should be afraid were those people.
He curled his lips, intending to tell them he’d tear their mouths off if they dared speak. But when his gaze met the firm determination in her eyes, he swallowed the words.
“Mm,” he replied lightly.
The feeling of being protected wasn’t unpleasant.
So he decided to stay behind her.
Sure enough, when the two red-clad figures appeared in the main hall, the previously noisy crowd immediately fell silent. Even the waiter holding tea froze in place.
For a moment, all eyes turned toward them.
The host at the door suddenly realized what was happening, his pupils widening.
Th-this… the Prince of Yan has arrived!!
The crowd slowly caught on, their eyes widening in shock. The Prince of Yan, a killer of countless lives, must have come to kill!
Chu Yin frowned. Their stares were like they were looking at a monster, no different from the way that woman had looked at him.
He tightened his grip on Yu Jiao’s hand. For a moment, he felt like ripping all those eyes out.
The crowd trembled before him, their faces full of fear, dread, and the urge to flee.
Yu Jiao calmly looked at the waiter, her voice serene: “Are there private rooms upstairs? My prince prefers quiet.”
The waiter froze for a moment, then reacted sharply, bowing and guiding them: “Yes, yes! Right this way, Your Highness.”
Chu Yin pressed his lips together, saying nothing, obediently letting her lead him step by step upstairs.
The people left behind gawked, mouths agape, staring incredulously upward. One whispered, “Did she just say… ‘my prince’?”
Another whispered back, “Could that… be the Princess Consort of Yan?!”
“It seems… the Prince of Yan isn’t so terrifying after all…”
Chu Yin paused mid-step, the crimson in his eyes fading slightly, replaced by a flicker of complexity.
In the private room, the shopkeeper had personally served the dishes and then retreated with utmost respect. Once outside, he subconsciously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Chu Yin’s gaze lingered absentmindedly on the food, then shifted to Yu Jiao. She had her lips pursed around her food, eyes already fixed on the next dish before finishing the current bite. Truly a little glutton.
In the shadows, Ying Jue and Ying Feng exchanged glances.
Ying Jue glanced at Chu Yin, then at Ying Feng: The prince usually hated crowds. Why had he chosen the busiest Qingxiang Restaurant today?
Ying Feng shrugged helplessly.
Chu Yin glanced at the dishes. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had picked this place out of fear she would go hungry. Even Ying Feng and Ying Jue thought he avoided crowds, not knowing that large crowds made him restless. Just seeing those stares made him want to spill blood.
But today, his mood was good—today was not for bloodshed.
Yu Jiao had traces of oil at the corners of her mouth. Chu Yin took out a handkerchief and wiped them clean.
Yu Jiao turned her head, mumbling indistinctly, “Mm… isn’t it done yet?”
Chu Yin propped his face in his hand, eyes amused. “No rush. Finish eating first, then I, will eat.”
Yu Jiao suddenly choked, her face contorting.
Chu Yin’s expression darkened. One hand slid behind her back while the other hovered near her mouth. “Spit it out.”
Yu Jiao pressed her lips together, face reddening.
“I, said spit it out!”
She forced it down, her chest rising and falling. Chu Yin, ignoring his irritation, handed her a cup of tea.
After a while, her color returned. She glanced at Chu Yin, her face sulking, shrinking back in relief.
“Now you’re afraid? Do you realize how dangerous that was just now?”
Chu Yin froze for a moment. He had actually been afraid—simply because she had choked.
He composed himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips, voice calm. “Do you realize that if you had choked to death, no one would have paid for this meal?”
He then picked up the tea as if naturally taking a sip—but realized the cup had already brushed against her lips, leaving traces of bright red lipstick.
Yu Jiao pouted angrily, complaining, “It’s your fault, Your Highness, teasing me again.”
Chu Yin raised an eyebrow at her. Her voice grew quieter: “You said I should eat after you…”
Chu Yin paused, realizing what she meant—she wanted him to eat her. He was about to respond but then saw her puffed cheeks and swallowed his words. “I, meant the meal. Eat slowly. Anyone watching might think the Prince’s Mansion can’t afford proper food.”
Yu Jiao focused on her food. Chu Yin rested his face in his hand, watching her, occasionally wiping her mouth. She seemed accustomed to this gentle care.
Fifteen minutes later, Yu Jiao leaned back in her chair, patting her stomach like a full, lazy cat. “Your Highness, aren’t you eating?”
Chu Yin raised his eyelids, glancing at her stomach—it appeared a little round.
Before she could rub it, a hand rested on her waist, and the next moment she was sitting on his lap.
He rubbed her belly gently.
Soft, pliant, impossible to resist.
“Your Highness, that’s enough. I’m done,” she said, trying to wriggle free.
Chu Yin crossed his legs over hers. “Done?”
“Mm, yes, I’m done.”
He placed a pair of chopsticks in her hand. “If you’re done, I, should eat.”
Yu Jiao clicked her tongue. “Your Highness, you have hands.”
“Yes, I used them serving you earlier. They’re sore and weak now.”
Yu Jiao’s mouth twitched. She pouted but didn’t move.
Chu Yin suddenly said, “Bring someone.”
The shopkeeper outside rushed in. “Your Highness, what does the prince need?”
“Who cooked today’s dishes?” he asked casually. “Bring the head to see me.”
The shopkeeper broke into a cold sweat and collapsed to his knees. “Your Highness, please spare me!”
Yu Jiao glared at Chu Yin. The shopkeeper, terrified, dared not breathe, silently praying. Who was this young lady? Surely he would die young—what a pity.
She deliberately picked up a chili and shoved it into Chu Yin’s mouth. Even the two in the shadows broke into sweat, closing their eyes and clasping their hands; the prince hated spicy food the most.
“Your Highness, is the dish good?” Yu Jiao asked, smiling.
Before he could answer, she spoke on his behalf to the shopkeeper: “The prince says it’s delicious. You may leave.”
The shopkeeper glanced nervously before retreating.
Yu Jiao looped her arms around his neck, smiling brightly. “Isn’t it delicious?”
The chili burned fiercely in her mouth. Chu Yin smiled faintly. “Princess Consort, taste it yourself and you’ll know.”
Before she could react, his lips pressed against hers.