The man’s lips curved upward. “What exactly did she say?”
Qiuci pressed her lips together. “Second Young Miss said it was her first time in the kitchen, and asked Young Master Xuan to do her the honor of finishing it.”
What Second Young Miss had actually said was: “Qiu, if Xuan Yanyu refuses to eat it, grab him by the jaw and shove it in.”
Xuan Yanyu picked up his chopsticks, lifted the knotted clump of noodles, placed a strand in his mouth, and bit down. He immediately frowned. “Undercooked?”
This was the worst noodle dish he had ever tasted in his life. Truly impossible to swallow.
Qiuci picked up the bowl from the table, gave a small curtsy, and said, “Young Master Xuan, it would not be appropriate for you to eat them undercooked. This servant will take her leave.”
She had told Second Young Miss to cook them a little longer. Second Young Miss simply would not listen. As things stood, the Madam already disliked Second Young Miss — best not to offend someone close to First Young Miss, or what would become of Second Young Miss going forward?
At the Third Prince’s manor.
In the sumptuous palace hall, the dining table was laid with a lavish spread of dishes.
Jiang Jin stood at Qi Qingchen’s side, patiently serving him dish after dish.
Qi Qingchen looked up, his gaze gentle. “Xiaojin, sit and eat together. Such things can be left to the maidservants.”
Jiang Jin’s eyes held a tender warmth. Her hands kept moving, and she replied with a smile, “To serve His Highness is this concubine’s honor.”
“Xiaojin, early tomorrow morning, this Prince will be setting out.”
Jiang Jin lowered her gaze. A shadow of disappointment crossed her eyes. “Your Highness, could you not stay and accompany this concubine a few more days?”
Qi Qingchen set down his chopsticks. A trace of displeasure crossed his expression.
Jiang Jin’s heart gave a lurch. She let a faint smile bloom on her face and softened her voice. “This concubine was only joking. Your Highness should tend to your affairs.”
“Mm. Sit down.”
Jiang Jin bit her lip and slowly settled into the sandalwood chair. She carried herself with poise, yet there was a touch of delicate vulnerability about her as well.
“Your Highness.” A guard rushed in to report.
Qi Qingchen paused mid-reach for a dish and looked up. “What is it?”
The guard glanced at Jiang Jin and seemed to hesitate.
“Speak.” Qi Qingchen frowned slightly, a trace of impatience entering his tone.
The guard promptly lowered his head and replied respectfully, “Your Highness, word has spread outside that the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household is to be married to Young Marquis.”
Qi Qingchen’s eyelid gave a sharp jump. His expression changed in an instant. The legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household — was it Yaoyao, or Ningning?
Whoever it was, neither should be married down to Young Marquis.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Qi Qingchen shot to his feet and strode out.
“Noble Consort.” The maidservant Zhujing, seeing Jiang Jin press a hand to her lower back, hurried forward and reached out to rub it for her.
“Zhujing, when His Highness heard that the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter was to be married to Young Marquis, he didn’t even spare me a glance before he left.” Jiang Jin gave a bitter smile.
“Noble Consort.” Zhujing called out softly, her movements gentle as she continued to soothe her back.
Jiang Jin sighed. She slowly raised her hand and pressed it to her lower abdomen, her voice carrying a faint note of longing. “If only I could bear His Highness’s first child, how wonderful that would be.”
“You will, Noble Consort. His Highness has spent every night these past few days in your chamber. There may already be a little prince on the way.” Zhujing smiled.
Thinking of those nights, Jiang Jin’s complexion turned rosy. Her back still ached even now.
Qi Qingchen hurried all the way to the Prime Minister’s manor.
The front gates stood wide open. The maidservants and guards caught sight of him and dropped to their knees in a wave.
“All rise. Go about your duties as usual — pay no attention to this Prince.” As he spoke, Qi Qingchen strode in with long steps.
It was not his first visit to the Prime Minister’s manor. He knew the layout well.
“Yes.” Everyone answered in unison.
“Ah!” Yan Yunning let out a startled cry. The stack of gift boxes she had been carrying clattered to the ground with a crash, and she herself tumbled down along with them.
Qi Qingchen pressed his lips together. He had assumed it was some careless maidservant who had walked into him.
Yan Yunning genuinely wanted to ask — did he not have eyes? The gift boxes had blocked her line of sight, but could they have blocked his too?
“Ningning, are you all right?” Qi Qingchen moved to help her up.
Yan Yunning shifted to avoid his hand, then pushed herself up off the ground.
“No, I’m not. My hand is scraped.” Yan Yunning held her hand up and waved it in front of his face.
Qi Qingchen gave an awkward smile.
He had offered a polite inquiry, and she had answered him completely literally.
“Qi-gege.” Yan Shiyao spotted Qi Qingchen, her eyes lighting up with delight. “Why have you come?”
Qi Qingchen took her hand in his. “Yaoyao, I heard that the Prime Minister’s manor and the Marquis’s household were to be joined in marriage. I was worried it might be you.”
Yan Shiyao’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink. She gave a shy, gentle laugh. “Qi-gege, it is not me. Do not worry.”
Qi Qingchen’s gaze shifted to Yan Yunning at her side. “Is it you then, Ningning? Are you marrying into the Marquis’s household?”
Yan Yunning extended one finger and waggled it playfully from side to side. “No.”
“Not you, not Yaoyao — then who?” Qi Qingchen’s brow furrowed slightly.
Meeting his puzzled gaze, Yan Shiyao said with a smile, “It is Third Sister Yan Shiyu. Mother has had Third Sister officially adopted under her name, so Third Sister will be marrying into the Marquis’s household as a legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s manor.”
“I see.”
“Are you two going to stand there holding hands much longer? Would a little help be too much to ask?” Yan Yunning crouched on the ground collecting gift boxes, interjecting lazily.
Yan Shiyao bit her lower lip gently, with a look both reproachful and coy, cast a glance at Qi Qingchen, and shyly withdrew her hand. She bent down to help gather the scattered gift boxes. “Where is Qiuci? Why did you not have her carry these?”
Yan Yunning, hugging an armful of boxes that blocked her line of sight, tilted her head toward her. “I sent her to bring food to Xuan Yanyu.”
Yan Shiyao’s lips pressed together. “To bring food to Yanyu-gege? Is he ill?”
“No. He asked me to cook for him.” Yan Yunning’s eyes wandered as she took the gift boxes Yan Shiyao handed over. “A’Jie, I’m going to go check whether he ate.”
Yan Shiyao’s delicate brow arched faintly. She murmured to herself, “Yanyu-gege asked Ningning to cook? He is so particular — would he really eat something Ningning made?”
“Yaoyao, never mind whether he eats it.” Qi Qingchen’s words were practically dripping with sourness.
Yan Shiyao curved her lips. “Qi-gege,” she called out softly in a sweet voice.
With the girl looking so sweetly flustered, Qi Qingchen swallowed. He raised his hand and cupped her cheek, calling low and soft, “Yaoyao.”
Yan Shiyao dipped her head slightly.
Qi Qingchen lifted her chin. Yan Shiyao’s grip on her garments tightened with nerves, her heart beating unusually fast.
Qi Qingchen leaned in slowly toward her.
“Elder Sister, what are you two doing?”
Yan Shiyao hastily pushed Qi Qingchen back. Her face burned, even the tips of her ears flushed deep red.
“Elder Sister, who is he?”
Yan Shiyao steadied herself. She said in a gentle, reproving tone, “Shiyu, mind your manners. This is His Highness the Third Prince.”
Yan Shiyu was startled. A flicker of surprise passed through her clear eyes. Coming to herself, she performed a proper curtsy in greeting. “This subject’s daughter greets Your Highness the Third Prince.”
“Rise.” Qi Qingchen said, displeased, his tone slightly cold. If she had not appeared so suddenly, he and Yaoyao would have…
“What brings you here?” Yan Shiyao lifted her gaze lightly, a look of gentle puzzlement on her face.
Mother had made it clear that unless something important came up, she was not to let her younger siblings come and disturb her.
Yan Shiyu looked at Yan Shiyao with tear-bright eyes. “Elder Sister, this younger sister does not wish to marry Young Marquis. Could you speak to Mother on my behalf?”
In truth, it was not that she was unwilling to marry — she only wished to negotiate the best possible terms for herself. She was merely a daughter born of a concubine, yet now she had been made a legitimate daughter, and was even to become the mistress of a Marquis’s household.