Chapter 42 - Resisting (2/2)
“Um, I think I’ll eat this one.”
Zhuo Fan went for Lei Yuting’s box as she showed a bright smile.
But even before his hand reached it, Luo Yunchang bumped her box closer to him with a glare, “Didn’t you say you’ll eat them both?”
Zhuo Fan’s brow flickered, hesitation setting in as he took another long look at Luo Yunchang’s burnt dishes.
But he could hardly refuse her sincere eyes and nodded, “Alright, I’ll eat them.”
Luo Yunchang broke out into a wide smile, to which Lei Yuting was showing disdain.
“Mine first.” Luo Yunchang urged.
“No, mine.” Lei Yuting said in haste.
The two women’s eyes met and sparks seemed to fly.
Zhuo Fan wondered, [Weren’t they close? Why are they fighting all of a sudden?] He couldn’t comprehend what could bring such a change in them.
“First come, first served.”
Zhuo Fan then took a bite out of Lei Yuting’s dishes. She was staring at him with wide and expectant eyes.
Zhuo Fan gave a thumbs up, “Delicious!”
Lei Yuting’s smile bloomed like a flower while Xiao Cui pushed out her chin and shouted, “My Young miss started cooking since she was ten. No one in Windgaze City can match her skill. You are fortunate today, Steward Zhuo.”
Xiao Cui’s boast embarrassed Lei Yuting, but even that couldn’t take away the radiant smile from her face.
Luo Yunchang pouted, “Zhuo Fan, try mine.”
Zhuo Fan took a bite but spat it out as soon as it touched his tongue.
“Even poison is better.” His words were sharp as he took Lei Yuting’s box, “I still choose this one.”
Lei Yuting was smiling, while Luo Yunchang’s eyes started tearing.
“Wow, such a great smell!”
At this time Luo Yunhai shouted in surprise as he jumped into Zhuo Fan’s room, “Bro Zhuo, you’re out! And you are having such a feast, why didn’t you invite me?”
“Go and eat your sister’s cooking.” Zhuo Fan dissed him.
Luo Yunhai complained, “Her skill isn’t worth a dime. She doesn’t know anything besides opening the kitchen door.”
Unable to stay there any longer, Luo Yunchang ran out with her lunch box. But people could see the droplets she left behind on the floor.
“Um, was I wrong?” Luo Yunhai was confused.
“Not at all.” Zhuo Fan gorged on Lei Yuting’s cooking as he said, “But some people have low confidence.”
After finishing his meal, Zhuo Fan informed the others before leaving, “Stay here as Hell Valley’s people might still lurk around. I’m going to pay Veiled Dragon Pavilion a visit.”
Luo Yunhai and Captain Pang nodded then turned to Lei Yuting. Seeing her all flushed, Xiao Cui was even more excited, “How great, Young miss, Steward Zhuo is interested in you.”
Lei Yuting only smiled.
At the same time, in the Imperial City.
In a magnificent office, two people sat side by side. One man was in his forties, dressed in a white silken robe. He had a small hanging mustache that shook with his smile.
The other man was in his fifties, with a somber complexion and wearing a dark cloak. His pair of large eyes were filled with grievance.
The two acted like strangers, not meeting each other’s eyes.
Cough, cough, cough…
With a cough, a shaky body appeared before the two. It was an old man dressed in a golden robe embroidered with nine dragons.
“Your Majesty!”
The men rose up and bowed.
The elder waved for them to sit, “Veiled Dragon Pavilion and Hell Valley both are from the Seven Noble Houses, the pillars of the empire. What matter has made you request an audience with me?”
This elder was the Emperor of Tianyu Empire!
“Your Majesty, Veiled Dragon Pavilion killed two of our Hell Valley’s elders last month, breaking the seven houses’ agreement. Your Majesty, please punish the Veiled Dragon Pavilion!” The black-robed man complained.
Sneering, the middle-aged man spoke, “You Wanshan, you have some nerve complaining first! Your Hell Valley’s elder infringed upon my Veiled Dragon Pavilion’s domain. How are you going to explain it? Who is it that broke the seven houses agreement first?”
“One of my valley’s disciple, You Quan, was killed in Windgaze City. Can’t I send an elder to bring the matter to light?” You Wanshan squinted, “Long Yifey, you are just making an excuse to exact revenge for what happened two decades ago.”
“Ha-ha-ha, and? Twenty years ago, you trapped Elder Jiu in Drifting Leaves City and ruined his mystic eye. You accused him of entering your domain and breaching the seven houses agreement, I didn’t object. This time, however, it is your elder who entered mine. And not just one, but four! Is this what you call investigation?”
“Enough!”
The Emperor’s cold shout came as his eyes flashed in anger, “Both sides are in violation. This is my judgment. Veiled Dragon Pavilion shall withdraw from Windgaze City, it is no longer part of your domain. Hell Valley and Veiled Dragon Pavilion’s people are never to set foot in this city ever again.”
“Your Majesty!”
The two cupped their fists, but the Emperor flicked his sleeve, “This matter is settled, withdraw. I no longer want to hear anything about the seven houses, nor about internal disputes.”
“Understood!”
None of them was willing to accept this conclusion but retreated nonetheless.
When they were gone, the Emperor’s eyes flashed, “For Hell Valley’s people to enter Windgaze City, they must be privy to the thousand-year-old secret.”
“The Imperial City has always been a place of conflict, filled with the eyes and ears of every faction. This should be known to Your Majesty.” An aged voice replied from behind.
The Emperor chuckled, “It seems… the plan has begun. Pearls will always shine, he-he-he…”