Chapter 145: Opportune, formidable (1/2)

Chapter 145: Opportune, formidable

The one who delivered their orders was none other than the man who’d taken advantage of Han Yunxi a few days ago, Gu Qishao!

He was, as always, dressed in luxurious, bombastic red robes that trailed on the floor. Despite carrying plates of food, he still managed to look stunning and gorgeous, those long eyes deviously bewitching enough to stir up a crowd. There was a perpetual smile on his face, as if he had no worries in the world.

Han Yunxi was shocked enough to stand up and slam the table. “Why is it you?”

Gu Qishao wore a cheerful smile. “It’s rare for esteemed wangfei to honor my establishment with your presence. Your appearance truly brings light to my humble shop. As the owner, it’s only natural that I serve you personally.”

He walked over and gracefully put down dish after dish, ignoring Han Yunxi’s astonishment. Celestial Fragrance Teashop, Tender Fragrance Teahouse…this rich and imposing guy probably had properties all over the place. Why didn’t she think of that?

His spirit really lingered over everywhere!

Since Gu Beiyue was here, Han Yunxi didn’t want to waste time arguing. She composed herself and sat down to properly wait for the shop owner to serve her. Gu Beiyue’s gaze turned complicated for a second, but he tactfully kept quiet. When Gu Qishao placed the last dish on the table, Han Yunxi waved her hand in a graceful, but haughty, manner. “There’s nothing else for you to do, you can leave.”

Gu Qishao grinned, purposely detouring around Gu Beiyue to walk to Han Yunxi’s side, his manner strictly professional. “Esteemed wangfei, you ordered all of our shop’s signature dishes. The ingredients, preparation, and use of each item was done after careful study. Take your time eating while I explain them one by one.”

As he spoke, he personally picked up an osmanthus cake and placed it on Han Yunxi’s empty dish. She glanced at him before calmly lifting the dish and dumping it aside!

“Do you believe me when I say that this wangfei will close down your business for good if you don’t get out?”

Gu Qishao wasn’t angry, but elegantly lifted his robes to sit down. “Of course I believe it. If esteemed wangfei likes my things, she’s welcome to have them.”

Tsk tsk, he was an old hand when it came to flowery words!

Han Yunxi pasted on a fake smile and suddenly scattered poison powder in Gu Qishao’s face. The latter purposely took a deep breath, unconcerned by her poison at all. Fine, poison tricks like this were more useful against hoodlums in the streets, but useless against an expert hoodlum like Gu Qishao. Han Yunxi once again thought of Madame Li’s dying words. A detoxification expert is the true poisons master. These words were practically false accusations against herself!

She really wasn’t an expert at poisoning others, especially with formless poisons! Han Yunxi’s expression turned dangerous as she narrowed her eyes. Seeing this, Gu Qishao liked her all the better. He’d actually just been passing by when he happened to spot Han Yunxi coming over. It wasn’t as if he had nothing better to do than to bother her since he was a busy man.

“All right, all right, Poison Lass. Just treat me to a meal as payment for me saving your life,” Gu Qishao turned proper and serious. But even so, he didn’t look very proper at all.

“Is it that easy to repay you? A single meal will make us even?” Han Yunxi was itching to settle accounts with this fellow as soon as possible.

Gu Qishao looked pensive before he replied, “If you want to repay me with your heart, that’s all right too.”

At the same time he finished, Han Yunxi raised her hand to slap him while Gu Beiyue harshly slammed the table. “Impudence!”

Gu Qishao caught Han Yunxi’s hand as his eyes narrowed, looking haughtily at Gu Beiyue as his killing intent spiked. He might be a mischievous fellow at first glance, but he definitely wasn’t someone so simple!

Immediately, the atmosphere grew tense.

Still, Gu Beiyue held no fear as he stood up. “Sir, please let go of esteemed wangfei’s hand immediately!”

Han Yunxi didn’t know that the warm and gentle Gu Beiyue could be so fierce. She recovered enough to break free of Gu Qishao’s hand and stood up as well. “Imperial Physician Gu, we’re leaving!”

Han Yunxi really wanted to summon the authorities over and accuse this fellow of harassment. At the same time, she could close up his shop–since he had so many, she could close them as she saw them. But Gu Beiyue was here with her this time. Though there was nothing wrong in meeting privately, it still wasn’t established custom. She wasn’t afraid of people criticizing her, but she couldn’t implicate Gu Beiyue!

If Gu Qishao made a big fuss, what would Gu Beiyue do then?

Han Yunxi walked very quickly, forcing Gu Beiyue to chase after her. But she’d hardly taken a few steps out of the private room in the restaurant when she saw Long Feiye and Duanmu Yao walking in.

This…what a small world!

Han Yunxi stopped abruptly. This time, Long Feiye stopped as well, looking flabbergasted at the sight of Gu Beiyue. In turn, Han Yunxi glanced towards Duanmu Yao. Were they here to eat together? What a Duke of Qin, he really was carefree! He’d spent the entire day strolling around with Duanmu Yao!

Duanmu Yao looked at Han Yunxi, then at the white-robed Gu Beiyue beside her. She didn’t recognize this man, but thought that he was uncommonly handsome, with a gentleness like jade that matched well with Han Yunxi. Gu Beiyue recognized Duanmu Yao but only felt puzzled. Why would the Duke of Qin take Princess Rongle to a teahouse?

Thus, the four of them all remained speechless with their own thoughts.

When Han Yunxi and Long Feiye crossed gazes, one of them stared fixedly in silence while the other was terrifyingly dark. In the middle of this scene, Gu Qishao walked out from inside the private room, grinning deviously. “Aiya, what kind of breeze is blowing today? Even the Duke of Qin…”

But before he could finish, Han Yunxi suddenly turned around with a laugh. “Gu Qishao, didn’t you say we should eat together? Go back inside!”

So speaking, she hauled Gu Beiyue along as well. “Imperial Physician Gu, you too. I’ve caused you so much trouble, but I still haven’t gotten the chance to thank you yet!”

This…what kind of mood was this?

Before Gu Qishao could understand, or Gu Beiyue recover, both of them were dragged into the private room. As soon as she stepped inside, Han Yunxi turned around and slammed the doors shut without even looking at Long Feiye. She leaned against them for a while, taking deep breaths. This time she’d managed to abandon Long Feiye before he did the same to her. It felt great!

The two men she dragged inside exchanged glances before looking at her doubtfully. What was she doing? Why did it feel like she had fought a battle after shutting those doors, and why did she need to catch her breath?