Chapter 145: Opportune, formidable (2/2)

“Esteemed wangfei, this isn’t appropriate, is it? His Highness is…” Gu Beiyue felt a little uneasy.

“His Highness is very busy so we won’t disturb him. Let’s eat…here, everyone come over.”

Acting completely out of character, Han Yunxi casually picked up her chopsticks. Gu Beiyue scrunched his eyebrows, while Gu Qishao thoughtfully rubbed his chin before he came to an understanding. He grinned as he sat down.

“Poison Lass, just then that was Western Zhou’s Princess Rongle, right?”

Han Yunxi’s chopsticks paused in mid-air as she nodded. “Mm.”

“I heard that Western Zhou’s emperor wants Princess Rongle to cement relations with Tianning through marriage. Looks like she’s here this time to find a son-in-law for the emperor,” Gu Qishao said playfully.

This time, Han Yunxi even stopped chewing, but she quickly started again, speaking as she ate. “Cementing relations isn’t the same as inviting a potential groom home. It doesn’t matter who she looks for, it’s not her choice who to marry.”

“This princess is the daughter of the first wife and the little sister to Western Zhou’s crown prince. In any case, there’s not many candidates for her to pick for marriage here in Tianning.” Gu Qishao’s fervent gaze stared at Han Yunxi’s lips as she chewed. This woman even ate differently from other females, he really liked her the more he saw her.

When was Long Feiye going to divorce her? How about she divorce him instead?

Han Yunxi really didn’t understand much about marriage relations between countries. She feigned indifference as she asked, “Then who are the candidates?”

By now, Gu Beiyue had sat down on one side to carefully study Gu Qishao. He didn’t interrupt their thought but mused over the connection between this man and esteemed wangfei. It didn’t seem like they were enemies.

“The crown prince, the young general, and…” Gu Qishao intentionally paused before continuing. “…the Duke of Qin.”

Han Yunxi gave Gu Qishao a profound look before laughing lightly. She immediately switched the topic. “Eat.”

As she spoke, she looked towards Gu Beiyue as well. “Imperial Physician Gu, there’s no need to be polite. Go ahead and eat.”

Duanmu Yao was a princess of the first wife of the emperor. She wasn’t any Lady Xu, so how could she be satisfied in marrying Long Feiye to be a mere concubine? Looks like it was more probable for her to choose the crown prince, in which case she’d have to call Long Feiye Imperial Qin Uncle and her, Imperial Qin Aunt. Thinking up to here, Han Yunxi’s bad mood suddenly vanished like smoke in the air.

She picked up a sparkling, translucent piece of water chestnut cake and enjoyed it immensely. However, Gu Qishao began muttering to himself. “I heard that this princess is thricely talented in the arts, martial prowess, and appearances. She has lofty tastes and probably wouldn’t be interested in anyone else besides the Duke of Qin. Perhaps the Duke of Qin will house two wangfeis of left and right instead.”

A household with two wangfeis, how did Han Yunxi overlook this? After all, it was even possible to have dual empresses in the Eastern and Western Palace, so why not the same for wangfeis? Whether it was East or West, left or right, though both were considered proper wives, they still differed in seniority.

By now, Han Yunxi’s hands and mouth had thoroughly stilled.

Gu Qishao’s gaze turned complicated, but he tried to feel her out with the same sardonic tone. “Come now, esteemed wangfei, you have to dip the water chestnut cake in vinegar for it to have flavor!”

How could Han Yunxi miss the meaning behind Gu Qishao’s words[1]? Still, she only smiled softly and said no more.

He married, she wedded, what business was it of hers?

If she was angry, it would only be because he didn’t do what he promised.

Han Yunxi allowed Gu Qishao to probe her all he’d liked without paying him any attention. She didn’t eat more than a few bites before losing her appetite and getting to her feet. “You enjoy yourselves, I’ll be leaving first.”

When she opened the doors, she saw that Long Feiye and Duanmu Yao hadn’t reserved a private room, but were sitting openly in the restaurant. In fact, they’d chosen the table closest to her room. Long Feiye’s inherently frigid gaze turned even colder at her appearance. But Han Yunxi only glanced at him before staring straight ahead and walking away with long strides. Her retreating back looked both stubborn and lonely.

Long Feiye’s gaze followed her as she descended the stairs, a complicated and unreadable expression slipping in amongst the ice.

Duanmu Yao noted the change with some dissatisfaction. “Senior Brother, you should eat. The dishes will get cold.”

There were clearly private rooms still available in the restaurant, but senior brother had insisted on sitting here. They’d sat for so long with a table full of dishes but he hadn’t even touched a bite. Even though he spent the day with her as host under Emperor Tianhui’s orders, he’d kept taciturn and indifferent the whole time.

She was long used to his personality, but he had turned even more withdrawn after bumping into Han Yunxi at noon.

Had that woman disturbed his heart?

She’d already made inquiries about the last visit to Pill Fiend Valley. Senior Brother hadn’t been trying to protect that woman, but was more concerned with the Life Blood Pill. Yet what about this time?

It wasn’t clear whether Long Feiye had heard Duanmu Yao speak, but he hadn’t touched his chopsticks since the beginning. He only drank a few sips of hot tea before deigning to speak. “The driver’s waiting by the door, you can go back by yourself later.”

“Senior Brother, I heard that Tianning capital’s Huai Blossom[2] Lane has a night market…” Before Duanmu Yao could finish, Long Feiye rose to leave. In an instant, her tender, delicate expression turned fierce and sinister.

Han Yunxi, it’s all because of Han Yunxi again! I’ll remember this grudge for good!

-o-

[1] How could Han Yunxi miss the meaning behind Gu Qishao’s words? – referring to Qishao’s last line about dipping the water chestnut cake in vinegar. Vinegar commonly represents jealousy when used in Chinese speech.

[2] Huai Blossom (槐花) – huai hua, or Styphnolobium, a species of small trees and shrubs in the pea family known for its small clustered flowers.