Chapter 127: It Seems to Have Worked

"Yes, I know, my subordinate understands..."

Zhong Shi tried to say more, but Qiao Qingyun clamped a hand over his mouth. "Don't speak, don't make a sound. It wouldn't be good if you attracted anyone. Rest assured, I will take responsibility for you."

Zhong Shi was speechless. He had never felt so utterly at a loss for words in his entire life.

"My Lady, please... please step down first."

"You're the lady! Your whole family is ladies!"

Qiao Qingyun had completely cast her status aside, unleashing a barrage of complaints at Zhong Shi, leaving him dazed and bewildered, unable to grasp what she was even going on about.

"Be good, let me touch!"

While Zhong Shi was still stunned, Qiao Qingyun extended her claws toward his lower abdomen, tracing his abs up and down, left and right. Her touch sent a surge of restless, forbidden heat coursing through him.

"Princess... please, stop."

The man’s voice had grown noticeably raspy and deep. As for Qing Luo and the others, they had all turned their backs, not daring to look at the scene unfolding before them. They never imagined that Qiao Qingyun would actually go through with it!

"Mmm... so good, you have a nice body!" As she spoke, Qiao Qingyun gave his cheek a playful, rewarding pat, causing the heat to flush from Zhong Shi's cheeks all the way to his earlobes.

"Little treasure, will you carry me back to the bedroom? Won't you?"

"Are we not eating the roasted meat?"

Zhong Shi’s breathing was noticeably rapid. He had never expected a day like this would come. He asked in a low voice, and after a glance, Qiao Qingyun shook her head. "I'm eating you."

The moment those two words were dropped, everyone present held their breath! It was clear as day that she was up to no good with him!

The man dared not delay further. He scooped Qiao Qingyun up and headed straight for the bedroom. After placing her on the bed, he turned to leave immediately. Regardless of whether Qiao Qingyun truly liked him or had ever cared about his feelings, he could not take advantage of her in this state.

But she would not let him go.

"Stop! Who allowed you to leave? Come up here and stay with me!"

Qiao Qingyun’s tone grew uncharacteristically sharp and stern. Seeing Zhong Shi standing with his back to her, refusing to budge, she stumbled forward two steps and yanked him toward her. Finally, as she lay on the bed, she drifted into a deep sleep.

The man gasped for air, his strength seemingly drained, as he slumped against the side of the bed and slowly sank to the floor.

He turned his head to look at the woman who had tormented him so thoroughly, a helpless smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. If this was the case, he would have no need to hide his love in the future. He would wait until he could legitimately marry Qiao Qingyun before they truly became man and wife.

The next morning, no one dared to knock on the door. It wasn't until Zhong Shi slowly woke up on the floor that he realized the sun was already high in the sky. The blinding sunlight streaming through the window caused a momentary discomfort to his eyes, but he quickly came to his senses.

He turned his head and found that Qiao Qingyun was still fast asleep.

Helpless, Zhong Shi opened the door and stepped out to avoid startling her. But in the time it took to turn around, Qing Luo and the others were standing in a line right behind him.

"Ah! You scared me."

Zhong Shi jumped in surprise. He frowned at the group, who looked as if they were dying to get to the bottom of things. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Brother, you... you and the Princess..."

"Don't talk nonsense! Go inside and wake the Princess; I’m afraid of scaring her."

What? He was worried about scaring Qiao Qingyun?

The group looked at one another, completely dumbfounded. They figured the two must have become a couple, but that left them wondering—how were they supposed to address them now?

Qing Luo didn't care about the formalities; she hurried inside to wake her, while Hong Ying tried to pry for more details, only to be shooed away by Zhong Shi before she could get close.

"What!"

Upon being woken up for a bath, Qiao Qingyun heard what Qing Luo had to say. Her face turned pale with shock, and she nearly slipped and drowned in the tub!

"Yes, Princess. Could it be... could it be that you don't remember?"

Qing Luo asked tentatively. Qiao Qingyun felt a sense of utter despair. It was over... this time, she was well and truly finished!

"Then... did Zhong Shi say anything?"

Qiao Qingyun pressed further, terrified that Zhong Shi might be unhappy about the incident and decide to leave. What would she do then?

"He didn't say anything, only that he didn't want to startle you, so he didn't dare wake you."

As one of the parties involved, Qiao Qingyun knew, of course, that they were innocent. Although she had blacked out last night, it didn't mean she remembered absolutely nothing.

"Alright, I understand."

The woman responded faintly. She allowed Qing Luo to scrub her clean, and after dressing, she arrived at the main hall to find Zhong Shi and Hong Ying already waiting.

"Greetings, Princess."

Qiao Qingyun nodded, pulling her slightly damp hair to the front. Her slender fingers took up a jade comb, gently smoothing out her long, dark tresses. "Why is it these dishes again?"

"Princess, do you not like them?" Qing Luo asked, startled.

"It's not that I don't like them," Qiao Qingyun murmured. "It's just that the weather is getting hotter. If we keep eating this, I'll surely grow tired of it."

"This..."

Although Qing Luo had been learning culinary arts from Qiao Qingyun, she had only grasped the basics; how could she have mastered them?

"Shall I go get some ice for you, My Lady?" Zhong Shi stepped forward, his voice filled with concern. Qiao Qingyun rested her head in her hand and nodded. "That's all we can do for now. Also, Qing Luo, do you remember that dish I taught you called cold noodles? Go and make that."

"Ah? And these?" Qing Luo looked regretfully at the dishes on the table. After a moment of thought, Qiao Qingyun said, "You all eat them. I have no appetite, and there is so much every day—it's too wasteful."

"Yes!"

Qing Luo hurried off, while Qiao Qingyun pulled Hong Ying down to sit with her. Zhong Shi turned and headed toward the Imperial Kitchen to find some ice.

Unexpectedly, as he walked, every servant he passed bowed and scraped before him.

"Young Master Lu."

"Brother-in-law... er, Young Master Lu..."

Zhong Shi frowned. Had the sun risen in the west today? Why was everyone being so enthusiastic?

When he reached the Imperial Kitchen, the usually haughty head chef caught sight of Zhong Shi and hurried over with a fawning expression. "Oh, Young Master Lu, is the Princess feeling unwell? Or is there something she wants to eat?"

"The Princess is sensitive to the heat, so she sent me to fetch some ice."

Zhong Shi explained truthfully. Master Gao, the head chef, nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, of course. We'll send it over immediately. Xiao Liu, Xiao Qi, go quickly."

"Right away."

After a while, when the others returned, Zhong Shi looked at the basin of ice and then at Master Gao. "Remember to send some over every day."

"Yes, yes."

Watching Zhong Shi leave, Master Gao immediately straightened his back. "Did you see that? That is someone with real influence! Who knows, in a few days, he might just be our Princess's consort!"

"Indeed!"

When Zhong Shi returned to the Zijing Palace, he saw Qiao Qingyun lounging on a straw mat like a cat seeking the cool breeze, while a servant fanned her incessantly. The sight brought a smile to his face.