Chapter 25: Why Are You Blushing?

“What’s stopping us? Are you just going to sit here and suffocate in the manor? Not even married yet, and you let yourself die of boredom—would you want to follow a mistress like that?” Qiao Qingyun played the sympathy card again; with her gift for persuasion, she could always talk others into joining her.

At last, after Qiao Qingyun’s persistent efforts, Qingluo relented. She quietly found Zhong Shi and Hong Ying and brought them straight to Qiao Qingyun’s chamber.

Hong Ying was unconcerned, but Zhong Shi’s face was flushed from the moment he entered, as if he’d been roasted.

“Let me tell you, it’s not that I don’t want to stay put, but I’m truly suffocating! Besides, I’ve never even visited any of my father’s businesses—you see what I mean?” Qiao Qingyun raised her brows with a smile. Hong Ying spread her hands. “You just want to go out and have fun, don’t you?”

“So clever!” Qiao Qingyun nodded without a hint of concealment, her eyes shining with hope.

“Then go!” Hong Ying replied carelessly, but Qingluo’s head was about to split. “But before you’re married, the Crown Princess must remain in the manor.”

“To hell with that! If I stay here any longer, I’ll suffocate. Are they planning to hold the wedding and the funeral together?” Qiao Qingyun’s words were as unrestrained as ever, making Qingluo blush with anger. “Miss!”

“All right, all right, I’ll change clothes. If I dress as a man, no one will say anything.”

With that, Qiao Qingyun disappeared behind the screen. Zhong Shi, almost instinctively, turned his back to her.

“Brother, what’s wrong? Why are you blushing?” Hong Ying, unfamiliar with the rules separating men and women, tugged at Zhong Shi and questioned him.

Qingluo noticed too and stepped forward with a smile. “What’s the matter, Zhong Shi? Why are you so red-faced?”

“Miss... Miss is changing, I should go outside.”

“No, don’t. If you leave, you’ll give us away. Just keep your back turned.”

Qingluo didn’t force him, and fortunately, Qiao Qingyun changed quickly. Soon, a delicate, scholarly young man stepped out, holding a white paper fan, bowing gracefully to the three.

“How do I look?”

“My goodness, Miss! You look so real! If one didn’t look closely at your throat, they’d be sure you were a young scholar!”

“Hush! From now on, I’m a scholar.”

Qiao Qingyun straightened her clothes theatrically, smiling at her companions, and together they sneaked out over the back courtyard wall.

“Hurry, hurry!”

This time, Qingluo had brought plenty of silver, afraid Qiao Qingyun might suddenly be hungry and have nothing to eat.

“Miss, where shall we go first?”

Qingluo knew something of General Qiao’s properties, but there were so many, she wasn’t sure where to begin.

“Which of Father’s shops is closest?”

Qiao Qingyun had no particular plan, so Qingluo suddenly remembered, “Oh! There’s a restaurant nearby!”

At that, Qiao Qingyun perked up, turning to Zhong Shi and Hong Ying. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” Zhong Shi replied woodenly, saying whatever came to mind, leaving Qiao Qingyun at a loss.

But Qingluo, ever clever, saw right through her. She quickly said, “Miss, I’m hungry.”

“Great! Then let’s eat!”

Qiao Qingyun smiled at Qingluo, leaving Zhong Shi puzzled. Soon, Qingluo whispered to him, “When Miss asks if you’re hungry, it means she’s hungry and wants an excuse. How can you be so dense?”

Zhong Shi didn’t quite understand. Why say the opposite?

Hong Ying shook her head at her brother, black lines appearing above it. “Looks like getting Brother married will be harder than ever.”

“Fate, I suppose.”

They arrived at the restaurant called Little Green Chef. Inside, it was almost deserted.

“Anyone here?”

At the inquiry, a waiter hurried out. “Ah, young master! What would you like to eat?”

Since it was their first visit, Qiao Qingyun didn’t know the menu, so she waved her hand. “Bring us your signature dishes—just four, so we don’t overeat.”

“Yes, sir, just wait and see.”

The waiter turned to arrange things. Qingluo asked, “Miss, why not state your purpose directly?”

“That’s what it means to catch them off guard—you should learn.”

As she spoke, Qiao Qingyun poured herself a cup of tea, only to find it full of tea dregs.

How could this be? Her brows furrowed; something felt off, and her gaze grew sharp.

“What’s wrong?” Zhong Shi didn’t understand, and Hong Ying, seeing Qiao Qingyun’s expression change, became instantly wary.

“Looks like this meal won’t go smoothly.”

Qiao Qingyun tossed the tea aside, and the waiter saw it, sneering as he hurried to urge the kitchen.

Soon, the scent of burning wafted in, and the waiter brought out four dishes.

One look was enough to shock them—were these really dishes? If thrown to a dog, the dog might not even touch them.

“These are your signature dishes? Isn’t this General Qiao’s restaurant? Aren’t you afraid he’ll question you?”

Qiao Qingyun’s face grew cold. The waiter was startled, but quickly recalled that General Qiao was dead. As long as they kept buying supplies, the general’s manor still paid, good or bad.

“So what? You can eat or leave, but it’s forty taels of silver. Pay up!”

The waiter was cocky, causing Qiao Qingyun’s face to grow even colder.

“Outrageous!”

Zhong Shi couldn’t bear to see Qiao Qingyun insulted. He slammed the table and stood up, ready to argue, but suddenly a group of burly men rushed out. Even Hong Ying reached for her flexible sword at her waist.

The waiter smirked triumphantly. “Pay up.”

“So this place is deserted because of you lot?”

“What’s it to you? Hand over the money, and we’ll go our separate ways.”

“Fine, let’s see if you dare take this money today!”

With that, Qiao Qingyun slapped the general’s command token down on the table!