Chapter 90 She Deserves to Be Taken Seriously

Though that was what she said, the feelings in Feng Ke’s eyes had never disappeared.

Perhaps from the very first moment she had met Qiao Qingyun, and through their long association afterward, it was not only their cooperation but also Qiao Qingyun’s extraordinary ability that had made Feng Ke look at her in a new light.

“Miss, should we close up now?”

Zhong Shi came over, a hulking figure pressing close to Qiao Qingyun’s side, the hostility in his eyes toward Feng Ke growing ever more obvious.

“Uh... all right. Let’s close for the night.”

With that, the woman was about to head upstairs to sleep, when out of nowhere Liufu walked in the next second.

“Waiter, today our Crown Prince is bookin--”

The words died on his lips. He turned around, and when he suddenly saw Zhong Shi standing at the door, Liufu was scared out of his wits.

What was going on?

Wasn’t this the Hundred Flowers House? They hadn’t even gone to the Hundred Flowers Courtyard, so how had it become...

“Welcome.”

Qingluo only froze for an instant before quickly smiling and bowing at Liufu, then pulling Zhong Shi aside.

“Sorry, he’s the manager here. He’s been in a bad mood lately and a bit slow to react, so please don’t take offense.”

With that, Qingluo immediately led Liufu and the others to their seats.

Liufu did not speak. Instead, Yuan Zaidun and Bu Shenglian, who were behind him, walked step by step toward their table.

“Qingluo? What are you doing here?”

Bu Shenglian asked as if she knew nothing, and Qingluo smiled.

“Wherever my master is, that’s where I am.”

Just then, Feng Ke happened to come downstairs as well, and said to the two in front of her, “Zhong Shi, have Hongying go upstairs for a moment. Qingyun said--”

Before she could finish, she suddenly saw Yuan Zaidun and Bu Shenglian already seated.

For some reason, ever since she saw Bu Shenglian, Feng Ke had found herself burning with anger.

“What’s wrong with Miss?”

Zhong Shi hurried forward to ask, and only then did Feng Ke come to herself. She smiled and said, “I twisted my ankle. I rushed upstairs too quickly just now and said I was going to check the accounts, so in my haste I twisted it.”

“I see.”

Although Yuan Zaidun was a distinguished guest, everyone here knew perfectly well what was really going on.

Whoever served him, it made no difference.

“Brother Feng.”

The man curved the corners of his mouth, his voice hoarse. Feng Ke paused, then smiled and went forward. “Your Highness, Miss Bu, what would you like to eat?”

“Brother Feng...”

Yuan Zaidun sensed Feng Ke’s deliberate distance and, for a moment, was uncertain what to make of it. Frowning, he looked at her.

“Ah, this humble one is nothing more than a lowly merchant. How could I possibly deserve a word like ‘Brother Feng’ from Your Highness? Today happens to be our hostess’s birthday, so I’m afraid I’ll have to ask the two of you to finish your meal early.”

“What kind of business closes its doors and refuses to do business?”

Bu Shenglian said with some displeasure.

“This shop is not mine alone. Our hostess, of course, cannot compare with Miss Bu in noble birth, nor can she compare with Miss Bu’s present standing, so all I can do is find every possible way to make our hostess happy.”

As she spoke, Feng Ke turned and glanced at Qingluo, who was cooking at the stove.

“Faster.”

“All right!”

Qingluo was utterly unambiguous about it. Following the dishes Yuan Zaidun liked whenever he came here, she prepared every single one and carried them straight to the table.

Then she said to the two of them, “Your Highness, Miss Bu, today is our lady’s birthday, and since fate has brought you here, everything is on the house.”

Liufu frowned. Looking at Qingluo in her present state, he suddenly did not know how to speak.

“Qingluo, is that any way to speak to your master?”

“Oh? Then Deputy General Liuf, why don’t you tell me how one ought to speak? Our lady said that all who come are guests, and all are to dine on the house. Of course, if you insist on being difficult, that is no way to do business. If you think your pride has been slighted, then by all means, pay.”

At that, Bu Shenglian’s fingers went white as she clenched her handkerchief so tightly that her knuckles showed. She said nothing.

All of this was aimed at provoking him. Though she lived under the same roof as Yuan Zaidun, her identity had never once been acknowledged. Worst of all, Yuan Zaidun had never even touched her.

Yet Qingluo was opening her mouth again and again to speak of status and rank, of noble and lowly.

Just as Bu Shenglian was about to explode, Yuan Zaidun picked up a piece of spicy chicken in front of him and ate it lightly, a faint, shining light flickering in his eyes.

“Since today is your hostess’s birthday, I shall remain and celebrate it with you.”

“Your Highness...”

Bu Shenglian wanted to refuse. She did not understand why Yuan Zaidun would do such a thing. Could it be that he had truly rekindled his feelings for that wretched Qiao Qingyun?

“Forgive me. Miss said that just the few of us is enough; there is no need for outsiders to join in the celebration.”

Having said that, Qingluo could not be bothered to keep serving them. She glanced at the attendant standing nearby and said, “Serve them well. There’s no need to collect payment. The miss is waiting upstairs. If anything comes up, report it at once.”

“Yes.”

The attendant could see the grievances and enmities among these people. This matter had already stirred the whole city into an uproar: they said that the dignified Crown Princess, as though she were a living Bodhisattva, had saved all under heaven, only to be driven from home by the Crown Prince.

The Emperor had even sharply rebuked the Crown Prince over it, pushing Yuan Zaidun to the very center of the storm.

“Your Highness... they truly do not regard you with any respect at all.”

Bu Shenglian said indignantly, but Yuan Zaidun said nothing. He simply sat there eating in silence, which only made Bu Shenglian even more furious.

Little by little, the time passed. By the hour of midnight, sounds suddenly came from upstairs.

The next moment, Qiao Qingyun appeared before everyone, her eyes covered with a scarlet blindfold, dressed in a red gown.

At a single glance, Yuan Zaidun’s heart gave a fierce, sudden tremor.

Yes, this woman was now so beautiful she seemed beyond the reach of mortal words. A single passing glance was enough to keep his gaze from moving away.

“Feng Ke, what on earth are you all doing? Zhong Shi, you’re the best. Put me down and let me have a look.”

“Miss, there’s a surprise today, so Zhong Shi cannot obey.”

Zhong Shi stood behind her, holding the ribbon in place as he smiled.

They made their way to the round table at the center of the main hall. It had been Qiao Qingyun’s idea: when there were more than five people, they would use the round table, the largest one of all, symbolizing reunion and wholeness.

By then, Qingluo and the others had already filled the table with candles, and Feng Ke had personally prepared her signature dishes.

“Feng Ke, if you don’t have them let me go right now, I really will get angry with you.”

“Don’t be anxious, don’t be anxious. Almost there.”

At once Feng Ke panicked and hurried to make sure everything was arranged. The moment the ribbon over Qiao Qingyun’s eyes was pulled away, the woman stood stunned.

Feng Ke scratched the back of her head a little awkwardly. “I asked the steward at the Qiao residence. He said today is your birthday, and since it is your eighteenth birthday, I lit eighteen candles.”

“Do you like it?”

That careful, almost tentative way of trying to please Qiao Qingyun made Yuan Zaidun’s eyes ache.

So she was someone who deserved to be treated with true sincerity.

The woman stood frozen, staring at everything before her, and for some reason tears began to stream down her face.