Chapter 10

A person dressed in fiery red attire has a belt around his waist that is also red, resembling a peacock adorned in an evening glow.

“Why is it that the lady is so amazed by my appearance that she is speechless?”

He casually grabbed the pastry snatched by Cheng Nanyu, glancing at Cheng Nanyu in between.

It was a thousand-layer pastry. As soon as she heard the man’s words, she felt a hint of arrogance and immediately lost her temper.

Without inquiring further, Cheng Nanyu was afraid of no one.

This person acts like they are close to each other, but it’s unclear where he’s from, and he’s ignorant of customs.

“The Lord is overly confident. I was merely startled by your distinctive attire. Could it be that this gentleman’s custom is to propose a betrothal in the twilight?”

The man in red listened to the words and was momentarily stunned; he seemed to take a moment to understand Cheng Nanyu’s intention, and Mujin beside Cheng Nanyu was all sneering. After a moment of contemplation, he understood, and instead of being angry, he laughed.

Who wouldn’t know that a ghost marriage is proposed only at twilight? Is this princess twisting her words in response to him?

Cheng Nanyu was aware that he had understood. Seeing his reaction, she smiled, feeling a bit chilly. Not understanding what was wrong with this person, she simply had Mujin take the other pastries and ignore the man.

“Waiter, just now, add one more serving for me; put it on this gentleman’s bill, and he’ll pay for it.”

The waiter sighed and turned to pack another serving. The man in red, upon hearing Cheng Nanyu’s words, took a few steps forward and stood in front of her.

“Why should I pay for the food? The hospitality of the people here seems rather fierce.”

Cheng Nanyu handed the man in red the pastries he had snatched just now. Although she didn’t spare him on the surface, she was actually smiling. After sizing up the man, she shook her head and said,.

“What belongs to the Lord is the Lord’s. Furthermore, just now the Lord snatched the pastries of this princess; it’s only right to offer one serving to this princess.”

With a smile on her face, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in her words, seemingly earnestly reasoning with the man. After hearing Cheng Nanyu’s response, he frowned for a moment and unexpectedly nodded.

He seemed to be convinced by Cheng Nanyu’s argument. Seeing him nod, Cheng Nanyu, besides him, felt amused.

He noticed Mujin beside her, giggling, feeling that something was amiss.

“Ah, Lord, please pay before leaving. Our people here are quite fierce. If not, you can try; it’s not impossible.”

Coincidentally, the waiter finished packing the pastries, and Cheng Nanyu gestured to Mujin to take them.

Seeing her take them, the waiter quickly pulled the man in red and remembered that the man had not paid yet.

“Lord, remember to pay before leaving.”

The man in red watched as Cheng Nanyu took the maidservant and boarded the carriage. The carriage slowly moved away, and the driver looked back at him.

It was only at this moment that he realized that snatching Cheng Nanyu’s pastries just now was a mistake; compensating with another serving was the issue. The key problem was this serving; Cheng Nanyu didn’t pay for it. Wasn’t that a problem?

As a grown man, he was unexpectedly entangled by a girl. The key was that he had missed the point.

Cheng Nanyu and Mujin got into the carriage. Seeing her brother closing his eyes and not reacting at all, she let out a sigh of relief, sitting quietly and not daring to make a sound.

Throughout the journey, neither of them spoke again. Cheng Nanyu and Song Yushu looked exhausted, closing their eyes all the way, their faces showing no expression. Despite this, the two didn’t exchange a word until they arrived at the princess’s mansion.

Song Yushu got off the carriage first and stepped into the mansion without waiting for Cheng Nanyu’s reaction. He didn’t wait; Cheng Nanyu knew he wasn’t in the mood, so Mujin helped her out of the carriage slowly and walked towards her own courtyard.

“The princess is back.”

Qingluan brought a pot of floral tea, coincidentally encountering Cheng Nanyu and Mujin, who had just returned. Seeing the princess looking exhausted, she quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it over.

“Just now, someone from the palace came. It’s the round and chubby kitten of Empress Dowager; it’s been a month since it was born. Knowing that you’ve always liked pets, they sent someone to ask if you wanted to keep the cat. If you don’t want it, they’ll find someone else to take care of it.”

Cheng Nanyu suddenly felt a bit uneasy about rejecting the kitten given by the Empress Dowager. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should accept it. She quite liked cats and dogs, but if she really accepted, she wasn’t sure if it was the right decision.

“Perhaps it’s better to decline. The Empress Dowager has always adored these little animals. If I can’t take care of it properly, it might hurt her feelings. Let’s send it back and let the Empress Dowager give it to someone who can take care of it.”

Qingluan poured a cup of tea for Cheng Nanyu, nodded, then turned to leave with the tea pot, instructing someone to deliver the message.

Cheng Nanyu, seeing Qingluan leave, finally shifted her gaze to the packages of pastries on the table. She had just deceived the man once and left hastily, forgetting who he was.

He had distinctive attire, with a jade pendant on him, showing that he was someone of high status. Cheng Nanyu was intrigued and wanted to know more about the man’s identity. When he asked how the locals treated guests, she realized that the man was probably not from the local area.

“What’s wrong, Princess?”

Seeing Cheng Nanyu staring blankly at the pastries, not knowing what was on her mind, Mujin interrupted.

“Nothing, just thinking about the gentleman I met today. His identity seems unusual.”

Mentioning the person they encountered reminded Mujin of something, prompting her to mention it.

“Princess, do you find it strange that the gentleman referred to you as ‘princess’?”

Mujin had noticed it on the way back. People often casually referred to Cheng Nanyu as Princess; she had long been accustomed to it. But why did she find it strange when the gentlemen called Cheng Nanyu princess?

She has been going back and forth, but it’s not just her who finds it strange.

“The gentleman, whom the princess doesn’t know, hasn’t even seen before; how would he know the princess’s identity?”

“Wasn’t it you who called me Princess first?”

Mujin shook her head, remembering clearly that it was the gentleman who asked the question first and addressed Cheng Nanyu as a princess. She had not said anything before.

Cheng Nanyu was pondering, but then saw Qingluan rushing in a hurry, seeming to have something urgent. She rushed in and stopped in front of Cheng Nanyu, taking a deep breath before speaking.

“Princess, the General has sent someone here. He’s in the main hall right now. The princess is requested to come.”

Her expression was a bit solemn, which shocked Cheng Nanyu.

At this crucial moment when her father is returning, he unexpectedly sent someone back first. What could be the reason behind it?”