Chapter 76：What A Coincidence

Outside Heavenly Residence, Xia Chunyu waited for Helian Xuan. If he went in by himself, there was a chance that Princess Liu Li would think that he was there to help Yaoyao and get even madder. He wanted their meeting to appear coincidental.

"Are you sure Young Royal Highness Jing will come?" Xia Chunyu asked Song Qi.

Song Qi answered, "Young Royal Highness looked worried when I told him the news, he will definitely come."

A short while later, Helian Xuan arrived on the back of a horse.

Xia Chunyu came up to him immediately. "Why are you alone? Where is Little Jing?"

"What is wrong with you? He's just a chef! Why would you risk offending the crown prince and the princess for him?" Helian Xuan was puzzled and exasperated.

Xia Chunyu smiled awkwardly. "If anything happens to him, I will have a guilty conscience for a lifetime."

Helian Xuan looked at him as if he was a stranger. "I don't understand you anymore. You are stranger than Little Jing. What magic does that guy have? Why are you all protecting him?"

Helian Xuan only met Li Yao once before, and the only way he'd describe him was bold. 

"You will understand it in the future," Xia Chunyu said, smiling.

Helian Xuan shrugged and said, "I asked Little Jing to find more people to help. More people can make things easier. They should arrive soon."

As if on cue, Helian Jing arrived with other people in tow.

Helian Xuan squinted and spotted Zhao Qixuan and the usual company he kept. He frowned. These were not the people he had in mind.

Zhao Qixuan got off the horse and came up to greet them laughingly, "Hello, Royal Highness and Brother Chunyu. I heard you guys were the hosts so I immediately rushed here."

"What happened?" Little Jing asked worriedly.

Xia Chunyu said, "Let's talk about it inside."

Zhao Qixuan and the others had no idea what was happening and felt that this dinner was dodgier than they were led to believe.

As the group walked into the restaurant, Manager Qian immediately recognized Zhao Qixuan and Young Royal Highness Jing. Manager Qian happily greeted them, knowing that Young Royal Highness Jing has a close relationship with Li Yao.

"Young Royal Highness and Heir-son Lord, please, come upstairs."

Ah Xing took them to the second floor and neglected to offer the higher suite.

Xia Chunyu gave Helian Jing a meaningful look.

Luckily, Helian Jing understood and said discontentedly, "Why are we only on the second floor? I want the Fu Qu Attic."

"I'm sorry, Young Royal Highness, though the Fu Qu Attic is empty along with other rooms, the whole of the third floor was already rented out," Ah Xing responded.

"Who is so rich that he hires the whole floor and leave the other rooms empty? What purpose does that even serve?" Zhao Qixuan demanded. How many people in Jin Ling could be as extravagant as him?

Helian Jing added, "Yeah, who dares to be that cocky? What, do they just want to show their riches off?"

Zhao Qixuan rolled his eyes. "Let's go and have a look there."

"Let's go," Helian Jing agreed.

The two of them rushed to the third floor and walked directly into Lan Xuan Attic.

Zhao Qixuan took the lead and pushed the door open. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out when he saw who were inside.

"C...cr... uhm, Crown Prince," Zhao Qixuan stammered, too nervous to speak properly. He never would've thought that the people he'd see in here were the crown prince and Princess Liu Li. The prince was creepy enough. The addition of that evil woman was too much for his heart. She's my nightmare.

Helian Jing was much calmer than Zhao Qixuan, especially when he saw that Big Yaoyao was fine. He smiled, adopted a polite hand gesture and said, "Crown Prince and Princess Liu Li. Excuse our barging in here, we are down on level two and there are no more compartments left. I was informed that someone hired the whole third floor and I was just wondering if we could share. Forgive us, we didn't know it would be you. Sorry for the intrusion."

Ye Jiayao couldn't even focus on the happiness she felt from Little Jing's arrival. This is the Crown Prince? She knew that he might be someone of high status, but she didn't think that he was the Crown Prince, the future king.

Ye Jiayao kneeled immediately, followed by Manager Qian and Little Lu. 

"We didn't know Crown Prince has visited us, if we have offended you, please forgive us, Prince Highness."

The prince smiled and said, "Get up. I know you didn't know, I don't blame you."

Ye Jiayao was secretly happy. What he just had said conveyed a double meaning. He was not blaming her for scolding that brat of a princess!

"You've paid your respects, you can leave now. Don't interrupt our meal again." Liu Li tried to rush these two out as she had more important things to complete.

Zhao Qixuan was relieved and immediately began pushing Helian Jing out of the room. If the prince wasn't present, he would've left as soon as he laid eyes on that evil witch. The year before last, that little bitch dumped him into a lotus pond in the middle of the night, buck ass naked. He was sick for a whole month! Whenever he heard the name of Liu Li, he would run away. 

"Wait up," the prince called.

They turned around.

"Who else are you guys with?"

Helian Jing answered, "My brother and Chunyu is treating us today. They are still looking for places to sit downstairs."

The prince smiled kindly. "No need to look anymore, let them come up. I haven't seen them for a while. We can all just sit together.

Helian Jing was happy. "I will call them up now."

Zhao Qixuan and Helian Jing rushed out together. Zhao Qixuan asked unhappily, "Little Jing, what date is it? Why would Crown Prince eat out with Liu Li?"

"How would I know? Ask Liu Li if you want," Helian Jing mocked.

"There is absolutely no way that I am going anywhere near that evil woman again. I'd rather hang myself to a crooked tree," Zhao Qixuan swore, shuddering.

Ye Jiayao was moved upon hearing that both Xia Chunyu and Helian Xuan came. This was not a coincidence. Chunyu must've known her situation and brought people to help.

"Li Yao," the prince called.

Ye Jiayao recovered her spirit and saluted at him, waiting for his request.

"You can go now and arrange the dishes for us." 

"Okay, Prince Highness."

Ye Jiayao was almost out of the room when the prince spoke again. "Wait. What is the thing that you will make for me exclusively? Why are papaya snow clams only for Princess Liu Li?"

Ye Jiayao answered abashedly, "Papaya snow clams are good for beauty, which are suitable for women. I will prepare other desserts for Your Highness."

What she didn't say was that the desert had the function of breast enhancement. Liu Li had flat breasts so Ye Jiayao was sure that if she had said that, the brat would take it as an insult.

The prince nodded, face a tad red. He was envious that such decadent dessert was just for women.

"Brother Crown Prince, why are you letting him go?" Liu Li didn't want him to leave.

"If we don't let him go, who will cook?" the prince asked patiently.

Eh….

Ye Jiayao decided to take advantage of Liu Li's disorientation and said, "I will go and prepare the food now."

As soon as they left the compartment, Manager Qian's knees buckled. "Oh, God. I can't believe that the prince, the crown prince, is here!"

Little Lu confessed, "I almost peed on my pants, I was so scared."

Ye Jiayao patted Manager Qian's shoulder to comfort him. "Don't worry. The prince said he doesn't blame us since we didn't know. Also, we should keep the prince's visit to the restaurant confidential. It's best that only the three of us know. There are so many customers downstairs, if this gets out, it might cause unnecessary trouble for him."

Manager Qian nodded. "Yes, of course. Little Lu, shut your mouth. If any of this leaks out, I will kick you out."

Little Lu scratched his head. "I know, I understand."

Ye Jiayao saw Chunyu and the other people he brought with him and smiled, showing him her thanks.

Xia Chunyu's expression didn't give anything away, but inside, he was so relieved. Yaoyao's smile meant that the crisis was solved. 

Inside the Lan Xuan Attic, Liu Li was still being moody.

"Brother Crown Prince, you didn't fulfill your promise. You are not helping me."

The prince said, " Xia Chunyu and Helian Xuan are here as well as other royal people. Embarrassing Li Yao would not benefit you, especially if word of this gets out. If he was really at fault, I would've immediately punished him without a word. But he's not, Liu Li."

Liu Li wanted to throw a fit. Why was everyone helping that guy? In the palace, even if she was the one to make a mess, other people would take the blame. Doesn't that apply outside the palace? These guys just don't take me seriously anymore! Alright, if you're not going to help me, I'll find my own way.

"You guys can eat, I've lost my appetite. I am leaving."

Liu Li got up and left.

Xia Chunyu and Helian Xuan were on their way upstairs when Liu Li rushed out of the compartment.

"Princess…"

Xia Chunyu saw Liu Li's red eyes and sad face. It was obvious that she was mad. Hopefully, she was not mad about Yaoyao.

Liu Li pushed Xia Chunyu away and said, "F*ck off!" She then furiously rushed downstairs without a backward glance.

Helian Xuan smiled and teased, "Your future wife is running away. Chase her!"

Xia Chunyu frowned. "Shut up."

He would never agree with that marriage proposal.

Zhao Qixuan, hearing what Helian Xuan has just said, looked at Xia Chunyu with sympathetic eyes. "Brother Chunyu, my condolences."

Helian Jing sneered and knocked Zhao Qixuan's shoulder: "Shush! Do you want to die?"

Xia Chunyu looked serious as he said, "Whoever is spreading that gossip, just be careful that you don't wake up in a lotus pond."

Everyone busted out laughing.

Zhao Qixuan's face turned red.

He just couldn't escape that humiliation, could he?

The atmosphere became relaxed and happy. Everyone entered the Lan Xuan Attic.

Ye Jiayao, too, felt relaxed as she happily began cooking. She wanted to make the best dishes poured with love for those people who came to help her.

"Brother Xiang, I can take over here. You can go make a plate of Si Xi dumpling and a Sam Sun Orecchiette. Do it well, okay? This is a good chance for you to show off."

Zhong Xiang answered enthusiastically, "Sure!"

Li Yao rarely gave him chances, he must not fail in this.