Chapter 97：Apologizing

Ye Jiayao spent a sleepless night. She felt as though she might've spoken too harshly. Chunyu was right, she really shouldn't have ridden with Chunfeng. 

But he spoke cruel words to me, too!

She felt like she had become a big joke. She was bullied by that donkey and she was also being bullied by his brat of a fiancee. What, does she have a target painted on her back that she doesn't know about?

Aye! She was intending to just bow and apologize to solve the problem peacefully, but it has just gotten bigger!

Now, there was nothing she could do but fight it. The princess wanted to flaunt her influence and power, right? Well, Ye Jiayao would make sure that everyone would see just how great she was.

Her heart blazing with the will to end this once and for all, she waved Helian Jing and Xia Chunfeng over to her to give them tasks.

The two noblemen were stunned with the plan that Yaoyao has relayed to them. That was so cruel!

"What do you think?" Ye Jiayao asked. "Chunfeng, if you are afraid of your future sister-in-law, you don't have to join this plan."

"Why would I be afraid of her? I don't even want her to be my sister-in-law," Xia Chunfeng answered dramatically. "It's Little Jing that you should be worried about. Liu Li is his cousin."

Helian Jing shook his head and said, "Since she is my cousin, it's my duty to teach her some lessons. Otherwise, she would just become worse in the future. She is already too spoiled as it is."

"So does that mean that both of you agree with my plan?"

They both nodded. The thought of Liu Li's face when she gets her punishment was enough to get them excited.

The next morning, Xia Chunyu headed to Puji temple as soon as he got off duty. He didn't get back to the city until the afternoon where he ran into Zhao Qixuan.

Zhao Qixuan asked him, "Brother Chunyu, did you also go to Lan Ting Xuan?"

Xia Chunyu scowled, confused. "Why would I go to Lan Ting Xuan?"

Zhao Qixuan paled when he saw his reaction. Crap! He thought that Chunfeng had informed his brother of their plans! He hurriedly said, "Never mind! I'll, um, I'll go now!"

Zhao Qixuan left immediately.

Xia Chunyu frowned at Zhao Qixuan's retreating back. Why did he look so worried? Did something happen in Lan Ting Xuan?

He tried to ignore it as he rode his horse, but the tugging feeling in his gut was insistent. He had a bad feeling about this. He halted and called, "Song Qi, go to Lan Ting Xuan and report to me what's going on there."

"Yes, Heir-Son Lord." Song Qi immediately turned his horse around and carried out his orders.

A splendid horse cart drove towards Lan Ting Xuan carrying two well-dressed and pretty nobles.

Helian Jing said softly, "Liu Li, I owe Li Yao a debt of gratitude. Just let him go for me, okay? He didn't offend you intentionally. He didn't know who you were back then, you shouldn't blame him. If he knew you that you're Princess Liu Li, he would've treated you nicely."

"Helian Jing, I don't really care how much you owe him. It's not my problem that you ran away from home and barely made it back. And even if he helped you, he's just a chef, Helian Jing! A chef. Why are you lowering yourself to the likes of him? Where's your pride?"

"Liu Li, stop talking about chefs in such a disrespectful tone! Stop looking down on ordinary citizens. Our great great grandfather was born as an ironmaker, and my ancestor was only a horse keeper. People's lives don't depend on the status they were born with," Helian JIng admonished.

"Lives were chosen by God. The great great grandfather was the real dragon. Even though he was born low as a dragon, he could still fly high to the sky." Liu Li was sneering as she gave him a haughty look.

"Is there anything that Li Yao could do for you to let him be?" Helian Jing asked.

Liu Li was annoyed. Why was Young Royal Highness Jing negotiating on behalf of Li Yao? Hell, even Chunyu and the prince was helping him! Why does everyone want to help Li Yao? 

"That will depend on my mood," Liu Li answered arrogantly.

Helian Jing was extremely speechless. How could he be related to someone like this? He wanted to convince her to let this whole matter go so she could save face. However, since she was so stubborn and evil, he's now more than content to let her suffer this humiliation.

The horse cart stopped outside Lan Ting Xuan. Liu Li took one look at the signboard that says 'Lan Ting Xuan' and scoffed, "This is where he wants to apologize to me?"

"Lan Ting Xuan is the best tea palace in Jin Ling," Helian Jing said.

Liu Li smiled coldly and walked in.

"Didn't you say it's the best tea palace in Jin Ling? Why is it empty?" Liu Li asked as she looked around for other customers.

Helian Jing responded, "We booked out the whole venue. There shouldn't be other people around for this kind of dealings."

Liu Li squinted at him. "You are just trying to save the chef some humiliation. I prefer more people around."

Helian Jing stayed quiet. Well, just remember that you said that yourself.

Ye Jiayao was waiting for them in the lobby of the second floor. She made a polite gesture and said, "Greetings of peace to the princess."

Liu Li totally ignored her and sat in front of the table which was laden with tea and fruits. She tried to look cool like other noble guys as she unfolded her paper fan.

Helian Jing began, "Li Yao, you need to apologize to the princess sincerely, otherwise, no one can help you."

"Certainly. If I have known that it was Princess Liu Li, I would've never dared to speak so rudely," Ye Jiayao answered automatically.

Ye Jiayao filled up the teacup and delivered it to Liu Li. "I didn't see how precious and important you are, and I offended you. I am truly sorry for that, Princess Liu Li. I hope that you can forgive me and Heavenly Residence as well. All the workers in there are innocent, and if it closes, they will have nowhere to go. This is all my fault, I can bear the punishment alone."

Liu Li mocked, "Bear it alone? So you can afford it?"

"The debtor will pay his debt," Ye Jiayao said sincerely. "Everything was my fault." 

"Of course, it was your fault. But Heavenly Residence is involved, too! I didn't forget how you guys treated me that day. I remember everything. There is no way that I will forgive you. I will close down Heavenly Residence and everyone in it will pay for what you've done to me," Liu Li said coldly.

"You blamed Manager Qian because you couldn't have a cold drink and you threatened to shut the restaurant down. Manager Qian didn't say anything bad to you, right? He just kept apologizing. Even the other workers didn't say anything. It was only me who talked back to you. I only make 200 bowls per day so I could not provide you with a drink. I am sorry for disappointing you, Princess. It was all my fault."

Liu Li was a bit confused at how Li Yao was phrasing the events. There's something fishy...

"I am sorry. It was our honor that Princess came to Heavenly Residence. If we had known your true identity, we would've prepared a welcome team. If we knew you were coming, we would've saved all the bowl of cold drinks for you. You could've had as many as you want. You're right, it's all my fault," Ye Jiayao finished.

"Stop that! You're being cunning and you're just playing games here. You knew how awful you were at that time!" Liu Li said angrily.

"You're right, I was awful. I should die for my sin. At first, when you talked about closing down the restaurant, I didn't react because it was none of my business. It was only when you talked about putting me in jail that I jumped out. I was selfish. At that time, I didn't really think that I would go to jail for not being able to make one more bowl of cold drink," Ye Jiayao said.

Helian Jing did his best to contain his chuckles, turning his face away and covering his mouth.

"Stop talking nonsense! How dare you say that I have a potty mouth?" Liu Li's face was mottled red with anger.

"No, no! I only meant that you have a bad temper, I didn't mean that you have a potty mouth."

"You... you..." Liu Li spluttered, her eyes bulging out. She truly felt like knocking all this chef's teeth out.

"Forgive me, I am not going to talk anymore. I am not a very cultured person, I don't know how to talk properly. I would never dare to say that Princess has a potty mouth. Your mouth smells really good. Even your fart smells good, too!" Ye Jiayao apologized carefully.

Helian Jing's sides were hurting with the effort it was taking him to keep from laughing out loud.

Liu Li smashed the table angrily and thoughtlessly, hurting her hand in the process.

"Li Yao, you are a prick. You will never get my forgiveness. You will work hard and slow to pay your debt. I will make sure that you will live the rest of your life miserable. You will regret that your parents have brought you out to this world," Liu Li swore.

Ye Jiayao cocked her head to the side innocently. "Do I have any other debt?"

"Stop playing dumb!" Liu Li have never met anyone with such arrogance and audacity.

Ye Jiayao pretended to think it through before jumping up. "Princess, you mean that thing that happened in the street? Aiya, Princess, I had no other choice! You swiped my wallet for yours and announced that I stole it. Everyone in the street was calling me a thief! I was almost thrown in jail!"

"You deserved it. You've offended your princess and you dare to run away? Ha!" 

"I didn't know that you were the princess back then. If I had known, I would've rather be stripped on the street than tell them that you dressed up as a male. When you dressed up as a male, you just look like a pretty guy. My eyes were stupid, I couldn't really tell. I was panicking and I didn't know what else to do," Ye Jiayao explained.

She continued, "If you'd like, I will go back to the street and explain to everyone that the young man that day was not my lover, but the most precious Princess Liu Li. That way, you could clear your reputation, Princess. Is that alright?"

Liu Li felt her blood boiling, she was beyond angry. She took the sword that was around Helian Jing's waist and pointed it at Li Yao, shaking with fury.

"I will kill you…"

"Stop!" someone shouted furiously from behind them.