31 Dinner

The moment Pei Nan set foot inside the room with his snow white robe, Yu Mei almost lost it. [You look so good!] Yu Mei secretly complimented him. This was the first time she had seen him in light colors. He was always wearing dark reds or purples. She had to admit, this look wasn't too bad on him. Even if he always pulled a long face as if someone had wronged him, this white added a bit of softness to him.But of course Yu Mei was never going to compliment him to his face.

Seeing how stunned Yu Mei looked, Pei Nan let out a satisfied smile. It took him nearly an hour to pick this outfit out. From the robe, to the belt, to the shoes and his hair accessory, everything was picked in detail.

"Ahem! Consort Pan, aren't you going to invite me over?" he loudly coughed.

"That's right, come in your highness," Yu Mei walked over to him. When she was making her way over to him, he couldn't help but look her over. One word, distasteful. He spent so much effort dressing up but she…why was she still in that same yellow robe she wore earlier. As he walked past her, he rolled his eyes unsatisfied.

[What are you so dissatisfied about?] Yu Mei complained as she followed behind him. Even after Pei Nan had taken a seat at the table, Yu Mei was still standing like a dummy with a sulky face. "Do you plan on eating while standing up? If not, hurry and take a seat," he spoke sarcastically. Yu Mei dragged her feet over to the table. There was food, lots and lots of food but how could she have the stomach to eat with this tyrant in front of her. Pei Nan picked up his chopsticks, ready to dig in when Consort Nuan arrived. Yu Mei let out a breath of relief. She was beginning to wonder where this sister of hers was. Pei Nan was also surprised to see Ji Er. All dolled up with her hair in two braided loops adorned with pearls, Ji Er made her long awaited appearance.

Yu Mei slammed her hand on the table lightly. "Ah, that is right. How could I forget, I had invited Sister Ji Er for dinner tonight." She innocently told Pei Nan.

"Consort Nuan, have a seat," Pei Nan politely invited her. But in his heart, he was questioning…why the bad timing? "Greetings to your highness and Consort Pan," she elegantly greeted them before slowly making her way over. Every step she took was gracious, gentle to the eyes unlike someone else in the room who took heavy and carefree walks.

Since Yu Mei occupied the right side, Ji Er naturally sat on the left side of Pei Nan. "I haven't seen his highness in a while. You look good in white," she complimented him shyly.

"Hehe…I must have lost the track of time these past weeks. It is my fault for not visiting you," Pei Nan once again kindly explained.

"Your highness is busy, I do not blame you."

Yu Mei who was watching on the other side wanted to cry. She was biting on the tip of her chopsticks, literally chewing it up like food.[Do you two not see food? I'm HUNGRYYYY!] When Ji Er saw Yu Mei's pleading look, she stopped smiling. "Your highness, the food is getting cold. Why don't we eat first?" Yu Mei's face lit up immediately. This sister of hers wasn't so bad. She could at least read a person's body language.

While Pei Nan and Ji Er were exchanging words back and forth, Yu Mei was busy stuffing her mouth. Her job was done. She brought the two of them together. It was now up to Ji Er to get close to him. With a clear mind, Yu Mei started picking at the dumplings. One bite later. Her eyes were literally watering from the heavenly taste in her mouth. [Little dumplings, why are you so tasty?] She had never tasted anything this amazing before. Yu Mei stuck another one with her chopstick, bringing it up to her face as she complimented the little dumpling. The dumplings didn't survive more than 5 minutes at the table. The dumpling gobbling monster Yu Mei had ferociously attacked them. NOw there was one sole survivor. As Yu Mei reached for it, Pei Nan also reacted. He had been so busy talking to Ji Er that the next thing he knew, the plate of dumplings were gone. They were his favorite food in the world. He was not about to let her have the last one. *Pinch* *Pinch* Almost at the same time, Yu Mei and Pei Nan clung onto the dumpling with their chopsticks. Yu Mei who didn't see it coming looked up at Pei Nan surprised. [Surely you aren't actually taking this from me, are you?]

Pei Nan also looked at her as if challenging her. [Let go of it. You ate a whole plate of dumpling already. Don't you think you should lay off the food?] The two of them were having a staring contest and mentally arguing with each other. "Consort Pan, I'm sure you've had your fill of dumplings," he kindly said, pulling the dumpling his way. Yu Mei countered his act, pulling the dumpling her way. Now it was back to the middle. "Your highness must be kidding. If I was full, why would my chopstick be on this dumpling," she also politely said.

"You've eaten the whole plate yourself, don't you think you should be virtuous and let your husband have the last one?" he arched his brow.

"Hehe…your highness must be kidding. You are the high and mighty Prince Nan; surely you wouldn't fight over a dumpling with a tiny girl like me?" The air became tense. [Let go!] They were both thinking the same thing.

The air was so tense even Ji Er felt it. Her eyes looked at Pei Nan and then to Yu Mei. It didn't look like any of them was going to give up anytime soon. Yu Mei and Pei Nan were still having a mental battle when a quick hand reached over. With one quick swipe, it was gone. The two immediately looked at Ji Er. The moment Ji Er stuffed the dumpling inside her mouth, both of them sighed.

"Sister Ji Er is really the best. You solved the problem for the two of us," Yu Mei gave her a thumb up. Even if she didn't get to eat it, it was better for Ji Er to eat it than Petty Nan. "Hehe…Consort Nuan is really considerate of the two of us," Pei Nan laughed it off.

Just like that, the atmosphere went back to how it was; Ji Er and Pei Nan talking while Yu Mei the glutton continued to eat. Dinner was finally over. Yu Mei was excited for the next scene. She had practiced with Ji Er multiple times. But why didn't Ji Er fall like planned. Ji Er was supposed to fall while getting up from the table. In reality, Ji Er had been too embarrassed to play such a trick on Pei Nan. "I'll take my leave then," Ji Er said getting up.

"I'll send you back," Pei Nan also stood up.

"En," Just before the two left, Ji Er happened to have locked eyes with the jumpy Yu Mei. "F…A..L…L…" Yu Mei mouthed a few times. Ji Er looked down embarrassed. When Pei Nan caught this, he also turned to look at Yu Mei. *Wave* Yu Mei awkwardly waved him goodbye. "Have a safe trip back, hehe."

Ji Er was walking side by side with Pei Nan. [Ji Er, get a hold of yourself! Just do it! Fall]

On the other side, Yu Mei was quietly cheering, "Fall! Fall! Fall!"

"Aiya," Ji Er tripped on her feet. She actually tripped on accident. Before she could hit the floor, Pei Nan had already wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her body next to his. Ji Er wrapped her hands around his neck for support. Her eyes blinked a few times. She felt her cheeks start to feel flushed.

On the side line was a fangirling Yu Mei. Just seeing these two together, she wanted to squeal and cheer Ji Er on. As she watched how close the two of them were, she felt shy for them. "Thank you for your help your highness," Ji Er got herself back on her feet.

"It's no problem," he replied back. [So that's where the sweet scent was coming from.] Earlier, he smelled an orange jasmine scent. It was just that he didn't know where it came from. So it actually came from Ji Er.

The next night, the three of them had dinner once again.

On the third night when Pei Nan came over to the Southern Palace, there was no Ji Er…just Yu Mei. "Your highness," Yu Mei quickly greeted him.

"Consort Pan," he took off his fur cloak, taking a seat in the usual spot. "Sister Ji Er isn't feeling too well tonight. She has gone to bed early and won't be having dinner with us tonight," Yu Mei made sure to pay attention to his reactions. She was satisfied with his reaction.

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"Your highness has been in court all day. Plus, Sister Ji Er didn't want to bother you. It is only a minor cold," she casually explained.

As the two of them ate, Pei Nan didn't say much like the last two days. Once in a while, he would ask her if the food was to her taste. Of course it was! Each night it was Yu Mei who ate the plate clean. Yu Mei could tell he was dissatisfied and even sulking a little bit.

Yu Mei almost couldn't control her laughter when Pei Nan left early. Once Chu'mei closed the door for her, she held her stomach and laughed her heart out. Chu'mei gave her lady a strange look. "Xiaojie, what are you doing?"

"Did you not see his face? This is what he looked like," Yu Mei imitated Pei Nan's moping and sulking face and proceeded to laugh again. Chu'mei who had been at the side during all three nights didn't notice anything different about Pei Nan. She couldn't understand why her lady was laughing so hard. Of course if her lady had told her the plan, she would have found it funny too.