Chapter 36

Two hours later, in the Lang Jun Imperial Palace, Xiao Juan looked at Yu Yuanyuan expressionlessly, and kept questioning himself.

Why was he so soft-hearted?

Why did he let her into the house?

Just for her two little hearts?

Granny Xiu Yan placed plate after plate of fruits and snacks on the table and greeted them warmly.

“Miss Yu, don’t stand on ceremony. Just treat this place as your own home. Eat quickly. If there’s not enough, I’ll get someone to make more.”

Yu Niaoniao held a cup of hot flower tea in her hand and smiled.

She said sweetly, “Thank you, Granny. That is quite enough.”

Granny Xiuyan smiled at her, her eyes full of love.

“It’s getting late. You and His Highness can stay for lunch. I’ll get the kitchen to make a few more dishes.”

They both spoke at once.

Xiao Juan, “No need.”

Yu Niaoniao up, “Sure, sure!”

There was a moment of silence.

Granny Xiu Yan thought that Yu Niaoniao would feel awkward and was about to help smooth things over when she saw Yu Niaoniao blink.

Her eyes, which had been black and white, quickly turned red.

She was on the verge of tears, her grievance obvious.

“Does the duke hate me so much that he won’t even give me a bite to eat?”

Xiao Juan looked at the pastry crumbs standing by her mouth and said expressionlessly.

“You ate more than a mouthful.”

Granny Xiu Yan coughed twice, hinting that her county king should watch his words.

Who says that about their wife?

He probably wanted to be single for the rest of his life!

Yu Niaoniao lowered her head, revealing a weak and fair neck. Her voice sounded muffled.

“Actually, I don’t care about such a mouthful of food. There’s so much delicious food outside. Isn’t it food everywhere?”

I just want to have a meal with you, Your Highness. Can’t you even satisfy such a small wish?”

Then she wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, as if she were crying.

Sister Xiu Yan’s heart ached as she hurriedly coaxed.

“Eat, eat, eat! Eat as much as you want. Even if the county prince isn’t at home to eat, I’ll get someone to cook for you.”

She was still crying.

Granny Xiu Yan looked at Xiao Juan and gestured for him to quickly say something to coax her.

It wasn’t easy for him to get a wife; the least he could do was not to drive her away!

It was not that he hated Yu Niaoniao. He was busy and did not want to waste his time on something like lunch.

Looking at the girl’s pitiful appearance, Xiao Juan was silent for a while before changing his mind.

“You stay.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the girl who had been crying suddenly look up. Her face was clean, and her clear eyes showed no sign that she had been crying.

She cheered happily. “Thank you, Your Highness!”

Xiao Juan was speechless.

So she had been pretending to cry.

He had interrogated countless prisoners and seen countless liars.

Unexpectedly, he could not even see through the disguise of a little girl today.

Xiao Juan took a deep breath and slowly spat out a word.

“Great.”

He would remember this lesson. In the future, he would definitely not be fooled again.

The servant came in with a heavy rectangular wooden box and spoke respectfully.

“Your Highness, Shangguan Jue’s calligraphy is here.”

Yu Niaoniao immediately perked up.

She opened the wooden box, took out the painting, and slowly unfolded it.

This was a landscape painting. The strokes were clean and direct, and the painting was majestic.

Even Yu Niaoniao, who did not know much about calligraphy, could tell that this was a good piece of work.

No wonder there were so many scholars chasing after him!

Only when the painting was fully unfolded did Yu Niaoniao notice the inscription and signature at the bottom.

When Yu Niaoniao saw the signature, her gaze froze.

She blurted out, “I have seen this signature.”