CH 24

shishiballs7-9 minutes 23.04.2023

Chapter 24: No one cares

Rong Zhen did not look into her eyes, but instead tilted his head to one side. This subtle movement did not go unnoticed by Gu Yunru, who clearly did not want to answer her question directly.

“Okay, I won’t force you. Hurry up and go,” Gu Yunru said with a cheerful hum, her gloomy mood suddenly dissipating. She left the Hanging Horse inn and remembered that Qingxin was still in the backyard, so she brought her out.

“Miss, are you okay?” Qingxin followed the two of them with a sleepy look. The Clear Music Street had already begun to set up stalls in the early morning, and the steaming buns caught people’s attention.

“I’m okay. Are you guys hungry? Why don’t we eat first?” Rong Zhen did not speak, but walked straight towards the bun stall. He had never eaten at a place like this before, so it was a nice change of pace.

Qingxin finally opened her eyes and was suddenly startled to see the Prince. She couldn’t even close her mouth.

“Your… Your Highness, what are you doing here?” She thought she was still dreaming and shook her head to clear her mind.

“I came out for a walk. What’s wrong?” Rong Zhen looked at Qingxin’s reaction with confusion. He hadn’t said anything yet, but she was already making such a big fuss.

“I’m… I’m fine.” Suddenly, Qingxin remembered something and quickly got up from her seat. As a servant, how could she sit and eat with her master? She must have been confused!

“What are you making a fuss of?” Rong Zhen looked at Qingxin’s reaction in confusion. He hadn’t even said anything yet, but she was already making such a big fuss.

“I’m sorry, I’m so stupid. I’m… I’m…” Qingxin wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Gu Yunru grabbed her wrist and said, “Okay, let’s forget our identities for now. It’s too tiring. I haven’t slept all night, but at least you’ve had some rest. Sit down and eat.”

“……”

“Are you not even listening to your mistress’ words anymore?”

This sentence from Rong Zhen was more effective than ten sentences from Gu Yunru.

Qingxin sat obediently, holding a steaming basket of buns, three bowls of millet porridge, and a dish of pickled vegetables emitting a fragrant aroma.

“I didn’t expect to have hot porridge to eat, that’s great!” Gu Yunru didn’t hesitate to grab a bun and stuff it into her mouth.

“Is this how the Gu family teaches manners? It’s like she hasn’t eaten in days,” Rong Zhen commented while slowly and elegantly eating.

Gu Yunru felt inferior in front of him, like she had just been released from a slum.

“Cough, you don’t understand, you have to eat and drink a lot to appreciate the true taste of food. You wouldn’t even be able to taste the flavor of the buns,” she said.

Rong Zhen secretly agreed with her, but his expression remained disdainful.

After finishing the meal, Gu Yunru belched in satisfaction.

Rong Zhen was about to take out money, but when he checked his pocket, he found that the silver in his purse had been replaced with stones.

“This is outrageous!” Rong Zhen’s eyes revealed a killing intent. When had he ever been played like this?

“I think all three of you have finished eating, can we settle the bill now?” The stall owner smiled and approached them to settle the bill. Gu Yunru looked embarrassed and glanced at Qing Xing.

“Miss, don’t look at me, I have nothing on me.”

“Okay, Ah zhao, do you have nothing either?”

Rong Zhen had some reaction, especially at the moment when Gu Yunru called him Ah zhao. For some reason, he felt very happy.

“That damn thief, if I find out, I’ll definitely tear him to pieces and throw his body into the wilderness.”

Gu Yunru’s heart trembled as she looked at the smiling booth owner and said, “Boss, you saw it too. Our money was switched with stones. Can we put it on credit first?”

As soon as the boss heard this, his smile disappeared instantly. He furrowed his brows like a caterpillar and put his hands on his waist. “You can’t even pay a few dozen cents, but you dress so well. Are you here for a free meal?”

“What did you say? Who are you accusing of coming for a free meal?” Rong Zhen frowned dissatisfiedly, and his momentum startled the boss.

“Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you’re tall and mighty. Anyway, you must pay for your meal. Otherwise, I’ll send you to the official’s office.”

Rong Zhen clenched his fist tightly, but Gu Yunru grabbed his hand and said, “Don’t be impulsive, let me handle it.”

Gu Yunru calmed him down, and now it was already bright outside with many pedestrians on the street.

“Boss, we don’t look like people who can’t afford this meal. The gentleman’s money was really switched with stones. Otherwise, we would definitely pay you back.”

“What’s that got to do with me? Your hat looks valuable, how about you pawn it here?”

“This won’t do…” Gu Yunru insisted on defending the dignity of the hat.

“I’ll do it.”

At this moment, a gentle voice came over.

Gu Yunru turned her head and saw that it was Cheng Shaoyuan.

“You, why are you here?”

“Just passing by, going to the yamen to take care of some business, and happened to see you.”

“It’s really fate. Um, I’ll definitely pay you back the money another day.”

Rong Zhen sat in his chair watching the two of them chatting as if they were getting along well. It seemed like they had met before. This woman was really hateful, actually chatting so flirtatiously with a man other than him!

Cheng Shaoyuan noticed two icy gazes sweeping towards him and pretended not to notice as he looked back. He happened to meet Rong Zhen’s angry eyes.

“Your Highness…”

He was about to come forward and say hello, but he walked away without a word.

Gu Yunru comforted the boss and looked at his disappointed figure leaving, shouting, “Hey! Don’t you want to keep strolling?”

“Miss Gu, it seems like you have a good relationship with His Highness.”

Cheng Shaoyuan showed a warm smile and looked at Gu Yunru.

“About him…let’s just leave it at that. Thank you for helping me out today. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have saved face.”

“It was nothing. I don’t know if Miss is available today. I happen to be going to handle a case and have no leads. I was hoping Miss could take a look.”

“Well…” Gu Yunru hesitated and looked at Rong Zhen’s back. She felt a strange excitement about the case and was eager to get closer to the truth.

“Okay, I’ll go with you,”

Rongzhen waited at the pancake stand for a long time, but he didn’t see Gu Yunru catching up. His expression became increasingly heavy.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, your subordinates have searched so hard. Someone just saw Miss Gu’s shadow, it seems she’s eating buns over there!”

Qingfeng told Rongzhen this news, but Rongzhen didn’t react after listening.

“Your Highness?”

“Don’t bother me.”

After Rongzhen finished speaking, he started walking in the opposite direction. He actually wanted to see what the two of them had to say.

“Your Highness…” Qingfeng followed and unconsciously circled around to the gate of the yamen.

Gu Yunru was sitting in the room drinking tea. Because of Cheng Shaoyuan’s invitation, the people in the yamen were respectful to her.

“Young Master, please enjoy.”

Little Si saw his cold and aloof temperament and didn’t speak, thinking that he was a young master and addressed him as such.