Chapter 87 - Additional Effects of Chaotic Heart Braised Papaya
"Thank you, little master." Hong Zhong thanked the little monk and went to East Garden. He had to ask Qing Ya who that Master Jing Hui was. Otherwise, if she rushed over, what if she wanted his life?
… ….
Before even reaching the East Garden, he saw the smiling Murong Youqi approaching him. This guy was truly worthy of his fame as a playboy, in such a solemn place like the National Temple, he did not even know to hold back, and now he had a smile hanging on his face. He glared at the servants who passed by, causing them to blush and their hearts to palpitate.
Seeing Hong Zhong walking over, she kept her fan and laughed: "Third Miss, it's really good to meet you. This prince has been waiting here for you for a long time." And not far from him, was the servant girl of Grand Princess Baili Ziyan, Chun Lan.
"It's like this." Murong Youqi waved his fan, and smiled: "After this prince came to the Southern Qi, I heard that there is a marriage tree inside the Southern Qi, and it is very effective. That's why I came here specifically to invite Third Miss to come with me. Is Third Miss interested in playing around with me? "
"You heard? Listen to who? " Hong Zhong quickly turned her head to look at Murong Youqi. It was as if Huyan Ruijin and her sister had come to the marriage tree to ask for their signatures. Hong Zhong's gaze made him feel extremely awkward, and it was this awkwardness that allowed Hong Zhong to confirm her thoughts. She nodded: "The Fourth Prince couldn't have listened to Xi Ling's Prince Jin, right?
Murong Youqi nodded honestly: Yes.
"So it's like that." Hong Zhong's heart thumped. She wouldn't believe that Huyan Ruijin really came to ask for a marriage alliance even if he beat her to death. But if she didn't come to seek a marriage alliance, then why did she have to choose the time when the empress dowager would come to the National Temple to pray for her blessings?
Also, what about Murong Youqi, did he not know that with her status, he could not go to any marriage tree to ask for marriage? He even came to invite his over. If it wasn't for the fact that this guy had helped her out a few times, she would have suspected that he was here to assassinate his!
Murong Youqi didn't know the reason behind Hong Zhong's hesitation, and spoke with a serious expression: "This prince specifically came over to tell you because I heard that both the two princesses of Southern Qi and the girl Xi Ling had to go to the marriage tree to request their lots. Third Miss, don't let this prince down." It was true that Hong Zhong was a imperial concubine, but he had never failed when Murong Youqi had taken a fancy to him, and Hong Zhong was the same as well!
Therefore, it was a very normal thing for Hong Zhong to go to the marriage tree to request for marriage.
Hong Zhong originally did not want to cause trouble, but right when she was about to open her mouth to reject, she saw Baili Yaoji leisurely walking over from not too far away. Seeing Hong Zhong, he quickly walked over and nodded towards Murong Youqi with a slightly flushed face and softly said: "Zhong Erjiejie, do you have something to do in the afternoon?"
Hong Zhong shook her head, coming to the National Temple, he had everything prepared by the servants, the servants who followed beside him had long gone to her place to gather everything: "Princess, do you need anything?"
Baili Yaoji shot a glance at Murong Youqi, who was in a flirtatious mood, and lowered his head with a face full of bashfulness, as she said very quietly: "The Rites Department's host said that she has arranged for me to go to the marriage tree to request for a signature in the afternoon. If Zhong Erjiejie has nothing else, can you accompany me to the marriage tree?" After she finished speaking, she glanced at Murong Youqi again, and her face flushed red.
Hong Zhong coughed awkwardly, seeing as Baili Yaoji was like this, she could not have fallen for Murong Youqi, right? "If that's really the case, it's better not to be an electric light bulb." Actually, the Fourth Prince seemed to have said just now that he was going to go to the marriage tree.
Hearing this, Murong Youqi's handsome eyebrows twitched. He smiled at Baili Yaoji, but did not reject, and instead nodded, inviting her to join him.
Baili Yaoji looked at Murong Youqi and her originally flushed face went blank. She had to admit, the person in front of her had indeed shocked her a little, and Murong Youqi's type was also her type. As for the reason why Murong Youqi had come to the Southern Qi, she also knew a little about it.
However, she also clearly knew that ever since the ancient times, people born into the royal family were forced to marry each other. Even if it was an imperial brother with great power, he would sometimes be forced to do so, not to mention Murong Youqi was someone that Baili Ziyan had set her eyes on, she was only an unfavoured princess with no rights or power, what could she possibly fight against Baili Ziyan for.
He looked at Murong Youqi, and then looked at Hong Zhong: "Zhong Erjiejie, I am worried that when I am going to the marriage tree, Baili Ziyan will also go." She had always been bullied by Baili Ziyan, if she went with Baili Ziyan this time, she would probably be ridiculed again. That was why she came to find Hong Zhong, hoping that she could accompany her there. She didn't know why, but deep down, she felt at ease being with Hong Zhong!
"Since that's the case, let's go after lunch." Looking at Baili Yaoji's expression, Hong Zhong knew that she was afraid of Baili Ziyan, since there was nothing much to do in the afternoon, and she vaguely remembered that when she went to the night market with uncle to play, an aunt mentioned the National Temple's marriage tree, it was especially true. Since it was like that, she decided to go and take a look.
Seeing that Hong Zhong had agreed, Baili Yaoji said with a face full of joy: "Mn."
Since the National Temple's lunchtime was spent in the kitchen, and it was almost time for lunch, Hong Zhong and Baili Yaoji, under the lead of the little monk, walked towards the National Temple's kitchen, while Murong Youqi followed behind them.
When they reached to the door, they saw Baili Ziyan, who was dressed in a noble purple robe, walking toward the kitchen from another direction. They had already reached the door. Not far behind her, there were Huyan Ruijin and Huyan Ruolan.
When Baili Ziyan saw Hong Zhong and Baili Yaoji, she stopped for a moment, then snorted with disdain. With a sinister smile, she quickened her pace and entered the kitchen, while the servant Chun Lan behind her stopped and stood at the entrance of the kitchen to await her summons.
Huyan Ruijin and Huyan Ruolan, who were behind him, also quickly walked over. Seeing Hong Zhong, Huyan Ruijin walked up to him with a face full of smiles and greeted him, "Princess Yao Ji, Third Miss, Fourth Prince Dong Heng."
Towards the two people that came from Xi Ling, Hong Zhong did not have any good impressions of them, thus, it was as if Hong Zhong did not see the two of them, he continued to chat and laugh with Baili Yaoji, and ignored them, and headed towards the kitchen.
On the other hand, Baili Yaoji awkwardly nodded her head towards the two of them as a form of greeting, while Murong Youqi maintained her flirtatious smile, greeting the two of them.
Seeing that Hong Zhong had completely ignored him, Huyan Ruolan's eyes darkened as a deep look of displeasure flashed across his face. However, due to the presence of someone, he did not erupt.
Disregarding the people who came with Xi Ling, Hong Zhong led the way and headed inside the kitchen. She originally thought that nothing would happen, but when Hong Zhong passed by Baili Ziyan, the servant girl Chun Lan, that lowered head Chun Lan, suddenly had a trace of craftiness in her eyes. After that, she stretched out her leg towards Hong Zhong …
The kick, although very fast, did not escape Huyan Ruijin's eyes. The light smile on her face turned and continued to chat with Murong Youqi, and she did not intend to remind Hong Zhong, because this woman had a very good temper, even if someone taught her a lesson, it would be very good.
Baili Yaoji also saw the kick, and when she saw that the kick was about to trip Hong Zhong, she wanted to remind her, but instead, she saw Hong Zhong lightly lifted her long skirt, easily dodging Chun Lan's leg, and then quickly landed accurately on Chun Lan's leg.
Hong Zhong fiercely stomped her foot on that leg, it was so painful that Chun Lan almost cried out on the spot, but after thinking about how she did not complete Grand Princess's orders, she gritted her teeth and endured Hong Zhong's kick.
Looking at Chun Lan's pale face, which was trying to endure it any longer, Hong Zhong's red lips slightly curled up as she revealed a disdainful smile at Chun Lan. She had already used this tactic on the children in the orphanage ten years ago, yet she still dared to use it to humiliate them in front of her!
Thinking about that, Hong Zhong secretly ground her feet a few times, only when Chun Lan tightly bit her lips did she barely hold back. Looking at Chun Lan's pale white face, Hong Zhong then moved away.
Although they liked to watch the excitement and gossip spread, but that did not mean that they wished to get themselves involved. The current situation was clear that the Grand Princess did not like Hong Zhong, so it was better that they did not get involved, but since Hong Zhong was able to avoid it so easily, they were still looking forward to seeing the Grand Princess later on. Although they did not want to see the situation unfold, and did not want to see that the Grand Princess would do anything else later?
Hong Zhong raised the corner of her mouth, and swept over the crowd with a smile that was not a smile on her face as she pretended that nothing had happened, and then walked to her own seat and slowly sat down.
The people who came to the National Temple this time were all famous nobles, and their dining standards could be considered relatively high. The tables were separated, with one person each. At the front of the numerous tables were six extra tables.
On one side was for a foreign friend, the Huyan Ruijin siblings and the Murong Youqi trio. On the other side, Grand Princess was already sitting behind a table, looking at Hong Zhong with a cold expression.
Originally, even if she wanted Hong Zhong to make a fool of herself in front of all the noble ladies, she did not expect that not only did Hong Zhong not make a fool of herself, she could actually dodge her without batting an eyelid, and even ruthlessly trample on Chun Lan.
Under the little monk's lead, Hong Zhong sat at a table at the side of Baili Ziyan. In this trip, only Hong Zhong was able to sit in the same row as Princess Southern Qi, presumably because of Hong Zhong's unique identity. The moment he sat down, Hong Zhong felt waves after waves of envious gazes from her side.
It was because it was a meal from National Temple, so it was all vegetarian. Furthermore, because the identity of the participants was extraordinary, the head chef was also a imperial chef brought out by the palace. Even though it was a vegetarian meal, the cooking was still rather exquisite.
The group of people placed the food on the table one by one, and everyone quietly ate their meals. Maybe it was due to him being a vegetarian in National Temple. After eating a meal, Hong Zhong also felt that the anger he had towards Baili Ziyan had lessened a lot.
After the main course, the last dish was dessert.
With the help of a palace maid, an exquisite porcelain cup was brought in front of Hong Zhong.
Lifting the lid, a sweet and refreshing fragrance of fruit wafted out. In the midst of the sweet fragrance, there was also a faint fragrance of milk. It was the milk stewing papaya.
Baili Yaoji, who was standing beside her, smiled and looked at Hong Zhong: "Zhong Erjiejie, this milk of the imperial chef is stewed with papaya, it is sweet and delicious, not only is it delicious, it is also good for your beauty, try it."
Hong Zhong picked up the silver spoon and tasted it. She only felt that it was sweet and delicious, the fruit fragrance of the papaya and the fragrance of the milk were perfect together. As she was thinking, he ate a few more mouthfuls.
Just as Hong Zhong was enjoying her meal, she heard a voice that disgusted him, "Cow milk stewed papaya, it is indeed able to beauty and nourish the skin. However, people like Third Miss can eat more, because this dish has an additional effect on Third Miss."
Baili Ziyan's voice was not loud, but in Jingyi's kitchen, it was still heard by the majority of people. After she finished speaking, her lips hooked up into a sneer, and she coldly glanced at Hong Zhong's chest area, her tone filled with hints.
Initially, she also didn't want to bother with him, but after Baili Ziyan finished speaking, the sneer on his face stung Hong Zhong's eyes. He lowered his head to look at his chest, and then looked at it. F * ck!
Hearing Baili Ziyan's words, everyone looked at Baili Ziyan, and in the end, followed Baili Ziyan's mocking gaze and looked towards Hong Zhong's chest. Only then did they realise, so the chest of the Red Third Miss was indeed a little … Cough cough.
Although the Grand Princess did not speak out her intentions completely, everyone instantly understood her extremely suggestive smile, so at this moment, everyone's faces looked as if they were watching a good show.
Hearing Baili Ziyan's words, Baili Yaoji turned her head to look at Hong Zhong, her face also turning pale white. Actually she didn't have that intention, she just felt that this dessert was really tasty, so she suggested that Hong Zhong try it.
A blank look appeared on Huyan Ruijin's handsome face, but she quickly recovered. She had long heard that Southern Qi was very civilized, but wasn't Southern Qi too open-minded? He actually humiliated another girl's chest in front of men from foreign countries, and needed a lot of nourishment?
Murong Youqi did not look surprised at all. Instead, he had a shallow smile on his face, and his eyes were filled with anticipation. His intuition told him that Hong Zhong's actions in suppressing the Grand Princess was completely unexpected!