Dongfang Lingyun tried his best to help Mu Qianhua lie down. After a moment, the herbal medicine started to take effect. Sweating all over, Mu Qianhua began to kick the quilt continuously.
“How difficult it is to serve you!” Dongfang Lingyun sighed, covering her well with the quilt at once.
Dongfang Lingyun stayed up all night to take care of Mu Qianhua, who was totally dizzy and sleepy, having no idea what she was doing.
The maids watching outside the chamber had never seen the general attending for someone so carefully. They were so curious about Miss Bai’s identity.
Qing Ying and Xue Sha had been sitting on the roof for a whole night, hearing all kinds of gossips among the servants about Mu Qianhua.
“Miss Bai is really something. My master is willing to serve her all by himself.” Xue Sha, lying on the roof, enjoyed the twinkling stars with a straw in his mouth.
Qing Ying sneered at his words, “My lady wouldn’t have suffered this without your master.”
“Maybe there is a blessing in disguise. It’s hard to tell.”
“All I know is your master is a jinx!” Qing Ying got a handful of chicken feather from somewhere and threw them to Xue Sha’s face. After all, it’s much easier to punish his servant.
“Eh, eh, eh! It is not my fault!” Covered by the chicken feather all over, Xue Sha felt like weeping, but failed to shed a tear.
The next day.
Mu Qianhua woke up, finding herself lying in a strange room, her head still being a little dizzy. Suddenly, several maids came into the room with mouthwash and face cleaning water.
“You have woken up, Miss Bai? Your fever has been brought down. We will serve you while you are getting up and cleaning your mouth and face, and then you can drink the ginseng soup.” All the maids were respectful, regarding her as a goddess.
“Where am I?” Mu Qianhua sat up with the assistance of a maid.
“This is the residence of the Pingyan General.”
Dongfang Lingyun’s home? Mu Qianhua frowned.
“Why am I here?”
“You fell into the Bibo lake yesterday. It was the general who took you here on horseback.” The maid presented the mouthwash to Mu Qianhua.
All the memories came back in an instant. She fell into the water, the one who saved her life was… Dongfang Lingyun?
Mu Qianhua rubbed the skin between her eyebrows gently and took the mouthwash.
“Our general stayed up all night to look after you. It is such an honor to you, Miss Bai.” The maids were giggling, covering their faces with their hands.
Mu Qianhua was a little shocked.
That unreasonable gangster would look after her for the whole night? So unbelievable!
Suddenly, she heard a girl’s voice outside the door.
“How dare you stop me! I must have a look at the women brought back by brother Fengyu!” As soon as the voice stopped, a pretty and delicate girl, with arched eyebrows and goggling almond-like eyes, clad in peach red dress in traditional style, intruded into the room like a gust of wind.
All the maids knelt at the same time, saying loudly,“Greetings, Infanta Zhaoyang!”
“Get up!” Zhaoyang came forward, staring at Mu Qianhua sitting on the bed. “You are the woman taken back by brother Fengyu from the Bibo lake?”
What a drop-dead gorgeous woman, whose beauty was even greatly enhanced by the illness she suffered.
Mu Qianhua had generally guessed this girl’s identity. She was Meng Zhaoyang, the royally appointed Infanta, whose father was Meng Changping, an experienced general of the Cold Night Empire.
“I am Bai Xiao, boss of the Qian Jin Restaurant.” Mu Qianhua smiled.
“You are Bai Xiao?” Zhaoyang looked at her up and down in astonishment. The restaurant gained its reputation in the capital city within a month after it opened, and won the support of the Pingyan General, who was never officious. She was really a remarkable woman as the boss. However, Bai Xiao was, being a merchant, incomparable to her, the noble infanta. “What a bitch! How did you seduce brother Fengyu into taking you back home? Tell me at once! Do you think you can live in his residence just because of your beauty? It is out of the question! I will never let you bewitch brother Fengyu!” Zhaoyang put on airs and shouted violently.
Mu Qianhua was bothered by Zhaoyang’s reproach. “Your Highness, please watch your tongue and save some decency for yourself. Although being a merchant, I still have dignity. If you insult me continuously, I wouldn’t keep silent any longer. As for your ‘brother Fengyu’, I also want to ask him why he brought me here.”
Mu Qianhua had just recovered from the high fever, not able to stand Zhaoyang’s jabber.
A maid came forward reluctantly and muttered, “Miss Bai is general’s honored guest. She came here to have a rest and recuperation. Please go back, Your Highness.”
“How dare you interrupt me!” Zhaoyang raised her hand and slapped the maid unmercifully. “Get out of here as soon as possible! I don’t allow you to live at brother Fengyu’s residence!” shouted Zhaoyang, turning to glare at Mu Qianhua.
“Ah…” Mu Qianhua’s head ached once she heard Zhaoyang’s scream. “I have never known how to get out. Do you mind teaching me how to do that?”
“You! You’d better follow my order!” Zhaoyang roared in rage.
Mu Qianhua shook her head while rubbing her forehead gently. This infanta’s voice was loud enough to shake the earth.
“If I remembered well, you haven’t extended your respect to me since I came in. Kneel down right now!”
On hearing Zhaoyang’s voice, Mu Qianhua squinted at her. “Your Highness, you really want me to kneel down before you?”
Zhaoyang felt out of breath facing the powerful aura of Mu Qianhua, but she had to pretend to be strong. “Of… of… of course! I’m an infanta. Shouldn’t you kneel down before me?”
“I should not.” Mu Qianhua sneered.
An infanta, not even a member of the royal family of the Dark Night Empire. How could Mu Qianhua, the princess royal of the Cold Night Empire, kneel before her!
“What!?” Zhaoyang was exasperated, intending to slap Mu Qianhua, but the later took the action more swiftly by giving her a slap instead, even before she raised her hand!
“You are not noble enough to punish me, Meng Zhaoyang,” said Mu Qianhua with a severe look in her eyes.
“You… you… how dare you touch me! I will ask the emperor to behead you and all your family!” Zhaoyang screamed in shock, her hand covering her face.
Mu Qianhua laughed in her heart. Infanta Zhaoyang insulted and beat the princess coming to make peace with the ruler of minority. Who on earth would be beheaded by Dongfang Zhentian, the emperor of Dark Night Empire?
“What are you quarreling about? I am not dead yet!” Dongfang Lingyun walked into the room in big stride. He got the news from Xue Sha, who followed him to the chamber. Dongfang Lingyun ignored Zhaoyang, and walked toward Mu Qianhua instead, putting his hand on her forehead. “MhmmMm, the fever has been brought down.”
He then turned around, staring at the maids kneeling on the floor. “What happened? Tell me thoroughly!”
“There is nothing important.” Mu Qianhua caught a glimpse of Zhaoyang, a faint smile appearing on her face. “A female cat raised in your residence wanted to scratch me.”
“I never raise any cat.” Dongfang Lingyun frowned.
“Oh?” Mu Qianhua looked at Zhaoyang with meaningful eyes. “Turns out she is a wild cat…”
“Brother Fengyu!” Zhaoyang, squeezing to the place between them in hatred, with her face covered by her hands, pretended to sob heavily, like a peach flower submerged in rain.
Dongfang Lingyun looked askance at her, seeming to notice her just then. “When did you come, Zhaoyang?”
Zhaoyang was so angry that she did shed a tear. “Brother Fengyu, I was slapped by this woman! A humble merchant dared to hit an infanta. You must punish her severely for her indecency.”
Dongfang Lingyun was a little displeased. “Miss Bai is my honored guest, not a humble merchant. You shouldn’t have been so impolite.”
“But she did slap me earlier. Look at my face. It’s still burning with hurt now! Brother Fengyu… You must drive her out! We haven’t had a good chat for a long time. I really miss you…” Zhaoyang pouted in grievance.
Xue Sha turned his face away, trying to hold back his laughter.
Infanta Zhaoyang was so such a drama queen. If he remembered well, her last coming was four years ago when general turned twenty. How could she pretend to come here often, like one of general’s old friends?
Dongfang Lingyun twitched his eyebrows. “Infanta Zhaoyang, please stand still.”
“I am standing still, brother Fengyu.” Zhaoyang released Dongfang Lingyun’s arm.
“Turn back.”
She followed Dongfang Lingyun’s order happily, although not knowing what he intended for.
“Pass through that door in front of you, walk as far as twenty steps and turn left. Walk through the veranda and turn left again. You will find the main gate. Leave now.” Dongfang Lingyun is ordering her to get out as polite as he could be.
It was until then Zhaoyang had realized that Dongfang Lingyun wanted to drive her out instead. “Brother Fengyu, you shouldn’t ask me to leave. I came here to see you and bring you a present…” Zhaoyang sobbed.
“Your father, Meng Changping has to pay his respect to me at my residence, let alone you. How dare you humiliate my honored guest to my face!” Dongfang Lingyun’s face turned grimmer, which was so scary, “Get out! I don’t want to repeat my words.” Zhaoyang had never seen him losing his temper like this. She, bursting into tears, ran out immediately.
“Xue Sha, bring a present to the General Meng’s residence, and tell Meng Changping to teach his daughter well. If she makes mistakes again, a severe punishment will await her,” Dongfang Lingyun said without looking back.
Xue Sha accepted the order and left.
“Gangster…” Mu Qianhua whispered.
“What?” Dongfang Lingyun squinted at her.
“Nothing.”
Watching her smiling softly, Dongfang Lingyun took a deep breath.
“Please leave the room, general,” Mu Qianhua said.
“This is my residence. You can’t order me to leave.” Dongfang Lingyun was surprised at this requirement.
“I haven’t washed my face and combed my hair yet. Do you want me to change clothes in your presence?” Mu Qianhua had a bright smile.
Upon hearing her words, Dongfang Lingyun came to notice that she was only wearing inner clothes. “Such… Such a shame on you! How can you only wear inner clothes in my presence!” He said in a flush of embarrassment.
Mu Qianhua looked so innocent. Why didn’t he have a notice when he came in? Watching Dongfang Lingyun leaving the chamber in big stride, Mu Qianhua couldn’t help laughing out.
Mu Qianhua couldn’t stay at the general’s residenceany longer. She used the Qian Jin restaurant as an excuse and asked to leave. Dongfang Lingyun sent for a wagon in which Mu Qianhua and Qingying could return to the Qian Jin restaurant.
In front of the general’s residence.
“You just recovered and couldn’t wait to earn money? Crazy woman!” Dongfang Lingyun caught a glimpse of her.