Chapter 149: Zuo You’s Depression

By the time the trio finished their talk, Yu Xiaoxiao had finished her lunch as well. She discriminated against the crabs, whale Gu Xinglang couldn’t eat any “chilly foods” while he was still recovering from his injury. In the end, most of the luxurious crab meat prepared by the gallery owner went down Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei’s stomachs. Yu Xiaoxiao wanted the servants standing outside to eat too, but none of them dared to enter the pavilion for a meal.

Gu Xinglang took this chance to ask his wife, “Xiaoxiao, what kind of flowers do you like?”

“Flowers? Hua? (花)” Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t hesitate. “I like both hua sheng (花生, peanuts) and hua juan (花卷, steamed dough twists).”

Gu Xinglang’s spirits remained dejected.

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei did their best to polish off the crabs while pretending they were invisible. As followers of Yu Xiaoxiao, they saw everything she did as right, but privately resolved to marry more normal wives for themselves in the future. Mhm, at least wives that can talk on the same wavelength as us.

When Gu Xingnuo returned to the pavilion, he saw his third brother looking disheartened again. Before he could speak, Yu Xiaoxiao stuffed two red bean buns into his hand and said, “Big bro, eat some buns. The stuffing is sweet so I left you a bunch to make sure you eat your fill.”

Although Gu Xingnuo’s younger brother and sister rarely made any expressions, they spoke intimately to him. This made Gu Xingnuo, who disliked sweets, take a bite of the red bean bun. Unfortunately, after that he could neither swallow it down or spit it out.

Gu Xinglang knew his brother disliked sweets and wanted to stop him, but the man had already taken a bite.

Yu Xiaoxiao was all expectation. “How is it? Tasty?”

Gu Xingnuo forced the bun down and nodded. “Delicious.”

“Then eat up,” Yu Xiaoxiao had already packed up a bunch of red bean buns to take home. He told Gu Xingnuo, “Little Gu says he doesn’t like sweets, but it turns out you do, big brother! I have a lot here, so you should sit down and enjoy them. If it’s not enough, Jing Mo, can we get a few more buns?”

To Eldest Prince Jing Mo, it was no problem to order more red bean buns.

Gu Xingnuo replied, “Princess, I’m not that hungry right now.”

“Do people not eat just because they’re not hungry? It’ll be too late when you’re starving,” Yu Xiaoxiao had already pulled out a chair to let her big brother sit down. It was best to eat while there was still food. Who could guarantee there’d be food around when one was hungry? Even the youngest brats in the apocalypse understood this principle, but the humans in this world had no sense of danger at all.

Gu Xingnuo sat down and stared at the bun in his hand. Is it too late to admit that I don’t like sweets?

Zuo You was still worrying over affairs in his court. Somehow, he had picked up a bun during his reverie.

“You should eat too,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Today you came to save me, so thank you.” Although she didn’t need Zuo You’s rescuing, she still felt it was right to express her gratitude.

The white skinned, soft bun radiating steam was cupped in Zuo You’s hands. He quickly slipped it down his gullet in two bits and told Yu Xiaoxiao, “Delicious.”

The Gu brothers only fretted at the sight, but Jing Mo couldn’t even stand looking at Zuo You. One day that wretch is going to grow a tail from all the wagging he does in front of Princess Linglong. Is there any saving him from his stupidity before her?

Yu Xiaoxiao only looked regretfully at the buns on the table, but in the end she parted with two more for Zuo You. “Then you should eat a couple more.”

Zuo You cradled the buns and replied, “Princess, tonight I’ll have to leave you all in Fengtian to return home.”

Yu Xiaoxiao silently exhaled in relief. Ah geez, my Little Gu will finally be safe.

Zuo You said, “Princess, when you come visit White Tiger for fun one day, I’ll take you to eat all of our country’s delicacies.”

Jing Mo joked, “Zuo You, how could Fengtian’s princess ever go to White Tiger Nation?” Either your country destroys them first and captures Linglong, or their country destroys yours and have Princess Linglong oversee the new territory.

Zuo You looked disdainfully at Jing Mo. “Princess can just come to my place as an envoy.”

Jing Mo was certain that Zuo You was beyond help. A princess acting as an envoy? Are you cursing all of Xianzong’s sons to death? I’ve never heard of a princess playing envoy to other nations while there are still imperial princes alive!

Zuo You added, “Princess, I’ll come back to see you in Fengtian again.”

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Zuo You without nodding or shaking her head. In her life experience, someone who couldn’t even set a date or time for their next meeting was unusually unreliable. Zuo You assumed she was trying to commit his appearance to memory and suddenly felt depressed. If it wasn’t for my clan, I’d never leave at all!

Gu Xinglang spoke up next. “Princess, let’s go.”

“Oh,” Yu Xiaoxiao went to Gu Xinglang and saw the pile of untouched buns in front of Gu Xingnuo. “Big brother, why aren’t you eating?”

Gu Xingnuo stuffed a bun into his mouth. “We can eat the rest when we go back.”

“Then let’s go home,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “Little Gu hasn’t eaten anything yet.”

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei both started coughing. Then who cleared the table of dishes? Alright, the princess ate the most, but Royal Son-in-Law was no slouch either.

When Zuo You saw Yu Xiaoxiao bidding farewell to Jing Mo, he stomped his foot and left first. Since he didn’t want to see Yu Xiaoxiao leave, he’d let her see him go first.

“Did something happen?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked Jing Mo as she watched Zuo You’s retreating back. “I feel like Zuo You’s unhappy.”

Jing Mo only smiled. Princess, since you can tell that Zuo You is unhappy, he’ll die content.

Gu Xinglang tugged at Yu Xiaoxiao’s hand. “Let’s go. Eldest brother says grandfather is waiting for us at home.”

Gu Xingnuo was in the middle of drinking and choked at his brother’s words. For the sake of heading home, he’s even brought up that old man! Then he saw Jing Mo smiling at Yu Xiaoxiao and set his teacup down. Indeed, it’s the right choice to head home a little sooner.

Jing Mo sent off Yu Xiaoxiao’s group before calling the gallery owner to the gates. He said, “Pack up that painting of the lady by Zuo Daozi and deliver it to the Gu Estate later. Just say it’s a gift from me to the princess and Royal Son-in-Law.”

“Eldest imperial prince, that painting…” the gallery owner’s face blanched. That painting by Zuo Daozi is worth thousands of gold pieces!

“No need to say any more,” Jing Mo’s gaze on the owner was ice, forcing him to lower his head.

“Master,” a guard spoke up quietly then. “We’ll be leaving tomorrow. You should return early to the inn to rest.”

“I’ll be staying in Fengtian a little longer,” Jing Mo turned to enter the gallery. “Tell them there’s no rush to pack up the luggage anymore.”