Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 96

Qiao Wanyan lowered her head to look at his stiff expression. On her palm-sized face spread a smug little smile, not hidden in the least—proud and haughty, just like an elegant little white cat.

She narrowed her eyes in a grin. “Your Highness, does my hand feel nice to touch?”

The very next second, He Yanli flung her hand away, turned his face aside, and went back to eating.

But Qiao Wanyan stretched her hand out again. “Your Highness, it still hurts. The tea scalded me red. Look at it.”

He Yanli cast her a cold glance. Acting spoiled, playing pitiful—for someone like her, the more you indulged her, the more she climbed up onto your head. Absolutely shameless.

“What does your scalded hand have to do with me? Blow on it yourself.”

His tone was harsh, but out of the corner of his eye he still caught a glimpse of her hand stretched toward him. Sure enough, the back of it was reddened in a small patch.

Qiao Wanyan pulled over a stool and sat down, tilting her head at him without a word, looking pitiful and aggrieved.

Everyone could see perfectly well that she was pretending—deliberately acting pitiful to gain sympathy. Yet somehow… she didn’t look annoying in the least.

Mo Xiao lowered his head. If he kept looking, he really would start wavering.

And wavering, when it came to the prince, was no small matter. Just to have been treated differently by Second Miss Qiao before was already like winning heaven’s favor—any grievance afterward was nothing compared to that.

He knew his own thoughts were shameless, but faced with that stunning face of hers, he couldn’t help but excuse her in his heart. Beauty was justice.

Mo Xiao silently cursed himself—what kind of loyal subordinate was he, if he wasn’t even standing firmly on His Highness’s side?

“Hurts so much~” She deliberately dragged out her words, her watery autumn eyes brimming with pitiful charm. Anyone who saw her like this would crumble.

But He Yanli’s solution was simple: he didn’t look at her at all.

Qiao Wanyan persisted. “Your Highness, do you have any burn ointment in the residence? My hand’s all red. If I don’t put some on right away, it might leave a scar.”

He Yanli turned his head slightly toward Mo Xiao behind him. Mo Xiao instantly received his master’s silent order and quickly declared, “None!”

He had followed His Highness for years. With just one glance he could tell what the prince wanted. His Highness didn’t even need to speak—he could guess the meaning from a flicker of expression!

But He Yanli frowned and said in a low voice, “Go fetch it.”

Mo Xiao’s brain short-circuited. Just a moment ago he’d been proud of their perfect tacit understanding—now he could only leave with a dark face, full of regret.

As he passed the doorway, he caught Zi Yuan’s soft little mutter.

“What fun.”

Mo Xiao bared his teeth.

A short while later, while He Yanli continued his meal, Zi Yuan carefully applied the burn ointment to Qiao Wanyan’s hand.

The thick medicinal scent soon filled the room, overpowering even the fragrance of the exquisite dishes on the table.

Once Zi Yuan finished, Qiao Wanyan stood up and walked over again. Just as she was about to pick up the clay teapot, He Yanli’s large hand pressed down on it, stopping her.

“What are you doing?”

Qiao Wanyan obediently replied, “Pouring tea for Your Highness. I’m just a weak woman, I don’t know how else to persuade Your Highness to release Yun Yao, so I can only do small things within my power to please you.”

“Put it down. Go sit.” He Yanli moved the teapot aside. “The burn ointment in this prince’s residence is extremely expensive. And your maid dug into it like a bandit, scooping out half a jar in one go—does she think this prince’s things are free for the taking?”

Qiao Wanyan blinked, cursing him as stingy in her heart. She then pulled the handkerchief from her waist, stepped closer, and reached up to wipe the corner of his lips.

He Yanli didn’t dodge. He only lifted his head and looked at her.

Qiao Wanyan acted as if she hadn’t noticed, reaching out with her handkerchief to gently wipe his forehead.

“What are you doing?”

Qiao Wanyan answered honestly, “Your Highness doesn’t look good when you frown. I’m helping you smooth it out.”

He Yanli couldn’t help but laugh in anger. “Sometimes, this king truly wonders what exactly fills your head. But I do know one thing—no matter the time, it’s always mush. The only difference is whether it’s thick or thin.”

Qiao Wanyan kept her face obedient, but inside she was grumbling: Your mouth is dripping with gold, isn’t it? If my head is mush, then yours is stuffed with liquid gold!

He Yanli’s voice dropped into a cool tone. “Though this king loathes you, I am not someone who acts without reason.”

Her eyes lit up instantly, dazzling like starlight. “Then Your Highness means…”

“This king has just finished his meal and happens to want something sweet afterward. If you personally make a bowl of sweet soup and I find it acceptable, then I’ll grant your request.”

His eyes glimmered faintly with hidden light. “That’s not considered making things difficult for you, is it?”

“Not at all, not at all!” Qiao Wanyan answered right away.

She had brought Ziyuan with her, after all. With Ziyuan around, what was one little bowl of sweet soup? Even if it were a full imperial banquet, Ziyuan could handle it with ease.

Ziyuan, however, silently pressed her lips together. Sweet soup? Who on earth knows how to make that?

Her mistress? Miss Qiao couldn’t even touch the kitchen without blowing it up!

Herself? She only knew how to braise pork knuckles.

What were they supposed to do—stew pork knuckles with extra sugar and serve it to Prince Jing as dessert soup?

If that happened, they’d both be buried in Jing Prince’s manor today.

After the two master and servant left Qingyun Hall, Mo Xiao asked, “Your Highness, Second Miss Qiao doesn’t look like someone who knows how to make sweet soup. Since you’ve already given in, she’s probably overjoyed right now.”

He Yanli glanced at the handkerchief she’d forgotten on the table. “Overjoyed? With her skills, forget sweet soup—she can’t even cook plain rice.”

“Whatever she ends up making, let her eat it all herself, exactly as it is.”

With a wave of his hand, the servants swiftly cleared the table.

He picked up a military strategy book, settled into the armchair, and began to read quietly.

About the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn, He Yanli, who was beginning to feel a little drowsy, suddenly heard a muffled boom outside.

Moments later, a servant came rushing in. “Your Highness, Second Miss Qiao…”

He Yanli immediately stood. “What happened to her?”

The servant looked embarrassed. “Second Miss Qiao… she blew up the kitchen.”

He Yanli was silent for a long moment. “…And where is she now?”

The servant shook his head. “This servant searched for quite a while but couldn’t find her. Don’t know if she’s hiding somewhere… or if she ran.”

Meanwhile, at the west back gate of Jing Prince’s manor, two young girls were staring wide-eyed at each other.

“Ziyuan, I’m scared.”

Ziyuan’s voice trembled. “Miss, this maid is scared too. If we just run like this… won’t Prince Jing hunt us down?”

Qiao Wanyan bit her lip. “I don’t know. But if we make it back to the Minister’s Manor, Father will definitely protect me. But…”

“But what?”

Qiao Wanyan smacked her lips. “Yunyao might not be so lucky. She’s probably doomed.”