After hearing Wei Ying's words, the smile on Wen Yi's face seemed to turn a bit stiff. Seeing this, Chu Qing said with a smile, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. The Prince and I have always been rather informal."
With these words, Chu Qing and the others instantly shifted from a passive position to an active one.
However, Wen Yi's hand holding the teacup seemed to tremble slightly.
Tsk!
Chu Qing silently scoffed. It seemed that Rong He's child didn't have much self - restraint. She'd have to give him a good talking - to when she got the chance.
Hmm...
Of course, except for her Wei Ying.
When Wen Huan beside them sensed that the atmosphere was off, she first glanced at her elder brother, then at Wei Ying, and finally fixed her gaze on Chu Qing, who seemed to pose no threat.
"I say, Princess of Ning, when my elder brother is talking to the Prince of Ning, it's not your place to speak," Wen Huan said coldly, casting a disdainful look at Chu Qing. The words were most unpleasant.
Humph! Even she didn't dare to say much in this kind of situation. This Princess of Ning was far too ignorant of the rules!
Chu Qing wasn't angry. She just gave Wen Huan a cool look in return, curled her lips into a smile, and slowly said, "Is this how Dongyi treats its guests?"
Wen Huan was instantly annoyed and was about to say something else, but was stopped by another scolding from Wen Yi.
"Huan'er means no harm. In our Dongyi, women are indeed not allowed to interrupt their husbands casually when they're speaking," Wen Yi said with a squinted smile. His tone was so gentle that there was nothing to fault, but his words subtly implied Chu Qing's impropriety.
"I don't find it inappropriate. If Your Highness is dissatisfied, then I'll take Qingqing and leave," Wei Ying said as he stood up. His tone was neither cold nor warm, but his expression was imposing.
Humph! How dare they say something bad about his Qingqing?
Chu Qing also stood up with a smile, following Wei Ying.
How wonderful! She was being protected by her Wei Ying again!
She didn't have to waste so much breath on these little brats. She was quite pleased.
Now, Wen Yi was so embarrassed that he could no longer maintain his smile. He could only say in a solemn voice with a stiff expression, "Since the Prince of Ning wants to find another place, I, as a prince, won't try to persuade you to stay."
Wei Ying curled his lips into a smile, nodded briefly, and then led Chu Qing away.
Watching their departing backs, Wen Yi's eyes finally filled with coldness.
"Ungrateful wretches!" Wen Yi said coldly.
Wen Huan wanted to agree with a few words, but when she thought of the Prince of Ning's cold face, the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back instantly.
She was also very surprised. Why didn't she want to say anything bad about him?
Could it be...
Was she in love with him?
Thinking of this, Wen Huan quickly picked up a cup of tea on the table and gulped it down.
The warm tea in her stomach gradually relieved her discomfort.
If she really fell in love with him at first sight...
Ah! How terrifying!
She was the princess of Dongyi!
How could she fall in love with a man she'd only met twice!
She wasn't such a shallow person!
"Huan'er?" Wen Yi noticed Wen Huan's strange behavior and spoke in a rather cold tone.
Startled by Wen Yi's sudden call, Wen Huan immediately came back to her senses, sat up straight, and answered.
Wen Yi continued to give her a cold look, then said, "I don't care what you're thinking. You'd better not cause any trouble these days. Otherwise, next time, no matter how much you beg me, I won't take you out again."
"Got it, elder brother," Wen Huan pouted and lowered her eyes.
...
After following Wei Ying out, Chu Qing said helplessly, "Even a powerful dragon finds it hard to dominate on local snakes' turf."
"...," Wei Ying was stunned for a moment, then let out a soft laugh and replied, "He's not a local snake. Well... let's just say he's a sort of local little dragon."
"Pfft!" Chu Qing burst out laughing.
Then, realizing that she might have been a bit out of control, she quickly covered her mouth and looked around. Fortunately, no one was looking at her strangely.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, Chu Qing continued to mutter in a low voice, "Zizhan, I'm serious. Do you want to think carefully about whether you should..."
Before Chu Qing could finish, Wei Ying reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
He pinched it until Chu Qing pouted, looking extremely cute.
"Um...," Chu Qing was a bit helpless about Wei Ying's action.
"No," Wei Ying replied calmly.
Chu Qing sighed softly in her heart. To be fair, if Wei Ying had the intention to return to Dongyi, she was definitely capable of helping him ascend to the throne.
After all, Wei Ying was excellent enough.
And she...
Well, she had once helped an emperor ascend to the throne.
However, if Wei Ying really had no such intention, she couldn't impose her own ideas on him. She could only feel a bit sorry.
After that, they found a small restaurant that seemed quite decent and finally sat down to have something to eat in peace.
...
Hu Yan Longchang looked up at the sunlight coming in through the small window above his head and reached out his hand as if to touch it.
But in the end, it was all in vain.
He had tried to escape several times, but the secret prison where he was held was guarded too strictly. There was a highly skilled guard almost every ten steps.
Whether he went on a hunger strike or tried to bribe them, they remained unmoved and carried out their duties impartially.
But from another perspective, he was probably the only one who got such treatment!
Humph!
He could only console himself like this.
Thinking of this, Hu Yan Longchang heaved a heavy sigh.
He had really underestimated the Prince of Ning back then!
If only there were a regret potion in this world.
He would definitely stay in Xiliang obediently and leisurely find fault with Hu Yan Longhao.
Oh right...
Hu Yan Longhao was dead.
This might be the best news he'd heard so far.
But now, even this best news was of no use to him.
After all, he was still a prisoner of the Great Yan!
It was really heart - wrenching to think about it!
Just as Hu Yan Longchang was thinking all sorts of random things, he suddenly heard the sound of neat footsteps coming from the corridor of the prison.
When he looked up, a group of strange black - clothed men were already standing in front of him.
Then, to Hu Yan Longchang's shocked expression, they actually opened his prison door!
"What are you doing!" Hu Yan Longchang straightened his body and took a few steps back.
It wasn't clear yet whether they were friend or foe. In case they were secretly here to take his life, he had to be extra careful!
"Please, Your Highness the Crown Prince!" A man in the front row stepped aside and made way for Hu Yan Longchang at the prison door.
Hu Yan Longchang asked warily, "You're letting me out?"
"Yes. Please act quickly, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"What about those guards?"
"They've been knocked out."
"Whose men are you! Did my father send you to rescue me?" Hu Yan Longchang frowned.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince can think so. Time is pressing. Please leave with us quickly."
Although Hu Yan Longchang was still a bit suspicious, seeing how they were acting, there should be no deception...
There should be no deception...
After thinking about it, Hu Yan Longchang finally couldn't resist the temptation and walked out.
Was he going to...
Be free?