Chapter 28
When they left the restaurant, there was no need for the waiter to do anything. The manager himself had already come out to apologize to Zheng Xuening and Lu Dieqing.
Lu Dieqing stood there obediently, feeling a mix of surprise and joy for her recovered purse. At that moment, Zheng Xuening tossed a gold ingot to the manager.
“Prepare an identical portion of today’s dishes and send it to the palace.”
Hearing the words “to the palace,” the restaurant manager’s pupils shrank, and his knees nearly gave out.
To be able to live in the imperial palace, and to have such beauty and aura at this age, how many could there be? At most, it was one of those few imperial daughters. But to be able to kick the Mo family’s young general in public, causing him to lose face completely and flee in disarray without daring to utter a single threat, there was only the Crown Princess.
The manager’s heart pounded with fear. He didn’t even dare to accept the gold ingot, feeling it was scalding hot. But looking at Zheng Xuening’s indifferent profile, he didn’t dare to say more and immediately replied, “Of course, of course. This humble one will have someone prepare the meal right away.”
In any case, he didn’t dare to ask another word.
Who among the common people in this capital didn’t know of the Crown Princess of the East Palace’s moody and volatile temper?
“Let’s go,” Zheng Xuening said, looking back at Lu Dieqing.
The latter held out her purse with both small hands and said hesitantly to the Crown Princess, “It was supposed to be my treat…”
She had been so focused on feasting just now. Now that her mind was working again, she felt a little embarrassed and ashamed. She had genuinely wanted to treat the Crown Princess to a meal. Although her purse was light, it was a gesture of her sincerity. But now, it seemed everything had been turned upside down. Not only had she not spent a single coin, but she had also ended up feasting heartily, basking in the Crown Princess’s light.
Lu Dieqing felt guilty, but Zheng Xuening glanced at her purse and said unhurriedly, “There will be plenty of time in the future. Save it, and treat me next time.”
The Crown Princess had made her decision, casually setting up a proposal for another meal.
Huh? Next time?
Lu Dieqing’s lips parted, but no sound came out. She blinked her sparkling eyes, a little confused, but in the end, she didn’t say anything to refute it.
The little girl obediently followed the Crown Princess back to the imperial palace. This time, neither of them mounted the horse. They just walked side by side, slowly along the long street, towards the imperial palace.
The street was bustling with people, and all walks of life were on full display.
When Lu Dieqing saw someone selling candied haws, she couldn’t help but look. When she saw a stall selling jewelry, she couldn’t help but look back. When she passed a juggling stall, she craned her neck and subconsciously turned to take another look.
Everything outside was full of novelty for her.
She could barely walk, feeling that two eyes were not enough. If she looked at one thing, she couldn’t look at another.
In short, if the Crown Princess weren’t standing beside her, she would have been like a child who had just left home, completely captivated by the hustle and bustle of the marketplace. It would have been a matter of an instant for her to be abducted and sold. The girl looked so naive and innocent, ignorant of the world, and without any sense of precaution.
A few times, Lu Dieqing was almost bumped into by someone, and it was Zheng Xuening who reached out in time to pull her back, avoiding the collision.
Almost falling into the Crown Princess’s embrace, Lu Dieqing was a little embarrassed, her small face turning red.
“Come closer,” Zheng Xuening’s voice was cool and clear.
“Thank you.”
The little girl was very polite. Realizing the Crown Princess’s good intention, she immediately parted her red lips and smiled at her.
This smile made the prosperity of the entire long street dim in comparison, leaving only the girl’s smiling face in Zheng Xuening’s eyes.
The latter pressed her lips together.
Seeing the sky darken and the pedestrians increase, she subconsciously took Lu Dieqing’s hand and tucked her between herself and the thousand-li horse, letting the girl hold the reins.
“Focus on the road.”
Lu Dieqing, who had been looking around and enjoying the sights, was interrupted from her appreciation of the colorful world. Realizing her situation, she let out a small “oh.”
She obediently took the horse’s reins. Though her body was there, her mind was still drifting outside, somewhat lost in thought.
If only my parents and I had been born among the common people, then I would surely be able to see these interesting things every day. Even without buying anything, just seeing so many people would make me happy.
“Wait for me here. Don’t leave.”
Zheng Xuening led Lu Dieqing to an open space and gestured for her to stand there and not wander off.
Though she didn’t understand what the Crown Princess was going to do, in front of her, Lu Dieqing was used to being obedient. She nodded her small head, looking like a well-behaved child.
Zheng Xuening curved her lips slightly and then strode away. Her back was slender and naturally upright, like a green bamboo, with a certain graceful air.
Lu Dieqing couldn’t help but look at the Crown Princess’s figure a few more times, sensing a character trait in her that she herself did not possess. Zheng Xuening had a heroic spirit rarely seen in ordinary women, yet she did not lack a woman’s delicate beauty. Even without her status as the Crown Princess, just with her looks alone, walking on the long street, she could make countless people turn their heads for another look. But her aura was cold and sharp, giving her a somewhat otherworldly feel. In short, though she was walking on the long street, she seemed out of place with the people around her.
But it was this high and mighty heir of the Chaoying Kingdom who walked up to the vendors’ stalls.
As she tossed out gold ingots one by one from her sleeve, the small stall vendors immediately packed up their goods, their faces ecstatic as they bowed and scraped, following behind her.
After the Crown Princess left, Lu Dieqing was staring at the ants on the ground, engrossed. Suddenly, she heard a series of footsteps. The Crown Princess had returned and was standing in front of her.
She looked up and saw another shocking scene.
Behind the Crown Princess stood several small stall vendors. These common people were all carrying large and small bags of their goods.
A large string of candied haws, a large bag of jewelry, a cart of folk toys…
A dazzling array of items.
All the things that had previously made Lu Dieqing unable to look away or walk on had somehow been gathered together by the Crown Princess and placed before her.
The little girl’s lips parted, confused and flustered.
Zheng Xuening, however, raised an eyebrow at her. Her voice was as cool and clear as ever, but her eyes held a trace of a doting smile.
“These are all yours.”
Everything Lu Dieqing had glanced at before, everything she had been thinking about, had now been packed up and brought over.
Even the juggler who had been performing fire-breathing just now stood obediently by the Crown Princess’s side, giving Lu Dieqing a fawning smile.
They didn’t know where this noble had come from, so generous with her money. A single gold ingot had sent them into a frenzy. It was a windfall from heaven!
The juggling commoner, thinking that he had taken the money and had to do a good job, used all his skills. He opened his mouth and spat out a stream of fire. With a wave of a cloth in his hand, a dove flew out the next moment.
Lu Dieqing was dumbfounded, her almond eyes wide and round.
The scene before her was like a dream. No, no, even in her dreams, she had never dared to imagine this.
Zheng Xuening curved her lips, looking at the girl’s stunned little face. She walked over, raised her hand, and stroked her head.
“You don’t like it?”
A blush immediately covered Lu Dieqing’s delicate and beautiful little face, like a ripe little fruit, exuding a feeling that made one want to take a bite.
“I like it…”
Her two small hands were twisted together, her heart even more nervous and flustered.
As the saying goes, one should not accept a reward without merit.
Why is the Crown Princess being so good to me?
