Chapter 60: After a Bit of Verbal Sparring

As Princess Gao Yang and Changsun Chong joined, the dinner gathering began to get strange.

Chen Yan and Princess Gao Yang silently competed: you eye the lamb, she snatches the lamb.

She wants to eat vegetables, and he puts all the vegetables into his own bowl.

Someone kept stepping under the table, making the dining table sway.

Meanwhile, Changsun Chong kept showering Li Lizhi with attentions, throwing out a flood of caring greetings.

Li Lizhi strained to keep a proper smile.

But the smile grew increasingly forced, and it seemed she would soon lose it.

The three Cheng Chumo brothers exchanged glances and each set down their chopsticks.

Hot pot can be eaten at any time.

If you miss the lively scene, you won't get to see it.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Lizhi's expression completely cracked; she could no longer hold back.

She said coldly, "Cousin, today our restaurant is opening; a few 'Partners' are sitting together for a meal to discuss some matters."

"I hope you won't blame me, Lizhi will not entertain you."

'Partners' means shareholders or partners.

Li Lizhi's meaning was simple: today we partners eat, discuss business; it's inappropriate for you to stay, so leave quickly.

Changsun Chong's eager smile froze on his face, "But… but Brother Chen let me in."

"It's just a meal; it shouldn't be a problem, right?"

He couldn't understand why, after caring about Li Lizhi for so long, she now had to send him away.

Things shouldn't have developed like this.

Li Lizhi said calmly, "The Marquis of Weinan invited you in out of courtesy; now I ask you to leave, also out of courtesy."

"Cousin, I remember you used to be very courteous."

That remark was harsh, almost pointing at his nose and calling him 'thick‑skinned'.

Changsun Chong tried to argue further, forcing a smile, "Cousin, we're all relatives; it shouldn't be so unfeeling, right?"

"Besides, isn't Cousin Gao Yang also here?"

At first, when Li Lizhi spoke, Gao Yang and Chen Yan stopped competing and, like the three Cheng Chumo brothers, watched the commotion.

They didn't expect Changsun Chong to drag himself into it.

Gao Yang twitched her elegant eyebrows.

She called Changsun Chong 'cousin' solely out of respect for Empress Changsun.

Otherwise, not even a greeting would count as her being in a good mood.

Gao Yang said lightly, "The restaurant was opened by my fiancé; why can't I stay here?"

"Do you see them, the few Partners, addressing me as 'my palace'?"

Changsun was speechless, silent for a moment, then stammered, "Then…"

"Then what?" Li Lizhi cut him off, her voice turning cold, "Cousin, do you still want to ask why Sizi can stay here?"

Sizi heard that, raised his head blankly, smacked his lips, "Because… the system requires seven‑seven‑eight~"

Changsun Chong: "......"

Now that the conversation had reached this point, he knew he had to leave.

Staying any longer would only add resentment.

Changsun Chong stood up, smiling grotesquely, and bowed to everyone, "Since that's the case, I won't disturb you all with business discussions; I'll take my leave now."

After speaking, he walked straight out of the private room, and didn't even forget to close the door for them.

Li Lizhi let out a long sigh and said to everyone, "Sorry for making a spectacle of you all."

"If anyone thinks I did poorly, I'll apologize to you all."

The three Cheng Chumo brothers and Chen Yan waved their hands to say it wasn't necessary.

Anyway, they didn't often hang out with Changsun Chong; their relationship wasn't close, and they merely exchanged greetings when they met.

After all, their fathers were all close aides of Li Shimin, merely maintaining a surface relationship.

Gao Yang reminded, "Sister Empress, don't listen to him say he's studying at home and exchanging insights with classmates from the Imperial Academy."

"He, you know, usually has more fun than Chen Yan and the others; he's a regular at Pingkang Fang."

Li Lizhi asked puzzled, "How do you know that?"

Gao Yang glanced at Chen Yan beside her and sneered, "I found out while I had someone investigate Chen Yan."

Chen Yan: "......"

Yu Chi Bao Lin shouted, "Princess, you're wrong; Changsun Chong isn't lying. He truly exchanges insights with classmates from the Imperial Academy and also attends poetry gatherings."

Cheng Chumo nodded earnestly, "Exactly, except they don't exchange at the Imperial Academy; they do it at Pingkang Fang."

Gao Yang asked with a smile, "What about the poetry gatherings?"

Yu Chi Bao Lin burst out laughing, "Princess, you're unaware that the girls at Pingkang Fang love poetry most and often hold poetry gatherings there."

"Changsun Chong always attends punctually, never missing one!"

When that was said, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huai Dao couldn't help but laugh.

Because they knew Yu Chi Bao Lin's words were all true.

As regulars of Pingkang Fang, they had lost count of how many times they'd run into Changsun Chong there.

However, Li Lizhi couldn't bring herself to laugh.

Yu Chi Bao Lin and the others didn't know—did she herself not understand?

Father Emperor and Empress deliberately intend to marry her to Changsun Chong…

Chen Yan noticed her pale complexion and cut in, "Hey, enough already—can't even a meal stop you two from talking?"

"Hurry up and eat, you guys; the meat's overcooked and not tasty."

Only then did the three brothers change the subject and resume eating and drinking.

Gao Yang pursed her lips, "What's so unspeakable?"

"You're not feeling guilty, are you?"

Chen Yan chuckled, "Gao Yang, I'm in a good mood today and don't want to argue with you. I advise you to be honest and not be oblivious."

"First, I, Chen Yan, have never stayed overnight at Pingkang Fang, never entered any maiden's chamber, yet I go to Pingkang Fang whenever I please, never denying anything—what's there to feel guilty about?"

Chen Yan crossed his arms and sneered, "I admit everything I've done; you call me a frivolous playboy who only knows how to hang around pleasure houses, and I've never objected."

"On the contrary, you're clearly arrogant, hot‑tempered, love to cause trouble, yet you never admit it."

"And you still have the nerve to mention Changsun Chong."

"At least he knows how to say a few flattering words and stick some gold on his face; what about you?"

Chen Yan glanced up at Gao Yang and snorted coldly, "Nothing at all!"

Princess Gao Yang slammed the table, stood up, and glared, "Who are you calling a troublemaker?"

"Who do you say is even worse than Changsun Chong?"

"Chen Yan! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?!"

Chen Yan replied sarcastically, "Ah, right, right, Princess, you're absolutely correct."

"Ah, ah, I didn't even know who it was before—once I pulled out the Death‑exemption Gold Medal, everyone got scared, you know~"

"Tsk tsk tsk!"

Gao Yang's face flushed with shame; earlier when Chen Yan produced the Death‑exemption Gold Medal, she was indeed frightened.

How to put it, Gao Yang actually isn't afraid of Chen Yan hitting her.

What she fears is Chen Yan hitting her in front of outsiders.

Chen Yan teased, "Hey, why are you silent now, my Princess?"

"Why don't we go to the adjacent private room? I'll let you feel whether the Death‑exemption Gold Medal is hard, or we can waste some words and let you see my disobedient hands."

"......"