Chapter 1823: Not Caring at All

"Damn! If you won't say it, fine! But I'm treating you to a drink, not for free! You have to tell me what you promised!"

Xuan Yuan Ling reminded Ye Liuyun.

"Of course, I will definitely keep the promise I made to you."

"But I have to eat first before that! If I say it now and later can't get a meal, I'll be at a loss!"

Ye Liuyun smiled.

"......" Xuan Yuan Ling gave him a cold stare, but didn't press further.

The two chatted casually along the way.

Ye Liuyun first inquired about recent events in the Royal City, but actually he was trying to get news about Xuan Yuan Yu.

"Actually there's a big matter, and you'd find it quite interesting."

Xuan Yuan Ling looked at Ye Liuyun and smiled maliciously.

"From your expression, it doesn't look like good news!"

Ye Liuyun deliberately glanced at Xuan Yuan Ling warily.

"Yesterday the King of Xiliang announced that he'll hold a martial contest to find a husband for his daughter He Lian Xiu! Are you interested?"

Xuan Yuan Ling asked with a smile.

"What?"

Ye Liuyun found it hard to believe: "The King of Xiliang's daughter can't get married?

And they have to hold a contest to find a husband?

Why should I be interested?"

"Men," he said, "they all pretend not to be interested, but the moment they turn around they'll run to join the contest!"

Xuan Yuan Ling said playfully.

"I'm not going!"

Ye Liuyun said nonchalantly, "Even if she's the daughter of the Heavenly King, I'm not after her!"

Xuan Yuan Ling saw Ye Liuyun's expression, which seemed truly indifferent, but still deliberately said, "Yeah! The Royal City's four great beauties—Hua Xiangyuan is hidden away in your golden house, Xiao Yunfang fights by your side at the border—so you should be satisfied!"

"Are you assuming I've hidden Hua Xiangyuan away?

And what does that have to do with Xiao Yunfang!"

Ye Liuyun was at a loss for words.

"That girl, why is she secretly probing for my news?"

He felt a bit wary in his heart.

But he still joked, "Now the top of the four great beauties, Xuan Yuan Ling, is still accompanying me to eat, sharing a carriage, chatting and laughing—aren't you afraid people will misinterpret it if it spreads?"

"Pah, who is chatting with you!"

Xuan Yuan Ling's face flushed instantly.

Although she scolded Ye Liuyun, he deliberately called her the top of the four great beauties, and she was quite pleased inside!

Ye Liuyun wasn't really trying to flirt with her on purpose.

He was cautious, so his words became smooth.

He usually can't be smooth with his own women, and those women all call him "wooden."

The tavern they were heading to wasn't far from Xuan Yuan Hall, and by the time they finished talking they arrived.

"So close!"

Ye Liuyun still thought taking a carriage was a bit excessive.

Xuan Yuan Ling guessed his thought, smiled, and explained, "High‑end taverns are like this; people come for networking, so they have to make some formal preparations."

"Alright! Thanks to Miss Xuan Yuan today, I'm treating myself to meat at a high‑end tavern.

Next time you treat me, an ordinary tavern will do!"

Ye Liuyun said jokingly.

Xuan Yuan Ling sighed, "When I go out to eat, I can only come here; it's a family rule.

Ordinary taverns are not allowed!"

Ye Liuyun glanced at her and said sympathetically, "I have a way; next time I can take you out to eat wherever you like!"

"Really?"

Xuan Yuan Ling clearly found Ye Liuyun's suggestion very interesting.

"Really! But you have to pay!"

Ye Liuyun smiled.

"You're such a tightwad! But if you really have a way, I'm fine paying!"

Xuan Yuan Ling readily agreed.

Ye Liuyun glanced at the tavern's name.

"Flying Crane Hall does look quite elegant!"

He thought to himself.

The two entered the tavern, and immediately someone came out to greet them, bowing and nodding to Xuan Yuan Ling, leading the way ahead.

Ye Liuyun was treated like a servant and ignored.

Ye Liuyun didn't mind; he glanced at the diners in the main hall, whose attire was far finer than his.

They went up to the second floor, about to enter Xuan Yuan Ling's private room.

The door of a neighboring private room suddenly opened, and He Lian Qiang stepped out with a woman.

The woman, upon seeing Xuan Yuan Ling, ran over laughing, "Sister Ling, why are you here?"

"It's you, Sister Xiu! I brought a friend to have a meal."

"You're about to get married, why are you still coming out?"

Xuan Yuan Ling also seemed to be very friendly with that woman.

"Miss Xuan Yuan!"

"Prince He Lian!"

Xuan Yuan Ling and He Lian Qiang also exchanged greetings.

"It's because my father arranged some martial‑contest marriage for me; I'm a total embarrassment! It feels like I can't get married! So I'm in a bad mood and bullied my brother into taking me out to clear my mind!"

The woman complained to Xuan Yuan Ling.

Ye Liuyun immediately guessed that the woman was He Lian Xiu.

He Lian Qiang and He Lian Xiu completely ignored Ye Liuyun, truly treating him like a servant.

But Xuan Yuan Ling didn't forget to introduce him.

"This is my friend, Ye Liuyun! Young Master Ye, these two are Prince He Lian Qiang of the Western Liang Royal Mansion and little princess He Lian Xiu."

After Xuan Yuan Ling finished introducing Ye Liuyun, the two of them finally looked over.

Seeing Ye Liuyun's attire, they were startled, then simply nodded at him.

Ye Liuyun also merely performed the Martial Cultivator's courteous bow.

It seemed neither side was interested in the other.

He Lian Qiang also didn't recall Ye Liuyun, the incident when they once listened to Hua Xiangyuan play the zither together.

Someone with his head‑in‑the‑clouds eyes isn't a scion of any great power, so he wouldn't make a point of remembering.

To ease the awkwardness, Xuan Yuan Ling said to He Lian Xiu: "Go quickly with the Prince and shop; I have other matters, so I won't stay with you!"

"Alright then, Sister Ling, we'll leave first!"

He Lian Xiu exchanged greetings with Xuan Yuan Ling, He Lian Qiang also bid Xuan Yuan Ling farewell, and they left together.

Xuan Yuan Ling then led Ye Liuyun into a private room, fearing he might be displeased, and specifically explained: "The wealthy youths here are all like this; don't take it to heart."

Ye Liuyun actually didn't care about these people's opinions.

He just wanted to eat quietly, to truly enjoy the delicacies.

He Lian Qiang gave him no good impression at all; for him, it's better not to know such a person.

So he self‑mocked with Xuan Yuan Ling: "If you introduced me as someone here for the Foreign Tribe selection, their expressions would be even more spectacular!"

Ye Liuyun was truly joking.

Xuan Yuan Ling still thought Ye Liuyun was angry and said it on purpose, feeling secretly remorseful: "I really should have reminded him to change into a better outfit! I shouldn't have deliberately teased him."

"This time it seems I went a bit too far!"

Earlier, Ye Liuyun had deliberately provoked her; she only wanted to tease Ye Liuyun a little.

"Why is there no menu?"

"Let me see what's tasty; since you finally treated me to a meal, I have to eat more!"

At this moment, Ye Liuyun said,

"Fine, as long as you're happy, I'll give you a hearty feast today."

Xuan Yuan Ling also wanted to compensate him.