Chapter 105

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

She mused inwardly: This Sixth Princess doesn't look like someone easy to get along with; if Elder Brother really marries her in the future, they might have to battle wits and quarrel endlessly every day. Thinking this, Ouyang Qianyu couldn't help but feel some hesitation and worry.

But at this moment, Ouyang Qianqiu seemed to see through his thoughts and proposed with a smile: "How about this — tomorrow we'll just go straight to the Imperial Palace to find the Sixth Princess and take the chance to deepen our bond with her?"

Ouyang Qianyu frowned, pondered silently for a while, but ultimately couldn't restrain her inner compliance with Elder Brother's words. However, when she suddenly remembered that she had already agreed yesterday to go with Yan Shuang'er to taste that mouthwatering Beggar's Chicken, she couldn't help but feel a wave of difficulty.

Just then, Ouyang Qianqiu at her side spoke up: "Younger Sister, don't rush. We'll rise early tomorrow and enter the palace, and after meeting up with the Sixth Princess we can go enjoy the food together — it's not too late." Ouyang Qianyu considered briefly, felt this idea was workable, and nodded in agreement.

Early the next morning, before the sky was fully bright, the Ouyang siblings had already finished washing up early and hurried to the Imperial Palace. Along the way, they carried hearts full of anticipation and excitement, their steps light and quick.

Upon reaching the Palace Gate, the two tidied their bearing slightly, then walked straight toward where the Emperor was. Seeing His Majesty the Emperor, Ouyang Qianqiu first bowed respectfully, then reported with a smile that he had chanced upon the Sixth Princess yesterday, been deeply captivated by her graceful bearing, and thus dared to beg the Emperor to permit them to invite the Sixth Princess to go out and play together.

The Emperor heard this, narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinized Ouyang Qianqiu carefully, pondered silently for a moment, then decided to ask his daughter's wishes first.

So he immediately summoned a clever little eunuch, ordering him to hurry and inquire the Sixth Princess's view on the matter. Before long, the little eunuch came running back to report, informing the Emperor that the Sixth Princess expressed willingness to come join them after tidying up properly.

Hearing this good news, the Ouyang siblings' faces instantly bloomed with radiant smiles; they hurriedly bowed again to thank the Emperor, then exited the palace hall in high spirits and came to the palace gate to wait quietly for the Sixth Princess's arrival.

Not long after, the Sixth Princess walked over leisurely. Yan An Yu was dressed in a set of bright red luxurious robes she loved most; that vivid color was as eye-catching and dazzling as burning flames.

Her beautiful hair was meticulously styled into a tall, lofty bun, appearing exceptionally neat and dignified. Although she wore no excessive ornate hair ornaments on her head, just that simple adornment was enough to deeply captivate anyone at a single glance.

Ouyang Qianqiu's gaze involuntarily fell once more on this bright and moving young lady, and his heart was stirred by her once again.

When the Sixth Princess slowly approached and, supported carefully by the servants at her side, mounted the carriage, Ouyang Qianyu hurriedly spoke up trying to find a topic to break this slightly awkward atmosphere. However, Yan An Yu merely responded perfunctorily with "Mm," "Ah," "Oh," looking as if she couldn't muster the slightest interest in anything around her.

In contrast, from the moment Yan An Yu sat in the carriage, Ouyang Qianqiu's cheeks instantly flushed bright red, his whole person became flustered, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

It was Ouyang Qianyu who kept trying to converse with Yan An Yu; whenever she spoke, Yan An Yu would politely respond. But once Ouyang Qianyu stopped talking, the whole carriage interior fell into a suffocating silence.

In just such a spine-chilling atmosphere threaded with an eerie air, the three people seemed shrouded by an invisible pressure, and all the way they tacitly maintained silence — no one spoke a word.

They walked on silently like this, footsteps exceptionally clear on the quiet street, each step seemingly carrying heavy thoughts.

Finally, after a long and stifling journey, the three arrived back at the relay station. However, unexpectedly, when they stepped through the station's main gate, they discovered Yan Shuang'er had already been waiting here for quite a while.

Even more coincidentally, at this moment she was chatting very happily with Shangguan Xingyu; the two looked intimate and inseparable, chatting away like old friends of many years.

When the Ouyang siblings and Yan An Yu returned together, Yan Shuang'er, who had been smiling broadly, suddenly started, and thought inwardly: "Judging by this situation, could it be they've already shifted targets? If so, wouldn't I be able to withdraw with merit achieved!"

Thinking here, the corners of Yan Shuang'er's mouth curved up slightly, revealing a trace of hard-to-detect delight. Immediately after, she pulled Shangguan Xingyu and stepped forward quickly, smiling: "My my, it's getting late; we'd better set off quickly!"

Faced with Yan Shuang'er's proposal, the Ouyang siblings raised no objection, merely nodding lightly to indicate agreement.

And the ever-silent Yan An Yu still kept her lips tightly shut, not uttering a word, her expression inscrutable. Then the group all turned and walked toward the carriages parked at the side, each boarding their own carriage compartment, preparing to set off for the far-famed Zui Xian Lou.

When this party arrived at Zui Xian Lou, they saw the vermilion main gate wide open, above the lintel hung an antique plaque with "Zui Xian Lou" written in three large characters in flying dragon and dancing phoenix calligraphy. They had just stepped over the threshold when a shopkeeper dressed in brocade robes, beaming, hurried up to greet them.

The shopkeeper spotted Yan Shuang'er in the crowd at a glance, and immediately bowed: "My my, Miss Shuang'er graces us with your presence — our humble shop truly shines!" His voice was loud and enthusiastic, drawing many surrounding diners to turn and look.

Yan Shuang'er wore a blank face, completely unable to understand why this shopkeeper was so courteous to her. Just then, the shopkeeper added with a smile: "Miss Shuang'er, our Proprietor gave instructions long ago — everything is already arranged. You need only follow us to the private room; the dishes are all ready. If later you find it not enough, just order more dishes as you wish."