Chapter 157: First Encounter in Youth

"Ji Bai."

"Miss."

"Go to Prince Li's residence and say that I am inviting the Prince to dine tonight."

"Yes."

The common folk on the street gathered around the entrance of Number One Estate Under Heaven, discussing it for a long time.

"This is a plaque personally bestowed by the Emperor!"

"Indeed! It seems that from now on, Number One Estate Under Heaven will be the finest restaurant in Jingcheng."

"Are you stupid! Didn't you see what's written on that plaque? Number One Estate Under Heaven! That means there won't be a better restaurant in all of Daqi."

The news of the Emperor bestowing the title of Number One Estate Under Heaven reached the Meng Family.

Meng Hui wished he could slap Meng Qinghe several times across the face.

"This useless thing! If she hadn't done something so foolish, Number One Estate Under Heaven would have belonged to our Minister's Residence!"

By this time, Meng Qinghe had also received the news.

She angrily smashed the cups on the table, and Caipin said softly, "Miss, please calm your anger."

"Calm my anger? How am I supposed to calm my anger?" Meng Qinghe said furiously. "Have you found out the identity of the person behind Hao Family Restaurant?"

"To answer you, Miss, there are some leads. A few months ago, that person bought a great deal of grain from Wugu Shop. I also asked several other grain shops, and their managers said the same thing—just before the snow disaster, that person bought out all the grain from every shop."

"What?" Meng Qinghe's heart sank.

An indescribable panic enveloped her heart.

A few months ago was exactly the day she had been reborn. Could it be that someone else had been reborn at the same time as her?

How was that possible?

How could it be possible?

"Oh right, the manager of Wugu Shop also said that when that young gentleman bought grain a few months ago, he had people deliver it to that haunted house on the outskirts of the city."

"A haunted house?"

"Yes, that residence originally belonged to the Bai family. After the Bai family was executed to the last member, it fell into ruin. However, people all say that wailing sounds often come from that residence, extremely frightening. Not long ago, someone went in and was scared mad."

Meng Qinghe's eyes darted around, and a scheme could not help but form in her mind.

She whispered a few words into Caipin's ear, and Caipin accepted the order and left.

Meng Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze filled with calculation.

"Whether or not you are someone who has been reborn, this time, you won't escape disaster. Number One Estate Under Heaven—as if you deserve it."

Night fell, and the only ones left in the entire shop were Chi Nan Yi and Ji Bai.

Before long, a figure appeared silently within the restaurant.

Ji Bai only noticed that His Highness Prince Li had already arrived when he brought the dishes out from the kitchen.

His brows furrowed slightly.

He had been completely unaware of Prince Li's arrival.

It was clear just how great the gap between him and Mo Junyan was.

"Your Highness Prince Li."

"Mm."

Mo Junyan nodded, his gaze falling on the figure busy in the kitchen.

It seemed she already knew.

Chi Nan Yi came out carrying the last dish.

"The Prince is quite punctual."

Mo Junyan smiled. "You invited This Prince to a meal, so naturally This Prince must be punctual."

Heaven knew how much he missed the taste of those medicinal meals back in Changxi Town.

"Have a taste, Prince. See if these dishes suit your palate."

"They do."

"You haven't eaten yet. How would you know?"

Mo Junyan gave a faint smile and picked up a little of every dish.

"Very delicious."

"I'm glad the Prince enjoys them."

Chi Nan Yi sat across from him and actually poured him a cup of wine.

Seeing this, Mo Junyan could not help but feel somewhat surprised.

"You're going to drink wine?"

"Today I am hosting the Prince. Though the fare is simple, fine wine is indispensable. This is wine I brewed myself. Have a taste."

Mo Junyan took a small sip, and the crisp, clear fragrance of the wine made him raise his brows involuntarily.

"What does Your Highness think?"

"Excellent. I truly never expected that you would know how to make these things."

"This commoner thanks the Prince for speaking kindly of her before the Emperor."

"This Prince didn't do much—just had someone deliver some dishes to the palace."

After a few cups of wine, Chi Nan Yi looked up at Mo Junyan and asked softly, "There is something this commoner has wanted to ask the Prince for a long time."

"What is it?" Looking at her earnest eyes, Mo Junyan's throat bobbed, and he suddenly felt a bit nervous.

Could it be that she had discovered something?

"Did the Prince recognize this commoner a long time ago?"

"What?"

"When I was leaving the Meng Family, I ran into the Prince at the market. Was that when you already recognized who I was?"

"What do you mean?"

Chi Nan Yi shook her head and said with a smile, "Just a feeling, that's all."

Mo Junyan picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

A searing warmth spread through his chest. He looked at the person before him and suddenly chuckled.

"As you said, This Prince did indeed recognize you."

Just as she had thought.

"But I had never met the Prince before, so how did you recognize me?"

"You may have forgotten, but when you were young, you entered the Palace once. This Prince saw you then."

When I was young?

Chi Nan Yi thought for a moment but found no memory in the original owner's mind of any encounter with Mo Junyan—not even a single word or fragment.

Seeing her confusion, Mo Junyan said softly, "It should have been when you were four or five years old."

Chi Nan Yi nodded. "It was so long ago that I've forgotten."

Mo Junyan looked at her devastatingly beautiful face, the corners of his lips curving slightly.

Yes, she must have forgotten.

But he could not forget—never would he forget.

The Bai Family was confiscated, everyone in the clan executed, his mother took her own life, and he was left all alone in the Palace.

When his mother was still alive, the consorts in the Palace had already resented his father's favoritism. Now that he was left entirely on his own, the hardships ahead were imaginable.

That day, he had suffered a minor injury and hidden behind the rockery in the imperial garden. Just then, a tiny figure came to his side, tears hanging on her face, her eyes full of fear.

He would never forget for the rest of his life—the soft, sweet voice with which she tilted her face up and timidly called him "Big Brother."

"Big Brother, how did you get hurt? Yi'er will blow on it for you."

He hated strangers getting close, but when he saw the little dumpling before him, he couldn't stop himself from wanting to draw near.

Having not felt warmth for so long, he only wanted to hold on tightly.

Only later did he learn that this little dumpling who called herself Yi'er had gotten lost in the garden.

"You only got lost—why are you crying?"

"I'm afraid I'll never see Mother again, and never be able to go home."

Mentioning the word "Mother" was his eternal pain.

"You just can't see her for now, but I will never be able to see her again."

He had never spoken of this to anyone before, but that day, he never expected that he would pour out his heart to a little child.

"Then do you miss her?"

"Mm."

"I once heard someone say that if you miss someone very much, you just look up at the stars. They're twinkling bright, and the person you miss is right up there watching over you!"

So from that day on, he would often look up at the stars.

"Prince? Prince?"

Seeing him lost in thought, Chi Nan Yi couldn't help but reach out and wave her hand before his eyes.

Just then, a large hand grasped Chi Nan Yi's wrist.

The palm was searing hot.