The cabin was still lively, and Xiao Chizhan, holding her waist, directly flew ashore. He mounted a fine horse and took her to the Drunken Xiang Tower.
This was a famous Jingnan cuisine in the capital city, and most of the dishes were spicy.
Ye Luan, wearing a veiled hat, followed Xiao Chizhan into the restaurant.
The hall was packed with guests.
Seeing her apparent effort to avoid recognition, Xiao Chizhan's expression turned cold.
As the reigning prince, his arrival prompted the shopkeeper to rush out to greet him, and the patrons, trembling, dared not make loud noises, all kneeling to pay their respects.
Only when they reached the private room on the second floor did the lively atmosphere outside resume, with people gossiping about who the woman brought by the prince could be!
Their descriptions were vivid, making even storytellers seem dull.
"Order yourself."
Ye Luan did not hold back on his expenses, ordering all her favorite dishes, filling the table with a feast of delicacies.
Xiao Chizhan's brow subtly furrowed as he looked at the spicy dishes.
"Your Highness, please enjoy your meal, miss."
The shopkeeper wiped sweat from his brow and quickly closed the door, leaving.
This dynasty had no chili peppers, but Da Liang already had many spicy ingredients. Mustard, pepper, Sichuan pepper, and Fuliu vine were all precursors to spiciness.
Ye Luan tasted a bite of the fragrant fish and gave a silent thumbs-up in her heart.
This was her kind of taste, so spicy and exciting.
With the room filled with spicy aromas, Xiao Chizhan sat lazily, drinking wine, not touching any of the dishes.
Ye Luan ate with relish. A mischievous thought crossed her mind, and she picked up a piece of pepper and vinegar lamb's head, placing it in Xiao Chizhan's bowl. She said with a smile,
"Your Highness, it's delicious, try some."
It was rare to see her so solicitous.
Xiao Chizhan raised an eyebrow, "A head full of bad ideas."
Ye Luan pouted, ignoring him, and took the lamb's head back to eat herself, savoring it with great pleasure.
Xiao Chizhan was displeased with her sitting so far away, and he lightly patted his thigh.
"Sit closer."
"I'm too heavy, I don't want to weigh down Your Highness."
Xiao Chizhan's expression turned cold, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, the surrounding aura becoming chilling and thin.
Ye Luan's body stiffened. She absolutely must not provoke his violent and unhinged nature.
She shifted her weight and moved closer. He grasped her waist, and even through the thin fabric, she could feel his heat.
She took a deep breath and leaned forward to pick up a dish.
"Lift your head."
Upon hearing his command, Ye Luan lazily looked up.
Suddenly.
With one hand, he firmly pressed her head down, and with the other, he embraced her waist. He leaned in and forcefully pried open her lips, slowly pouring wine into her mouth.
The pungent, strong liquor was forced down her throat, and Ye Luan's fox-like eyes instantly welled up with tears.
It was terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
"Cough--cough cough--"
Xiao Chizhan released her, licking his lips seductively, "So fragrant."
Crazy.
Madman.
How disgusting.
"Darling, look up."
She ignored him, coughing desperately.
Xiao Chizhan's expression turned cold, and he again pressed her head down, forcing her to look up.
The strong, pungent smell of alcohol assaulted her again. Her mouth, her lips, her teeth were filled with his taste, mixed with the rich aroma of wine, making her dizzy.
Ye Luan fiercely pinched his arm. It was hard and painful.
This damn lunatic!
"Does it taste good?" His deep voice slowly echoed in her ear.
A soft, wet sensation touched her fair neck. Her eyes flickered, and she casually grabbed the pot of pepper wine from the table and took a gulp.
Then, she leaned forward, encircling Xiao Chizhan's neck, and sealed his lips.
The spicy taste caused Xiao Chizhan's eyes to turn blood red, and a violent surge coursed through him.
Ye Luan sensed something was wrong and jumped off him in fright.
"What's wrong with you?"
Xiao Chizhan's entire presence was too terrifying, and she felt a little apprehensive.
The latter ignored her, gulping down several cups of tea to suppress the spicy taste. When his deep red eyes turned towards her, they carried a suppressed shadow.
Ye Luan was startled, realizing she had gone too far.
Fearing he would fly into a rage and kill her, she was about to slip away when she heard him say hoarsely,
"Eat here by yourself for now. I'll be back soon."
"Ah, okay."
After he left, Ye Luan frowned slightly. He couldn't handle spice?
But then she thought, what did it matter to her? He had provoked her first.
She quickly finished her meal, intending to jump out the window.
"Miss Ye, the Prince has not returned. You cannot leave."
Suddenly, a hidden guard appeared, blocking her path.
Ye Luan's movement faltered for a moment. After a beat, she smiled faintly and turned back, testing, "Long Tian?"
"Your subordinate, Long Tian, greets Miss Ye."
Long Tian, the leader of the Dragon Scale Guard.
This childish man had actually left Long Tian to watch her?!
"I'm not leaving, just admiring the scenery outside the window."
Long Tian respectfully withdrew, disappearing in an instant, no one knew where he hid.
Unable to leave, Ye Luan leaned by the window, watching the night scenery and feeling the breeze. Her eyes were as cold as ice, and she seemed lost in thought.
When Xiao Chizhan returned, he saw her leaning by the window.
The gentle breeze brushed across her peach-like cheeks, and a few strands of hair on her forehead trembled in the wind. When she turned to look back, her beautiful fox-like eyes held a hint of desolation.
She was like a gorgeously blooming hibiscus, yet she gave him a feeling of bleak, cold detachment.
At a second glance, she was already smiling like a flower.
As if everything that had just happened was his illusion.
"Oh, the Prince is back. Can I leave now?"
Xiao Chizhan placed the oil-wrapped pastries he was holding on the table and said calmly, "Qiaoguo, want to eat?"
Qiaoguo was a pastry eaten by every household during the Qixi Festival. It was a deep-fried snack made from flour or rice flour, often shaped into peonies, orchids, or lotuses.
With so many varieties of flower-shaped pastries, Xiao Chizhan didn't know which flavor she preferred, so he bought them all.
Ye Luan picked one up and took a small bite.
Tsk.
It tasted quite good.
"You like sweets?"
He walked over and gently embraced her.
Ye Luan's back stiffened for a moment, then she relaxed, leaning obediently into his embrace and nodding.
Xiao Chizhan chuckled at her, "You like spicy one moment and sweet the next, your taste is quite strange."
As he spoke, he took out a very small blue floral vase from his embrace. It had a peculiar, petal-like bulge and a very pure color.
"Flower nectar candy."
Ye Luan took the floral vase. It was exquisite and delicate. With a gentle press, the candy inside could be retrieved.
She was delighted.
What an exquisite mechanism.
"They don't seem to sell these in the capital. Where did you get them?"
"A tribute from Bei Di. They produce a lot of maltose there."
Ye Luan raised her eyebrows and looked at him. Didn't this man used to carry knives all over him? When did he start carrying floral candy?
She bit into the candy, her mouth filled with a sweet floral fragrance, along with a refreshing minty sweetness, much better than the desserts in the capital.
Xiao Chizhan looked at her smile and lifted her into his arms.