Wuyue Kingdom, Wulana watched Mo Mo with unusual wariness in her eyes, a playful smile dancing in her gaze. She reached out and linked her arm through Zhan Tianque's.
"Brother Zhan, didn't you say yesterday you could teach me swordplay? When will you start teaching me?"
Zhan Tianque pondered for a moment. "I have a free hour this afternoon. I'll teach you then."
"Okay, thank you, Brother Zhan." Wulana's smile was radiant as she took a food box from a maid. "These are pastries I made for you myself, as a token of my gratitude."
With that, she eagerly opened the food box and invited Zhan Tianque to try. Zhan Tianque heartily took a piece, finished it in a few bites, and gave a thumbs-up. "Your cooking is truly excellent. Mo Mo, you should try some. The princess's cooking is amazing, and these pastries are delicious."
Mo Mo gritted her teeth. "No!"
"What?"
Mo Mo forced a smile. "Thank you, I don't like sweet things."
"Don't you always love sweets? Why don't you like them anymore?" Zhan Tianque asked, puzzled. Mo Mo usually adored sweet foods. Had something happened to upset her so much that she no longer ate them?
"I like sour things now!" Mo Mo declared fiercely, then turned and left. Zhan Tianque was somewhat bewildered and shook his head.
"What's wrong with her now?"
Wulana covered her mouth, giggling. "Sister Mo is probably jealous."
Zhan Tianque looked utterly confused. "She doesn't like jealousy. When she eats noodles, she hates it when vinegar is added."
Wulana burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. No wonder Mo Mo was so angry. Zhan Tianque was truly a simpleton, unable to understand a girl's feelings.
A mischievous thought sparked in Wulana's mind. "Brother Zhan, would you be my consort?"
"No," Zhan Tianque replied without hesitation.
"Why?" Wulana asked, taken aback. "Do you look down on me?"
"Princess, you worry too much. I am merely an unknown person, unworthy of a princess," Zhan Tianque said as he ate a pastry. "The consort of a princess should be an exceptional individual, not a coarse fellow like me."
"What if I like someone like you, Brother Zhan?"
"I am not ready to marry."
"Then, when you are ready to marry, will you be my consort? How about that?"
Zhan Tianque felt a pang of difficulty. Facing Wulana's earnest gaze, cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. He truly had no interest in a young girl like Wulana, and besides, he was more than ten years her senior!
"I... I just remembered I have something to do. I must leave now." Zhan Tianque practically fled. Seeing this, Wulana immediately doubled over with laughter, her clear voice carrying far into the distance. Hearing the laughter behind him, Zhan Tianque realized Wulana was teasing him, but he still felt a chill and quickened his pace.
As he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw Mo Mo leaning against the wall, a mechanical beast by her side, watching him with a cold sneer. "Well, how was the beautiful princess's pastry? Did it sweeten your heart?"
Zhan Tianque instantly recalled Wulana's words and her laughter, and his face turned red. Seeing Zhan Tianque blush, Mo Mo's anger flared. "Xuanwu, beat him!"
Before Zhan Tianque could react, the Xuanwu beast lunged from Mo Mo's side and slammed violently into Zhan Tianque's abdomen. Zhan Tianque was sent flying, crashing against the wall, his face contorted in pain. However, he reacted swiftly, dodging before he landed to avoid another strike from the Xuanwu beast.
"Mo Mo, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Mo Mo gritted her teeth. "Someone makes pastries for you, and you blush with joy. What, do you want to be the consort of Wuyue Kingdom? I'll break your legs and send you to Princess Wulana as her consort!"
"Unreasonable!" Zhan Tianque grabbed the head of the Xuanwu mechanical beast and flipped it to the ground. However, the mechanical beast felt no pain and was driven solely by its mechanisms. In an instant, it jumped up and resumed its attack on Zhan Tianque.
A gleam appeared in Zhan Tianque's eyes. "Mo Mo, the mechanical beasts you've developed are truly remarkable. With these helping us, we'll be able to achieve twice the results with half the effort. Do you want me to test the power of your mechanical beast? Perfect, I shall have a good experience today."
Mo Mo's lips twitched. She had purely intended to cause trouble, not really for Zhan Tianque to test the mechanical beast's power. Or was it? She did want Zhan Tianque to test the mechanical beast's power, so that he wouldn't dare anger her again!
"One mechanical beast is too easy for you. I'll add two more for you," Mo Mo said with a cunning smile, then blew a whistle. Two mechanical beasts descended from the sky. Three mechanical beasts surrounded Zhan Tianque alone, and the scene spiraled out of control.
Wulana peeked over the wall, secretly watching the spectacle. "See? See? Never provoke a woman, or she'll make you suffer."
"Princess, I am also a woman."
"That's right, that's right. See? Learn from her. If any man dares to bully you in the future, learn from her. Beat them to a pulp, so that they'll be terrified whenever they see you."
The young maid nodded continuously. "Princess, did General Zhan offend you somewhere? That's why you're treating him like this?"
Wulana blinked innocently. "When did I mistreat him?"
"Didn't you intentionally get close to General Zhan, making Miss Mo angry, which led to General Zhan letting the mechanical beasts beat him?"
Wulana flashed a mischievous grin. "He's so brazen, relying on the fact that a girl likes him. Even I can see that Miss Mo came for him, yet he treats her like a brother. Who would want to be his brother?"
"Princess, didn't you say you hoped General Zhan would be your consort?"
"I'm not blind. If I liked such a blockhead, how dull would my life be?"
"Then, what kind of man does the princess like?" the young maid asked curiously.
"Naturally, someone witty and humorous, brave and gentle." Wulana smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Seeing Zhan Tianque in such a sorry state, surrounded and attacked by three mechanical beasts, she laughed even harder.
Pei Jun came looking for Zhan Tianque and saw him being besieged by mechanical beasts. He thought for a moment and immediately understood. "Brother Zhan, how did you upset Sister-in-law again?"
"Who is your sister-in-law?" Mo Mo put her hands on her hips, drawing her hidden crossbow and aiming it at Pei Jun. Pei Jun, startled, quickly raised his hands. "Sister-in-law, did Brother Zhan upset you? It's right for you to teach him a lesson. Who told him to be so frivolous all the time and always make you angry? But, between husband and wife, a quarrel in bed is resolved in the evening..."
"If you speak nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
"Alright, alright, I won't speak anymore. Boss, Brother Zhan, quickly apologize. If you don't apologize soon, my life will be in danger!" Pei Jun shouted towards Zhan Tianque.
Zhan Tianque was locked in a fierce battle with the three mechanical beasts. "I'm busy right now, no time. You can apologize for me."
Mo Mo's expression turned even angrier. "Beat him to death! If you can't beat him to death, I'll dismantle you!"