Chapter 454: Yun Niang’s Thoughts
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Qin Xiaoyao also smiled.
“We were waiting for you to come back for dinner. We are so hungry now,” she pouted.
Song Que pulled on Qin Xiaoyao’s hand.
“You don’t have to wait for me next time,” he said gently.
After saying that, he led his wife to the front hall.
Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she followed Song Que.
“1 asked the kitchen to make delicious food today. After dinner, we’ll take a stroll on the streets,” she said.
When Qin Xiaoyao passed by Princess Xiangyang, she even turned her head and signaled with her eye at Princess Xiangyang, hinting to her to follow them.
Princess Xiangyang followed the two of them. When she saw the two of them behaving intimately as if no one was around, she felt very strongly that she was a third wheel.
Even though she felt very awkward, she could only follow the couple.
They finally arrived at the front hall.
Princess Xiangyang then realized that Liu Ling and Yun Niang were also there.
She became even more nervous at once.
When Liu Ling saw Princess Xiangyang, his expression froze.
His heart skipped a beat, and then he quickly averted his gaze.
When Yun Niang saw Princess Xiangyang, there did not seem to be any emotional fluctuations on her face.
She only glanced at her younger brother imperceptibly.
When she saw her younger brother’s strange expression, the corners of her mouth could not help curling up.
“Elder Cousin, Cousin-in-law, please sit down!” Yun Niang said enthusiastically.
Ever since the fall of Empress Jia, she had accepted her Cousin-in-law’s invitation and moved into the Marquis’s residence.
However, there were many things to do in Cloud Scent Court, so she did not come back every day.
That was right. Yun Niang was no longer working as a courtesan for hire in Cloud Scent Court but had become the new madame of Cloud Scent Court.
Then again, saying that she was a madame didn’t seem appropriate either.
This was because Cloud Scent Court was currently undergoing a reform.
In the future, Cloud Scent Court would no longer operate as a brothel. Or rather, it would no longer operate purely as a brothel.
The girls in Cloud Scent Court would no longer need to sell their bodies to receive customers.
This was also the only condition her Elder Cousin stated as a prerequisite before allowing her to stay in Cloud Scent Court.
“Let’s all sit down and eat,” Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile.
“Mm-hmm,” Yun Niang answered.
However, she did not sit down immediately. Instead, she looked at Princess Xiangyang.
“Your Highness, come sit here!” she said to Princess Xiangyang.
Everyone was quite surprised when they heard Yun Niang’s words.
Liu Ling looked at his elder sister.
Princess Xiangyang stood rooted at the same spot in shock.
“Come here!” Yun Niang smiled and gestured at Princess Xiangyang.
Princess Xiangyang finally came back to her senses.
“Okay,” she replied in a daze and walked toward Yun Niang.
When she passed by Liu Ling, she couldn’t resist stealing a glance at him.
Yun Niang noticed the entire process and a smile flashed across her eyes.
“Sit here.” Then, she pulled out the chair beside her.
“Thank… thank you,” Princess Xiangyang said awkwardly. She practically didn’t dare to look Yun Niang in the eye.
“Thank me for what?” Yun Niang said with a smile.
Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao.
“Your Highness is Cousin-in-law’s disciple, so you are one of us.
“If you don’t mind my lowly background, you can just call me ‘Sister’ in the future.” At this point, a glint flashed across Yun Niang’s eyes.
As soon as she said this, a peculiar expression crept across Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que’s eyes.
The couple exchanged glances with each other and knew what to do then.
Yun Niang had taken a fancy to her future younger sister-in-law.
Otherwise, how could this disciple address the cousin of her master’s husband as “Sister?” That was one generation apart.
Nearby, Liu Ling did not notice these hints.
He kept his head lowered, tormented by conflicting emotions.
Princess Xiangyang felt overwhelmed by the attention.
She simply assumed that Yun Niang didn’t hate her that much, but she didn’t dare to think too much about it.
“Sis… Sister.” Thus, Princess Xiangyang called out somewhat bashfully, her face all flushed.
“That’s right!” Yun Niang replied happily.
After she sat down, she quickly patted the chair beside her.
“Sit down!” Yun Niang told Princess Xiangyang.
“Thank you, Sister.” After address her like this the first time, Princess Xiangyang didn’t find the second time so awkward.
With that, Princess Xiangyang sat down beside Yun Niang.
Thereafter, scene after interesting scene happened at the table.
At Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que’s side, the couple kept picking food for each other every now and then. They kept showing off their love endlessly.
On the other hand, Yun Niang seemed to be a chatterbox. She kept asking Princess Xiangyang about her hobbies and favorite food and so on, beaming all the while.
And she kept heaping food into Princess Xiangyang’s bowl.
Princess Xiangyang had to constantly thank her while answering Yun Niang’s questions in a daze.
While eating, she still couldn’t resist stealing a few glances at Liu Ling from time to time.
Was Young Master Liu unhappy that his elder sister treated her so well? Why didn’t he say anything?
When she saw Princess Xiangyang’s reaction, Yun Niang was not angry. Instead, she was more and more pleased with her future younger sister-in-law.
That was right. Future sister-in-law!
Everyone finished their meals in a lively manner.
After the meal, Princess Xiangyang couldn’t bear Yun Niang’s enthusiasm anymore and wanted to follow her Master out.
However, when Song Que shot her a glance, she found herself unable to say that she wanted to follow her Master.
At this moment, Yun Niang had already grabbed Princess Xiangyang’s hand.
“Your Master and her husband have only been reunited for a few days. Don’t intrude upon them.
“Come to my courtyard. I still have many things to say to you,” Yun Niang said with a smile.
Princess Xiangyang was a little hesitant.
She could not help stealing a glance at Liu Ling again.
This time, her eyes met Liu Ling’s gaze.
Liu Ling panicked and immediately looked away.
Then, he turned around and left.
A look of disappointment swept over Princess Xiangyang’s face then.
Yun Niang covered her mouth and smiled when she saw this.
“Let’s go.” She smiled and tugged at Princess Xiangyang’s hand.
Princess Xiangyang had no way to turn her down, so she could only murmur in the affirmative.
When Qin Xiaoyao saw this scene, she could not help giggling out loud.
Fortunately, her voice was not loud, so Princess Xiangyang did not hear her.
However, Song Que, who was beside her, heard everything clearly.
He lowered his head and stared at his wife.
When his wife signaled to him with her eyes, Song Que could not resist smiling as well.
The two of them walked out of the front hall and soon arrived at the front courtyard.
Qin Xiaoyao finally couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke up.
“I didn’t expect Yun Niang to be so pleased with that girl,” she said with a smile.
Previously, she was still worried about Xiangyang, but now, she was no longer worried.
Yun Niang liked Xiangyang so much. As long as Liu Ling did not really hate her, this matter would most likely be successful.
Song Que looked at his wife again.
“Of course she’s pleased,” he said.
Qin Xiaoyao looked puzzled.
“Although the Liu family’s injustice has been redressed, the reputation of the siblings has been ruined,” explained Song Que.
“Although Yun Niang didn’t say it, she was actually very worried about Cousin Ling’s marriage prospects.”
At this point, Song Que sighed.
“Even if it was an ordinary family, if they found out about the past of the siblings, they would probably not be willing to discuss marriage with Cousin Ling, not to mention the noble families and official families.
“And Cousin Ling is after all the legitimate son of the Liu family’s first wife.
Yun Niang also doesn’t want to let him down.”
“But Xiangyang…” Song Que’s lips curled up at this juncture.
“Although Empress Jia has been deposed, that girl is still a princess. She is a true-blue daughter of the Imperial Family, and her status is noble and exalted.
“What’s even rarer is that that girl is still deeply in love with Cousin Ling. She didn’t mind at all Cousin Ling’s past.”
When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, Song Que continued, “As for the enmity between the Liu family and the Jia family…”