Chapter 45: With My Body, I Promise You See, I’m Not an Outsider

He only took two buns in total, how could he share them with others? But the people in his dream were all shouting hungry and reaching out to grab them.

The young gentleman was so anxious that he ran away, but for some reason, the buns that were firmly grasped in his hands would slip away from his fingers from time to time.

Meng Jun made up his mind, and with a howl, he bit into the bun. No matter what, once it entered his stomach, even if the great Luo immortals came, they wouldn’t be able to snatch away the meat bun.

This was what Li Ruantang bought for him!

The young gentleman was anxious, but the bun seemed to have a spirit. He had only taken one bite, let alone eating the filling, even the skin of the bun disappeared without a trace.

“Mmm…” The male courtesan’s eyes were red in his sleep, as if he had dreamed of something extremely sad.

Wei Dan carefully glanced at the figure behind the curtain, and seeing Li Ruantang frowning and rubbing her chest, she couldn’t help asking in a low voice, “World Female, do you really want to tell Meng Gongzi about this?”

“Mm.” Li Ruantang took a light breath and stood by the window with her back to Wei Dan, “He has come for two consecutive nights, nothing more than using the beauty trick to inquire about information.”

“Meng Jun’s thoughts are shallow and he easily trusts people. But in the current situation of purging the prince’s mansion, it is indeed impossible to let him make such a fuss. If there is a slight mistake, I’m afraid it will implicate Meng Daren.”

“World Female, your subordinate dares to offer a word.”

“Speak.”

“Perhaps Meng Gongzi simply wants to come and see World Female?” Wei Dan’s voice was extremely low. She didn’t think Meng Gongzi would make such a sacrifice for Wei Yunruo.

In Hu Village, he had always been sticking to World Female.

“Nonsense!” Li Ruantang frowned slightly, but glanced at the person sleeping in the curtain out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head and gave Wei Dan a cold glance, but changed her words and said in a low voice, “Was there anything unusual found in this morning’s food box?”

“Answering World Female, there was nothing abnormal.”

Speaking of this, Wei Dan’s face immediately became solemn. Earlier in Changshan Valley, World Female had instructed them to investigate Qi Yun, but the Qi Mansion had power and influence in the capital, so it was quite difficult to investigate people or things related to the Qi family.

They had also spent a lot of effort, and only now had they found some clues.

Hearing this, Li Ruantang lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before asking, “What about Doctor Xu?”

“This subordinate went to ask again this afternoon.” Wei Dan pursed her lips, somewhat embarrassed, “Doctor Xu had been boiling medicine day and night for a few days, so when this subordinate went, she was in a deep sleep and hadn’t yet found a result.”

“Never mind, anyway, my body has no discomfort now. Just let her not be anxious.”

The ring of water stains on the lapel had already faded. Li Ruantang turned around and gestured for Wei Dan to prepare. She slowly walked towards the canopy bed and stood quietly in front of the curtain, looking at Meng Jun curled up in the quilt.

The young gentleman slept extremely restlessly. The brocade quilt that had been covered had long been kicked to the bottom of his feet. The crescent-colored middle garment was loose, and a red string peeked out from his collar, making the piece of skin even more snow-white.

At this moment, he was hugging her soft pillow, not knowing what kind of dream he was having again, with his eyebrows and eyes curved, sleeping soundly.

The extended hand hesitated for a moment, but in the end did not take away the soft pillow he was tightly holding, only wrapping him up tightly with the cloak.

On the corridor below the wall, Zhi Qiu and Zhi Dong shrunk their heads and stood on either side with Wei Dan and the others.

In the room where the silk lamp was bright, the bead curtain tinkled.

The young gentleman, who was holding the soft pillow and not letting go, suddenly left the familiar embrace and immediately moved his body uneasily until the sweet fragrance on the side returned before he lay quietly on his own pillow.

He slept obediently. Li Ruantang looked at him blankly for a long time before gently pressing the unsigned letter under his pillow.

The night was heavy, but the moon embedded in it was light, as if there was a hint of sorrow, lingering faintly, difficult to dispel.

The young gentleman, who had been chasing buns all night, still didn’t have time for breakfast, but he wasn’t worried at all about going hungry.

When it was time to rest from dance practice, Meng Jun ran towards the ancient tree outside the pavilion in a flash. He sat on yesterday’s spot with his buttocks and looked up and down with those beautiful phoenix eyes.

Who knows what delicious food Li Ruantang would send him today?

The young gentleman rested his cheek on his hand and guessed for a long time with anticipation, but until Sang Shen came to find him, there was no sign of an oil paper package falling.

“Ninth Lang, why are you still standing here? If Qi Yun finds out, he will definitely say something unpleasant in a yin-yang strange tone again.”

Sang Shen pulled Meng Jun who refused to move and said, “Although we are all ranked at the end, the sacrificial dance of the Eight Stars of Ruifeng, which is related to the great Jin dynasty’s favorable weather, is also…”

“Eh? Ninth Lang, what’s wrong with you?” Sang Shen, who had just been talking non-stop, turned his head and found that Meng Jun, who was unusually silent beside him, was secretly wiping away tears.

“You, don’t cry.”

Sang Shen, who was at a loss, paused in his steps and thought for a moment before suddenly realizing, “You’re concerned about World Female Li, right? I know you have always been very afraid of World Female Li, but she just delivered food and left. Don’t worry, I absolutely didn’t deceive you.”

“Huh? Who are you talking about?” The young gentleman, whose eyebrows and eyes were drooping, was stunned when he heard this. Before Sang Shen could say more, he ran towards the main hall.

The sunlight danced on the window lattice, revealing a subtle array of colors.

Beside the table with two boxes of snacks, several male courtesans were either sitting or standing. They each had an osmanthus cake in their hands, talking and laughing happily.

Qi Yun was sitting in the middle of the crowd. He had the sweetest smile on his face, as if what he was holding in his hand was not an ordinary osmanthus cake, but a priceless treasure.

“Ruantang, she just looks cold and aloof, but actually—” Qi Yun, who had just taken a small bite of the cake, raised his eyebrows and looked at the young gentleman who ran in panting, “Oh, isn’t this Meng Gongzi?”

“I was wondering why I didn’t see you at that time.” Qi Yun nodded knowingly, “Actually, Ruantang is not that scary. She, her heart is incredibly soft. But the fate between people is destined by the heavens. Since you are afraid of her, it seems this cake…”

Ugh! He was so stupid!

The young gentleman pursed his lips in frustration, not paying attention to Qi Yun at all. He only stepped forward and gently picked up an osmanthus cake, carefully holding it in his hands.

The eyebrows and eyes that were drooping just now were instantly filled with joy. It must be because she saw him reluctant to share the buns yesterday, so she sent two whole boxes of cakes over.

When Sang Shen followed in, he saw the gloomy expression on Qi Yun’s face at a glance. His heart turned cold, and he quickly picked up a piece of cake and walked to the side of the young gentleman who was eating the osmanthus cake in small bites, deliberately raising his voice and saying, “It’s good that World Female Li is thoughtful, otherwise you would be hungry again at this time. When you’re tired, you should eat something sweet like pastries.”

He nudged Meng Jun and forced a smile, “We are all basking in Qi Gongzi’s light, don’t you agree, Ninth Lang?”

“Not necessarily.” Before Meng Jun could speak, Qi Yun stood up with a smile, “Ruantang is attentive and has arranged the pastries that each gentleman likes. However, I see that this plate of osmanthus cakes seems to be a bit too much.”

“May I ask Meng Gongzi, is this osmanthus cake your favorite food usually?”

He asked aggressively, with a cold smile on his lips. Seeing Sang Shen’s scalp tingle, he quickly said with a chuckle, “Qi Gongzi must have seen it wrong. Although there is one extra osmanthus cake, it’s probably because of its small size.”

“Anyway, it can’t compare to the peony cake that Gongzi loves to eat. Just half a flower is equivalent to three or four osmanthus cakes.”

His words made Qi Yun feel extremely satisfied. The sharpness in his eyes gradually softened, and he personally brought the osmanthus cake and placed it on the small tea table between Sang Shen and Meng Jun, “Meng Gongzi, don’t overthink it. I’m just casually asking. After all, we are all part of the Eight Stars of Ruifeng this year, and there is a bit of fate between us. If we understand each other more, maybe in the future, we can become confidants by chance.”

The young gentleman raised his eyes and glanced at him, but it was Lin He who spoke first, “Qi Gongzi’s tone of understanding is quite unique. It’s a good thing we know that Gongzi has a magnanimous personality. Otherwise, hearing Gongzi’s tone just now, those who don’t know might think it’s some jealous husband.”

“Lin Gongzi’s words are not entirely wrong.” Qi Yun unexpectedly did not argue with Lin He. He looked at everyone, lowered his eyebrows and eyes shyly, “The Empress has already petitioned His Majesty to select a wife-master for me from among the young ladies on the Dragon Boat Festival.”

Although he said this, everyone in the capital knew that Qi Yun had been pursuing Li Ruantang for several years.

Therefore, whether the wife-master was selected or not, it was just a formality.

Qi Yun glanced at the young gentleman who was standing still, quite proudly, “Meng Gongzi, if my tone was too harsh just now, please don’t take it to heart.”

Select a wife-master?

Meng Jun stared blankly with wide eyes. The hint of osmanthus fragrance on the tip of his tongue began to turn bitter and astringent, like a big rock pressing heavily on his heart, making him pant and unable to see things clearly.

The young gentleman dazedly endured this difficult day and was still a bit disoriented when he returned to the mansion. He weakly collapsed on the bedding, his drooping phoenix eyes staring unblinkingly at the soft pillow that was brought back last night.

After a long time, he suddenly sat up straight.

No, he had to go and ask for clarification!

Meng Jun, who was in a hurry, skillfully climbed to the top of the wall. As soon as he appeared, he saw Wei Dan guarding at the foot of the wall.

“Meng Gongzi. World Female has ordered that from tonight onwards, outsiders are not allowed to enter the Suqing Prince’s Mansion.” She pursed her slightly dry lips and said with difficulty, “This subordinate is also acting under orders, so please forgive me, Meng Gongzi!”

When she saw Meng Jun sitting on the wall, Wei Dan was still very happy for Li Ruantang. At least Meng Gongzi was willing to come, which meant he wasn’t deliberately approaching World Female just for the Gold Pill Case.

Wei Dan pondered for a moment and glanced furtively in the direction of the study a few times, asking in a low voice, “You really didn’t come for the Gold Pill Case, right?”

“Gold Pill Case?” The young gentleman was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered that when they were in Hu Village, Li Ruantang often mentioned these three words. He looked at Wei Dan, who had a belly full of words, somewhat puzzled. The latter was obviously also stunned, “Haven’t you read the letter left by World Female?”

Meng Jun’s ears turned slightly red, and he asked somewhat embarrassedly, “Shouldn’t that kind of letter be read in the quiet of the night?”

This was the first letter Li Ruantang wrote to him. The young gentleman attached great importance to it and originally wanted to find an auspicious day to open it. But listening to Wei Dan’s words, could it be that she didn’t write a love letter?

However, none of this matters.

The young gentleman pulled out a red string from his collar and revealed the mutton-fat jade on it, saying seriously, “Look, I’m not an outsider.”

Taking advantage of Wei Dan’s surprise, Meng Jun slid down the ladder in a flash, turned around, and ran towards the study where the candlelight was burning.

He still had a storybook stuffed in the front of his clothes. The young gentleman’s eyebrows were red, but he didn’t dare stop.

After all, she had saved his life, so he decided to offer his body to her tonight!