Chi Mei thought to himself, A’Yang had given up her free and easy life on land for him, following him to the sea. She was originally a noble’s daughter, having everything she wanted and being cherished by countless people. Yet for him, she had to endure these people’s cold looks. Chi Mei himself was already worried that Jiang Yang might one day be unable to bear the life here and abandon him to return to land. Yet this Yue Gui was so ungrateful, still stirring up trouble in front of A’Yang, as if afraid he might be happy.

Chi Mei’s bright, clear eyes were instantly covered with a layer of coldness: “I don’t need you to speak for me. Now apologize to A’Yang immediately! If I find out you’re eavesdropping on me and A’Yang talking again, I’ll banish you to the sea trench! Let you taste everything my brother once suffered!”

The deep sea trench was a form of punishment for merfolk who had made mistakes. That trench was surrounded by an inescapable black mist. Even merfolk with mermaid pearls would be unable to see their own hands in front of their faces there. No matter how powerful a merman, being confined there for a month would drive them mad.

Yue Gui dared not speak anymore, could only clench his fists, and unwillingly knelt at Jiang Yang’s feet: “Yue Gui… apologizes to the consort, please… please forgive me.”

Jiang Yang sat with one leg crossed over the other, strongly suppressing her inner satisfaction, and said carelessly: “It’s fine. I’m a bit hungry, go prepare some food for me.”

Yue Gui raised his head, looking at Jiang Yang’s cold and beautiful face showing a trace of leisurely indifference, her long hair casually tied into a simple bun with a tree branch, loose strands falling like thick seaweed.

He lowered his head, thoughts in disarray, thinking, no wonder this woman could bewitch the prince so completely, she indeed has some ability.

He had clearly heard the prince outside the hall earlier, tearfully questioning her if she was tired of him and interested in other merfolk, which is why he had burst in. Who knew this woman would use some method to make the prince suddenly change his attitude, and he ended up being the one who made a mistake.

Yue Gui was so angry his lungs felt like they would explode, but he could only nod: “Yes.”

Seeing Yue Gui close the door, Jiang Yang spoke: “He is, after all, your attendant, and wholeheartedly for you. To scold him so severely for my sake, isn’t that going too far?”

After saying this, Jiang Yang suddenly had a sense of déjà vu, like ‘brother, share a lollipop with me, your girlfriend won’t be angry, right?’ How had she become so meddlesome?

Chi Mei sat beside her, the sharp and cold demeanor he had shown towards Yue Gui earlier had disappeared, replaced by his former foolish and naive appearance: “He bullied you, of course I stood up for you.”

After speaking, Chi Mei glanced at Jiang Yang, his cheeks slightly red as he asked: “A’Yang, can you say what you said to me earlier one more time?”

I can’t, it’s too embarrassing, too shameful. Such sappy and greasy words, she hadn’t even said them to courtesans.

Jiang Yang played dumb: “Huh? What words?”

Chi Mei tugged at her clothes, shyly: “Just… just what you said when Yue Gui came in earlier.”

“I didn’t say anything when Yue Gui came in, did I?” Jiang Yang continued to play dumb.

Chi Mei’s brows visibly drooped: “I understand.”

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

“Damn it! Damn it!” Yue Gui cursed while preparing food in the kitchen.

“Oh? Yue Gui? Why are you in the kitchen? Shouldn’t you be guarding the prince’s palace?” Little Lotus was surprised to see Yue Gui suddenly appear in the kitchen: “My goodness, your face!”

Little Lotus’s exclamation further stung Yue Gui’s heart. He thought of how loyally he had served the prince, yet not only did the prince not appreciate it, he even punished him. And that woman, remembering kneeling at Jiang Yang’s feet, her condescending, ambiguous smile… a bad master is not a good master, and that woman… is not a good woman either! Yue Gui felt his lungs were about to explode with anger.

“Yue Gui, are you preparing meals?” Seeing Yue Gui’s fierce expression and silence, Little Lotus knew he had touched a sore spot and carefully changed the subject.

“The prince and the consort are hungry,” Yue Gui said concisely.

Little Lotus suddenly understood, saying: “I see, they’ve been back for so long and the prince and consort haven’t eaten much, no wonder they’re hungry. But while the prince’s meal is easy to prepare, I don’t know if the consort can eat our merfolk food.”

Yue Gui looked at the ingredients in his hand, his brow raised as he smiled: “It’s fine, the consort will definitely be able to eat it.”

Little Lotus: “Hm? Yue Gui, how do you know she can eat it? I heard humans all eat cooked food, even when eating fish they have several ways like pan-frying, boiling, grilling, and deep-frying.”

“I just know.” Yue Gui smiled slightly, skillfully cutting the tuna belly.

“Alright then, I’ll help you prepare some seasonings,” Little Lotus said, looking at the somewhat strange Yue Gui today.

As Yue Gui cut, he imagined Jiang Yang’s uncomfortable expression as she was forced to eat raw fish, unable to swallow or spit it out. The smile on his lips deepened.

In no time, Yue Gui had prepared the meal and was carrying the food box to Chi Mei’s palace. Before he got close, he heard Chi Mei’s plaintive pleading voice from inside.

“A’Yang, A’Yang, say it once more, once more, please? The last time?”

Yue Gui stopped, looking at the shadows of Chi Mei and Jiang Yang cast through the jellyfish shell in front of the palace. Chi Mei was hugging her waist, begging pitifully.

Jiang Yang leaned against the window, her slender and straight silhouette framed by it. She tried to push Chi Mei away but failed, instead being hugged tighter.

She seemed somewhat helpless: “I’ve already said it twice.”

Chi Mei swayed his tail, nuzzling against her chest, hands clasped in supplication: “One last time, really the last time, please.”

Although he couldn’t see their faces clearly, just hearing Chi Mei’s voice, Yue Gui could imagine how coquettish and charming he must look now, as if he wasn’t the same person who had coldly and sternly slapped his face earlier.

Yue Gui touched his left cheek where he had been slapped, it was already somewhat swollen and even a light touch was painful.

Like a silhouette from an ancient painting, Jiang Yang sighed helplessly and said something in a low voice. It was too far to hear clearly, which made it seem even more intimate and private.

Chi Mei cupped his face with both hands, grinning like a little fox who had stolen some meat.

They really are in love.

Yue Gui’s hand holding the food box tensed, veins bulging on the back. He knocked on the door, and the activity inside immediately stopped. After a moment, Yue Gui heard Chi Mei’s voice return to its usual coldness: “Enter.”

Yue Gui pushed open the door. Jiang Yang was sitting on the bed, straightening her clothes that had been rumpled by Chi Mei.

Yue Gui took a deep breath and swam to Jiang Yang: “Consort, the food you requested is ready.”

Jiang Yang gave a faint “Mm” and opened the food box.

Yue Gui bit his lip excitedly, waiting to see Jiang Yang’s embarrassed and helpless expression.

However, when he looked up, he met Jiang Yang’s cold and beautiful eyes glancing at him with a slight smile.

Yue Gui nearly dropped the food box. Jiang Yang stood up and approached him, her shadow looming over him. Although there was still seawater between them, Yue Gui felt as if he was being compressed by this water, unable to breathe from the heaviness.

Suddenly he felt his hand lighten as Jiang Yang took the food box from him. Her gentle, cool voice sounded by his ear: “Thanks, I like it very much.”

Yue Gui breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a sense of disappointment spreading in his chest. Not being able to see Jiang Yang at a loss truly made him unhappy.

Chi Mei swam over and sat close beside Jiang Yang, his tail fin touching her leg: “Tuna? Not bad, though it would be better grilled.”

Jiang Yang chuckled softly: “What’s this? Have you gotten so used to human grilled fish that you can’t eat your own food anymore?”

Chi Mei pursed his lips and said quietly with a smile: “A little bit.”

Jiang Yang picked up a piece of tuna belly and said: “But it’s been a long time since I’ve had sashimi, it’s not bad to have some occasionally.”

She dipped the tuna in the sauce Little Lotus had prepared, put the plump, thick fish meat in her mouth, and said to Yue Gui: “Did you make this sauce? It’s very tasty.”

Yue Gui didn’t answer, nor did he refute.

Jiang Yang put down her chopsticks and whispered something in Chi Mei’s ear, their hair intertwining closely.

Chi Mei reluctantly got up, rummaged in a small box by the bed for a while, took out a small object and threw it to Yue Gui: “Here, take this and put it on your face. Although merfolk have strong self-healing abilities, your face was still injured. Take it back and apply it well.”

Yue Gui looked at the medicine in his hand, his expression complex.

Given Chi Mei’s personality, he wouldn’t have given him medicine. Moreover, he had clearly seen that it was Jiang Yang who first whispered in Chi Mei’s ear before Chi Mei reluctantly took out the medicine. Therefore, this was likely Jiang Yang’s idea.

An outsider who was more considerate of servants than their own prince, Yue Gui felt even more conflicted and uncomfortable.