Zhao Ling stood up from her seat, which completely caught The Prince off guard. She carefully walked towards the man in the wheelchair and picked up a tissue that was dropped by him.
"Nice to meet you, Young master Xiao Yun. To be able to run into you during a crowded event, what a hard opportunity to come by." She smiled while handing the handkerchief to Xiao Yun, in which he gladly accepted.
The hall became silent, and everyone's gaze were fixated towards both of them. As if an interesting act just unfolded in front of their eyes.
General Xiao who was observing the whole thing, was in deep thought. Nobody knows what the General is thinking, but they could sense from his aura that he was thinking of something serious and wouldn't want to be disturbed.
The Second Prince who originally attended the banquet to be on friendly terms with the doctor and to gain some support, was flabbergasted at the sight he's seeing. How could this be?! When did such thing happen?!
Despite the curious and shocked faces of the mass, both of them payed no heed to the crowd and seem like they're in their own little world, away from the noise, a world where only they see each other and no one else.
Well that what it looks like, but in reality they were asking the same question in their head.
'What do I do now?'
For Zhao Ling, she just moved according to her body's instincts. But she did not plan anything after that, and so she was just standing awkwardly in front of Xiao Yun with her forced smile.
As for Xiao Yun, he recognised the young lady in front of her, after all she's the first woman to ever see his real face without a mask. Besides, she's already regarded as the 'Madame' of the sect. Although he didn't know who spread the rumours around the sect but he couldn't stop it from spreading further more.
He had always been tactical and is known to be the smartest and most cunning one in all the Sect Leaders. But somehow, he couldn't move an inch and his gaze were fixed towards the smiling young lady in front of him. As if his body have been frozen stiff, he couldn't move at all.
Zhao Ling was in the same situation as him but much worse. Since, she did made the first move so it was kinda awkward to just stand there and do nothing afterwards. But she took a deep breath and finally took on the courage to break the eerie silence surrounding them.
"Young Master Xiao Yun, to wander freely in this crowded event without a servant accompanying you is quite dangerous. People might choose to come after you." Zhao Ling smiled while glancing gently to the father and daughter combo who originally came to the banquet to not only gain the doctor's support but also ruin the General's reputation by accusing his good for nothing son of assault. But it seems like the latter is impossible, since their target had caught on their scheme, they couldn't do anything but to look away.
"How arrogant! Hmph! My beloved daughter has been cured by this miraculous young doctor, and in order to thank her and to also celebrate the revival of my sick daughter, I have organized a banquet and yet some arrogant fools dare to cause trouble?! You are trampling on the Xiao Family's name!"
The gossiping voices came to an abrupt halt, as the domineering voice of the General who had fought over in the war for decades, has spoken.
My apologies doctor Zhao. Give me your word and I would immediately behead those who dare to disrespect you. After all I am forever indebted to you" General Xiao proceeded to bow his head towards the young lady. This action left an awestruck impression on the officials that has attended the banquet. After all, General Xiao has been notoriously known as a very arrogant General who'd refuse to bow his head to anyone other than the Emperor.
"You don't have to, General Xiao. Letting me stay in your humble abode is already generous enough, I couldn't thank you more" The young lady's smile filled the hall and the mood suddenly turned from sour to sweet. It was a heart warming scene that touched everyone's hearts.
'Such a kind young lady, May the Great One bless her soul' Everyone thought the same.
This kind gesture even moved the hearts of the young scholars who attended the banquet hesitantly, since they were forced by their father. Safe to say, Zhao Ling now has a special place in the hearts of these noble men.
But one particular guy is not happy of it all. He was at the side, completely forgotten, and was drinking vinegar[¹] while watching his 'Madame' being stared at by these disgusting men. He wants to gauge their eyes out for staring at her.
[¹] It means someone is jealous of another person. A common example is when a woman is jealous because her favourite man is busy with others.
Zhao Ling: I feel like I just cheated on my long term spouse and they caught me cheating, scary.
Fufu: That's oddly specific, had host done that before? (¬_¬ )
Zhao Ling: Not really, safe to say I haven't been cheating on anyone nor was I cheated.
Fufu: Host lived a lonely life at the past. (; ω ; )ヾ(´∀`* )
Zhao Ling: You don't have to remind me (╥﹏╥)