Lory was intrigued by the 'exclusive contract'. She rose her eyebrows at Zhao Li Xin in question, but he faintly smiled at her without answering. She didn't dare probe further. She held her tongue as she couldn't forget her place as his maid, no matter how good he treated her. It was up to Zhao Li Xin to explain it to her when he chose to.
Downstairs, the manager continued smiling amicably at Zhao Mu Fan who felt like he was being mocked. The manager bowed respectfully, "Your Highness, please forgive me for this inconvenience situation. Phoenix Hall would give His Highness the best room on the second floor. All of today's expenses would be paid by Phoenix Hall. I hope Your Highness would be magnanimous."
Although the manager treated him politely, it didn't change the fact Zhao Mu Fan's request was rejected, and his words and title didn't mean a thing to them. Zhao Mu Fan felt embarrassed. He could already hear people talking behind his back, not mentioning this happened before Lao Fei Yan. How could he keep his face?
"This... this is still unforgivable. You dared to humiliate this Crown Prince. If I leave, people will think this Prince is easy to bully. This won't do!" Zhao Mu Fan glared at the Manager.
Lory watched them from above, "Seems like the Crown Prince is still not content…"
"He never is," Zhao Li Xin calmly sipped his wine.
Back downstairs, Lao Fei Yan was also angered by their treatment. No one had ever gone against her in her entire life, especially not after she became the Crown Prince's fiancée. It was outrageous that the puny restaurant dared to humiliate her. Lao Min Na didn't know about the existence of the 'exclusive contract' but it didn't matter to her as royalty was above everyone.
"You are just a small restaurant manager. How dare you go against the imperial family? Aren't you afraid the Crown Prince would kill your whole family, include that of your arrogant master?" Lao Fei Yan couldn't hold her anger anymore.
She threatened them with the Crown Prince's name. If this place was like any other place, the servants would be shivering to their bones. However, this was the Hei Shen Sect turf. They won't treat the imperial family the way they did if they regarded them highly.
The manager almost laughed on the spot. Kill his master's family? Didn't it mean they want to kill the imperial family? If it was so, their lord would happily oblige. He directed his next words to Lao Fei Yan, but his gaze was on Zhao Mu Fan when he emphasized the last words, "Ehm… Miss Lao might not understand our 'Exclusive Contract'..."
Zhao Mu Fan felt like he was being intimidated and he didn't want to back down. He smirked at the manager with his victorious smile and said, "The contract was released by the Emperor, but it can be retracted if it is necessary."
"If that so…" The manager tilted his head casually and acted like a pitiful victim. His next words stunned everyone, "It was you who proposed the idea of the 'exclusive contract' at the time. Your kingdom even made us pay a lot of money to relieve your burden and all we asked in return was one thing... one thing only. We asked that no one should interfere with our internal policies and yet… after five years… you choose to dispose of us as you don't need us anymore."
Jiang Wei's citizens and citizens of other kingdoms who were in the city because of the competition murmured to each other at what the manager said. They remembered hearing the rumors about the devastating state of Jiang Wei Kingdom five years ago.
The rumor said the kingdom's treasury had dried up because of the royal family's lavish lifestyle but the matter was quickly resolved. Everyone praised the Emperor for resolving the matter, but it now seemed there was more to it. The words 'exclusive contract' intrigued a few people in the restaurant. It won't be a surprise for the news to spread to other kingdoms like wildfire.
Zhao Mu Fan became anxious. There was nothing wrong with the contract as it was an agreement between two parties, however, the terms were unethical and embarrassing. The agreement highlighted just how devastating the situation was at that time. The wiser officials knew such an agreement could backfire on them, but they had no other choice given the situation at that time.
The customers inside the Phoenix Hall restaurant expectantly watched Zhao Mu Fan. They want to know what he would do next. Would he yield or fight? Whatever he decided, would still put him on the wrong side. Zhao Mu Fan would rather fight with them as it meant he was not an easy person. Also, he could still hold his head high afterward. Worst come to worst, his father Emperor would just reprimand him.
"I won't do that if I were you," Someone said once they entered the restaurant. The man was tall and handsome with a noble air around him. He wore white robes with a gold dragon embroidery on his chest. He was Zhao Yi Chen, the Third Prince with a petite woman beside him.
Her face was delicate and beautiful. Both men and women looked at her with awe and envy. The woman was Lao Min Na. She wore a soft purple hanfu which made her look more delicate and purer.
Zhao Mu Fan was dumbstruck by her beauty. He knew Lao Min Na was beautiful but lately, he noticed she became more beautiful as days passed. Her cold and distant nature made her seem like a jade flower sculpture. Lao Fei Yan saw Zhao Mu Fan's expression and glared at Lao Min Na. Her eyes were filled with envy.
"Sister…" Lao Fei Yan's soft voice woke Zhao Mu Fan from his daze.
"Why are you with the Third Prince? Where's your personal maid?" Lao Fei Yan asked innocently yet her word enticed others to think differently. Lao Min Na smiled coldly. She wasn't surprised that Lao Fei Yan would try to ruin her reputation when the opportunity presented itself. She was already used to it.
"Lao first young miss, you shouldn't say something that would make others misunderstand," Zhao Yi Chen frowned. He already knew the relationship between Lao Min Na and Lao Fei Yan wasn't good, but it still shocked him when he saw it for himself.
Zhao Yi Chen chose to strongly reprimand Lao Fei Yan in front of others without hesitation, "This Prince met Second Miss Lao outside the restaurant. This Prince heard about her accomplishment in the black forest and this Prince thought to invite Miss Lao to talk some more. You should mind your words, First Miss."
Lao Fei Yan didn't dare speak back since her opponent was a prince. She could only look down and feel wronged. Zhao Mu Fan couldn't let it slide. He was already humiliated by a servant and now his own brother didn't give him face, "Third Brother shouldn't mind Lao Fei Yan. She's still young and doesn't mean anything by what she said."
Zhao Yi Chen chuckled as he taunted, "Young? Isn't she sixteen years old this year? She has passed the marriageable age. Isn't she supposed to marry Elder Brother this year? It would be a problem if she still hasn't learned to mind her words."
Others couldn't agree more as it was true. Lao Fei Yan was old enough and not a ten-year-old girl who didn't know what to say. What she said sounded was deliberate. Who Knew Lao Fei Yan who they all imagined was a gentle and kind young lady could be so vicious to her own stepsister.
"It's fine Third Prince. My sister is just worried about me," Lao Min Na smiled innocently as she said calmly. She managed to look embarrassed, earning her empathy from others, "My personal maid was sick today. I couldn't let her accompany me while she was sick. Sadly, I only have one servant, so I had no other choice but to leave the manor alone."
Her words were enough to tell everyone how bad she was treated inside the Lao Manor. For a noble family to only have one servant to serve her meant life wasn't very good. The fact that she was the Prime Minister's daughter also meant her father didn't care much for his own daughter. They were also impressed by how Lao Min Na treated her own servant. Their opinion of Lao Min Na improved.
"I would never guess First Miss Lao was like that," one of the onlookers commented.
"Lao Second Young Miss must have a hard life even though she's so beautiful and kind. Did you hear what the Third Prince said? He said Lao Min Na did great in the Black Forest. What a talented young Miss!" Another one added.
"I don't know what Prime Minister Lao was thinking. Having such a talented daughter like Second Miss Lao should make him feel blessed. If not for the Third Prince's explanation, we would have misjudged her."
"Yes, that's true," more people nodded their heads.
Although they spoke quietly, many people in the room were high cultivators and could easily hear them clearly. Lao Fei Yan felt like someone had slapped her in the face. She hated Lao Min Na and her hatred grew deeper at that moment. She clenched her fists until her hands paled. Zhao Mu Fan also lost his words. He wondered why the day wasn't auspicious for him.
Lao Min Na watched the two people who were the source of her misery and sneered. She couldn't believe there was a time she truly loved the despicable man. She almost gave everything to the pervert, but she was a different woman now. She wouldn't let anyone take advantage of her. She would thrive and stand so high. No one, not even Lao Fei Yan would be able to touch her shadow.
"Third Prince, about your reservation..." The manager cupped his fist.
"Say no more. This Prince understands the Phoenix Hall's rules," Zhao Yi Chen raised his hands.
The manager bowed slightly, "It is not like that. The room on the Third Floor is ready. Would your highness like to come in?"
This stunned everyone. What was it supposed to mean? Why reject the Crown Prince but accept the Third Prince? Was this how the Phoenix Hall's owner showed his favor? Was he one of the Third Prince's supporters? This news was exciting. They really couldn't wait to go home and tell their families about everything. The fight between the princes' factions was getting harder in recent years. People needed to pick their sides whether they liked it or not.
Zhao Yi Chen frowned. He didn't know the owner of the place and it wasn't like he hadn't tried to find out. But everyone he sent to investigate turned up dead. It didn't matter how strong the person he sent was as they all end up the same. Zhao Yi Chen concluded the owner couldn't be trifle with.
Lao Min Na also frowned. She had her own suspicions on who owned the place but she had no proof. She could see a shadow from one of the third floor's windows. There was someone in the room. She wondered if he was there, watching her? But why would he do that after he told her he didn't want anything from her?
"Your Highness, please… this way," The manager led Zhao Yi Chen and Lao Min Na to the third floor. Zhao Mu Fan watched Zhao Yi Chen while gritting his teeth. It felt even worst when Lao Min Na followed Zhao Yi Chen without giving him a glance. His heart tightened before it started beating so fast. He almost couldn't hear himself.
"We're leaving!" Zhao Mu Fan flicked his robes and left the restaurant with Lao Min Na and their entourage in tow.
Lory had finished her lunch and was now watching the commotion from the window. She had even taken a stool so that she could sit by the window and take a peek. Zhao Li Xin just expanded the rift between Zhao Mu Fan and Zhao Yi Chen and threw Lao Min Na in the mix. She glanced at Zhao Li Xin and giggled, "You are really having fun with them, aren't you?"
Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly as he sipped his wine slowly, "It's more fun this way…"
"You are drinking so much. Why aren't you drunk?" Lory was surprised by the number of wine jars left on the table.
'At least go the bathroom!'