The four of them finally had trays of food in their hands and went to find seats in the wide Baiyun Hall. Xu Hexian sighed deeply, "Ah, Second Young Master Liu, why did you have to jump out like that! You're not good at words at all, you only know how to make people angrier and then get angry back at them. I was honestly scared half to death for a moment there."
Liu Sumeng shrugged, "No one else was being helpful, so I did what I did."
In front of him, Chen Anyue smiled, "Thank you, Second Young Master Liu. I'm very grateful you came to help us…I honestly didn't know what to do, she was getting angry at everything we said no matter what…"
"Apologies to Lady Chen and Young Master Yuan. Please don't let it get to you." Xu Hexian shook his head. "Actually that Auntie had always had a really nasty temper, there really wasn't anything you could have done about it. She makes really great food though, so people also don't really want to see her leave."
In fact, the aroma coming from their dish in front of them was very sweet. Chen Anyue was more used to the spicy dishes from her home in the South but she still smiled and said, "You're right. Her cooking is superb. I'll be sure to compliment her the next time I see her."
Liu Sumeng paused. Actually, when this happened the first time Chen Anyue never showed her face in the Baiyun hall ever again, and only got her servants to bring food to her room. He wondered if things would be different then?
This entire time, Yuan Xuelan had his head lowered and brows knit tightly. He was poking and prodding his food, barely eating a bite. Liu Sumeng, who found this young pouting evil emperor (woops, future emperor!) to be quite adorable and wasn't afraid to speak up and ask, "What's wrong?"
Chen Anyue looked at her Shidi with worry on her face, "A-Zhang? Are you ok?"
Meanwhile, Xu Hexian was busy staring at Liu Sumeng. This quiet, awkward Ivory Sword Saint actually said something to someone he didn't know that well first…?
"...Sorry." Yuan Xuelan eventually uttered his hands curled into tight fists against his thighs, "It was my fault…I shouldn't have caused this much trouble. I really didn't mean it."
"A-Zhang…don't be sad, A-Zhang, I don't think you did anything wrong. You couldn't have known she would have reacted that way."
Yuan Xuelan was still frowning, "But if I had been better with words then maybe…"
"You're fine," Liu Sumeng said suddenly. The three looked at him confused so he had no choice but to continue, "I think you're fine with words."
Perhaps he meant something like, compared to me, your skill with words are much better or maybe he meant something like, don't worry you'll become more refined in your conduct when you grow older. Either way, Liu Sumeng's words were a little off, and his facial expression a little cold to properly convey his thoughts.
After he was yelling angrily at the old Auntie in front of everyone, of course, Yuan Xuelan didn't believe those words. His face twisted, "Are you making fun of me?"
"Ah no no! Second Young Master Liu really wasn't making fun of you, he uh…" Xu Hexian stammered. Usually, he was always there to save Liu Sumeng from these types of social situations but for the first time, he felt a little lost for what to say. He couldn't just outright admit to these people that Liu Sumeng was an awkward person and couldn't express himself properly, that would be too embarrassing. He wrecked his brain and eventually said, "After all, you did the best you could to handle that situation even though Auntie was acting super unreasonably."
"..." Yuan Xuelan's face became sullen again, "I really did try…"
Chen Anyue smiled at him, "You did, we all know you did your best so please don't be sad and eat your food."
"... I don't want to acknowledge her cooking." He pouted like a child. Well, this Yuan Xuelan really was a child, wasn't he? But after all while, his stomach started growling and began eating the food with more vigor than he'd admit.
"..." Liu Sumeng watched silently, thinking he would never grow tired of watching this adorable younger Xuelan eat.
After lunch, the four parted ways. Xu Hexian was tasked with the important mission of fetching Liu Sumeng's older brother, Liu Suye, and bringing him back to the Wangyun Peak.
Meanwhile, Chen Anyue was still feeling a little tired from her travels and asked if it was ok if she rested and Yuan Xuelan said he would escort her back.
"Don't you want to see the library?" Liu Sumeng automatically asked, forgetting that they barely were supposed to know each other at that time.
"W-what!? I-" Yuan Xuelan stuttered, flustered and confused, "Who said I wanted to see the library?"
"I can show you," Liu Sumeng offered.
"I don't want you to show me!"
Chen Anyue chuckled, "It's ok, A-Zhang, I can walk myself back you know? I won't miss you too much if you're going to explore. We can see each other later."
"No! I said I would escort Shijie back so I'm going to escort Shijie back," he said stubbornly. "And if I need to find the library then I'll go and look myself. It's no big deal."
"..." Liu Sumeng didn't really know how to argue against Yuan Xuelan so he could only drop it there. He tried not to feel too disappointed by the rejection and reminded himself that his relationship with Yuan Xuelan didn't become amiable until years later after their first meeting.
…The thought was very depressing.
In the end, he went to the library by himself.
Although the Heavenly Sword Sect was a prestigious sect, it actually wasn't that large. The residence at Wangyun Peak was already a little crowded when accommodating the disciples and elders that lived there. Which was why the twelve handmaids brought by the Chen princess were chatting among themselves wondering if some of them could go back to Reling. They weren't all that happy with being squeezed into such small quarters together. Although they were handmaids, the Ascending Dawn Sect was rather wealthy and they were used to much better conditions than this.
One of the handmaids did not join the conversation and was quietly organizing the Young Miss's belongings.
"Yes, just go home already!" she thought while humming and sorting out all of Chen Anyue's hairpins. Unlike the other servants, Xiao Hei really wanted to stay at Wangyun Peak. Actually, she was supposed to be there for some sort of important reason or other, but to be honest, she only cared about the fact she was bored with the same old gossip back in Reling. Wangyun Peak was the perfect new hunting ground for a gossip queen like herself!
She strained her ears to listen to the conversation between the Young Miss and her adopted brother.
"That Liu Sumeng gives me the creeps! I can't believe you're marrying him. Shijie, I'm really worried about you, are you sure you'll be ok?"
Chen Anyue chuckled, "Please stop worrying. I really don't think Second Young Master Liu is a bad man. He's been kind so far despite being a little…" she paused, searching for a word, "ah! Quiet."
"You mean he's awkward as hell!"
"Don't say that. It's not very nice to Second Young Master Liu," she scolded.
"But it's true."
"..." Chen Anyue couldn't really refute him there, so she said instead, "I don't think he's had any bad intentions."
"Why do you think so well of him? I really don't understand…"
Chen Anyue sighed, "Is it really that bad to try thinking well of the man I'm to be wedded to?"
In the corner of Xiao Hei's vision, she saw Yuan Xuelan make a kicked puppy expression, "Shijie…"
Hm, perhaps there might be some interesting drama that will happen between the Young Miss and Second Young Master Liu after all. She would have to do some digging on this Ivory Sword Saint.
But more importantly! She had to go look around and find some shippable guys!
Finally, Young Master Yuan left the room. Chen Anyue called Xiao Hei over. "Aren't you tired from all the traveling? Everyone else is resting, you don't have to work yourself so hard for me, Xiao Hei."
Xiao Hei bowed, her arms held in front of her, trapping her enormous bosom. Even Chen Anyue couldn't help but wonder why she would call such a woman 'Xiao'. "Xiao Hei is not at all tired from serving Young Miss. Xiao Hei doesn't mind at all."
Hm, there was also some detail about her not being human and therefore would hardly feel tired from a little walking. Of course, Chen Anyue didn't know that, and Xiao Hei herself was starting to forget about that fact as well.
"Is that so? Well, there really isn't much for you to do for me right now. I'm going to rest a bit myself. If you're bored, why don't you look around Wangyun Peak? I've already asked permission for my handmaids to walk around freely. As long as you don't go into any forbidden areas, you can get some fresh air and explore."
Xiao Hei couldn't hold back the sparkle in her eyes, "Xiao Hei is humble and thankful to Young Miss Chen!"
Great! This is just her opportunity to go and find some eligible guys to ship with each other! The Heavenly Sword Sect is filled with so many beautiful men, how could she pass out? There was Second Young Master Liu himself, in his flawless white robes, silky hair, and handsome stoic face. A perfect Gong! Wait no, Xiao Hei was getting ahead of herself. She couldn't carelessly ship her mistress's future husband. Chen Anyue treated Xiao Hei well and didn't deserve that. Well. That only left everyone else free to use for her nefarious reasons. Xiao Hei chuckled creepily to herself as she skipped down the halls….