Hua Qiyue smiled at Ji Jing. "I'd be honored to treat you to a meal, but it's a bit early for dinner. Would you be willing to walk around with us until then?"
Hua Qiyue breathed in sharply as she noticed Yun Shimo sitting next to Ji Feng. Tianci noticed him as well and waved excitedly to him, which Yun Shimo returned with a faint smile.
They resumed their journey, with the Ji family's carriage following them into the city.
As they passed a snack shop, Tianci tugged at Hua Qiyue's dress and pointed.
Hua Qiyue signaled for the carriage to stop. "Do you want a snack?"
Tianci nodded exaggeratedly while Ji Jing and Ji Feng alighted from their carriage. The delicious smell of the food made their mouths water as they stepped into the small shop.
Hua Qiyue had seldom ventured out of the restaurant with Tianci. Maybe it was time to spoil him just a little.
The shop specialized in roast and barbeque products, and Hua Qiyue saw many different morsels, including roast chicken, roast duck, and barbequed corn.
Hua Qiyue held Tianci's hand as they entered the store and the owner came to greet them and show them to a table.
The group sat down and Tianci pointed at the roast chicken.
Hua Qiyue nodded, smiling like a flower. "Bring us one of everything, please."
The owner's eyes widened, and they hurried off to fulfill the order.
Ji Jing had long been hungry. "Sister Qiyue, it's going to take forever for them to bring one of everything!"
Ji Feng shook his head and complained. "How are you going to find a husband if you're always eating?"
She retorted, "Any man that wants me will have to want my appetite, too!"
Hua Qiyue smirked as Lvxin and Youshui covered their mouths and giggled.
"Lvxin, Youshui, sit at the other table and order whatever you want." Hua Qiyue smiled and pointed at the table beside her.
The two maids looked at each other. It was against the rules, but their lady had told them to, so… maybe that was okay, then? The smell of the food wafting from the back decided the matter, and they took their seats.
After a while, Tianci's roasted chicken arrived. Yun Shimo washed his hands using the store's water and cut it in small pieces.
Yun Shimo's sudden interest in Tianci made Hua Qiyue suspicious. Could he be up to something?
"Sister Qiyue," Ji Jing whispered, "I heard that your adopted son was tortured by maidservants before you found him. Is it true? He looks so healthy!"
Tianci smiled up at her, and Ji Jing couldn't help but push a plate of roasted chicken drumsticks toward him.
Tianci's eyes widened and, after Hua Qiyue nodded her permission, he smiled at Ji Jing again and began devouring a drumstick.
"Indeed so, but that is in the past. Hua's Mansion will take good care of him." Hua Qiyue smiled faintly.
Ji Feng purposefully stared at Yun Shimo as he silently set a chicken drumstick in Hua Qiyue's bowl.
Hua Qiyue was flattered and blushed. "Thank you, Brother Ji."
Yun Shimo noticed Hua Qiyue's blush and scowled at Ji Feng.
Full from the mid-afternoon snack, the group decided to walk around to help with the digestion.
Tianci pulled Hua Qiyue to a nearby school. He stared at the students with eager eyes.
Hua Qiyue looked between Tianci and the students, realizing that despite her best efforts, she'd been ignoring Tianci in favor of her revenge.
In her past life, she'd been busy running the restaurant, and Zhou Zhicheng hadn't wanted to send Tianci to school, so it had just never happened.
Seeing Tianci's eagerness, Hua Qiyue squatted down and gently gripped his soft little hand. "Tianci, I'll find you a good school soon, okay?"
He nodded and clapped enthusiastically.
Ji Feng and Yun Shimo were silent. Even the noisy Ji Jing quieted down.
The group wandered around, buying many toys and snacks for Tianci, including ones that Hua Qiyue disallowed him from having before her rebirth.
As they explored the city, many people took note of Prince Nan and the Medicine Saint accompanying Hua Qiyue throughout the city. Some believed that Yun Shimo was merely spending time with Ji Jing and Ji Feng, but rumors began to abound, regardless.
Eventually, it was time to go to the restaurant. Wangyue Restaurant arguably had the best reputation of any restaurant in the city, and everyone was excited to eat.
Before Hua Qiyue took over Dong Hai Restaurant, Wangyue Restaurant was the best restaurant in the imperial city. Now, after Hua Qiyue's hard work, Dong Hai rivaled Wangyue in reputation, but even so, Wangyue had always been more elegant.
As they entered the restaurant, Hua Qiyue overheard many discussing Dong Hai Restaurant.
"The food at Dong Hai just isn't what it used to be is, it?"
"I agree. I heard rumors that people from the Ji family had food poisoning there!"
"Yeah, I got food poisoning there, too! Everything's gone downhill since the owner's wife died."
Seeing such a well-known group of individuals, the owner, Zhao, ran out to greet them with a smile before leading them to the VIP room upstairs.
As Hua Qiyue left the main room, she saw Princess Huizhen out of the corner of her eye. Tianci saw the princess as well, and began shaking, holding on tightly to Hua Qiyue's hand as if the princess would try to pull him away.
Hua Qiyue squatted down and whispered by Tianci's ear. "There's no need to be afraid, Tianci. Do you know what karma is?"
Tianci shook his head.
"It means the people that hurt you will end up being hurt, themselves." She gave him a comforting smile.
Instead, Tianci began to cry. He grabbed her hand and began writing on it with his finger.
Despite him not going to school, Hua Qiyue had insisted on hiring a tutor to teach Tianci reading and writing.
"Mom was killed. The murderer is still alive."
Hua Qiyue's heart sank. So, he did know the truth.
Tianci continued crying as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. His tears wet Hua Qiyue's white summer dress.
Ji Jing was the first to notice. "Why, Tianci... Sister Qiyue, what happened to him?"
Hua Qiyue wiped the tears off Tianci's face as her own eyes reddened, and she said in a low voice, "Tianci, I need you to be strong, okay? I promise I will protect you from the bad people who hurt you."
After wiping the tears off his face, Hua Qiyue pulled Tianci into the chamber and closed the door. "Nothing, nothing... Tianci was merely throwing a small tantrum. Come on, Tianci, let's go have some dinner."
Just as the food arrived and they were about to dig in, there was a double knock as the door opened.
They turned around and saw Princess Huiling, Princess Huizhen, Zhou Zhicheng, Princess Huiya, and Princess Mingzhu.