The Princess had always been gentle in their long relationship, rarely overbearing.
Zhou Zhicheng saw the other side of her for the first time that day, when Princess Huizhen fought Princess Huiling at Wangyue Restaurant. He was stunned.
Now, he was even more stunned. Why had such a gentle and tender girl turned into a ferocious tigress or poisonous viper, her eyes flashing with icy glitter?
"No... Your servant do not dare... "Zhou Zhicheng bowed his head and said quietly. Princess Huizhen was angry and upset. She remembered the look of lust on Zhou Zhicheng's face as he stared at Miss Wang. His expression was so different from that now!
"Slap!"
A slap resounded sharply. Zhou Zhicheng's face had been slapped by Princess Huizhen, the blow turning him to one side. Five fingerprints instantly appeared on his fair face.
Zhou Zhicheng stared at the princess in shock. He finally came to himself and suddenly knelt down.
"Don't be angry, Princess! It's all my fault, my fault. I won't make you angry again!"
Zhou Zhicheng urged in a gentle voice. Princess Huizhen panted, gasping for breath. The strong sense of unease in her heart made her irritable. After all, she no longer possessed anything and could only depend on Zhou Zhicheng.
If this man had another woman, the consequences would be dire!
Zhou Zhicheng saw her blanch with rage. He quickly came forward and hugged her legs tightly. "My sweetheart, my dearest, don't be angry, don't be angry... "
Seeing Zhou Zhicheng's brazen face, Princess Huizhen's anger subsided somewhat. She gradually calmed down.
This tempest with its premonitory signs died away. Princess Huizhen's nails had, however, scratched Zhou Zhicheng's face. It now looked somewhat hideous.
Hua's Mansion. The Emperor made Eunuch Li send two private guards to Hua Qiyue. They were Qi Art experts in the Soaring Cloud Realm.
One was called Caiqing, the other Caining.
Their names sounded like those of identical twins. And they were really identical twins who looked exactly alike. Hua Qiyue tried for a long time but failed to tell them apart.
Hua Qiyue asked Eunuch Li to thank the Emperor on her behalf. She then gave him a reward and Eunuch Li left in jubilation. He had received another 500 silver ingots in bank draft. If he visited the Hua's Mansion a few more times, he would end up a billionaire.
"The two of you will live in the secondary compound. Although your main responsibility is to guard the divine herb, not everyone can steal a herb like Long Red. So... just keep an eye on Young Master for me."
With these two Qi Art masters protecting Tianci, Hua Qiyue now felt completely at ease.
"Yes, Madam!" The two Qi Artists were quite dissatisfied but could only obey the Emperor.
Lunch was a family affair. Everyone in Hua's Mansion attended the meal. The Old Madame made Hua Qiyue and Tianci sit by her sides.
Second Madame's heart turned cold. If things continued like this, the Old Madame would soon forget her real grandson!
Old Madame's real grandson, Hua Qianming, was Second Madame's son. Although he was the son of a secondary wife, he was the only male in the entire mansion.
The Old Madame doted on Hua Qianming when he was in the mansion. Unfortunately, he had left to study at Lishan Academy. He would only return after a month.
"I didn't expect the Emperor to really send us two Qi Art experts. It proves that he values you greatly. Qiyue, you must repay well His Majesty's nurture!" The Old Madame smiled, her wrinkled face resembling a chrysanthemum.
"Grandma, I will. I will surely repay his debt." Hua Qiyue smiled faintly. Beside her, Hua Xiaoyi and Hua Mengshi glanced at each other, their eyes gleaming with a strange light.
Hua Xiaoyi's face had recovered and her prettiness had been restored. She had been taught a lesson not to be so harsh to the servants.
Second Madame said with great joy, "That's true. Hua's Mansion has earned His Majesty's favor thanks to Master's efforts."
Her words denied Hua Qiyue any credit.
Hua Qiyue smiled nonchalantly and did not respond.
Old Madame glared angrily at Second Madame and Second Madame pursed her lips with great grievance. In front of Hua Qiyue, her every move seemed like a child's.
Third Madame spoke tactfully, "Old Madame, Qiyue is the first infanta from the capital who isn't of royal blood. She has earned us great honor. Master will be very glad too when he returns!"
Old Madame nodded with a smile. "You're right. I wonder when the General will be back."
"Soon. They say that the General will retire to our mansion in a month's time." Second Madame answered hurriedly. The Old Madame started to frown.
Retiring to the mansion meant that the General could not fight in the battlefield anymore. He would no longer wield military power. General Hua would no longer be a general.
Hua Qiyue could tell the Old Madame's thoughts with a single glance. She picked up a piece of meat for Tianci with her chopsticks and smiled faintly. "Grandma, although Dad's no longer a general in the frontline, everyone in the world will remember his great name! Besides, the battlefield is... too dangerous. He's much better off in retirement in our mansion in the future. Grandma can then enjoy the bliss of a family reunion!"
Old Madame listened and a smile finally appeared on her face. Hua Mengshi too nodded. "Dad's been fighting battles for years. It's time he retires. Grandma, fame and profits are like drifting clouds. It's better to be down-to-earth and enjoy one's life."
The Old Madame's mood took a turn for the better. She glanced at Hua Mengshi. Hua Xiaoyi shouted noisily, "Grandma, Dad has earned great honors. His Majesty will surely reward him lavishly. You don't need to worry!"
Her words instantly made Third Madame's face blanch. She gave Hua Xiaoyi a hard pinch under the table.
Hua Xiaoyi felt the pain and stared at Third Madame with a deep grievance. Third Madame was extremely angry. She noticed the Old Madame's changed expression and said with a cold, feigned happiness, "What nonsense are you blabbering, girl? Our Hua's Mansion needs no reward. Your words will make outsiders laugh if they hear you! They will say that Master yearns for vain glories... "
Hua Xiaoyi heard her and her facial color changed. She began to smile resentfully.
Hua Qiyue swept Hua Xiaoyi an indifferent glance. This Third Miss really did not know how to talk. She had a ready tongue. There was no need to guard against her.
Second Miss, Hua Mengshi, on the other hand, was a deep one. She must have other tricks up her sleeve. But she would probably do nothing in the near future.
After lunch, everyone listened to melodious music playing at the waterside pavilion. They welcomed gentle breezes and chatted about trivial household matters. After lunch, they ate some deserts and fruits. Everyone seemed to be getting along harmoniously. But this was a mere facade.
It had been a few days since Miss Wang brought them fruits. These days, they were brought here by a young servant. Miss Wang had caught a chill. They had allowed a servant to bring the merchants their fruits to maintain the Wangs' reputation.
After getting lectured by the Princess, Zhou Zhicheng no longer dared to stare at girls in front of her.
Recently, Millennium Winery seemed to have produced a good wine. Millennium Winery was a new winery opened by Hua's Mansion. Its brewed wine was mellow and fragrant. Although it was a new winery, almost all its store had been snapped up by buyers in the past few days.
To make business thrive, Zhou Zhicheng and his servants made a trip to the winery.
When they came to the winery, they saw Hua Qiyue sitting slim and graceful at one end, attracting the stares of several men. She was talking to a woman. Her voice was sweet and melodious.
"Auntie Li, why are you buying this medicine? I know it's called the 'Look Defacer.' It's a toxin which disfigures."
Hua Qiyue said quietly. Zhou Zhicheng overheard her. All this talk about the "Look Defacer" agitated him.
"Your Highness is so knowledgeable. Although this is a toxin, it works as a medicine too. It is thought to eradicate viruses in beasts and fowls. That's why I'm buying some to feed the animals in my home."
"Oh, I see... "
Their conversation turned into soft whispers. Finally, Auntie Wang indicated which wine she wanted. Hua Qiyue made the housekeeper record it.
So, one could order wine here.
Zhou Zhicheng was overjoyed. He quickly tried to squeeze past the crowd. But there were too many people. It was finally his turn. Unfortunately, Hua Qiyue had left in a hurry. He could only place his order with the housekeeper.
After emerging from Millennium Winery, Zhou Zhicheng saw a familiar figure. Wasn't this Miss Wang?
Her pace was slow and her face wan. She was walking toward an alley.
"MIss Wang... "
Zhou Zhicheng followed her to the entrance of the alley and called out softly. Miss Wang turned around and gazed. Her amorous glance rippled like autumn waves. Those enticing eyes were like lightning. At once, she bathed Zhou Zhicheng in a warm spring breeze. He softened and his feet turned into jelly.
"Oh, it's Boss Zhou. I didn't expect to meet you here." Miss Wang's face was wreathed with smiles. A soft, gentle fragrance wafted from her body. Zhou Zhicheng had to approach her with big steps.
"Oh no, you don't look too good. What happened?"
"I caught a slight chill. Thank you for your concern, Boss Zhou!" Miss Wang smiled lightly. Her keen eyes caught sight of the wound on his face. "Oh ho, Boss Zhou, why is your face so badly hurt?"
Zhou Zhicheng smiled in embarrassment. "Ho ho, I was accidentally scratched by the bamboo shoots in our backyard."
"If you don't mind me, Boss Zhou, I have an ointment here, very effective for such light wounds. Would you like to try it, Boss Zhou?" Miss Wang smiled and pulled out an ointment bottle from her bag. Zhou Zhicheng saw her fair fingers pinching the ointment bottle and became very excited.
"What bliss it is, to earn a gift from Miss Wang!" Zhou Zhicheng smiled. A crimson flush suddenly suffused Miss Wang's face. Her cheeks resembled peach blossoms. Even her voice started to sound a bit coquettish.
"Boss Zhou certainly likes to joke!" She placed the ointment bottle in Zhou Zhicheng's hand. He undid the bottle cap and tilting it a little, poured out some greenish ointment.
Zhou Zhicheng applied some onto his face with his finger. Unfortunately, he did not manage to apply it on his wound but somewhere else instead.
Miss Wang gave a delicate scream and snatched the ointment bottle over, applying some onto her fingertip. "Allow me!"
Then, with her jade-like finger, soft as cotton wool, she gently smeared the ointment on Zhou Zhicheng's face. She daubed a circle gently with her finger. Her act was to Zhou Zhicheng so tender that his face seemed caressed by a spring breeze. It instantly shone with a florid glow.
After applying the ointment, Miss Wang started to shriek uncontrollably. "Oh dear, so sorry... Boss Zhou. Men and women shouldn't touch each another so improperly. I am used to it. That's why... "
With these words, she dashed away bashfully.
Seeing Miss Wang's curvaceous body, Zhou Zhicheng's heart started to thump. It was as if some enticing flowers had entered into his eyes. Men are usually passionate beings. He could not help thinking more about her after her tender act.