"Awake?" Chu Yu asked gently and softly.
Yun Jinnian nodded.
Chu Yu stretched out his hand, and after a moment of hesitation, Yun Jinnian placed her small hand in Chu Yu's larger one, allowing him to help her up, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Fairly well!"
Hemei and Henuan helped Yun Jinnian straighten her clothes, then quickly brought over some hot water, a small silver basin, and a clean cloth.
After Yun Jinnian freshened up, she was escorted by Hemei, Henuan, and five female guards to relieve herself, while Chu Yu once again stood at a distance, guarding the place where he could see Yun Jinnian.
Such behavior would make anyone realize that Yun Jinnian was actually a woman.
Amdo was rummaging through the cave, searching here and there.
Perplexed, Hu Laosan asked, "Brother, what are you looking for?"
"My pet has gone missing!"
Hu Laosan immediately understood that Amdo's Poisonous Insect had escaped.
But aren't Poisonous Insects not supposed to easily leave their owners?
It was strange indeed.
After Yun Jinnian had finished and come back, she washed up once more before Zhou Yunshen came forward to greet her, "Young Master Han, we meet again!"
As Yun Jinnian was dressed as a man, Zhou Yunshen's address was appropriate.
"Master Zhou is too kind!" Yun Jinnian said, giving Zhou Yunshen a fist-in-palm salute.
Because of the cold, her little face was rosy, her eyes bright and large, with delicate features and beautiful red lips, astonishingly beautiful and beyond compare.
"Young Master Han, no need for such courtesy. I thank you for your hospitality last night," Zhou Yunshen said.
Yun Jinnian shook her head slightly, "Last night it was Big Brother Chu who offered you shelter, not me. If you want to thank someone, you should thank Big Brother Chu!"
No sooner had Yun Jinnian finished speaking than Chu Yu quickly approached, "Exactly, it was I who gave you shelter last night. If you're to thank anyone, it should be me. My young Han has nothing to do with it!"
After speaking, Chu Yu playfully ruffled Yun Jinnian's hair, "The meat soup is ready. Go have a bowl to warm up. We'll be setting off soon!"
Yun Jinnian nodded, not at all annoyed by Chu Yu ruffling her hair, and after giving Zhou Yunshen another salute, she turned and left.
Halfway there, she reached up to smooth her hair, as if something occurred to her, and gently shook her head.
Although Yun Jinnian's expression was unseen, one could sense that she was certainly annoyed yet resigned in an adorable way.
Watching Zhou Yunshen, Chu Yu felt in high spirits.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince Zhou, greetings!" Chu Yu said as he gave a slight fist-in-palm salute.
For a fleeting moment, Zhou Yunshen felt jealous.
The day he met Yun Jinnian, he had been impressed by her composure, serenity, and beauty, feeling a stir of mundane desire.
Now seeing the clear difference in how Yun Jinnian treated him compared to Chu Yu, he felt jealous.
"Greetings to Your Highness, Prince Rui!" Zhou Yunshen responded, returning the salute.
The two men, at the same time, deeply disliked each other.
Yet they had to maintain a facade of cordiality.
Silence.
Chu Yu remained silent, and Zhou Yunshen said nothing.
It was only when their respective subordinates came to announce that breakfast was ready that they quietly went their separate ways.
At the other side, Chu Yu sat next to Yun Jinnian, talking continuously, while Yun Jinnian just smiled shallowly. Then she secretly whispered something into Chu Yu's ear, which made him suddenly widen his eyes.
Yun Jinnian nodded tenderly.
Zhou Yunshen watched this scene, gripping his chopsticks tightly.
"Teng Fei!"
"Yes?"
"Prepare some meat dishes; I'll take them to Young Master Han myself."
Teng Fei quickly prepared a large plate of meat dishes and followed behind Zhou Yunshen.
"Young Master Han!"
Yun Jinnian looked up, puzzled at Zhou Yunshen, "Is there something you need, Master Zhou?"
"I've brought some meat dishes for you!" As Zhou Yunshen finished speaking, Teng Fei immediately presented the meat dishes.
Yun Jinnian actually wanted to say that she didn't really like meat.
Moreover, her breakfast usually consisted of just a bowl of meat soup and a steamed bun, without any meat.
Just as she was about to reach out and take it, Chu Yu spoke indifferently, "Young Han does not like to eat meat; Master Zhou, you may as well take the meat back!"