tallest building

Chapter 175 Spring Water Jade

With the candles lit high, Ying Wuchou gazed at the vegetarian dishes on the table, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Why aren't you eating?" The princess looked at him and smiled. "They say that people's tastes change as they grow up, but you haven't changed yet. It's clear you haven't grown up."

“Aunt, it’s not good for you to eat such a vegetarian diet all year round,” Ying Wuchou sighed. “Why don’t you give up drinking?”

"No!" the princess declared resolutely. "I only drink alcohol in winter, and I'm used to the taste of vegetarian dishes, which are better than meat dishes. You eat meat all year round, and you smell terrible."

"You called me here but then complained that I smell bad." Ying Wuchou said, feeling annoyed. "I took a special bath before coming up the mountain."

"Alright, I won't say you stink anymore. Did you bring the wine?" The princess's eyes sparkled when she mentioned the wine, just like a little girl.

"I didn't bring it." Ying Wuchou said irritably, "Aunt Cuizhen said you've upset your stomach again, so I've already had the wine jars smashed."

"I know you didn't break it, bring it to me quickly." The princess smiled, "I'll personally serve you a bowl of soup, try it, it's exceptionally delicious."

Ying Wuchou sighed helplessly and accepted the bowl with both hands. His aunt had always been able to manipulate him since he was a child, and she still was.

However, the soup was indeed very delicious; it was neither bland nor greasy, and it even had a hint of medicinal aroma.

“Keep that woman surnamed Wen away from you. If you like what she makes, just have someone go down the mountain to get it regularly,” Ying Wuchou said. “She always tries to please you; she must have ulterior motives. How can someone like that stay by your side?”

“She’s naturally multi-talented, how can you call it catering to my tastes? All the skills she has learned are the result of years of practice. Does that mean she was born to please me?” The princess rolled her eyes at him. “Besides, it’s normal for her to have ulterior motives, as long as she doesn’t go too far.”

“This woman is no ordinary person; I suspect she has ulterior motives,” Ying Wuchou said. “Aunt, you dislike conflict the most, so why make yourself uneasy because of her?”

“I know you mean well and are afraid I’ll be misled,” the princess sighed. “But I think Wen Mingqian is an upright person at heart. She might use me, but she probably won’t harm me.”

"Heh, it seems she really does have some tricks up her sleeve." Ying Wuchou was even more convinced that Wen Mingqian was cunning and calculating. "Even after the divorce from the Gong family, they didn't say a bad word about her. It's the same with my aunt. I really underestimated her."

"Why are you arguing with a weak woman? Besides, you're beholden to her because she fed you. You're drinking her soup and then you criticize her." The princess scoffed. "You've really eaten too much meat; your mind is clouded by the oil. Go eat some vegetables to cleanse your intestines!"

“Mother, that Prince Changliu is so scary,” Sang Er said as she untangled Wen Mingqian’s hair. “He looks at me like he’s interrogating a thief.”

"Don't worry about it." Wen Mingqian smiled at her and said, "His intention was to protect Her Highness the Princess. We'll just try to avoid him in the future."

"Mother, shall we go down the mountain tomorrow?" Sang Er asked gently, combing Wen Mingqian's hair.

“We’ve already stayed on the mountain for two nights, it’s time to go down,” Wen Mingqian said. “But we need to let people know that we’ve been invited to stay by the Princess.”

To outsiders, being able to stay overnight by the Princess's side was a great honor, and Wen Mingqian wanted to take advantage of this.

The next day, Wen Mingqian bid farewell to the Princess.

The eldest princess smiled and said, "It's good that you're here with me, but unfortunately I also need to go to the palace to stay for a while. We'll have to meet again after the New Year."

He added, "On such a festive occasion, I should reward you with something. This jade pendant is one of my favorites, and I've always been reluctant to give it away, so I'll give it to you today!"

Yu Hu took the jade pendant and held it with a brocade handkerchief.

Wen Mingqian looked at it and saw that it was an exquisitely carved spring water jade. He quickly said, "This is too precious. How can I accept it?" The princess smiled and said, "It is indeed precious, so you should wear it carefully."

Wen Mingqian thanked the reward and accepted it with great care.

After bidding farewell to the Princess, Wen Mingqian took Sang Er down the mountain and returned to the city by carriage.

Wen Mingqian said to Sang Er in the car, "The end of the year is approaching, you should go and see your uncle."

Sang Er said, "I don't want to see him! And he doesn't want to see me either."

Wen Mingqian said, "Don't always say things like that. Even if you don't want to go, at least take the New Year's gift to your uncle for me."

Upon returning to Wuqiu Nunnery, they happened to meet Abbess Jingxu, who was basking in the sun outside.

Wen Mingqian stopped and talked to her for a while before returning to his room.

Ao Shuang greeted her with a smile: "My wife is finally back! I've been waiting for you so long!"

Sang Er teased her, "We've only been gone for two days, but you make it sound like it's been years."

"Isn't it hard to live alone like this?" Ao Shuang laughed. "My wife has been away from home these past two days, and many families have sent New Year's gifts. I remember them all."

"I knew it would be good to leave you to look after the house," Wen Mingqian said with a smile. "Take a look at what's there, pick out some, and have Sang Er take it to her uncle."

Wen Mingqian handed Sang Er the New Year's gifts he had prepared in advance, and added two more items from the New Year's gifts given by other families. Sang Er had no choice but to take the gifts with her when she left.

Sangji Silk Shop was doing very well. When Sang Er saw that the shop was full of people and she couldn't move them, she simply went around to the back door.

Just then, her uncle saw her and went to the backyard as well.

Sang Er said irritably, "These are what my mother told you to take. I told you you don't need to return the favor, and I'm too lazy to take those rubbish."

Sang Sanyang said, "How can you be so inconsiderate? Just because Madam says it's not necessary doesn't mean it's not necessary."

Sang Er said, "You're so sensible, yet you're seducing a married woman."

"Children should mind their own business when it comes to adults." Sang Sanyang blushed.

"Is that the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou family?" Sang Er asked, her eyes wide.

"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Sang Sanyang denied, but his ears turned red.

"I knew it! I knew it! You're shameless!" Sang Er jumped up. "She's pregnant now, so she's yours too?!"

"Keep your voice down! Do you want the whole world to know?!" Sang Sanyang covered her mouth. "That child is your cousin too, you can't hurt him."

Sang Er's eyes widened, and for a moment she couldn't think of any words to respond. She just felt that her uncle was utterly shameless.

“The Zhou family treated her so cruelly, of course she had to protect herself. Zhou Jingsan was such a vulgar man, and there was no longer any affection between them as husband and wife. I genuinely like her and am willing to help her succeed. This is a matter of mutual consent between the two of us, so don’t interfere,” Sang Sanyang said. “Does she deserve to suffer like that and be kicked out? Isn’t it because her husband is incompetent and can’t even give her a son?”