My Years in the Jianghu with the Prince: A Time of Unethical Conduct

Chapter 13 To remain innocent in the world

They were several exceptionally strong men carrying farm tools.

They wore short jackets, their exposed muscles bulging. Their faces appeared somewhat simple and honest at first glance, but they couldn't hide the faint aura of bloodlust emanating from them.

But within a radius of a hundred miles, not a single farmhouse had been seen, so where could a farmer come from?

Chu Ling and his group remained silent, observing the situation closely. They were curious to see how this drama would unfold.

As soon as the group of men entered, they didn't even glance at the conspicuous Chu Ling and his companions. Instead, they shouted at the waiter, "Waiter, bring us a few jugs of strong liquor to warm us up. Damn it, this rain is freezing us to death!"

"Hey!"

The waiter responded eagerly and immediately went to prepare food and drinks for them.

When the female shop owner saw those men, her expression clearly turned ugly for a moment.

But she didn't say anything, and in the blink of an eye she smiled and continued to talk to Chu Ling: "Would you like to have a meal, young master? I'll cook for you myself."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xie Yan glared at her and started arguing again: "My young master would never eat those shady things from outside!"

Interrupted several times, the female shop owner was now a little annoyed: "You girl, you really have no manners. Who are you calling shoddy?"

Xie Yan, hands on hips: "It's something you made!"

He rolled his eyes, deliberately bumped into the female shopkeeper, and headed towards the kitchen. "I don't need you. I'll prepare the food for the young master myself."

"Hey! You little brat, stop right there! How dare you come in the kitchen?!"

The female shop owner was shocked and rushed over.

The men at the table had also looked over at some point, and when they saw Xie Yan making a scene and going to the kitchen, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in their eyes.

Chu Ling and Xuan Feng exchanged a glance, and the latter also set off to follow.

The waiter in the kitchen, holding a glass of wine, stared in disbelief as two women pushed aside the curtain and rushed in, pulling and tugging at each other, followed by Xuanfeng, who tried to break up the fight.

"Let go! Why won't you let me into the kitchen? Are you hiding something shady in there?"

"Don't talk nonsense! I'm just worried you'll break my things!"

The female shop owner tugged at Xie Yan's sleeve and, taking advantage of the moment, hurriedly gave the waiter a wink.

Xie Yan had his back to the waiter, so he didn't see the waiter hurriedly pick something up from the stove and hide it.

But Xuanfeng, who had followed, saw everything.

He pulled Xie Yan back with a sigh, rubbed his forehead, and apologized to the female shop owner: "I'm so sorry, shop owner, Yan... Yan'er is just like that. How about this, we'll book this kitchen and cook just one meal, thank you for your trouble."

Xie Yan swore that his face twisted violently when he saw Xuan Feng call out to Yan'er.

A heavy purse of money was placed in the female shopkeeper's hands. She weighed it in her hand, and only then did her gloomy expression improve.

The female shop owner glanced around the kitchen and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the waiter nod. She reluctantly said, "It's fine if you want to cook here, but the waiter has to keep an eye on you so you don't bump into my things."

The female shop owner took the wine from the waiter and left, leaving the waiter watching the two of them with a predatory gaze. Xie Yan and Xuan Feng began exchanging glances.

Xuanfeng: Please begin your performance.

Xie Yan: ...To be honest, although I am dashing, intelligent, and capable of everything, I really can't cook.

Xuanfeng: ...Then you acted quite self-righteously.

Xie Yan: So please show us your skills.

Xuanfeng: I don't know either.

Xie Yan: ...How dare you say that to me?

The two looked at each other silently for a while. Under the increasingly suspicious gaze of the waiter, Xuanfeng called Yu Bai and Meng Lan in as well.

The four of them worked enthusiastically in the kitchen, managing to prepare a few meals that were barely passable.

Lifting the curtain, the men were already drinking and playing drinking games, while the female shop owner was nowhere to be seen.

The other guards brought out the dishes, and seeing the delicious and visually appealing food, everyone looked longingly at Chu Ling.

Chu Ling's smile remained unchanged.

He first picked up the stir-fried vegetable sprouts made by Meng Lan, then scooped up a spoonful of Yu Bai's steamed egg, then drank a sip of Xuan Feng's mutton soup, and finally reached for the steamed cornbread that Xie Yan had made—no, steamed it again—leftovers from yesterday.

The final comment was: "Not bad."

The subordinates waited until Chu Ling finished eating, and saw that he ate with a calm expression and great relish, before they felt relieved and picked up their chopsticks.

Upon entering the mouth, the well-trained group's expressions immediately changed drastically!

The guards exclaimed: "Why are these vegetable seedlings so sweet?!"

Meng Lan: Ah! Did I mistake sugar and salt again?! I'm so sorry!

Guards: Ugh, ptooey! There are still shells in the steamed eggs! Lots!

Yu Bai: Hmm...maybe I used too much force. I think it's still edible after picking it out?

Guards: Ugh—this sheep died such a horrible death—

Xuanfeng: ...

Everyone ate with tears streaming down their faces, daring not to speak out in anger, and casting envious glances at the only edible thing in Chu Ling's hand.

Chu Ling remained unmoved, slowly and methodically finishing Xie Yan's cornbread without touching any other dishes.

After the meal, the rain showed no signs of letting up. No one wanted to stay any longer, so they went back to their rooms in pairs to rest.

Under the cover of night, a torrential downpour began, and a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, causing the earth to rumble.

A pair of feet appeared in the dimly lit stairwell, the sound of the rain drowning out the noise of their footsteps.

After passing several darkened rooms, the feet finally stopped at the doorway of the innermost room on the second floor.

"Boom boom boom——"

There was a knock on the door.

After a short while, a faint candlelight shone through the crack in the door.

The female shop owner, dressed in light clothing, smiled confidently. She smoothed her slightly damp, loose hair and patiently waited for the people inside.

The door was opened, and she met the gaze of Xie Yan, who also had her hair down and looked shy.

Female shop owner: "..."

The female shop owner exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?!"

She had clearly instructed the waiter to assign this annoying little maid a room far away from her.

"Why can't I be here?"

Xie Yan smiled ambiguously, reached out and pulled to the side, saying as she did so, "I'm not the only one here."

Yu Bai, whose clothes were disheveled and whose face was flushed, was also pulled out by him.

"You, you, he..."

The female shop owner, her fingers trembling, pointed at Xie Yan and then at Yu Bai, clearly so shocked that she was incoherent.

"What are you talking about?"

Meng Lan walked out from the inner room, her belt fastened.

The female shop owner was speechless. She opened and closed her mouth for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out a "pervert!" from her throat, her face turning pale.

Watching the female shop owner flee in a disheveled state, Xie Yan closed the door. Yu Bai hurriedly broke free from his grasp, straightened his clothes, and asked Meng Lan with the same shock as the female shop owner, "Why...why did you unbuckle your belt?"

Meng Lan looked confused: "Oh, I just realized I tied my belt wrong this morning. What's wrong?"

Yu Bai: You're making it easy for people to misunderstand, aren't you?

Xie Yan exclaimed, "Phew, that was close!"

Xuanfeng, who followed behind and came out from the inner room, was in a difficult situation. How did he know there was any danger?

"If it weren't for my quick thinking, your prince's reputation would almost be ruined! You know, a man's reputation is his most important dowry!"

A bolt of lightning struck.

Seeing Xie Yan's relieved expression, the other three fell silent: ...Are you sure this saved his reputation?