Synopsis: Apologies in advance! Character traits: prone to foolishness and occasional bouts of madness. Skilled in groveling apologies and dealing with an overbearing, cold-hearted demon lord. Feat...
Chapter 7 I can never refuse him. Ming Shu tilted his head, his eyes wet...
Ming Shu tilted his head, his eyes still wet, and stared blankly at the screen for a moment. He nodded quickly, then, afraid that Yun Jin hadn't seen it, he kept saying, "I've been thinking about it so much, Yun Jin, will you buy it for me?"
Yun Jin lowered her head and replied, "Mm."
"You really love Yun brocade. Can I buy two strings? I'd also like to get one for His Majesty."
"Then let's buy four skewers. Two for you, one for Your Excellency, and..."
Ming Shu asked curiously, "What else?"
Yun Jin: "And a string of strings of the little girl that Your Majesty brought back."
Ming Shu was shocked: "Your Majesty even brought the little girl back to Qiyun Palace?" He stamped his foot, tore off a handful of leaves, and said excitedly, "The Demon Realm will finally have a queen! That's wonderful! Your Majesty has finally married herself off!"
Yun Jin thought the other person seemed possessed. How could he derive so many meanings from just one sentence? But this dog was always full of whimsical ideas, so he just let him laugh and joke along.
It's actually quite nice to have someone to accompany you on your journey; under the moon, the shadows of the two of you are always intertwined and never separate.
The Thirty-Three Palaces are a complex complex with ever-changing scenery. Only the Demon Lord and a few of his trusted subordinates know the way. Ordinary people who enter here will be lured step by step by illusions, walking into the traps set by the Demon Lord and dying silently.
However, tonight the Thirty-Three Palaces are brightly lit, like a burning flame in the desolate Ten Directions City, dispelling the long, as always, darkness.
Shi Wenzhe was getting a little bored in the kitchen, so she started toying with the dough, kneading it into all sorts of shapes: rabbits, puppies, cats, and an adorable little pig.
She recalled Qin Wenxue's somber black robe. Although it was noble and exquisite, she couldn't like it at all. It felt as if she was inexplicably bound. She always felt that Qin Wenxue was unhappy when she wore that dress.
The clothes weren't bad at all. Shi Wenzhe had noticed them long ago. Although Qin Wenxue was wearing black clothes, there were various patterns embroidered with gold and silver threads on the clothes. They weren't obvious in the dark, but as long as there was a little light, the patterns would reflect tiny fragments of light, and she couldn't take her eyes off them.
A cool fragrance wafted closer, and Shi Wenxue, who had noticed the temperature drop ever since she stepped into the kitchen, was completely bewildered. Seeing Shi Wenxue return, Shi Wenxue blurted out without thinking, "Are you some kind of snow demon?"
Qin Wenxue paused slightly, looked up, her gaze somewhat heavy. Shi Wenzhe's hand trembled, and the pottery jar in his hand almost fell to the ground, but Qin Wenxue caught it in time.
Shi Wenzhe gave an awkward laugh and stammered, "Thank you, Qin Wenxue."
When Shi Wenzhe had nothing to do, the air was somewhat quiet, so he played with the pottery jar in his hand, opening and closing it repeatedly.
Qin Wenxue glanced at the dough on the cutting board. His wide sleeves concealed the porcelain jar he was carrying. He placed the jar in front of Shi Wenzhe, rolled down his sleeves, and revealed a section of his white, gleaming wrist.
I've often heard of people being attracted by beauty, and I don't know whether to look at the rapeseed oil they've been longing for first, or the rare beauty.
She swallowed quietly, thinking she had hidden it well, but her eyes were practically twitching from looking at the wrist hidden under her black clothes. She even sighed in a pretentious manner, and when she met Qin Wenxue's gaze, she chuckled twice, still kneading dough in her hands. She looked like a habitual lecher.
She turned away to compose herself, then quietly turned back. The black hem of her garment was still in her sight. Shi Wenzhe relaxed and said cheerfully, "You're in for a treat tonight! My sugar-coated fried dough is one of the best in our village." Remembering Qin Wenxue's talk of fasting, she asked, "Have you ever tried it?"
Qin Wenxue didn't speak. He was like a lonely patient immersed in his own world. Shi Wenzhe's movements slowed slightly before returning to normal. He muttered to himself, "It doesn't matter if I've eaten it before or not. Anyway, my method is definitely different from yours. This is what my grandmother taught me..."
The sizzling sound of oil in the pan filled the kitchen with a sweet aroma, which wafted towards Qin Wenxue's nose. He took a light sniff, but it wasn't obvious whether he liked it or not. However, his eyelashes trembled slightly as he stared at Shi Wenzhe, who was busy at the stove, seemingly lost in thought.
For the first time, Qiyun Palace was filled with the warmth of human activity. Smoke rising from the stoves swirled, obscuring most of Shi Wenzhe's face. Her clothes were still disheveled, her tattered dresses somewhat dirty. Qin Wenxue watched silently as the girl moved nimbly and cleanly, humming an unknown song, looking exceptionally happy, like a lively deer.
"Ta-da! All done!" Shi Wenzhe picked up a piece of sugar-coated fried dough and handed it to Qin Wenxue, who caught it with her other hand as she ran. The dough emitted a warm, sweet aroma, and Qin Wenxue reflexively stepped back, grabbing Shi Wenzhe's neck with one hand, making her afraid to move.
Shi Wenzhe's face turned completely red as he stared at the other person in disbelief: "You... sigh... you, sir, you're being far too cautious."
Qin Wenxue released her hand and said, "I'm sorry."
Shi Wenzhe said resentfully, "Never mind, what can I do? I'm beautiful, kind, and generous." She held the sugar cake to Qin Wenxue's lips and said quickly, "Try it, it's super delicious."
Qin Wenxue crossed her arms and remained still. Shi Wenzhe's arms were getting tired from holding the food up so much that he kept urging her to eat quickly, his eyes changing from expectant to disappointed.
She lowered her head dejectedly and said, "You don't like it?" She had thought that Qin Wenxue hadn't left because she was waiting for her sugar-coated fried dough, but it turned out she was spying on her.
Qin Wenxue glanced at the other person and said, "It's hot."
Shi Wenzhe: "..."
"Haha, sorry." She subconsciously blew on it, then realized it was impolite. She planned to keep this one for herself and give Qin Wenxue a new one, but Qin Wenxue took it instead. She took a bite, and the maltose inside the cake had melted into syrup. Even though it had been away from the pan for so long, it was still a little hot. Qin Wenxue paused for a moment, then started chewing again. Shi Wenzhe couldn't tell if she liked it or not, but she was like a hamster, slowly finishing the whole thing.
Shi Wenzhe was overjoyed. He grabbed a piece of cake and started eating it like a glutton, a stark contrast to Qin Wenxue's dignified elegance.
"Mmm... mmm, so delicious, so sweet... mmm, do you want more, Da Leng Ni? Oh, there's more here." Shi Wenzhe held up the pancake and shook it, grinning foolishly.
The sugar cake was very sweet; he had never tasted anything so sweet in his life.
The noise from the kitchen continued until dawn. The lights of the thirty-three palaces were extinguished, and the area outside Yunmeng Marsh was peaceful and serene, with all life still fast asleep. However, Qiyun Palace was noisy and bustling all night.
Ming Shu eavesdropped outside the gate of Qiyun Palace, scratching his head in curiosity. Yun Jin, with her arms wrapped around her sword, leaned against a bare tree and looked up. Her neck was a little sore, and she decided to leave.
Ming Shu pleaded in a low voice, "Yun Jin, please stay with me a little longer. I just want to see who's in the kitchen. They're making such a racket and disturbing my peaceful dreams. It's really illogical that His Majesty hasn't killed them yet."
Yun Jin looked helpless: "I already said, it's that little girl."
Ming Shu nodded and hummed in agreement, but his eyes never left her: "I know, but I don't know what that girl looks like."
He was holding three candied hawthorns in his hand, and he was lying on the roof eavesdropping. Because he was a little afraid of heights, his legs were trembling, and he looked like he was about to explode.
Yun Jin wanted to laugh: "Let's go quickly. She's in Qiyun Palace, we can see her anytime. Didn't you want to give His Majesty some candied hawthorns?"
This was a difficult decision. Curiosity drove him to stay, but his excitement to see the Venerable One was no less. Ming Shu looked at the candied hawthorn that was about to melt, and finally got off the roof. The moment he touched the ground, his legs were sore and he couldn't stand up. He stood up by supporting himself on the stone steps and waved to Yun Jin, who wanted to come forward: "I'm fine, I just don't have the strength."
Yun Jin pursed her lips: "Since you're afraid of heights, then don't go to high places in the future."
Ming Shu dusted off the corner of his clothes: "That won't do. I am the Right Protector of the Demon Realm, and I must protect the Demon Realm to the death. What is this little height?"
"But aren't you afraid?"
"But you're here with me."
Yun Jin remained silent, the jade pendant at her waist keeping her on edge. The newly changed red tassel was particularly striking, threatening to steal all her attention. However, Ming Shu's words were like a thunderclap, leaving her somewhat dazed.
"A person... shouldn't be so dissolute, right?" She was horrified, but she forgot that Ming Shu was a dog, a real dog.
Ming Shu was still a little reluctant to leave. He sniffed, the sweet smell in the air hadn't dissipated yet, making his mouth water.
"He wants some too." The fox-eyed girl stared at Yun Jin with a pitiful look. Yun Jin sighed softly, "Aren't there candied hawthorns? Are they that tempting?"
Ming Shu nodded, then hesitantly moved closer, saying, "Yun Jin, beautiful Yun Jin."
Yun Jin: "Mm."
"I want to eat it too. Can you make it for me? His Majesty is a bad person. He eats alone. If you make it, he won't give it to him. He'll give it all to me."
Yun Jin had a cold face. Ming Shu observed her carefully. The other party wasn't angry. He knew what Yun Jin's bottom line was, so he grinned and leaned closer: "Good Yun Jin, good Yun Jin, do it for me. I'll turn into a dog for you to hug, okay?" He even barked a few times after saying that.
Yun Jin chuckled softly, the curve of her lips impossible to suppress no matter how hard she tried.
Ming Shu is a master of acting cute and spoiled, and Yun Jin could never resist him in her entire life.
The figure under the tree walked further and further away, but Ming Shu's muttering voice continued.
The sky is clear and the air is fresh; today is a beautiful day.
Shi Wenzhe... Shi Wenzhe touched her sore neck, a little confused, because she didn't understand why she was lying sprawled out in the kitchen. She clearly remembered... eating something. Just as she was about to go forward to touch Qinwenxue again...
Hmm… Shi Wenzhe recalled carefully. Haha, case solved! She was swept to the ground by Qin Wenxue, probably because she touched the esteemed Right Protector's glass tassel. But it wasn't intentional; the tassel was just too eye-catching, and she couldn't resist the urge to touch it. So, she lashed out with her evil claws, and before Qin Wenxue's astonished eyes, she was swept away and lost consciousness.
Haha, the taste was indescribably sour and refreshing.
She had changed her clothes and looked calm as she touched her new dress. In reality, a million little voices were screaming inside her. Her eyes darted around, and she didn't know how she had convinced herself. Finally, she crossed her arms, sighed, and stood up acceptingly.
A note from the author:
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