Chapter 67

Mu Yulu, the protagonist of this marriage, was completely unaware of the matter. At this moment, she had already arrived at the No. 1 Restaurant in the world with Feng Wentang.

The two of them tacitly kept silent about the incident at the Third Prince's birthday banquet.

Mu Yulu did not inquire about Feng Wentang's true identity, nor did she ask why he was in the palace that night, or what his relationship was with the Third Prince. Feng Wentang also did not ask her where she and Sanzhou Jinse went that night, how they escaped, or where Sanzhou Jinse was now.

The two talked about Qi Zhizhi the whole way, discussing what business he was going to do in Xuanwu Kingdom, and also speculating when the world-renowned struggle for the throne in Xuanwu Kingdom would come to an end.

Upon arriving at the No. 1 Restaurant in the World, Qi Zhizhi personally came out to greet them and led them to a private room on the top floor overlooking the capital city.

Also attending the banquet today were their mutual friend Xu Xingzhi and Qi Zhizhi's younger sister Qi Zhiqi. Mu Yulu and Feng Wentang found the two of them already waiting in the room as soon as they entered.

Originally, Madam Qi did not allow Qi Zhi Qiu to go out, but today's banquet was, after all, Qi Zhi Zhi's farewell banquet. After this meal, he would leave the Vermilion Bird Kingdom. This journey would take three to five months to return. Therefore, under the persistent pleading of Qi Zhi Zhi and Qi Zhi Qiu, Madam Qi finally relented and allowed Qi Zhi Qiu to go out.

Upon seeing Mu Yulu in the private room, Xu Xingzhi and Qi Zhiqi stood up at the same time.

Xu Xingzhi moved swiftly, appearing in front of Mu Yulu before Qi Zhi Qiu could. "So this is the Miss Mu that Sister Zhi Qiu often mentions? Truly a beauty of unparalleled grace and elegance."

Before he could finish his compliment, Qi Zhi Qiu rushed over and slapped him on the back of the head. "Stop trying to pull that on Sister Mu! Take back all your fancy tricks!"

Xu Xingzhi immediately covered the back of his head and jumped behind Qi Zhizhi. "Brother Qi, you should really take care of your sister. She's turning into a shrew. How will she ever get married?"

Qi Zhi Qiu became even angrier upon hearing this, and rushed over to hit him again, "What business is it of yours whether I get married or not? Even if I never get married in my entire life, it has nothing to do with you!"

While dodging Qi Zhi Qiu's slaps, Xu Xingzhi also took the opportunity to make faces at her, which angered Qi Zhi Qiu so much that she cursed him out again.

These two clowns kept circling around Qi Zhizhi, while Feng Wentang tried to mediate, but he couldn't hold back the other one, making the scene even more chaotic.

Qi Zhizhi and Mu Yulu stood still, exchanging a smile across the group of people who were playfully fighting.

Looking out the window at the sky, Mu Yulu said to him, "I promised to cook for you as a farewell meal. You two wait here while I go to the kitchen to cook two dishes for you."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhi Qiu, who was chasing Xu Xing Zhi, stopped and ran to Mu Yu Lu's side. "Then I'll go prepare the dishes for you."

Before Mu Yulu could speak, she said angrily, "Last time you went to the palace to present dishes by yourself in a hurry, you can't refuse me this time."

Seeing how adorable her pouting face was, Mu Yulu couldn't help but pinch her cheek: "I'm so happy someone is coming to help me, how could I refuse?"

Xu Xingzhi, who had just rested, immediately began to sow discord again. He tapped Qi Zhizhi's arm with his fan and said in a deliberately low but clearly audible voice, "Look at her, look at her. This little girl is completely different in front of Miss Mu and in front of us. She kept telling me a while ago that she wanted an older sister and that it was a pity you were an older brother."

Qi Zhi Qiu clicked his tongue, clenched his fist, and waved it threateningly in the air. "Xu Xingzhi, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Xu Xingzhi started making faces at her provocatively again.

Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Mu Yulu quickly pulled Qi Zhiqi downstairs.

However, it was indeed as Xu Xingzhi said. Qi Zhiqi, who had been baring his teeth and making a scene upstairs, was now behaving very obediently in the kitchen with Mu Yulu.

While helping Mu Yulu prepare the dishes, she said in a solemn tone, "Sister Mu, I have a question for you, and you must answer me truthfully."

Mu Yulu rarely saw her with such a serious expression, and blinked curiously. "Ask whatever you want, I will answer truthfully."

Qi Zhi Qiu went straight to the point and asked her, "I want to ask you what your feelings are for San Zhou Jin Se? Do you like him?"

Mu Yulu was stunned. She stood in front of the stove for a long time before she came to her senses.

Instead of answering Qi Zhi Qiu's question immediately, she asked her in return, "Why are you suddenly asking this? Is it something important that I like him or not?"

"Of course it's important!" Qi Zhi Qiu raised her voice and nodded seriously. "If you don't like him, then I'll go after him."

Mu Yulu asked, somewhat amused and exasperated, "What if I like him?"

Qi Zhi Qiu sighed deeply: "If you like him, then I'll have to reluctantly back down. After all, you're my older sister Mu, and a younger sister won't compete with her older sister for what she likes."

Mu Yulu tapped her forehead. "You little rascal, you're so precocious! You've only met him once, how do you know what it means to like someone and what it means to dislike them?"

Qi Zhi Qiu pondered the question carefully for a moment, then replied, "My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. What else could that be but liking someone?"

After saying that, she urged Mu Yulu, "Sister Mu, I'm serious. Please answer me seriously too, okay? Do you like him or not?"

Mu Yulu fell silent.

She told Qi Zhi Qiu that she needed to think it over carefully, but even after both dishes were cooked, she still hadn't come to a conclusion.

Seeing Mu Yulu suddenly look blank and then unconsciously smile, Qi Zhi Qiu answered for her: "I know, you like him too."

Then she said in a serious tone, "I knew you liked him too, otherwise why would you risk your life to save him? Since you like him too, then I'll step aside. Don't worry, Sister Mu, I will never compete with you for him."

Hearing Qi Zhi Qiu say this, Mu Yu Lu was flustered for a moment. She wanted to refute Qi Zhi Qiu and prove that she had not fallen for San Zhou Jin Se, but she did not know where to begin.

Qi Zhi Qiu, meanwhile, continued, "Sister Mu, do you know, before I saw San Zhou Jin Se's true face, I always supported my brother being with you. But that night, I saw his face under the mask, and you have no idea how amazed I was. Suddenly, I felt that my brother wasn't good enough for you. You're so beautiful; you should have an equally beautiful face to match you..."

Seeing that Qi Zhi Qiu's words were becoming increasingly absurd, Mu Yu Lu quickly interrupted her: "Don't make fun of your brother anymore, and don't say things like that again."

Qi Zhi Qiu pouted: "Why are you just like my mother? You act like you're facing a major threat as soon as you hear me say these things?"

She sighed: "Never mind, Mother always thinks you have some improper thoughts about my brother. She doesn't know what a wonderful daughter-in-law she missed out on."

Mu Yulu wished she could cover her mouth, but thankfully she changed the subject after saying that: "Brother will be staying in Xuanwu Kingdom for several months, and I will also be going to Xuanwu Kingdom in a while. I really miss you."

Mu Yulu asked curiously, "What are you going to Xuanwu Kingdom for?"

Qi Zhi Qiu said with great interest, "I heard from my brother that there is a learned female teacher in Xuanwu Kingdom who runs a school that only girls can attend. I am very interested, so I begged my father and mother to let me go to the school to experience it."

She helped Mu Yulu carry one of the prepared dishes, and continued as she walked upstairs, "Guess what? When I told my mother about this, I found out that the lady was actually my mother's junior sister. I heard that she inherited all of her master's skills, and there's practically nothing in this world that she can't do."

Madam Qi's junior sister?

She was the woman named Xu Zaiye, the only person in the world who could cure the cold poison.

Mu Yulu recalled what Madam Qi had said to her that day, and lowered her head, lost in thought.

The two returned to the private room amidst Qi Zhi Qiu's chattering.

Upon seeing them return, Xu Xingzhi eagerly approached them, taking the dish from Mu Yulu's hands in a fawning manner, saying, "How can we let a young lady carry the dishes? I'll carry them, I'll carry them."

Qi Zhi Qiu stood to the side, puffing out her beard and glaring at him, "I'm a girl too, why don't you come and help me serve the dishes?"

Xu Xingzhi teased her intentionally: "A proper young lady is like Miss Mu, who is dignified and generous. Someone like you is just a tigress!"

Qi Zhi Qiu stomped her feet in anger, and Qi Zhi Zhi and Feng Wen Tang quickly smoothed things over, getting up together and walking over to her, reaching out to take the plate from her hand.

But she pushed them away with her elbows, saying, "Today I insist that Xu Xingzhi serve me the dishes, no one else will do. If he doesn't serve me, then I won't sit at the table. You guys eat while I stand here with the dishes, let's see if he feels embarrassed!"

Qi Zhizhi and Feng Wentang turned their heads at the same time and glared at Xu Xingzhi. Xu Xingzhi stood up under the pressure and smiled ingratiatingly at Qi Zhiqi: "Grandma, I was just joking with you."

As he spoke, he bowed and scraped as he took the plate from Qi Zhi Qiu's hand. "Who is our Miss Qi? She is the epitome of a lady, the noblest of noble ladies. If you are not a lady, then there are no ladies in the entire Vermilion Bird Kingdom."

Qi Zhi Qiu was glaring at him angrily, determined not to laugh no matter what he said, she would never forgive him. However, after hearing Xu Xingzhi's glib words, she burst out laughing the next second.

Seeing her smile, Xu Xingzhi quickly invited her to sit down: "Today's farewell banquet, besides your brother, you are the main character. How can the main character not sit down?"

Seeing that Xu Xingzhi had coaxed Qi Zhiqi with just a few words, Qi Zhizhi and Feng Wentang smiled and sat down again.

Mu Yulu sat in her seat, quietly watching the lively scene before her, her eyes full of smiles, and at the same time, a hint of envy that she herself did not realize.