Chapter 338 Scum
Li Mingshu didn't want to make a big fuss this time, so she wanted to go with Lin Changning. Firstly, she trusted Changning, and secondly, if something happened in the city, she believed that Changning could protect her and Yue'er.
Lin Changning nodded and watched as Li Mingshu led Yue'er into the carriage. After sending his mother back to her courtyard, Lin Changning had someone fetch his personal sword and stood guard outside the carriage.
As he was an outsider, he naturally could not ride in the same carriage as the princess.
After stopping at the door, she knocked on the carriage: "Princess, let's go."
Yue'er pressed her face against the car window, lifting the curtain slightly to reveal her small face as she stared at Lin Changning outside the door. When she saw Lin Changning looking over, she smiled broadly, revealing her tiny teeth.
"Uncle Lin, Mom said she'd take us to eat shaved ice. Have you ever tried it?"
Lin Changning smiled and shook her head. Since arriving in Taiyuan, she had hardly had time to go out, spending most of her time in the military headquarters training troops.
Even in their spare time, they would at most go to taverns and restaurants with Lao Ma and the others to have a few drinks and eat some braised meat. Most of these generals were not wealthy, so the restaurants they went to were economical, with large portions that were filling, and they could even pack some to take home for their families.
Snowflake cheese—it sounds like something only high-ranking officials and nobles would eat.
"Uncle Lin has never eaten it before."
Yue'er was slightly disappointed; she was thinking of asking Uncle Lin what shaved ice tasted like.
Li Mingshu lifted the curtain and looked at Lin Changning outside the door: "Changning can try it with us this time. Eating some shaved ice in the summer is the most refreshing thing. When I was a child, my eldest and second eldest brothers often brought shaved ice to my younger sister and me, but Mother Consort didn't allow us to eat too much."
At this point, Li Mingshu sighed slightly; she hadn't eaten shaved ice for several years.
Looking at the somewhat wistful Li Mingshu through the car window, Lin Changning said gently, "Then I'll have to try it properly."
After a long journey, the carriage finally arrived at the restaurant. Lin Changning stepped forward and helped Yue'er down from the carriage. A maidservant standing beside Lin Changning took a step back after seeing him lift Yue'er down.
After Li Mingshu climbed out of the carriage, he helped her down.
Li Mingshu stopped and looked at the group of guards and maids following him behind him. Her brows furrowed slightly. "You all go back to the manor first. Uncle Zheng and Changning can stay here."
The maids exchanged glances, some hesitant to agree.
When they came out, the princess repeatedly told them to stay close to the princess. The guards hesitated for a moment, but when they saw Lin Changning, who was standing next to Li Mingshu, they exchanged a glance with Lin Changning.
He nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, Commander."
Most of them knew Lin Changning and were aware of his impressive martial arts skills. Having been reminded by the eunuchs before their arrival, they stopped worrying and bowed to Lin Changning before preparing to return to the palace.
Lin Changning glanced at the head guard and nodded slightly.
The maid was somewhat embarrassed. The innocent-looking maid bowed to Lin Changning and said, "Please take good care of my princess and young lady, Commander."
Lin Changning nodded: "Don't worry."
After Lin Changning agreed, the head maid and the others bowed to the two of them and slowly retreated.
Lin Changning was also somewhat confused. If the guards didn't want them to follow, they could simply leave. However, she didn't understand why Li Mingshu had even dismissed the maids around her.
Lin Changning carried Yue'er and followed Li Mingshu. As soon as the three of them entered the restaurant, they noticed that many people in the lobby were casting strange glances at them.
Those strange gazes were like needles piercing Yue'er in Lin Changning's arms. Yue'er seemed to realize it and silently nestled into Lin Changning's embrace.
Lin Changning frowned and looked at the few people in the hall who were giving him strange looks and muttering to themselves. He scolded them, "What are you looking at? Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!"
The group was startled by Lin Changning. Seeing his impatient gaze, they immediately turned their heads away, remaining silent and not daring to look again.
Lin Changning couldn't help but roll his eyes and patted Yue'er in his arms.
Li Mingshu turned around and cast a grateful glance at Lin Changning.
The waiter recognized Li Mingshu immediately and was about to call her when he saw Li Mingshu make a shushing gesture.
After nodding knowingly, he walked to Li Mingshu's side, lowered his voice, and said with a fawning smile, "It's been a long time since I've seen the princess. You're even more radiant than before. Are you still the same as before?"
Li Mingshu finally managed a smile when she saw the familiar faces, and nodded gently, saying, "A private room, please."
The waiter sighed and almost beamed with a fawning smile, saying, "Your private room has been reserved for you. This way, this way."
Li Mingshu was followed by Lin Changning and led by the waiter to a private room on the second floor. As they passed the door of the private room, the three of them suddenly heard a noisy noise coming from another private room.
"I heard that she returned a few days ago. I inquired in the capital, and they all said that she was rejected by the Marquis's mansion because she was unfaithful and gave birth to a white-haired monster."
"Brother Niu, so that means he really has returned? Wasn't it said that he perished in the fire in the capital?"
"Come on, Brother Liu, it's all just a bluff. That guy just arrived in Taiyuan recently. My uncle works at the Prince's Mansion and I heard he came back a while ago."
"What's the deal with that white-haired monster?"
"You don't know this, but it's said that this person had an affair before the wedding, and the child was born with an ominous appearance, covered in white hair. I heard it's quite frightening."
"How could the prince be willing to let such an ominous person return?"
"That's right."
"Who can blame them when their father is a prince, a member of the royal family? What's so difficult about protecting a white-haired monster?"
"That prince seems to dote on her quite a bit!"
"Hehe, speaking of which, that one is no longer in the capital. She will probably choose a husband again after she comes back this time. Brother Jin, if I remember correctly, you are not married yet, right? If you can win her over, she will be incredibly wealthy in the future."
"Get lost! I wouldn't even consider taking this kind of discarded slut as a concubine!"
"Hey, you're still not willing? This lady was a famous noblewoman in our area back in the day. People came to propose to her so many that they almost wore out the door. If it weren't for the imperial decree, sigh."
I'd be willing, but unfortunately I already have a wife at home. And putting aside what she's like, don't you all understand the current situation in Taiyuan? If this man from Taiyuan were to rise to power one day, he'd be incredibly wealthy and powerful!!!
"Hehehe, if that's how you put it, then I'll have to think about it. At worst, I'll just lock her up in the inner quarters and take a few concubines. Thinking about it that way, it's not a bad deal!"
The waiter outside broke out in a cold sweat. When he saw Lin Changning standing outside with a dark face, he knew something was wrong.
Li Mingshu naturally realized that they were talking about her, so she lowered her eyes to hide the emotions in them.
"Changning, let's go. It's hot outside. Let's go to a private room."
Looking at Yue'er, who was on the verge of tears in his arms, Lin Changning felt a surge of anger. He stood directly at the door of the private room. Seeing that things were not going well, the waiter hurriedly tugged at Lin Changning's clothes.
"Oh dear, sir, please don't be impulsive. Let's talk this out."
Lin Changning sneered and kicked open the door: "A bunch of scum dares to talk to me???"
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