sweet dumpling
When Zhao Youyi arrived at the study, she belatedly realized that she and Chu Chanyin had unknowingly held hands.
Realizing this, Zhao Youyi quickly let go of him and took a step back to create some distance.
Chu Chanyin, whose hand was being held, was stunned and didn't react for a moment. A blush slowly crept up to his ears.
Perhaps infected by the blush on his face, Zhao Youyi felt her own face burning and quickly changed the subject: "Cousin, are you free these days?"
Chu Chanyin nodded subconsciously. Zhao Youyi must have come to see him about something, and he would naturally make time for her.
"Cousin, could you accompany me to Jiangzhou?" Zhao Youyi asked.
"Why the sudden decision to go to Jiangzhou?" Chu Chanyin could tell from her solemn expression that this matter was of great importance.
Zhao Youyi rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache. "In previous years, most of the army's provisions were purchased from wealthy merchants in Jiangzhou. Now that my brother has died unjustly, and his elite soldiers have also perished, those wealthy merchants won't acknowledge our men if we send them over."
"So that's why my cousin wants to go there herself?" Chu Chanyin pondered for a moment. All the grain and fodder in Fuzhou had been supplied to the Chu army, and there was none left for her. Since that was the case, he would have to accompany her on the trip.
“Originally, I shouldn’t bother my cousin with such a small matter, but my men are worried about me going alone.” Zhao Youyi rubbed her wrist with amusement as she spoke, feeling that Zhou Huaiyuan’s worries were unnecessary. However, she was used to having Chu Chanyin accompany her when she went out, and since the journey to Jiangzhou was long, it was naturally good to have someone with her.
"No problem, I'll go arrange things at the manor later, and we'll set off tomorrow?" Chu Chanyin said, and was about to summon Steward Li when Zhao Youyi quickly grabbed his sleeve.
Chu Chanyin turned to look at her in confusion, and seeing her hesitant expression, asked, "What's wrong? Is there something else, cousin?"
“I am fine, but I am worried that my cousin will leave again soon after returning to Fuzhou. I wonder if anyone in the Chu army will have any objections,” Zhao Youyi said.
Chu Chanyin reached out and ruffled her black hair. "There's still Su Chaoyang in the army. He won't be in any trouble without me. Besides, since it was my cousin who invited me, I will gladly accept."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youyi smiled sweetly and tugged at his sleeve, acting like she did when she was little, saying, "Brother Huai Cong is the best!"
Chu Chan couldn't help but chuckle, mimicking how Zhao Youli used to talk to Zhao Youyi when they were children, and tapped her forehead with his finger: "You're so sweet-talking."
The next day, the two packed their bags and prepared to ride to Jiangzhou. Chu Muqing, holding the little white dog, looked at Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin with teary eyes, "Uncle, Aunt, don't you like Mumu anymore? Why are you leaving so soon after we got back?"
Zhao Youyi quickly hugged the little dumpling in her arms. "No, no, Uncle and Aunt love Mumu the most. It's just that Aunt has some things to take care of in Jiangzhou, so she asked your uncle to come with me. Mumu will be good at home, right?"
Chu Muqing turned to look at Chu Chanyin, her eyes still red-rimmed, "Uncle, is what Aunt said true?"
Chu Chanyin patted the little dumpling's head. "Of course it's true. We'll come back as soon as we're done. Be a good boy and wait for your uncle and aunt to come back, okay?"
Chu Muqing nodded emphatically, holding one child's hand in each of hers, "Then Uncle and Auntie, please come back soon! Mumu will miss you!"
Zhao Youyi smiled and patted his head in agreement.
Chu Chanyin picked him up and handed him to Su Chaoyang, saying, "I'll leave Mumu to you."
Looking at the two who were so reluctant to part, Su Chaoyang was speechless for a moment. "Okay, Huai Cong and sister-in-law, you can go without worry. I will take good care of Mu Mu."
Just as Chu Chanyin was about to mount his horse, Su Chaoyang suddenly put his arm around his shoulder, pulled him aside, and whispered, "Your Highness, you wouldn't be taking this for real, would you?"
Zhao Youyi looked at the two whispering, exchanged a glance with Chu Muqing, and both of them were completely confused.
Chu Chan moved a little further away from him, patting off imaginary dust from his clothes. "What do you mean by that? What do you mean by turning a fake act into a real one?"
"Wasn't your marriage with Sister Zhao a sham?" Su Chaoyang was so angry that he stopped calling her "sister-in-law." "Why are you going to Jiangzhou with her now? Don't you want the Chu army anymore? Don't you want the Prince's mansion?"
Chu Chanyin reached out and slapped the back of his head. "What nonsense are you talking about? It's not like I'm not coming back from Jiangzhou."
"Have you ever thought about why, with so many people in Zhao's army and women's army, Zhao's cousin specifically came to ask you to go to Jiangzhou with her?" Su Chaoyang asked seriously.
Upon hearing this, Chu Chan pondered for a moment, "Is it probably because I am highly skilled in martial arts and reliable as a person?"
Su Chaoyang had never seen Chu Chanyin like this before; he was like a peddler praising his own wares!
"Maybe Cousin Zhao is attracted to your good looks," Su Chaoyang said quietly.
Chu Chanyin nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. But the only thing on my body that truly belongs to me is my face. It's a good thing that she's attracted to my good looks!"
Su Chaoyang really wanted to roll her eyes at him.
Hearing such narcissistic words, Su Chaoyang simply pushed him aside, "Go on, go on, go find your good cousin!"
Chu Chanyin shrugged, puzzled, and obediently walked to Zhao Youyi's side.
"Is it all resolved?" Zhao Youyi asked.
Chu Chanyin nodded. "I'm sorry, Ziyang was just a little worried, which caused the delay."
"It's alright. Brother Ziyang is your deputy general. Now that you've left Fuzhou, it's normal for him to have some concerns." Zhao Youyi didn't care about these details. As he mounted his horse, the hem of his blue robe fluttered in the wind, carrying a faint fragrance.
Chu Chanyin smelled the fragrance of plum blossoms on her again.
Chu Chanyin mounted his horse, and the two rode side by side at full speed, kicking up dust. Fuzhou was far from Jiangzhou, so they found a nearby inn to rest that night.
"Greetings, gentlemen. How many rooms would you like?" the waiter asked with a smile.
Zhao Youyi extended a finger, and Chu Chanyin stared in shock at her action.
He quickly grabbed her sleeve and whispered, "Cousin, how can we share a room? Men and women shouldn't be so close!"
Zhao Youyi glanced at him lightly, her smile enigmatic: "Cousin, I don't mind, why do you? Besides, military funds are tight right now, every little bit saved counts."
Chu Chanyin quickly grabbed her outstretched finger and said to the waiter, "We need two rooms."
The waiter glanced at the two of them and said to Chu Chanyin, "Young master, just listen to your wife! Why bother booking another room? It's a waste of money!"
"No way!" Chu Chanyin's face turned bright red. Fortunately, it was hard to see clearly in the dim candlelight, but because they were close by, Zhao Youyi could clearly see the change in his expression. Seeing that he was really shy, she decided not to tease him anymore. "Alright, alright, two rooms it is. Let's listen to him."
After paying, the waiter pointed out two rooms on the second floor, and the two prepared to go upstairs to rest.
"Cousin, you didn't eat much for lunch today. Are you hungry now?" Chu Chanyin asked with concern.
Zhao Youyi raised an eyebrow slightly: "If I say I'm hungry, will my cousin cook for me himself?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Chanyin replied naturally, "Of course, I can't let you go hungry."
After saying that, he turned around and wanted to ask the waiter if he could borrow the kitchen. After receiving permission, he put his luggage in the room and went downstairs to prepare dinner.
Watching his hurried figure, Zhao Youyi was momentarily lost in thought. Although the two had been childhood friends, many years had passed. No matter how deep his friendship with his brother was, he shouldn't be so kind to her.
She couldn't see or understand this person at all.
Fortunately, he meant her no harm, so let nature take its course.
Watching the noble and precious Prince Chu cook for her, a strange and subtle emotion welled up in her heart. She couldn't say she was happy, nor could she say she felt sorry for him, but... she was a little reluctant to part with him.
Chu Chanyin used the inn's kitchen to make two bowls of sweet glutinous rice balls, sprinkled with dried osmanthus flowers. They looked delicious. Zhao Youyi saw that Chu Chanyin's fair face was covered with some soot, and she couldn't help but laugh as she took out a clean handkerchief and gently wiped it off for him.
Chu Chanyin could smell her fragrance with each breath.
Fresh and elegant, very pleasant.
Chu Chanyin took the handkerchief and wiped his face haphazardly a few times before pushing the sweet rice balls in front of her. "They're still a little hot, cousin, eat carefully."
Zhao Youyi smiled slightly, "Thank you, cousin. You are a man of both elegance and domestic skill. The woman who marries you will be very fortunate."
"Aren't you the one enjoying all this now?" Chu Chanyin smiled back, equally unyielding. "It was all made for you, so why bother envying someone who doesn't even exist?"
Zhao Youyi blushed a little at his words, picked up a glutinous rice ball, put it to her lips and blew on it gently, avoiding looking at his face.
Chu Chanyin chuckled softly.
Zhao Youyi thought to himself that His Highness the Prince of Chu was indeed His Highness the Prince of Chu; he was unwilling to suffer any loss and his words were quite sharp.
If you tease him, he'll tease you back.
"You're such a cheapskate," Zhao Youyi muttered.
"What are you saying, cousin?" Chu Chanyin ignored her and looked at her with a smile. "You should be able to eat now. Cousin, you must be hungry. Eat more."
Chu Chanyin divided two of the uneaten glutinous rice balls in his bowl and put them into hers. Zhao Youyi looked at him blankly and said, "Cousin, are you raising pigs? I can't eat that many. I'm not a blockhead!"
It wasn't his rabbit! It's so fat, it's probably not raised for food, is it?
Chu Chanyin nodded. "Mumu eats much more than you. How can you call that a lot? The night is long, so eat more and don't go hungry."
Chu Chanyin reached out and ruffled her hair.
Zhao Youyi glared at him irritably, then scooped the two glutinous rice balls back into his bowl with a spoon. "Take care of your own glutinous rice balls!"
Zhao Youyi took a bite of the glutinous rice ball. It was filled with red bean paste that wasn't too sweet, and it tasted fragrant and soft. Chu Chanyin's cooking skills were indeed quite good.
The two sat facing each other and finished their dinner in a warm and peaceful manner.
Zhao Youyi called the waiter to come and clear the dishes. The waiter looked at Chu Chanyin and said, "Young master is so good to your wife. He's cooking for her himself so late!"
Chu Chanyin smiled slightly and turned to look at her: "My wife, tell me, have I been good to you?"
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