The second prince was also quite surprised. If he didn't know that his mother didn't want his cousin to marry into the royal family, he would have suspected that his mother wanted his cousin to be his principal wife.
Although the rules between men and women have been relaxed in recent years, people like him who are about to get engaged will still be more cautious. "Can I go too?"
"Didn't you say you treated Yue'er like your own sister? As long as you are upright, you won't be afraid of rumors. Of course, you must always have servants with you, and you must explain when it's time to do so."
The Queen added the last sentence because she remembered the last time her son had a private conversation with Yue'er and Yue'er had an accident.
"Then I'll go see what my cousin and fifth brother are preparing to eat, and then come back to tell mother." After saying this, the second prince bowed neatly, and disappeared in a moment under the queen's surprised gaze.
"Are you coming back for lunch?"
The queen was also impressed by her son's ability to leave without hesitation, and she couldn't help but ask another question to Li Jingchen from behind.
The only response to the Queen was the Second Prince waving from behind.
The Queen couldn't help but mutter, "This child."
When the second prince Li Jingchen arrived at Zhou Qiongyue's carriage, he saw Gu Yu, the head maid beside his cousin, cooking by herself, while a little maid was lighting the fire for her, and another little maid was preparing food for Gu Yu.
When everyone saw the Second Prince coming, they immediately put down their things and saluted, even the Fifth Prince and Zhou Qiongyue were no exception. Although they had set up a table outside the carriage to drink tea and eat snacks.
The Second Prince raised his hand to the others, telling them to do what they were supposed to do. He walked straight to Li Jingyu and sat down, saying in a condescending manner, "Cousin, are you still being polite to me?"
"I don't care. I'm mainly worried that you'll get into trouble." Zhou Qiongyue said this frankly and spread her hands, looking completely indifferent.
Zhou Qiongyue really didn't care. In the era when she lived in her previous life, this kind of relationship between cousins was almost the same as that between real siblings, and no one would think too much about it.
"Don't worry, cousin! Xin'er won't think too much." The second prince felt that he still understood Xie Zixin.
Zhou Qiongyue: No, you don’t understand.
But Zhou Qiongyue didn't argue with Li Jingchen anymore. As long as it didn't bother her, it was fine. She really didn't want to compete with the heroine. After all, she wasn't the original owner, and she didn't like Li Jingchen, let alone marry into the royal family.
Zhou Qiongyue and the second prince Li Jingchen didn't care, only the fifth prince was complaining in his heart, this is not my brother, how could I be so stupid, absolutely not.
The second prince, Li Jingchen, noticed the strange expression on his fifth brother's face, but he thought that his fifth brother didn't want to compete with him for food. The second prince ignored him even more and ate the food on the table quickly in a provocative manner.
The Second Prince looked even more foolish in the eyes of the Fifth Prince, but he just didn't know it.
Zhou Qiongyue found it interesting to watch the two brothers competing with each other, as they were on different wavelengths. The fatigue from sitting in the carriage for half a day suddenly disappeared, and she felt very comfortable.
Zhou Qiongyue felt that it would be better if there weren't so many noble ladies passing by them.
Gu Yu moved quickly. Not long after the Second Prince arrived, she had prepared the meal and brought a large porcelain pot to each person. This was clay pot rice made according to Zhou Qiongyue's idea, and Gu Yu was willing to add some extra ingredients.
As soon as the dish arrived, Zhou Qiongyue and the other two were all stunned by the aroma. Zhou Qiongyue felt that this simple, delicious, and filling meal was perfect for this kind of trip. It was impossible to cook seven plates and eight bowls in this remote area; that would be too much of a torture.
Before eating, the Second Prince sighed, "No wonder Fifth Brother insisted on coming to my cousin's place for a meal."
Neither Zhou Qiongyue nor the Fifth Prince had time to respond. They were already eating heartily and didn't hear what the Second Prince was saying at all.
Seeing this, the second prince could only touch his nose helplessly, smell the fragrance in front of him, and directly joined the eating frenzy.
After the three of them finished eating, the Second Prince felt a little full and quietly changed to a more comfortable sitting position, not forgetting to praise: "Cousin, the maid next to you cooks really well."
"Second cousin, your praise is useless. The maids around me are my favorites, and there is no way I will give them to you." Zhou Qiongyue was full now, so she spoke more casually.
The second prince Li Jingchen thought to himself, I dare not snatch my cousin's maid. People cannot be snatched, but benefits must be fought for. "I dare not even dream of it. If you get something new and delicious, remember to send me a portion. I will be very grateful to you, cousin."
"Oh, I won't see you off." Zhou Qiongyue refused completely.
"Ah?" The Second Prince was genuinely surprised. Hadn't they just discussed how to get along? What was going on now?
"I won't send it. Although I think there's nothing wrong with sending some food, people's words are scary! Besides, Miss Xie won't be happy when she finds out.
Women are always narrow-minded in this regard. I am a woman too, so I know this clearly."
Zhou Qiongyue really didn't want to cause any trouble that would affect her peaceful life.
In the past, the Second Prince would have said without hesitation that Xin'er was not that kind of person. However, after their last meeting, the Second Prince hesitated. He could see that Xin'er cared about the friendship between him and his cousin.
So the Second Prince hesitated for a moment, then replied angrily, "Forget it then."
Zhou Qiongyue: Don’t think too much, there is no other friendship between us.
The fifth prince, Li Jingyu, patted his second brother on the shoulder and consoled him, "Don't be upset, second brother! Although your cousin won't be sending you delicious treats anymore, you'll still have my future sister-in-law, Miss Xie, to send them to you! It's totally worth it."
"Thank you." The second prince just wanted to beat his younger brother at this moment.
After the Second Prince finished talking to his troubled brother, he turned to Zhou Qiongyue and said, "Cousin, take a rest. We will go see our mother first."
Zhou Qiongyue still stood up and saluted the two of them, "Farewell, Your Highnesses."
When it comes to etiquette and other matters outside, Zhou Qiongyue will never be wrong.
As the Fifth Prince, Li Jingyu, was being pulled away by the Second Prince, he couldn't help but loudly promise, "Cousin, tomorrow I'll go hunt a snow fox for you and make you a scarf. I guarantee you'll become the most beautiful woman in Yuan'an. Just wait for me!"
Zhou Qiongyue didn't want to discourage the child's enthusiasm, so she smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll be waiting for the Fifth Prince's scarf."
Seeing that his cousin believed him, the fifth prince Li Jingyu happily let his second brother take him away.
When Zhou Qiongyue saw the two princes leave, she turned around and got on the carriage to take a nap. She had no intention of wandering around. In this desolate wilderness, sleeping in a carriage was the most comfortable thing.
Zhou Qiongyue firmly believes that if you don't seek death, you won't die.
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