Chapter 105 Dining Together

Chapter 105 Dining Together

My aunt clasped her hands in front of her, turned her head, and glanced into the room.

He then turned to Shen Nanzi and said in a low voice, "Prince Jing has arrived and said he wants to dine here."

Auntie saw that Prince Jing had changed into a new outfit, wearing a light-colored silk shirt to absorb sweat, and his hair had been washed and still had a faint fragrance.

They said they wanted to stay for a meal, which, based on past experience, meant they wanted to stay overnight in the courtyard.

My aunt was worried. She was worried that it was her own princess's idea, and that she was worried that the princess would rekindle her feelings for Prince Jing.

She needs to find out.

Shen Nanzi said, "You're really shameless, coming uninvited."

Auntie was relieved to hear this, "Go ahead, none of the dishes I made today are ones that Prince Jing likes."

After thinking for a moment, the aunt added, "This old servant will use some incense later. Prince Jing will naturally leave if he can't stand it. Let's not quarrel!"

"Don't worry, he's only reluctant to argue with me now, because he's afraid I'll make things difficult for his sweetheart."

After Shen Nanzi finished speaking, she walked into her courtyard.

The aroma of food wafted through the courtyard, and lights were on inside the house.

When she returned, the little birds under the eaves fluttered their yellow wings and chirped.

Xie Yan casually lifted his eyelids and glanced at the woman who entered the room like the wind before pouring himself a glass of wine.

Shen Nanzi sat down directly opposite him. "You actually came to eat?"

Xie Yan took a sip of wine, his thin lips glistening with moisture. "Didn't you say you'd come back for dinner?"

When Shen Nanzi didn't see Cheng'er, she asked the maid, "Where is the young prince?"

The maid said, "His Highness says he's not hungry!"

No one knows a child better than his mother, and Shen Nanzi knew that he did not want to sit at the same table as Xie Yan.

So I didn't force him.

Xie Yan seemed lost in thought. After downing a cup of wine, he gripped the glass tightly with both hands. "Cheng'er hates me!"

Shen Nanzi didn't want to respond. In the past, she really wanted Cheng'er to have his approval. Even if he didn't like her, he would at least be nicer to Cheng'er!

However, he also came to dislike Cheng'er.

Even Cheng'er was disappointed. Now that they've gone their separate ways, there's no need to waste any more feelings.

Cheng'er's current state is his own doing; even if you hate him, you have to endure it.

Sow the seeds, reap the harvest.

Seeing that Shen Nanzi remained silent, Xie Yan smiled bitterly and drank another cup. The wine was not spicy, but slightly sweet, like fruit wine.

"Didn't you used to drink as a snack?"

“That’s all in the past. Now I prefer fruit wine.” Shen Nanzi also took a sip.

It has a slightly sweet taste, and it's delicious!

If it tastes really good with alcohol, she loves it, especially when paired with hibiscus cake.

However, it was known that the wine belonged to him and Xue Qingning, and the wine cellar was full of wines that represented their love.

Shen Nanzi didn't want to drink anymore. It was disgusting, and she felt like she had been a fool all these years.

Even though she had let go, Shen Nanzi didn't want to touch the wine that belonged to them.

This fruit wine suits her better; it's fragrant and sweet, and not too intoxicating.

"Would you like some wine to go with it?" Shen Nanzi thought to herself, and then asked her maid to fetch a few bottles.

Since we're here, let's have a few more drinks!

Xie Yan didn't say anything; after all, he was a man, and drinking fruit wine wasn't his style.

Before long, the wine was brought up by a maid.

Shen Nanzi handed him a bottle, "Drink it!"

Xie Yan, as expected, still preferred to drink wine, so he immediately switched to fruit wine.

After drinking two glasses of fruit wine, Shen Nanzi seemed to have developed a craving for alcohol, so she started drinking with Xie Yan.

"We won't leave until we're drunk!" she declared with a touch of bravado.

Xie Yan knew she had ulterior motives, but he still found himself indulging in a drink without realizing it.

No wonder some people fall for honey traps; he seemed somewhat willing to go along with her wishes.

Seeing her smile made the wine taste even better.

"When I was a child, I thought alcohol tasted really good, so I secretly took a sip and then slept for a whole day."

"That was the first time I drank alcohol. Xie Yan, when did you learn to drink?"

Sixteen years old.

"That's a bit late!" Shen Nanzi said, holding a white porcelain cup. "Why are you drinking? Is it out of curiosity or something fun to do?"

"At the coming-of-age ceremony."

Shen Nanzi noticed that his cheeks were already flushed and his eyes were slightly drunk.

The round table was too wide, so I simply sat down next to him, filled his wine glass, and put it in his hand.

"Come on, let's have another drink."

Xie Yan looked at her. Today she was wearing a snow-white gauze dress, embroidered with tiny red flowers, with pearls hanging in the middle of the flowers.

As she raised her glass, her sleeve fell to the crook of her arm, revealing her fair wrist.

She also smelled wonderful.

Xie Yan's Adam's apple bobbed, he looked away, and then drank the wine in his hand.

Shen Nanzi quickly refilled it and diligently placed it in his hand.

The moment her fingers touched his, it felt as if his fingertips were set ablaze, burning his heart with pain.

"Do you still remember things from when you were little?" Shen Nanzi picked up a piece of crispy fish and took a small bite.

"When my mother was alive, I was doing fairly well, until my father took a concubine."

“Our lives were…” Shen Nanzi paused, “very miserable!”

Those days took away her most beloved mother, a pain that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

She took a sip of wine, suppressing the tears welling in her eyes, "With so many concubines and so many children of your father, are you doing well?"

Xie Yan: "Not good!"

"How is it bad? My father favors his concubines over his wife and mistreats his children. Is he worse off than me?" Shen Nanzi pressed.

Xie Yan gave a bitter smile. "The Emperor only has one son in his eyes, and that is the Second Prince."

"The other princes were merely tools for him to balance power; they were not born of his own free will."

"Among these princes, there are also different ranks."

"So what class are you?"

Xie Yan looked at Shen Nanzi, who was so close to her, her eyes filled with the image of a shattered galaxy.

Her cheeks were soft and smooth, and her pink lips glistened with moisture, as if he couldn't refuse to answer her the moment she opened her mouth.

He closed his eyes, suppressing the bitterness in his heart, "The worst kind."

His past is like a needle pricking his heart; every time it is touched, it is like having a needle poking at his heart.

"Why is the Emperor treating you badly? Doesn't he like your mother either?"

Shen Nanzi's lips parted and closed right under his eyelids, as if a fairy was inviting him to taste them.

Xie Yan only wanted to bite into that softness, to linger between his lips and teeth.

"Is it okay?" His voice was as soft as a breeze, easily dissipated.

It's like a person who is restrained by etiquette, knocking on the door of one's heart.

Shen Nanzi didn't understand what he meant and stared at him.

He thought she had agreed, so he pressed down on her in a daze, and just inches away, Shen Nanzi's fingers pressed against his lips.

Their eyes met, and she gently pushed him away. "I asked you a question. Speak first!"

Feeling the warmth of her fingers, Xie Yan gently touched her fingertips with the tip of his tongue.

Shen Nanzi flung him away as if she'd been bitten by a dog, "Xie Yan!"

Xie Yan saw her like this, as if his touch disgusted her.

The light in his eyes dimmed, and he lowered his head and chuckled softly, "I'm drunk, it's not appropriate for me to stay in your courtyard any longer."

He lifted her chin and warned her, "If you drink any more, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and will force myself on you!"