Un corazón puro en una vasija de jade

Capítulo 99

Yongye recalled Li Tianyou's actions when he left Anguo, and goosebumps popped all over his body. Helplessly, he lowered his head and went in: "This humble servant greets Your Highness."

Li Tianyou was enjoying a delicious meal of Master Chen's best-kept secret dish when he glanced at Yongye, whose brown skin and pockmarked face were slightly dazed. After a moment, he asked gently, "Master Chen is still busy in the kitchen?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Tianyou stood up and said with a smile, "I like this dish, so I'll have Chef Chen make it for me. Lead the way."

Prince You, of all rank, is going to the kitchen of the Peony Courtyard to watch the chefs cook? The maid and Yongye clearly didn't know how to answer. Li Tianyou had already left Xuefangzhai and said to the maid, "You don't need to come with me, let's go."

Yongye forced himself to remain calm and led Li Tianyou to the backyard. The maidservant quickly ran to call the madam.

The moment he stepped into the backyard, Li Tianyou's voice seemed to be right next to Yongye's ear: "Xiaoye, do you know you're driving me crazy? Don't stay in this filthy place anymore, okay?"

Yongye looked up in surprise and laughed, "Is Your Highness talking to Little Pockmarked Boy? Little Pockmarked Boy likes the kitchen in Peony Courtyard. He plans to learn even a fraction of Master Chen's skills and open a small shop to make a living, save some money to get married. Master Chen said Little Pockmarked Boy is very smart and can practice his knife skills at the chopping block in a few days..."

She spoke rapidly, her voice beaming as if she had spotted a fat, pockmarked chef, and as if her shop had already opened for business. After a long string of words, Li Tianyou suddenly stopped responding, and they were almost at the kitchen. Yongye hurried a few steps forward and said, "Your Highness, we've arrived at the kitchen. Little Pockmarked, go and call Chef Chen."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Tianyou had already pulled her against a pillar. Without saying a word, he slid his fingers down her collar.

"Your Highness...you not only have homosexual tendencies, but you also like pockmarked faces?" Yongye suddenly shrank his neck, his hair stood on end, and he pressed his hand against Li Tianyou's chest, his voice stammering. This wasn't an act; he was genuinely frightened by Li Tianyou.

Li Tianyou quickly grabbed her hand and pinned it above her head, saying slowly, "I don't believe I've misjudged you every time!"

Yongye was in a panic. If she didn't reveal her martial arts skills, would she let Li Tianyou take advantage of her for nothing? She sighed. Was she just going to let Li Tianyou see through her identity like this? Seeing his hand already sliding down her neck and about to slip into her clothes, she closed her eyes and changed her voice, saying, "Li Tianyou, if you don't let go of me, I will never speak to you again for the rest of my life."

"Hehe, I knew you'd admit it eventually." Li Tianyou released his grip but pulled Yongye into his arms, smiling slightly. "Xiaoye, why didn't you go home? I never expected you to not only come back but also hide in the Peony Courtyard. Who disguised you? I almost couldn't believe it was you."

Yongye turned his head away: "Didn't you recognize me after all?"

Li Tianyou chuckled: "I recognize your eyes. Who has ever seen a servant peeking around with such bright eyes?"

"I don't have time for idle chatter. Keep an eye on Young Master Moyu and listen to what he says to Li Yannian. Something will happen in the capital within ten days. That's all." Moyu will recognize him too? Yongye frowned, somewhat worried.

Li Tianyou also heard footsteps coming from the corridor not far away. He released Yongye and saw her dart into the kitchen. The madam's voice, accompanied by a strong smell of rouge, drifted over. "Oh, Your Highness, how can you go to a place like the kitchen?"

Li Tianyou fanned himself and said, "I've been thinking about this too. It's alright if you don't go; Chef Chen can come to the palace to help with the cooking tomorrow!"

The Peony Courtyard was famous, not only for the handsome young men and women, but also for Chef Chen's exceptional cuisine. Many customers came to the Peony Courtyard not necessarily because they were interested in a particular young man or woman, but simply because of Chef Chen's cooking. They would also invite the young man or woman to keep them company while they drank. If Chef Chen were to leave, the business would lose at least 30%. The madam immediately put on a fawning smile and said, "Your Highness, you see, this courtyard really can't do without Chef Chen. How about I have him go and train the chefs in your household tomorrow?"

Li Tianyou closed his fan and his face turned cold: "I always keep my word. If Master Chen doesn't come to the palace tomorrow, the Peony Courtyard doesn't need to open."

The madam, who usually found Li Tianyou to be mild-mannered, was surprised by his sudden change of attitude and could only force a smile and agree.

Remembering Yongye's words, he decided to visit Moyu. Just as he was hesitating about when to go, Li Tianyou saw Yongye and a maid carrying two food boxes toward Moyu's courtyard.

Hit

"Cuixiang, what does the young master want with me?" Yongye asked casually on the road.

Cui Xiang smiled and said softly, "I'm going over there tonight... I asked for leave from you, so you're the one I'm asking to serve you."

Yongye suddenly realized that in the brothels and brothels of Jihuafang, there were bound to be young servants and maids who were in love with each other. Cuixiang's lover was Ma San from Yihongyuan. Seeing that Cuixiang's face was red, she smiled and took the food box from Cuixiang's hand.

Perhaps Cuixiang really was going to meet her lover, or perhaps Moyu's probing during the day wasn't enough; the people of Youli Valley would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free. Yongye looked at Moyu's courtyard with disdain, thinking, "Is Moyu so sure he can kill her?"

Recalling the look of deep hatred Mo Yu had shown her on the mountain that day, Yongye sighed. They were from the same place; Mo Yu was probably resentful of the unfair treatment he received—she had become a marquis, while he had ended up in a brothel. Better to offend a gentleman than a petty person, especially one with a strong desire for revenge. Mo Yu was clearly the latter.

"Young Master, Little Pockmarked Boy is here." Yongye, though wary, knocked on the gate of Young Master Moyu's courtyard with a smile.

Dozens of lanterns were lit in the Moyu Courtyard, casting a hazy glow. Moyu, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood under a tree. Yongye was somewhat dazed, and the longing in her heart resurfaced.

She lowered her eyes, took out the dishes from the food box one by one and arranged them, and said respectfully, "Young master, is there anything else you need?"

Mo Yu turned around, his gaze sweeping over her a few times, and said with a faint smile, "There are no guests tonight, so drinking alone under the moon is an elegant affair. Pour me some wine."

"Yes, young master." Yongye picked up the wine pot, his doubts growing stronger.

Moonlit night, lamplight, sparse and slanted flowering trees.

The evening breeze blew down petals like rain.

The distant laughter, faint and indistinct, only served to accentuate the unusual tranquility of the courtyard.

Such a beautiful sight would make a man rather drink alone than have an unrelated and ugly servant accompany him.

Yongye recalled the trouble he had caused at the Peony Courtyard and with Moyu in his pursuit of the Moon Soul Antidote, and a cold smile crept across his face. He stood silently to the side.

Mo Yu's drinking posture was graceful, holding the celadon wine cup in his hand as if playing with a flower. After three cups, he turned his head to look at Yong Ye, and surprisingly smiled at her. The smile was incomparably charming, his eyes were hazy, and his voice seemed to come not from his mouth, but from his chest and the depths of his heart, as he called out to her with a slight tremor: "Xing Hun—"

Yongye was startled; the face before her, originally Moyu, suddenly changed to Yuepo's. The light before her became even more hazy, as if she were in a dream, and a white figure seemed to be bending down towards her, radiating a warm and peaceful aura, causing her to involuntarily close her eyes.

Mo Yu chuckled and stroked her face. "You wouldn't be able to escape this bewitching lamp if you didn't know its power." He stared at her face for a moment, then poured some powder into the wine, dabbed it on her face with a handkerchief, and watched triumphantly as the tan faded from her skin. "You've really put on a good act, even the fat guy in the same room was fooled, hmph!"

A moment later, a delicate face appeared before him. It showed no sign of illness, radiating a lustrous glow like the purest jade. From her eyebrows to her mouth, everything was perfect, her beauty enhanced by the lamplight. Mo Yu stared at her for a moment, his jealousy growing stronger, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Just because of this face?" With that, he scooped up Yong Ye and carried her into the room.

"Young Master! Prince You has arrived!" The madam's voice rang out from outside the door.

Mo Yu glanced at Yong Ye, placed her on the bed, and inwardly cursed Li Tianyou for arriving at such an inopportune time. He then closed the door and left the room. He quickly replaced the candles in the two Enchantment Lamps.

When he hurriedly greeted him at the courtyard gate, Li Tianyou, dressed in a blue robe, was elegant and handsome, but his expression showed some impatience. "What, Young Master Moyu, are you not welcoming me?"

"How could that be? It's rare for the Prince to come and visit Moyu. I thought I would be drinking and enjoying the moon alone tonight, but I didn't expect..." Moyu lowered her head, looking slightly worried.

Li Tianyou lifted his chin and looked at him, then said gently, "Tonight, Chef Chen has used his unique skills to make his signature dish. It wouldn't be right for me to enjoy it alone. I would like to enjoy the moon and drink with Moyu."

The madam fawned, "His Highness truly cherishes Moyu; we mustn't let his kindness go to waste."

Mo Yu opened her eyes wide, her eyelashes trembled, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She looked at Li Tianyou with gratitude, not knowing what to say.