Chapter 107: Heart Racing
“Gongzhu, Zhong Shijun has arrived.”
Yinxin looked at the silent Li Xuanyue, unable to guess what she was thinking. She could only softly speak to remind her.
“Gongzhu!”
Zhong He, who entered from outside the hall, was dressed in green robes. His aura was elegant and refined, and a faint smile hung on his handsome face. When his gaze fell upon Li Xuanyue sitting at the head of the hall, the smile in his eyes softened further.
Unlike his previous gaze toward Li Xuanyue, the sense of distance seemed to have vanished.
“Sit.”
Li Xuanyue regained her senses. She didn’t have much energy to question Zhong He’s arrival. Instead, her gaze remained fixed on the cup of tea she held in her hand.
Zhong He furrowed his brows, naturally noticing her distraction, but he didn’t mind. He gestured with his eyes to Liuguang, who was following behind him, to bring forward the prepared chicken soup.
The moment the lid was lifted, the aroma of the rich chicken soup wafted through the air. Inside were scallions, red dates, and other ingredients meant to nourish Qi and blood. It looked very appetizing, drawing one’s gaze toward it.
Li Xuanyue’s stomach gave an untimely “gurgle” at that moment. An awkward expression crossed her face.
Over the past few days, she had been preoccupied with the truth of Li Qinghe’s disappearance, barely eating or sleeping. Her stomach was empty, and she naturally couldn’t resist the temptation of this delicious chicken soup.
However, when her gaze met Zhong He’s smiling eyes, she still felt incredibly embarrassed and lowered her head.
Zhong He took in every bit of her shyness and embarrassment. With a gentle smile in his eyes, he took the initiative to step forward.
“Gongzhu, this is chicken soup my mother woke up early this morning to stew for you. She said it would be good for you to nourish yourself.”
At this moment, Zhong He was like a virtuous spouse. Once Liuguang set the soup down, he picked up the ladle and served a full bowl for Li Xuanyue, placing it before her.
For some reason, Li Xuanyue found this scene very eerie. If she remembered correctly, her relationship with Zhong He wasn’t that close. The delivery of the soup and his attentive service gave her a feeling of being overwhelmed by unexpected favor.
“Can we eat together?” Li Xuanyue requested.
With so much soup and meat, she likely couldn’t finish it alone. But with Zhong He joining, it might be different.
Li Xuanyue’s request startled Zhong He. He hadn’t expected her to say that, but he didn’t hesitate and nodded in agreement.
“Very well.”
Liuguang, standing to the side, frowned. He wanted to speak up and say that Zhong He had already eaten, but when his gaze met Zhong He’s, he was stopped by a silent gesture. He could only stand obediently to the side.
The moment the rich soup entered her mouth, Li Xuanyue felt refreshed throughout her body. Even her tired eyes regained their luster, sparkling with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
“Does Gongzhu like it?”
Watching Li Xuanyue drink with such a satisfied expression, Zhong He’s heart suddenly softened. Her current every action and movement truly couldn’t be associated with the words “tyrannical and unreasonable.”
From this, one could see how sharp a sword rumors were. They could kill people invisibly without drawing blood.
Li Xuanyue nodded with satisfaction. “Mm. My Yuemu must have put a lot of effort into this, right?”
“Being able to stew the chicken meat until it’s tender but not greasy, and so fragrant and sweet… that’s not something just anyone can do.”
“Tell Yuemu not to do this anymore in the future. It’s too much effort. It can be arranged for the maids below to handle it. She shouldn’t tire herself out.”
While chicken soup was a good thing, having an elder prepare it personally for her made Li Xuanyue feel a bit guilty.
“It is enough that Gongzhu likes it.”
How could Zhong He not see Li Xuanyue’s concern for his mother? His eyes were full of gentleness. “This is all my mother’s intention.”
“My mother is… thinking of leaving tomorrow, so she specifically asked me to come and thank Gongzhu.”
Zhong He paused deliberately as he spoke, observing Li Xuanyue’s expression. Seeing her face full of doubt and confusion, he then finished the rest of his words.
Hearing the news that she was leaving, the chicken meat Li Xuanyue was chewing stopped instantly.
“It hasn’t been half a month yet, has it? Why is Yuemu thinking of leaving?” Li Xuanyue didn’t quite understand. “Is it because someone in the clan hasn’t been attentive in looking after her?”
If that were the case, she would have to have a word with those maids.
Zhong He raised his hand. “Gongzhu misunderstands. The people in the clan have been taking very good care of her.”
He said in a low voice, “It’s just… my mother has been here for four or five days. I am afraid that if she continues to stay, it will cause Gongzhu to suffer from gossip.”
Li Xuanyue frowned. “Who dares to gossip about this Bengong?”
The moment those words left her mouth, she suddenly understood why Zhong He had brought the chicken soup so early in the morning. After all that, he wanted her to state her position regarding his mother staying with the Phoenix Clan.
She smacked her lips, suddenly feeling that the chicken soup she just drank wasn’t as fragrant anymore.
“Speak then, what do you want this Bengong to do?”
Li Xuanyue asked Zhong He with an air of “breaking a jar because it’s already cracked.” She knew his early morning attentiveness—serving soup and chatting—was too unlike the usual Zhong He. It turned out he did it all for his mother. She should have realized sooner.
Sigh!
Li Xuanyue couldn’t help but sigh deeply in her heart.
“Yuemu shouldn’t be able to leave the Phoenix Clan right now, right?”
Outside, Zhong Zhou’s people were searching for Zhong He’s mother like crazy. Who would have thought she had already been protected by Li Xuanyue’s people and brought to Zhong He’s side? As long as no one leaked the secret, Zhong Zhou would never know.
Zhong He lowered his eyes. “My mother is advanced in years and cannot withstand much turmoil. I wonder if Gongzhu has a way to help her escape her predicament?”
Now that the conversation had reached this point, Zhong He had nothing to hide. He was no longer satisfied with his mother’s current state; he wanted her to be far away from the Crane Clan and completely settled within the Phoenix Clan. But he couldn’t achieve this alone. Only Li Xuanyue could help him fully realize this wish.
Li Xuanyue fell into deep thought.
“You mean, you want this Bengong to keep Yuemu here?”
“Is it possible, Gongzhu?” Zhong He asked with a serious gaze.
His dark eyes looked very affectionate, staring intently at Li Xuanyue without looking away. Li Xuanyue had never been stared at like this before. Zhong He’s soulful eyes were like two small hooks, causing her heart to race wildly with a “thump, thump, thump.”
Translator’s Note: Hello readers! Yuemu (岳母) is a term for mother-in-law.
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