Chapter 144
Chapter 144: Not Much Skill, Plenty of Temper
“Who… who goes there…”
Mo Zhao Zhao’s head was spinning as she braced her forehead with one hand, staring at the man picking up fragments before her.
The man was squatting, his face hidden from view. Judging from his clothes, he clearly wasn’t from the Princess Manor.
Through the haze in her mind, a faint sense of danger stirred. She slurred in anger: “How… how dare you trespass into the Princess Manor… do you… want to die?”
“…”
The Princess Manor—he had lost count of how many times he had trespassed before. What difference would one more make?
Yun Wan Ye carefully gathered every fragment, checking several times to make sure none were missing, then tossed them into a wooden bucket.
Suddenly, someone tugged at his sleeve. Turning his head, he found her gazing up at him through misty eyes, as if separated from him by a thin veil.
“You… you look like someone I really dislike~”
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
He knew she was drunk, but hadn’t expected her to be so far gone that she couldn’t even recognize him. What annoyed him most was that even drunk, she still called him an eyesore.
He gave a low laugh, his smile not reaching his eyes: “And who exactly is this person Your Highness finds so hateful?”
“You… you’re annoying. Where… where are my shadow guards? I’ll have you… dragged out immediately.”
Letting go of his sleeve, she shut her eyes and pressed her temples hard, the pounding in her head making her feel as if it would split apart.
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
He was annoying?
He’d only said one sentence. And that was enough?
Forget it. No point arguing with a drunk.
The veins in Yun Wan Ye’s forehead twitched. Taking a deep breath, he smoothed down the irritation rising in his chest. Narrowing his eyes, he caught her by the arm and gave a firm tug, pulling her into his embrace.
Her head was heavy, her body weak and unsteady. Once drawn into his arms, Mo Zhao Zhao didn’t resist—she simply leaned into his chest.
Hic!
She let out a loud hiccup, then quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. Her face scrunched tight, her muffled voice thick with discomfort: “Ugh… I feel sick… I’m going to throw up~”
“Hold it in.”
Yun Wan Ye’s expression darkened as he glanced around. Behind a screen, beside the dressing table, sat a bronze basin.
Frowning, he quickly guided Mo Zhao Zhao over and pushed her head down toward the basin.
“Alright, you can throw up now.”
Mo Zhao Zhao grabbed at his hand, her mood growing more irritable.
“Let… let go of me~”
“I can let go, but you’re not vomiting all over the floor. You do it in the basin, understand?”
Just the thought of her spewing everywhere the moment he released her made his face tighten with distaste. For a man with a clean-freak streak, such a thing was unacceptable.
But the princess was in no mood to take orders.
Clutching his hand tighter, she snapped impatiently: “Who… who do you think you are, ordering me around? Guards! Drag him out and tie him up…”
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
Hah. Not much skill, plenty of temper.
“So are you throwing up or not? If not, I’m letting go.”
“Let… let go. I don’t… I don’t want to throw up anymore~”
Her voice turned small and pitiful. He didn’t need to see to know that those alluring eyes of hers must now be shimmering faintly with moisture.
Swallowing hard, he released her arm. “Fine.”
Free again, Mo Zhao Zhao slowly lifted her head, her mind drifting even further from reality. Her eyes half-closed, she felt her stomach churn—
And in the next instant, she leaned forward and retched violently.
Yun Wan Ye wasn’t quick enough to dodge. His dark cloud-brocade robes and his boots were instantly splattered.
The stench hit him in a wave. His teeth clenched. His face blackened like the bottom of a pot.
Damn it.
Why had he believed her nonsense?
…
The next morning, in Duke Ning’s manor—
After breakfast, Yun Rui took his books to find the tutor, while Yun Wan Ning lay on the couch cultivating her spiritual power.
“Mother~”
A voice called, and Yun Wan Yao bustled in.
“What is it?”
Madam Yun was sewing clothes for Yun Wan Ning. Seeing her daughter enter, she lifted her head.
“Mother, I’m free today, so I thought I’d visit the Princess Manor. Can I take Little Sister with me?”
When Yun Wan Ning cultivated, she often split her focus. On hearing this, she quickly withdrew from her cultivation state.
[Yes, yes, I want to go! I’ve never been to the Princess Manor.]
[More importantly, I can protect Elder Sister if she’s in trouble. Sister, take me along!]
Madam Yun: “…”
She sighed. “If you want to go, go yourself. Taking Ning Ning along will just be troublesome.”
Ever since adopting Yun Rui and after Yun Wan Ning had once wondered about her own place in the family, Madam Yun had given her the childhood name “Ning Ning.”
[Not troublesome at all, Mother. I drink goat’s milk now—Elder Sister can handle that. And really, would the grand Princess Manor not have goat’s milk?]
[Please let me go~]
[Besides, Second Brother has already set a trap for Lu Huai Jin. Now that Lu Huai Jin’s little lover is pregnant, and with his marriage to the princess so close, Second Brother will probably move in for the kill any day now.]
[Of course I want to see if the matter has already reached the princess—and how she’ll react if she finds out.]
[If you don’t let me go, how am I supposed to watch the show? Missing such a good one would be a pity.]
Madam Yun: “…”
“Really, Mother, it’s fine. Little Sister drinks goat’s milk now, and I can have someone bring it along. She’s been cooped up in the manor long enough. I want her to see new things.”
“Besides, the princess adores her. She’ll be delighted to see her.”
Following Yun Wan Ning’s inner voice, Yun Wan Yao quickly pressed the point, continuing to persuade Madam Yun.
[Yes, Elder Sister is right.]
[I’ve been stuck here too long—seeing more of the world is good for my brain development.]
[Please let me go, Mother~]
Madam Yun: “…”
With the two of them—one big, one small—singing in unison, how could she keep refusing?
If she did, the little milk bun would probably nag endlessly.
“Alright, if you insist on taking her, then take her. But make sure you watch over Little Fourth, and bring plenty of guards to protect you.”
[Yay, Mother agreed! I can finally go out again!]
[Don’t worry, Mother—Elder Sister will take care of me, and I’ll protect her too.]
Overjoyed, Yun Wan Ning cheered in her heart, while Yun Wan Yao patted her chest in promise.
“Yes, Mother, rest assured. I’ll take good care of her, bring many people, and make sure she’s never in danger.”
Once they changed clothes, the sisters boarded the carriage for the Princess Manor.
Along the way, Yun Wan Yao lifted the curtain for Yun Wan Ning, showing her the street scenes outside.