jdhmnovel Chapter 384 I will give you the freedom you want
Chapter 384 I will give you the freedom you want
“At yesterday’s luncheon, my stepmother told you that I am proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. Don’t listen to her nonsense. I’m only slightly versed in them. I was forced to learn them by my mother and my stepmother. In reality, I have no interest in any of them at all.”
"If so what do you like?"
"Make pastries!"
"Making pastries?"
A hint of joy appeared on Ying Yang's face as he suddenly recalled the exquisite and delicious pastries made by the Princess Consort at the bonfire party in the Northern Territory that night.
"My master and I became acquainted through making pastries."
As Qin Chuyun recalled the past, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
"As I grew up, I learned almost nothing about the proper etiquette of a well-bred young lady. My stepmother was very worried. Later, she discovered that I liked to bake pastries, and she was quite happy. She said that if you can win a man's heart through his stomach, you can basically win him over."
Thinking that although her stepmother was a superb cook, she still couldn't hold onto her father, Qin Chuyun couldn't help but curl her lips in disdain before continuing.
“I didn’t care what she said, anyway, she allowed me to learn pastry making from my master. Those days were the happiest and freest days of my life! My master would take me on outings and picnics, teach me to ride horses, and roll around in the grass with me…”
Qin Chuyun talked from morning until noon, while Yingyang listened quietly from the side, occasionally handing Qin Chuyun a cup of tea.
It wasn't until Qin Chuyun suddenly heard his stomach rumble that he realized what was happening, and he smiled sheepishly at Ying Yang.
"Aren't you getting annoyed by my constant nagging?"
"No, I find it very interesting. I didn't expect that you and Princess Xian had so many interesting stories in the past. After we finish our vegetarian meal, you can continue to tell me about them."
Qin Chuyun perked up even more upon hearing this.
"Let me tell you, when my master later became the Princess Consort of Xian in Liyang, she kept it a secret from everyone that she used to be called Huang Huacai (Daylily), a pastry chef, and the head of Jiaoyangyu. But I didn't know these intricacies and almost exposed her in front of many people. The situation at the time was particularly thrilling..."
Yes, Qin Chuyun's unintentional remark almost exposed Zhao Xuan's secret, but she was scolded by the protective Consort Shu. Qin Chuyun even cried because of it, but of course she wouldn't talk about these embarrassing moments.
After finishing their vegetarian meal, the two continued to stroll around the Reclining Buddha Temple until it was time for dinner. Only then did Qin Chuyun take Yingyang back to Liyang City.
Yingyang naturally treated them to a meal, while Qin Chuyun was responsible for finding a restaurant and ordering food. During the meal, Qin Chuyun also drank a few glasses of fruit wine. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Yingyang escorted Qin Chuyun back to his residence.
When the two arrived at the gate of the General's Mansion, Yingyang suddenly remembered something important.
"Miss Qin, since you don't plan to run away from home and go to find your father on your own, shouldn't you return the little sachet containing the amulet to me?"
With two rosy cheeks, Qin Chuyun grinned and acted cheekily at Ying Yang.
“If a young girl gives you a sachet, it’s yours. If you give me a sachet, it’s mine. What’s mine is mine! How can you ask for something back after giving it away?”
"you……"
Yingyang felt he was at a loss for words, but he still wanted the sachet back.
"How about you name a condition? Anything you want, as long as you can get the sachet back..."
"Don't change!"
Qin Chuyun refused decisively, then quietly moved closer to Yingyang, stood on tiptoe, and whispered something seductive in Yingyang's ear.
"You don't know yet, do you? I'm the little girl you took home when I got lost. This sachet was originally mine; you were just returning it to its rightful owner. Now you understand, right?"
"What did you say?"
Ying Yang suddenly asked a question, unable to hide his shock, but Qin Chuyun was already humming a little tune and skipping into the General's Mansion.
However, Qin Chuyun suddenly slowed down, instantly reverting to the graceful, elegant steps of a well-bred young lady.
Ying Yang couldn't help but chuckle, but he believed that Qin Chuyun hadn't lied to him; she was indeed the little girl who had gotten lost back then.
That night, Yingyang tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Is Qin Chuyun the little girl who got lost all those years ago? Is the little girl who got lost Qin Chuyun?
Yingyang pondered a question over and over again: Does this mean they are destined to be together?
Moreover, Qin Chuyun is physically strong and has a good appetite. She is also good at making pastries. She is equally adept in the living room and the kitchen. Unlike other noble ladies who are bound by conventions, she yearns for a free and unrestrained life.
Thinking about it carefully, isn't Qin Chuyun exactly the image of the queen he dreamed of?
But if Qin Chuyun knew that her true identity was the Rongdi King, would she still be so close to her? And confide in her about everything?
Should he tell Qin Chuyun the truth now?
Or should we wait a little longer? Wait until Qin Chuyun has a better impression of me?
But if we wait any longer, and Qin Chuyun develops feelings for me, and I haven't told her the truth beforehand, wouldn't that be considered deception?
For a time, Ying Yang was filled with anxiety and insecurity. In the end, he even began to resent his identity as the King of Rongdi. If only he were just a young master named Yang Ying from Yancheng!
In the days that followed, with Wu Yulan's tacit approval, Qin Chuyun took Yingyang on a tour of the entire Liyang City and surrounding counties and towns, and the two became close friends who could talk about anything.
At least that's what Qin Chuyun thinks.
During this period, Consort Shu issued an imperial edict, which roughly stated:
King Yingyang of the Rongdi Kingdom is about to come to Liyang to pay homage to Emperor Xia. He will personally select a noblewoman for marriage. If she is chosen by King Yingyang, Emperor Xia will personally issue an edict to confer upon her the title of princess, grant her a fief of a thousand bushels of grain, and her children can inherit the title.
As a result, the trend of marriage in Liyang City changed again!
She will be granted the title of princess! She will be granted a fief of 1,000 bushels of grain! Her children may inherit the title!
What an honor this is!
It's not that you can't marry the king of the Rongdi tribes!
At that time, Qin Chuyun and Ying Yang were fishing at their manor on the outskirts of the city.
Qin Chuyun cast his fishing rod out and sneered disdainfully.
"Look at these noble ladies! At first, they looked down on the Rongdi King and avoided him like the plague, but now that they see there are real benefits to be had, they all swarm over. How opportunistic! How vain!"
Yingyang stared quietly at the motionless fishing rod in his hand and slowly said:
"Miss Qin, if I asked you to marry the Rongdi King, would you be willing? He may not be able to give you anything, but he can give you the freedom you desire most!"
Ying Yang turned to look at Qin Chuyun, who looked completely bewildered and didn't understand what Ying Yang meant at all.
How do you know the Rongdi king will grant me freedom?
Yingyang swallowed hard, mustering all his courage. There was no time to say anything now; the imperial edict from Consort Shu was like putting him on the hot seat.
He didn't care about the other noble ladies at all; he only cared about Qin Chuyun.
"Because I am Yingyang, the king of the Rongdi! I keep my word!"
Qin Chuyun suddenly stood up; her expression was beyond words!
Suddenly, the fishing rod sank sharply into the water, as if a fish had taken the bait, and it was a very large and heavy one at that, which pulled Qin Chuyun, who was on the shore, a few steps toward the bank.
A "plop" sound!
Qin Chuyun lost her footing and fell into the water!