The boat was fully equipped, even with tools to brew wine and tea.
Even the grilled fish that Qin Yiqing had been longing for was available at this moment.
The entire boat was filled with a delicious aroma.
The fish was caught by the boatman, still wriggling and fresh!
At first, Qin Yiqing found it a bit dull, but seeing the wine and fish, she immediately whispered to Yun Shu, "I was too superficial just now."
Yun Shu tapped Qin Yiqing's nose and replied, "I was superficial just now too."
The two of them burst into laughter.
"What were Miss Ning and Miss Xiaoqing talking about that made you so happy?" Zhen Lin asked Yun Shu softly.
Yun Shu replied with a smile, "Xiaoqing loves grilled fish the most. I didn't expect the young prince and the princess to have it prepared."
"What I particularly love is this kind of fresh grilled fish. Young Prince, Princess, your lake tour today is truly delightful!" Qin Yiqing praised without reservation.
"It's always like this when my brother and I go on lake tours. We love to drink tea and eat while enjoying the lake, along with fresh grilled fish. It always feels like everything is beautiful at this time," Princess Ningde said gently.
Princess Ningde's eyes held a hint of nostalgia at this moment.
When she was young, everything seemed beautiful.
Even going on a lake tour felt simple and beautiful.
But now, on a lake tour, although everything prepared was the same as before, there was no longer the same freedom of heart. Her mind felt clouded, constantly occupied by worries she shouldn't be having.
Zhen Lin quietly watched Yun Shu. She was listening attentively to Ningde, and even in her silence, she possessed a fatal charm for him.
"It seems we share similar tastes!" Qin Yiqing was adept at playing along.
Holding a piece of freshly grilled fish, she exclaimed, "Delicious! You must try it."
Qin Yiqing handed a fish to Yun Shu.
Yun Shu took it, and the aroma of the grilled fish immediately whetted her appetite. The cook's skill was excellent, grilling the fish to a crispy exterior and tender interior.
Each bite was fragrant.
Perhaps it was because of Qin Yiqing, the little foodie, that even Zhen Lin and Princess Ningde, who usually found everything ordinary, found this fish exceptionally delicious.
"It's indeed good!" Zhen Lin sighed.
Yun Shu smiled and nodded, watching Zhen Lin eat fish bite after bite. She reminded him, "The fish is also quite plump and delicious, but the young prince cannot eat too much. Only one piece, otherwise, it will affect the medicinal properties."
Zhen Lin felt a warmth flow through him upon hearing Yun Shu's reminder. He nodded lightly, "Alright."
Princess Ningde's gaze shifted, and her thoughts began to stir. "I rarely see my brother listen to advice so readily. Perhaps only Miss Ning's words will he heed. In the past, no matter how many physicians told him what he should or shouldn't eat, he would just listen and never agree. He would never even say 'alright'."
Look at how he looked at Ning Ruan; it was as if he had 'love' carved on his face.
She had to admit, when her brother fell in love, he was truly devoted.
Yun Shu lowered her eyes slightly, her voice faintly saying, "Listening to medical advice is a good thing. The young prince is doing well now."
Hearing the obvious distance in Yun Shu's words, Zhen Lin's heart sank. The hand holding the cup trembled slightly. She was an astute person; had she already noticed his feelings?
So, was this her way of drawing a boundary?
Princess Ningde felt a pang of annoyance. Who was Ning Ruan's fiancé to have captured Ning Ruan's heart so completely? To remain completely indifferent to other men's affections, wasn't that hurting her brother's feelings?
It was rare for her brother to have such strong feelings for a woman, and this was the first time.
Qin Yiqing had already rushed to the boatman who was grilling the fish, humbly seeking to learn. She wanted to master this skill so she could impress Xiao Jing and the others. If they tasted Fairy Qing's grilled fish, they might worship her. Therefore, she naturally didn't notice the subtle shifts in expression between Zhen Lin and Princess Ningde after Yun Shu's response, nor the change in atmosphere.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
However, Zhen Lin quickly dispelled the awkwardness. "The wine is ready. Miss Ning, would you like a cup?"
"This is a new vintage from this year. Miss Ning, please try it," Princess Ningde added.
Yun Shu looked up at the wine Zhen Lin was pouring, said thank you, and accepted the cup.
Hearing the distant "thank you," Zhen Lin suppressed his heartache and smiled, "You are my savior. You don't need to be so formal with me."
"Yes, Miss Ning, if my brother hadn't met you, he would still be enduring the pain of his poison, and might have even lost his life by now. I just lament why he didn't meet you a few years earlier? If he had met you sooner, my brother wouldn't have suffered so much for so many years," Princess Ningde sighed, her words filled with sincerity.
There was absolutely no pretense.
Had they met years earlier, perhaps her brother wouldn't be suffering from lovesickness now.
He clearly liked Ning Ruan, yet he couldn't say it, fearing he might startle her.
Her brother was indeed being overly cautious.
Given the status of their Pingyang Royal Manor, if they truly wanted Ning Ruan, they could have taken her by force.
However, her brother feared such an act would be ungentlemanly, and Ning Ruan likely wasn't someone who liked to be coerced. If she didn't want it, then she truly didn't want it.
If he could win her over willingly, then a happy union would surely come to pass.
Yun Shu listened to the siblings' words, simply smiled, and said nothing more. At this moment, Qin Yiqing brought over a few more fish.
"These are ones I grilled. Try my skills!"
With that, she handed a fish to each of them.
They indeed looked and smelled delectable.
"Excellent!" Yun Shu took a bite and gave Qin Yiqing a thumbs-up.
Her skills had improved again. If Qin Yiqing applied the same dedication to other matters as she did to food, she would surely achieve twice the results with half the effort.
Zhen Lin and Princess Ningde also offered their praise.
Qin Yiqing's face immediately lit up with a smile. "The barbecue master said he's going to grill meat soon. I'm already salivating. I'm going to learn!"
After speaking, she paid no mind to whether Zhen Lin had designs on Yun Shu, or whether the atmosphere had been strange earlier. For Yun Shu, none of these were major issues. The most important thing was to learn the technique!
When she ventured into the martial world in the future, she could catch some wild game in the forest and then grill a delicious meal. Tsk tsk.
Besides, no matter who was infatuated with Yun Shu, it was useless. Yun Shu's heart was already occupied by the Night King, her three children, and their good friends. Hehe, there was no room for anyone else!
Yun Shu quietly savored the grilled fish, took a few sips of wine, and then gazed at the calm, unruffled surface of the lake.
The entire lake was like a mirror.
It felt as if they were placed on a mirror, exquisitely beautiful.
Suddenly, Yun Shu raised her eyes and scanned the shore.
A flash of light darted before her eyes. She remained calm, lowered her gaze, and finished the last sip of wine in her cup.