The innkeeper was so stunned that he stood with his mouth agape, not even noticing the drool trickling down his chin.
Mochou slapped him hard on the head. "What are you looking at? Keep looking and I'll gouge your eyes out."
"Oh, oh, it's just that I've never seen such a handsome young master before, that's why, that's why." The innkeeper snapped out of his daze when Mochou hit him. Startled, he quickly lowered his head, the drool from the corner of his mouth dripping onto his hand.
His face immediately turned as red as a shrimp. He began to stammer, "Young master, please follow me this way." He didn't dare to look up again, quickly leading the way and ushering them to the most central table. He wiped it clean with a towel with practiced efficiency and asked with his head bowed, "What would the guests like to eat?"
He dared not look up again, partly for fear of seeing Mochou's fierce expression, and partly due to the embarrassment of his earlier gaffe, which had made him feel utterly humiliated.
"Bring out a few of your shop's most signature dishes?" Qingyao said softly, unable to bear watching the innkeeper's continued embarrassment. She figured if he stayed any longer, his head would be drooping to his chest.
"Yes, yes, coming right up," the innkeeper scurried away.
As soon as he left, Mochou and Meixin could no longer contain their laughter. The innkeeper's earlier demeanor had been too comical. He had looked as if he wanted to burrow into a hole, his face as red as a cooked shrimp. It was just being caught peeking, not a major crime, yet he was acting as if he had committed some grave offense, looking utterly dejected.
"You two, the local customs here are simple, and that innkeeper is an honest fellow. While peeking is a minor thing, it's likely a great source of shame for him. When he comes back out, you are not to be so rude." Qingyao admonished Mochou and Meixin. However, thinking of the innkeeper's clumsy appearance, even her own face couldn't help but break into a smile, forgetting her earlier unhappiness.
In a short while, the innkeeper brought out the restaurant's most meticulously prepared dishes. Although they didn't seem like much to Qingyao and the others, it was quite commendable for such a small place. Thus, no one was picky. They ate and chatted, enjoying themselves. However, the innkeeper still dared not look up at them.
Meixin found it amusing and deliberately teased him, calling him over several times to refill tea or add soy sauce. The innkeeper proved to be an honest person, never tiring of their requests, always following instructions, never letting his eyes wander, his movements precise, and his words polite.
Finally, seeing that he was indeed an honest man, they let it go. The meal concluded pleasantly. After dinner, Qingyao planned to take Meixin and Mochou for a stroll, instructing Moyou to rest, as he must be exhausted from driving the carriage all day. However, Moyou was unwilling to rest and insisted on accompanying his mistress.
The group left the inn and wandered through the streets. The town was very small, no more than five hundred meters from end to end, with only about a hundred households. Many houses closed up by nightfall, with only faint lights peeking through the windows. Though dim, they were warm. Some small businesses remained open, but they were deserted, with hardly any people in sight. Qingyao, with her three attendants, walked along the street, silently and unnoticed.
The weather remained cold. Qingyao and Moyou wore cloaks, so they didn't feel the chill. However, Meixin and Mochou were only wearing thin jackets. The whistling cold wind pierced their skin, causing them to exhale in puffs of breath and repeatedly rub their hands and stomp their feet. Mochou, being a martial artist, could circulate her inner energy to resist the cold and didn't feel it much. Only the little maid Meixin couldn't bear it after a short while and cried out in distress.
"Miss, let's go back. What's so good about a stroll in this freezing weather that kills people? It's better to lie in bed, it's much warmer."
"You, next time remember to wear your cloak. If it happens again, I won't pay any attention to you," Qingyao warned her sternly, as she hadn't had her fill yet. But seeing that she was truly freezing, she had no choice but to turn back towards the inn.
At the inn's entrance, the innkeeper was exhaling, his breath rising as white mist. He kept craning his neck to look out. Upon seeing their figures, he smiled and walked towards them. As if remembering something, he quickly stared at the ground and asked, "Guests, you're back?"
"Mm, why are you standing outside? Aren't you cold?" Meixin raised an eyebrow in surprise and gave the strange fellow a glare. He's honest, but is his brain also not working well? It's freezing out here at night, and he's still standing outside.
The innkeeper followed behind them, chuckling sheepishly and scratching his head. "There are guests waiting for you."
Just then, Qingyao was lifting the hem of her robe, one foot inside and the other still outside. Upon hearing the innkeeper's words, her expression turned instantly cold. Someone was looking for them. Who could it be? Who had found them so quickly? In the moment she stepped through the doorway, Qingyao's expression flickered through several changes as thoughts raced through her mind, finally settling on a conclusion. The visitors must be the Emperor's people. Although she had anticipated that others might be anxious to find her, especially since she had divorced the Emperor in front of the envoys of six nations, this was, after all, the territory of Xian Yue. Therefore, the visitors must be from the palace. But who could it be?
The innkeeper did not notice the sudden drop in the surrounding air. The young master, who had been as gentle as jade moments before, now exuded an aura of hostility, his face dark and brooding as he entered the inn. In the inn's main hall, a group of people were currently eating at a table. They were likely hungry, as the sounds of swallowing were extremely loud. What they were doing could be described in four words: wolfing down their food. Perhaps they were simply very hungry.
When Qingyao entered, those people didn't notice her. It wasn't until the air grew cold and biting that they became alert, touching the swords at their waists and standing up. Qingyao looked over coldly. She saw that more than a dozen people moved aside, and from behind them, a man emerged. It was Prince Nan'an, Murong Liuzhao, dressed in a white python robe with five claws embroidered on it. He had sharp brows and bright eyes, and his black hair was like clouds, exuding an air of noble prestige. He was staring intently at Mu Qingyao. On his ice-like face, a rare flicker of emotion appeared, a hint of heartache in his eyes. He strode forward a few steps and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness?"
Qingyao's attitude was cold. She raised a hand to stop him from saying or doing anything further. She didn't want to frighten the people here. Who would have thought she was the Empress of Xian Yue? She, on the other hand, never dreamed they would arrive so quickly. This indicated that his network had already penetrated every corner. However, even so, she would not return with him.
"Prince Nan'an, I trust you are well." She clasped her fists heartily, her brows filled with commanding heroism and her eyes gentle. She turned and led the way to a corner of the hall and sat down. Meixin, Mochou, and Moyou followed closely behind her and stood at attention. Murong Liuzhao followed behind her, sitting opposite her. The guards he brought stood behind him. The two groups engaged in a silent battle with their eyes, a struggle so intense that they wished they could fight until blood flowed.