Though his face was somewhat stiff, he surprisingly showed no temper at all.
Since the prince remained silent, what could these people say? Their stomachs were growling with hunger. Enduring the nausea, they closed their eyes and ate a little.
Yun Xiao and Yun Zhen chose a spot to sit, and immediately, someone arrived with trays, bringing several bowls and handing one to each person.
To be honest, Yun Xiao also disliked these greasy things. However, she did not forget that she was currently a man, not Wanwan. Wanwan could pinch her nose and act disgusted, but she couldn't. However, Yun Zhen would not know this.
An early chopstick reached out, scooping up the fatty meat floating on top and placing it into his own bowl.
In the past, Yun Zhen couldn't eat such things. But since arriving here, he had become much more uninhibited, drinking heavily and eating large portions of meat, just like any soldier on the frontier.
Because he was very likely to become a part of this place in the future, their Yun family's roots could only take hold here for the better. If it developed for the worse, it was uncertain what would happen.
"Brother, thank you."
Yun Xiao said softly. Yun Zhen had already lowered his head and was eating heartily.
Hearing his sister's words, he turned his head and gave her a smile. The moonlight pierced through the sparse clouds, casting a misty radiance like fine gauze on their faces. The expressions of the two looked as if they were exchanging affectionate glances, deeply tender.
Not far away, a pair of sharp eyes glared coldly, the depths of his pupils filled with deep suspicion and fierce malice.
Shangguan Lin stared intently at the two people diagonally opposite him, without uttering a word.
They were clearly two men, yet they exchanged affectionate glances as if they were lovers.
Could it be that Yun Zhen was a man who loved men? The thought sent a pang through his heart, making him feel a thousand discomforts. He didn't know why. He stood up, holding his bowl, and walked directly towards them.
Mu Li, his subordinate behind him, stared blankly at his prince.
What was wrong with the prince? Why was he going to someone else's place?
Yun Xiao and Yun Zhen were eating. Liu Xing, Jing Yun, and Wanwan sat farther away, each eating their own food.
Wanwan, on the other hand, attracted many admiring glances. People would occasionally whisper to each other, "Who are these people who have suddenly appeared?"
"I heard that it was him who stopped the spread of the plague. Truly amazing. And he has such a beautiful woman by his side."
A dark cloud suddenly loomed overhead, blocking the light. The siblings looked up simultaneously. They saw Prince Lin, dressed in a black brocade robe, with a wild and arrogant demeanor. A layer of frost covered his resolute features, his cold eyes clear and bright, looking down at them from above.
Yun Xiao blinked, wondering in confusion why she saw some "abnormal information" in this man's eyes.
She turned and glanced at Yun Zhen beside her, immediately understanding what this man was thinking. Deciding to be a bit pretentious, she furrowed her brows and said in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Zhen, I don't like this. It's for you."
Yun Xiao, in front of Shangguan Lin, pushed a piece of meat from her bowl into Yun Zhen's bowl and then smiled intimately.
Shangguan Lin gasped, and something exploded in his chest. He was extremely depressed, but he was even more angry at himself. What business was it of his? The chill around him intensified. At this moment, many people were eating while paying attention to the commotion here.
Yun Zhen, while eating, politely asked, "Prince Lin, what is this?"
Shangguan Lin coldly glanced at Yun Zhen, appraising him from head to toe. He thought disdainfully in his heart, "Isn't he just a pretty boy? What's so special about him?" With a grim expression, he pointed at Yun Xiao and said, "I have something to discuss with him."
Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow, her large eyes blinking, becoming even more charming. A faint smile played on her lips. "Doesn't Officer Feng recognize Prince Lin?"
"I want to ask you, what is that woman's name? I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."
Shangguan Lin was momentarily at a loss for words. He had seen their overly intimate actions, which was why he had walked over in a fit of anger. He didn't know what he had come to ask him about. His eyes darted around, and seeing Wanwan at the side, he immediately pointed at Wanwan.
Yun Xiao's pupils darkened. Had Shangguan Lin recognized Wanwan? She looked sideways, thinking it shouldn't be.
Wanwan was incomparably more beautiful than before. When she first entered the palace, she was thin and sallow. Coupled with wearing the attire of a palace maid, she was truly not very eye-catching.
But now, she was tender and lovely, like a blooming flower. Did Shangguan Lin have problems with his eyes?
Yun Xiao thought, then suddenly burst into laughter.
In the deep night, it was as if a flower had bloomed, bringing joy and excitement.
"Your Highness, have you taken a fancy to Officer Feng's maid? Actually, if Your Highness likes her, it is also her fortune. How about Officer Feng letting her accompany Your Highness tonight?"
Yun Xiao's words were laced with deep sarcasm. Those nearby who heard Yun Xiao's words wanted to laugh but dared not, holding it back with all their might.
As for the other part, they didn't understand what was happening and started to whisper softly.
Shangguan Lin coldly swept his gaze around the surroundings. Wherever his eyes fell, many people were startled and quickly stood up.
"Your Highness, Young Master, we have finished eating."
Some of the bolder ones, still pretending to eat, wanted to see the unfolding drama.
In the silent night, a sudden weeping sound erupted.
"Young Master, please don't give me away, Young Master."
Wanwan, at this moment, was tearful and pitiable.
Shangguan Lin instantly went from being a prince to a bandit and bully who forcibly seized what he desired. He felt so depressed. What was wrong with him tonight? It was different from usual. How had things developed to this point?
Shangguan Lin's expression tightened, and he roared in a deep voice, "Be quiet, I don't like women!"
These thunderous words stunned the onlookers, their faces filled with horror. This was followed by the rustling sound of clothes. Many were so frightened that they fled in disarray. They could see the prince's dark and grim face, the impending wrath of thunder.
If they didn't leave now, when would they? Even the imperial physicians were not lagging behind. They threw down their blue and white porcelain bowls and broken wooden chopsticks, scrambling to get away. In the blink of an eye, they had fled far away.
What remained were those who could not leave: the prince's two hundred cavalrymen, and his two personal guards, Mu Li and another subordinate.
On Yun Zhen's side were Yun Xiao and a few subordinates.
Everyone stared at Shangguan Lin in shock, then slowly recovered with an expression of understanding. "So that's how it is."
This would explain why the vast princely estate had no women. It turned out that Prince Shangguan was a man who loved men.
But then everyone thought, what about the beautiful woman Mo Ruyan from the Rouge Pavilion? Wasn't she the prince's confidante?
Could this be fake? It turned out that Shangguan Lin was acting a fake play, afraid of others discovering his secret. Then his abnormal behavior tonight could be explained. It wasn't that beautiful woman the prince fancied, but the handsome young man beside Young Master Yun.
This news was explosive enough. The two hundred cavalrymen and two subordinates behind Shangguan Lin widened their eyes, filled with regret and pain. Their prince, had he ruined himself? Why didn't he love women's adornments but men's attire?