Shen Xiaoyan's words caused Daiyin's face to turn red.
It also made Zheng Xiang even more furious.
Were these words a respectable young lady would utter?
"I don't care what you think, but I absolutely will not allow this woman to enter the gates of Prince Duan's manor."
After Zheng Xiang finished speaking, he looked at Zheng Wei, waiting to see his reaction.
Although Zheng Wei had been calm all along, in Zheng Xiang's eyes, it was merely a tactic.
It was intended to create a different impression of him.
However, now that he had stated his position so clearly, if Zheng Wei was still able to discern priorities, he should know what to do.
Zheng Xiang, who was full of confidence expecting a satisfactory answer from Zheng Wei, was surprised when Zheng Wei directly stood up, took Shen Xiaoyan's hand, and walked towards the exit together.
After watching Zheng Wei's retreating figure for a while, just as Zheng Wei was about to turn the corner, Zheng Xiang called out, "What are you doing?"
"Leaving, of course. Doesn't Prince Duan see?" Shen Xiaoyan turned her head and raised her eyebrows at Zheng Xiang.
"This king can naturally see. I wasn't speaking to you," Zheng Xiang said, glaring fiercely at Shen Xiaoyan. Then he looked at Zheng Wei and continued, "Wei'er, you haven't eaten yet, where are you going? You should return to the manor with your Royal Father later."
After Zheng Xiang finished speaking, Shen Xiaoyan pouted and turned to look at Zheng Wei's profile.
The air fell silent for a moment before Zheng Wei's voice slowly echoed.
"Prince Duan, I won't say any more. The more I speak, the more annoyed I feel, and I believe you wouldn't want to listen. But what I want to tell you is that my affairs, aside from myself and my wife, no one else has the right to interfere. Especially you. Where did you come from? Claiming to be a Royal Father out of nowhere. Anyone would think you were desperately in need of a son."
"To avoid any misunderstanding, I think it would be better for Prince Duan to consider your words carefully before speaking in the future."
After speaking, Zheng Wei slowly turned around and looked at Prince Duan.
What met his gaze was Prince Duan's scrutinizing look and a dejected expression.
If it were someone else, they might have started scolding Zheng Wei.
Unfortunately, Zheng Fan and the others dared not speak at this moment, fearing that Zheng Xiang's anger would fall upon them.
As for Shen Xiaoyan and the others, they simply couldn't be bothered.
If there was one thing Shen Xiaoyan wanted to say, it would only be: "Your acting is very good."
She wasn't speaking sarcastically or mockingly. She was genuinely serious.
She truly believed that Zheng Xiang's acting was excellent.
If he were in a different place, for instance, in her previous life, he would have been an award-winning actor in no time.
Unfortunately, born in this era, no one would appreciate his performance.
"Wei'er, it was this Royal Father's fault for losing you. But this Royal Father has truly been searching for you. Everyone in the capital knows this. You can ask anyone. Don't think this king arranged it. After seeing you today, this king has gone nowhere else and met no one."
Zheng Xiang's passionate outpouring was truly moving.
Even Daiyin, who had maintained a faint smile on her face, could no longer hold back her smile after hearing these words.
She even secretly marveled, never expecting Prince Duan to be such a person, so devoted to his son.
However, she soon realized that Zheng Wei's face showed no sign of being moved.
Instead, there was only a mocking sneer.
"Your Highness is so devoted to your son and possesses such great power, yet after searching for so many years, you couldn't find your own son? That is truly a peculiar matter," Zheng Wei remarked with feigned emotion.
Zheng Xiang was initially stunned. Then, he eagerly opened his mouth, intending to explain.
"That's because..."
Before he could finish, Zheng Wei interrupted him.
"Why is that, Prince, you yourself know best. There's no need to explain to an outsider like me. Goodbye."
With that, Zheng Wei pulled Shen Xiaoyan's hand and walked out of the private room.
Yi Zhixie watched their figures disappear by the door and sighed.
"It seems this meal won't happen. Fine, we'll be leaving too. You all enjoy your meal."
Saying that, Yi Zhixie didn't wait for Zheng Xiang's reply. He stood up and pulled Namuchong to leave.
As for Sima Han and the other two, they had already stood up the moment Yi Zhixie spoke.
Watching everyone one by one leave without so much as a greeting, Zheng Xiang was truly enraged.
If he had possessed a little less composure and known Daiyin was still there, he would have almost flipped the table.
Just then, the proprietor entered with the dishes. "Prince Duan, may I serve the food?"
Zheng Xiang looked up at the proprietor, Liu, and said coldly, "Get lost."
"This..."
Proprietor Liu was a little confused by this reaction. Weren't things fine just moments ago?
How did his attitude change so drastically in such a short time?
But seeing Zheng Xiang's face as black as the bottom of a pot, Proprietor Liu wisely withdrew.
He had no masochistic tendencies. Knowing Zheng Xiang was in a bad mood, he wasn't going to deliberately seek trouble.
Proprietor Liu had the dishes placed on the table and then left with his staff. Before departing, he kindly closed the door for Zheng Xiang.
Outside the door, as Proprietor Liu was about to head downstairs, he noticed the door to the room next door was wide open.
Proprietor Liu's expression froze. He didn't recall having any guests in that private room.
Peering inside, Proprietor Liu's expression became even stranger, as the people sitting inside were the very same individuals who had arrived with Zheng Xiang earlier.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others inside the room naturally saw Proprietor Liu's actions.
Yi Zhixie smiled gently at Proprietor Liu and said, "Proprietor, come in, quickly!"
Since the guest had a request, Proprietor Liu naturally obliged.
Thus, Proprietor Liu slowly walked in.
"Do you gentlemen require anything? The food in the room next door is ready, why..."
"Go and make us another table, the same as before," Yi Zhixie interrupted Proprietor Liu, smiling lightly.
"This..."
Proprietor Liu was a little confused as to why.
However, having been a proprietor for so many years, he had seen all sorts of situations.
Therefore, after a moment of thought, he understood the reason.
"Alright, please wait a moment, everyone."
Seeing Proprietor Liu agree readily, Shen Xiaoyan and the others also showed faint smiles.
Indeed, a shrewd individual.
As they watched Proprietor Liu leave, Yi Zhixie turned to Zheng Wei.
"Tell me, what's going on? How did a father suddenly appear?"
As Yi Zhixie spoke, his face held a meaningful smile.
He hadn't left the capital for many years. Logically, he did remember that Zheng Xiang had an illegitimate eldest son.
But wasn't that illegitimate eldest son assassinated ten years ago?
It was said that he fell off a cliff, leaving no trace of his body.
He even remembered that Zheng Xiang had been so upset then that he hadn't attended court for several days.
So how could he suddenly be calling Zheng Wei his son?
They both shared the surname Zheng. Although they didn't resemble each other at all, such things weren't unheard of.
Children taking after their mothers was normal.
What Yi Zhixie was asking was also what everyone else wanted to know.
Thus, for a moment, everyone except Shen Xiaoyan was waiting for Zheng Wei's answer.
Zheng Wei let out a mocking laugh, "Some people like to daydream. For example, dreaming that they still have a living son..."
Zheng Wei's words were rambling and didn't directly answer Yi Zhixie's question.
Yi Zhixie and the others were also confused.
However, seeing that Zheng Wei clearly didn't want to elaborate, they didn't press the issue further.
"Ah Han, you used to be a regular here, right? Why does the proprietor seem to not recognize you at all?" Yi Zhixie asked Sima Han, then changed the subject.
Sima Han shook his head, "Perhaps important people have poor memories. What kind of insignificant person am I that they should remember me?"
Sima Han's words were full of self-deprecation. Yi Zhixie and the others simply smiled and didn't respond.
Not long after, Proprietor Liu returned with the dishes.