A dashing young man behind Su Fan saw Su Fan and the other person and was stunned.
He felt as if he were hallucinating and rubbed his eyes, looking closely to confirm he wasn't mistaken.
"Princess Xue'er!"
The young man was Zuo Junyi, the son of Zuo Qianhu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
He had met Xiao Xue'er once in the palace and had been longing for her day and night ever since, falling instantly in love.
However, as a princess, Xiao Xue'er was beyond his reach.
Moreover, his status was far below that of a princess.
But now, things were different.
Li Xuan Ye, the Minister of Justice, had just died. His father was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and with no unexpected turns, he would likely be promoted, becoming the new Minister of Justice. This might give him a chance when the princess chose a consort.
But why would the princess be outside the palace?
Zuo Junyi was puzzled but didn't want to miss this opportunity to interact with the princess. He immediately followed them.
"I said I wanted to eat noodles, and you brought me to eat dumplings?"
Xiao Xue'er yelled at Su Fan angrily.
How had she never noticed Su Fan being so rebellious before?
"Dumplings are also delicious. What's so good about noodles? They don't even have any meat."
Su Fan explained, unmoved.
Xiao Xue'er could see that Su Fan was deliberately trying to anger her and oppose her at every turn.
"Fine, dumplings are good too."
Xiao Xue'er's eyes darted, and she readily accepted the suggestion to eat dumplings.
"Boss, two bowls of noodles."
Su Fan said to the owner.
Xiao Xue'er: ...
She didn't even want to talk to Su Fan anymore. What kind of person was he!
"Princess Xue'er, what a coincidence to meet you here."
Before their noodles arrived, an unwelcome guest appeared.
Su Fan raised an eyebrow at Zuo Junyi. With his delicate skin, he looked like a pretty boy.
"Is he your friend?"
Su Fan asked Xiao Xue'er with feigned happiness.
If someone could take his place accompanying Xiao Xue'er shopping, he wouldn't have to suffer. This was a good thing!
"I don't know him."
Xiao Xue'er immediately shook her head. She truly didn't know Zuo Junyi.
Zuo Junyi had only seen Xiao Xue'er once, and she hadn't paid attention to him then, so naturally, she didn't remember him.
"Your Highness, I am Zuo Junyi, the son of Zuo Qianhu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. We have met before."
Zuo Junyi introduced himself to Xiao Xue'er with a smile.
"Oh."
Xiao Xue'er just nodded, with no other reaction.
This made Zuo Junyi feel very awkward.
"If you have nothing else, don't delay our meal, Young Master Zuo."
Seeing that Xiao Xue'er didn't recognize him, Su Fan appeared somewhat disappointed. Since he couldn't help him by accompanying Xiao Xue'er, why was he bothering them?
Zuo Junyi dared not act presumptuously in front of Xiao Xue'er, but that didn't mean he was afraid of Su Fan.
"Who are you?"
Zuo Junyi looked at Su Fan questioningly.
Before anything else, he needed to ascertain Su Fan's identity.
Su Fan thought about how to introduce himself.
Su Fan had quite a few titles now.
Commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard.
"Well, I am Su Fan."
Su Fan thought that both these positions seemed useless, so he only introduced himself by name.
"May I ask where Brother Su serves?"
Zuo Junyi pressed on, unwilling to give up.
"I am a solitary man, so there is no high office to speak of."
Su Fan said with a smile, shaking his head.
Although he held two official positions, he didn't have to go to work, and people might not believe him.
"Heh."
Zuo Junyi let out a disdainful laugh and stopped paying attention to Su Fan.
Without any official position, he was not qualified to speak to him.
"Your Highness, I am quite familiar with this North City district. Perhaps I could show you some of its unique features?"
Zuo Junyi turned and said to Xiao Xue'er with a smile.
"Heh, no thank you."
Xiao Xue'er forced a smile and politely refused.
Seeing Xiao Xue'er smile at him, Zuo Junyi was instantly captivated by her smile.
She smiled at me! She likes me!
Zuo Junyi was extremely excited in his heart.
"Your order, sir. Your noodles."
At this moment, Su Fan and Xiao Xue'er's noodles arrived.
It wasn't any luxurious dish, just ordinary noodles with egg and shredded pork.
Simple egg and shredded pork noodles.
"You're treating Her Highness to this? You're such a country bumpkin, utterly lacking in taste. How could a princess eat this!"
Seeing this, Zuo Junyi couldn't resist mocking Su Fan.
Su Fan's expression darkened.
If you want to pursue the princess, then pursue her. Why are you bothering me?
Xiao Xue'er's expression also soured.
It was she who wanted to eat noodles. Although Su Fan had been contrary to her, he had ultimately given in to her wish to eat noodles.
Zuo Junyi's words at this moment were essentially insulting her.
"Xue'er, how about I take you to the most luxurious restaurant in the North City district for a feast?"
Zuo Junyi tentatively asked Xiao Xue'er, even changing his form of address, trying to see if Xiao Xue'er would get angry. If she didn't, it would mean she didn't dislike him addressing her this way.
However, Xiao Xue'er's expression immediately turned cold.
"Scram!"
Xiao Xue'er was no longer polite and coldly ordered Zuo Junyi to leave.
She was not only angry about his form of address but, more importantly, Zuo Junyi had interrupted her meal with Su Fan.
This sudden appearance had almost ruined a perfectly good meal.
"I apologize, Your Highness! I did not intend to address you by your given name!"
Seeing this, Zuo Junyi quickly tried to explain.
"I told you to scram! If I see you again, I'll break your legs!"
Xiao Xue'er, seeing that Zuo Junyi still hadn't left, became angry and said.
Zuo Junyi looked troubled. He didn't want to leave just like that.
"Su Fan, help me break his legs!"
Xiao Xue'er had no guards with her, so she had to ask Su Fan for help.
"Heh heh, my pleasure."
Su Fan was willing to help Xiao Xue'er. He had been annoyed by Zuo Junyi for a long time anyway.
"What do you think you're doing? My father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice! How dare you, a commoner, touch me!"
Zuo Junyi warned Su Fan with some nervousness.
"Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, is it!"
Su Fan kicked Zuo Junyi away.
Zuo Junyi flew a considerable distance, almost being kicked out of the door.
"Ouch!"
Zuo Junyi clutched his chest in pain.
Although Zuo Junyi was the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, he was utterly incapable of fighting and had no martial skills. He was no match for Su Fan.
"You dare touch me? Be careful, I'll have my father chop off your head!"
Zuo Junyi continued to threaten Su Fan, oblivious to his own peril.
"Then let your father come. I'm waiting."
Su Fan chuckled and kicked Zuo Junyi away again.
This time, Zuo Junyi flew directly onto the street.
The surrounding passersby pointed and whispered at Zuo Junyi.
"Scram!"
Su Fan snorted at Zuo Junyi and commanded.
Zuo Junyi dared not provoke Su Fan further. He could only leave in a sorry state, clutching his aching chest.
"The eyesore is finally gone."
Xiao Xue'er became happy again.
Returning to the table, Su Fan glanced at the noodles in his bowl and then looked up at Xiao Xue'er.
"Where's my meat?"