"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 101

 Ji Yu Qing frowned, her eyelids were very heavy, she shook her head saying: "Before I see Ji Ling Xue disappear...I won't give you what you want."

The night was extremely quiet, Ji Yu Qing felt the temperature in the air around her drop, it was very cold...that strange mysterious person didn't speak again, a moment later the room returned to normal, the coldness in the air dispersed promptly.

Ji Yu Qing slowly opened her eyes, massaging her sore head, the sky was already bright, Zi Ye was still sprawled over the bedside asleep.

Ji Yu Qing pushed Zi Ye's shoulder saying, "Wake up, it's dawn."

Zi Ye groaned slowly opening her eyes, "Imperial concubine...this servant..." How could she have slept like the dead at the imperial concubine's bedside, she really ought to die.

Ji Yu Qing was in a rare good mood, she waved her hand: "Go prepare hot water, this imperial concubine wants to take a bath."

Zi Ye hurriedly left, still puzzling over how she had fallen asleep last night, she was always alert, waking up several times in the night.

Zi Ye was so deep in thought she didn't notice Xiao Yi Chen striding her way, Xiao Yi Chen seeing the absent-minded Zi Ye was about to walk into him, he moved to the side, with a bang, Zi Ye's forehead firmly hit the pillar, letting out a miserable bawl.

Xiao Yi Chen looked on serenely, looking like it had nothing to do with him, "Zi Ye, why are you preoccupied?"

Zi Ye scrambled from the ground, there wasn't time for her to rub her forehead, she knelt in front of Xiao Yi Chen's feet saying: "This servant ought to die, I almost walked into prince."

Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand, not bothered by it, he turned around and entered the house.

Ji Yu Qing had just put on clothes, hearing Xiao Yi Chen's voice she hurriedly ran to the door, hugging Xiao Yi Chen's arm in delight, she almost threw her entire body at him.

Ji Yu Qing said: "Prince, you finally thought of this concubine."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, entering the room in large strides finding a place to sit, from his sleeve he took out several pieces of paper slapping it onto the table, with a smile that was not a smile he looked at Ji Yu Qing.

Ji Yu Qing's heart leapt, understanding what was happening in a flash, switching to a pitiful expression on her face, "Prince is here to heavily criticise me...this concubine has nothing to say...my expenditures have been somewhat great recently...this concubine still has some dowry, I will hand them over to the storeroom later."

A beauty shredding tears, such a lovely, touching, pitiful image, sadly Xiao Yi Chen remained unmoved, he nodded saying: "En, it's good that you had such a thought, you don't need to hand it over to the storeroom, deliver it to the princess, the princess is currently managing the expenditures of the inner courtyard."

Ji Yu Qing nodded sensibly, the next moment she grabbed hold of Xiao Yi Chen's hand, turning she sat on his lap, then wrapping her arms around his neck she snuggled close to his ear. She needed to obtain Xiao Yi Chen's heart as soon as possible, then she could complete the task given by her father.

Ji Yu Qing said: "Prince...I'm a little cold...take a look for me to see what's wrong?" As she spoke she grabbed Xiao Yi Chen's big hand and placed it against her belly, charmingly looking at him.

How could Xiao Yi Chen not know what Ji Yu Qing was thinking, ever since she moved into the prince's residence, there had been endless seduction tricks, before he would go along with it.

Today...thinking about what Ji Ling Xue had said, Xiao Yi Chen's heart twanged.

Xiao Yi Chen pushed Ji Yu Qing away, "This prince still has things to do today..."

Ji Yu Qing felt disappointed, but didn't give up the last trace of hope, "Then this concubine will wait for prince's return tonight."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, he turned and left without staying any longer, leaving Ji Yu Qing with an ache like pain to the flesh.

Xiao Yi Chen walked to Ji Ling Xue's door and knocked, after waiting he didn't see anyone answer the door from inside, he pushed the door open and entered, looking around the room, he didn't see Ji Ling Xue, Xiao Yi Chen gave a helpless laugh.

This was the greatest difference about coming here out of the two courtyards, he always faced a cold reception.

Xiao Yi Chen sat at the table waiting for a certain someone to return.

At this moment, Ji Ling Xue was in the courtyard taking a morning run as it was her usual morning habit, to improve her body's endurance, she persevered each day, during this time she asked Ru Ge for guidance, she knew simple self-defence, even her flying needle technique was getting better and better.

Dripping with sweat Ji Ling Xue ordered Mo Xiang to prepare hot water, she walked back to her room with a wide sleeve jacket on, surprised that there was one more person in the room. What wind blew this prince here?

Xiao Yi Chen spontaneously poured a cup of water pushing it towards Ji Ling Xue, looking at Ji Ling Xue's sweaty appearance, he couldn't help think, even though Ji Ling Xue didn't like it, but she was becoming more and more attractive in his eyes.

He had thought that only men would sweat, and a woman sweating brought about another sensation. Sweat dripped down from Ji Ling Xue's forehead to her neck, he couldn't help swallow, damn this allure.

Ji Ling Xue didn't notice Xiao Yi Chen acting strange, picking up the cup she took a big mouthful, putting down the cup, Ji Ling Xue opened her mouth saying: "I'm honoured by the prince's presence, why did you come to find me?"

Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched, asking in reply: "What, can I not come and take a seat without needing anything?"

Ji Ling Xue gave a forced laugh, "Then enjoy, I'm going to take a bath." Having spoken she turned around and walked out.

 Xiao Yi Chen raised his hand pulling on Ji Ling Xue as she was about to leave, with a tug, Ji Ling Xue's body moved, falling into Xiao Yi Chen's arms, the two of them looked at each other, the mood becoming immediately ambiguous.

Xiao Yi Chen smiled: "Why leave so quickly, has this prince offended you?"

Ji Ling Xue blinked, giggling: "Hehe, of course not, I just finished exercise and worry about getting the prince wet."

"This prince doesn't mind." Xiao Yi Chen said.

Cold sweat slid down Ji Ling Xue's forehead, "Then prince, can you wait until I'm done bathing to talk to me?" It was very awkward...Ji Ling Xue felt her bottom was in pain as if it was being pricked, she couldn't help move around, but was held even tighter by Xiao Yi Chen.

Xiao Yi Chen got closer and closer to Ji Ling Xue, scaring her so much she moved back but had nowhere to go.

Xiao Yi Chen raised his lips into a smile, releasing Ji Ling Xue, taking off his own outer jacket he draped it over, "Fine, go take a bath, don't catch a cold."

Ji Ling Xue looked at the smile on the corners of Xiao Yi Chen's lips in surprise, damn it, she was played with!

Even though was angry, a smile was still on her face, pretending to pay no attention to Xiao Yi Chen's jacket over her she slipped out of the room like lightning.

Xiao Yi Chen smiled looking at Ji Ling Xue's back, that girl was getting more and more adorable.

While Xiao Yi Chen was in high spirits as he left, Ji Ling Xue was glaring at the jacket hanging on the stand from the bathtub, treating it like Xiao Yi Chen she used all her strength to splash water at it.

Ji Ling Xue soaked in the bathtub for an entire two hours, not because she was obsessed with cleanliness, but rather she didn't want to bathe too quickly and see Xiao Yi Chen, she was wasting time, recently Xiao Yi Chen has been busy, she didn't believe he would wait so long.

Mo Xiang said out of concern, "Princess, if you continue to soak...a layer of skin will fall off..."

Ji Ling Xue looked at her skin which had turned pale, she had no choice but to get out and let Mo Xiang help her dress, wiping dry her hair and combing into a bun.

In a blink of an eye another hour passed, only then did Ji Ling Xue leave in satisfaction.

Ji Ling Xue was right, Xiao Yi Chen had already left, she rubbed her belly saying: "Mo Xiang, quickly serve food, I'm about to collapse from hunger."

Mo Xiang served breakfast which had been reheated a few times, then watch in frustration and heartache as she watched Ji Ling Xue wolf down the food, thinking in her mind: Princess doesn't want to show prince the unsightly way she eats, that's why she wasted time to avoid the prince? 

Mo Xiang shook her head, once again sighing with sorrow: Why hasn't the prince and princess made any progress, at this rate when will there be a little master in the residence?

Mo Xiang's sigh was not noticed by Ji Ling Xue, she happily finished the last chicken wing, rubbing her lips and hands she said: "Good...I feel alive again..."

Mo Xiang: "...."

At this moment, Zi Ye's voice came from the courtyard, "Is the princess in, imperial concubine wishes to visit."

Ji Ling Xue raised an eyebrow, saying to herself: She had just been a customer yesterday, she couldn't have found something out so soon?

Ji Ling Xue believed she was very careful, she didn't leave any clues behind.

Mo Xiang went out to invite Ji Yu Qing into the house, presenting her with a cup of hot tea.

Ji Yu Qing pushed a wooden box in front of Ji Ling Xue with much pain on her face: "Older sister, these are my dowry jewellery, prince accuses me of spending too much lately, he made me take out my own money to make up for it...older sister, has prince's salary been reduced by the emperor, the residence is currently saving money?"

Otherwise she couldn't think of another reason why the prince would treat her so harshly, calculating such a small amount.

Ji Ling Xue blinked, she didn't expect Xiao Yi Chen to deliver money to her like this, she was not sure whether Xiao Yi Chen had his salary deducted by the emperor, that day when they seized the goods from the "thieves' lair", Xiao Yi Chen had clearly given everything to the emperor, only keeping a little for himself, there was no shortage of money or money saving happening in the residence.

Ji Ling Xue said: "How do I know whether the prince had his salary deducted, you should ask the housekeeper." As she spoke she took the wooden box Ji Ling Xue had handed over, opening it up she looked it over once, at first glance there appeared to be one thousand five hundred silvers worth of items.

Ji Ling Xue shut the wooden box turning to hand it over to Mo Xiang: "Put it away, give it to the prince tonight."

Ji Yu Qing looked reluctant, tugging on Ji Ling Xue's sleeve she said: "Older sister, there's a hairpin I really like in there, can I..."

"No!" You want something in her hands, no way!

Ji Ling Xue refused without restraint, "Younger sister, it's better to not disobey the prince's wishes, you are reliant on him for your livelihood, otherwise you would suffer."

Ji Ling Xue's "you" was naturally referring to the people in the residence, as for her, she needed to work hard to be independent, even after she has left Xiao Yi Chen, it was unlikely she would not be able to make a living.

Ji Yu Qing lowered her head not saying anything.

After Ji Ling Xue sent Ji Yu Qing away, resting her chin on her hand she wondered if Xiao Yi Chen had come this morning to tell her this.

"Princess..." Mo Xiang moved her hand in front of Ji Ling Xue's face, "Princess, are you thinking about the problem with our restaurant?"

Ji Ling Xue returned to her senses, giving an oh, she reached out with a finger to poke at Mo Xiang's hand: "Go find Xiao Si and the others, make those beggar brothers dress up a little, get them to go everywhere in the city, slip into the teahouses and theatres to advertise our Qingfengyashe, boast how delicious the food is, there will definitely be a foodie in the capital who will go, when more people go, we don't need to promote anymore, they will naturally come."

Mo Xiang nodded, turning she was about to leave, Ji Ling Xue called after her, "Find a few clever good looking girls at the market to go with them, some lechers will definitely follow them to our restaurant." This was covertly soliciting customers, beautiful women no matter where will attract people's attentions.

Mo Xiang nodded, Ji Ling Xue gave her some jewellery to take them directly to be pawned for silvers to use.

Mo Xiang had just left, Ji Ling Xue called for Ru Ge, to protect Mo Xiang.

Ru Ge curled his lips in distain, "You need me to protect a mere maid, aren't you wasting a talented person?"