463 A Scar
Xu Zifan was in the market to buy the kitchen essentials for the house. For him, those old days were back when Li Hua would demand him to bring things from the market.
He had purchased everything that was mentioned in the list except the special kind of spices for which he headed to the spice market. After he purchased those spices, he returned to the main market and ended up encountering Jingfei.
He found her with a man, who appeared to be from the noble class. The bodyguards who had accompanied the Princess asked the people to empty the way for her and Jianjun.
Xu Zifan realized that they both would be marrying each other. He remained standing on the left side of the road until Jingfei, and Jianjun walked meters ahead of them.
The people again headed to their workplaces while Xu Zifan left for his residence. The horse carriage in which he had come was waiting for him outside the market. He stepped into it and left.
He went straight to the kitchen. The servant with him had carried the things in the bamboo basket and placed it over the counter. Li Hua was present at the nook of the counter with a recipe book in her hand. She had brought it from the palace a day ago when she came here.
“Brother arrived earlier,” Li Hua said and started to check the things.
“Did I?” Xu Zifan asked and sat on the chair around the circular table.
“Hmm.” Li Hua filled a glass of water for Xu Zifan and handed it to him. She again began to check the goods. “I will make a delicious lunch for us,” she stated. “Thank you, Elder Brother for bringing all the necessary ingredients.”
.....
Xu Zifan smiled to find her happy and asked her about Feng Lao.
“He is in his room, I believe,” Li Hua replied.
“Elder Brother shall rest too. I will inform him when then lunch is ready,” Li Hua opined.
“I will stay here and watch you cook,” Xu Zifan stated, “perhaps you will need my help.”
“You should rest, Elder Brother,” Li Hua sternly said.
“Fine.” Xu Zifan stood up. However, before leaving he asked Li Hua if Jingfei was getting married.
“Yes. Why did Elder Brother ask?” Li Hua queried.
“I saw the First Princess in the market,” Xu Zifan replied.
“Did His Majesty already allow the women from the palace to go out?” Li Hua murmured.
“I think so,” Xu Zifan answered. “Princess Jingfei was with a noble young man. I think he is the one whom Princess Jingfei will marry,” he asserted.
“Elder Brother must have seen the First Princess with Li Jianjun. She was supposed to marry him this week, but according to the royal astrologer, they should wait for two more weeks,” Li Hua told her brother.
“Hmm. It is good to see that the First Princess has moved on from Huang Xi. Now, he can confess his feelings for the Second Princess,” Xu Zifan affirmed.
“I think Commander Huang Xi should confess after the First Princess gets married. Else, she may get angry and even scold Princess Ai Fen for no reason,” Li Hua opined.
“I will tell Huang Xi about it,” he asserted and left the kitchen.
While making dough, Li Hua’s mind suddenly thought of the strange scar that she saw on the King’s hand. She had this vivid image of the scar that she saw once when she was quite young.
“Am I imagining things? But why does it seem that the King has visited the Xu Residence?” Li Hua murmured and her brows drew close.
~~~~~~
Lóng Wei hit the back of his nape after he cleaned the entire house. Yes, in the end, he had to clean the house, wash the utensils, and even the bathhouse.
No one agreed to work in Shuyao’s house. He found it strange when one of the men said that his house was haunted. Lóng Wei never believed in ghosts. In his eyes, a human was the biggest threat to any living being.
“My entire body is soared,” he mumbled and felt how hungry he was. He could not have breakfast and he could not either leave the house.
“Let’s wait for him for a few more minutes. If he doesn’t come, then I will leave for the market,” Lóng Wei decided and looked towards the gate for Shuyao.
Fortunately, Shuyao returned. He saw the front yard was clean and looked at Lóng Wei, who was on the patio.
‘He is determined to go to the ninety-nine lakes. I wonder what lies there for which a young man is so enthusiastic,’ Shuyao thought.
“I am back,” Shuyao loudly said and immediately Lóng Wei opened his eyes. He walked to Shuyao and told him that he would come in the evening.
“Where are you heading to?” Shuyao asked.
“To the market. I want to eat something delicious. I could not eat the porridge that you had made. I am not used to that kind of food,” Lóng Wei stated and walked past him.
“Stop!” Shuyao said and Lóng Wei halted in his steps.
“I will make the hotpot for you. You have done such a good job and I must reward you,” Shuyao said with a wide smile.
“There’s no need to trouble yourself. I will eat outside,” Lóng Wei stated.
“Then, I will make you work one more day as my servant,” Shuyao stated.
“I am not your slave,” Lóng Wei’s temper heightened.
“Servants are no lesser than slaves,” Shuyao stated with a smirk.
Lóng Wei sneered and went inside his room. He didn’t want to talk to him. Because if he would talk more, then he might up killing Shuyao for irking him.
Lóng Wei lay on the floor mattress which was his bed too. “I miss you. I don’t like it here,” he mumbled.
Half an hour later, he heard the door slide and saw Shuyao with a hotpot in his hands. He asked Lóng Wei to bring the floor table ahead. Lóng Wei acted quickly and placed the round floor table in front of him.
Shuyao placed the hotpot on the table and brought two plates along with two spoons and two pairs of chopsticks.
Lóng Wei inhaled the pleasant smell of the hotpot soup and began eating. Finally, his hunger ended and he felt full.
Shuyao was happy to find that Lóng Wei enjoyed the food.
“I won’t wash these. My hands are rough and sore after doing all these chores,” Lóng Wei complained and showed Shuyao his hands.
“Fine. I will do it,” Shuyao agreed to Lóng Wei.
“I heard this house is haunted. How did your family die?” Lóng Wei suddenly asked a question from him which brought frowns on Shuyao’s forehead.
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