Volume One, Chapter Four: Are You Willing to Serve Ah Ye?

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Could the Fourth Prince really... be feeling nauseous?
“Your Highness...”
Shuang Yun continued to accuse Ouyang Yanwan of her misdeeds, even grabbing Zhao Ye’s robe with both hands, shifting from a collapsed posture on the ground to kneeling upright, crying loudly with her head tilted back.
Zhao Ye closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them.
“I will handle this matter,” Zhao Ye said gently, first speaking to Shuang Yun before raising his gaze to Shuang Ling, who stood pale and close by.
“Your sister is frightened; take her back to rest first, then take my token to the Imperial Medical Office and have someone examine her. Don’t let her catch a cold.”
After giving these instructions, Zhao Ye effortlessly freed his robe from Shuang Yun’s grasp.
Shuang Yun looked at Zhao Ye in disbelief, her voice sharp with accusation: “Your Highness, Miss Ouyang...”
“Shuang Yun,” Shuang Ling hurried over and blocked Shuang Yun’s gaze towards Zhao Ye, full of warning.
“Thank you for your grace, Your Highness,” Shuang Yun reluctantly prostrated herself on the ground in thanks.
Shuang Ling breathed a sigh of relief and quickly summoned a palace maid to help support Shuang Yun as they left to tidy up.
Finally, they were gone...
Zhao Ye’s fingers, hanging by his side, curled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
“Yanwan, let’s go dine.”
Zhao Ye smiled calmly at Ouyang Yanwan.
Ouyang Yanwan pretended nothing had happened and followed Zhao Ye, teasing, “I thought, Ah Ye, you were really going to stand up for her and punish me.”
Zhao Ye only smiled and said nothing further.
As Zhao Ye’s gaze swept toward Xiang Zhu, who stood with a respectful posture to see them off, he suddenly stopped and said, “I remember your name is Xiang Zhu; today, you will arrange the meal.”
Xiang Zhu’s face betrayed no surprise, but inside she was startled: Did the Fourth Prince truly know, or was he testing her?
Before she could respond, Zhao Ye withdrew his gaze and looked at Ouyang Yanwan: “Shuang Ling has gone to the Imperial Medical Office.”
This sounded like an explanation to Ouyang Yanwan, implying that since no one was available to attend to him, he happened to see Xiang Zhu and had her follow along.
Ouyang Yanwan smiled and nodded, appearing to take Zhao Ye’s words to heart, but her mind was clear as day.
Ah Ye, how could he remember the name of an ordinary second-class palace maid from Xiefang Hall?
Xiang Zhu genuinely breathed a sigh of relief.
She had almost forgotten—the only ones who could serve the Fourth Prince were Shuang Ling and Shuang Yun.
Shuang Yun had just been nearly ruined by Ouyang Yanwan; the Fourth Prince was not heartless and would never let Shuang Yun show her face before Ouyang Yanwan again.
Shuang Ling had to take care of Shuang Yun, and she happened to be here, so the Fourth Prince called her to arrange the meal.
It was merely a casual instruction.
Xiang Zhu steadied herself, keeping a proper distance—close enough to hear the master's call, but not close enough to catch their conversation—and followed them calmly.

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Ouyang Yanwan concealed her thoughts well, smiling brightly beside Zhao Ye, occasionally tilting her head up to speak with him.
Whenever this happened, Zhao Ye would slightly lean toward Ouyang Yanwan as if listening intently.
The two looked as though no quarrel had occurred the day before.
Last night, Zhao Ye had not favored anyone else either.
They passed through the lotus pond garden and the winding corridors before arriving at the dining hall.
Cui Zhu attended to Ouyang Yanwan as she took her seat and washed her hands.
Xiang Zhu naturally approached Zhao Ye to serve him.
The faint scent of bamboo gently dispersed Zhao Ye’s discomfort, making him visibly more at ease.
The palace attendants carrying the meal entered one after another.
Xiang Zhu noticed Cui Zhu standing behind Ouyang Yanwan without moving to set the table—a clear sign.
This was Ouyang Yanwan’s intention.
Xiang Zhu lowered her head and went aside to cleanse her hands, then carefully placed each dish on the table.
Setting the meal was a matter of great care.
Each master had different tastes and preferences.
The placement of dishes closely related to these likes and dislikes.
Though Xiang Zhu was a palace maid from Xiefang Hall and rarely served the princes’ meals, she still knew their preferences and taboos.
The difficulty lay in Ouyang Yanwan’s preferences.
Xiang Zhu sensed that Ouyang Yanwan was displeased that Zhao Ye remembered her name, which was why she forbade Cui Zhu from interfering.
However, this was no challenge for Xiang Zhu.
She only needed to place the dishes Zhao Ye often ate near him.
The rest naturally went to Ouyang Yanwan’s favorites.
After setting the meal, Xiang Zhu felt two gazes fixed upon her. Pretending ignorance, she lowered her eyes and obediently returned to Zhao Ye’s side.
With Xiang Zhu’s return, a subtle, pure fragrance again wafted to Zhao Ye’s nostrils.
Zhao Ye had never felt so comfortable being served his meal.
There was no unpleasant scent to endure or suppress; he only needed to savor the meal’s deliciousness.
Ouyang Yanwan did not miss the secret joy flickering in Zhao Ye’s eyes and brows.
Was it because of Xiang Zhu?
It was impossible to blame Ouyang Yanwan for her sharp perception.
In the past, when dining with Zhao Ye, he ate very little.

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And the dishes she offered him, Zhao Ye always ate with a smile, but gave Ouyang Yanwan the impression that he was forcing himself to eat.
Before, Ouyang Yanwan persuaded herself that she was overthinking—until this very moment.
Xiang Zhu, just like she once did, helped Zhao Ye pick his food.
Zhao Ye always quickly took the food and ate it.
Ouyang Yanwan carefully observed and distinguished the expression on Zhao Ye’s face while eating—she actually saw enjoyment.
True enjoyment in finding the food delicious and to his taste!
Ouyang Yanwan was momentarily dazed, uncontrollably watching Xiang Zhu and Zhao Ye.
She seemed to see countless glowing threads emerging between them, intertwining and stinging her eyes with pain.
“Today, Ah Ye’s appetite is very good.”
Ouyang Yanwan forced back her bitterness, curling her lips with a knowing smile.
Zhao Ye nodded in agreement and answered gently, “We dined a little late.”
Meaning he had been hungry for a while.
Why was Zhao Ye late to dine?
Because she had come to Xiefang Hall to cause trouble and had dealt with the people in his room.
So had she misunderstood? The one Zhao Ye truly cared about was Shuang Yun, but since it was awkward to show direct support in front of her, he called Xiang Zhu to arrange the meal and divert her attention?
Ouyang Yanwan’s smile faded slightly but she continued her unspoken words: “If you ask me, it must be that the maid serving Ah Ye’s meals is clever and understands his tastes well.”
“As for me, sigh...”
Xiang Zhu, who was just about to place a dish on Zhao Ye’s plate, thought: ...
Ouyang Yanwan meant that she only served Zhao Ye and neglected to help her pick food?
Without hesitation, Xiang Zhu completed placing the dish in front of Zhao Ye and then turned to help Ouyang Yanwan pick food.
It was the berry-smoked meat Ouyang Yanwan had glanced at several times, wanting to pick but feeling it was too far.
Seeing this, Ouyang Yanwan’s smile deepened: “Sure enough, such a clever maid, attentive and meticulous in serving her master.”
“Ah Ye’s side is truly lacking someone like this. I heard you’re only a second-class palace maid; would you like to serve in Ah Ye’s quarters?”
Zhao Ye’s dining motion paused slightly, his sharp brows slowly furrowing.
But he quickly returned to normal and said nothing, as if he didn’t care where Xiang Zhu would go at all.