Chapter 43 – Striking for the First Time

“That’s fine. However, now is not the time for dinner, how about we walk around first?”

Hua Qiyue suggested as she noticed another man on the carriage. That was Yun Shimo.

Hua Qiyue was slightly surprised as she did not expect him to be here. Tianci waved to Yun Shimo as he was familiar with the doctor who had removed toxins from his body.

Yun Shimo smiled faintly at the little kid, making Hua Qiyue slightly depressed. “Why did this stoic smile? Was he going to snatch her son?”

Hua Qiyue was scared by her thoughts and quickly recomposed herself. Thus, Ji family’s carriage followed them. Anyways, she decided to enjoy a brief respite before competition resumed tomorrow.

When passing by a biscuit shop, Tianci pulled the corner of Hua Qiyue’s dress and pointed at the shop.

Hua Qiyue signaled for the carriage to stop before walking down with Tianci. “Tianci, do you want some biscuits?”

Hua Qiyue remembered that she seldom came onto the streets with Tianci, with only three memories of doing so. However, every time Tianci signaled to eat biscuits, she rejected it due to hygiene considerations.

Tianci nodded exaggeratedly while Ji Jing and Ji Feng alighted from their carriage. The delicious smell of the biscuits made their mouths water as they stepped into that small shop.

That was a shop specialized in roast and barbeque products. There was roasted chicken, duck and biscuits, as well as barbequed corn, poultry, and squid.

It was summer now and not many people were there to taste the food. There were still two empty tables.

Hua Qiyue held Tianci’s hand as they entered the store. As they entered, the store owner came to greet them.

The group sat down and Tianci pointed at the roasted biscuit and chicken. Hua Qiyue nodded, smiling like a flower. “Bring everything here since Tianci like them.”

Hearing that, the store owner nodded profusely. “Yes, sure. Even though the store is tiny, the food here is delicious and clean. You can come and look at the cooking process if you do not believe in me.”

After all, since a group of wealthy customers suddenly arrived, the store owner dared not treat them with disrespect. However, to prevent them from complaining, he quickly assured them of the cleanliness.

Ji Jing had long been hungry. “Don’t waste our time, just give me all the delicious food!”

Ji Feng shook his head and complained. “Sis, you are such a glutton. Perhaps your future husband will dislike you because of this!”

Ji Jing heard that and glanced secretly at Yun Shimo, blushing. However, she still retorted, “Bro, if he did like me, he would want me to eat more and make me fat such that no other man is tempted by me!”

Hua Qiyue heard that and smiled.

Lv Xin and Youshui covered their mouths and giggled too. Even though Ji Jing seemed to be aloof, she did make sense. However, it was impossible to find a man that would love his wife like himself in the patriarchal society!

“Lv Xin, Youshui, sit in the other table and order whatever y’all want.” Hua Qiyue smiled and pointed at the table beside her.

Lv Xin and Youshui looked at each other. They knew that the rules should not be so easily broken, but they still sat down due to the enticing fragrance of the food.

After a while, Tianci’s roasted biscuit and chicken arrived. Yun Shimo washed his hands using the store’s water and cut the roasted chicken in small pieces.

Yun Shimo’s carefulness and initiative made Hua Qiyue frown. “He really wants to snatch Tianci away from me?”

“Sister Qiyue, I didn’t expect your adopted son to be so cute. However, I did hear that he was tortured by maidservants before and was black and thin?” Ji Jing looked at the cute Tianci and couldn’t help but push a plate of roasted chicken drumsticks in front of him.

Tianci stared at the delicious chicken drumsticks with eager eyes. After obtaining Hua Qiyue’s permission, he smiled to Ji Jing and started eating the chicken drumstick.

Looking at her satisfied son, Hua Qiyue felt gratified.

“Indeed so, but that was quite a long time ago. Hua’s Mansion will take good care of him.” Hua Qiyue smiled faintly. Ji Feng purposefully stared at Yun Shimo as he silently sent a chicken drumstick to Hua Qiyue’s bowl.

“Hmpt, since you decide to flatter the small son, I’ll pamper the mother.”

Hua Qiyue was flattered and blushed. “Thank you, Brother Ji.”

Yun Shimo glanced at Hua Qiyue and saw her blush. He was abruptly frustrated. Suddenly, he started to like the silly version of Hua Qiyue, as she would not attract the attention of men then.

After they finished eating, they were all extremely full. Thus, they decided to walk around to help with the digestion.

Tianci pulled Hua Qiyue to a nearby college. He stared at the studious students with eager eyes.

Hua Qiyue was shocked. She had been focusing too much on her practice and revenge that she failed to notice what Tianci wanted!

Back at Zhou family, she was busy with business and Zhou Zhicheng did not want to send Tianci to college. Thus, the matter dragged on.

Staring at Tianci’s eager eyes, Hua Qiyue squatted down and gently gripped his soft little hand. “Tianci, I’ll find you a good college after a few days, okay?”

Tianci was delighted to hear that. He rubbed his face on Hua Qiyue’s arm forcefully. Suddenly, her eyes reddened as she teared up.

Seeing this, Ji Feng and Yun Shimo were silent. Even the noisy Ji Jing quietened down.

The group wandered around, buying many toys and snacks for Tianci, those that Hua Qiyue disallowed him from buying in the past.

During the trip, Ji Feng was particularly caring to Hua Qiyue. Many also noticed the group as the famous Prince Nan had never accompanied anyone in shopping before. However, he was now accompanying the stupid girl of Hua’s Mansion!

However, many believed that Yun Shimo was merely accompanying Ji Jing and Ji Feng.

Despite that, they were confused about how the stupid woman attracted the attention of Ji Feng.

At lunchtime, the group entered Wangyue Restaurant.

In the imperial city, Wangyue Restaurant was as famous as Dong Hai Restaurant. Moreover, it had a more elegant name.

Before Hua Qiyue married over, Wangyue Restaurant was the top restaurant in the imperial city. After Hua Qiyue changed the menu and the ingredients, adding flavor to the dishes, the business of the restaurant slowly improved, suppressing Wangyue Restaurant quickly.

However, as they walked into Wangyue Restaurant, Hua Qiyue heard many discussing Dong Hai Restaurant.

“I wonder why the dishes of Dong Hai Restaurant tastes particularly bad nowadays.”

“I agree. I heard rumors that people from the Ji family had food poisoning there, tsk tsk…”

“That’s right, I had food poisoning too. It seems that no one can support the restaurant now that the lucky wife had died!”

The whispers of the people stopped as Hua Qiyue’s group entered.

Ji Feng and Yun Shimo were all famous individuals of the imperial city, while Ji Jing was young and pretty.

Hua Qiyue was a famous person in the imperial city as well. Her popularity came partially from being an unmarried woman with an adopted son and betting with those in the wealthy families yesterday, with even the Emperor participating.

Furthermore, Hua Qiyue won in the end, shocking everyone. Hua Qiyue was a famous individual now, more famous than even Prince Nan.

Seeing such famous individuals, store owner Zhao ran out with a smile to greet them before leading them to the VIP room upstairs.

However, before Hua Qiyue entered the room, she saw Princess Huizhen in the corner of her eye. The little kid behind her saw the princess as well, and he began shivering, holding on tightly to Hua Qiyue’s hand as if he was worried that she would push him towards Princess Huizhen.

Hua Qiyue squatted down and whispered by Tianci’s ear. “Tianci, there is no need to be afraid… Karma will get them, understand?”

Tianci blinked as he did not really understand what his mother said.

“Which is to say, there will be retribution for those that hurt you.” Hua Qiyue smiled lightly as she comforted her son.

Tianci’s eyes reddened. After Hua Qiyue adopted him, he had never seen him truly cry before. However, his tears dropped down now like rainfall.

Tianci shook his head and opened his mouth. But to his great dismay, he could not speak!

Hua Qiyue felt heartache. Tianci was strong enough. Even though he did not receive news of “her” death, he must have known something from those vicious maidservants.

Tianci pulled Hua Qiyue’s hand up. Even though Zhou Zhicheng did not allow Tianci to attend college, she did insist on hiring a teacher to teach him reading and writing.

“Mum had died, but the murderer is still alive…”

Hua Qiyue felt as if she was struck by thunder!

It turned out that Tianci did know the truth!

Tianci ran into Hua Qiyue’s arms and cried. Her tears wet Hua Qiyue’s white summer dress embroidered by golden lotus.

“Why, Tianci… Sister Qiyue, what happened to him?” After entering the chamber, Ji Jing noticed the abnormality of Tianci and Hua Qiyue. Thus, he came over and asked hurriedly.

Hua Qiyue held up Tianci’s face and wiped the tears off his face as her own eyes reddened. “Tianci, to protect you and your relatives, you have to be stronger and strike before your enemy strikes, understand? After a few days, mum will make you happy.”

She lowered her voice and whispered. Even Ji Jing, who was nearby, did not understand what they said.

After wiping the tears off his face, Hua Qiyue pulled Tianci into the chamber and closed the door. “Nothing, nothing… Tianci was merely throwing a small tantrum. Let’s sit, Tianci, there will be a lot of delicious food later.”

Tianci stopped crying. Yun Shimo touched his head silently. The little kid lifted up his head, crying while laughing.

“Luckily, luckily I still had mum and all these people… Or Tianci will not be able to survive and live on.”

The food arrived and while they were about to eat, someone knocked on the door twice and opened it.

They turned around and saw Princess Huiling, Princess Huizhen, Zhou Zhicheng, Princess Huiya, and Princess Mingzhu.

After going to Dong Hai Restaurant, Princess Huiling heard that Ji Jing and Ji Feng went out and thus was a bit unhappy. She was shopping when she heard about new dishes in Wangyue Restaurant. Thus, she came in to try the taste.

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