Chapter 27: Yongzhou Market

His neck stiffened as he slowly turned his head, inch by inch…

Early in the morning, hearing such words—she was still the same Li Yunli he knew.

Yun Chu pressed down the corners of his lips, recalling what she had said the night before. He looked up and asked, “Your Highness likes it?”

“I do.” Li Yunli nodded sincerely and smiled.

She hadn’t expected that after last night, Yun Chu would actually be willing to respond to such teasing remarks.

Before, he would always try to avoid such topics, giving the impression of a disciplined and reserved ancient gentleman.

Li Yunli’s mood brightened a bit more.

As a modern woman with no taboos, she was lucky to have transmigrated into the body of such an unrestrained and carefree princess.

If she had ended up as a well-mannered lady from a prestigious family, forced to measure every word and action, she might have suffocated.

“Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t like the idea of prolonging your life?”

Li Yunli met Yun Chu’s gaze with a light chuckle.

“I do.” Yun Chu tilted his head slightly, curving his lips. “Your Highness is very beautiful. I didn’t dare to look before.”

Li Yunli had only meant to tease him, but his response caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.

“Oh? And now you dare?” Li Yunli looked at him. “So before, you were just suppressing your true nature?”

Yun Chu didn’t respond to this playful remark.

The two of them tacitly avoided any lingering emotions from their candid conversation the night before. At this moment, they acted as if nothing had happened—only knowing in their hearts that the person before them was, for now, trustworthy.

Li Yunli tapped her forehead, signaling for him to tuck in the stray strands of hair.

Her loosely pinned-up hair naturally let some strands fall, but instead of looking messy, it appeared effortlessly graceful.

A person as good-looking as him—it was almost unfair.

Li Yunli had never seen him like this before. Finding him pleasing to the eye, she took another few glances.

Yun Chu coughed lightly and redirected the conversation back to the main issue, helping her analyze the situation. “Your Highness, what do you think the intention behind the gift of pastries is?”

“I can think of two possibilities. Either the sender is from Baotou Mountain, using a plate of pastries to give me a warning—showing that they can reach me anytime. Or, the sender is someone else, trying to convey some message and using the pastries to draw my attention, leading us to follow the clues.”

Yun Chu nodded. “Yongzhou has been suffering from disasters for a long time. Though there isn’t outright chaos, the city is in no condition to sustain a large market. Your Highness entered the city yesterday, and today a market has suddenly appeared. The mastermind behind this is making their intentions clear.”

“So, you believe the pastries are from Baotou Mountain?” Li Yunli pondered. “The first possibility does seem more likely, but the second one isn’t impossible either. How about a bet? I’ll bet on the latter. Do you dare to take the wager?”

“Hmm?” Yun Chu frowned at her. “Why?”

He had wanted to ask why she had a different perspective, but Li Yunli misunderstood his question and guided him instead. “This is a great chance for you to profit from me. What if you win?”

To him, it seemed as if she had planned this all along.

After all, she had been to Yongzhou in her past life. She must know the answer. No matter how they bet, she would win.

Yun Chu sighed and tilted his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. “Alright, let’s have a wager.”

“If you win, what do you want?”

Yun Chu: “If I win, will Your Highness tell me where Lady Zhilian has gone?”

Li Yunli was momentarily stunned, then she smiled leisurely. “You already figured it out?”

Yun Chu smirked at her.

As a mere consort, he was just her subordinate. Even if he had noticed something, he couldn’t openly ask.

Zhilian had disappeared since they entered the city. As Li Yunli’s personal maid, she would usually never leave her side. If she had been sent on an errand, it must have been for something important.

Li Yunli said, “Don’t you want to change your wager? If you really want to know, I can tell you anytime. Why not ask for something more beneficial to you?”

Yun Chu smiled faintly. “A move made cannot be taken back.”

After all, there wasn’t much he wanted from Li Yunli anymore. And as for what he truly desired, he couldn’t say it yet.

“Alright.” Li Yunli nodded. “You uphold the way of a gentleman—very well. Then, if I win, you must promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you after we return to the capital. I won’t go back on my word, and it will be within your abilities.”

“Alright.” Yun Chu agreed.

If she wanted something from him, that was a good thing. It was precisely what he had been hoping for.

Ever since he suspected that she had also been reborn, he had been waiting for Li Yunli to ask something of him.

In the past, Li Yunli loved his body, enjoyed intimacy, and often forced him into actions he was reluctant to take.

But now, she no longer did any of that. Even when they shared a bed, nothing happened.

Looking back, the only two times she had made any requests of him were the day she whimsically asked him to teach her calligraphy and last night when she sought his help.

Though she didn’t say much, it was enough to stir his thoughts.

He was still useful.

And if he was useful, then it was inevitable to crave more.

“Your Highness,” he called.

“Hmm?”

“The market is open, and we can have breakfast there. Shall we go?”

Li Yunli’s interest was piqued. “Let’s go.”

Two years ago, the war was still ongoing, and the northwest suffered heavy losses. Now, there were no stationed troops in Yongzhou—only the local government’s militia maintained order.

Although the Western Rong tribes had been defeated, small skirmishes were still common. Coupled with frequent floods, the wealthier citizens had gradually moved away. Yongzhou was already far less prosperous than other states.

Li Yunli and Yun Chu had imagined the market would be small, but when they arrived following Feng Mu’s directions, they were slightly taken aback.

A long street bustled with activity, the sounds of people chattering and vendors shouting could be heard from afar.

As they walked in, they saw crowds of people, stalls lined up with merchants calling out their wares.

Though the citizens wore simple clothes, their faces were lit with smiles as they lingered at the stalls.

“This really doesn’t match the current state of Yongzhou. If there wasn’t someone pulling the strings behind the scenes, it would be hard to believe,” Yun Chu said doubtfully, implying—why bet on a losing game?

Li Yunli glanced at him but didn’t respond. She looked around the market, then back at him with a relaxed tone. “Let’s see if there’s anything good to eat.”

And so, she walked in further.

Seeing fresh steaming buns at a stall, she stopped to ask about their price and fillings.

She was really here for breakfast.