Chapter 36 – You Finally Came

Qian Ning brought over two bowls of rice.

Shu Ruohua picked up one of them and placed it in front of Consort Jing, then added a few slices of dry pot potato into the bowl.

She called out to her, “Come eat, why are you just standing there in a daze?”

Consort Jing was completely stunned.

She had originally come today intending to mock Shu Ruohua and give her a small lesson.

But never mind whether her mockery had any effect—she hadn’t even had time to teach her a lesson yet.

And now Shu Ruohua was actually trying to curry favor with her?

No, that wasn’t right!

Looking at Shu Ruohua sitting there, clearly enjoying herself—this wasn’t flattery, it looked more like a Hongmen Banquet!

Consort Jing’s heart suddenly trembled.

She glanced at the dishes on the round table.

Could Shu Ruohua be trying to poison her?!

Instinctively, she took several steps back.

She looked around—this was Cold Maple Pavilion, Shu Ruohua’s territory.

If Shu Ruohua really intended to harm her, then no one would be able to save her!

As she thought about this, Consort Jing suddenly felt a chill crawl down her back.

Her face turned pale, and she immediately turned and walked away.

Shu Ruohua saw she was about to leave and wanted to try to persuade her to stay, but unfortunately, Consort Jing left too quickly.

Qian Ning watched the whole thing, completely dumbfounded.

It wasn’t until Consort Jing had run quite a distance that she turned and asked Shu Ruohua, “Miss, why did Consort Jing suddenly run away?!”

Shu Ruohua curled her lips, her brows filled with smug satisfaction.

She looked at the food on the round table and said, “Maybe she’s just not lucky enough to enjoy this meal.”

Consort Jing must have been manipulated again into coming to Cold Maple Pavilion today.

Only someone like her—who held a high status but lacked true scheming ability and yet desperately wanted others to think she was clever—would repeatedly be used like this.

To deal with people like that, Shu Ruohua knew she had to use the tactic of “feigning submission to capture”—pretending to yield in order to lull her guard. That was the only way someone like Consort Jing could feel satisfied.

But with such little cunning, the moment she felt at ease, she would definitely start suspecting something was wrong.

She would begin to think Shu Ruohua suddenly being so nice must mean the food had been tampered with.

What if it was poison…

Here, in Cold Maple Pavilion, if she were really poisoned, no one could save her.

Sensing the danger, she’d naturally turn and flee!

Qian Ning didn’t understand all that.

And Shu Ruohua wasn’t in the mood to explain it.

…

As night fell, the Crown Prince still hadn’t arrived.

Qian Ning began to worry.

What if the Crown Prince had just said that in passing and didn’t plan to come at all? Then who knew how long it would be before her mistress could see him again?

And with that, her mistress’s chances of reclaiming her identity and leaving the Cold Palace would grow even slimmer.

She kept craning her neck toward the outside, but never once caught sight of Xiao Che’s figure.

Shu Ruohua was now truly hungry.

She picked up a slice of potato and was about to put it into her mouth, but Qian Ning stopped her.

“Miss, let’s wait just a little longer.”

Shu Ruohua ignored her.

“Miss!” Qian Ning called out again.

The slice of potato was already at the edge of Shu Ruohua’s mouth—just one more second and it would’ve gone in.

But thanks to Qian Ning’s nagging, she had no choice but to painfully place it back in the bowl.

…

Time passed slowly.

The sky had completely darkened, and stars now filled the heavens.

Yet Xiao Che still hadn’t come.

Shu Ruohua grumbled, “I’m telling you, Qian Ning, my little darling, if you don’t let me eat soon, I’m going to starve to death!”

As the saying goes, miss one meal and you’ll really feel the hunger—she was honestly starving now.

Qian Ning still didn’t want to give up. “Let’s wait just a bit more, okay? Just a little bit.”

Shu Ruohua: “…”

She clutched her head in exasperation. That damned Xiao Che—he said he was coming to eat, yet it was already this late and he still hadn’t shown up. Was he trying to starve her to death?!

Just as Qian Ning finished her plea, Xiao Che suddenly walked in.

Tonight, he was dressed like his old self, wearing a black night-walker’s outfit.

Shu Ruohua seemed to smell his familiar scent.

The moment Xiao Che reached the round table, she suddenly looked up.

As soon as she confirmed it was him, her expression lit up like someone seeing a feast.

“You finally came!!”

She was so overwhelmed she was almost moved to tears.

Xiao Che had finally arrived—now she could finally eat.

Xiao Che gave a faint smile. “You missed me that much?”

…

…

…

(End of Chapter)