"You are very happy today. It seems you have been doing well", Xiuyan commented as they walked in.
"Brother, you worry too much. I am doing perfectly fine", Lingxi assured him as she led him into the dining hall.
"Brother, have a seat", she gestured for him to sit down.
It was a square shaped table. She sat by his right.
"I've not seen you for four months now. You've gotten prettier", he observed.
He looked at her outfit, "what do you think of your brother's choice?"
"Good", she answered with a smile.
"I've not seen you for four months, you've got thinner. It seems you suffered a lot out there", Lingxi teased.
"That's hardly a good compliment", Xiuyan flicked her head lightly.
"Brother, you're at it again!" she said feigning a frown as she placed her hand on her forehead.
"Well, you can't do anything about it", he replied. Lingxi smiled again.
Anytime he bullied her that was his usual line.
"If you don't apologize, I'll tell Fa..." She wanted to say 'Father' as that was her usual
response but paused and changed her words. She folded her arms and looked him straight in the eye with a hint of stubbornness, "if you don't apologize, I'll tell my husband that you bullied me"
Mo Xiuyan looked at her for a second and realized his little sister was now married.
"Regarding your marriage, how is His Highness treating you?" he asked.
He wanted to confirm if He Yu was troubling her.
"He treats me well", Lingxi assured him, "brother, with your tone, it seems you're quite dissatisfied with him", she added.
Xiuyan let out a short sigh before complaining, "I had only left the Capital for an assignment and suddenly, I heard you were getting married. And to make it worse, you chose the Grand Prince. I was very shocked", he said.
Lingxi poured him tea, "drink this. Your throat must be parched after complaining so much"
He drank it.
Lingxi let him finish before speaking, "His Highness is very kind and considerate. Choosing him was the best decision I've ever made", Lingxi said.
Xiuyan eyed her, "best decision? He is frail and sickly. I heard about you getting poisoned. He can't even protect you well. You must have been fooled by his handsome face"
He Yu entered at this moment and stood by the door, listening with Chi Yun by his side.
"He is indeed handsome", Lingxi agreed.
Xiuyan felt his suspicion was right and wanted to say something but she continued, "however, I didn't marry him for his looks alone. He takes very good care of me and keeps me happy"
"But he is frail..."
"It's precisely because he is frail that I like him even more. Think about it, if I had married other princes, I would have to deal with a mother-in-law and factional struggles. But the case is different with His Highness. He is frail so I control him. He lets me do whatever I want and it's always peaceful", Lingxi explained to him.
"I don't care about all that. All I care about is if you are happy with him", Xiuyan said.
"I'm happy, very happy", Lingxi smiled.
"I hope you can remain happy. If he ever bullies you, tell me right away. I will rip his frail body to pieces", Xiuyan promised.
Lingxi could not help laughing, "that will never happen", she assured him, "but... if it does happen and I can't handle it, I'll inform you right away"
"You don't need to handle everything now that I've returned. Just say the word"
He Yu decided it was time to make his presence known.
He walked towards them and sat down, "don't forget about me", he said with a smile but Xiuyan's smile had already disappeared on seeing his face.
Lingxi poured tea for He Yu. He Yu's eyes met hers for a brief second and she understood and handed him the cup.
"Thank you, Zhizhi", He Yu smiled at her.
Xiuyan did not fail to capture 'Zhizhi'
"Both of you can chat for a while. I'll be right back", Lingxi said standing up.
She was going to get the dishes with Xin Xie and Xin Lan leaving both of them alone with Chi Yun.
The atmosphere was quiet as He Yu sipped his tea after Lingxi left. Xiuyan spoke first, "It seems Your Highness's health has gotten better"
He Yu set the cup down, "with Zhizhi by my side, my condition has improved a lot. Thank you for your concern, Brother"
Xiuyan was slightly startled by the address, "your highness, calling me Brother is far too much. I dare not see myself as your older brother", Xiuyan did not seem particularly pleased with He Yu's form of address.
"There is no need to be so formal with me. Actually, I've always envied other princes especially Prince Ming for having a complete family. I never experienced what it was like to have a father, mother or an older brother by her side. Seeing you today, I thought I had finally found an older brother. Forgive me if I overstepped", He Yu apologized.
His tone was calm and even sounded a bit sentimental but Xiuyan did not seem to buy it.
He rolled his eyes, "Your highness, there is no need to be emotional. I am a straightforward man so I'll be direct", Xiuyan said ignoring He Yu's sentimental words.
'It seems His Highness's first approach has failed. Commander Mo doesn't care. This is going to be much harder for His Highness', Chi Yun who was standing behind He Yu thought in his head.
"Please feel free to speak", He Yu responded.
"Then I'll be blunt. I've gone through Your Highness's medical records. Your highness's condition is not looking good", Xiuyan went straight to the point.
'Gone through His Highness's medical records? That's very bold', Chi Yun commented in his mind.
As a spectator, he could only keep his thoughts in his head.
"I understand your concerns but there is no need to worry. My health is much stable than before..." He Yu was saying but was suddenly betrayed by a cough.
'It's over. Commander Mo is already suspicious of His Highness and now His Highness has given him more reasons', Chi Yun's mind raced.
He Yu cleared his throat lightly before speaking, "apart from mild cough, I am mostly fine", he said with a calm smile.
Xiuyan did not seem to buy it. His dissatisfaction of He Yu increased.
"If you are worried about Lingxi, Brother need not be. No matter my condition, I always stand by her, care for her and love her", He Yu assured him.
"Those words are easy for anyone to say. Whether they are genuine or not, time will tell", Xiuyan was not easily impressed.
"It's normal for a brother to be worried about his sister's future but I can promise you this - even if the sky falls, as long as I'm alive, I will love her and only her", He Yu promised.
Xiuyan felt moved for a second but then it dissipated, "promises are easy to make. I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I don't trust your words"
'What else does he want His Highness to do?' Chi Yun wondered.
He Yu gave a short sigh in resignation, "Asking you to trust me just by my words is indeed too much. I believe my actions will convince you sooner or later"
Lingxi walked in with Xin Xie and Xin Lan. Both were carrying trays of dishes. They set the dishes down.
Xiuyan looked at them.
There were spicy braised chicken, chili-and-garlic fish, spicy eggplant, dry-fried green beans, chili tofu, plain steamed rice, and a clear vegetable soup.
"Zhizhi has prepared a lot of dishes", Xiuyan commented looking at the table.
"Try them", Lingxi handed him a pair of chopsticks.
He tried the braised chicken, "delicious"
"I'm glad you like it"
She served different dishes on his plate, "try this...and this….and this….."
He Yu, on the other hand, stuck to the plain rice and vegetable soup.
Xiuyan noticed, "isn't Your Highness trying the other dishes?"
"I can't handle spice", He Yu answered, "Chi Yun, go to the kitchen and get me the pastries" Chi Yun bowed and left. He soon returned with jujube cakes and sweet steamed buns.
He Yu offered the buns to Xiuyan, "I made this myself. Please try it"
Xiuyan hesitated for a second before accepting it, "thank you, your highness"
He took a bite.
The buns had red date filling that was very sweet. The sweetness gradually melted the heat in his mouth.
"What do you think?" He Yu asked.
"Too sweet", Xiuyan answered but still finished the bun.
He Yu smiled to himself and took a piece of jujube cake, "Zhizhi, try this"
Lingxi wanted to take it from him but he placed it in front of her lips. She had no choice than to let him feed her.
Xiuyan looked at the both of them. He Yu did look like a loving husband. Perhaps, he truly took good care of his sister.
However, the next second, his opinion changed.
"How is it?" He Yu asked Lingxi with a smile.
"Sweet", she answered looking back at him.
"Then tell me - between me and the cake, which is sweeter?" He Yu asked in a flirting manner and Xiuyan immediately noticed.
Shameless! Utterly shameless!
He could not stand it any longer.
He stood up, "Zhizhi, it's getting late. I'll go see Father first"
Lingxi stood up, "All right. My homecoming is around the corner, I'll see you and Father then"
Xiuyan nodded with a smile and turned to He Yu.
He gave a bow, "Your highness, I won't keep you any longer"
He Yu nodded, "see you soon, Brother" Xiuyan still did not like the address.
"Let's go, I'll see you off", Lingxi said.
They walked out together.
Chi Yun sat in one of the free spots and looked back at Mo Xiuyan who was already leaving, "Commander Mo is a bit too hostile towards you. You both only just met personally", Chi Yun commented as his hand reached for the sweet buns.
"I just discovered something", He Yu said.
Chi Yun took a bite of the buns, "what is it?"
He Yu turned to look at him, "This brother-in-law of mine can't handle spicy food"
"Hmm?"