Ying Han lifted a brow and smiled. "So you're hiding here and taking it easy?"
Zhanchen smiled back. "Everything in that shop is meant for women—how am I supposed to show up? That said, it's not like I'm not helping." He had a servant bring over a large box. "Here. I brought you things in advance so you can try them first. Whether they work well or not, you still have to give my sister face and go buy some."
Liu Jing groaned dramatically. "I had no choice—Mother's watching me like a hawk. Your little sister opened a shop, so I had to go support it. The moment I stepped inside, it was wall-to-wall young ladies, all staring at me at once. I swear my scalp started tingling." As he spoke, he wandered over to examine what Zhanchen had brought.
Ying Han had already ordered the food. He said, "To be fair, the first-day business really was booming. The shop was basically picked clean—only some incense was left. There are several types, too. Liu Jing and I almost bought the kind meant for women, but luckily the shop clerk reminded us." He tipped his chin toward the box. "This one's for sleep. Still, those girls are ruthless—the incense is priced way too high."
"It's top-grade," Yi Junlan said casually. At some point he'd picked up a box, opened it, and taken a light sniff. "Of course it's expensive."
"Exactly," Zhanchen said, pleased. "Anything my sister makes is the best."
Liu Jing nodded, then noticed Mo Chen on the side. "Who's this kid?"
Mo Chen was busy teasing A-Mu. He hated being called a kid. "I'm not a kid. I can diagnose illnesses now."
"Oh?" Liu Jing looked at Zhanchen. "This is your sister's disciple? Your godbrother's little brother?"
"Yes," Zhanchen said. "He's with me now. Don't bully him. He may be small, but my sister taught him—his medical skills are impressive."
"As if I would," Liu Jing said. "If he's your brother, he's our brother too. We can't offend him. When we're old, we'll still need him to treat us." He pulled a piece of jade from his waist and waved it in front of Mo Chen's eyes. "Come on—call me Brother Jing."
Mo Chen's master had taught him: if someone offers you something good, don't be shy. He immediately put on his sweetest face. "Hello, Brother Jing."
"Not bad." Liu Jing tossed the jade into Mo Chen's lap and leaned back with the satisfaction of someone who'd just bought himself a new little brother.
Ying Han produced a jade fan and asked, "I heard you're studying at the academy?"
Mo Chen nodded.
"Good. If anyone gives you trouble, just say the name Jiang Yinghan—guaranteed it works. Here, take this fan too." He smiled brightly. "Stick with Brother Jiang. When you grow up, you'll be just like me—debonair, charming, with a whole flock of—"
He cut off mid-sentence when Liu Jing shot him a warning glare.
Mo Chen blinked at the gifts, then asked with pure seriousness, "Brother Jiang, Brother Jing—how many taels would the jade fan and jade pendant sell for?"
Both men stared at him.
Liu Jing looked personally offended. "I gave that to you and you're going to pawn it?"
"This fan is something I've carried for years," Ying Han added, equally aggrieved.
Zhanchen quietly sipped his tea, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter. Yi Junlan watched with an amused lift of his brows.
Mo Chen widened his eyes innocently. "But didn't you give them to me?"
"Yes," Liu Jing said through his teeth. "We gave them to you."
"Are you sure you gave them to me," Mo Chen pressed, "and you didn't just ask me to hold them for you?"
"Of course we didn't," Ying Han snapped.
"Then why do you both look like you only wanted me to keep them safe?" Mo Chen said earnestly. "My master said: when someone gives you something and you don't like it, you shouldn't refuse to their face. You accept it first. Then later you can pawn it for silver and save it."
"You—" Liu Jing choked on the words.
He turned to Zhanchen, who was enjoying the show far too much. "Did your sister teach him like this?"
Zhanchen finally burst out laughing. "That really does sound like my sister."
"What do you want, then?" Yi Junlan asked mildly.
Mo Chen's face lit up. The mask didn't scare him at all—he genuinely thought the prince was kind. He trotted over and said, "I want a small bow. Back in the mountains, Brother Shen had one. I was so jealous."
"Gu Qing," Yi Junlan said, "go back and fetch the bow I used when I was young."
Gu Qing hesitated. That bow was one of His Highness's prized possessions.
"Go."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Mo Chen was delighted. "Thank you, Your Highness! But… why do you wear a mask? Are you injured? I can treat patients. If you don't mind, I can take a look. I won't even charge you."
Yi Junlan's lips curved faintly. "I'm afraid I'll scare you. When you're older, I'll let you treat me."
Mo Chen could tell he was being brushed off. "Oh… alright." Then he brightened immediately. "The food's here—come eat!"
In no time, the table filled with dishes.
A-Mu couldn't stand it any longer and started squeaking, restless with hunger.
Liu Jing pointed at the bottle Zhanchen had brought. "What's that?"
"My sister's shampoo," Zhanchen said. "It's for you. I tried it today—very good."
Liu Jing eyed Zhanchen's hair. "Really? Is your sister some kind of reincarnated prodigy? She keeps coming up with all these strange new things."
Zhanchen snorted. "My sister can endure hardship. She suffered plenty in the mountains—it wasn't for nothing. If you dared throw your own sister into the mountains for a few years, she'd turn out like mine too. Maybe she'd even slim down."
"I'd like to," Liu Jing said, "but if my father and mother found out, they'd beat me to death. My sister is precious." He turned and warned Ying Han, "When my sister marries into your family, you'd better treat her well. Don't you dare dislike her."
Ying Han clasped his hands with a grin. "Of course not. I wouldn't dare."
"Speaking of my sister," Liu Jing went on, "that acupuncture weight-loss plan your sister set up for her is actually working. I can tell she's slimmer already. She's been eating so little these days that Mother feels sorry for her. She refuses to eat even when Mother urges her. Want to know what she said?"
Ying Han, suddenly very interested in his future wife, asked, "What did she say?"
Liu Jing's face twisted with sour annoyance. "She said it's for you, you shameless flirt."
Ying Han laughed until his shoulders shook. That kind of temperament… wasn't bad at all.
"Enough," Zhanchen cut in, waving them off. "After we eat, try the toothbrush I brought."
Liu Jing immediately stood. He took the tea, pulled out a toothbrush, dipped it in tooth powder, and started brushing right there.
"Huh. This is actually pretty good," he said around the foam, then pointed at the bristles. "What are these made of?"
Zhanchen only smiled mysteriously, refusing to answer.
Mo Chen answered for him, bright and proud. "Wild boar bristles. They're hard to get. When my master and I made them, it took us two whole days."
Liu Jing's face froze.
He coughed violently, gagged once, and recoiled. "Boar hair?! That's disgusting. Zhanchen, you're truly wicked."
"How is it wicked?" Zhanchen said calmly. "That's what it's made from."
Liu Jing looked as if he'd been personally wronged by the concept of hygiene. "It's still revolting."