CHAPTER 702: CHAPTER 288: DINING TOGETHER (THIRD UPDATE)

"You need to give Xiao Hezhen and Wu Xufan enough confidence. Since you want to train them, you should go through with it thoroughly, instead of hesitating." Ye Qichi suggested.

"At least not at the beginning." Xiao Jinxing considered more thoroughly.

He was not as bold as Ye Qichi.

The two had a disagreement.

Ye Qichi said, "I’m just offering my advice, the specifics are up to you to decide."

With that, Ye Qichi intended to leave.

"Have you had lunch yet?" Xiao Jinxing suddenly asked.

"I was just about to."

"I haven’t eaten either, let’s eat together."

"Aren’t you waiting for Bai Mowan to wake up and eat with her?" Ye Qichi frowned.

"I don’t want to wake her up, let her sleep a little longer."

Ye Qichi felt that Xiao Jinxing seemed to misunderstand her meaning.

But whatever.

For her, it doesn’t matter who she eats with.

A food lover is never influenced by external factors.

So Ye Qichi stayed and had lunch with Xiao Jinxing.

She had only taken a couple of bites.

When Xiao Jinxing put down his chopsticks and then clutched the area around his stomach.

Ye Qichi glanced at him. "Stomachache?"

Xiao Jinxing was enduring it, trying not to show it.

"Stop pretending." Ye Qichi also put down her chopsticks, "Just say it if you want me to treat you, no need to put on such an act."

Ye Qichi directly grabbed Xiao Jinxing’s hand to feel his pulse.

Xiao Jinxing looked at Ye Qichi, his words stopping at his lips.

Ye Qichi quietly took his pulse for a while and then said, "It’s indeed a stomach issue. Have you not been eating regularly recently, or even sometimes skip meals due to busyness?!"

"Yes." Xiao Jinxing responded softly.

"The stomach needs to be nourished." Ye Qichi’s tone carried reprimand, "You deserve it for treating it so badly, it’s a wonder it’s not causing you more pain."

Xiao Jinxing was reprimanded by Ye Qichi and did not argue back.

His stomach was indeed cramping in waves of pain at the moment.

Ye Qichi didn’t continue eating either. She went straight to the ink-stone on the side, wrote a prescription for Xiao Wu, "Have the Palace Attendant prepare the medicine for Xiao Jinxing, then take it three times a day on schedule."

"Yes, Princess." Xiao Wu said hastily.

It was clear that the Princess cared deeply for the Prince.

After writing the prescription, Ye Qichi returned to the dining table to continue eating.

"Still in pain?" Ye Qichi asked.

Seeing that Xiao Jinxing hadn’t moved his chopsticks.

Theoretically, this kind of stomachache should come in waves.

"Waiting to eat with you."

"Stop being so pretentious." Ye Qichi was not appreciative, "Hurry up and eat, if not, your stomach will really kill you."

Xiao Jinxing pressed his lips together.

He was somewhat displeased by Ye Qichi’s lack of appreciation.

But he didn’t say anything.

He picked up his chopsticks and resumed eating.

"Eat slowly, someone with a stomach ailment should chew carefully and eat slowly." Ye Qichi reminded him.

"Yes."

Then Ye Qichi began eating her meal again.

"Thank you." Xiao Jinxing suddenly spoke.

Ye Qichi paused for a second.

She thought she had heard it wrong.

When had Xiao Jinxing ever been so polite.

Didn’t he always treat her like it was a given?!

She was genuinely surprised.

She had thought that someone as distinguished as Xiao Jinxing would never understand gratitude.

She said nonchalantly, "It’s a minimal effort."

"And for taking on so many tasks for me recently." Xiao Jinxing added.

Ye Qichi was taken aback.

"For helping me with strategies." Xiao Jinxing elaborated.

Ye Qichi was usually pretty smart, but whenever he talked to her, he always felt that she was two beats too slow to react.

"Oh." Ye Qichi finally caught on.

Xiao Jinxing was thanking her for all that.

She did all this not for Xiao Jinxing, but to stabilize the situation as soon as possible, get the battle underway, and then she could free herself.

So Xiao Jinxing thought all these things were done for him?!

Ye Qichi laughed, "If you’re really grateful, just give me more silver."

If that’s how he wants to show his gratitude.

She, therefore, saw no need to refuse.

After all, from ancient times to even an apocalypse, money has always been almighty!

Xiao Jinxing’s face obviously darkened a bit.

Ye Qichi didn’t mind. She teased, "You’re going to be the Emperor, you can’t be so miserly."

"Enough," Xiao Jinxing was somewhat angry, "Let’s eat!"

"..." Ye Qichi rolled her eyes.

It was clearly you who started speaking first.

Ye Qichi ignored it and simply started eating on her own.

The two of them ate halfway.

Bai Mowan woke up.

Upon waking, she saw Xiao Jinxing and Ye Qichi dining at the same table.

Jealousy surged in her heart instantly.

She could be tolerant of anyone, yet for some reason, she just couldn’t treat Ye Qichi with indifference.

She went over and deliberately sat beside Xiao Jinxing, "I’m sorry, Brother Xiao, I accidentally fell asleep just now."

"From now on, you should come and accompany me during the day and be sure to go back and rest at night," Xiao Jinxing said, seemingly worried that Bai Mowan would be upset, he added, "I don’t want you to overwork yourself."

"I just want to stay with you, to share some of your burdens. Seeing you so weary, I really can’t bear it," Bai Mowan expressed her concern.

"Don’t worry, I know how to take care of myself," Xiao Jinxing reassured.

Their gooey sweet words kept streaming into Ye Qichi’s ears.

Ye Qichi pretended she was watching a TV series.

She continued eating unperturbed.

After finishing the meal.

She did not linger and left.

After all, it’s rare for those two to have such an opportunity to be alone together.

Once at the border, it will be war again.

She pretended to understand.

As soon as Ye Qichi left.

Bai Mowan, watching her figure, couldn’t help but say, "Is she angry?"

After all, Ye Qichi didn’t say goodbye to them when she left.

Ye Qichi really didn’t want to disturb their tender affections.

"She will get used to it in the future," Xiao Jinxing said indifferently.

In his heart, though, he wasn’t as carefree as he appeared.

But he didn’t want to think too deeply.

Having committed himself to Bai Mowan, he would not entertain any change.

...

At Prince Chen’s Mansion.

Xie Ruotong woke up to find it was already late afternoon.

After sorting out the affairs at the Duke Mansion, she went straight to sleep when she got back.

The moment she woke up, she felt quite hungry.

She got up and walked out of the room.

"Miss Xie," Lu You approached her briskly, "You’re awake?"

"Mm."

"Hungry?"

"Mm."

"The servants have had the kitchen prepare in advance. Just wait a moment, I’ll have someone bring it to you."

"Thank you."

"It’s what I should do," Lu You said, appearing very lively.

Xie Ruotong then waited in the room for a bit.

Lu You had the dishes served.

"Have you eaten yet?" Xie Ruotong asked.

"Is Miss Xie asking if the servant has had lunch, or dinner?" Lu You teased.

Xie Ruotong smiled and started to eat on her own.

"I just don’t know when the Princess will be able to return to Prince Chen’s Mansion to stay," Lu You said worriedly, "After finally coming back, the servants have hardly seen the Princess."

"You should say, when will the Princess take you to the palace," Xie Ruotong corrected.