The past few days, Ye Ziling had used the ointment given by Bai Yu and received care from Ye Jinghuai, recovering soon after.
During this time, Bai Yu was attending to matters in the Heavenly Palace and would not be returning to Peach Blossom Valley temporarily.
Ye Ziling left the valley and was brought by Ye Jingxian to the finest restaurant in the capital.
Shuiyunjian was a restaurant established by immortals in the mortal realm. The dishes, tea, and wine were all prepared according to the tastes of the Heavenly Palace. Mortals, in their reverence for immortals, regarded this restaurant as "Heaven's Palace on Earth."
The only drawback was that the dishes were so expensive they could buy a building, thus its patrons were primarily the sons of officials and wealthy merchants.
Ye Jingxian, fanning himself, his eyes curved enchantingly, quietly placed his hand on Ye Ziling's shoulder and chuckled, "Ling'er, this second brother is treating, what do you want to eat, just order anything!"
"Is this the number one restaurant in the mortal realm that Second Brother mentioned?" Ye Ziling looked at the stream of noble youths coming and going outside, a bowing and fawning divine beast by their side, and couldn't help but think of the Heavenly Palace.
This restaurant was indeed a good imitation, but she found it rather tiresome. After all, in the Heavenly Palace, she had grown weary of such sycophantic days.
To avoid dampening Ye Jingxian's spirits, she could only feign curiosity, glance at the restaurant's sign, raise her eyebrows, and say, "Then let's go."
Upon entering, two divine beasts led them upstairs. After they were seated, they smiled and presented the menu, asking, "What would the two wish to order?"
"Bring us a plate of all your signature dishes, and a pot of Yuqing tea," Ye Jingxian instructed, then added, "Right, remember not to make any mistakes, the dishes should be light."
"Yes."
The divine beast replied and turned to leave. Ye Jingxian fanned himself, his gaze falling upon the person opposite him.
She was wearing a moon-white dress, her hair cascading like a waterfall down her back, as black as silk.
"Ling'er?" Seeing her lost in thought, Ye Jingxian waved his hand at her, his eyebrows slightly raised, "Have you tried the Yuqing tea here before?"
Ye Ziling shook her head. "No."
A faint smile played on Ye Jingxian's lips, his eyes mischievous. "It seems your experience hasn't been as broad as your second brother's over the years. If you follow me in the future, I guarantee it'll be better than staying in Peach Blossom Valley!"
"Let me tell you secretly, this pot of Yuqing tea alone costs me a hundred taels of silver. Don't you think this restaurant is robbing people? But then again, it's from the Heavenly Palace. If you don't call it robbing, then everything here is deathly expensive!"
As the divine beast poured the tea, Ye Ziling took a gentle sip, smiling faintly, "The tea is too light in flavor and color, it's not authentic Yuqing tea. Your hundred taels of silver were likely wasted."
Yuqing tea was the most common beverage in the Heavenly Realm. In the mortal realm, it had become a luxury, not because of its excellent taste, but simply because it originated from the Heavenly Realm.
Ye Jingxian's fanning suddenly paused. After a moment of thought, he looked at her with keen interest. "Oh? If that's the case, then sister knows quite a bit about this Yuqing tea."
It wasn't that she knew a lot.
It was just that any immortal maidservant pulled from the Heavenly Palace could discern the authenticity of Yuqing tea.
"By the way, have you heard of the Divine Maiden Tuyao from the Heavenly Realm?" Speaking of the Heavenly Realm, Ye Jingxian's deepest impression was of the former Divine Maiden Tuyao. He heard she was one of the most beautiful women in the Heavenly Realm, and wondered what she looked like.
"Sister doesn't know." Ye Ziling set down her teacup, feigning ignorance, and looked up at Ye Jingxian opposite her. "Why is Second Brother asking about her?"
After the Ye family was massacred, Ye Ziling ascended to the Heavenly Realm and, through her own efforts, attained the position of Divine Maiden. Her brothers were unaware of this fact.
She didn't intend to reveal it.
Although the Heavenly Realm now refrained from mentioning her criminal status out of respect for the Jiu Ling Palace, in the hearts of many immortals, she remained the greatest culprit who had nearly plunged the Heavenly Realm into an inferno.
Yet, the Sun and Moon Divine Lamp was lit with her very being. Her possessions, her choice to destroy them was only natural.
"This is the first time your brother has seen such a formidable woman. Think about it, she even dared to defy the Emperor. How awe-inspiring is that!"
After saying this, he looked at his sister opposite him, shook his head, and tutted. "Alas, my wish for my sister to soar like a phoenix cannot be fulfilled!"
At this moment, a man not far away was holding a cup of tea and looking towards Ye Ziling. He took a sip of the tea.
His gaze was deep and solemn, and he slowly shifted his vision away, subtly avoiding Ye Ziling's gaze.
A gust of wind blew in from the window, and the brim of his black cloak concealed half his face, hiding all expression in his eyes.
Even though he was wrapped up tightly, every movement exuded an air of nobility.
His chiseled handsome face revealed slowly trembling eyelashes, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the tea in his mouth.
【System: Lord Ling, what are you doing at Shuiyunjian? Just this tea alone is costing me a lot of money.】
Ling Xi's eyes were deep, his stern gaze exuding a strong sense of detachment. He merely set down the teacup lightly.
Just now, he had seen a man resembling a dashing noble youth leading Ye Ziling to the restaurant.
Although the man beside her was good-looking, he exuded an air of dissoluteness and had brazenly embraced her while entering. His intentions were obvious.
Fearing that Ye Ziling might notice him, Ling Xi had chosen a more secluded spot. From such a distance, he couldn't hear their conversation at all.
"It's paid with my money," Ling Xi uttered the three words faintly.
【System: The esteemed one is also here. You're not here for her, are you?】
"Stop with the nonsense, help me find a way to get the man beside her away."
Ling Xi's eyes were cold.
He could not tolerate any impurities. Anyone who dared to covet his woman would only meet death.
【System: No need to find a way, because he'll be removed soon!】
"Oh? Is there such good news?" Ling Xi raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
【System: (Flustered) You won't think it's good news in a moment.】
From his seat by the window, Ye Jingxian leisurely fanned himself and chuckled heartily, "Ling'er, do you remember how brother used to trick you out of your New Year's money when we were little!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Ziling acted as if she had heard a great joke, a smile curving her lips, and she chuckled, "Second Brother only remembers this? You only succeeded in tricking me once. The remaining ninety-nine times weren't me tricking you?"
"Ah, sister, that's where you're mistaken. Don't you know that I let you succeed on purpose before? The money in the pouches wasn't much either." Ye Jingxian chuckled heartily again, then paused, his expression showing a hint of seriousness. "Guess how much money was in the pouches each time?"
Ye Ziling frowned and shook her head. "I don't know."
Ye Jingxian's lips curved, and he gave her a meaningful look, gesturing for her to lean closer.
He unfurled his fan, instantly obscuring both their faces, and whispered close to her ear, "Only one pouch of money was real each time; the rest were small stones picked up by the river."
Not far away, Xuan Ying subtly shifted. The glazed cup he was twirling in his hand inexplicably developed a crack.
【System: Lord Ling, they are just whispering.】
"I can see that."
Confiding secrets to Bai Yu, whispering with a strange man of unknown origin, yet telling him nothing.
The coldness in Ling Xi's eyes deepened.
The two were chatting animatedly when a divine beast approached to refill their tea. For some reason, it tripped and stumbled, spilling the entire pot of tea onto Ye Jingxian.
"Customer, I am truly sorry, it was my negligence..." The divine beast, disregarding the spilled tea at its feet, quickly got up and reached out to wipe the stains from Ye Jingxian's clothes. "I shall get you a clean set of clothes immediately..."
"...It's alright." Ye Jingxian waved his hand and said to Ye Ziling, "Ling'er, I'm going to change my clothes. You wait here for me and don't run around anywhere. I'll be back shortly." He then left with the divine beast.
Ye Ziling nodded.
Several divine beasts hurriedly stepped forward to wipe clean with handkerchiefs. Seeing that Ye Ziling did not blame them, they then took their leave.