Chapter 102: The Name of the Seventh Princess (2)

You won’t understand. I know you treat me the best!” Ye Lang said with a smile.

Zhen Xiaoyan pouted her little lips and huffed, “I don’t think so. I just won’t do it. Anyway, you don’t put me in your heart at all.”

“Putting you in my heart? I don’t have that much free time.”

“...... You can go die!” Zhen Xiaoyan said angrily, then disappeared from Ye Lang’s sight for the next few days as if she were genuinely furious.

To Ye Lang, this meant everything felt tasteless! Yet this wasn’t because he truly wanted to miss Zhen Xiaoyan, but simply because he could no longer eat her food, which left it feeling rather dull!

Sigh, after this chubby Fei Fan leaves like this, I’ll never be able to eat her things again. It really isn’t something I’m used to, but perhaps it’s for the best. Sooner or later I would have to part ways with her. Even without this incident, I would still go out traveling and have to separate from her, unable to savor her cooking. It would be wiser to adapt early. If I had known this beforehand, I should have asked her to prepare some provisions for me!

Speaking of which, when the trainee selection students departed, the Emperor would host a farewell banquet in the palace, meaning Ye Lang would still encounter Zhen Xiaoyan, who might still be in a huff, somewhere in the distance.

At that time, many would gather, not only the trainees and their families, but also certain imperial ministers eager to recruit these talents.

This had become a longstanding custom, the origins of which no one could recall, yet it had grown increasingly grand over time!

Time slipped away unnoticed, and the day of departure finally arrived. Everyone stood ready in front of the palace. “I knew this place wasn’t any fun. I should have gone to bed instead,” Ye Lang yawned among the crowd, looking as though he had truly not slept at all. “You dare!” the Seventh Princess and Ye Lanyu each scolded him, offering stern instruction.

Today was their departure, after all. How could they leave without this important figure? If he didn’t come to see them off, they might not even leave!

“If I dared, I wouldn’t be standing here!” Ye Lang replied helplessly.

“Consider yourself sensible!” the two women said in unison.

“I’ll go find Fei Fan. She seems still angry,” Ye Lang muttered, unsure whether he sought an excuse to slip away or truly cared about Zhen Xiaoyan’s feelings. He abandoned Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess and walked toward the crowd where Zhen Xiaoyan stood.

At that moment, Zhen Xiaoyan watched Ye Lang approach. A flicker of delight appeared in her eyes when she saw him coming. From her expression, it was clear she was not truly angry!

It was simply that Ye Lang failed to notice. He only assumed her anger had not yet faded after so many days apart. “Fatty, are you still angry?” he asked.

“Ah!” Zhen Xiaoyan startled, then shook her head vigorously. “No, I’m not angry. Why would you think I’m angry?”

“You vanished for so many days. If you’re not angry, what else could it be?” Ye Lang questioned doubtfully.

Zhen Xiaoyan looked at him and asked softly, “If I were angry, what would you do?”

Would he truly care about me? She did not voice the thought aloud, her pride still tender, unlike that shameless or rather dull person.

“I would apologize and coax you,” Ye Lang answered.

“Really?” Zhen Xiaoyan brightened, yet the moment quickly passed.

Ye Lang nodded. “Mm. Otherwise, I won’t be able to eat your food anymore!”

“Hmph! I knew you would say that!” Zhen Xiaoyan immediately grew displeased.

“Hehe, don’t be angry, Fei Fan. When you go to training, remember to take care of yourself. I don’t want to lose you,” Ye Lang said earnestly. The words came from the heart; he truly did not wish to part with Zhen Xiaoyan, though the deeper reasons behind it were worth pondering.

“I know, I know. You still don’t want to lose your lifelong cook,” Zhen Xiaoyan nodded and said with clear understanding.

“Regardless, remember—you are mine, and you must not come to harm,” Ye Lang smiled.

“Pfft! Pfft! Who is yours? Don’t speak nonsense. I still have to get married someday,” Zhen Xiaoyan blushed and tapped Ye Lang lightly, acting coquettish...

“You are my lifelong cook. You said it yourself just now,” Ye Lang waved his hand dismissively.

“Hmph! Ignore you then! Fine, while there’s still time, I’ll give you all the food for this year,” Zhen Xiaoyan said as she pulled a prepared meal from her spatial bag.

“?? One whole year? Did you really make all of it?” Ye Lang exclaimed in surprise. His hands moved swiftly, accepting the food and storing it away.

“Mm! These past days I’ve been in the kitchen helping you prepare them. It took a lot of effort to make so much. I don’t know if it will be enough,” Zhen Xiaoyan nodded, yet her hands never slowed or stopped handing over the items.

Now Ye Lang understood. These days Zhen Xiaoyan had not been angry with him, but had been preparing food for him the entire time. The reason likely stemmed from his earlier words, prompting her to stock up for a full year!

Gazing at Zhen Xiaoyan’s radiant smile, Ye Lang suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He seemed to have cared for her less, save for her, while she had always been thinking of him. Had he become too heartless?

“Fei Po...” Ye Lang looked at Zhen Xiaoyan, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“What is it? Did you want to ask why I didn’t come over? You were chatting with your sister and the Seventh Princess, and I didn’t want to intrude. I planned to wait until you finished speaking. I never expected you to come find me yourself,” Zhen Xiaoyan said with quiet happiness. Ye Lang’s initiative touched her deeply. Perhaps it meant little to him, but for her it was everything.

And if he had not come, she would have sought him out, offering the food herself. She simply felt that with Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess present, she should hold back a little.

This all proved one truth: she had not harbored even the slightest anger toward Ye Lang, certainly not enough to last overnight. A good night’s sleep would dissolve even the deepest resentment.

“Oh, actually you needn’t fear them. They genuinely like you,” Ye Lang recalled that Zhen Xiaoyan always seemed restrained in front of Ye Lanyu and the others, as if afraid of something.

“I know, but our statuses are different,” Zhen Xiaoyan replied softly.

“What does that matter?” Ye Lang asked, puzzled.

“Still, it does. But soon I can narrow the gap between us. I will become a formidable alchemist,” Zhen Xiaoyan clenched her small fist, speaking with solemn resolve.

“???” Ye Lang did not grasp it. He only knew that lately Zhen Xiaoyan had shown more interest in alchemy, shifting away from her usual focus on cooking.

He also wondered why she had suddenly decided to enter the competition, which seemed related to this change.

“To become formidable, I could teach you.”

“No, I want a name. Only with a name will it bring advantage!”

“Are you that concerned?” Ye Lang understood she cared little for such things.

“I do!” Zhen Xiaoyan admitted without hesitation, though she had not truly considered it deeply.

“Does it matter?” Ye Lang waved his hand.

“Yes!”

“I see, it’s just a passing whim. We’ll see how long it lasts,” Ye Lang said. He did not believe Zhen Xiaoyan would persist, as alchemy did not suit her nature, though she did possess notable talent.

“Hmph! If you dare belittle me, I’ll prove it to you!” Zhen Xiaoyan pouted stubbornly.

While they conversed, the food kept being passed around, leaving the surrounding students speechless. How much had she actually prepared?

Of course, everyone was only mildly curious at this point, quickly returning to greetings and congratulations. Unbelievable?

Most present were congratulating the students and their families, praising how remarkable they were for entering the training grounds and such.

Take Ye Lanyu, for instance. She was now besieged by admirers, trying to pull Ye Lang over as a shield, but he was occupied receiving the year’s worth of provisions, leaving her ignored.

Because of this, Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess drifted apart. They had never been close, and with Ye Lang absent, the Seventh Princess had long since vanished.

She had her own people to attend to. As a princess and the most noble among the students, she naturally drew attention.

Time passed... After a long wait, today’s main course finally appeared. The Emperor stepped forward!

“Everyone, today is your...”

As expected, every such occasion featured some polite pleasantries. The only difference lay in the duration. This time the speech was neither long nor short.

“Now, we toast to our future empire’s pillars. Enjoy your meal!”

“Just as I wanted to say!” Ye Lang took Zhen Xiaoyan’s hand and soon reunited with Ye Lanyu, finding a seat to sit. After this farewell banquet, they would likely not meet again for a long while. The meal itself was simple, lasting perhaps no more than half an hour.

“Strange, where is little Seven?” Ye Lang still could not locate the Seventh Princess and grew puzzled.

“I don’t know. She just wasn’t there earlier. Those princesses and princes have also vanished. They must be inside,” Ye Lanyu replied. She knew nothing of the custom, which occurred only once every decade, and she had been a child when it last happened.

“Ye Lang, this dish tastes off. Should we not eat it?” After a single bite, Zhen Xiaoyan frowned.

“Off taste? What kind of taste? I didn’t notice any,” Ye Lang and Ye Lanyu could taste nothing, nor did anyone else in the hall.