Chapter 139: Do I Look Like a Good-for-Nothing to You?

The Marquis, upholding the formalities of hospitality, followed them to the entrance.

"I look forward to seeing you at the hunting gala in a few days, sister."

Hidden beneath Chu Ge’s smiling face was a roll of her eyes. *So you’re showing off that the Crown Prince escorted you back home? Showing off that you’re favored in the Crown Prince’s mansion? Hmph!*

*By the way, why isn’t Chong Li here yet? He couldn’t have stood me up, could he?*

"Father-in-law." A clear, resonant voice drifted from nearby.

A figure, small as a dark speck at first, gradually drew closer. A young nobleman, elegant as a breeze under the moonlight, approached the Marquis’s estate in a wheelchair. Though his legs were hindered, his demeanor remained refined and courteous.

Marquis Chu’s expression remained frozen, still stuck in the previous moment, looking somewhat dazed.

Crown Prince Qi Ming seemed equally caught off guard by the arrival of his younger brother, Qi Xiu, and even more so by the fact that he had emerged from his state of depression.

"Father-in-law, I have come to take Ge’er home."

Although Marquis Chu favored his eldest daughter, Chu You, and preferred Qi Ming as the Crown Prince, Qi Xiu’s respectful greeting finally made him feel like a true father giving away his daughter. That single "Father-in-law" from the Prince of Qi—even if he was a crippled prince—made the Marquis feel significantly more satisfied.

The Marquis, whose face had been twisted in displeasure all day, finally relaxed into a stiff but genuine smile. He said to Chu Ge, "Since His Highness the Prince of Qi has come personally to fetch you, you should return with him early. Do come back to visit more often."

Chu Ge, still playing the part of the simple-minded girl, lunged at Chong Li the moment she saw him. "Hehe! Husband!"

The Marquis did not take offense. "It is an honor for my house that His Highness the Prince of Qi dotes on my daughter so. And for you, Your Highness the Crown Prince, I hope You’er will be able to assist you well in the future."

Having praised the Prince of Qi, the Marquis quickly turned to appease the Crown Prince, sensing his unease.

Crown Prince Qi Ming’s gaze fell upon Qi Xiu, his expression unreadable, eventually softening into a smile—though it looked somewhat forced. "It seems that you have recovered well, brother."

Qi Xiu smiled faintly, his eyes cast in shadow beneath his lashes. "It is average. It is just a pity that my household is small, and I cannot invite the Crown Prince over for tea."

The Crown Prince’s eyes turned cold in an instant.

Marquis Chu was baffled by their exchange. Sensing the sudden drop in temperature, he quickly interjected to keep the peace. "You’er, do not be mischievous in the Crown Prince’s mansion. And you, Ge’er, do not throw tantrums!"

In the original owner’s memories, this was the first time she had ever heard the Marquis speak to her so kindly. After all, he was her biological father, and she had to give him face. "Don’t worry, Father. Husband treats me very well!"

With that, she hopped into Chong Li’s arms, instantly dissolving the tension between him and the Crown Prince.

Chong Li allowed Chu Ge to nestle against him, his gaze filled with indulgence. "You are quite the handful. In that case, I shall take my leave with Ge’er."

Without a backward glance, he departed. It was easy to guess that the Crown Prince would exchange a few more pleasantries with the Marquis before taking Chu You back to his own estate.

***

Once they were far from the Marquis’s residence, Chong Li no longer needed to maintain his disguise.

There were few people on the road back, so he simply removed his skin-mask. "The moonlight is quite lovely tonight, is it not?"

Chu Ge, who had already wiped away her makeup, walked hand-in-hand with Chong Li—a picture of warmth and affection. The moonlight was hazy, the shadows of the trees danced, and at this hour, the road back to the Qi mansion was deserted. Their shadows stretched long across the ground.

"Well? Any news?"

Chu Ge kicked a small pebble by the roadside. It rolled far away, making a crisp sound that seemed jarring in the quiet night.

"I fear the hunting gala is unavoidable."

Chu Ge was not overly surprised. When she had heard Qi Ming mention that the reward for the champion was a petal, she had suspected it was the lotus petal.

"Will you be going that day?"

"My Princess is going; what reason would I have not to?"

They stopped in the middle of the road, gazing at each other in silence, then suddenly smiled.

Traversing the three thousand worlds, she had now experienced seven. According to what "Little Trash" had told her, she had been drifting through various worlds for nearly a hundred years—three hundred years in total.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The days she had spent with Chong Li added up to only a few decades, yet it felt as though they had known each other for an eternity—excluding, of course, the two hundred years they had spent as master and disciple.

"Will you stay with me forever, Chong Li?"

"I will stay with you forever and ever, through all lifetimes."

Under the moonlight, Chong Li seemed to see the soul of the girl he had held in his heart for hundreds of years step out from the body before him, smiling at him.

"Happy three-hundred-and-eighth birthday, Lotus..."

"Today is my birthday? It has been so long, I had forgotten."

Lotus’s birthday had always been marked by the day Chong Li found her. Time had passed too quickly; she had been busy in recent years, and with Chong Li often away, the custom of celebrating had simply faded.

***

"Hey! We’re here!"

Walking was actually quite fast, though using spiritual techniques would have been faster. Yet, they had chosen the most tedious way.

From sunset until dark—only a few hours—but with each other’s company, they did not feel lonely.

The servants in the mansion were quite laid-back and had already gone to bed. Chong Li led Chu Ge straight to the kitchen. "I recently learned how to make longevity noodles."

He began to knead the dough. The fine flour transformed into a smooth ball under his large hands, springing back whenever pressed. Their faces were soon covered in flour, and their playful bickering eventually woke the servants.

"Your Highness, Princess, what are you doing?" It was the cook, who had been up for a midnight snack. Seeing the kitchen light on and fearing a thief, she had come to check.

The cook stared in astonishment. It wasn't the first time the Prince had cooked, but in the middle of the night... it was easy to misunderstand.

Xiao Ya, who lived nearby, heard the commotion and hurried over. Now, both of them stood dumbfounded, watching the couple playing in the kitchen.

Chong Li remained perfectly calm, continuing his work as the dough took shape, growing elastic. "It is the Princess’s birthday today. Since you are all awake, join us in the celebration. There are few people in the Prince’s mansion, and the Princess enjoys the liveliness."

"Understood! I’ll go wake up the four Lai brothers right away!" Xiao Ya was quick to act. The brothers’ initial grumpiness vanished the moment they saw Chong Li.

Everyone went about their tasks, leaving only Chu Ge idle.

Resting her chin on her hands, she watched the peerlessly handsome man kneading dough—a delightful, pleasing sight that warmed her heart.

She never expected he would remember a passing remark she had made so long ago. As she looked at Chong Li, she found she couldn’t look away.

...Once, on a birthday long ago, Lotus had thought her master wouldn't return to celebrate with her, so she had planned to just boil an egg and let it pass.