He jumped down from the cart and said, "Let’s go." The twins noticed the change, but they were the cause of all of this mess, so they didn’t say anything. It didn’t take long before they found the place where the meals were served. All they had to do was follow the soldiers.
When they reached the place, they lined up with the soldiers like they were truly new recruits. The soldiers wanted to let them through as they couldn’t let the princess of Yige to line up with the rest of them, but when they recalled the general’s orders they stayed put. How could the general let his beloved stand in queue with the low-ranking soldiers? They couldn’t help but think the general needed lessons on how to court a princess.
The twins’ stomachs were growling in hunger but they patiently waited despite the line moving slowly. The clatter of clay bowls and the murmur of conversation filled the air creating a harmonious atmosphere. Just as they were about to reach the front, Yi Nuo approached them her expression ridden with guilt. She felt bad about what happened earlier.
"Your Highness," she bowed before continuing, "Your food will be served at the table where General Han is seated."
"Thank you, sister Nuo, for letting me know," he said with a sweet smile on his face. Yi Nuo would have told them a long time ago but the general had stopped her from doing so. Han Xin wanted to see how long she would pretend.
He expected her to soon throw a tantrum and use her status as the princess but he was proven wrong. She stood there with no trace of impatience while listening to her maidservants chattering on endlessly. In the end, it was he who lost his patience and asked Yi Nuo to call them over.
Xiang Yu didn’t hesitate. He led the twins to the designated table. When he saw Jun De sitting a bit further from the table, his face buried into his bowl, he smiled at the young man. Jun De’s face flushed in embarrassment as he bowed his head slightly greeting her highness. Xiang Yu turned his gaze away after responding politely, but when he met Han Xin’s gaze, his face changed faster than a face changing performer at a Sichuan opera.
He sat down with little grace, his movements abrupt and unrefined. Han Xin, who was seated on the other side, wordlessly turned his face away. He truly couldn’t understand her. She smiled sweetly at Yi Nuo and Jun De, but when facing him, it was as though she was facing an arch-nemesis. It was incredibly puzzling. His stern gaze fixed on the food before him and he didn’t say a word.
Beside him, Han Zhan was watching this drama with great interest. He had already heard what went down between the princess and his cousin. The scandal was so intriguing that he wouldn’t pass the opportunity to get to know this princess who had done the impossible.
The three of them settled on one bench, their presence a stark contrast to the disciplined soldiers around them. They didn’t greet the general, nor did they look at him. The twins were curious, but they still followed their master’s lead.
Han Zhan paused his meal and looked up, a respectful smile playing on his lips. "Your Highness," he greeted Princess Xiu, his tone dripping with a cunning that was hard to miss. "My name is Han Zhan, second in command to the general."
Xiang Yu met Han Zhan’s gaze, his own smile revealing his tiger teeth. "Are you related to the General?" he asked politely, his voice steady despite the undercurrent of curiosity. Was Han Zhan just like the Xiang Wei of this world or did he exist in their world as well?
Han Zhan’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Indeed, I am his cousin," he replied, his tone smooth and confident. Xiang Yu nodded, his expression thoughtful.
Lieutenant Yi Nuo approached the table, carefully balancing three bowls of cabbage soup. She placed them in front of the princess and the twins with practised grace. The twins, ever polite, thanked her one after the other.
"Thank you, Sister Nuo," Lian said, her voice soft.
"Thank you," Mei echoed, her tone equally gentle.
Xiang Yu nodded at Yi Nuo, who pursed her lips and nodded back before scurrying away with reddened ears. The meal before them was a simple bowl of soup. It was cabbage mixed with rice, with no trace of meat. It was palatable but not appetising.
Han Xin and Han Zhan exchanged glances, expecting Peng Xiu to show disdain for the food. Growing up with delicious delicacies served to her daily, she most definitely would disdain the meal. They weren’t wrong.
If this was the real Peng Xiu, she would have said she wasn’t hungry and walked away, staging a hunger strike without saying a word. That was what exactly happened in the plotline of this world but Xiang Yu wasn’t Peng Xiu. Where he grew up meat was a luxury that was rarely served to him.
To their surprise, the princess began to eat with an elegance that belied the simplicity of the dish. it was actually Lian who broke the silence, her voice tinged with disappointment. Among the three of them, Lian was the meat lover. She loved eating meat so much that if Xiang Yu didn’t watch her, she wouldn’t touch anything else on the table. "Master, there is no meat," she complained her chopsticks stirring the bowl as though searching for the nonexistent meat.
Xiang Yu glanced at her, his eyes softening. His voice, though stern, held a note of affection. "Eat," he instructed. Lian obediently picked up her spoon and began to eat, followed by Mei.
Han Zhan couldn’t hide his surprise at the princess’ reaction. He leaned forward slightly, addressing her with a respectful tone. "There is no meat, Your Highness. We can only apologise for the inconvenience."
Xiang Yu nodded, continuing to eat without complaint. "It’s fine," he said simply, his demeanour calm and composed. If there was no meat at dinner he planned to go hunting with the twins. They would catch a rabbit and roast it in the forest as they had done countless times before.
Han Xin glanced at Peng Xiu wordlessly, his expression unreadable. Her slightly red lips glistening from the soup, blew at the cabbage cooling it down before putting it inside her mouth. She seemed lost in thought, her eyes distant, yet there was no trace of disdain for the food before her.
He couldn’t help but wonder what game she was playing. As he pondered her motives, his eyes inadvertently fell to her chest. Wasn’t it flat in the morning? Realising what he was thinking he quickly looked away. Was he hallucinating, or something fishy was going on? Han Xin had no idea that the storage cart was now missing two potatoes.
AN: May you please leave a review for this project. Thank you happy weekend.