There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 295 Why Give Them Away

Li Shuchen rolled her eyes inwardly upon hearing this. They complained that Hundred Flowers Manor was poor and small? If they were so capable, why didn't they come? Speechless.

The tenth prince is indeed not someone to be trifled with; he's too picky.

Then I took a deep breath and told myself, "Don't get angry, don't get angry. Getting angry will make you sick, and no one can take your place."

"The Tenth Prince is far more knowledgeable and experienced than we, from humble families, can compare. However, these flowers are beautiful and fragrant, and the area they cover is already a sight to behold."

Li Shuchen defended his flower shop

Upon hearing this, the Tenth Prince glanced at Li Shuchen sideways, then walked forward.

Li Shuchen breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Thank goodness, the Tenth Prince wasn't angry.

Guest: "Greetings to the Tenth Prince"

The tenth prince waved his hand

Guest: "Greetings to the Tenth Prince"

The tenth prince waved his hand again.

Guest: "Greetings to the Tenth Prince"

The tenth prince frowned and waved his hand, his expression already showing impatience.

Li Shuchen was adept at reading people's expressions and feared that the Tenth Prince would get angry and throw a tantrum, disrupting the banquet. So he immediately flattered him with a smile and said, "Tenth Prince, there is a quiet and cool place in Hundred Flowers Manor where no one goes. You will not be disturbed. Would you like to go there?"

The tenth prince slightly relaxed his brows, glanced at Li Shuchen, and gestured for him to go.

Li Shuchen immediately flashed his standard smile and led the way: "Tenth Prince, please follow me."

The group walked in a grand procession towards the innermost part of the flower manor.

The reason it was described as a grand procession was that, apart from the Tenth Prince, Liang Yuying, and Li Shuchen, the rest were all servants, ordinary boys, and guards with swords, totaling several dozen people.

A pavilion comes into view, surrounded by flowers, and in front of it is a cool pond with twin lotus flowers, exuding a wonderful fragrance.

Li Shuchen: "We've arrived. Tenth Prince, please have a seat."

The tenth prince sat down with an air of nobility, his gaze fixed on the lotus flower, his eyes dark and deep, filled with turbulent emotions.

Li Shuchen glanced at Han Dan, then at the Tenth Prince.

Could it be that the Tenth Prince has taken a fancy to these twin lotus blossoms? Perhaps we should give them to him; Little Ji has plenty anyway. She then softly spoke.

"If the Tenth Prince likes this twin lotus flower, I will give it to him."

Upon hearing this, the Tenth Prince didn't even glance at Li Shuchen, and scoffed, "How can such precious items be given away so easily?"

Li Shuchen began to flatter: "The Tenth Prince is of noble status and possesses extraordinary temperament. It is an honor for the Twin Lotus to have won the Tenth Prince's favor. I am willing to present this Twin Lotus to the Tenth Prince."

"Then why did you give it to someone else?"

The tenth prince murmured softly, his gaze distant.

Li Shuchen didn't hear clearly: "Tenth Prince, what did you just say?"

The tenth prince withdrew his gaze, his expression shifting, and said with a wicked smile, "Thirsty."

"Tenth Prince, this is rose petal syrup with ice added. It's very fragrant and refreshing. Please have some."

Li Shuchen placed the rose petal dew on the table in front of the Tenth Prince. The Tenth Prince gently waved his white jade fan, glanced at the dew, and then picked it up to taste.

After a long silence, two words came out of his mouth.

"Too bad"

Bad? This is bad? Just one sip from him cost ten taels of silver. Li Shuchen's heart was bleeding, but he couldn't show it.

She forced a smile and said, "I also have rose milk tea here, it tastes sweet and delicious, I'll go get it right away."

Li Shuchen turned and walked towards the kitchen, recalling the furrowed brows of the Tenth Prince as he drank the rose petal dew, pondering it carefully.

She had tasted rose petal syrup before; it had a fragrant aroma but a slightly bitter taste, though it was barely noticeable unless you tasted it carefully.

The tenth prince has been pampered since childhood, so could it be that he has tasted this bitterness, which is why he said it was too bad?

In that case, she'll just add more honey to the milk tea.

Having made up my mind, I went into the kitchen, grabbed a cup of rose milk tea, pulled out a jar of honey, and generously added six large spoonfuls of it—it'll be so sweet it'll kill you!

Li Shuchen stirred and melted the honey.

Gu Ziying came in and asked worriedly, "Is Shu Chen alright?"

Li Shuchen: "That's good. The Tenth Prince didn't lose his temper, nor did he try to kill anyone."

Gu Ziying breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "I've kept Young Master Yuanyi here; he can paint for the Tenth Prince."

"Painting? Will the Tenth Prince pay me? Otherwise, I'd better leave it for someone else to paint."

Li Shuchen placed the rose honey milk tea on the tray.

Gu Ziying: "The Tenth Prince must be curious about our banquet to come. If we can dispel his fascination with it, he won't come again, and it will be easier for us to organize banquets in the future."

Li Shuchen picked up his plate and paused. "Oh yeah," he thought, "painting is so boring; you have to maintain one pose for so long."

If the tenth prince grew tired of this and simply walked away, wouldn't everyone be happy?

Hehe hehe

Where is Young Master Yuanyi?

Gu Ziying: "It's right outside the door."

Li Shuchen stepped out the door and said with a smile, "Young Master Yuanyi, please follow me."

Yuan Yi obediently followed Li Shuchen.

On the road

Li Shuchen "carefully" instructed Yuan Yi: "You will be painting a portrait of the Tenth Prince later. Do you know who the Tenth Prince is? He is the son of the Emperor of our Zixing Dynasty, and his status is extremely noble. When you paint, you must paint it well and be meticulous. You must capture the spirit of the Tenth Prince, understand?"

Yuan Yi sincerely thanked her, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Miss Li."

Li Shuchen nodded in satisfaction and led Yuan Yi to the pavilion.

"Tenth Prince, the rose milk tea is here. I've added honey to it. Please enjoy."

A slender, bony hand, almost glowing white, gently held a small spoon, scooped up some milk tea, and brought it to her mouth.

Seeing this, Li Shuchen's face nearly split open with laughter. "Serves you right for being picky! I'll make you sick of your food, hahaha!"

The tenth prince looked up and met Li Shuchen's eyes, which were filled with undisguised smiles. His heart stirred slightly, and after a long silence, he uttered two words.

"like"

Li Shuchen's smile froze instantly. What? Likes it? Are you crazy? This drink is nothing but honey, so sweet it burns your throat.

One sip of milk tea requires ten sips of water.

You...you like this?

"You, something wrong?"

The tenth prince spoke coldly, pulling Li Shuchen back to reality.

Li Shuchen smiled again, a smile sweeter than the milk tea, and continued to flatter him.

"The tenth prince, seated here, is like a divine ruler descended from heaven, majestic and imposing, with a cold and aloof demeanor, unparalleled in the world."

"Today, we are presented with such a breathtakingly beautiful scene; it would be a pity not to leave behind a portrait that will leave the world speechless."

Li Shuchen shook his head at this point, looking regretful, then smiled and continued...

"Your Highness, please look. This young master Yuanyi has traveled through countless hardships from the Kingdom of Boyu, crossing mountains and valleys to reach you. His painting skills are superb and unparalleled in the world, making him most suitable to paint for Your Highness. Such a fortunate encounter, wouldn't it be wonderful if you painted a portrait of him?"

The tenth prince sipped his milk tea, seemingly oblivious to what Li Shuchen had said.

Li Shuchen stood by with a smile, waiting for a response.

For a long, long time

It was only after a bowl of rose milk tea had been finished that the Tenth Prince was heard speaking.

"Can"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen's face lit up with joy, and Yuan Yi also smiled and stepped forward to bow.

"It is an honor for Yuan Yi to pay his respects to the Tenth Prince and to paint a portrait of him."

The tenth prince gently waved his hand, leaned against the clear pond, and sat at the table with twin lotus blossoms in his side profile. He slightly raised his head to signal Yuan Yi to begin painting.

Seeing this, Li Shuchen removed the empty bowl and walked towards the kitchen.