Chapter 38：Give me your hands

Luo Qi was staying at an inn nearby. His face was blank and revealed nothing. He looked no different than a lifeless puppet with no emotions as he stood upright while looking at the busy streets.

Luo Hanting expertly entered the room through the window and bowed.

"Young master Luo, it is as you said. That man's identity is not simple. He is surrounded by highly skilled shadow guards. Although his carriage did not carry any emblem or family seal, the materials it was made were all first-class. Even the horses are trained. At first glance they look like ordinary horses but they are actually sturdy and with a hidden temper. Their hooves are ironed and they listen to commands well." Luo Hanting said with a grave tone, "Young master Luo, they are military horses! This subordinate firmly believes that this man is indeed a prince and not from our Tang Country. However, this subordinate failed to find his identity because he is carefully guarded."

Luo Hanting could still remember the terrifying aura that cloaked the surrounding shadow guards. They were expert killers judging from the smell of death permeating them.

He couldn't help but shiver when he felt the difference in their internal force.

Luo Qi closed his eyes. "Prepare a carriage. I wish to go back to the capital. Inform my grandfather of my intentions to meet him and tell him that Divine Doctor Hua's granddaughter is involved with a prince of another country."

Luo Hanting saluted, "This subordinate shall obey."

After Luo Hanting left, Luo Qi was glaring at the place he left. His mind went back to a few months ago were he was clinging to life. Through blurry eyes, he could feel the warmth of a person's hand and the sweet yet calming voice of someone. It gave him the strength to fight to for himself. He felt refreshed just by reminiscing about it.

Li Zhao Yan. She was the granddaughter of Divine Doctor Hua and she seemed to have inherited his skills at medicine. Never would he expect that the granddaughter of his grandfather's friend would be such a soft and delicate flower.

Unlike the temperamental Divine Doctor, Li Zhao Yan as a woman was naturally weak and timid yet Luo Qi wasn't the least bit disgusted.

There must really be something wrong with him for desiring a woman who was not only pregnant but was also engaged to a prince from another country.

Luo Qi was still rational. There was no gains in fighting against a strong predator when you weren't even qualified to be his prey.

He couldn't help but clench his fists tightly.

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"This is good. Your Highness, you should also try this one. I taught Mama Yang to cook this chicken and ginger soup. It has chopped potatoes, half of a Chinese turnip, ginger, and diced vegetables like onions, mushrooms, and carrots." While she was chattering, Zhao Yan was already filling Fu Yanqing's empty bowl with rice, stuffing them with meat and vegetables. She expertly described all the dishes present and told them what benefits you could get from them.

"And this is lotus seed sweet soup. It helps improve your sleeping patterns."

Before she could continue further, Fu Yanqing held out his hand to take the bowl from her.

"Eat. There is no need to delay the meal."

Zhao Yan blinked in surprise when he handed her a bowl that he had filled himself. If one were to compare their two bowls, it was obvious that Zhao Yan's bowl were filled to the brim.

She blushed and looked at him with embarrassment. "Your Highness, I cannot possibly finish so much rice by myself."

"You are eating for two," Fu Yanqing answered back before grabbing his chopsticks to start eating.

Zhao Yan sighed, unable to rebuke him. She also grabbed her own chopsticks and started to eat. Everytime she closed her eyes to savor the food, Fu Yanqing would add more on her bowl.

She glanced at Fu Yanqing with curious eyes but he remained seated and ate elegantly with equally closed eyes as if he was unbothered by the world around him.

Zhao Yan looked at his almost empty bowl and figured that maybe he liked the dishes so much that he ate a lot?

She went back to eating her own food. Fu Yanqing opened one eye and smirked before resuming his attention to his own bowl.

Court Lady Choi inwardly sighed at how playful His Highness was but she was also amazed at his caring actions that used to be nonexistent in the first place.

Zhao Yan was full by the time he was finished. Almost all of the dishes on the table were eaten which surprised her. She usually ate only one bowl of rice with one meat dish, three vegetable dishes and a soup. Dessert would always be served later after an hour of eating.

But this time, almost four meat dishes were eaten while there was hardly anything left on the other four vegetable dishes.

She looked at her own stomach and wondered just how hungry her child was that she could eat so many at once.

She felt happy and rubbed her stomach in satisfaction.

Chun Lan and Jae Ha cleared the table while Court Lady Choi brought a basin of cleansing water.

"Give it to me," Fu Yanqing ordered. Court Lady Choi bowed her head and gave the basin before placing the clean towels down and leaving.

"Give me your hands." Fu Yanqing said as he gestured for them.

"Your Highness, I can do this myself. No need to trouble you." She was not thick skinned enough to let a prince wash her hands.

He ignored her words and grabbed her hands, slowly dipping them in the basin. Their hands intertwined closely under the water while there were hardly any space between them.

Zhao Yan met his gaze as he meticulously washed her hands, rubbing her palms and fingers using his own calloused hands. She resisted the urge to pull her hands away and resorted to lowering her gaze instead.

Inwardly, her heart was beating erratically while her cheeks were slowly turning red from embarrassment.

Fu Yanqing grabbed the towel and dried her hands himself before washing his own hands. He even shared the towel that Zhao Yan used even though there was an extra.

He outstretched his hand towards her. "Come."

It was only one word but Zhao Yan felt compelled to obey it. She accepted his hand in a dazed manner. The moment their skin touched once again, electricity coursed through their skin, shocking the both of them.

"..."

They shared a glance without saying anything, almost as if they could understand what the other was thinking.

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