Chapter 51: Seeking Refuge

Liu Yin’s face darkened, and he responded coldly. “Confront him? What need was there for confrontation? After everything he did following those events, the truth was abundantly clear to both of us.”

Liu Hexiao frowned. “What do you mean?”

Liu Yin’s tone became somber as he replied, “After your elder brother had been gone but a short while, the new Emperor ascended to the throne. And one of the first things he did as Emperor was to take Ning’er into the palace as one of his consorts.”

Liu Hening was Liu Hexiao’s elder sister, his sibling from the same mother.

Piecing things together, Liu Hexiao murmured, “That act… though it seemed like a gesture of alliance, was in fact a warning, wasn’t it?”

Liu Yin nodded. “Exactly. The Emperor had only just taken the throne and was still consolidating his power. He needed the support of old officials like us but feared that your brother’s death would create a rift. So, he married Ning’er into the palace—to ensure our loyalty and to tether us closer to him.”

Liu Yin’s expression revealed deep regret. He had always felt a measure of guilt toward his daughter.

Liu Hexiao stayed silent, reflecting on the situation.

His gentle and kind elder sister had always been selfless, much like their late mother. Even in moments of deep suffering, she prioritized others.

Liu Yin and the Great General of Qinnan had been close friends. His eldest son, Yang Zhaozhi, had grown up in the capital until the age of sixteen and frequently visited their household.

Yang Zhaozhi was childhood sweethearts with Liu Hening, a couple so well-matched that their bond was evident to all who saw them.

But after ascending the throne, the new Emperor suddenly decreed that the daughter of the loyal Prince of Qi, due to her family’s contributions to the state, should be elevated as a noble consort and brought into the palace. The decision shattered the budding happiness of Liu Hening and Yang Zhaozhi.

For three days and nights, Liu Hening wept bitterly, but ultimately, to avoid offending the Emperor, she resigned herself to her fate and entered the palace.

Liu Hexiao vividly remembered Yang Zhaozhi’s furious determination to storm the palace and confront the Emperor. But his father stopped him, speaking with him for hours.

The next morning, Yang Zhaozhi left the capital and returned to Qinnan, vowing never to step foot in the capital again unless summoned for urgent military matters.

Liu Hexiao’s voice grew cold. “He killed my elder brother and destroyed my sister’s happiness. Are we supposed to let it go just like that?”

Liu Yin looked up at him. “And what would you do?”

“I will make him pay,” Liu Hexiao declared firmly.

Liu Yin was alarmed. “You must not act rashly!”

He gazed intently at his son, his tone heavy with warning. “The new Emperor is ruthless. He has already targeted and eliminated a group of senior officials. Not even children have been spared. He has centralized control of the northern armies under himself. How can you possibly challenge him? Have you forgotten the fate of Chancellor Lin? That man was a two-time prime minister and a famous scholar. Yet, one accusation brought ruin to his family. You mustn’t forget this!”

Liu Hexiao tightened his lips. “Father… I don’t understand.”

He stood up straight, locking eyes with his father. “Why support such a tyrannical, self-serving, and vainglorious ruler? Why help sustain his reign?”

Liu Yin froze momentarily before reprimanding him. “How dare you utter such reckless words!? Do you have no regard for your own life?”

Liu Hexiao turned to look at the ancestral tablets arranged on the altar. Resolutely, he said, “If life is reduced to groveling servitude, living in perpetual fear, then what meaning does it have? I want to do something—for them.”

“You’re mad!” Liu Yin shouted.

—

Few minutes later.

The doors to the ancestral hall were flung open, and Liu Hexiao stormed out, his pace swift, his expression resolute. He didn’t look back even once as he walked away.

Liu Yin, fuming with rage, called out after him, “If you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back!” His anger swelled further. “Always causing trouble outside, never learning restraint! Am I not even allowed to scold you anymore!?”

In the outer courtyard, servants froze in terror, trying their best to avoid attracting attention. One cowered in the corner, watching the Prince’s furious tirade.

Liu Yin shouted again, “Someone come here!”

The servant, thinking he’d been spotted, emerged trembling. “Your Highness, how may I serve?”

Liu Yin barked, “Spread the word! From this day forth, Liu Hexiao is no longer part of the Prince Qi’s household. He is stripped of his title as Heir Apparent and forbidden from presenting himself as such outside these walls!”

The servant was taken aback. “Your Highness, this—”

Liu Yin’s anger flared hotter. “Did you not understand what I said? Announce it to the entire household! Cut off all his allowances. Let’s see how far his so-called abilities take him!”

The servant stammered a hasty acknowledgment before rushing off to relay the order.

Only after the servant departed did Liu Yin return to the ancestral hall, slamming the doors shut behind him.

—

The night was hazy, the streets of Tianshui Alley illuminated by a cascade of crimson lanterns stretching from one end to the other in dazzling splendor.

This evening, the lane was destined to be packed, as crowds gathered to witness the elegance of the Flower Queen.

“She’s here, she’s here!” an excited young gentleman shouted, drawing the attention of everyone around him.

Heads turned, and a magnificent float appeared at the entrance to the lane.

Though it was called a float, it was essentially a large wooden carriage adorned with intricate floral arrangements, carrying a luxurious chair mounted atop a decorated horse. Two oversized red lanterns hung on either side of the float, casting an intimate glow.

Upon the ornately carved seat sat a stunningly dressed woman. Draped in a semi-transparent veil, her features were faintly visible, hinting at a beauty that left onlookers awestruck.

As the float progressed, a delicate hand emerged, gracefully lifting a small, wax-sealed cup. Her eyes, playful and flirtatious, swept across the crowd, sparking a frenzy among the gathered spectators.

“She looked at me!” one young man exclaimed in giddy disbelief.

“Nonsense! She was looking at me!” another retorted, equally captivated.

The simple gesture of a glance sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Among them were several courtesans from other establishments, their faces a mix of envy and disdain.

One sneered, “What’s so special about Yunming? She’s hardly new to this.”

Another joined in, “Exactly! Wearing a veil to act all mysterious—what a joke!”

But a young scholar in the crowd defended her. “She may have won the courtesan crown multiple times, but she remains a rare sight. Today’s glimpse is truly a blessing!”

The conversation was abruptly interrupted as the float slowed.

Yunming delicately placed the small cup on a table before her, took a silver ladle, and scooped something from a finely adorned tub. With a soft flick of her wrist, she deposited the contents into the cup and handed it to a waiting maid.

The maid approached the young scholar and smiled. “Sir, my lady has offered you this ice cream to taste.”

The scholar was dumbfounded, stammering, “M-Me? She’s offering me… what did you say it was?”

The maid chuckled. “Yes, you. It’s ice cream. Please, enjoy.”

The young gentleman dazedly accepted the item, wearing an expression of utter astonishment, then turned his gaze toward Yunming.

However, Yunming’s flower carriage had already passed him, moving ahead.

A sense of longing filled his heart.

Looking back at the item in his hand, he found it was something like a dessert? Why did it feel slightly cool to the touch!?

Despite his reluctance, the ice cream was starting to melt. He brought it to his mouth and cautiously took a small bite.

The sweet and creamy richness melted over his tongue, accompanied by the slight tartness of strawberry. The cold sensation awakened his palate in an instant.

Disbelief crossed his face as he took another bite. The icy coolness and silky texture were simply irresistible!

In the stifling summer heat, crammed among the bustling crowd, he had felt parched and uncomfortable. But with just two bites of this dessert, it was as if his entire being had been rejuvenated!

“Ah!” he exclaimed in surprise, drawing the attention of the crowd around him.

The other young gentlemen sneered, “It’s just some food. What’s there to make such a fuss about?”

“Exactly… It’s not as if we haven’t eaten before… Wait, what is that!?”

Still eating his ice cream, the young man smugly declared, “Yunming called this ice cream! Have any of you tried it before?”

Curiosity sparked among the crowd. “What’s ice cream?”

The young man paused, unsure of how to explain, as it was his first time trying it as well.

Looking down at the small, half-eaten ball of ice cream in its paper cup, he noticed an imprint on the cup:

“Shengjing Dessert Shop?”

The crowd caught on immediately. So this ice cream was made by Shengjing Dessert Shop!?

—

Yihuan and Ah-miao followed behind the flower carriage, quietly observing the expressions of the crowd.

Those who had tasted the ice cream looked animated, eagerly sharing their experiences of being favored by the flower queen and enthusiastically describing how delicious the ice cream was. Through word of mouth, people’s curiosity about Shengjing Dessert Shop grew stronger.

Ah-miao, brimming with excitement, said, “Miss! Everyone loves our desserts so much—does this mean we’re going to strike it rich?”

Yihuan smiled softly and replied, “Not so fast! We’ve merely found a good opportunity for publicity. The true results depend on whether this can convert into actual customer traffic.”

Ah-miao looked puzzled. “What do you mean by converting into customer traffic?”

Yihuan explained patiently, “It means that after this round of promotion, we need to see how many people actually visit our shop and are willing to spend money. If they simply watch the excitement and then leave, that means it wasn’t effective.”

Ah-miao nodded thoughtfully. “I see…”

Yihuan added, “Tomorrow, if unfamiliar customers visit the shop, you can casually ask them where they heard about Shengjing Dessert Shop. If most of them say they heard about it in Tianshui Alley, it’ll show that our recent efforts have been quite effective.”

Ah-miao nodded eagerly. “Got it, Miss. I’ll remember.”

Yihuan smiled and nodded slightly.

Ahead, the flower carriage was surrounded by the crowd, moving slowly.

Yihuan caught sight of Ziyan and Cao Shixun. While Cao Shixun’s gaze was fixed on Ziyan, Ziyan’s expression remained calm, shrouded in a faint detachment.

Since Young Master Cao was here… Could it be that he was also here?

Yihuan drifted into thought but was soon interrupted by Ah-miao, who said, “Miss, the parade is almost over. Shall we head back?”

Yihuan snapped back to reality and smiled. “Alright.”

The two avoided the peak crowd and returned to Changming Street ahead of the others.

Emerging from the congested Tianshui Alley, Ah-miao was lightly sweating. “There were just too many people! Does everyone love watching the flower queen this much?”

Yihuan’s brows curved into a gentle smile. “Of course! The title of flower queen, renowned throughout Shengjing, is captivating. Normally, it costs a fortune just to catch a glimpse of her. Now that Yunming is parading in the flower carriage, how could any man resist watching?”

Just as her words fell, a familiar light chuckle reached her ears. “That’s not necessarily true.”

Startled, Yihuan turned to see Liu Hexiao lounging lazily on the steps outside Shengjing Dessert Shop, smiling at her.

Recalling the events of the previous night, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly composed herself. “Your Highness, why are you here so late?”

Rising to his feet, Liu Hexiao dusted off his clothes and quipped, “I’m homeless. I’ve come to seek refuge with you…”