The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Stolen Name

The young man walked into the shop, and everyone was stunned. Did this young man come to the wrong place?

This is a tofu shop, and such a young man, who looks as if he doesn’t partake in the ordinary affairs of the world, so noble and extraordinary, like an immortal descended to the human world, like a figure in a painting, simply doesn’t fit in here.

What is he doing here?

The general store owner whispered, ”Lady Liu, could he be a relative of yours?”

Widow Liu, being the owner, was just as confused. If she had such a wealthy relative, why would she be selling tofu here? She shook her head and, despite her bruised face, came forward to greet him, ”Sir, may I ask whom you are looking for?”

The young man’s gaze swept over Widow Liu’s face, and he said, ”I heard there’s a young man of fifteen or sixteen, dressed in blue, staying here. I’m here to find him!”

Widow Liu became a bit more cautious, and the general store owner said, ”May I ask who this young man in blue is, sir?”

The young man paused for a moment and said, ”His name is Xia Wenjin, he is my... friend!”

Widow Liu and the others smiled and shook their heads, ”Then you’ve got the wrong person, sir, you’re looking for the wrong guy. Earlier, there was a young gentleman here, but his name was Huang Zheng. He’s already left!”

The young man in the moon-white clothes frowned slightly and said, ”I am Huang Zheng!” He looked at Widow Liu, his eyes darkening: ”Deceitful impostor, how hateful! Was it him who hurt your face?”

This young gentleman is the real Huang Zheng?

Huangfu Jingchen, expecting the crowd’s anger upon being deceived, did not see it. Instead, the old blacksmith at the forge sighed, ”So it was Mr. Xia indeed. Mr. Xia truly deserves to be called a righteous man! To achieve such feats at such a young age is truly remarkable!”

No, this reaction isn’t right! That little thief, besides swindling and acting, what else can he do? Huangfu Jingchen pressed further, ”What did Xia Wenjin do?”

Widow Liu gratefully said, ”Mr. Xia saved me and my son, and he gave us some silver. His great kindness and virtue are something we couldn’t repay in a lifetime!”

The crowd enthusiastically relayed to Huangfu Jingchen all the deeds Xia Wenjin had done before, giving him quite the praise.

Huangfu Jingchen furrowed his brow and stayed silent. He thought Xia Wenjin was committing misdeeds under his name, but unexpectedly this time, he did something good?

Widow Liu cautiously observed Huangfu Jingchen’s expression and said, ”Mr. Xia left Young Master Huang’s name, so Young Master Huang must be Mr. Xia’s friend. Mr. Xia has gone to the restroom and will be back soon. Please, have a seat, Young Master Huang!”

The neighborhood folks warmly welcomed Huangfu Jingchen and added a seat in the position Xia Wenjin had previously occupied.

He has to see what Xia Wenjin is really up to. Huangfu Jingchen said, ”Very well!” and sat down confidently.

Because of Xia Wenjin, the neighborhood folks were quite enthusiastic toward Huangfu Jingchen!

Huangfu Jingchen had never had such an experience; though these people were commoners, the gratitude, admiration, and the sincere desire to repay in whatever little way they could were a fresh, unique, and amusing experience for him, who had always lived a privileged life, unhindered.

Seeing the empty stool next to him, feeling the warmth of the neighborhood folks, and listening to the chivalrous deeds of Xia Wenjin, Huangfu Jingchen, for once, drank a cup of wine. However, even as the meal was about to end, Xia Wenjin still hadn’t shown up, and Huangfu Jingchen realized the young man he had caught a glimpse of earlier, the one he immediately rushed over to catch, had long since slipped away upon sensing the situation.

He was tricked again, but could Huangfu Jingchen blame these enthusiastic villagers? Could he blame these people who viewed him as an honored guest and didn’t know the truth? The only one he could blame was himself; he was aware that Xia Wenjin might have noticed his deliberate excuse to escape to the restroom. However, he had never experienced sitting and drinking as equals with a group of ordinary villagers.

In Yunzhou, where he resides, given his status, if not for such chance coincidences, even if he was willing, the common folk would not grant him warmth but fear and reverence.

Feigning nonchalance, Huangfu Jingchen forced a smile as he bid farewell to those villagers and resumed his pursuit.

Xia Wenjin was slippery like an eel, but Huangfu Jingchen had discovered that even though she was slippery, she didn’t cover her tracks entirely. In situations like Widow Liu’s, she wasn’t afraid of exposure.

Huangfu Jingchen didn’t know whether to admire her or be more annoyed at her.

Does this mean she doesn’t regard him at all?

Zhou’s Restaurant.

Situated on a quiet street, the place was small and the business was sparse. Xia Wenjin sat in a corner, ordered a couple of small dishes, and a bowl of rice.

Xia Wenjin picked up the bowl, looking conflicted as her chopsticks hovered on the left, retracted, and then over to the right, retracted again, seemingly unable to decide where to start eating!

As she was torn, she suddenly felt a heavy presence before her, a shadow blocking the light.

Can’t a person eat in peace? Annoyed, she raised her head, only to be met with the refined brows and eyes of a young man in moon-white clothes, a faint anger in his eyes, yet his face was expressionless as he looked at her.

The angry expression froze instantly, and Xia Wenjin immediately replaced it with a beaming smile, enthusiastically saying, ”So it’s Brother Huang; I knew you would come, and I’ve prepared a meal for you. If you don’t mind, why not join me?” She turned her head and said, ”Waiter, bring another pair of chopsticks!”

Huangfu Jingchen glanced at the table—a plate of greens, a plate of radishes, and a bowl of plain rice.

This kind of meal, for anyone to eat? You call this prepared with care? Who would believe that? No wonder she hesitated so long with her chopsticks just now.

He sat grandly in front of Xia Wenjin and said coldly, ”You’re treating me to this?”

Xia Wenjin rummaged through her pocket, laid out five copper coins on the table, and pushed them around, ”This is all I have, what else can I eat?”

”That’s your problem!”

Xia Wenjin, looking like she would rather avoid trouble, said, ”Alright, alright, I’ll figure it out, consider it owed, okay?”

”You already owe me anyway!”

Xia Wenjin rolled her eyes, gathered up the coins, and told the waiter, ”Serve the dishes.”

The waiter announced the dishes, and Xia Wenjin ordered five in one go, while Huangfu Jingchen remained silent. Xia Wenjin asked kindly, ”Will this be enough, Young Master Huang?”

Huangfu Jingchen responded with a light ”hmm,” although cabbage and radish really weren’t appetizing, but now he couldn’t afford extravagant dishes either. This was just a way to make things difficult for Xia Wenjin. He was curious to see how she would cover the bill with only five copper coins.