Touya Yaoyao

The consequence of being forced into the room by Shirai Momoya was that when I turned on my phone the next day, there were dozens of missed calls, all of which were from my third brother.

Interspersed among them were a few missed calls from Ye Qihua and Ye Zhuozhuo, but compared to Ye Qishi, their number of missed calls was like a drop in the ocean, not worth mentioning at all.

Yu Yaoyao felt like she was doomed. She clearly remembered leaving her phone on before going to sleep, so how could it have automatically shut down when she woke up?! The battery was clearly at 100%!

Thinking of this, she subconsciously glanced at Bai Taoshi, who was getting dressed beside her. Bai Taoshi, feigning composure, looked at Yu Yaoyao, who was giving him a questioning look, and said irritably:

"What are you looking at me for?? I don't know your phone password?? How could I possibly turn it off?!"

That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? But who says you can't turn off your phone without a password? So, Yu Yaoyao didn't give up her suspicions about Bai Taoshi because of this; instead, she looked at him with disdain.

Shirato felt a little embarrassed, thinking, "If I don't turn off my phone, how will I be able to sleep tonight?!"

Your older brother, Ye Qihua, couldn't get through to you, so he called me. Your older sister, Ye Zhuozhuo, couldn't get through either, so she called me. And your parents, they all called me?! I've been on the phone all night, how can I sleep?!

Of course, Ye didn't call him, not because Ye didn't want to, but because this guy had blocked Ye, determined not to give him a chance.

With a resentful look on her face, Bai Taoshi reluctantly looked at the hand that Yu Yaoyao handed her, which was tied with a tie, and slowly began to untie it.

His expression looked rather sour, and even his movements were slow and leisurely. Yu Yaoyao frowned as she looked at his lazy demeanor and couldn't help but question him:

"Didn't you eat?!"

Bai Taoshi glanced at her and sneered:

"Of course I haven't eaten! Didn't you see I just got up?"

As he spoke, he pulled the tie that was binding Yu Yaoyao's hands away and threw it onto the bed. Then, seeing that Yu Yaoyao was about to get out of bed, he simply leaned down, put his hands on the mattress, and pulled Yu Yaoyao into his arms.

Yu Yaoyao looked at Bai Taoshi who had suddenly approached, at a loss for what to do. She subconsciously leaned back, but Bai Taoshi seemed not to see it. He simply reached out and pinched her chin, teasing her in a low voice:

"Hey little girl, give this grandpa a smile."

He spoke these words frankly, without showing any sign of unease, his eyes even sparkling, displaying an expression of self-satisfaction.

Yu Yaoyao was clearly used to his erratic behavior, so she subconsciously twitched her lips, reached out and slapped away Bai Taoshi's hand that was pinching her chin, and said irritably:

"If you're sick, go get treatment."

Upon hearing this, Bai Taoshi looked at Yu Yaoyao with a sorrowful expression, then sat down next to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and said:

"What would you like for breakfast? Porridge, fried eggs, or how about I heat up a glass of fresh milk?"

He spoke with such familiarity, as if he were already used to it. Yu Yaoyao didn't say anything, but got up and rubbed her wrist, clearly not wanting to talk to him.

Seeing her get up, Bai Taoyi couldn't help but quicken his pace, pull her into his arms, and say in a coquettish tone:

Why are you angry? I admit I was wrong, okay? How about you make a request and I'll apologize to you?

He claimed it was an apology, but his attitude showed no remorse or desire to repent. Yu Yaoyao tried to pull his hand away, but then she heard a knock on the door.

"Your Highness, Miss Yu, His Majesty invites you to dine with him."

The speaker seemed to be a young woman. Bai Taoshi casually responded, then released Yu Yaoyao from his arms and took her hand instead, saying:

"Let's go eat!"

The place where Zhao Hede ate breakfast was the same hall where Yu Yaoyao first met her. When the two of them arrived, they saw Zhao Hede slowly drinking her porridge, while Bai Juncheng used his chopsticks to pick up the shrimp dumplings in the basket.

Judging from how well the two get along, they don't seem to have the awkwardness of a couple separated for more than ten years. Instead, it's as if they are together every day.

Bai Taoshi seemed used to this way of getting along. He pulled Yu Yaoyao to sit down at the dining table in a carefree manner and said to Zhao Hede:

I want to eat pan-fried dumplings.

Yu Yaoyao looked at Zhao Hede and Bai Juncheng with a restrained expression, hoping that they could ignore her. After all, she was not used to this kind of occasion and it would be more convenient to talk about business.

Zhao Hede glanced at Yu Yaoyao, who was trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, subconsciously put down the spoon in her hand, and asked Yu Yaoyao:

"What does Yaoyao like to eat for breakfast? I can ask the imperial kitchen to make it for you."

Before Yu Yaoyao could even speak, Bai Taoshi, standing to the side, blurted out:

"Give her a bowl of porridge, some refreshing side dishes, I'll have pan-fried dumplings, a fried egg, and a glass of fresh milk."

After saying this, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed the last steamed dumpling from the steamer, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Since it was her first time attending such an event, Yu Yaoyao only focused on her own immediate surroundings, afraid of seeing something she shouldn't and getting herself into trouble.

But she was also a little puzzled. She had heard that emperors ate extremely extravagantly, so why did the emperor of Zhao Kingdom need to order food? Was he too poor to afford it? Or was there some other reason?

Despite her doubts, she dared not ask, and could only keep her eyes down, putting on a taciturn and wooden demeanor.

After waiting for about ten minutes, a maid dressed as a maid came over with the dishes. She placed a seafood porridge in front of Yu Yaoyao, along with several stir-fries and pickled vegetables.

Shiro Momoya naturally picked up his chopsticks, blew on the golden-brown fried dumplings, and then took a bite.

Even from a distance, Yu Yaoyao could still smell the cooked beef in the dumplings. She slowly stirred the seafood porridge in her bowl, thinking that she really wasn't used to this meal.

Despite feeling uncomfortable, she still had to eat. She scooped a spoonful of seafood porridge, but before she could even touch it, she heard Zhao Hede speak slowly and deliberately:

"Withdrawal"

After saying this, Zhao Hede grabbed Bai Juncheng and left the hall. Yu Yaoyao stared blankly at their departing figures, hesitating for a long time, wondering if she should continue eating.

His Majesty has left, how dare I eat?! Wouldn't that be inappropriate? Did she do something wrong to upset His Majesty?!

Just as he was lost in thought, Shiro Momoya suddenly spoke up and asked:

"Why aren't you eating?! Wasting food is forbidden in the palace, or you'll get a beating on the hand!"

He spoke so calmly, as if it were the natural thing in the world, but Yu Yaoyao was shocked and looked at him in astonishment, asking:

"Who dares to strike His Majesty's hand?!"

Bai Taoshi nodded, and seeing Yu Yaoyao's curious expression, he served her food while explaining:

"The chefs in the imperial kitchen hate it most when people leave food uneaten, so anyone who dares to leave food will be beaten up!"

He spoke with such sincerity and earnestness, but Yu Yaoyao was full of doubt, thinking it was impossible.

She was taught that all land under heaven belongs to the emperor, and all people within the realm are his subjects. How dare you, a mere cook in the imperial kitchen, strike His Majesty?! Have you lost your mind?!

This question was not answered until many years later, and only then did she understand why the emperors in the palace were so frugal.

Of course, she didn't know that yet, so she glanced at the seafood porridge in the bowl, hesitated for a moment, and then started eating.

Although I don't know if what Shiratoshi said is true, wasting food is indeed bad, but who would have thought?! The emperor, who is rumored to be extremely extravagant, is also not allowed to waste food. It feels a bit magical.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, it was time for the work report. Bai Taoshi handed the video that Yu Yaoyao had sent him directly to Zhao Hede. Zhao Hede watched it for a long time before looking at Yu Yaoyao with a complicated expression, wondering what she wanted to say.

Thinking Zhao Hede didn't believe her, Yu Yaoyao was so frightened that she dared not remain seated. Instead, she stood up and explained with a fearful expression:

“Your Majesty, if you don’t believe me, I can explain. I recorded this video in that building in the palace. Bai Taoshi was also present at the time. This video is absolutely authentic and valid; there is no editing or fabricated storyline whatsoever.”

Yu Yaoyao's panic made Zhao Hede even more silent. She subconsciously looked at Bai Juncheng and handed him Bai Taoshi's phone. Bai Juncheng looked at Zhao Hede in surprise, and then froze after seeing the phone screen.