Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 28

Evening, the Crown Prince’s Estate.

Shen Ruoli was busy working in the small kitchen. Yun Yue entered first, giving her a pointed look. “Crown Princess, Prince Zhou has arrived.”

Before she could even finish, a slightly cautious voice sounded from the doorway. “Crown Princess, the Crown Prince hasn’t returned yet, has he? Isn’t it a bit… inappropriate for you to invite me over like this?”

“Did you invite only me, or are the other brothers coming too?”

Shen Ruoli turned around to see Xie Xuanyu, the Prince of Chu, standing at the kitchen door, craning his neck to look inside.

When their eyes met, Xie Xuanyu gave an embarrassed smile. “Apologies! I shouldn’t have come to the inner courtyard. I was just lured here by the fragrance; I didn’t expect the Crown Princess to be cooking personally.”

“The Crown Princess actually knows how to cook?” Xie Xuanyu was stunned.

It wasn’t surprising that he was so shocked. In truth, no one would have expected this! Because she had grown up under the care of Grand Empress Dowager Shen, she was very familiar with the young princes and princesses in the palace, and Xie Xuanyu was one of them.

In his mind, Shen Ruoli had been pampered and spoiled since childhood. As a little girl, she was delicate and overbearing; as an adult, she looked down on everyone. Even toward princes and princesses like them, she was the same! Her heart and eyes were reserved only for Xie Xuansong.

In his impression, Shen Ruoli was someone whose ten fingers never touched dishwater. Now, seeing her busy in the kitchen with movements so skilled they looked practiced a thousand times… Xie Xuanyu’s mouth slowly fell open in disbelief as he stood frozen at the door.

“Is Second Brother surprised?” Shen Ruoli walked to the door with a smile.

The words “Second Brother” nearly caused Xie Xuanyu’s jaw to drop to the floor.

“Sec… Sec… Second Brother?” He stared at her, his eyes wide as copper bells. “You—what did you just call me?”

Good heavens! When Shen Ruoli was little, she was pink and tender, like a meticulously carved doll. He had adored her. Every time he got something good, he would run to her with great devotion to give it to her first. Every day, aside from his studies, he would follow her around just to coax her into calling him “Second Brother.”

She had called him that a few times when they were small. But as they grew up, never mind “Second Brother”—getting her to even look him in the eye was harder than climbing to the heavens! Yet here she was, calling him that so naturally.

“Why are you standing at the door? Come in,” Shen Ruoli explained with a smile. “My Crown Prince loves Salt-Baked Chicken. However, I’ve failed to make this dish several times; it’s either too salty or too bland. It never turns out right.”

“Second Brother has great accomplishments in the culinary arts, so I specifically invited you over to ask for your guidance!”

“You actually know the Crown Prince likes Salt-Baked Chicken?” Xie Xuanyu was shocked again.

He was naturally blunt. The shock in his heart caused him to blur out without thinking, “Don’t you only care about Big Brother? Besides, very few people know the Crown Prince’s tastes. How could you…”

As he spoke, he belatedly covered his mouth. “I… I spoke without thinking just now.” He scratched his head with a sheepish grin. “Just pretend I was farting! Anyway, didn’t you want to know how to make Salt-Baked Chicken? Come, I’ll teach you.”

Xie Xuanyu quickly changed the subject, stepping forward to inspect the ingredients she had prepared.

Shen Ruoli stood by the door, silent for a long moment. How could she not know? Although Xie Xuanjin was the Crown Prince and the legitimate son of the Emperor and Queen, he had lived in fear since childhood. In her memory, he had been poisoned through his food no fewer than three times!

Since then, he had completely disguised himself. No matter the dish, he would only take one or two bites, never daring to eat more for fear that someone would use his diet to poison him again. Back then, he was only a child of a few years!

It was also from that time that his temperament became increasingly eccentric and indifferent. Among their dozens of siblings, he only spoke a few extra words to Xie Xuanyu—for no other reason than the fact that Xie Xuanyu “loved food, not power.” Being with him was slightly more relaxing.

Shen Ruoli knew his favorite dishes only because she had lived with him day and night in her previous life, observing him in secret.

“Your ingredients are quite well-prepared,” Xie Xuanyu said as he checked the quality of the chicken. “Calculating the time, the Crown Prince should be back soon! Once I help you get this ready, I have to hurry back!”

Xie Xuanjin was not close to his brothers and disliked people coming to his estate, even Xie Xuanyu. It was clear that they were all quite terrified of him.

Shen Ruoli stepped forward to assist. “There’s no need to be nervous, Second Brother! Stay and have dinner with us tonight.”

“That won’t do! The Crown Prince…” He’ll beat me to death! Xie Xuanyu shook his head vigorously. “I ate before I came! I… I won’t eat.”

“I didn’t only invite you; I also invited Seventh Sister,” Shen Ruoli explained further. “So there’s no need to avoid him. The Crown Prince doesn’t eat people.”

“The Crown Prince doesn’t eat people, but he does kill them.”

Xie Xuanyu muttered those last few words so low they were barely audible. He didn’t know what had gotten into Xie Xuanjin lately. For no reason at all, he had executed several people in court and kept their eldest brother in Fuzhou, forbidden from returning to the capital. Even when he saw his siblings, he was more indifferent than usual, like a completely different person. Xie Xuanyu didn’t even dare speak to him!

“What was that?” Shen Ruoli didn’t hear him clearly.

“Nothing!” Xie Xuanyu said quickly. “You invited Jiaojiao too?”

Shen Ruoli nodded, her expression looking a bit troubled. “Yes. But I suspect she likely won’t come.”

Although Xie Jiaojiao was Xie Xuanjin’s full sister, she hadn’t been favored by Queen Sun since she was a child. Therefore, her relationship with her brother wasn’t close. In her previous life, because of the matter with Xie Xuansong, she had talked back to Xie Xuanjin and was eventually sent away for a political marriage beyond the borders. Until the very end, Shen Ruoli never saw her return to the capital. She must have hated Xie Xuanjin to the core.

Even if their sibling relationship was this cold, Shen Ruoli knew better than anyone that Xie Xuanjin cared for his sister. He was angry at her for her lack of ambition and felt betrayed by her. In reality, he was good to her, but his lack of words caused the relationship to deteriorate.

Shen Ruoli had done so much, yet Xie Xuanjin still treated her as Xie Xuansong’s spy, still doubting and loathing her. So, she planned to change her approach! Perhaps starting with Xie Jiaojiao would be a good opportunity.

Unfortunately, Xie Jiaojiao was unwilling to set foot in the Crown Prince’s Estate. Shen Ruoli sighed. “See, I even made her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs!”

“Yun Yue, take these over to Jiaojiao.”

“Yes, Crown Princess.” Yun Yue packed the ribs into a food box and withdrew.

In the small kitchen, only Shen Ruoli and Xie Xuanyu remained. Soon, Shen Ruoli clearly sensed two more sweeping servants appearing outside the door…

She understood perfectly. A trace of a smile flashed across her lips as she asked with feigned nonchalance, “Second Brother, you are not young anymore, yet you have delayed marriage for so long. Is there someone in your heart?”

As soon as she spoke, Xie Xuanyu’s body stiffened! Why was she suddenly asking this? Could it be… she knew something?

Just as Xie Xuanyu was too nervous to answer, the news that Shen Ruoli was alone with him and discussing marriage had already reached Xie Xuanjin’s ears!

Upon hearing the report from his hidden guard, the man, who had been focused on his official scrolls, saw his face turn instantly dark!