A Time-Traveling Mishap: I Became an Ancient Nobleman

Chapter 218 You should go back first.

Once Jiang Mingyun is in his hands, the Jiang family will be at his mercy.

However, this time he is destined to fail.

Bitao was a little nervous. "I didn't know where Miss was. I searched for quite a while with Young Master Ye, but at least it wasn't a wasted trip. We finally found you."

"You really mean it."

Jiang Mingyun smiled.

Zhou Hanzhang tugged at her, "Aren't we still having a meal? What's the matter? Speak quickly."

Ye Gui glanced at Zhou Hanzhang, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. This man was too much of a troublemaker. If it weren't for the Crown Prince forbidding any action against him, he would never have let him get away with it.

Although he thought this way, he acted even more humbly and politely, saying, "It was my oversight. It's dinner time now. How about this, I'll treat everyone to a meal?"

Jiang Mingyun looked at him and said, "You're just a poor scholar, how come you have money to treat us to a meal here?"

These words were so harsh that Ye Gui almost lost control of his expression.

But he ultimately held back, saying, "Miss Jiang is joking. I can certainly afford to treat you to a meal."

Zhou Hanzhang naturally knew that he could afford it. How could he lack money when he was by the side of the First Prince?

The way he acted on the surface was merely to gain Jiang Mingyun's sympathy so that he could get closer to her.

"Why not take it?" Zhou Hanzhang said to him. "Then we won't be polite."

Although Ye Gui offered to treat him to dinner, it was purely out of politeness. He was thinking that with Zhou Hanzhang, a wealthy man, around, he wouldn't have to pay the bill.

Who knew he was so clueless about social etiquette?

He could certainly afford to treat someone to a meal, but even a meal at Zuixianlou was a struggle for him now.

His face twitched, and he almost couldn't maintain his smile. "It's my pleasure."

He then extended his hand in a gesture of invitation, allowing Zhou Hanzhang and the others to enter the Drunken Immortal Pavilion ahead of him.

As soon as they sat down, the waiter brought out the roast duck, and Ye Gui didn't even have a chance to ask why they had brought out this pot of exotic immortality.

Although Jiang Mingyun disliked Ye Gui, she didn't continue to mock him because he was willing to pay.

However, the next moment, she ordered a series of dishes to the waiter beside her, "Give us two portions of each of the dishes I just ordered."

She turned her head and looked at Ye Gui, whose expression was somewhat unnatural, with a smile, "Young Master Ye, you wouldn't be reluctant to part with him, would you?"

"Not at all, Miss Jiang, please feel free to do as you please."

Jiang Mingyun didn't need him to say anything. After the food was served, she acted as if he didn't exist and ate with great pleasure.

Ye Gui had eaten with Jiang Mingyun before, but he had no idea that she had such a large appetite.

At first, she thought Jiang Mingyun was trying to make things difficult for her, and that she definitely wouldn't be able to finish all the dishes. But to her surprise, she not only finished them all, but it still wasn't enough, since Zhou Tong and Xiao Ba, who could eat a lot, were both there. In the end, she ordered a lot more dishes.

Ye Gui's smile faded. Remembering his purpose, he quickly asked tentatively, "I wonder what kind of flower Miss Jiang has here? The fragrance it emitted when I moved it just now was invigorating."

Jiang Mingyun was too busy eating to pay attention to him, nor did she want to.

Only Zhou Hanzhang could answer: "These are a new batch of chrysanthemums recently purchased by Uncle Huang, who manages the garden at the Jiang residence. They were a gift from the shop owner."

Because my mother likes fragrant plants, and I thought this one was quite unique, I wanted to find the same one. However, the flower seller I knew was nowhere to be found, and I didn't know what kind of flower it was, so I had to bring it out to ask the flower seller if they had the same one.

Zhou Hanzhang looked regretful, "But I asked several shops, and they all said they didn't have it."

Ye Gui breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that they didn't have it; they had stumbled upon it by chance and obtained it after much hardship.

"Fortunately, Mingyun said that they will be holding a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet at their home tomorrow. After the banquet, I will be able to take this pot of flowers with its special fragrance back to my mother."

My mother runs a large business, and this fragrant and invigorating drink is perfect for her.

Ye Gui was even more relieved when he heard that they would have to send the flower back to the Jiang residence. As long as the flower was still in the Jiang residence, it would be fine. At least it would ensure that the plan would go smoothly at the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet tomorrow.

Little did he know that his scheme had been completely exposed to the light of day.

Seeing that the situation was still under control, Ye Gui decided not to report it to the Crown Prince.

As long as things go smoothly tomorrow, this little mishap is nothing to worry about.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a plant like this. I'd like to have one if I could."

He looked dejected, as if he were thinking of something sad. "But such a precious thing, I..."

Everyone present watched his performance quietly, without responding at all; they ate their meals and drank their tea as usual.

Ye Gui wasn't embarrassed. He turned to Zhou Tong and asked, "Mr. Zhou, you travel all over the world and are very knowledgeable. Have you ever seen this kind of flower before?"

Zhou Tong had already figured it out from the side; this was a villain, otherwise how could he tolerate Jiang Mingyun speaking like that as if he had broken a cardinal rule?

Although she had only just met Jiang Mingyun, she had already figured him out completely.

She wouldn't act so sarcasticly if she didn't have a grudge against someone.

Zhou Tong chuckled and said, "You think too highly of me. I just like reading a couple of books; I don't know much about plants."

They ate at Zuixianlou for nearly two hours, until it was completely dark, before finally patting their bellies and preparing to leave.

Ye Gui almost turned pale, but he had no choice but to hold back for the sake of tomorrow's plan.

He really wanted to send Jiang Mingyun back, and also make sure the plant could return to the Jiang residence, but he knew that if he acted too eagerly, he might expose his ulterior motives.

So after he left Zuixianlou, he bid farewell to the group.

Bitao had been waiting outside, and Jiang Mingyun hadn't let her go to eat. Now her stomach was growling loudly with hunger.

She looked at Jiang Mingyun pitifully, but Jiang Mingyun ignored her.

Her heart skipped a beat. Something was really wrong. In the past, whenever she was with the young lady, she would make arrangements for herself before meals. These days, apart from transferring her to the outer room to do some trivial chores, she hadn't even made any arrangements for herself for today's meal.

A hint of hatred welled up in her heart.

Jiang Mingyun felt a chill behind her even in the darkness, so she turned around and looked over.

Bitao immediately flashed a sweet smile. "Miss, shall we go back now?"

"You should go back first, we have other things to do."

"That……"

Bitao looked at the potted plant in Xiaoba's hand and asked, "Should I take this potted plant back for Miss first?"

Since the potted plant was to be taken back to the Jiang residence, Zhou Hanzhang had Xiao Baba give it to Bitao.

They weren't afraid of what Bitao might do to the flowerpot; she was so eager now, she must care more about whether the flowerpot was placed in the Jiang family's garden than they did.

Bitao accepted the flowers and looked at Jiang Mingyun, "Miss, it's getting late. If you don't return to the manor soon, Madam might worry."