Suo Mo'er followed Li Gonggong into Dingxi Building, passed through the corridor, and entered the prince's usual residence.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw the prince standing at the window, flipping through the pages of a book. He stood tall and elegant, with a face like the stars and moon. A faint ray of sunlight poured from below the corridor onto his head, blurring the light and making him look even more dazzling.
Li Gonggong reported, and Suo Mo'er then gathered her composure and curtsied, "Your Highness."
Hearing the movement, he looked up, his gaze fixing on Suo Mo'er for a moment before nodding slowly, "Here."
As he spoke, he put down the book in his hand, walked to the side of the red sandalwood table, and instructed, "Bring the dishes."
Noticing Suo Mo'er's hesitation, he waved and called out, "Come here."
Suo Mo'er stepped forward as instructed, feeling somewhat awkward standing in front of the table, her eyes at a loss as she looked at the prince.
Seeing this, Zhao Jinghuan asked, "What have you brought with you?"
Suo Mo'er hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, last time you mentioned that you enjoyed the dishes made by Nei, so today, Nei has specially prepared some for you. I hope Your Highness will enjoy them."
She spoke softly, her eyes fixed on Zhao Jinghuan, her gaze flickering like a deer leaping gently.
Zhao Jinghuan noticed this and, with a barely discernible tug at his lips, said, "That's good, it's nice of you to think of that. Set the table."
Su Mo'er was full of anxiety, but when she heard this, she gradually calmed down. She went forward happily and took out the food from the food box and placed it on the table with the meal sent up by Ding Xi Lou. This time, she didn't make much, just a few small dishes and snacks, as well as a bowl of iced porridge. Seeing this, Zhao Jinghuan asked her, "Have you had a meal?"
Su Mo'er, feeling embarrassed, admitted that she hadn't. She had been busy since early morning and was also afraid of eating too much before meeting the prince, so she only had a few snacks and a bit of water to fill her stomach, and didn't really have a proper meal.
Zhao Jinghuan furrowed his brow, then relaxed and glanced at her, "Well, in that case, sit down and have a meal with me."
The eunuch Li, who was on the side, couldn't help but roll his eyes in secret. The prince clearly called her over to eat with him, and as soon as Miss Su arrived, they set the table, obviously wanting to have a meal with her! It sounded so awkward! Su Mo'er was unaware of this and, when the prince asked her to join him for a meal, she felt conflicted and hesitant, but graciously agreed.
As a prince, Zhao Jinghuan was well-mannered, and although Su Mo'er came from a humble background, she also had good manners. Therefore, during the meal, they were generally silent, even chewing quietly. Su Mo'er stolen a glance at him and saw him eating in a measured and elegant manner, like a picture, which made her sigh inwardly. He truly was an extraordinary prince - even eating set him apart from others.
As she was thinking this, she suddenly met Zhao Jinghuan's gaze. She was slightly startled and quickly withdrew her eyes, but she couldn't help but cough involuntarily.
She coughed several times, her face turned red in an instant. Her delicate features, accentuated by the mist, appeared even more charming and irresistible.
Especially when she looked up in panic, her eyes unintentionally filled with a hint of mist, which confused and entangled the hearts of others.
Zhao Jinghuan suddenly put down his chopsticks and said with a stern expression, "When eating, eat. What's the use of being distracted?"
Su Mo'er was startled, thinking that she had upset the prince. She was about to apologize when she saw him pour tea into a cup and offer it to her.
She stared at the cup in his distinct hand, somewhat dazed, then glanced at him with uncertainty, "Your Highness..."
Zhao Jinghuan said expressionlessly, "What are you staring at? Drink it to moisten your throat."
As he said this, he tensed up, and his other hand under the table involuntarily clenched into a fist.
Eunuch Li, who was on the side, was also shocked. He had been with the prince for a long time and had never seen the prince care so much about someone!
Feeling pleasantly surprised, Su Mo'er took the tea, coughed carefully, and took a sip. She found that the temperature was just right. The obstruction in her throat disappeared after she swallowed. However, she was so immersed in the sudden care from the prince that she kept pouring water into the cup.
Seeing this, Zhao Jinghuan knocked on the table, "Don’t drink too much water during meals. Moistening your throat is enough."
With slightly flushed cheeks, Su Mo'er obediently put down the cup after drinking a few sips, but she couldn't help but steal glances at him. In the previous meal serving, she hadn't felt particularly touched, but this time, she was filled with strange emotions.
Facing the prince, it felt as if she was facing her elder. People outside described the prince as being cold and aloof, but the closer she got to him, the more she found that the prince was different from these rumors.
Staring at her as if he could see right through her, Zhao Jinghuan could clearly sense her confusion. For a moment, he was somewhat speechless.
Seeing her pick at the food, only eating a few dishes and a bowl of rice, Zhao Jinghuan couldn't help but frown. "You really didn't have a meal?" he asked involuntarily.
Su Mo'er didn't understand what he meant and could only honestly say she didn't.
Zhao Jinghuan stared at her, "If you didn't eat, why did you only eat this little? Does the food not suit your taste?"
Su Mo'er quickly shook her head and said, "Your Highness, the food is delicious. It's just that, to maintain my figure, I have to control my appetite. If it affects Your Highness's appetite, I ask for forgiveness."
In reality, she didn't really restrict her diet before, but after arriving at the prefectural governor's mansion and receiving guidance from Miss Yuan, she started subconsciously controlling her diet. It had indeed been effective, and in a short month, her figure had become lighter.
Frowning, Zhao Jinghuan said, "Eating so little just to maintain your figure?" He glanced at her and said disapprovingly, "No wonder you are so thin."
Upon hearing this, Su Mo'er suddenly plucked up the courage and blurted out, "Your Highness only sees where I am thin, but you don't know there's no shortage of flesh where there should be…"
After this was said, the room fell into silence. Eunuch Li's scalp felt numb, and he discreetly left the room.
After speaking, Su Mo'er instantly regretted it, but having said this, she plucked up her courage and looked at Zhao Jinghuan with expectation. Would the prince understand the meaning behind her words? If he did, would he remain indifferent?
Zhao Jinghuan was not foolish and naturally understood the implication of her words. For that moment, even his long-standing composure experienced a slight disturbance. It made him involuntarily think of the night when Su Mo'er danced, and a trace of emotion stirred in him. However, he managed to maintain composure and let out a sigh.
After a brief silence, he didn't say anything and simply picked a few light dishes and put them into Su Mo'er's bowl, saying, "Eat these."
Su Mo'er: "..."
For a moment, the hopeful light in Su Mo'er's eyes gradually dissipated, leaving her with complex feelings, making it unclear whether she felt relieved or disappointed.
However, she was not disheartened. She believed that as long as she could be by his side, one day, she would make him submit.
No matter how composed he was, he was ultimately a normal man!
No man could remain aloof for a long time.
One day, he would be overwhelmed by her tender feelings!
With these thoughts flashing through her mind, she found it difficult to face reality and look at the food in her bowl, "Your Highness…"
Zhao Jinghuan said calmly, "I know that you women go to great lengths for your figures, but you should not do it in this way. During meals, eat what should be eaten, just pay attention to a balanced diet. If you keep restricting your appetite, it will lead to unhealthy consequences in the long run."
Although Su Mo'er felt aggrieved, his words somewhat alleviated her feelings. She responded gracefully.
But she had made up her mind. After this meal today, she had to eat less for a day or two no matter what.
Zhao Jinghuan glanced at her, eating with her head down like a little cat or dog. Although her little face was smiling, he could see some resistance and grievance, knowing that she hadn't taken her words to heart.
He fell silent involuntarily, but did not continue speaking.
But when he withdrew his gaze, he was stunned, reminded of her words just now.
His gaze swept over her involuntarily, and this glance, compared to the past, held something different.
In the past, he had only thought that Su Mo'er had a graceful figure, but today, looking at her again, her lowered jade-like head, the undulating peaks and valleys, the slender figure with a waist that could be gripped with a single hand, and the shapely legs under a full bottom... Today, these features sparked a series of changing images in his mind instead of being simply admired as before.
He suddenly clenched his fist and coughed, lowering his eyes to hide the flame that had sparked within them.
Su Mo'er curiously looked at him, "Your Highness, what's wrong?" as she poured a cup of tea for him.
Zhao Jinghuan took it and sipped, speaking coldly, "It's nothing."
Su Mo'er wanted to say something more, but seeing his inexplicably cold face, she hesitated and had to bite her lip and give up.
After finishing their meal and rinsing their mouths, Zhao Jinghuan spoke to her, "You wait outside for me, we'll go for a walk together."
Upon hearing this, Su Mo'er quickly agreed with a smile. She was still contemplating that she had not achieved her goal during the meal just now and was thinking about how to continue staying, but now that the prince had spoken, she didn't need to worry anymore.
Seeing her walk out, Zhao Jinghuan turned back and instructed Li Gonggong, "Inform the maids at Yansui Pavilion another day that the girls have delicate bodies and cannot afford to eat less and harm their health."
Li Gonggong understood what it meant and immediately smiled and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will instruct them properly."
---The author has something to say---
"The Great Yan Crown Prince's women's diet class is now in session, teaching you how to eat well and stay full without gaining weight!
The prince's eyes deepened (coughed twice), and with a serious face: "Let's take attendance now, 'White Deer' student, 'Quiet Quiet' student, '233 Lala' student, 'Really Love You' student..."