The Vampire Empress: Blood Queen & Her Kings

Two weeks later...

The 'Delicacy Happiness' restaurant was filled with a huge crowd as people had gathered to see the new drama that the First Young Master Gu was planning to act.

After trying his hands in several other professions, today he was about to test his cooking skills. Almost everyone knew that it was going to be another failed attempt but they still wanted to enjoy the show.

While the servants of the First Young Master and the restaurant tried to set up everything on the ground floor, Jiang Ying Yue sipped the fresh herbal tea in one of the private rooms on the second floor.

She had spent the past two weeks preparing cosmetics and skincare products. After several failures and wrong experiments, she finally succeeded in preparing the first perfect batch of a complete set. Now, it was time for her to test her idea of starting a salon in this ancient world. And after a lot of research, she had set the First Young Master Gu as her target.

"How nice you people are. No matter the time or place, you always come to support me. I'm really thankful to you all for so much love. If one day I become a successful businessman, I'll sure remember this kindness of yours." The voice of First Young Master Gu resonated, bringing Jiang Ying Yue's attention towards the ground floor.

"Good. We wish you all the good luck in the world then." Someone from the crowd commented and the others cheered to show their enthusiasm.

"Yes, Young Master Gu, you should remember this promise of yours. We will be waiting for the day when you will finally become the most powerful businessman of the Capital." Another person commented and once again the crowd cheered.

It was clear that both parties were joking around. Neither the Young Master was serious nor the people who have gathered around to watch the show.

"These stinky people, they really take our Young Master as a joke. Are they forgetting that at the end of the day, our Young Master is the eldest son of the General Gu? Aren't they disrespecting our entire General Manor by disrespecting the Young Master?" One of the servants complained to his companion as he watched the fake enthusiasm of the crowd.

"It's all because both Master and Second Young Master are not here. It's been almost three years since they left for the borders and they still have to return. Madam's poor health and the lack of an Elder in the family has burdened First Young Master to such great levels. It hurts my heart to see him trying so hard but still failing constantly. To be honest, he's really miserable. It's just... he never shows it to anyone." 

"You are right. Everyone in the capital considers him as a joke now but no one knows that our First Young Master has purposely ruined his image to keep the Prime Minister manor from targeting his family." 

Jiang Ying Yue listened to the conversation that was going on between the two servants. Even without her enhanced vampire hearing power, she was able to clearly hear every single word exchanged between them.

A very faint smile appeared on her lips that were hidden under the veil. The poor First Young Master indeed sounded like a pitiful person but was he really that innocent and docile.

Just like her, the majority of the people present in the restaurant also heard the conversation between the two servants.

"You two, what rubbish are you spouting! Stay silent." Young Master Gu immediately shouted at those two servants in a panicked voice while quickly looking around as if he was searching for someone.

Looked like whoever he was searching for, he didn't found them and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. After giving a hard glare to those two servants, he finally turned his attention towards the crowd with a meek smile on his face.

"Everyone, those two were just talking nonsense. Please don't mind it. I'll be starting the preparation of my first dish now. Let's see how it will go." Young Master Gu tried to change the topic and bring everyone's attention back to his cooking show but at this point, it was clear that people were more interested in the gossip instead of his cooking.

"First Young Master Gu, you don't have to pretend in front of us. Just because we don't say it out loud, it does not mean that we are not aware of the problems that you have been facing for the past several years." An old man from the crowd spoke with a shake of his head as if he was disheartened just by recalling those events that he had heard through rumors.

"That's right! We are common people, we don't have the power and place to speak against those sitting up in powerful positions. But we are well aware of those who have been misusing their power for their gains."

"First Young Master, you should not feel sad and discouraged. General Gu and Marquis Gu would soon return to the Capital with the First and Second Prince and no one will be able to look down on the General manor again." 

"Yes, you just need to stay calm and strong to wait for the return of General and Marquis Gu. Then everything will turn out well." 

The crowd kept sympathizing and motivating the First Young Master who no longer seemed to be in a state of continuing his cooking show.

As Jiang Ying Yue walked out of the private room to look at the young man standing in the middle of the crowd, she noticed his gloomy look and the way his hands were shaking as he clutched his fingers into tight fists. 

To others, it seemed like he was angry about the injustices that had been happening with him and his ill mother but Jiang Ying Yue was able to see what the others failed to notice.

Looked like the servants of the First Young Master Gu were also aware of the current situation of their Master because they hurriedly started to apologize to the crowd and asked them to leave.

Though some people seemed to be not happy about missing the show and wasting their time, the majority seemed to be quite understandable as they all left to give some space to the Young Master.

She watched as the young man hurriedly made his way towards the upper floor and disappeared into one of the private rooms. The sound of the crash of a vase or something that came out of that room right after a few seconds caused the servants to stop in their tracks before they could have stepped inside the room.

"Wh-what should we do? Young Master is way angrier than we thought." One of the maidservants whispered to her companion as she stood outside the private room in which her Master was taking out his anger on the poor vases and furniture.

Deciding that it was the right time for her to step into the story, Jiang Ying Yue started walking towards the group of servants who were still pondering over what they needed to do.

"Here. Let me do it." She told the servant who was holding a tray of freshly brewed herbal tea in his hands as she took the tray from him, causing him to look at her in shock and confusion.

"Who are you? What do you want?" One of the maidservants stopped her from entering the room as she looked at Jiang Ying Yue with suspicion-filled eyes.

"I'm someone who has discovered the illness of your Young Master and also the one who knows the cure." Her answer made everyone look at her like she just talked with puzzles.

Before either of the servants could speak, the door of the private room opened and they all noticed the personal guard of the First Young Master standing there.

"You all can leave. No need to stay here." He addressed the servants first before he turned his attention towards her. "Miss, please enter." 

Jiang Ying Yue smiled softly but no one was able to see it. Nonetheless, she entered the room and heard the guard closing the door behind her.

As soon as she stepped inside, her feet landed on the broken pieces of plates and cups. The floor was covered in food, spilled tea, and even wine. The furniture was scattered around and the entire room was in an upside-down state.

"You sure know how to cause a ruckus." She commented as she landed the tray to the guard after failing any suitable place to put it down.

She almost... almost staggered on her feet when the young man suddenly turned around to face her with a dark look covering his handsome face. When he spoke, his voice was rough and filled with coldness.

"Who are you?" 

Jiang Ying Yue could no longer contain herself from chuckling as she took off her veil and faced the young man who seemed to be taken aback.