Childhood Friend or Destined Encounter? - Chapter 12

According to the plan Ye Zi had previously discussed with Feng Ya, once she and Young Master Xue finished the wedding ceremony, she would be sent to the bridal chamber first as the bride.

As the groom, Young Master Xue would likely spend at least two to four hours entertaining guests, which would give Ye Zi plenty of time to stage a fake suicide by jumping into a well and make her escape. To ensure a clean getaway, she planned to start small fires in several empty rooms in the back courtyard. In the ensuing chaos, no one would have the presence of mind to scrutinize the details.

As for the few maids and servants lingering in the back, Feng Ya would simply knock them unconscious with a swift strike.

The layout was detailed, and the plan was foolproof.

The inner hall was currently packed with guests. Ye Zi and Young Master Xue stood in the center of the hall, ready to bow as the master of ceremonies shouted, “First, bow to Heaven and Earth!”

“Wait!” Feng Ya, who had been standing silently beside Ye Zi, suddenly pulled her back with one hand while using her sword to block Young Master Xue’s path. Facing the room full of guests, she declared, “There will be no bowing today. This wedding is over.”

She had originally intended to go along with Ye Zi’s plan, but she suddenly realized that a more direct and effective method was available.

The sudden turn of events caught the guests off guard, to say nothing of the couple who were seconds away from being married.

Tucked into the crook of Feng Ya’s arm, Ye Zi tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “What are you doing? This wasn’t in the script!”

“I thought of a better script,” Feng Ya whispered back into Ye Zi’s ear before facing the crowd again. “My apologies, everyone. I have a grievance to settle with Prefect Xue. Today’s wedding is canceled. Please leave immediately.”

Seeing Feng Ya masked and armed, the guests assumed she was a dangerous martial artist seeking revenge against the Prefect. Fearing they would be caught in the crossfire, they scrambled to offer excuses and flee.

“I just remembered my wife is about to give birth today, I must go!”

“My black dog is also giving birth today, I have to check on her.”

“My grey dog gave birth yesterday, but it looks like she’s going to keep going today.”

In an instant, an endless stream of excuses filled the air. The hall, which had been bustling and noisy just moments before, was now practically empty.

Prefect Xue and his son couldn’t stop the guests from slipping away like greased lightning, and their faces turned green with rage.

“Who are you? What is your intent in disrupting my son’s wedding?” Prefect Xue glared at Feng Ya, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

Feng Ya produced a jade pendant from her waist and held it before the Prefect’s eyes, her voice clear and resonant. “I am Zhu Ling, the An’guo Princess of the current dynasty. Seeing that your son and Miss Shen are not a good match, it is better that this marriage be called off.”

Ye Zi watched this scene with wide eyes, thinking to herself, Good heavens! I did say we should use extraordinary means when facing extraordinary situations in the martial world, but you didn’t have to take it so literally! I’m only pretending to be a rich miss, but you went and claimed to be a princess! Don’t you know that impersonating royalty is a capital offense?

Seeing the jade pendant, Prefect Xue’s anger only intensified. He roared, “You bold criminal! How dare you use a random trinket to impersonate the Princess? Men, throw her into the dungeon!”

See? I knew it. Ye Zi abandoned the previous plan and pulled on Feng Ya’s arm urgently. “We have to run! Are you really going to wait to be locked up?”

However, Feng Ya’s feet seemed rooted to the spot. She held her sword in her arms, not even deigning to give Prefect Xue a second glance. She chuckled softly, “Think carefully. I hope you don’t regret your actions today.”

Ye Zi felt her head throb with anxiety. You’re overacting, sister! Can we please not be so arrogant right now?

Prefect Xue was naturally not cowed by a single sentence. By now, the guards from outside had rushed into the inner hall.

Feng Ya had no intention of fighting. She walked toward the door with her hands behind her back. “Where is the cell? I’ll walk there myself.” Her demeanor was so composed it was as if she were headed to a banquet rather than a dungeon.

If Feng Ya was being imprisoned, there was no way Ye Zi could face the Xue father and son alone. She simply ripped off her bridal veil and stepped to Feng Ya’s side. “I’m going with you.”

The prison had many empty cells, suggesting the Prefect’s performance hadn’t been particularly effective lately.

“Behave yourself.” Perhaps intimidated by Feng Ya’s powerful aura, the jailer didn’t mistreat her. He simply locked the door and went off to drink by himself once she was inside.

Now that they were alone, Ye Zi glared at Feng Ya, her cheeks puffed with annoyance. “I mean, what were you thinking? We had a perfect plan! We were supposed to finish the ceremony, enter the bridal chamber, and then slip away. Why did you have to cause such a scene in front of everyone?”

“That Young Master Xue clearly lacks character. You should not bow with him,” Feng Ya said seriously, her brow furrowing slightly.

“That was a ruse! I wasn’t actually going to marry him!” Ye Zi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Your ruse was flawed. There are other ways, and none of them require you to bow with him.”

“Are you obsessed with the bowing thing today? And you say my plan was flawed? Claiming to be a princess is the real flaw, that’s a death sentence!” Ye Zi laughed out of pure frustration.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be out in a moment,” Feng Ya comforted her, seeing that she was truly angry.

While the two were bickering, or rather, while Ye Zi was being angry on her own, they heard a commotion outside.

The cell door was reopened, and a man dressed in the black “flying fish” uniform of the imperial guards knelt on one knee before Feng Ya. “Your subordinate, Xuan Ying, is late to the rescue. I beg the Princess to forgive me.”

“No matter. You arrived at just the right time. Rise,” Feng Ya said calmly, her regal authority appearing completely natural.

Beside them, Prefect Xue was already shaking like a leaf, sweat pouring down his face. “My Lord, this humble official was blind and offended Her Royal Highness. I beg for your mercy!”

“The one you should be begging is the Princess,” Xuan Ying said, pressing his blade against the Prefect’s shoulder to force him to kneel before Feng Ya.

About half a month ago, Xuan Ying had received a letter from Feng Ya ordering him to bring men to Pingyang City to help wipe out a branch of the Baqi Pavilion. Unfortunately, they were delayed on the road. By the time they arrived near Pingyang, Feng Ya had already captured Mahoraga.

However, the matter of the Baqi Pavilion wasn’t over. Feng Ya had written to him again to meet in Jiangzhou City, though he never expected the meeting place to be a prison cell.

To dare imprison the Princess, Prefect Xue truly had a lion’s nerve!

“Please forgive me, Princess! Please forgive me!” Prefect Xue turned to Feng Ya, kowtowing repeatedly.

“Your crimes will be discussed later. For now, the marriage between your son and the Shen family daughter is void. You are not to harass or pressure the Shen family ever again. Do I make myself clear?” Feng Ya looked down at the groveling Prefect, her voice devoid of warmth.

“Clear, perfectly clear! This official will never mention the marriage with the Shen family again!”

The sudden reversal left Ye Zi stunned. Her mental process went something like this: Where did this guy in black come from? When did Feng Ya find a helper? They’re putting on quite a show.

Then: I didn’t realize Feng Ya could be so intimidating when she stays stone-faced. Prefect Xue actually fell for it! Look at him shake. But they’re taking the acting too far, making him kneel? If he realizes he’s been tricked, he’ll definitely kill us.

Finally: Prefect Xue is agreeing easily now, but a man who bullies commoners will surely go back on his word later. Wait, why are they both so calm? Their composure is too stable. Wait… is Feng Ya actually the Princess? The person I’ve been living with all this time is really a member of the imperial family!?

Declining Prefect Xue’s lavish invitations, Feng Ya and her party stayed at the government courier station. Ye Zi was still reeling from the shock of her companion becoming a princess, while Feng Ya and Xuan Ying went into a room to discuss important matters.

“Rest well for a bit. I’ll bring you something delicious in a while,” Feng Ya whispered, squeezing Ye Zi’s hand before entering the room.

Who could think about eating at a time like this!?

Inside the room, Feng Ya and Xuan Ying both wore business-like expressions.

“Your Highness, you mentioned in your letter that you suspect the Jiangzhou Prefect is colluding with the Baqi Pavilion. Do you have any proof?”

“Look at this first.” Feng Ya placed a stack of travel permits she had taken from the box onto the table.

“So many travel permits, and all of them bear the seal of the Jiangzhou Prefect!” Xuan Ying was shocked as he flipped through them.

“Jiangzhou is a vital trade hub between our Chen Kingdom and other nations. The fact that the Baqi Pavilion possessed so many Jiangzhou permits suggests a conspiracy. I want you to investigate this Prefect thoroughly,” Feng Ya said firmly.

“I understand. I will not fail you, Your Highness.”

Their conversation was brief. Before Ye Zi could even finish counting the beads on the station’s curtains, Feng Ya entered the room carrying two bowls.

“This fermented rice soup with rice balls is a local specialty here in Jiangzhou. Come and try it, I know you’ll like it.” Feng Ya placed the bowls on the table and beckoned to Ye Zi, who was standing by the window.

Ye Zi glanced at the small rice balls. They were as small and delicate as pearls, plump and translucent. They probably tasted great, but… was now really the time to eat?

Seeing Ye Zi standing there unmoved, Feng Ya’s attempt at “feeding duty” suffered its first defeat. She sighed and explained, “I didn’t mean to hide it from you. My real name is Zhu Ling, the daughter of the current Emperor. Feng Ya is simply the name I use when traveling the martial world.”

“Over the years, the Baqi Pavilion has grown increasingly powerful, causing much unrest. My father suspects their influence has seeped into the imperial court, threatening the foundations of the state.”

“However, on the surface, the Baqi Pavilion is just a martial arts organization. It’s inconvenient for the court to send troops without direct evidence. Therefore, in my role as Feng Ya, a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, I am the perfect candidate to investigate and oppose them openly. I’ve finished my explanation, can you come and eat now?”

Feng Ya’s explanation was seamless, and Ye Zi couldn’t find a single word to argue. A princess of the realm, a woman of noble birth, had risked herself by entering a dragon’s den for the sake of the country and its people. Yet, she remained kind and unassuming toward a commoner like herself. What right did Ye Zi have to be moody with her?

Ye Zi sat down at the table and picked up a bowl. The aroma was intoxicating. She took a spoonful; it was sweet, chewy, and perfectly balanced. The rice balls seemed to dance in her mouth with a delightful texture. It was every bit as delicious as she had imagined.

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