Childhood Friend or Destined Encounter? - Chapter 14

Feng Ya sat alone in the courtyard for a full hour, but Ye Zi still hadn’t returned. Worry began to gnaw at her, wondering if something had happened to the girl.

Just as Feng Ya was considering asking Xuan Ying to send men out to search, the main gate creaked open. Ye Zi walked in, still carrying the rabbit lantern in her hand, her head bowed as she headed straight for the house.

Feng Ya stood up, wanting to call out to her, but seeing Ye Zi’s low spirits, she felt an uncharacteristic hesitation to bother her. She simply gave her a quiet once-over to ensure she wasn’t hurt, only relaxing when she saw everything seemed fine.

Ye Zi was well aware of Feng Ya’s presence. She saw her waiting in the yard, saw her stand up upon her arrival, and saw her silent gaze.

Sighing inwardly, Ye Zi headed straight for her room. Right now, she didn’t want to talk to Feng Ya.

The next morning, Feng Ya awoke to find Ye Zi’s door still tightly locked. After a quick wash, she headed to the kitchen and prepared a few simple side dishes according to Ye Zi’s usual tastes. She carried them to the girl’s door herself, but there was still no sign of movement.

Is she still sleeping at this hour? Feng Ya hesitated, hand poised to knock.

Just then, a courier passed by and noticed Feng Ya lingering with the tray. “Is Her Highness looking for Miss Ye? She asked me for a bunch of tools and timber this morning and has been locked in her room ever since.”

“I see, thank you,” Feng Ya replied. Relieved to know Ye Zi was awake, she stepped forward and knocked gently. “May I come in?”

“Wait a moment,” Ye Zi’s voice sounded slightly hurried. Feng Ya was curious but didn’t want to barge in. She waited at the door for a short while before Ye Zi finally opened it.

Feng Ya glanced inside, but everything looked as usual. It seemed whatever Ye Zi was working on, she wasn’t ready to share it yet.

“Let’s sit outside,” Ye Zi said, closing her door behind her and heading for the stone stools in the courtyard.

Suppressing her curiosity for the sake of her original goal, Feng Ya placed the tray on the stone table. “I heard you were up early, so you probably haven’t eaten much. I made a few small dishes, care to try?”

Ye Zi looked at the tray. It held several delicate plates with chilled eggplant, boiled tofu, and tomato with scrambled eggs, simple, light flavors that she usually loved.

Under normal circumstances, Ye Zi would have happily dug in. Today, however, she felt listless. But seeing the expectant look in Feng Ya’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to brush her off. “Thank you.”

Though she had little appetite, Ye Zi picked up a piece of eggplant under Feng Ya’s watchful gaze and took a bite.

“Mmh, it’s good,” she said, her voice flat.

Feng Ya could tell Ye Zi’s heart wasn’t in it. Is she still angry? she wondered. The mind of a young girl is truly hard to read.

Ever since returning from the Qixi Festival the night before, Ye Zi had been different. She was quieter, and even her favorite foods couldn’t seem to cheer her up.

Feng Ya couldn’t pinpoint where things had gone wrong, so she simply assumed the girl had something on her mind.

Everyone is entitled to their privacy, so Feng Ya didn’t pry, though she instinctively kept trying to find ways to make her feel better.

As Feng Ya was pondering how to brighten Ye Zi’s mood, she heard a voice that definitely didn’t make her happy.

“Sister Ling’er, I heard as soon as I arrived that you were in the kitchen this morning. I wonder if I might be lucky enough to have a taste?” Feng Ya looked toward the voice and saw Han Lei and Xuan Ying walking toward them.

Xuan Ying had run into Han Lei at the entrance of the post house. This general’s son had followed them all the way from the capital to Jiangzhou City, and since Xuan Ying couldn’t stop him, he had followed him into the yard to ensure he didn’t offend the Princess.

As no one spoke, Han Lei made himself at home. He picked up a pair of unused chopsticks and popped a piece of tofu into his mouth. “Mmh… simply divine! I had no idea your skills were so incredible, Ling’er. I hope I can enjoy this more often in the future.” His expression and tone were exaggerated to the point of absurdity.

“Impudent! Do you take Her Highness for a common cook?” Xuan Ying barked, unable to watch any longer.

Ye Zi’s chopsticks froze in mid-air, a half-eaten piece of eggplant still gripped between them. She didn’t know whether to keep eating or stop. Thinking back on all the meals the Princess had personally cooked for her, she wondered, Have I been committing some sort of high treason all this time?

Han Lei, shocked that the son of the Great General was being lectured by a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, turned to Feng Ya with a wounded look. “Sister Ling’er…”

“Address me as Princess,” Feng Ya interrupted, her brow furrowed in displeasure and her tone cold.

“My apologies, Princess,” Han Lei replied, his face flushing with embarrassment. He had always been lax with etiquette around Feng Ya, emboldened by the fact that his father was a founding hero whom even the Emperor respected. He had always believed himself the most suitable match for Feng Ya, but seeing her genuine irritation, he didn’t dare defy her openly.

Feeling completely drained of interest, Ye Zi didn’t want to stay among them any longer. She turned to Feng Ya and said, “Princess, I have some things to attend to. I’ll leave you all to talk.”

Feng Ya’s mood soured even further. “Why are you calling me Princess? You used to call me by my name.”

This woman is so fickle!

Ye Zi: “…”

Han Lei: “…”

Xuan Ying: “…”

Ever since Han Lei’s unpleasant visit that day, Ye Zi had spent nearly all her time locked in her room. She only emerged occasionally to ask the couriers for tools before vanishing again.

Meanwhile, Xuan Ying’s investigation into the Governor of Jiangzhou had begun to bear fruit.

“Your Highness, my men at the travel permit office found that the number of permits issued in Jiangzhou over the last two years is in the thousands, many times more than what a city of this size should require. I also checked the travel logs and found that many are foreign merchants who enter the city but never actually open for business.”

“So many ‘merchants’ entering without doing business… they must have another purpose. Xuan Ying, keep following that lead.”

“That is my plan, Your Highness. However, these people come from all over and scatter in different directions after leaving Jiangzhou. It will take time to track them all and analyze their true objective.”

“I trust your abilities. I leave this matter entirely in your hands.”

What exactly was the collusion between the Baqi Pavilion and the Jiangzhou government? Why were so many outsiders passing through? What was the grand scheme behind it all?

Weighted down by these questions, Feng Ya unknowingly wandered to the gates of the Xue Estate, only to see a familiar figure stepping out of the main entrance.

Han Lei. What was he doing visiting Governor Xue?

“Master Han, what a coincidence,” Feng Ya said, taking the rare initiative to greet him.

Han Lei was startled to hear her voice, but his shock quickly turned to delight. “Princess! I haven’t seen you in days. To run into you here is a wonderful surprise.” Following his previous lesson, he was much more restrained.

“Mmh,” Feng Ya replied noncommittally. “I was just heading back to the post house. Are you going that way?”

Han Lei caught the underlying invitation and beamed. “Yes, exactly! I was just about to head toward the post house myself.”

With Feng Ya’s initiative, Han Lei’s confidence returned. On the walk back, he resumed his incessant chattering, eager to spill every detail of his observations to her.

Feng Ya didn’t interrupt, but eventually, she asked with feigned casualness, “I saw you coming out of the Xue Estate just now. I didn’t realize you and Governor Xue were so well-acquainted?”

“Oh, that? It’s just my father. He asked me to visit an old friend for him while I was in Jiangzhou. Apparently, Governor Xue was one of my father’s protégés, though he rarely mentions it to others,” Han Lei said dismissively.

The two continued their casual conversation until they reached the post house.

Ye Zi had mostly finished the project she had been working on for the past few days. Realizing her remaining time with Feng Ya was growing short, she finally left her room and wandered into the courtyard.

She happened to arrive just as Feng Ya and Han Lei returned. Seeing them talking so animatedly, Ye Zi felt a sharp, prickling sensation in her chest, like a thousand tiny needles. However, unlike before, she didn’t turn and leave.

Feng Ya was genuinely happy to see Ye Zi out of her room. A smile naturally spread across her face. “Were you waiting for me?”

Ye Zi looked at that bright, beautiful smile. It was as lovely as ever, but now it felt a bit piercing. She kept her expression neutral. “I was feeling cooped up and came out for some air. Were you out with Master Han today?”

Hearing his name, Han Lei perked up. He could see the Princess cared deeply for this girl, so he figured he should seize the chance to get on her good side. “I was honored to be invited by the Princess to walk back with her today,” he said enthusiastically. “I’ve spent the last few days learning every corner of Jiangzhou City. One of these days, I must be a guide for the Princess so she can see the true beauty of this place. You should come along too, little sister.”

Who is your sister? Ye Zi thought. She didn’t let it show, but Feng Ya was the one who lost her patience first. Having gathered the information she wanted, she had no more tolerance for Han Lei’s noise. “You must be tired from the walk, Master Han. You should go back and rest early.”

It was a polite but firm dismissal, yet both listeners interpreted it as a sign of care. Han Lei was overwhelmed. “It was no trouble at all! I won’t disturb you further, Princess. If you have need of me, I am at your service.”

After Han Lei left, only Ye Zi and Feng Ya remained in the large courtyard. Feng Ya looked at Ye Zi and saw that her complexion seemed normal again, no longer listless as before. “We have been in Jiangzhou for quite some time,” Feng Ya suggested. “Shall we continue south in two days?”

“Yes… it is time to go,” Ye Zi said softly.

“You… aren’t angry anymore?” Feng Ya asked cautiously, seeing no objection.

“I wasn’t angry,” Ye Zi said, letting out a barely audible sigh. She truly hadn’t been angry.

You looked like that and you say you weren’t angry? You’ve been giving me the cold shoulder for days, Feng Ya grumbled internally. Still, seeing her so calm now, she assumed the storm had passed.

Forget it. Since I’m older, I suppose I should be more tolerant of a young girl’s mood swings.

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