Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Feng Suige sent someone to deliver a medicinal pill. After taking it, Yixiao regained much of her strength. By noon, most of the guards beneath the loft had been withdrawn, leaving only two to keep watch over her.
Night fell swiftly, and the spring chill was biting. Apart from the soldiers on night patrol and those guarding the garden, nearly everyone had retreated into the warmth of their quarters.
The two guards leaned against a sheltered corner, one chattering incessantly to his companion. "There's a new courtesan in the imperial city. Old Wei from Shahe Camp went to see her—said she looks just like a fairy..."
Yixiao stepped cautiously across the floorboards, inching closer behind them. When she was just three steps away, the wooden plank beneath her foot let out a faint creak. The guard spun around in alarm and, upon seeing Yixiao, visibly startled, asked, "You—what do you want?" Yixiao smiled disarmingly. "I just feel a bit hungry. Could you check the kitchen for any leftover pastries?"
The two guards exchanged glances. The other one spoke up, "I'll go. I rushed over for my shift without eating my fill—might as well grab some extra." Yixiao gave a slight bow. "Thank you for the trouble." The guard merely waved a hand and strode off.
Yixiao watched as he descended the loft and disappeared around the corridor's bend. Noticing the wary look in the remaining guard's eyes, she laughed lightly. "Look at me, so preoccupied with food. I'll just wait inside." She made as if to turn away.
The moment the guard relaxed slightly and began to turn back, Yixiao struck with precision, driving her hand into the side of his neck with full force. The guard let out a muffled groan before collapsing limply.
Swiftly descending the stairs, Yixiao avoided the patrolling guards and slipped toward the perimeter wall. During the day, she had already surveyed the layout inside and outside the wall. Though her body hadn't fully recovered, once she crossed it, she would reach the dense grove beyond—perfect for moving undetected under the cover of night.
Just as her fingers brushed the wall, a soft voice chuckled beside her. "Aren't you going to take the other half of the antidote?" Yixiao whipped around in alarm. Feng Suige's eyes gleamed with a piercing light as he stepped unhurriedly from the shadows of the building.
By the time he reached her, Yixiao had composed herself. "Feng Suige, you did this on purpose," she accused. Feng Suige gave a noncommittal smile. "How could I bear to let you leave so soon? I heard the King Who Pacifies the South's chronic ailment miraculously healed upon seeing a Glass Hairpin. It makes me all the more eager to witness his reunion with its owner."
"You vile man!" Yixiao lunged at him like a cat with its tail stepped on. Feng Suige stepped back, but her nails still grazed his cheek, leaving a thin trail of crimson blood.
"What a crude woman," Feng Suige frowned, pressing the back of his hand to the wound. "I'll let this slide for now. But if you try any more tricks, I’ll have no qualms about locking you up until you’re old and gray."
The commotion had delayed them long enough. The guard returning from the kitchen soon noticed something amiss and raised the alarm. Instantly, the entire garden blazed with light, illuminating every corner as bright as day.
Amid the intermittent clamor, Feng Suige spread his palm with a smile. "Come, take a walk with me." Yixiao stood rigid for a moment before finally relenting and placing her hand in his. Feng Suige immediately tightened his grip, leading her firmly back onto the pebbled path.The group was in chaos upon discovering Yixiao's disappearance when suddenly, Feng Suige emerged from nearby, holding her hand. Everyone gaped, stunned and unsure how to react.
A young captain of the Imperial Guards was the first to snap out of it. He rushed forward and dropped to one knee in salute. "So it was Your Highness. We thought something had gone wrong." Feng Suige smiled without a word, gently nudging Yixiao forward as he said softly, "Go back to your room. I’ll visit you again tomorrow." Yixiao shot him a glare before trudging toward the pavilion, two guards closely following.
Watching her ascend the wooden stairs, the captain exhaled in relief, then turned his gaze back to Feng Suige—only to freeze. "Your Highness, your face…" Feng Suige, clearly in high spirits, grinned and replied, "A cat scratched me." Without another glance at the bewildered crowd, he strode away briskly.
A new guard sidled up to the captain, puzzled. "Since when did we keep cats in the estate?" The captain glared. "If you don’t even know whether there are cats here, you’ve been eating for nothing." He then muttered under his breath, watching Feng Suige’s retreating figure, "That cat must have quite the nerve."
"Ning Fei!" Not long after handing over the waterskin, a shriek erupted from Ling Xueying’s carriage. The accompanying Imperial Guards winced, casting sympathetic looks at the esteemed General Ning, whose face darkened as he wheeled his horse around and rode back to the carriage. "What now?"
Xueying had already leaned out, holding an exquisite teacup toward him. Ning Fei’s expression softened slightly. "Drink it yourself. I’m not thirsty." She raised the cup higher. "I’m not asking you to drink—I’m asking you to look!" "What?" Ning Fei peered into the cup, spotting tiny wriggling larvae, and nodded in realization. "Those are just mosquito larvae. Harmless."
"Harmless?!?!" Xueying’s voice rose another octave. "You deliberately put bugs in here to disgust me, and you call it harmless?!" Ning Fei frowned. "Mountain streams aren’t as clean as spring water. Insects in the water actually mean it’s safe to drink. When traveling, you can’t afford to be picky."
Furious, Xueying nearly hurled the cup at him. "Picky?! If I’d drunk straight from the waterskin, I would’ve swallowed those bugs!" Ning Fei sighed and handed her his own waterskin from his saddle. "Then drink mine." She recoiled in disgust. "You’ve already drunk from it. That’s even filthier."
"Then what do you want?!" Ning Fei finally snapped. "A few water bugs and you’re making a scene. Fine, don’t drink anything for the rest of the trip!" Xueying retorted, "How can anyone drink water with bugs—" Her words cut off as her eyes widened in horror, her mouth hanging open.
Ning Fei had snatched the cup and downed the stream water in one gulp. Seeing her stunned, he wiped his lips and shoved the cup back into her hands. "See? Even with bugs, it’s drinkable."
With a dull thud, the teacup slipped from Xueying’s grasp, clattering onto the carriage step before rolling to the ground. It shattered crisply under the wheel before she could even react."You... you drank the bugs," Xueying's voice trembled with disbelief and horror. Her face went through several shades of pale before she let out a choked sound in her throat. Without caring that the carriage was still moving, she hastily jumped down and crouched by the roadside, vomiting violently.
Ning Fei, surprised, dismounted and strode over to pat her back. "What's the big deal about a few bugs? Didn't Yixiao tell you? Back on the battlefield when water was scarce, we even drank horse urine."
Xueying emptied her stomach of the midday meal. Just as she caught her breath, hearing his last sentence made her retch again.
Amid Ning Fei's booming laughter, Xueying's furious shriek pierced the sky, "If you dare say one more word, I'll never let you off!"
Xia Jingshi lifted the carriage curtain to glance back. Xiao Weiran, riding alongside, chuckled, "It's Ning Fei—teasing Miss Ling again." A faint smile touched Xia Jingshi's lips. "He's reached the age to settle down."
Before Xiao Weiran could add more, Xia Jingshi had already let the curtain fall. After a brief silence, Xiao Weiran murmured softly, "Even after marrying the princess, Your Highness could still take a concubine. Yixiao likely wouldn't refuse..."
The carriage fell into utter silence, not even the faint rustle of fabric could be heard. After a long pause, Xia Jingshi's calm voice finally emerged, "Everyone has their own happiness. And hers in this lifetime... will not be found with me."
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