Chapter Five
Xiao Weiran had just arrived in Pingling at dawn. Without resting, he joined Ning Fei at the city gates. Ning Fei looked even more haggard than him, despite having traveled for two days straight, his eyes bloodshot yet unwavering as he scrutinized the passing crowd.
Xiao Weiran patted his shoulder. "Go rest for a while. I can handle things here." Ning Fei shook his head. "The scouts investigating the last few manors will return soon. I'd rather wait here..." His voice abruptly cut off as he pointed into the distance and shouted, "Stop that carriage!"
Xiao Weiran whirled around, following Ning Fei's finger to spot a plain carriage turning back the way it came. Before he could react, Ning Fei was already sprinting toward it.
Within moments, the carriage was surrounded by Pingling soldiers. Ning Fei reached the front of the carriage and demanded in a low voice, "Who hired this carriage? Where are you headed? Why turn back upon seeing the checkpoint?"
The driver, terrified by the scene, was too frightened to speak. After a brief silence, a voice as gentle as a breeze came from inside the carriage, "I am Ling Xueying, the only daughter of Ling Yuguang, the city governor of Caocheng. I was on my way home for the Zhongyuan Festival but realized I left something important at my villa here, so I was turning back to retrieve it."
Ning Fei narrowed his eyes sharply and gave a slight bow. "By order of the King Who Pacifies the South, we are searching for a fugitive. May I ask Miss Ling to step out and present her identification?"
The soft clinking of jade accompanied the slight lift of the carriage curtain as a pale, slender hand extended outward, holding an identification document. "As an unmarried woman, Xueying cannot appear in public. Here is my identification. Please verify it quickly and let us pass to avoid delaying my journey."
Xiao Weiran stepped forward, took the document, and flipped through it before shaking his head at Ning Fei and handing it back to the window. Though disappointed, Ning Fei politely cupped his hands and said, "You may proceed, Miss." The slender hand reached out again to retrieve the document from Xiao Weiran. "Thank you."
As the soldiers dispersed, the trembling driver flicked the reins, and the carriage horses snorted before pulling the carriage forward.
Ning Fei watched the carriage slowly disappear into the distance, an inexplicable unease lingering in his mind. Suddenly, he heard Xiao Weiran sigh, "What a beautiful name."
That name—Xueying—he had heard it before, at the Pavilion Among Flowers.
A sharp glint flashed in Ning Fei's eyes. "I think we've found Yixiao."
Xueying leaped from the carriage shaft without waiting for Xiumu's assistance and dashed into the backyard like a gust of wind.
"Yixiao! Yixiao, Yixiao!!!" Xueying slammed open Yixiao's door. "Pack your things and hide immediately! The city gates are under strict surveillance—they must be searching for you!" Yixiao slowly set down the Silver Bow in her hands. "Why are you back?"
Xueying circled the room frantically, gathering items and piling them on the table. "Checkpoints are set up at the gates, and they're probably searching house by house in the city. My carriage was stopped and inspected just now. Take your essentials and leave through the back alleys—hide wherever you can, just remember to find me later. I have to go now; staying too long might raise suspicion!"After finishing her words in one breath, she saw Yixiao lower her head again to continue polishing the Silver Bow. In frustration, she snatched the bow away. "You promised me you'd wait until I returned before going to Lucheng—you can't break your word, or else... or else I'll never speak to you again!"
Yixiao sighed and set down the item in her hand. "I don’t want to break my promise to you, but..." She paused slightly, then pointed behind her at the wide-open door. "You should greet our guests first."
Outside the door stood three people. The one with a gentle and composed demeanor was Xiao Weiran, while the one with blazing fury in his eyes was Ning Fei. Shrinking timidly at the back was the maid, Xiumu.
When Yixiao pointed at them, Xiao Weiran smiled gracefully, exuding ease. "This young lady looks familiar. May I ask for your name?" Yixiao shielded Xueying, who was glaring at the two men, behind her and smirked, raising one corner of her lips. "You two gentlemen also look familiar. Forgive me, but my memory has been poor lately—could you remind me where and when we’ve met before?" Ning Fei roared before anyone else could respond, "Stop pretending you don’t know us!"
Xueying pushed Yixiao aside and shouted right into Ning Fei’s face, "You’re despicable! You followed me!" Ning Fei sneered. "I haven’t even settled the crime of harboring a fugitive with you yet, and you still dare to point fingers at me?"
Xueying stamped her foot. "Who said Yixiao is a fugitive? Show me the arrest warrant!" Ning Fei shot her a disdainful glance. "How did you know I was talking about Yixiao?" Xueying was left speechless and ignored him, instead looking around for something handy to wipe that detestable expression off Ning Fei’s face.
"Yixiao," Xiao Weiran closed his folding fan, "since you’re alive, why have you been silent all these years? We all thought you were dead." "That’s right," she replied with a faint smile. "The person you’re looking for died four years ago."
Hearing this, Ning Fei exploded. "How dare you bring up four years ago? Back then, you jumped without explaining anything, and to this day, my heart still clenches when I think about it—" Before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed as he dodged a sudden gust of wind from behind, stepping back twice.
Xueying was holding a shovel, panting angrily when he evaded her. "If only Father hadn’t stubbornly refused to teach me martial arts, I’d smash your dog’s head into your belly today!" Yixiao sighed and stepped forward to take the shovel. "Give it to me, or you’ll complain later that your hands got roughened."
The amusement in Xiao Weiran’s eyes flickered and vanished. "Yixiao, come back with us. His Highness ordered the Imperial Guards who accompanied him back then never to mention that incident. To the outside world, it was only announced that you were sent away on official duty. If you return and apologize to His Highness, he won’t hold it against you." "No need," Yixiao glanced at him. "After four years of wandering, I’m no longer suited for military life. Going back would only disappoint His Highness."
Ning Fei, still wary of Xueying, couldn’t help but interject. "I only learned of your feelings after Weiran told me—if you come back with us, wouldn’t you be by His Highness’s side again? Perhaps it’s heaven’s will that you and His Highness end up—" Yixiao cut him off. "Maybe in your eyes, everything must follow heaven’s will. But to me, everything is simply a matter of personal choice. I’ve never believed that love—whether it exists or not—should follow some divine decree. For me, it’s only about whether I can attain it and whether it belongs to me!""Exactly! Yixiao isn't someone nobody wants. Those who don't know how to cherish her don't deserve her. Yixiao, come with me!" Xueying reached for Yixiao's hand, but Ning Fei swiftly blocked her. "No, she's coming back to Lucheng with us!"
As the two were about to argue again, Yixiao rubbed her temples. "Stop fighting," she said, then turned her gaze to Xiao Weiran with a sly smile. "Actually, even if you hadn't come, I would've returned anyway—since you've found me, my peaceful days are over." Xueying snorted beside her. "In that case, Xiumu, go back and tell Father I'm not returning. I'm going to Lucheng with Yixiao!"
Xia Jingshi strode into the side hall, only to find Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran standing there awkwardly. He frowned. "Weren't you supposed to bring her back? Where is she?" Ning Fei nudged Xiao Weiran with his elbow. Coughing lightly, Xiao Weiran forced a smile. "Your Highness, we did bring her back, but... her companion said they were tired, so she insisted on returning to her residence first. She said she'd rest for a few days before coming to pay her respects..."
Xia Jingshi sighed. "Still as willful as ever—if I'd known she was in Pingling earlier, I would've fetched her sooner." Ning Fei hesitated, and Xia Jingshi glanced at him. "Speak your mind. Don't hold back."
After a brief silence, Ning Fei seemed to steel himself. "Your Highness, Yixiao has..." He trailed off, frowning. Xia Jingshi's eyes flashed with alarm. "What about Yixiao? Was she injured from the fall back then?" His face suddenly paled. "Don't tell me she's crippled?"
"No," Xiao Weiran shot Ning Fei a glare. "It's Ning Fei's tongue that's crippled. I just feel she's... different from before. I can't quite put it into words. You'll understand when you see her in a few days." Xia Jingshi listened quietly, then raised a hand to cut him off. "No need to wait. I'll go see her now."
Ning Fei was taken aback. "Your Highness, don't forget about..." Xia Jingshi smiled faintly. "I've never cared for those skulking rats. Let's go."
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