111 An Encroaching Sense of Foreboding 4 (1/2)
”Lord Minister, the Imperial carriage has arrived.”
Sheng Miaolan called from the entrance of the study room, her countenance slightly warped in anxiousness.
The woman hoisted a leather bag around her right shoulder, her hands holding a set of rings and a jade necklace.
”Alright, I'll be out in just one moment.”
Wei Xuan's muffled voice rang from within the depths of the study, muted by the dense layers of furniture and cloth.
A few minutes of rustling cloth and staggered steps, the minister finally emerged to wave towards the First Madam, pushing a young girl before him with hands on her shoulders.
”Fei'er, when you're outside, you must not let anyone near you make contact,” Wei Xuan cautioned in an unusually stern voice.
”Speak little to your peers, no more than necessary. If anyone makes a request from you, try to avoid it as much as possible.”
Taken aback, An Fei stared at Wei Xuan's worried countenance for a solid moment, the pair of scarlet irises blinking from behind the veil.
”…En.”
Observing the young girl before him nod obediently without any demur, the minister revealed a warm smile. Taking the First Madam's hand, Wei Xuan and Sheng Miaolan carefully escorted the young girl out of the Flowing Wind Residence, and towards the entrance of the Wei manor.
There, through the wooden doors that usually barred the streets of Jiang'an from encroaching into a peaceful territory unlike other official's residence, stood a magnificent carriage.
Large, elegant, and constructed of the highest quality blackwood obtained from Great Yan's most prestigious woodcraft pavilion, was the empress' personal carriage.
The rectangular structure spanned a length of eight meters, a height of two meters, and a width of five meters. Even as she stood from afar, An Fei could easily spot the numerous engravings and sculptures of phoenixes and swallows of gold span around the entire carriage.
It was… indeed rather domineering and extravagant.
Standing around it forced the young girl to nervously swallow, her eyes narrowing in trepidation.
”…this is the last we can accompany you, ah,” Sheng Miaolan sighed, spinning An Fei's body to face the woman.
Removing the leather bag from her shoulder and slinging it around the young girl's neck, the First Madam patted An Fei's cheeks, a doting smile transfixed on her beautiful countenance.
”Since Fei'er can't take too much, your Father and I could only pack little compared to what we had originally planned before. Inside are a several medicines and ointments with their descriptions and a few changes of clothes, but you would definitely need far more than that…”
”Minister Wei, have you finished preparing?”
An elegant and distinguished voice rang from besides the carriage, quickly cutting across the First Madam's trailing voice.
Turning around, An Fei spotted a woman dressed in a scarlet robe embroidered with golden phoenixes and mulberry leaves striding towards them, the long sleeves extending below her waist as if wings expanded from her back.
”Your Imperial Highness,” Wei Xuan forced a smile onto his countenance.
”This minister has indeed finished preparing. My daughter can depart immediately.”
”Then that's good,” Feng Yu Xin nodded in response, her gaze sweeping over the young girl. Without sparing another glance, the woman fluttered her eyelashes once, before returning towards the imperial carriage with a sweep of her arm.
”The little girl here, follow bengong. You shall be under bengong's care until we arrive at the Taiyi Sect.”
Looking towards Wei Xuan and Sheng Miaolan for their opinion, An Fei eventually began walking towards the blackwood carriage with faltering steps.
Before she passed through the double doors guarding the Wei manor, the minister grasped her hand, causing the young girl to halt.
”Your Imperial Highness, please do remember your promise.”
”Minister Wei need not worry,” Feng Yu Xin flashed half of a silver medallion towards the minister.
”Bengong does not forget her promises.”
The minister grit his teeth, before reaching deep into his chest pocket. Ushering An Fei to step closer, Wei Xuan brusquely stuffed a silk pouch into her hands, before whispering into her ear.
”This is just a little trivial gift for now; when you return, Father will have numerous trinkets and jewelry for you to play with,” the minister hurried, his eyes flickering from An Fei's countenance to the figure of the empress.
”The empress will protect you until you reach the Taiyi Sect. If you don't want to partake in the opportunity, just come back at once.”
”En,” An Fei nodded gravely, her eyes wide with caution.
Seeing that the young girl had finally raised her vigilance, Wei Xuan clapped her shoulder, escorting her until her feet finally stepped into the carriage.
”Little lass, don't forget to come back, ah!”