19 Jiaoshu Village (1/2)

It was the next day after the conversation with the Prince. The sun rose behind the mountains and the sky slowly became blue. Suyin rested at the edge of the bed while Areum had slept at the end. The night before, Suyin had contemplated whether or not she would help the Prince of Qin, but it was intriguing that the village leader had a cure for the Princess.

”Miss Suyin.” A voice muttered through the window near the bed. Suyin had grumbled and tossed her body up, awake from the voice. She was half-conscious at the moment.

”Miss Suyyyin.”

Suyin unconsciously walked to the window to see Weizhe's face emerge in front of her.

”Whoa!” Suyin sprang up at the sight of his face in front of the window, surprised. ”Weizhe! What the heck are you doing at the window?!” She stated, recognizing that it wasn't the door that she slid open. It was the window that she slid open without any hesitation.

”Miss. The Prince is anticipating for you in the carriage. Didn't you agree on it yesterday that you will go with us?” Weizhe spoke. Suyin ceased to think for a second, pondering about what had happened the day before.

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*Yesterday Night*

”Alright! I'll go with you since you asked personally.” Suyin spoke with a proud tone.

”If you do go, just remember that you do not provoke those people.”

”Yeah, yeah. I understand, 'your highness'” She mocked, rolling her eyes.

The one who always gets aggravated the most would be Qin Fuhua himself. Why would she disturb anyone else besides the grumpy Prince?

”Now, we will meet BEFORE the sun rises tomorrow. We set off from then on.” Qin Fuhua commanded. Suyin brushed it aside as she agreed.

She was already falling asleep by the time that Qin Fuhua had purposed for her to go with him.

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”Oh crap! I'm late, aren't I?”

Weizhe nodded his head, causing Suyin to make a ruckus as she paced around the room.

”The Prince seems to be bothered. His face is getting gloomier as the second goes by.” Weizhe remarked, giving her a concerned look before he ran off back to the entrance of the manor.

Suyin had to get ready as fast as she could. First by fixing her hair and slipped on a better-looking robe. During their stay at the manor, the Prince had been generous enough to pay Areum and Suyin for taking care of the Princess, so they had the opportunity to buy clothes, food, and things for themselves when needed.

Suyin raced off to the entrance of the gates after speaking to Areum that she would be out for a couple of days. Weizhe was standing outside of the carriage, giving Suyin a big, fake smile as he aimed inside with his eyes.

Suyin nodded her head, hopping inside the carriage. Qin Fuhua's eyes were closed as if he was angry. Suyin had slapped herself in her imagination for not paying attention to what he had said the night before. He was probably waiting for more than two hours! Suyin didn't say a single word, as they began to travel along the route to the village.

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In the middle of the travel, Suyin had felt an intense sense of gloominess from Qin Fuhua. He didn't speak a single word beside silence in the air.

”Um...Sorry.” Suyin uttered beneath her breath.

She knew that it was her fault and she was astounded that Qin Fuhua did not leave her behind. Of course, maybe it was because he needed her to go with him, so he would have no choice to remain anyway.

Qin Fuhua did not speak, only the sound of his breathing could be heard.

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”I didn't mean to come late... I honestly forgot about--”

”Quiet. I am meditating.” Qin Fuhua hushed Suyin with a firm tone. She bit her lips. From the tone of his voice, he didn't appear to be angry at her. Qin Fuhua opened his eyes, with Suyin doing the same thing.

”What are you doing?” Qin Fuhua inquired, looking at her.

”Shh. I'm trying to meditate too.” She imitated him. He furrowed his brows and gazed away, avoiding her.

”Hmph. How do you like that?!” Suyin said to herself in her voice. With Suyin's eyes closed, Qin Fuhua scoot in closer to her, sensing his presence near to her. The male brought his head close to hers, and due to this, Suyin opened her eyes, observing his face right in front of her.

”What are you doing--”

Qin Fuhua tugged in her robe, tightening it.

Suyin's robe was loose and exposed the skin of her neck and middle chest.

”An attempt to entice someone like me is not going to work.”

The horse stopped, which signified that they had stopped somewhere.

Qin Fuhua turned his head away, unaffected and got out of the carriage, leaving Suyin behind.

”Wha?!” She brushed herself as her face got as pink as a peach. She hurried to follow the Prince, moving the curtain behind.

A view of endless paddy fields stood in front of Suyin, and the mountains and trees were so green, the sun reflected against it made it brighter than ever.

Suyin shifted her attention to a group of men outside, investigating the Prince and their group.

”What about her?” One of the men questioned. They seemed to look bigger than Qin Fuhua's men, and most of them had a unique tattoo at the pit of their elbow. It appeared to look like a special Chinese character colored in blue, indicating that they come from a specific group of people.

”That's nobody--”

”Ah, yes. That's my fiance.” Qin Fuhua cut off Weizhe, grinning at Weizhe as he lowered himself.

”Y-Yes. It is his Highness's lady.” Weizhe spoke.

”Wait! M-Me?!” Suyin pointed at herself. Qin Fuhua moved closer to Suyin and held her shoulders, pulling her into his chest.

”She's a bit groggy from the ride. She didn't get any sleep last night.” Qin Fuhua stated, gripping on Suyin's shoulder as if he told her to follow along.

”Ah. Yes, I couldn't sleep in the carriage either. I didn't feel well this morning.” Suyin put her hand over her head as if she was some damsel in distress because she didn't get her beauty sleep.

Maybe she was exaggerating too much, because Qin Fuhua turned to her and forced a smile on his face, frightening her in the process because of how horrible his ”fake” smile was.

”Haha! No wonder the Prince of Qin had been so grumpy coming here the past few days! He didn't even let his woman sleep or rest at all!” One of the men roared out, shouting as they proceeded to let Qin Fuhua and his men in.

Suyin's face was burning, turning bright red because of what they had said.

What kind of men were they?! Qin Fuhua and Suyin went back into the carriage, sitting in there with utter silence again.

”Really? Fiance?” Suyin spoke out, breaking the awkward atmosphere between the two.

”It's either that or let you become a corpse.” He mentioned, leaning on his hands as he peered outside. Okay. Correct. He was right on that.

Suyin didn't want to argue back since there was nothing more than she could say.

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After Qin Fuhua, Suyin, and his men reached to the gate checkpoint where the villagers had verified who they were, it took another hour or two into the forest and mountains to reach to the village.

Qin Fuhua had to tutor Suyin about the villagers, who are specifically called Jiaoshu(s). They had persevered through plenty of wars and are the only force that has been in peace for more than fifty years.

Although the people wore similar clothing like theirs such as a hanfu, they also wore knee-high skirts for women for easier cultivating and movement.

They all are born with a special tattoo at the elbow pit on their right side with a special character of ”Jiao” with a symbol of a bird. This was a noble tattoo to have because it is only given at their age of ceremony presenting their skills and commitment of their culture. They usually would have to go through a series of trials in order to get the tattoo.

The village leader was always known as Shì zhǎng, which was the term for ”mayor” and was passed on from their ancestral family line. They were similar to a King, but the only difference was that the Shi Zhang had processed written freedom to his people as long as rules aren't broken. The village never accepts any newcomer or people from out of the village due to the bloodline of the Jiaoshu and influence of outsiders, so most of the time, the Prince of Long or Qin were always unwelcomed, except this time, they were desperate enough to allow them to come help find to cure the disease.

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”We have arrived at Jiaoshu village, your Highness” Weizhe announced outside of the carriage. Suyin had to absorb as much as she knew and followed Qin Fuhua out. Houses were made out of stones, and some of the homes stood on top of the hill. Suyin could tell that out of all of the homes, the biggest one was all the way at the top of the village.

”Is that Shi Zhang's home?” Suyin had guessed, pointing at the top. Qin Fuhua nodded.

”Just stay near me.” Qin Fuhua commanded.

From where they stood at the entrance to the village, it was big and beautiful, with their forest and plot land surrounding them. The mountains looked like ancient paintings, beautiful tall mountains with rocks and trees combined to make it look like a wuxia movie.