20 Parting Ways (2/2)

Silence resumed, and Yuan Zhaoxu sipped on his wine. That night, the hardened expression on her youthful face contained a sharpness and coldness that did not belong to a lady that age.

That depth, subtle yet profound, did not match her tender face. It was a heart-wrenching sight.

At that moment, he too had been shocked by the fact a stranger's expression had evoked such feelings within him.

”Oh...” Meng Fuyao let out a delayed response, her voice sounding increasingly odd. ”Thank you, then. I, Meng Fuyao, will repay your kindness one day,” she continued, taking four mouthfuls of wine in between.

Yuan Zhaoxu swiveled his wine, stopped, and continued again, with no readable expression on his face. ”Yeah, alright,” he answered in a consistent tone.

Having waited worriedly for his reply, Meng Fuyao was dumbfounded. 'That's it? No more?'

She whipped her head toward him but stopped herself midway. It happened so quick and forcefully that she could hear the cracking of her neck. 'He mustn't see that I'm unnerved. What would become of me?'

'It's... for the best.'

Half the pot was emptied when a hand reached out to stop her. ”No more,” Yuan Zhaoxu said in a low, charming voice.

”Eh?” She crooked her head.

Her hair fluttered messily in the breeze, behind her slightly flushed face. Her usually sharp gaze was gone, and she looked exceptionally dreamy, as though being enveloped in a layer of mist. Yuan Zhaoxu looked at her with glistening eyes.

Immediately after, he smiled, saying, ”Look.”

Meng Fuyao looked to where he pointed and saw multiple horses galloping past the street outside.

The horsemen rode anxiously, releasing arrows into the night sky and vanishing into the other end of the street.

Lying sprawled out on the roof, Meng Fuyao whispered, ”Who are they?”

”Qi Xunyi's secret troop activated to contact and deliver commands to respective influential powers.”

”You're a citizen of Wuji so how would you know this?” Meng Fuyao turned to look at him with her fluctuating gaze.

”I'm the advisor of Wuji's Crown Prince and top officials of Top Sun Palace, so I'm well-informed.”

”Wuji's Crown Prince?” Meng Fuyao laughed. ”I've heard this name so many times ever since I came over. Heaven-sent prince, child prodigy, exceptional wisdom and presence... is he even human?”

Her heart trembled for a second as she vaguely recalled something, but that thought escaped her in a flash, and she couldn't recall it again.

”Yes, he's human,” Yuan Zhaoxu answered briefly and smiled.

After a short pause, his tone turned serious, ”Fuyao, Yanjing will fall into chaos soon, and I might not be able to guard you once we enter the capital. Are you able to fend for yourself?”

Yuan Zhaoxu rarely revealed such a cautious expression, but Meng Fuyao wasn't going to give up on her journey. High officials from all nations would be attending the Taiyuan Emperor's celebration, so it was the perfect chance for her to steal more medals since some nations required them to cross certain borders to get there. For example, the officials of Fufeng would need to pass through Wuji to get to Taiyuan. If she was lucky, she could possibly seize most, if not all, of the medals.

”I've never thought of relying on you for life,” she stood up and patted the dust off her robe. ”I can manage, so don't worry.”

She walked down fearlessly, and Yuan Zhaoxu watched her back view, pondering deeply.

Far away, the first glimmer of dawn presented itself over the horizon.

The morning sun rose, but a storm was about to be unleashed.

Meng Fuyao guided her horse along as she stepped into the Yanjing's city gate. Still feeling somewhat nervous, she focused on the loosely-robed passerby, appearing excited yet calm, and instantly felt better.

'What's there to be afraid of? No matter how things turn out in the imperial household, they won't have anything to do with a lowly citizen like me, isn't that right?'

Because the emperor's 50th birthday was approaching, venues had been set aside in the capital and all provinces for celebratory rituals to be performed. Craftsmen had also decorated both sides of the main street with color paintings. The whole of Yanjing looked luxurious and beautiful.

Five kilometers into the city, Yuan Zhaoxu and Meng Fuyao went their own ways. She knew very well that participating in his affairs wasn't necessarily good for her, and was determined to continue her journey alone.

Yuan Zhaoxu had looked calm and smiley as usual when bidding her farewell, but there was an unreachable depth to his emotions. Lord Yuan Bao, on the other hand, looked genuinely happy and took great efforts to show it. He hopped around energetically, joyful that he could finally shrug off the fellow who had been following behind their bums.

Irked by his cheeriness, Meng Fuyao plucked three strands of fur from his bum to keep as souvenirs.

Whether or not he would harbor hard feelings, she simply couldn't care less.