62 Painful Choice II (2/2)

The doors closed, shutting out hundreds of citizens' inquisitive gaze. Some even attempted to peek through the gap at the bottom of the door, suspecting that the new sir and strange victim were committing adultery. Meng Fuyao then ordered her men to splash water through the gaps, effectively chasing the gossipers away.

Following which, Sir Meng got rid of Yao Xun, who was giggling away, and Xiao Dao, who was watching the show with big bright eyes. Finally, she lay paralyzed on her seat, crying out, ”Alright... Mister Yuan, Lord Yuan, Grandfather Yuan, please. Stop playing me alright?”

Yuan Zhaoxu approached her slowly before leaning forward. ”Don't you look great, Mayor? Looks like you've been leading a comfortable life here.”

”That's not true,” Meng Fuyao responded weakly. ”I'm repenting for my sin.”

Light flashed across Yuan Zhaoxu's eyes. Surprised that she was so quick to cede, he smiled. The girl before him was ruthless on the outside but righteous on the inside. Why else would she step down from guilt? He hadn't expected such a confrontation-free reaction from her.

Before others, Meng Fuyao wasn't an easy one to deal with.

In a good mood, Yuan Zhaoxu patted her shoulder, asking, ”Aren't you planning to receive your old friend, who has traveled so far to get here, Mayor?”

”Oh,” Meng Fuyao uttered before forcing herself off the chair. ”Not much space left. Mind squeezing with Zong Yue?”

”He's gone to Suishui,” Yuan Zhaoxu answered absent-mindedly. ”Invited over to treat King De's illness.”

Meng Fuyao turned to stare at him. ”You and him... what kind of relationship do you two share?”

”Friends with complementing interests, which means we can easily become enemies when our interests start clashing one day,” Yuan Zhaoxu shared straightforwardly.

”You have a lot of time,” Meng Fuyao continued probing, her eyes fixated on him. ”Can the crown prince's advisors run about so freely?”

”The crown prince has sent me here to supervise the army. I'm on a work trip.” Yuan Zhaoxu smiled. ”What else would you like to know?”

”I also want to know how black your heart is, and in your stomach, how many...” Meng Fuyao murmured.

Pretending not to hear, he simply followed her into the back hall and walked leisurely through the mini garden. The weather in the southern border was warm and moist, and the garden was filled with winter bougainvillea, whose bracts were massive, and petals were of a brilliant purple and red. They way these bloomed flowers spread added a kind of intense beauty to the garden.

Far away, the man in light purple robe walked together with a youth in black clothes, their postures both elegant and charming.

Meng Fuyao passed through the clusters of flowers while stroking their silk-like petals, and an indescribable calm took over her heart. Since her arrival in Yaocheng, a series of grueling events had been charging at her like a hurricane, and she had never let her guard down. Now she felt tired, as though a wave of weariness had been roused from deep within her veins, instantly shrouding her body.

She crooked her head and looked at the man beside. Was it him? She had always been able to relax when he was around. She felt, soul-deep, herself being freed, and it was comfortable and peaceful. This man, who was able to affect her emotions... had they really met just a few months ago?

There was a smiling expression in her eyes at this point, as the softness and elegance that she had so often kept hidden was let out for a moment. Yuan Zhaoxu quickly detected it and smiled at her, abruptly bending down to pick a bougainvillea and then removing her official hat, as if about to insert the flower into her hair.

Meng Fuyao blushed, subconsciously leaning forward. All of a sudden, a white light flashed by as a love rival took the chance to scuttle over, his teeth biting on another flower.

'Big red flower... for my owner... ripples... of youth...' Lord Yuan Bao's eyes had been outshined by his big teeth and fluttering snow-white fur as he thought happily about his love for his owner.

The hand holding onto the flower shifted to the side, turning Lord Yuan Bao's vision a sheet of black. A huge object descended from above his head and covered him.

Yuan Zhaoxu had trapped Lord Yuan Bao inside of Meng Fuyao's hat. He then swooped it up and hung it off a tree nearby. Smile returning to his face he carefully placed the flower between her hair strands.

The fiery red flower highlighted the silkiness of her black hair and the resplendence in her big eyes. She was soul-suckingly beautiful.

The soft breeze blew over and a faint fragrance dispersed into their surroundings. Yuan Zhaoxu carefully observed the lady before him, his eyes deep and meaningful, as if an old thought had passed. Sometime later he added, ”I still prefer seeing you in a dress.”

His tone was drawn out and profound, and Meng Fuyao's heart skipped a beat. Something seemed amiss. Momentarily forgetting about her shyness, she opened her mouth to ask, only to see that he had already turned to walk away. Behind him, Lord Yuan Bao cried for help, unable to get out of her hat.

Meng Fuyao strode over to retrieve her hat, holding it in her hand and swinging it about. Finally, Lord Yuan Bao flew out of it and into his owner's heartless embrace.

”If you're here to supervise the army, shouldn't you be in Suishui? Why have you come?” Meng Fuyao questioned, while effortfully trying to keep up with Yuan Zhaoxu's small but quick steps.

”Isn't Yaocheng on the way?” Yuan Zhaoxu returned a question without turning back. ”The Rong and Han people live together in this city. It is a common boundary belonging to the Rong tribe and the locals. The real military ground...” he trailed off, suddenly extending his hand and picking out a small person from behind a tree. ”Eh? You like the view here? Especially beautiful?”