Lord Feng prepared generous gifts to meet Chuzheng, but naturally, he was also turned away at the door.
Had he not known that everyone was treated this way, Lord Feng would have thought the Commandery Princess had a grievance against him.
But thinking about what his disastrous daughter had done, Lord Feng felt another bout of myocardial infarction.
-
"The Feng Family has committed countless evil deeds, yet that Lord Feng dared to come here." Ying Xiang had gathered quite a bit of information and was currently reporting everything to Chuzheng.
The bad deeds done by the Feng Family here would take three days and nights to recount.
Chuzheng listened with a desire to yawn, but she restrained herself and swallowed the yawn.
"Shi Yi!"
Chuzheng saw Shi Yi passing by outside, quickly called out, got up, and went out the door, leaving the chatterbox Ying Xiang behind.
Shi Yi wasn’t keen on encountering Chuzheng.
"Miss Yann..."
"Have you been comfortable these past few days? There’s so much going on, I haven’t had time to check my card."
Shi Yi: "Very comfortable. Thank you, Miss Yann, for your concern."
"It’s only proper." Chuzheng paused slightly: "My room is more comfortable. Do you want to consider changing rooms?"
Shi Yi: "..."
Shi Yi almost choked on his saliva.
What on earth was she saying?
"No need, Miss Yann... I’ve safely sent Miss Yann here, so I plan to return to the Imperial City, just in time to bid you farewell."
Shi Yi thought if he didn’t leave now, he might never be able to.
Chuzheng: "..."
Chuzheng didn’t utter a single word and turned to leave.
Shi Yi watched Chuzheng’s retreating figure, instinctively took two steps forward, his extended hand hovering in mid-air before slowly retracting it.
What was he supposed to say to call her back?
Shi Yi returned to his room to pack his things. Servants occasionally passed by outside the door; each time there was movement, he couldn’t help but look up.
What was he expecting to see anyway, Shi Yi couldn’t quite understand.
Knock knock...
"Young Master Shi Yi."
Ying Xiang stood outside the door, holding a tray.
"Please come in."
"The young lady asked me to bring this." Ying Xiang placed the meal from the tray onto the table: "Please enjoy."
"Did she..."
"Hmm?"
"Never mind, please thank Miss Yann for me."
Ying Xiang smiled briefly and left with the empty tray.
Shi Yi sat in front of the table, gazing at the steaming food, ultimately sighed and picked up chopsticks, eating slowly.
-
"Miss, are you really letting Young Master Shi Yi go?" Ying Xiang nervously asked at the mansion’s gates.
Chuzheng stood by with arms crossed, watching Shi Yi walk away: "What do you think if I find someone to break his leg and then save him again?"
Ying Xiang: "..." I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Chuzheng exhaled a breath only after Shi Yi’s figure disappeared completely: "Summon Lord Feng to see me."
"?????"
Why see Lord Feng now?
Shouldn’t the young lady be heartbroken?
In her foul mood, Chuzheng wanted someone to take the brunt of her wrath. Lord Feng made for an excellent target.
Lord Feng unexpectedly received the summons and brought hefty gifts.
There’s no need to mention Lord Feng’s crimes; anyone could recount them. Yann Qin couldn’t possibly be unaware, yet chose this place, proving he had already planned this.
Thus, Chuzheng called for Lord Feng, and someone promptly delivered some evidence.
Lord Feng didn’t understand Chuzheng’s nature, believing that presenting gifts and expressing loyalty wouldn’t be problematic.
Who could have guessed that after entering, before saying a few words, he would be read his sins?
Chuzheng dealt with Lord Feng swiftly and ruthlessly, so quickly that nobody managed to react before the Feng Family became a thing of the past.
Others were trembling with fear, but the citizens of the city were cheering heartily.
Chuzheng probably understood Yann Qin’s reason for choosing here as well.
Citizens had been oppressed by Lord Feng for so long that merely eliminating Lord Feng garnered their support, without needing to do much else.
Chuzheng noticed the increasing number of Thank-You Cards and decided to send her elder brother a stack of silver notes in gratitude.
[Main quest: Player, please become a local leader progress 25%]
The main quest, previously stagnant, also directly rose to twenty-five percent, and the mini-map appeared.
Chuzheng roughly understood the map’s display rules.
The map doesn’t show when the progress is zero; it must be at least ten percent for it to appear.
Chuzheng gazed at the green dot on the map... just outside the city.
Outside the city...
Chuzheng decided to take a look.
Bringing no one along, Chuzheng left a note for Ying Xiang and slipped out by herself.
The map gave a straight-line distance, regardless of any mountains or rivers ahead, so Chuzheng meandered, climbed hills, crossed rivers, and finally spotted a figure by the riverside.
Shi Yi sat on a stone by the river, his sword resting on his knees, holding something in his hands, staring at the water.
River winds brushed against the man’s dark hair, his clothes fluttering in a beautiful arc, creating a tall and handsome silhouette, though somewhat lonely.
Chuzheng approached, seeing clearly what he held.
It was the Jade Pendant she had given.
Shi Yi seemed lost in thought, not noticing anyone approaching until someone embraced his neck from behind.
Shi Yi gripped his sword, instinctively drawing it, but his wrist was held down: "Shi Yi, it’s me."
The familiar aura overwhelmed him, making Shi Yi’s movements stiff.
He swallowed hard, uncertainly calling out: "Miss Yann?"
"Hmm." Chuzheng released her hold, wrapped her arms around his neck: "Weren’t you leaving? What are you doing here?"
Shi Yi: "..."
Shi Yi hurriedly covered the Jade Pendant in his hand with his sleeve.
"Miss Yann..."
Shi Yi’s eyes spun rapidly, all sounds disappeared in the gentle river wind.
Within the river wind, he heard the girl’s heartbeat, merging with his own.
His back pressed against the cold stone, the light overhead dazzling him, almost too bright to keep his eyes open.
In the dazzling light, the girl’s familiar face was clear, as if etched in his soul.
The girl half-pressed against him, fingers intertwining through his, ten fingers clasping, her soft voice carried by the wind to his ears: "Shi Yi, come back with me, will you?"
Palms tightly together, feeling each other’s warmth.
Falling strands brushed across his neck, eliciting a slight shiver.
Shi Yi opened his mouth, about to say ’yes.’
But in the end, it was just a silent lip movement.
He turned his head, voice hoarse: "Miss Yann, we don’t suit each other."
"How don’t we suit each other?" Chuzheng looked down at him from above, eyes filled with an imperious coldness.
Shi Yi’s voice was strained: "My status doesn’t match yours..."
"I don’t mind."
"I mind." He minded, they weren’t people from the same world at all.
"Miss Yann, you don’t know me, you don’t really understand what kind of person I am. You will meet someone better than me, you will..."
"I won’t." Chuzheng interrupted him, tone confident and firm: "I won’t meet anyone better than you."
Shi Yi’s words failed, his gaze unfocused.
Will she really not meet anyone better than him?
Chuzheng’s palm pressed over his heart, fingers digging down hard: "It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are, good or bad, I can accept it all. Shi Yi, you are mine."