“Feng Shen, I-I will go by myself.” Under the clear thumping of the man’s heart, Ling Yue quickly found her own rhythm also speeding up as well.
“Be good, you still have injuries on your body.” Caressing her hair, Feng Shen’s gaze gradually shifted over to the market in search of something.
The girl mentioned something about wanting to eat earlier so that’s exactly what they would do. Bringing her along, the pair soon disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Oh what a perfect match those two are….. These were the shop lady’s impression of them both. However, that warming thought soon changed to shock and elation, Wait, he said the Phoenix Manor, he’s the Phoenix Lord!
Years later when this shop owner has earned quite a reputation for being reliable and trustworthy in her makeup products, the lady would still often mention how much of a perfect match Ling Yue and Feng Shen was when they visited her business. This was true even when the couple became a fabled loving legend of North Qing.
………………
While the sweet boy and girl was having their dreamy date out in the streets, the palace on the other hand was going in full throttle with its banquet.
For the Sacred Maidan Xue Pian Ran, this would be a long night indeed. She’s been waiting for the Phoenix Manor’s carriage to arrive, yet…. Well, without surprise, it didn’t show up as per the news she received, thrusting the girl’s heart into a numbing chill.
That person, the one that’s important to Feng Shen, did she take the lotus flower yet…..
To say Xue Pian Ran wasn’t worried inside was a big fat lie. She claims she knows her fiancé well, but that notion was starting to sway lately like he’s become a distant person altogether. This idea only got more pronounced after listening to Princess Qing Bi’s story.
Sure, she would so dearly want to remove herself from the palace and run to the one in her heart, but among the guests here aren’t just the delegation party from Da Xia, there’s also members of some smaller nations and sects as well. As the Sacred Maiden of the Dan Palace, it’s a given that she must show her face tonight.
“Sister Pian Ran, how come you are so late?”
Unlike her idolized counterpart whose wardrobe gave off a beautiful mystique with that veil covering the lower half of the face, Princess Qing Bi’s dress could only be called lavishing. Rosy red like a radiant flower, she’s very fitting to be a princess if one could minus that terrible temperament.
“The Dan Palace had something to do so I was delayed,” carrying smile on her face still, Xua Pian Ran hurries to scan the area. Sadly for her, she couldn’t find any traces of anyone from the Phoenix Manor.
Perhaps its like Mr. Mu says, his body is unwell so he didn’t come. Besides, he never did like such lively events….
After retracting her gaze, Xue Pian Ran suddenly pulled the princess closer to examine the girl for details. Though they’ve been conversing the entire way thus far, the maiden knew her friend’s attention was never with them like its flown elsewhere altogether.
To get to the bottom of this, she did the next reasonable thing and followed Qing Bi’s line of sight. Now that’s when she came eye to eye with a handsome young fella of good standing, thus giving her the answer in which she seeks.
“Princess, you are looking absolutely divine today. Can it be something nice has happened today?” She teases her friend, looking for some amusement.
“Oh quit teasing me Sister Pian Ran,” blushing with shyness, Qing Bi looks away all embarrassingly.
“Oh right, why didn’t Brother Feng Shen come with you tonight? I heard he is not feeling well so I thought you would go see him and then come together.”
“It’s not like you don’t know his temper. When he’s not well he won’t let anyone near him.” Moody in her voice, the Sacred Maiden clearly resented this fact.
It’s not like the girl didn’t want to do that, in fact, she intend to do so right after this feast.
This was not the first time Xue Pian Ran grew worried over the boy’s sickness. Way back when they were younger, she and Cong Lue were very worried once and tried to make contact. Unfortunately, that was a terrible mistake.
Before they could even make it past the courtyard, a huge table had come flying at them both from within, scaring the wits out of them.
“Scram!” Those were the only words they heard from Feng Shen back then, and it was unusually cold and menacing as well.
“You need to be careful Sister Pian Ran. I heard Brother Feng Shen’s been clung onto by a bad woman from Da Xia. Even worse, that person even followed him here to North Qing and is now living at his place. As his fiancé, you need to be on the lookout.” Thinking back to the stories Hong Ming Yue and the others were whispering into her ear, Qing Bi’s complexion instantly turned serious.
“You girl, always with your gossiping. I believe Feng Shen isn’t like that. As for that person, it may not be like you think. Perhaps they are just friends coming for a visit.”
As the Sacred Maiden of a major organization, there’s bound to be some layer to her upbringing. As such, her views aren’t as narrow as this princess.
“If living in the Phoenix Manor is nothing, then what about the Phoenix Edict? I saw it with my own eyes before. If you don’t believe me, go ask Cong Lu, he saw it too.”
This time Xue Pian Ran could no longer remain unfazed. She knew exactly what the item meant and what it signified.
“Cong Lu, is what Qing Bi said true?” The girl’s voice may still sound pleasant to the ear, but as childhood friends with each other, they could clearly tell she’s angry.
“Pian Ran, are you asking about the matter of living at the Phoenix Manor or the Phoenix Edict?” Regarding this Sacred Maiden’s requests, this captain of the royal guards could never refuse it.
Nevertheless, he didn’t need to because the girl already knew the answer by the way of his answering.
“You knew all along didn’t you Cong Lu? Such an important person and you didn’t bring her to the banquet, or did you intend to wait until Feng Shen personally showed her to me instead?” Gritting her teeth, this tense appearance was very unlike her.
“You mustn’t be angry Sister Pian Ran, that woman isn’t even qualified to participate in the palace banquet so of course she wouldn’t be here. Furthermore, she’s also not part of Da Xia’s delegation party.” Qing Bi had intended to spill even more juicy bits until Cong Lu stopped it by pulling the girl away and dumping her next to Xia Hou Qi’s side.
The banquet may be lavishing in its setup with fine food and exquisite guests, but without the proper company, nothing would taste good. This was especially true for the Sacred Maiden here until she noticed a set of eyes that’s been staring at her.