chapter 32

The night wind was chilly. Even though there was light, the moon held no warmth.

Fengguang tightly held onto her collar. The streets were no longer as grand and bustling as during the day. There was not a single person in sight. She quietly followed behind him. The cold air made her feel as though a ghost might come out of nowhere.

He mentioned that they must leave before anyone discovers the missing innkeeper and employee. Fengguang knew because of his identity, they shouldn’t attract any attention. After walking and sneezing a couple of times, they finally stopped at a jewellery store.

The store was already closed. She glanced at him, not understanding what he wanted to do.

He knocked three times on the door when a disgruntled voice sounded out from within. The door opened. “Who knocks in the middle of the night? If you’re not buying anything, I’m going to… AH!”

A sword hilt hit him in the face. The middle-aged man staggered several steps back.

Fengguang watched as the man beside her, walked inside with a smile on his face. “It’s your father and I’m also not here to buy anything.”

“M-m-m… Master!” He instantly knelt down despite being unsteady on his feet.

The man turned to her. “Miss Xia, are you not coming in?”

“…” The cold winds outside were harsh so she chose to step inside.

The middle-aged man observed Fengguang. “Master… This is?”

“Qian Qianwan, prepare two rooms.”

Qian Qianwan knew not to further inquire on the matter and quickly nodded his head. “Yes, yes. Master, please follow this subordinate.”

Fengguang followed behind the man and tugged on his sleeve. He glanced down at her as she asked, “What’s your name?”

Her voice was soft like a little bunny.

His voice lowered as he replied, “Xuean.”

“Xuean…”

For some reason after the name left her lips, he revealed what seemed to be his first genuine smile. “I allow you to call me by that name.”

It was as though she had received some sort of grace.

Fengguang didn’t reply and instead, quietly followed Qian Qianwan into her assigned room.

Once the door closed, Qian Qianwan asked for instructions. “Master, that’s the daughter of Dawei’s prime minister. Do we need to prepare blood poppies?”

“Don’t do anything unnecessary.” His lips curved upwards which brought forth a sliver of viciousness in his expression. “She can’t escape anyways.”

The next day, the sun was bright and the weather was good. Fengguang slept until the sun was mid-sky. No one had come to wake her up. Little Lv and Little Ze weren’t here so she could only depend on herself for brushing and dressing up. Luckily, she was cross-dressing as a man so preparing herself was an easy task. Once she finished everything, she headed out and saw a servant girl at the door. She was holding a set of clothes and it seemed as though she had been waiting quite a while.

“Miss, the young master requested that you wear these clothes.”

“Ah?” Didn’t she have to cross-dress as a man today?

The servant girl seemed to know what she was thinking when she said, “The young master said that a woman cross-dressing as a man will likely attract more attention. Also…” She sized up Fengguang from head to toe and continued, “Miss isn’t suitable to play a man.”

Her waist was slim and her skin was fair. There were curves on her body where there should be curves and she was skinny in places where she should be. Making such a delicate and exquisite woman dress like a man was cruel and would most likely not succeed.

Fengguang naturally understood the servant girl’s meaning and she flushed red with embarrassment. She received the clothes and quietly said thank you before retreating back into her room.

The servant girl froze.

Shortly after, the door to the room opened again and Fengguang snuck her head out. “I don’t know how to do my hair…”

The servant girl laughed and replied, “Let this servant help you, Miss.”