“Tian Yuan,” Hua Fuhai interrupted his servant, then said, “She recognized me.”
“This… how is this possible…” Tian Yuan was utterly shocked.
Their master had been disguising himself since the age of eight and had especially sought out civilian experts to study the art. Even those who had followed him since childhood could hardly detect any flaws when their master intended to conceal his identity.
“I too don’t know what made her suspicious,” Hua Fuhai was extremely curious about this, a flash of amusement passing through his eyes. “If she hadn’t noticed something, how would she, the beloved daughter of the Northwest King, be so courteous to a mere merchant like me?”
“Your Highness, you mean the Princess knows that you…” Tian Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.
Hua Fuhai shook his head with a smile: “No, she knows I was last night’s Embroidered Messenger.”
As if thinking of something, Hua Fuhai’s smile deepened: “If she had seen through me and knew my true identity, she wouldn’t be so cautious. Don’t forget her attitude toward Fifth and Ninth.”
It was precisely because she couldn’t see clearly, precisely because she knew he could disguise himself as an Imperial Embroidered Messenger, that she remained guarded at every turn.
Crown Prince or Prince, if she truly knew his background, this Princess would likely not take him seriously at all.
“Shen Yueshan is a serious man, and his son is rigid, but this daughter of his is quite interesting,” Hua Fuhai’s eyes flickered with intrigue.
Shen Xihe, unaware she was being praised as interesting, having concluded matters here, immediately made preparations and set out from Luoyang toward the capital early the next day.
Due to Shen Xihe’s extremely poor health, they traveled slowly, only leaving Luoyang city by nightfall, forcing them to go camping in the wilderness for the night.
Ink Jade had hunted a wild rabbit and was roasting it, applying plenty of spices and honey under Shen Xihe’s guidance. As the fragrance drifted away with the sizzling sound of dripping oil, someone followed the scent to their location.
Hearing hoofbeats, Shen Xihe and Ink Jade vigilantly watched the direction of the sound. A master and servant pair appeared.
The young man’s features were somewhat handsome, wearing an unadorned cyan-colored round-collared robe, and appearing somewhat thin.
When he dismounted, he nearly lost his balance, then shyly approached and bowed to Shen Xihe: “Ladies, might I trouble you to allow my servant and me to rest nearby?”
Seeming afraid Shen Xihe and her companion might misunderstand, the young scholar hastily pulled out his credentials: “I am Guo Daoyi, a scholar heading to the imperial examinations. I am certainly not a person of ill intent.”
Ink Jade looked toward Shen Xihe, who coldly refused: “Men and women should maintain proper distance. Please leave, sir.”
But the young scholar didn’t leave, instead hesitantly trying to persuade them: “Please be understanding, my lady. The night is deep, and if we stay together, we can give each other courage…”
“I need no courage,” Shen Xihe cut him off.
“But… but I do…” the young scholar’s voice came out weakly, as he timidly glanced at the pitch-black surroundings.
“How is that my concern?” Shen Xihe coldly looked at the young scholar through the light gauze hanging from her face screen.
Ink Jade drew her long sword with a swift sound.
The young scholar seemed startled and stepped back, too afraid to say more. He could only lead his horse to a distance and huddle there. His servant also appeared quite timid, taking out some dried food as master and servant leaned against a tree, occasionally glancing in their direction.
“Princess, shall we drive them away?” Ink Jade asked in a low voice.
“No need,” Shen Xihe watched the roast rabbit whose skin had started to crack. “It’s ready to eat.”
Ink Jade immediately cut off the rabbit’s leg with a clean dagger, took a wooden plate from the carriage, sliced it into small pieces, and passed it to Shen Xihe. She and the guard disguised as a coachman shared the rest.
Due to the proper distance that should be maintained between men and women, it wasn’t appropriate for Xie Yunhuai to travel with them, so he went ahead to the capital.
As the dominating fragrance drifted over, the young scholar seemed unable to resist the tempting aroma. After much hesitation, he took a wooden box and came over, carefully asking: “My lady, might I trade this box of transparent flower rice cakes for some meat?”
Opening the wooden box revealed semi-transparent pastries, with peach blossoms made of spiritual sand faintly visible through them, exquisite.
Shen Xihe glanced at the delicate transparent flower rice cakes. Though she could make them herself, Shen Xihe, who had always held herself in high regard, saw for the first time someone else’s transparent flower rice cakes that matched her level of refinement.
“Ink Jade,” she called softly.
Understanding her meaning, Ink Jade gave half of the other rabbit to Guo Daoyi and took the rice cakes from him. She ate one piece first, ensuring there were no strange tastes or poison, before handing the remaining three pieces to Shen Xihe.
Guo Daoyi was very happy to receive the rabbit meat and sat down not far from Shen Xihe beside the fire.
Shen Xihe frowned at this, but just then she used a silver pick to sample a small piece of the cut rice cake. The perfectly soft texture and sweetness that wasn’t cloying put her in such a good mood that she decided not to take issue with him.
Her digestion was weak, so she could only taste such hard-to-digest items briefly. She didn’t even finish one piece, giving the rest to Ink Jade and the guard.
“My lady’s rabbit is fragrant from first bite through to the throat, reaching deep inside; the thick meat parts are richly fragrant and tender, the thin parts crispy and refreshing; the ribs have a unique crispy toughness that becomes more fragrant the more one chews,” Guo Daoyi ate with utmost satisfaction, and couldn’t help asking afterward, “Might I request the lady bestow the recipe? I’m willing to offer gold in exchange.”
Shen Xihe extremely disliked such people who couldn’t read the atmosphere and were about to speak when a breeze blew past.
From Guo Daoyi’s direction toward her, amid the fresh woody fragrance floated an almost imperceptible trace of Agarwood aroma.
Shen Xihe’s eyes flickered as she raised her head to examine this young scholar.
His features were delicate, his manner and expression entirely consistent with a frail scholar.
If not for this trace of fragrance, Shen Xihe would never have suspected anything about this chance-met traveler.
First playing the Embroidered Messenger, then the wealthy merchant, and now pretending to be a scholar while deliberately approaching her.
Shen Xihe feigned ignorance and coldly refused: “Do I look like someone who needs gold?”
As if not expecting this lady to be so aloof, completely dismissing him, he earnestly played the role of the frail scholar, lowering his head somewhat pitifully.
Shen Xihe glanced at him, not wanting to bother with this person’s purpose. She could sense that he at least harbored no hostility or ill intent toward her.
Letting him continue his act, she went to the carriage accompanied by Ink Jade. After a simple washing up, she raised the copper boards for wind protection and sound isolation and peacefully fell asleep.
When she woke in the morning, the master and servant pair had already gone ahead.
Shen Xihe didn’t dwell on them – whatever their purpose, it would become clear sooner or later.
After a peaceful day of travel, they found a village to stay in. Just as they entered the village, they saw Guo Daoyi walking out with two villagers, chatting and laughing. Seeing Shen Xihe’s carriage, he showed a brilliantly sunny smile and once again approached with familiar ease: “My lady, we meet again, what a coincidence.”
Shen Xihe, supported by Ink Jade, descended from the carriage. Walking toward him wearing her face screen, she passed by without a sideways glance, more clearly smelling the Agarwood fragrance, and tossed two cold words his way: “Not coincidental.”