She always felt that this guy was full of drama. If one day he could no longer serve as State Preceptor, there would always be a place for him in a traveling theater troupe. Looking at the person curled up on the couch, casually reading a book, the idle Feng Miao Jun couldn’t help but yawn: “What kind of status does that Wei Kingdom envoy Qiao Tian Xing have?”

Logically, someone who could represent their country as an envoy to foreign lands should at least be a smooth operator, but why couldn’t she see much diplomatic finesse in this Qiao Tian Xing? In comparison, Tan Qing Shuang seemed more capable.

So she noticed that too? Yun Ya didn’t even raise his head: “With the war between Wei and Yao about to break out, what kind of envoy do you think Wei would send here?”

Feng Miao Jun understood. Just by Madam Yao and others’ attitudes, it was clear how much the people of Yinzi City despised Wei. If Qiao Tian Xing’s guards weren’t strong enough, he might be chopped up in the middle of the night as an outlet for their hatred.

Who would be willing to send talented people here?

“Then, what about Tan Qing Shuang?” She rolled her eyes thoughtfully, “Why would Taoyuan Realm invite the Wei envoy to Shun Dong Feng for discussions?” Most crucially, how did Yun Ya know they were about to meet? The task she carried out at Shun Dong Feng wasn’t complex, because the challenge wasn’t her acting skills, but how to gather all the characters of this play together, letting them clash passionately according to the wishes of Yun Ya, the mastermind behind the scenes.

Yet somehow he managed to keep himself uninvolved, without drawing any suspicion.

This level of skill – she had to admit she couldn’t match it yet.

“Taoyuan Realm does indeed have dealings with Wei, but the person Tan Qing Shuang wanted to meet wasn’t him.” Yun Ya smiled slightly, “The meeting with the Wei envoy was just incidental; she didn’t even change the venue.”

“Tan Qing Shuang had another appointment?” Feng Miao Jun wanted to ask how he knew, but as the words reached her lips, she suddenly realized, “The person she wanted to see was… you, Young Master?”

Of course, it was Yun Ya, otherwise, how could he be so familiar with Tan Qing Shuang’s movements?

He nodded: “Our meeting was scheduled after the Wei envoy. She understood that I couldn’t reveal my true identity in Yinzi City.” Even Qiao Tian Xing, carrying the identity of Wei envoy, had already incurred the resentment of the Yao people, let alone if the State Preceptor of Wei were to come in person.

“But you set the meeting place at Shun Dong Feng, right?” She looked at him, her lips curling slightly, “After such an incident at Shun Dong Feng, she was implicated. Uh, aren’t you afraid she’ll discover she’s been used as a pawn?”

He had specified the location, but when trouble arose, this guy had remained completely uninvolved from beginning to end. Even if Tan Qing Shuang was slow-witted, she should sense something was off, right? And she seemed like a clever girl.

Yun Ya shrugged: “I trust she won’t mind.”

Feng Miao Jun couldn’t help but stare at him intently until Yun Ya touched his face: “You’re even entranced by this face?”

Feng Miao Jun smiled ambiguously: “She was implicated but didn’t give you away. Tsk, tsk, your relationship with this Miss Tan must be quite extraordinary.” Regardless of what message Yun Ya had conveyed to Tan Qing Shuang, Feng Miao Jun grasped one key point:

Yun Ya’s visit to Yinzi City wasn’t concealed from Tan Qing Shuang!

She knew with certainty that the State Preceptor of Wei was here. If she had other intentions, Yun Ya could have been in danger and placed in a passive position.

Yun Ya was such a cautious person; his willingness to send such a signal indicated that he was confident Tan Qing Shuang wouldn’t betray him!

His connection with Tan Qing Shuang was more than just an “acquaintance.” What kind of relationship would make the suspicious Yun Ya not doubt even that tiny possibility?

“She’s just an old acquaintance from years past who still remembers me,” Yun Ya said languidly. “Go buy me a bowl of Cold Yuan Zi.”

“…There’s nowhere to buy it now.” She refused, wanting to hear more gossip.

“Isn’t there a shop in the alley diagonally across from the courier station entrance, the one with locust trees at the entrance?”

Did this man’s memory have to be so good? “Oh, that shop? It’s closed.”

“…” If you don’t want to buy it, at least put some effort into your excuse.

“You haven’t been looking well lately, perhaps you shouldn’t have cold drinks.” Yinzi had a humid and hot climate, especially during the sweltering summer when temperatures were unbearable. The locals liked to eat cold refreshments. Cold Yuan Zi was a popular dessert in the capital these recent years. Its ingredients were roasted, peeled soybeans ground into powder, mixed with water and honey to form small balls, with bits of dried fruit added, then soaked in ice water for half a day to create a refreshing, heat-relieving icy treat. However, since it was now the depths of winter, the sales of Cold Yuan Zi were naturally far less than in summer.

Yet the great State Preceptor Yun was very fond of this snack and had bought it no less than four or five times since moving into the courier station. The shop deep in the alley even added cream brought by merchants from An Xia, making it twice as delicious, no less than the ice cream she had eaten in her previous life.

Usually, it wouldn’t matter, but she noticed that Yun Ya’s complexion hadn’t looked good these past few days, with a paleness emerging from deep within, and his coughing had also noticeably increased.

To others, he only said he had caught a slight cold.

That kind of coughing, she had heard many times in the White Elephant Mountain Range, but at that time, Yun Ya had been severely injured.

And now? Was this why he had been behaving so docilely lately, staying put?

Feng Miao Jun ignored his displeased expression and sighed, somewhat worried: “I asked the kitchen to make some millet porridge with red dates, and I added some longan too. The dried longan I bought yesterday was fragrant and sweet. Would you like to try it?” This man loved sweets. Using this to persuade him might have some effect.

Sigh, who else in the world could care about his life as much as she did? She hoped Yun Ya would live healthily and enjoy longevity.

Yun Ya looked at her without a word, and after a good while reluctantly said: “Bring it then.”

Feng Miao Jun moved quickly, bringing the golden, steaming hot porridge before he could change his mind.

It was quite a large bowl.

Yun Ya coughed twice more before resentfully taking a silver spoon and stirring the bowl, dawdling without opening his mouth.

That utterly unwilling expression made Feng Miao Jun want to slap his handsome face.

How old was he, to be so childish!

Of course, he eventually took a sip.

Seeing his noncommittal attitude, Feng Miao Jun understood that the porridge must have been cooked to perfection, with the right thickness and sweetness; otherwise, this picky eater would have criticized it endlessly.

“Alright, go about your business,” he said after drinking a few more sips, waving his hand lazily. “I want to take a nap.”

Seeing his eyes already half-closed, she said clearly: “Take your time.” With a turn, she left decisively.

Outside, the sunlight shone on her body, generously bestowing the rare warmth of winter days. This weather was indeed perfect for napping. Perhaps infected by Yun Ya’s mood, she covered her mouth and yawned.

My, how sleepy she felt.

Feng Miao Jun specially washed her face with cold water to stay alert, then strode away from the courier station. When Yun Ya said he wanted to sleep “for a while,” he wouldn’t get up until nightfall, during which time she was free to move about.

Taking advantage of the good daylight, she first went to wander the streets, eating and browsing, and after making sure no one was following her, she went to find her foster mother, Madam Xu.