She often had an illusion that at some moment, upon opening her eyes, he would suddenly appear before her, raising that calculating, wicked smile.
Imagining that scene made her heart skip a beat.
Feng Miaojun thought this must stem from fear.
This evening, just as dinner was being served at the Feng residence, someone suddenly came looking for her: “Master Ge requests your presence.”
Feng Miaojun put down her chopsticks, changed her clothes, and went.
Master Ge was the local constable of this area. Though his official position wasn’t high, his information network was extensive. Both high and low society passed through him, and he was well-connected in both open and hidden circles.
The Feng family business was unwilling to offend such a person. Feng Miaojun had regularly given him silver, and now she straightforwardly asked: “Is there something concerning me?”
“Yes.” Master Ge looked her up and down. “Recently, people have been inquiring about the Feng business everywhere.”
Her heart skipped a beat: “Which Feng business?”
“I don’t know.” He gave a crooked smile. “In this large capital, there are more than a dozen Feng businesses. Those people are asking about a Feng business that deals in grain and cloth, where the mistress’s surname is Xu.”
“In the entire Southwest Quarter, only your family’s Feng business fits that description, right?”
Feng Miaojun pressed her red lips together, knowing something was wrong: “What kind of people are making these inquiries?”
“Several locals came asking.”
Feng Miaojun said solemnly: “Thank you!” She then gave him another package of silver.
Over the next few days, she instructed her subordinates to observe, and indeed, they spotted people peering around outside the Feng business. Staying in the Feng residence, she constantly felt the discomfort of being watched.
Indeed, someone was keeping an eye on the Feng business.
Who could it be?
First, she ruled out the Yao royal family. If Miao Fengxian and Princess Hanyue wanted to find her, they wouldn’t need such secrecy—they could simply send people directly.
Mo Tizhun? He didn’t even know she was still alive.
Calculating all possibilities, Yun Ya seemed most likely. Back in the fiery sea beneath Cliff Mountain, he had threatened Feng Miaojun with the Feng business and Xu, showing he knew the Feng business operated in the Yao Kingdom.
Before and after he disrupted the Wei-Yao wedding ceremony, Feng Miaojun had stayed in Yao Capital for two months. During such a long period, besides eating and shopping, hadn’t she also visited the Feng business?
These were questions Yun Ya might suspect. Feng Miaojun even wondered if his granting her leave originally was also to see where she had hidden the Feng business.
But too many unexpected events happened afterward, and he had no time to attend to such minor matters.
As for personnel, she believed Yun Ya had planted enough eyes and ears in Yao Capital; otherwise, how could he have abducted Princess Hanyue without anyone knowing?
That was an action requiring tight coordination.
If Yun Ya now deployed these forces against her…
Feng Miaojun shuddered.
After returning to the Feng residence, she summoned Lu Chuanying: “From an oblique perspective, since the Wei Crown Prince has established himself in the auxiliary capital, does this mean Xiao Yan and others already have control of the Wei capital?”
Lu Chuanying nodded: “There are still the Crown Prince’s faction, Queen Dowager Zheng, and Third Prince Xiao Wu in the Wei capital. But in my view, they will all be suppressed.”
“So you’re saying the tangled mess in Wei capital is nearly sorted out by Xiao Yan?”
“It’s not that simple, but the Second Prince of Wei is also a capable person.” Lu Chuanying mused, “Moreover, he has the assistance of the Wei Kingdom’s State Preceptor.”
Feng Miaojun’s face immediately soured.
With the situation in the Wei capital no longer so urgent, Yun Ya now had time to remember her. Next, was he also planning to deal with her?
After escaping from Wufu Snow Mountain for the first time, even sitting in a warm room she shivered constantly, obviously being frequently remembered—
Yun Ya must be furious, right?
If caught by him, she might be skinned alive.
The thought alone was chilling.
Lu Chuanying watched as her complexion changed from red to white within three seconds. Just as he was wondering about this, she said: “Uncle Lu, we’ll depart in three days.”
“Where to?”
“Taoyuan Border.” Even separated by thousands of li she didn’t feel safe. This time she wanted to play the disappearing act again, putting an entire ocean between her and that man!
After the Wei-Yao war ended, the Feng business spent three whole months taking inventory and selling assets. Now everything was ready, and they could withdraw from Yao Capital at any time, riding the favorable wind!
“Good.” Lu Chuanying stroked his beard and sighed, “It’s a pity, though. The Feng business has been doing very well here, even sending tribute goods to the palace.”
But Feng Miaojun shook her head: “The fighting may have paused, but peace won’t last long.”
“Miss, are you referring to the Wei Kingdom?” Lu Chuanying asked curiously. “Wei’s civil war has just begun and won’t end anytime soon. By the time the two princes determine a winner, the Wei Kingdom will be damaged. How could they launch another major invasion?”
“You make sense.” Feng Miaojun smiled bitterly. “However, whenever I think about it, I feel restless. Staying here long-term could bring great disaster.” She then briefly explained her entanglement with Yun Ya.
Lu Chuanying suddenly understood: “So you’ve provoked this star of calamity. But considering the long term, Taoyuan Border is indeed more suitable. That place is praised as an earthly paradise, naturally prosperous in all industries.” Business people, after all, crave peaceful and prosperous times more than anyone. “I’ll go with you all.”
Feng Miaojun smiled gratefully, but in her heart wondered what deep friendship must have existed between him and the Queen of An Xia to make him abandon his comfortable life and travel so much for her daughter.
Unfortunately, she would likely never know the answer.
Before leaving, she had one more thing to do.
Yao Kingdom’s climate was humid and hot; summer could roast people alive. This was where the Golden City showed its excellence:
This magical artifact could freely control the temperature within the city, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer. Even now, during the hottest days of summer, the palace maintained a temperature of about twenty-three or twenty-four degrees, as cool as spring or autumn.
But even so, Princess Hanyue still had poor appetite and couldn’t sit still.
July was the season when melons and fruits flooded the market. Yao Kingdom’s fruits and vegetables were world-famous, and during this time, precious fruits from various regions were sent to the palace like flowing water.
Princess Hanyue could eat a bit more of these.
Today, a female official came to ask her: “Today, peaches and lychees have newly arrived from the Feng business, all chilled with ice. Would the Crown Princess like to try them?”
Princess Hanyue was about to refuse, but after thinking, she said: “Bring them in.”
The lychee skin was thin as paper; with a gentle squeeze, crystal-clear snow-white flesh would burst out a bit of sweet juice. The taste of what could be presented to the royal family was naturally exceptional. But Princess Hanyue couldn’t pay attention to it at this moment.
In another ice box were two peaches, each as big as a fist. They were brined, with the fuzz washed away from the surface, but the color was greenish-red. Remarkably, under the midday sun, their skin appeared almost transparent, like finely carved jade.
Salted peaches? As soon as Princess Hanyue saw them, her gaze changed.
The female official watched anxiously and was about to speak when Princess Hanyue already reached out to grab one and took a fierce bite!
The female official: “…” That was quite a large bite.
It was indeed this flavor! Princess Hanyue chewed carefully for two bites, then suddenly asked: “You just mentioned, which family sent these?”