Whether it was her imagiKingdom or not, Feng Miao Jun felt that Lady Cui’s gaze toward her was particularly displeased.

She turned away, not taking it to heart. After all, once they crossed the snow mountains and passed the border of the Jiao Kingdom, she would resume her true appearance. Even if enemies were secretly tracking them, they wouldn’t follow this far.

Although Feng Miao Jun was currently assuming Tao Zi’s identity, how could Princess Han Yue make her close friend do a servant’s work? This was also why she had assigned her to Tie Xin Ning.

That evening, as Feng Miao Jun was walking toward Tie Xin Ning’s tent, she passed a small slope and happened to see Lady Cui standing at the top, looking down. Not wanting to provoke Lady Cui, she took a few steps outward to go around her, but Lady Cui turned, saw her, and suddenly beckoned: “Come here!”

Feng Miao Jun looked around but saw no one else. She could only say: “Are you calling me?”

Using such an informal address! No sense of hierarchy or respect! Lady Cui’s expression grew even more unpleasant: “Is there anyone else here?”

Feng Miao Jun walked over to hear her say: “I dropped a turquoise earring down the slope. Go retrieve it for me.” As she spoke, she tilted her head, and indeed, her left ear was bare.

“This…” The slope was very steep and deep, covered with shrubs. Finding a tiny earring here would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. “Let me call more people to help search.”

“You go down first,” Lady Cui wouldn’t let her escape so easily. “I’ll find others.” Seeing Feng Miao Jun standing motionless, she sneered, “What? Has Tao Zi become too important to take orders from me now?”

This targeting came without reason. Feng Miao Jun shrugged, put down what she was carrying, and turned to descend the slope, avoiding confrontation. Lady Cui let out a soft snort of satisfaction and turned to leave. Now that she was gone, she had no intention of returning before daybreak. The earring wasn’t particularly valuable, and if the little wretch still couldn’t find it by morning, she would punish her then.

Spending a night freezing here wouldn’t cost the girl her life, but it would certainly cause a delicate young lady to fall ill.

However, before Lady Cui could take a step, she suddenly saw someone standing behind her—tall and slender, watching her with an expressionless face.

She was startled and stepped back to bow: “M-Master Tie!”

His attitude toward ordinary people was much colder: “What’s happening here?”

Lady Cui hurriedly said: “Tao Zi is helping…”

Before she could finish, Tao Zi’s crisp voice rose from below the slope: “Lady Cui lost her turquoise earring and ordered me to come down to find it for her!”

In one sentence, she nimbly summarized the entire situation.

Tie Xin Ning stood with his hands behind his back, narrowing his eyes at Lady Cui: “Who do you think you are to command my attendant?”

Tao Zi was the exclusive maid assigned to him by the Princess and wasn’t required to work for others.

Lady Cui’s face turned crimson from his rebuke. She apologized repeatedly and was about to retreat when Feng Miao Jun had already climbed back to the top of the slope, patting her skirt: “Found it.”

She opened her palm, and indeed, a turquoise earring lay in it.

How could this little wretch be so lucky to find it immediately? Lady Cui was stunned for a moment, took the earring, and hurriedly left. Before departing, she didn’t forget to glance at Tie Xin Ning once more.

Feng Miao Jun smiled cheerfully: “Thank you, Senior Brother, for coming to my rescue.”

Tie Xin Ning looked at her with a gentle smile: “I’m afraid it was her I rescued.”

She chuckled without denying it, then picked up the small food box she had set aside and handed it to him: “Here, tonight’s dessert. You can take it with you—I need to go find my meal.”

“Is it pan…cakes again?” The box was so small it couldn’t hold soup or dishes, at most just snacks. He remembered that plain, unremarkable name.

“No, this time it’s thousand-layer cake, with sweet osmanthus.”

Hearing this, he took it without ceremony, thanked her, and strode off, but not toward his tent. Feng Miao Jun noticed he was carrying a small wine gourd and guessed he had been planning to find a place outside to drink, but happened upon this scene.

The day’s snow and wind had stopped. Now the mountains were covered in silver, and the stars sparkled in the sky—indeed a perfect time to appreciate heaven and earth.

Hmm, so Senior Brother truly does love sweets?

The next day passed uneventfully.

Sometimes when the path curved, Feng Miao Jun could glimpse snow rabbits, mountain goats, and white leopards in the valleys and on the lower slopes, as well as many strange-looking creatures. Among them was a species that moved in groups, larger than ordinary bears, with brown fur, long tails, and pointed snouts. Their small eyes gleamed green when they saw humans, clearly including two-legged animals in their usual diet. But the wedding escort team was large, protected by elite soldiers, and not easy prey.

They followed for seven or eight li, and only left reluctantly when they couldn’t find an opportunity to attack. Only then did the maid Yin Xing breathe a sigh of relief and whisper: “What monsters were those?”

“Wolf-badgers,” thanks to three years of extensive reading, Feng Miao Jun’s knowledge was broad even if her experience was limited. “They’ve gained spiritual cultivation.”

These creatures were far more ferocious than tigers or leopards. Now that they had developed spiritual powers, merchant caravans traveling through these snowy mountains would certainly face misfortune. Yin Xing deeply agreed and couldn’t help feeling fortunate that their team had royal guards for protection. Finally, she asked: “Tao Zi, do you know why Lady Cui gives you a hard time?”

Feng Miao Jun shook her head. She felt her existence was like air to Lady Cui and didn’t know how she had offended this superior of the maids.

“Lady Cui has feelings for Master Tie. Before you were assigned to him, it was Lady Cui herself who brought meals to Master Tie.”

There was such a matter? Feng Miao Jun was startled: “Did he eat them?”

Yin Xing replied matter-of-factly: “Of course.”

What a traitor! Feng Miao Jun grumbled inwardly, but she knew Tie Xin Ning was straightforward and never cared about such trifles. “What does that have to do with me?” When you eat someone’s food, you’re somewhat indebted to them. Tie Xin Ning had eaten food Lady Cui brought, yet could still be so curt with her—was his heart made of stone?

“The day you were assigned to serve Master Tie, Lady Cui had also brought food over, but returned with a stern face.” Yin Xing whispered, “The kitchen said she dumped all the dishes untouched.”

Feng Miao Jun let out a long “Oh.” After she arrived, she took away Lady Cui’s opportunity to show goodwill. Tie Xin Ning wouldn’t eat Lady Cui’s food but enjoyed Feng Miao Jun’s desserts, so Lady Cui directed her anger at her.

She had somehow offended someone without even trying.

“Many people like Master Tie,” Yin Xing continued. “Tao Zi, you should make the most of this opportunity.” Her words revealed envy.

Feng Miao Jun was surprised: “Is he that likable?” She had always been judged by appearances and couldn’t see what was so attractive about Tie Xin Ning’s ordinary looks.

“Master Tie is so formidable! That giant boulder that thousands of people couldn’t clear, he moved it alone.” Which young woman wouldn’t admire a hero?

Feng Miao Jun couldn’t help but rub her nose. These young girls who weren’t present were spreading rumors—did Tie Xin Ning move that boulder? It grew legs and ran away by itself!

“Besides, his eyes are so bright and beautiful. Yesterday when I walked past him, he looked at me and smiled. Just one glance, and it felt like he could see into your heart.”