“Old sir, please rise. I cannot bear such a gesture.” Xue Xingyue said as she tried to help the elder up from the bed.
The elder stood and said, “This old man was blind not to recognize your esteemed presence and has been disrespectful to Your Majesty.”
“Old sir, I am no longer an Empress. I am just an ordinary person now.”
The elder looked at Xue Xingyue on the bed, his gaze clear and bright. She was elegant and refined, and at a critical moment, she did not abandon her subordinates. Such a mistress, no one would wish to leave.
“Since Your Majesty has said so, for the convenience of future dealings, this old man dares to call Your Majesty Miss Xue.” the elder said.
Xue Xingyue nodded, “Of course. I haven’t asked for the old sir’s name yet?”
The elder replied, “Miss Xue can call this old man Master, as the others do. My given name is Lin.”
Xue Xingyue nodded, “Alright, Master.”
“Master, we have already discussed with His Majesty. You, Hong Cha, and Wu Hen will stay at home. I will go with His Majesty to rescue Feng Qing,” Feng Jiu said.
Master Lin looked at Feng Jiu and said, “I inquired earlier and found that the group escorting the exiles are two young masters from the Zhao family.”
Xue Xingyue was startled, “Are you referring to Zhao Han and Zhao Xuan?”
Master Lin heard this and looked at Xue Xingyue, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “Miss Xue knows them?”
Xue Xingyue nodded, “Yes, we had some dealings before.”
“It seems the matter has become somewhat easier,” Master Lin said.
Xue Xingyue nodded, “In that case, I will distract the two young masters from the Zhao family tomorrow, and Feng Jiu, you will rescue Feng Qing.”
“This old man will bring Hong Cha to sow further chaos in the confusion,” Master Lin said, stroking his beard.
Xue Xingyue nodded, “Then I will trouble Master Lin.”
“Miss Xue is too kind. Once a master, always a father. Feng Qing is this old man’s child, and I am duty-bound to protect him. However, I have one more request for Miss Xue.” Master Lin said.
“Master Lin, please do not be polite. Tell me,” Xue Xingyue said.
Master Lin continued, “Hong Cha does not know about these matters, and I hope she never will. The less she knows, the safer she will be. I only hope Hong Cha can live an ordinary life safely.”
“Master Lin, do not worry, she will not know,” Xue Xingyue said, word by word.
She knew that Hong Cha was by no means just a child adopted by Master Lin. Hong Cha was likely Master Lin’s own child, but she did not wish to know the details of how that came to be, for everyone has their secrets they wish to keep.
“If Feng Qing knew that Miss Xue was risking her life to save him, he would be overjoyed,” Master Lin said, stepping out of Xue Xingyue’s room and gazing at the sky with an indescribable melancholy.
“Master, where did you go just now in Sister Xue’s room?” Hong Cha suddenly appeared from somewhere, looking at Master Lin with an unreadable gaze.
Master Lin replied, “I just went to ask Miss Xue a few things.”
“Master, I saw Second Senior Brother also went to Ning Jie’s room, didn’t he?” Hong Cha asked.
“How did you know?” Master Lin asked, looking at Hong Cha.
Hong Cha faltered, a hint of panic in her voice. “I… I just saw it by chance.”
Master Lin glanced at Hong Cha, then said earnestly, “Hong Cha, do not dwell on it. Do not covet what you cannot have; you will regret it deeply.”
Hong Cha’s face flushed slightly. “Master, what are you talking about? I… I’m going back now.” She said and quickly left.
Master Lin watched Hong Cha’s departing back, his gaze growing dim.
The next day, as dawn was just breaking, Xue Xingyue and Feng Jiu were ready to depart.
As Xue Xingyue stepped out of her room, she saw Hong Cha already dressed in neat trousers and a top.
“Sister, are you going out?” Hong Cha asked as she approached.
Xue Xingyue nodded. She noticed that Hong Cha’s gaze was not on her, but on Feng Jiu, who had just emerged from her room.
“Second Senior Brother, I was looking for you early this morning, and I didn’t expect you to be at Ning Jie’s place.” Hong Cha stared intently at Feng Jiu, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes.
Feng Jiu glanced at Hong Cha and said, “I had matters to discuss with Miss Xue.”
“Did discussing matters require being in her room so early in the morning?” Hong Cha looked up at Feng Jiu.
Feng Jiu was slightly taken aback and stepped forward. “Hong Cha, what is wrong?”
“I… I’m fine,” Hong Cha said, biting her lower lip and shaking her head.
“Hong Cha, come here,” Master Lin walked over and called to Hong Cha.
Hong Cha glanced at Feng Jiu, noticing that his gaze was fixed on someone else. She lowered her head, her expression one of suppressed emotion.
After Hong Cha and Master Lin had left, Xue Xingyue turned to Feng Jiu and said, “Hong Cha likes you.”
Feng Jiu froze, then said, “Your Majesty, your subordinate never had such intentions.”
“Feng Jiu, you don’t need to be nervous. I am no longer Princess Xingyue, nor do you have to be my Feng Wei. You no longer have to sacrifice all your own desires for me. Feng Jiu, you are free now.”
Free. Feng Jiu’s body stiffened. He looked up, his gaze involuntarily meeting those eyes he had never dared to look into before, eyes as clear and pure as an unclouded sky.
Suddenly, he felt something flow into the deepest part of his being. He hastily lowered his head.
In the past, he had never dared to look into her eyes as he had just done, for he knew she was a celestial princess, a noble Feng Nu, while he was merely a lowly guard. He dared not look, nor could he.
But now, on this day, when he could stand before her openly and fight alongside her, he subconsciously felt, “This is truly wonderful.”
“Let’s set off!” Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Jiu nodded and watched the slender figure already moving ahead of him. He silently vowed that for his entire life, for all eternity, he would be her devoted follower, without regret.