Foster Son, Don’t Be So Crazy (24)

A luxurious carriage, drawn by majestic black horses, cantered along one of the busiest streets in the capital. The people walking on the road moved to the side after seeing the emblem of the royal family on the red flag.

"I wonder who's inside."

"Could it be the princess? She loves to buy apples in the street market."

The curious citizens murmured to one another.

A small hand, covered by a white glove, slowly retreated in the darkness of the carriage after parting the velvet curtains on the window.

There was a soft sigh.

"Is there still no news on the boy I told you to find?"

A sweet voice, with a slightly childish tone.

But the voice that replied to her was strong and firm, despite being full of reverence. It was the voice of an adult male.

"Replying to Your Highness...our search didn't yield anything. It was as if he had completely disappeared without leaving a single trace behind."

As the carriage bumped on a slight protrusion on the road, the curtain fluttered to show a glimpse of skin that was white as snow. A dress that was the color of blood, and a basket of glossy red apples. Then darkness covered the two occupants inside the carriage once again.

"Continue searching."

The sweet voice from before had completely turned ice-cold.

The man that was facing her lowered his eyes as he shuddered.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"If you don't have a better answer for me next time..."

The gloved hand let her fingers go slack as she carelessly dropped a rotten apple outside the window. It fell onto a puddle below, crushed to a pulp as the wheels of the carriage ran it over.

"You know what will happen to those I feel whose skills have already rotted."

The man bowed his head even deeper, not daring to lift his eyes. His heart pounded inside his chest as he answered once again.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Princess Bai Xue's lips curled upwards.

...

Song Jia returned with Xiang Feng and Nian Shou to the inn they stayed the night before. After buying Nian Shou new clothes to replace his old ones, Song Jia discussed to them her plans of them moving out from the village.

"Since we already made enemies of the wealthiest family there and Xiang Feng isn't learning anything from school...I think it's best if we consider moving somewhere else."

To her relief, they agreed to her suggestion.

"Wherever Jia goes, that's where I'll go."

That was Xiang Feng.

"If I go back there, I'll probably murder the butcher," Nian Shou said with a dark face.

Song Jia was glad that they reached a consensus so quickly. She took out the map and pointed excitedly towards the south.

"I'm thinking of moving here. There's plenty of villages in the south that has a high crop yield, almost zero crime rate, with residential land being sold at a low price..."

The main point being, the south of the kingdom didn't have too much dealings with the royal family. It was not as progressive as the other parts of the kingdom, so the nobles didn't pay attention to it. It was because the south was prone to typhoons, not to mention it gets the most frequent lightning strikes per year.

There were even tales spread by the people that the south wasn't very favored by God, that's why nearly everyone avoided living there. For Song Jia, dealing with typhoons and lightning strikes were problems that could be easily dealt by her. Other people may not be able to appreciate the south, but she could.

"Let's start moving tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Nian Shou was surprised. "My trial just ended and the two of you are still exhausted from traveling. Aren't we moving too fast? It would be better if we get some rest first."

"No, we have to move tomorrow."

The south was Song Jia's hope...her Maginot Line. The longer she stayed in the capital, the more antsy she became. Song Jia couldn't explain it. Even her sleep here was plagued by nightmares of losing her salary.

"If Jia says so, we should go."

Without further ado, Xiang Feng started packing his things. Nian Shou couldn't help but scratch his head in chagrin.

To be honest, competing with this little boy...it hurts his pride losing every time, ah.

Song Jia looked at Xiang Feng, who was seriously folding all of his clothes. He was only ten years old, yet she filled his head with complex lessons and serious matters. That was probably why he was so obedient to her. Did she come off as a strict mother?

She bit her lip worriedly. If he lost his childhood, what if it became one of the reasons he became a ruthless murderer in the future?

"Xiao Feng...do you want to go explore the capital for a bit?"

Her tentative voice made the young boy's hands pause. He looked up at her, his dark eyes questioning.

"Does Jia want to go?"

If she wanted to go, then he will accompany her. But if she didn't want to go, then Xiang Feng wasn't interested in going out either.

Xiang Feng wasn't aware, but his reply only made Song Jia's heart sink even deeper. As expected...instead of being spoiled like most children his age, he felt that he had to ask her permission first before even taking a step out of the house.

Song Jia inwardly cried a river of tears.

Wuwu, I became the kind of mother I hated the most~ Strict, bossy, and no fun at all~

"Alright, we'll go, we'll go. I'll buy you lots of candy and souvenirs. Does Xiao Feng want to buy new clothes? Come on, stop packing and let's go already."

Nian Shou looked back and forth between the two of them. He felt that something had gone wrong at some point in their conversation, but he couldn't point his finger on it. However, the result was what he wanted, so he decided not to pay attention it.

See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil.

Nian Shou decided that ignorance was bliss and cheerfully followed the two of them out of the inn and into the busy streets of the capital.