Farewell 3

"Do you think we can?" An Zhengnan glared at her. "The Lord has forbidden us to do it."

Bravo, Imperial Father! She cheered inwardly, but still put on a sulk on her face. "That means if Imperial Father didn't forbid you to, you will follow me?"

An Zhengnan coughed. "Well, I can consider to do so."

Then, she felt really thankful for Imperial Father. Who knew what problem would ensued if they knew her destination. "Don't even think of it." She harrumphed. "Don't worry, I will be fine."

Ren Yupei finally resigned with a sigh. "Be careful on your journey."

"Yes, yes! May I go now?"

Ren Yupei stepped aside and bowed slightly. "Have a safe trip, Princess."

An Zhengnan flicked her forehead as she passed through him. "Come home soon."

She glared at him whilst covering her forehead. But because she had been in a great mood, she chose not to start arguing. She only rolled her eyes and smirked teasingly. "You are free to enjoy your wild life now that I will be gone, huh?"

An Zhengnan's eyes widened as wide as he could muster as he felt his blood pressure rising. "You—!" Even until the last minute, she was really adamant to piss him off!

Ouyang Xueqing cackled out loud, and before An Zhengnan could catch her, she sprinted outside the Royal Palace's main door and continued down the road. Even until her figure grew smaller, she still occasionally turned around and waved at them in which only Ren Yupei waved back while An Zhengnan remained immobile.

He contemplated for a moment before deciding to take off.

"Wait." Ren Yupei caught his arm in the nick of the moment. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I—" His words died down in his throat as his brain drew blank. He had never been good at lying. His words were blunt, curt and often rude, but they only contained honesty in it.

Before he could think of any good reason, Ren Yupei sighed and shook his head. "Don't even think of following her."

The way he said it easily irked him. His forehead creased and he gritted his teeth. "Don't you worry about her? She haven't even gone out often, damn it! How can she survive alone?! What if something happened to her along the way?!"

"Of course, I worry." Ren Yupei's hold on his arm tightened and didn't allow him any gap to free himself. "But I respect her decision." His words stunned An Zhengnan until he forgot to struggle. "She isn't some kind of fragile flower in need of protection. She is The Princess, Zhengnan."

After making sure that the blockhead didn't harbor any weird thoughts, he finally loosened his hold and spread his sleeves. "You have to learn to let go. Remember your role here."

Ren Yupei strode inside, leaving him on the doorway with the man's vague words reverberating in his ears. His heart drummed inside his chest as his mind spiraled. Did he know? Did Ren Yupei realized that he was having inappropriate feelings toward The Princess? That's why he told him to let go?

He was pretty sure that he was doing a good job hiding it.

But then, not only him, but Ling Xiaochen whom he had only knew for a few years could clearly guess his feelings. For Ren Yupei who had a sharp eyes and knew him clearly for more than a hundred years, wasn't it weird for him not to know?

Damn it, what should he do?

The only person whom he wanted his feelings to be noticed turned out to be completely oblivious, while the people around him could see his affection as clear as day. He really didn't know whether he should cry or laugh.

***

Ouyang Xueqing met Ling Wenfu on the entrance of the forest nearby. There was a male stranger beside him. His look was ordinary, but there was something within his quiet demeanor and the sharpness in his eyes that made her think that he was far from ordinary.

It seemed to be Ling Wenfu's style. He was like that, and his people too.

"No one follow you here?"

She shook her head firmly. "Don't worry."

The man chuckled at her stern expression. "I'm not worrying about myself, kid. This is Fang Daxia, the one that will guide you to your destination."

Fang Daxia bowed expressionlessly. "It's an honor, Princess."

"Don't mind him." Ling Wenfu stroked his beard. "He has face paralysis."

The corner of Fang Daxia's lips twitched. Ouyang Xueqing mused inwardly. The man didn't seem to have face paralysis at all. But she dismissed it as she focused on her priority. "Is everything ready?"

Ling Wenfu nodded.

"You don't have to see me off like this, you know." Her gaze softened as she muttered. She had only known Ling Wenfu for three years, yet she felt an indescribable closeness to him that she herself didn't know where it came from.

Ling Wenfu's eyes glinted with mirth but his lips twisted sullenly. "I came here because Xiaochen insisted on seeing you off."

"She didn't need to do that. I will be back shortly."

"Ah, that's right." He exclaimed as he rummaged through his sleeves and pull out a piece of green jade. It was an ordinary looking jade that was often found on women's hair accessories or bracelet. The color was kind of dull so it was surely didn't cost much. "For you."

Ouyang Xueqing accepted it in confusion. She raised it to her eyes and scanned it from every angle, yet she didn't seem to find anything special about it. "What is this?"

"A signal device."

She was a little shock, almost dropping the jade from her palm. "A signal device?" She had surely heard of it. The Imperial Guards and Knights had a few of them in their possession. Even though she had never seen it before, but she knew the general use of them. It was a kind of distress signal where one use it in any kind of dangerous situation.

She guessed it right when Ling Wenfu answered. "Crush it, and my men will find you within three days, no matter where you are."

Blinking, she admire the ordinary jade which had such a potent abilities. The inconspicuous jade somehow felt a heavier. "This is such a precious thing. Are you sure you're giving it to me?"

"Yes." He said decisively. "So make sure to keep it with you always."

Her heart swelled in gratitude as her lips broke into a bright smile. "Thank you very much."

Ling Wenfu snorted in derision. "This is a safety measure for you, and for me as well. Please keep in mind that you only have one year time. If you still haven't contacted me within one week before your adulthood ceremony, this signal device can tell my men your location."

Her face fell. "So that you can drag me back?"

"It's your adulthood ceremony afterall, Princess." He stressed out on the last word to remind her of her status. Of course, she knew how important a Princess' adulthood ceremony was. She wouldn't be so foolish as to miss it. "Now, go and have fun."

Speaking of her journey, she suddenly felt a little nervous. Her nerves were singing in the mixture of anxiety and excitement. Her distressed face was obvious as Ling Wenfu couldn't help but ask. "Are you backing out?"

"No!" She barked.

"Then, are you scared of going alone?"

She wouldn't deny as she indeed felt a little scared of the foreign mainland. But keeping it herself and having someone pointed it out loud were two different thing. Seeing her fell silent with gloomy eyes, Ling Wenfu cackled out loud and held his stomach as if in pain.

She glared at him sulkily.

"Oh dear." He wiped the tears away from the corner of his eyes. "What the heck are you afraid of?"