The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 26

Wei Zhao abandoned any thoughts of recruiting more people and became even more laid-back. She didn’t want to move around much, so she spent her days lounging in her room, directing Faye to do this and that. Although Wei Zhao’s possessions had been worth quite a bit, and she couldn’t afford many more servants, it was enough to live a life of luxury on the ship.

That day, Song Sisi became upset, which triggered a cough, and then she caught a chill from the river breeze. Faye ran into A Zong in the kitchen while preparing medicine and reported it to Wei Zhao. After thinking for a long time, Wei Zhao reluctantly dragged herself to check on the young girl. The poor thing was lying in bed, looking sickly. When she saw Wei Zhao come in, her face lit up with joy.

But once the excitement passed, the girl became a little embarrassed. “Sister, you’re too kind. Please don’t come visit me again, so as not to pass on the illness.”

“What nonsense are you talking? I treat you like my own sister.” Wei Zhao said gently, which made the girl’s eyes red. But after that, Wei Zhao didn’t visit her again, pushing the girl out of her mind.

“Don’t you treat her like your sister?” Faye asked, curious.

“Of course I do.” Wei Zhao, lounging on her couch, painted her nails with a layer of fuchsia juice, looking relaxed. Her tone was lazy as she spoke, “My real sisters all see me as a thorn in their side, and I never care about them.”

“That’s not good.” Faye, her servant, stopped what she was doing and said earnestly.

“What’s wrong with it? You know, when I go to visit someone, it’s like receiving a blessing from my ancestors. I’ve had to beg for it many times,” Wei Zhao said, sitting up straight and looking at Faye with a faint, somewhat disdainful smile. She was barefoot, her feet resting on three layers of silk, which, though not as impressive as those in the Princess’s estate, were still quite presentable.

Faye looked at Wei Zhao, and it was becoming clearer that she was no longer the struggling woman from the forest or the humble servant from fifteen years ago, but the powerful and luxurious princess, holding authority and elegance.

“What are you staring at? Hurry up and keep working,” Wei Zhao said.

The princess loved eating fish sashimi, especially from bass. Luckily, they were on the water, or Faye would have had trouble finding something to satisfy her spoiled mistress’s cravings.

Faye lowered her head and began working. The knife moved quickly, cutting the fish into thin, translucent slices that fell like butterfly wings—quite a sight.

Her servant was naturally beautiful, and when focused, her green eyes were deep and calm, like a serene pool. Wei Zhao couldn’t help but think, what a pity her hair wasn’t clean. If it were, she would have had an artist capture this moment for her to admire.

Soon, Faye finished and presented the plate. Wei Zhao picked up her chopsticks but paused, smiling as she said, “As the ancients say, ‘Eat the fish with friends, served with turtle, and the carp.’ This is a dish meant to be shared with others.”

“I’ll go get Miss Song,” Faye said.

“Fish causes phlegm. Why would I ask her to join us?” Wei Zhao frowned.

Faye quietly waited, not speaking.

Seeing this, Wei Zhao became a bit irritated and glared at Faye. “Do you want me to invite you to sit down and eat with me?”

Faye grinned silently, her smile filled with a crafty satisfaction as if she’d achieved her goal. She lifted her skirt and sat down. “Thank you.”

“You should call me ‘Mistress’,” Wei Zhao corrected patiently, not appearing angry, only lifting her chin slightly. “Go get those chopsticks. We’ll eat together.”

Faye nodded, stood, then turned back, smiling. “You’re so good to me.”

With that, she happily left the room.

Wei Zhao stood there for a while, and after a long moment, a slight blush crept onto her face. She pressed her hand to her cheek and muttered, “What’s this… It’s just a reward, after all.”

The two of them had just started eating when noises from outside became apparent.

Wei Zhao’s face darkened. Faye stood up, looking out the window. Her expression shifted slightly. “It seems there’s some unrest outside.”

Wei Zhao turned. “Are they pursuers?”

“Not likely,” Faye shook her head, thinking for a moment. “I’ll go check.”

Faye hurried off, brushing past Wei Zhao. Her hem caught on her, and Faye lowered her head, meeting Wei Zhao’s eyes.

“Since it doesn’t concern us, we’ll eat first,” Wei Zhao said, her tone light but firm. “If it’s really nothing to do with us, don’t get involved.”

Seeing Faye’s expression shift as though she wanted to argue, Wei Zhao gently tapped the table. “The fish is perfectly fresh, tender, and delicious. If we wait too long, it won’t taste the same. You worked hard to cut it, so we should finish it.”

Faye blinked, sat down, and stared at her bowl and chopsticks, silent.

Seeing this, Wei Zhao smiled and teased, “Are you feeling moved, thinking of serving me like a beast of burden from now on?”

“I was born human, not a beast,” Faye replied, lifting her head.

Wei Zhao smiled, her servant never being one to feel sorry for herself. It was typical of Faye to speak this way.

The two of them shared a look and then picked up their chopsticks to eat happily.

Once they were full, Faye left the room. The moment she opened the door, the noise outside was deafening.

Faye crossed her arms and didn’t look down but instead was drawn to the scene ahead.

The merchant ship had entered Pingji Lake.

The lake stretched endlessly, vast and misty, with no visible boundaries. The steam rose from the water, and the sky was veiled in fog, hiding the sun. Occasionally, birds flew past, their calls loud and clear. For a moment, Faye thought she had returned to the endless, swaying, and blue sea.

Ahead, there was a wrecked merchant ship, its bow facing upward, slowly sinking.

Many people clung to wooden planks, shouting for help. The crew was shouting orders to rescue them.

“Unbelievable! These bandits actually dare to rob in broad daylight!”

“Didn’t they say the big ships were safe from such attacks? How dare they be so rampant!”

Faye listened to the angry voices. Her green eyes narrowed. The sinking ship was not much different from theirs, which meant these bandits had become bolder. Faye’s expression darkened as she stepped forward and leaned over the railing to look down.

The deck below was in chaos.

People, drenched, were being rescued and set aside. The ship’s doctor ran around, and many people had been injured, their bl00d mixing with the lake water, splashing everywhere. The onlookers whispered quietly, and the sailors were mobilized to help. A Kunlun slave was pulled up to do the hardest work.

The bodyguard, Wang, was frowning, holding a man who was soaked and dressed like a deckhand. Clearly, he was also a crew member, just rescued from the water.

“When did you get attacked, and where are the pirates now?”

“About an hour ago,” the man shivered, then grabbed Wang by the hand. “Our captain was taken! Please, save our boss!”

Wang asked again, “How many guards did you have on board?”

“We didn’t have any. We thought a ship this big would be safe from pirates,” the man cried.

Wang pondered for a moment, looking uncertain.

At that moment, a woman’s voice rang out, “We’ll go after them.”

Wang turned around to see Faye standing behind him. Faye was tall and strong, almost like a man. Wang instinctively took a step back, frowning and eyeing her eyes, then glanced at the sword she wore at her waist.

“I can help,” Faye said.

The sailors looked at Faye suspiciously, quietly backing away behind Wang. Faye noticed and asked, “Is there something wrong with me?”

Wang also glanced at the crew member who had been rescued. The man whispered something in Wang’s ear. Wang’s face grew solemn as he looked at Faye, his expression turning serious.

“Are you a slave?” Wang asked.

Faye raised an eyebrow, about to answer, but before she could, a clear voice interrupted, “She sold herself to me. She’s my servant. Does it matter who she is when it comes to saving people?”

Faye’s expression shifted slightly as she turned to see Wei Zhao walking over. Without thinking, Faye looked down to see that Wei Zhao had put on her shoes. Then, as she looked up, Wei Zhao gave her a quick glance and walked right past her, whispering, “I told you not to get involved. We’ll talk when you get back.”

Faye touched her nose and smiled faintly.

Wei Zhao glanced at Wang, and seeing that he was used to dealing with nobles, didn’t want to offend her, smiled awkwardly. “What the guest says is right, but if we go, there will surely be fighting. If anyone gets hurt…”

Wei Zhao hesitated. She didn’t want to get involved, but seeing Faye treated unfairly made her step in. Now, hearing Wang’s words, she was tempted to back out. But Faye stepped forward.

“If they dared to rob once, they’ll do it again. Besides…” Faye pointed to the sinking ship, speaking softly, “We’re so close, and even though it happened an hour ago, why haven’t we heard a sound or seen any signals? Pirates usually use gunfire first and ram the ship. It won’t be over quickly. I suspect…”

“An insider?” Wei Zhao frowned.

“It’s just a guess,” Faye nodded. “Please, let me go.”

Wei Zhao stared at Faye’s eyes for a long moment, then finally said, “In that case, be careful.”

Author’s Note:

I don’t have much in my stockpile left…

Actually, I’ve left a lot unsaid, like about A Zong. She is quite skilled, even more so than Faye, but she only dares to act when Song Sisi gives her the go-ahead. She was humiliated by a short deckhand, but instead of fighting back, she stepped back. It was only when Song Sisi spoke up that she exploded in anger, which shows she had been ‘tamed’ but still has thoughts of her own.

A Zong is a complicated character.

Also, there’s a little red envelope for today’s chapter comments, thank you for your support!

And I have a new pre-ordered book, White-eyed Wolf. Please check it out if you have the chance. Love you all.