The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 28

Fa Yilian took Wei Zhao’s hand.

As a slave, or rather, as someone who had been given this right by Wei Zhao herself.

But at times like this, with the scent of wine filling the air and the lively music and dancing all around, who would care? Who would even notice?

The two of them danced together, looking into each other’s eyes, spinning gracefully in the popular Hu Xuan dance of the capital. They were having fun, and the crowd’s cheers were loud. During one spin, Wei Zhao caught sight of Song Sisi, leaning against a doorframe, watching them enviously. Her lover and slave, A Zong, stood silently behind Song Sisi, observing everyone without a word.

It was as if all the excitement had nothing to do with her.

But it was only a fleeting moment. Wei Zhao was soon pulled back by Fa Yilian. She saw her slave’s green eyes fixed on her, sparkling under the firelight. “You’ve been calling my name.”

The slave said.

Wei Zhao was a little helpless. She didn’t understand why the slave was so fixated on this matter. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Then the slave smiled, “Then, can I call your name?”

Wei Zhao squinted. “You’re thinking about eating me up, aren’t you?”

“Alright.” The slave lowered her eyes slightly, as if a big dog were sulking, its soft ears drooping.

In that instant, Wei Zhao inexplicably felt the urge to ruffle her slave’s messy hair. She glanced at Fa Yilian’s fluffy, tousled hair, remembering how it had been soaked in lake water not long ago, and instinctively wiped her hands.

I must be losing my mind, Wei Zhao thought.

The next day, Wei Zhao didn’t wake up until noon. When she did, she was dazed for a moment, smelling the faint scent of flowers in the air. Turning her head, she saw sunlight pouring in through the window, casting golden dust that danced in the light and slowly settled. The air had the fresh, humid feel of water, but the blanket still carried the warm scent of sunlight. The blanket had been specially dried by the slave by the charcoal fire. Wei Zhao curled up a bit, wanting to bury herself deeper into the warm covers.

Time seemed to move lazily. It was a feeling she’d never experienced in the deep palace or at the princess’s estate.

Wei Zhao almost felt like she had come here to play, with nothing to worry about, nothing to think about…

“A Xian. When you think like this, it means something is wrong. Only useless fools, trash, don’t need to think about anything, because they just have to act like livestock, doing the same things every day.” Her mother’s voice echoed in her ears like a ghost.

Wei Zhao’s face went pale. She clenched the blanket, then suddenly flipped out of bed.

As soon as she looked up, she met Fa Yilian’s gaze, who was holding a basin of hot water.

“You’re awake?” Fa Yilian’s eyes curved into a smile. “You’re up quite early today.”

“…It’s not that early.” Wei Zhao rubbed her forehead, muttering, “Not early, but still…”

Still, she couldn’t sit around doing nothing all day, like some idle noble.

She couldn’t be like a dumb beast that just ate and worked.

Wei Zhao looked up at Fa Yilian. Fa Yilian was pouring water with her usual focus, even for such a small task.

“Here.” The warm towel was handed over.

Cotton was a relatively new invention from the past few generations, and it was still rare and expensive in the market. Wei Zhao took the towel and wiped her face, then came back to herself. “Where did this come from?”

“The merchant ship owner gave it to you,” Fa Yilian answered. She took back the towel and handed over some mouthwash. “He wants to talk with you.”

Wei Zhao was fully awake now. She blinked, and with Fa Yilian’s swift and skillful help, she changed clothes and shoes, then sat at the table. Smiling, she asked, “Talk? What about? Am I talking, or are you?”

Fa Yilian glanced at her, noticing the displeasure on her face, and seemed puzzled. “Since I am yours, of course, you should be the one to talk.”

The implication was that the merchant, Yu Cheng, really wanted to talk to Fa Yilian, but because of her status as a slave, he needed Wei Zhao’s approval.

Wei Zhao saw through Fa Yilian’s understanding, but Fa Yilian still pretended to be clueless about the potential power dynamics at play. Wei Zhao squinted and, with a hint of testing, asked, “Do you want to go?”

Fa Yilian tilted her head thoughtfully. After a moment, she replied, “Since I don’t know their intentions, it’s hard to say whether I want to go.”

Wei Zhao nodded. “So what do they want?”

Fa Yilian showed some confusion. “They don’t seem like they want to attack. I’m not sure.”

Wei Zhao finally relaxed. She turned to look out the window. The spring light was just right, and the lake was calm. But in the distance, she couldn’t even see the distant mountains or pavilions. The lake was so vast, it felt like a small, independent world. It seemed like they were free from the control of the Great Zhou dynasty, as if they were a small, unrestrained kingdom.

But in the end, they were still on the land of Great Zhou. Even the biggest lake was just a slightly larger pond compared to the vastness of the empire.

“Let’s finish breakfast and then go see them.” Wei Zhao made up her mind.

Fa Yilian looked outside and hesitated. “…Not lunch?”

“Shut up!” Wei Zhao gritted her teeth, staring at the slave who didn’t know when to stop. “We’ll go after breakfast.”

Fa Yilian gave a soft “oh” and stood up. “I’ll go to the kitchen and have them prepare the food.”

Wei Zhao nodded. “Then get some double-boiled soup, lotus root, and a bowl of green rice.”

Fa Yilian paused before speaking again. “Master, if we keep eating like this, our money will run out soon.”

Wei Zhao fell silent. Her gaze shifted from Fa Yilian’s face to the purse at her waist. After a suspicious pause, she said, “It doesn’t matter. You can go. We’ll have more money.”

Fa Yilian showed a worried expression. “Are we going to rob someone? Or beg?”

“…Neither. Just shut up,” Wei Zhao said, holding her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

Soon, Fa Yilian’s voice came again, “Or do you plan to reveal your identity?”

Wei Zhao suddenly looked up. Fa Yilian was still wearing that worried expression. Seeing Wei Zhao’s face, Fa Yilian stepped closer. Wei Zhao shifted uneasily, feeling some pressure coming from the slave.

But… why? She was the master, she was the one who made decisions. Why did she feel this way in front of her slave’s disapproving expression?

Ah…

Wei Zhao realized, a bit belatedly, that somehow, she had started to understand what Fa Yilian wanted to express just by reading her expressions.

She hadn’t needed this before.

Slaves were people, but not even considered lowly people, they only guessed the thoughts of their masters. The master didn’t care, didn’t need to guess the slave’s thoughts.

Fa Yilian stepped forward and half-knelt in front of Wei Zhao, reaching out to take her hand.

Wei Zhao’s fingers trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes, hiding the emotions in them. The slave’s fingers were warm and dry, familiar yet slightly strange.

Ever since they had left the forest, the times they had held hands had been decreasing. It felt like they had suddenly changed from two animals who depended only on each other, to humans wearing human skins.

Something that had disappeared before now returned to them—master and slave, princess and lowly subject, decision-maker and executor. Fa Yilian was now her most useful tool, her most thoughtful servant, her most loyal companion.

But that was all.

Wei Zhao’s eyelids fluttered.

Was there anything else she needed? What other role did she want this person to play? And in what identity did she want this person to stand by her side?

At that moment, the happy scene from the night before flashed through her mind. She remembered those soft green eyes flickering in the candlelight. But that was only for a brief instant, and like ripples on the water, the vision disappeared.

Wei Zhao took a deep breath. She didn’t pull her hand away from Fa Yilian’s, but neither did she return the gesture. She looked into Fa Yilian’s eyes. “Our goal is to reach Haizhou as quickly as possible. So I don’t want any unnecessary trouble.”

Fa Yilian blinked, her usually clear and steady green eyes now showing rare confusion. Her slave had always been smart, and seeing the confusion on her face, Wei Zhao couldn’t help but admit that she felt a strange sense of pleasure.

Wei Zhao smiled, unusually patient. “If the bandits ahead are an unavoidable risk, then we’ll figure out how to avoid them.”

Fa Yilian stood outside the door, having just come from the small kitchen. She had delivered the princess’s picky orders.

“Which piece of fish should be the most tender? Only the buds for the vegetables? Ah, this…” The round, chubby cook let out a sigh, looked at Fa Yilian, and held back the sarcasm he was about to speak. “Alright, I get it. As long as you pay, I’ll cook whatever you want.”

Soon, Fa Yilian was kicked out of the kitchen. She didn’t mind. As she walked away, she quietly thought about what Wei Zhao had said. The sailors around her nodded, recognizing her from her past deeds.

Fa Yilian nodded back without saying anything. But just then, she heard a scuffle and yelling. Fa Yilian peeked over and saw the Kunlun slave being scolded again.

She didn’t pay it any attention. But as she turned back, she noticed A Zong was watching the scene from the railing.

Fa Yilian didn’t greet him, walking past him with ease.

“You’re called Fa Yilian?” A Zong spoke.

Fa Yilian turned to face A Zong’s icy blue eyes and nodded.

A Zong continued, “That’s not a Great Zhou name. Is it your real name?”

Fa Yilian blinked. “Yes, it is. What about you?”

A Zong pressed her lips together. After a long moment, her lips twitched, as if trying to form a smile, but instead, a look of sadness appeared. “I don’t have a name.”

The tall woman in front of her showed clear confusion. “But your name is A Zong, right? Isn’t that your name?”

Of course,

A Zong lowered her head, gripping her hands tightly.

Of course not.

“I have blue eyes and black hair, but why should I be called A Zong?”

A Zong replied.