The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 45
“I’ve heard that across the sea there are other countries. Are they as big as Da Zhou?”
The sea breeze blew, and the waves crashed against the shore with a whooshing sound. The blue sky was dotted with seagulls flying overhead, their calls echoing across the harbor. The pier was crowded with people, some selling seafood, others being foreign merchants. Sailors ran back and forth, and the brokers’ eyes were sharp, quickly surrounding newcomers, chattering and introducing their goods, dazzling and confusing the first-time visitors.
A Zong stood at the dock, watching the scene before her. Suddenly, she turned to ask Fa Yilian.
Fa Yilian had been lost in thought. She had been unexpectedly pushed out by Wei Zhao to gather information with A Zong. Her mind was slightly uneasy, wondering what had gone wrong that caused Wei Zhao, who had been so chatty and open with her during their journey, to suddenly change her attitude.
When A Zong spoke, Fa Yilian snapped back to reality. She glanced at A Zong and quietly replied, “The country may not be as big as Da Zhou, but the land is much larger and more vast.”
A Zong let out a loud “Wow,” her eyes sparkling. “I want to see it…”
Fa Yilian smiled. She squinted, gazing off into the distance. After a long pause, she asked, “Is this the only pier?”
A Zong nodded. “I’ve heard there are small fishing villages nearby, but if you want to reach Haizhou City, this is the only one. There might be a military port, but ordinary people can’t go there.”
“…Then something’s not right,” Fa Yilian muttered, watching the distant sails, her voice slow and deliberate.
Wei Zhao felt frustrated as she watched the foreign woman slowly sipping her tea. The woman’s tea-drinking posture was perfect, yet her clothes, from another country, looked a bit out of place—just the kind of oddness that didn’t belong here. Wei Zhao pursed her lips. She had considered confronting the woman or simply making her disappear so she wouldn’t be a nuisance.
But, she hadn’t expected this woman to use the connection with Manager Jin to brazenly appear before her.
At this thought, Wei Zhao couldn’t help but look at Manager Jin. Under the cold glare of the princess, Manager Jin couldn’t stop wiping the sweat from his forehead. He silently cursed, “Master Zhu is really going to get me killed this time!”
Master Zhu, catching her eye, smiled at Wei Zhao. “My name is Judith, but you can call me Judy. We’ve met before.”
Manager Jin inwardly groaned. He had been fooled by that “we’ve met before” comment. Then Judith had described the princess’s appearance in detail, even mentioning a slave named Fa Yilian by her side. He had no idea how Judith knew so much. He knew his own manor well and confirmed there was no spy or outsider sneaking in. Plus, with the name of Duobao Pavilion in the local area, he never thought anyone would dare deceive him…
And yet, here he was, watching the princess give him icy glares. If it weren’t for Master Zhu being present, he might have dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.
Wei Zhao curled her lips. “I’m not sure what brings Master Zhu here.”
Judith sighed. “I’ve been traveling a lot…”
“Ahem, ahem, ahem!” Manager Jin cleared his throat with a face turning pale.
Judith raised an eyebrow, looking at Manager Jin. Wei Zhao’s face darkened further. “Manager Jin, what are you coughing for?”
“I-I… old servant…” Manager Jin’s chubby cheeks trembled as he gritted his teeth and fell to his knees, crying out, “Old servant, old servant…”
Wei Zhao glanced at him. She had already figured out Judith’s intentions. Although a surge of anger rose in her chest, she knew that, given her current situation, she could only swallow her pride and accept it. She smiled faintly at Manager Jin, saying, “Why are you kneeling? What kind of manners are these in front of others?”
Manager Jin, who had been managing Duobao Pavilion in Haizhou City for many years, immediately understood. He realized that, as long as he cooperated properly from now on, this matter would surely be forgotten. Ecstatic, he stood up and stood by Wei Zhao’s side.
Wei Zhao smelled the strong scent of ambergris on Manager Jin. Her eyes flickered coldly, but she said nothing. She looked at Judith and asked, “You smuggle goods, and then?”
Judith touched her nose, and Wei Zhao’s brows furrowed even tighter. She realized that this action was strangely reminiscent of Fa Yilian. Wei Zhao hated this similarity, as it made her feel a sense of helplessness, like she couldn’t control something. She subconsciously gripped the armrest again and turned her gaze back to Judith.
Judith noticed the shift in her posture and smiled. “Though I smuggle, I also do legitimate business. I know you’re probably trying to inquire about something. Some things Manager Jin might know, and some things he might not. But I know. And as a humble smuggler in Haizhou City, if there are things that need to be handled, it’s better for me to take care of them, right?”
“Humdrum” is not quite the word.
Wei Zhao instinctively refuted this in her mind. But she also realized that Judith’s intentions were now clear. She was offering help, but there would naturally be a price to pay.
Wei Zhao fixed her gaze on Judith. Judith bowed slightly. “Don’t look at me like that. I mean well, and my request is simple.”
Wei Zhao pressed her hand to her forehead. “I need… to think about it…”
“Of course, I won’t be leaving Haizhou City during this time. You can find me whenever you’re ready,” Judith smiled. “Manager Jin knows where to find me.”
Wei Zhao looked back at Manager Jin, who groaned inwardly and coughed lightly. “Master Zhu is an honest merchant, and she always completes her tasks well.”
Wei Zhao said nothing, but motioned to have Judith escorted out. After the door closed, she still had things to discuss with Manager Jin. She could tolerate some of her subordinates lining their pockets, but she could not tolerate deception.
When Fa Yilian and A Zong returned, they sensed the shift in atmosphere. Although Wei Zhao wasn’t staying at the governor’s mansion, it was customary for the staff to host her, as this was a balance between both sides. A Zong might not have understood the significance, but Fa Yilian, always by Wei Zhao’s side and experienced with intrigue, immediately raised her guard. Noticing the change, Fa Yilian, though outwardly calm, quietly heightened her vigilance.
Once inside the courtyard, Fa Yilian quickly moved to Wei Zhao’s side. Seeing the princess sitting there unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t help but say, “I thought the governor’s people might have had bad intentions toward you.”
“Who doesn’t have problems?” Wei Zhao muttered angrily as she glared at Fa Yilian. The more she looked at her, the more irritated she became. “You have problems too! You have disloyal intentions too!”
Fa Yilian: “…”
Fa Yilian was at a loss for words. She touched her nose, unaware that this action only made Wei Zhao more upset. Wei Zhao stood up and poked her in the nose. “What are you touching? Is it because your nose is straight? Or because it makes your nose look sharp?”
Fa Yilian looked at Wei Zhao, who seemed ready to explode. She cautiously studied her and placed her fingers lightly on Wei Zhao’s hand. Wei Zhao’s fingers twitched but didn’t pull away, and she just stared at her. Fa Yilian gave her a pitiful, pleading smile, speaking in a soft voice, “What did I do to upset you?”
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” Wei Zhao responded, letting out a soft hum, as if lightly emphasizing her words with a playful tone.
In truth… it was a playful tone, wasn’t it?
Fa Yilian smiled. When she saw Wei Zhao’s expression soften, she knew she had to be careful. She leaned in and gently brushed her nose against Wei Zhao’s.
Her fingers were still resting on Wei Zhao’s body, and she immediately sensed the slight stiffness in Wei Zhao’s posture. Fa Yilian lowered her gaze, then raised it again, almost like a cautious animal, testing the waters by touching her nose again.
A gentle touch, then another, even lighter.
Wei Zhao held her breath, watching as Fa Yilian’s eyes drew closer and then pulled away, inching closer again. With each pull away, the gap between them closed slightly. Eventually, they were almost touching. Wei Zhao stared into Fa Yilian’s eyes. Neither of them closed their eyes, as though they were in a silent battle—whoever closed their eyes would lose.
Then, Fa Yilian sighed softly, and Wei Zhao felt a warm, soft touch gently brush against her lips. Her breathing grew rapid and erratic, her eyelashes fluttering against Fa Yilian’s palm. Fa Yilian licked her lips before kissing her again. This time, it wasn’t as gentle or shy.
Perhaps it was gentle and shy, but Wei Zhao couldn’t remember. All she could recall was her heart pounding hard in her chest, the bl00d racing through her veins. She felt burning heat and wondered if Fa Yilian could feel her pulse. Her palms grew sweaty, and her eyelids trembled, as if flames were searing her whole body. But the kiss was sweet in a way that was almost impossible to believe.
This… was really…
Wei Zhao couldn’t help but think.
She wanted to have this person, in this way, through this touch. She thought to herself, she had to have her, by any means necessary.