The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 51

Whether Wei Zhao was willing or not, life had to go on as usual. The wind and rain that lasted all through the night yesterday were fierce—though there was no thunder or lightning, it was a storm unlike anything Wei Zhao had experienced before.

Wei Zhao was afraid.

Although the capital, Shen Du, had smooth waterways, it was located on the plains, surrounded by mountains that surged like dragons and tigers, making it a prime location with great feng shui. Most of the time, the weather was calm with gentle winds and little to no storms. It was rare to have a storm like last night’s, with the sound of the wind and waves almost as loud as thunder. As she sat in her room, Wei Zhao felt as fragile as a mayfly.

There was no one else around her, and even though the candlelight burned brightly, it didn’t bring her any comfort.

In a daze, she finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. When she woke up, she heard faint sounds, as if someone was doing something.

Was it Fa Yilian?

But Fa Yilian never made any noise when she worked.

This thought was quickly pushed aside. Wei Zhao lazily snuggled into her soft pillow and said, with a voice still heavy with sleep, “You actually came back?”

The sound suddenly stopped.

Wei Zhao waited for a while, but didn’t hear the bold servant’s footsteps coming toward her. Instead, she felt a hint of fear. Something felt off. She quickly opened her eyes.

Outside the gauze curtains, a young maid was kneeling on the ground, looking anxious and uneasy.

Wei Zhao suddenly felt a surge of fear, followed by a wave of anger. She quickly sat up, threw back the curtain, and stared at the young maid with scrutiny.

“Who are you? Where’s Fa Yilian?”

“I-I am a maid sent by the master to serve the young lady.” The young maid was clearly well-trained. Despite her anxiety, she spoke clearly and organized, with her head lowered in a respectful manner.

“Fa Yilian stayed up most of the night and only went to rest after dawn. She instructed me on what to do…”

The implication was that she had received double assurances from both Fa Yilian and Manager Jin. But Wei Zhao didn’t pay attention to that detail. Her expression softened a little. “She stayed up all night?”

It had been mostly the middle of the night.

But the young maid was sharp and immediately responded, “Indeed, last night’s wind and rain were so strong, everyone was eager to return to their rooms. Fa Yilian said she was worried about the young lady, so she stayed by the door.”

Wei Zhao’s face cleared up, and she smiled, thinking the maid was clever, thoughtful, and good at reading the situation.

She nodded. “She worked hard, and you did too.”

The young maid, realizing she had said the right thing, brightened up and immediately bowed. “It is my fortune to serve the young lady.”

If it were Fa Yilian, she wouldn’t speak in such a humble, flattering way. Fa Yilian had always been proud. She knew how to be attentive and make people feel cared for, but all those actions were driven by her own will, her personal desire…

In comparison, the maid’s words seemed insincere. Wei Zhao’s face darkened again.

The maid didn’t understand what she had done wrong and, feeling uneasy, remained silent.

After a long while, Wei Zhao sighed softly.

“Forget it. Help me get up.”

Wei Zhao had grown up being served by others. When faced with the young maid, she naturally acted quite at ease. But compared to Fa Yilian, she felt something was wrong.

The maid didn’t know what to do or say. When she was quiet, she appeared too dull; when she spoke, she lacked initiative, only adding to the awkwardness.

Wei Zhao understood that it wasn’t really the maid’s fault. Servants always speak in pleasing ways. After all, they saved up money for personal use and could face many hardships. Wei Zhao knew well that no one would be willing to endlessly accommodate others—except for…

Wei Zhao lowered her eyes, but if relationships needed to be reciprocal, it would be too much to ask.

She lost herself in these thoughts until the young maid finished tidying up, at which point they left the room together. Perhaps because Wei Zhao had been silent, the maid also relaxed and spoke more freely.

“Miss, breakfast is ready.” She helped Wei Zhao, admiring her composed and graceful demeanor. She had worked for the Jin family for many years and had attended to many women, so she had a good sense of how to serve. But among all those she’d encountered, Wei Zhao was different.

The young maid secretly glanced at her. As they walked outside, Wei Zhao paused for a moment and then asked, “Where did Fa Yilian go to rest?”

The maid froze for a moment, then hesitated before realizing who Wei Zhao was referring to. She quickly replied, “I believe Fa Yilian went to the room over there.”

Wei Zhao looked in the direction the maid pointed and turned towards it, though her words carried a stormy undertone. “Fa Yilian, are you very familiar with her?”

The maid dared not speak, lowering her head in silence, pretending to be invisible. Wei Zhao knocked on the door and stood there, staring at it for a long time, unmoving.

The young maid felt puzzled but knew she should act as though she didn’t know anything.

After a moment, Wei Zhao sighed, turned, and was about to leave. Just then, the door creaked open. Wei Zhao turned around to find Fa Yilian standing in the doorway, backlit by the sun. Her hair was messy, sticking out here and there, and her eyes seemed a bit dazed, as if she had just woken up.

But the moment Fa Yilian noticed Wei Zhao, her dazed expression turned sharp. She rubbed her hair, trying in vain to smooth it down, while the other hand tugged at her clothes as if doing so would make her look more presentable.

Seeing this, Wei Zhao instinctively smiled, and the emotions she had been harboring seemed to dissipate.

“You’re up? What time is it?”

“What time? Are you implying I would sleep until noon?” Fa Yilian touched the tip of her nose.

“No, no, not at all.” Fa Yilian adjusted her hair again. “Last night the storm was so strong, I guessed you didn’t sleep well.”

“Whether I slept well or not, there are things that need to be done.” Wei Zhao sighed dramatically.

Fa Yilian smoothed down her hair once more, then adjusted her clothes. “You go ahead and have breakfast. I’ll be there shortly.”

In Haizhou City, although Manager Jin worked for Wei Zhao, she could never fully trust him. The complexities of human nature meant she had to remain cautious.

This was something both Wei Zhao and Fa Yilian understood. Despite their arguments the previous day, they put their differences aside and relied on each other, trusting each other in times like these.

Wei Zhao nodded and looked at Fa Yilian, pausing for a moment before saying, “No need to hurry. Go ahead and rest a bit more.”

Fa Yilian looked up, meeting Wei Zhao’s gaze. A brief smile flickered in her eyes. She nodded. “I’ll be quick. Wait for me.”

They exchanged a glance and each turned away, saying their goodbyes.

The young maid helped Wei Zhao, walking carefully. She had been reprimanded earlier, so she was extra cautious and didn’t dare to act out of line. But she didn’t expect that, as they walked through the courtyard, Wei Zhao would suddenly ask, “What do you think of my servant?”

What did she think? She was disrespectful, staring at people without looking away, without even using proper respectful titles. If they were in the Jin family, she would have already been thrown into the dungeon for education, with at least three lashes before being let out.

The young maid lowered her eyes, replying quietly, “Fa Yilian is loyal to her master. I admire her very much.”

“Loyal? Do you think she would be this loyal to anyone else if she had a different master?”

The maid remained silent.

If it weren’t for the contract and the silver, she really wouldn’t want to serve anymore.

Fortunately, Wei Zhao understood the situation and, in a much better mood now, didn’t say anything more. “A man dies for a confidant; a woman cares for someone who makes her happy. People are just different.”

The young maid was puzzled but held back her complaints and responded softly.

Wei Zhao was content. She ate breakfast with a smile, and the maid took the opportunity to pass a message to Manager Jin.

Manager Jin had been waiting for a while. He stood outside, and when he saw Fa Yilian go in and Wei Zhao come out, he quickly stepped forward. “The Magistrate has arrived.”

“The Magistrate? Oh? Does he have some free time?” Wei Zhao replied casually.

Manager Jin laughed awkwardly but didn’t dare to answer.

Previously, Wei Zhao didn’t want anyone to know that she was a princess, so others had to hide her identity and receive her in a proper manner. This made the reception quite complicated, with many people scheming behind the scenes. The young, eager youth were in charge of the hosting.

Lots of flattery, lots of sweet talk.

Wei Zhao had seen it all before, so dealing with it was easy. She spoke in a way that left no room for doubt.

Yu Jinye hurriedly stepped forward, bowing to Wei Zhao. He stiffly said, “Your Highness, I know I have committed a crime.”

Wei Zhao smiled lightly. “What crime would you have?”

Yu Jinye cupped his hands. “There has been trouble in the city, and I will make sure to punish them severely.”

“Then you’ll have to apologize to Manager Jin. What does a bandit have to do with me?” Wei Zhao stretched out her hand, inspecting her nails leisurely.

Manager Jin chuckled bitterly. Wei Zhao had effectively removed herself from the situation, and since he had reported to the authorities, things couldn’t be settled easily. This forced him to sever ties with Yu Jinye.

Manager Jin bowed to Yu Jinye. “Magistrate, we’ve been doing business here in Haizhou for a long time. Although we are honored to have the title of royal merchants, business is still business. We value peace and stability here. But business in Haizhou has been getting harder.”

Yu Jinye straightened up, not returning the bow. He stroked his beard and said, “I will make sure to give Manager Jin a satisfactory response.”

Wei Zhao sat up straight and smiled. “Although I don’t understand this matter, since it’s like this, I’ll help a bit. What would Magistrate Yu like to do, and what would make Manager Jin satisfied?”

Manager Jin’s eyes widened. If it weren’t for the fact that the person in front of him was a princess, he would have wanted to throw this meddling woman out of his house.