The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 52

Fa Yilian quietly stepped out from behind the screen and made her way to the door. The servant outside had been waiting anxiously. When he saw Fa Yilian, he quickly bent his body in a deep bow and whispered, “Miss A Zong is already waiting outside.”

Upon hearing this, Fa Yilian pushed the window open a little further and glanced inside. Wei Zhao was still lazily sitting in her chair, tending to the fire. This was all just to attract Yu Jinye’s attention—she was making a scene to give herself a little more time.

This little princess had always been good at playing the victim, and was clever enough to hide all her thoughts. Fa Yilian had known this since she was very young. She knew about the schemes hidden behind her facade and was aware that sometimes, she could be particularly ruthless, even when the target was herself.

No, perhaps it was precisely because it was herself that she could be especially ruthless.

But…

“…At least depend on me a little,” Fa Yilian murmured, before quickly turning around and signaling for the servant to lead the way.

A Zong had been pacing back and forth for quite some time. When she saw Fa Yilian, a smile immediately appeared on her face, and she hurried to greet her, saying, “We interrogated someone last night.”

Fa Yilian raised an eyebrow. She had already heard about this: “Did they confess so quickly?”

Since they had sent someone out, they should have been prepared to be caught. If the information came too easily, Fa Yilian would have to judge whether something was off. A Zong couldn’t make this kind of judgment, but Fa Yilian could.

A Zong grinned. “I’ve learned some interrogation techniques.” She paused, then added, “The ones from the Jianghu. Boss Zhu also said it was okay.”

The phrase “Boss Zhu also said it was okay” sounded almost like an advertisement, and it made Fa Yilian pause. She glanced at A Zong, forcing a smile. The young girl gave off the impression that she might be heading down the wrong path, but for now, the information was more important. Fa Yilian pushed aside the thought of educating the girl and asked, “What did he say?”

“The Black Flag has a base in the city, and the things they steal are sold here. Daobao Pavilion is one of their customers. Sometimes, they also take on illegal jobs. He said this time, it’s because some boss doesn’t like Boss Judith.” A Zong quickly explained, before adding, with a hint of confusion, “He didn’t say much else. I used many techniques, but couldn’t make him say more.”

So this incident wasn’t aimed at Daobao Pavilion.

Fa Yilian smiled faintly upon hearing this. “Since it concerns Boss Zhu, what does he say about it?”

A Zong blinked. She remembered the uncertain expression on Judith’s face from the night before.

When she recalled it, A Zong recounted everything Judith had said in detail.

Fa Yilian listened quietly, occasionally glancing up at the sky. Judith’s meaning was clear—she had been targeted. What had seemed like a dark pawn had been intercepted by the opponent before it could even be placed on the board.

So, was this plan completely ruined?

Fa Yilian lowered her gaze, her eyes flickering, dark like the stormy sky that threatened to break at any moment.

After a while, she said to A Zong, “I’m going to find Judith. It might take some time, so please take care of the princess in the meantime.”

“What?!” A Zong widened her eyes. She had grown used to seeing Fa Yilian and Wei Zhao together all the time, and now being told to protect Wei Zhao made her instinctively want to refuse.

Fa Yilian patted her shoulder. “Just tell her I’m going to find Judith. She’ll understand.”

A Zong stamped her foot. She knew she couldn’t change Fa Yilian’s mind, so she reluctantly asked, “When will you come back?”

Fa Yilian smiled. “I’ll come back once this matter is settled.”

A Zong felt something was off, but she didn’t dare think too much about it. She walked off, unsure, and soon after, Yu Jinye stepped out. The young maid looked around, saw A Zong, and waved her over. “Come here.” She glanced around again. “Where’s Miss Fa Yilian?”

A Zong shook her head.

The maid frowned, her eyes showing a hint of displeasure, before she said, “The young lady requests your presence.”

A Zong entered. Wei Zhao was leaning against a soft pillow, staring out the window. Last night’s storm had passed, but today’s sky remained overcast, heavy with clouds, as if rain would fall at any moment. When she heard the footsteps, Wei Zhao lazily smiled. “You’re here,” she said, but then sensed something was wrong. She turned her head sharply.

A Zong saw that Wei Zhao’s gaze was sharp, but as she met her eyes, she seemed to relax a bit, no longer carrying the lazy demeanor she had before. A Zong couldn’t help but feel a bit of envy, but Wei Zhao asked, “Where is she?”

“Fa Yilian said she’s going to find Judith.”

Wei Zhao paused, straightened up, and her expression became serious. She moved her lips, and A Zong, with her sharp hearing, could just about make out the words, “She’s avoiding me,” but the rest of the sentence trailed off. A Zong could sense that Wei Zhao was trying hard to control her breathing. She hid it well, but A Zong, being a practitioner of martial arts, could feel the change. Still, she said nothing, simply waiting quietly. After a while, Wei Zhao resumed her dignified posture, proud and composed, as usual.

“I know her temperament. What message did she ask you to convey?”

A Zong hurriedly repeated everything that Fa Yilian had told her. Wei Zhao remained silent, turning her attention back to the distant horizon. After a long while, she turned back and said, her voice faintly weary, “I know.”

A Zong, hearing this, felt a pang of sadness. She thought for a moment, then tried to comfort her. “Don’t be sad…”

“Sad?” Wei Zhao smiled faintly and shook her head. “Judith’s move has been discovered. No one can do anything to me, so why would they be able to do anything to an insignificant foreign merchant? Whether they use an excuse to do something or not, if Judith is guilty, all the better—whether they capture or kill her, or if she runs away in fear of punishment, it would create a rift between me and her. It would force me to be cautious and stop me from seeking others to do things for me.”

A Zong seemed to understand why Fa Yilian had made her decision so quickly after hearing Judith’s warning.

Fa Yilian had been with Wei Zhao long enough, seen many things, and weathered countless storms. But without Judith’s hint, Fa Yilian wouldn’t have made her move so decisively. If she was like this, how much more so Judith?

A Zong couldn’t help but think about it, her mind wandering. Fortunately, Wei Zhao was also lost in her thoughts. Though she was speaking, it seemed more like she was saying things for her own benefit rather than to A Zong.

“She’s going to find Judith. She can calm Judith down quickly and use her identity to create some room and time for this chess game. She knows what I lack right now is time. She’s willing to fight for that time for me. And I… I can fight for time for her as well.”

Wei Zhao closed her eyes. The people of the Great Zhou were not as familiar with foreigners as they were with their own people, often recognizing them by their clothing, hair color, or eye color. Though Fa Yilian and Judith looked different, their height, hair color, and eye color were similar, so a little disguise would be enough to confuse others. Right now, one was in the open and the other in the dark, which gave them many more opportunities.

Wei Zhao understood this logic, and Fa Yilian, knowing her well, didn’t need to say much to have her understand, even to the point of cooperating willingly without reproach.

But understanding logic was one thing, emotions were another.

Some things, no matter how much you understand, just aren’t enough. If Fa Yilian were standing before her, Wei Zhao would have asked her this question: “Isn’t this enough?”

She gave Fa Yilian her trust, freedom, and power. She was not one to withhold wealth or power from those she admired. Those who had her approval and could share her bed were given a privilege that no one else could dream of. But her slave, just a mere slave, was allowed to leave so decisively.

She knew her slave was proud. She also knew that Fa Yilian was the kind of person who would never act foolishly out of emotion. But did that mean one day, after all this was over, she would leave and never return?

“Will Fa Yilian not come back?” A Zong asked, feeling anxious. She had heard Fa Yilian’s words, but she thought to herself, if it were her, with her own ship, her own family, she might never return.

“It won’t happen,” Wei Zhao said, straightening her back, her eyes lowered, filled with confusion and a bit of fear. “She’s not that kind of person.”

She said it softly, unsure if it was for A Zong or for herself.