The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 77

The helmsman spun the wheel with a flourish, and the ship executed a sharp turn, narrowly dodging an incoming fire bolt. In the same move, the ship’s weaponry locked onto the enemy vessel.

The ship trembled with a shuddering impact. Wei Zhao caught sight of a burst of flames and splintering wood as the opposing vessel erupted in fire and debris.

“Come back in your next life after practicing for eighteen years before you dare to catch your grandpa!” The sailors erupted into raucous laughter. The sea breeze carried their boisterous taunts to the other ship, triggering a volley of equally crude insults in return.

Wei Zhao: “…”

She turned to look at Fa Yilian, who was laughing heartily along with the crew. “Are you all always like this?”

“Hm?” Fa Yilian glanced down at the woman in her arms, wiped away the disguise on her chin with a swipe of her hand, and smiled. “Yes, always. Out here on the sea, there’s no one else around. Fight, rob, insult—who’s going to know afterward?”

Wei Zhao: “…” That didn’t seem like a valid reason.

But then again…

She turned her head, deciding to let it go. It wasn’t a big deal. She thought for a moment before slapping Fa Yilian’s hand away. “There are too many ships coming after us,” she remarked.

As she spoke, the dock they had escaped from erupted with a thunderous roar. Rocks tumbled from the cliffside in a spectacular display, visible even from a distance. Wei Zhao focused on the commotion, and Fa Yilian also turned her attention to it.

Wei Zhao didn’t particularly care about Song Qing’s fate. She had always treated her subordinates well—with respect, power, and money. But emotionally, she was selfish and stingy.

Though she regretted the possibility that Song Qing might have perished there, she remained calm and detached, pondering the enemy’s motives. Why were they so desperate to destroy such a well-established base? Was it to hide something? Had they been discovered, or had their agents stumbled upon something crucial?

Her thoughts didn’t linger long before they shifted to Fa Yilian. She recalled the foreign woman who had declared herself Fa Yilian’s sister—Judith, a merchant who was also part of that base.

Song Qing, a martial artist with exceptional skills, might have a chance of survival. But Judith? She was just a slightly better-than-average fighter. Perhaps…

Was she dead?

In that instant, Wei Zhao felt a flicker of delight in her heart. If Judith were dead, Fa Yilian could stay by her side without distraction.

Her heart raced, and without showing it on her face, Wei Zhao grabbed Fa Yilian’s hand. Fa Yilian clasped her hand tightly, and Wei Zhao felt a slight sting. She said nothing but lowered her gaze, resenting the dark emotions Judith’s existence stirred within her.

Wei Zhao didn’t want to become like her mother—or worse, like the Empress Dowager. She suppressed the turbulent thoughts and asked Fa Yilian, “Should we turn back?”

Fa Yilian paused and slowly released her hand, her fingers lingering as if reluctant to let go. She glanced around the unusually quiet sea—everyone seemed awestruck by the earlier scene.

“Push them all back! Then, we’ll go retrieve our first mate!” Fa Yilian ordered, her voice sharp and commanding.

The battle resumed with a renewed, vengeful fervor.

Wei Zhao, ever perceptive, noticed the crew’s intensity. This ship was deeply tied to Judith—and to Fa Yilian. The bond was so strong, it felt like an umbilical cord that even Wei Zhao couldn’t sever.

Wei Zhao pressed a hand to her head as a sharp ache began to throb at her temples and spread to the back of her neck. She watched Fa Yilian, who no longer seemed calm and collected. Her lips pressed tightly, her eyes sharp as a hawk’s as she barked commands, channeling her fury through the crew.

This was a Fa Yilian that Wei Zhao had never seen before.

For the first time, Wei Zhao witnessed Fa Yilian losing her composure over someone other than herself.

Had Fa Yilian ever shown such emotions for her?

The thought compelled Wei Zhao to search for evidence, to convince herself that she mattered more to Fa Yilian. But when she realized what she was doing, she was horrified and stopped herself.

Was she truly competing with a lowly foreign merchant for favor?

Wei Zhao’s face paled. Standing beside Fa Yilian, she felt dazed. The ship rocked again, causing Wei Zhao to stumble. Fa Yilian quickly caught her, frowning as she took in Wei Zhao’s pale complexion. “You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”

Wei Zhao shook her head.

Without another word, Fa Yilian pulled her into a warm embrace, gently patting her back. Instinctively, Wei Zhao nestled closer into the comforting warmth that smelled of sunlight.

“I hate the sea,” Wei Zhao murmured.

She was the Princess of Great Zhou, a child of the land. Only on solid ground did she feel her dignity and royal authority.

But the person beside her seemed to belong to the sea by nature. On the waves, Fa Yilian appeared more confident and at ease than ever.

Although Wei Zhao didn’t want to admit it, Fa Yilian’s presence on the ship was like that of a king—every bit as regal as any emperor Wei Zhao had ever seen.

When the battle finally ended, Wei Zhao stood on the deck, watching the sea consume the wreckage. The sailors cheered and scoured the waters for salvageable goods, ruthlessly finishing off any survivors they found.

Fa Yilian walked over, her gaze fixed on the bl00d-streaked water where dorsal fins of sharks began to surface. She turned to Wei Zhao, who remained unaffected by the gruesome scene.

“We’ll be a bit late reaching Haizhou,” Fa Yilian said. “We need to check that area first.”

“It’s been so long already… Do you think they’re still alive?” Wei Zhao asked, turning to study Fa Yilian’s expression.

Fa Yilian hesitated, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes—pain, struggle, disbelief? The sunlight was too harsh for Wei Zhao to discern. She took a step closer, trying to decipher Fa Yilian’s emotions.

But Fa Yilian’s gaze remained calm, filled with a softness and… something that always made Wei Zhao’s heart linger.

Almost as if under a spell, Wei Zhao leaned in closer, but Fa Yilian placed a firm hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

“Not now,” Fa Yilian said gently. “Not at a time like this. I’m sorry.”

Wei Zhao stepped back, lowering her head in silence.

“I don’t know if she’s alive,” Fa Yilian admitted. “But I hope she is. Judith searched for me for so long—so, so long. She never gave up, and I don’t want to give up now.”

Her voice was soft, carrying the peculiar intonation of a foreigner.

Perhaps Fa Yilian had never truly belonged to Great Zhou.

Wei Zhao thought.

Then Fa Yilian looked at her with cautious hope. “A Xian, you didn’t give up on looking for me, either, right?”

The question, so tentative, caught Wei Zhao off guard. She let out a cold laugh. “What are you talking about? You’re just a slave to me. If I couldn’t find you, I’d assume you were dead. Do you think I’d waste my time searching for you? Who do you think you are to me?”

“…I’m your slave,” Fa Yilian replied, her gaze steady. Wei Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked away, flustered.

She remembered what she had once said to Lan Du:

When Fa Yilian returns, she’ll no longer be a slave.

Wei Zhao bit her lip, wishing she could scold her past self for being so resolute. When Fa Yilian finally returned to Haizhou, every boast Wei Zhao had made would be exposed.

Now, standing before her, Fa Yilian gazed at her with drooping eyes like a large, forlorn dog, making Wei Zhao feel utterly cornered.

She wanted to comfort her—but held back.

“But I’m your only slave. And you… are my only master,” Fa Yilian said softly, her eyes glistening like water.

Under some invisible spell, Wei Zhao reached out, and Fa Yilian leaned her head into Wei Zhao’s hand. Stroking her soft hair, Wei Zhao sighed. “I really can’t do anything about you. I wouldn’t feel at ease letting you go anywhere alone.”

“No matter where you are,” Wei Zhao thought, “you’ll always belong by my side. Only then will I feel at peace.”