Chapter 504: Hua Feixue’s Beloved

Chapter 504: The One Hua Feixue Holds Dear

Ji Yuntang smiled and said, "Brother, don't worry. I know what to do."

Xie Liuzheng nodded. "That's good."

He volunteered to drive the carriage outside, while Hua Feixue and Ji Yuntang sat inside.

Along the way, Hua Feixue looked worried and downcast, as if nothing could cheer her up.

The closer they got to the capital, the heavier her mood became. Ji Yuntang reminded her, "We came back this time to help you get your revenge. My brother and I are in this with you, through thick and thin."

"No matter what happens, don't do anything rash. We'll find a way to solve any problem together."

Hua Feixue pursed her lips and shut her eyes.

When she opened them again, she had reined in most of her intensity. "I know."

The trio traveled for most of the day before finally reaching the capital.

The capital of the Xishu Kingdom was even more bustling. Lining both sides of the bluestone-paved streets were endless shops. Two rivers ran through the city, crisscrossing in all directions. Carriages and horses bustled to and fro, and the golden glow of the setting sun bathed the pavilions, all of it underscoring the splendor of the Xishu Kingdom's imperial capital.

Hua Feixue stood still, feeling as if a lifetime had gone by.

She never thought she'd come back like this after two years.

Ji Yuntang's disguise skills were so good that no one on the street recognized her.

Maybe because of the Crown Prince's death, the usually lively streets had fewer vendors calling out their wares and felt colder and more desolate.

Every shop doorway was also decorated with dragon-and-phoenix lanterns. As night fell, the lanterns were lit one by one, resembling a river of stars.

Hua Feixue stood there so long that it took Xie Liuzheng calling out to snap her back to reality.

"Sister Yuntang, come check this out! There's a notice here looking for someone to cure an illness."

Ji Yuntang walked over and, in the fading sunset, sure enough, saw a notice posted on the board.

The notice was simple—just a few short lines.

In essence, it said that Shen Shiran, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Grand General Zhenguo's mansion, had accidentally fallen into the water. After being pulled out, she stayed unconscious and ran a persistent high fever. Several imperial doctors had been called in, but none could wake Miss Shen.

Now, the Grand General Zhenguo's mansion was offering ten thousand taels of gold, urgently seeking a skilled doctor from the common folk to take down the notice and come treat Miss Shen.

If anyone could cure Miss Shen, the Grand General's mansion would surely reward them handsomely.

After reading it, Ji Yuntang was tempted by the ten thousand taels of gold, but she had no plans to get involved.

First, they still had important things to do, and they couldn't risk exposing their identities.

Second, Ji Yuntang didn't want to stand out. If she cured someone the imperial doctors couldn't, she'd definitely become famous.

If people found out she was skilled in medicine, she'd be in for endless trouble in the Xishu Kingdom.

Just as Ji Yuntang turned to leave, a slender hand shot out faster than lightning and ripped the notice off the board.

Before she could react, Hua Feixue had already shoved the notice into Ji Yuntang's hands.

"Please, save her."

Ji Yuntang was speechless.

Ji Yuntang was shocked!

She looked up and met Hua Feixue's dark eyes, which were trembling with suppressed emotion, a barely noticeable hint of fragility hidden within.

She was shocked, wondering if she'd heard wrong, but Hua Feixue's hoarse, urgent voice came again.

"She means everything to me. Princess Ye, please... save her."

This was the first time Hua Feixue had ever begged anyone, and it was Ji Yuntang she begged.

This left both Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng totally dumbfounded!

Neither of them could make heads or tails of it, but Ji Yuntang still took the notice.

Before she could ask Hua Feixue who the woman in the notice was to her, two guards walked up to her.

"So you're the one who took down our Grand General's mansion notice?"

Ji Yuntang nodded. The guard looked her over and said matter-of-factly, "Since you took the notice, come with us."

Ji Yuntang quickly stopped them. "Excuse me, officers, I came to the capital with my brother and sister-in-law. They don't have anywhere to stay yet. Can I bring them along?"

The guard glanced at Hua Feixue and Xie Liuzheng. Seeing their simple clothes, he didn't give Ji Yuntang a hard time.

"Fine, bring them along."

The Grand General's mansion was a ways off, and Ji Yuntang figured they'd have to walk.

Unexpectedly, a guard soon brought over a fancy, ornate carriage.

The guard gestured for her to get in. "Miss Yun, please."

"Thanks." Ji Yuntang climbed into the carriage.

She'd told them her surname was Yun, going by the name Yun Tang.

Xie Liuzheng willingly changed his surname to match Ji Yuntang's, going by Yun Liuzheng.

As for Hua Feixue, she stayed Hua Feixue.

The carriage was roomy inside, with thick wool cushions on the seats and tea and snacks within reach—showing how attentive the Grand General's mansion was.

Unlike other carriages, it had a carved wooden door on the outside that, once shut, blocked out both sight and sound from the outside world.

Ji Yuntang shut the doors and windows before turning to ask Hua Feixue.

"What's going on? Do you know Miss Shen from the notice?"

After a moment of silence, Hua Feixue nodded. "Not only do I know her, she's this Crown Prince's fiancée."

"What did you just say!?" This time, not just Ji Yuntang, but even Xie Liuzheng was shocked!

He raised his voice and jumped up from his seat, only to smack his head on the carriage roof.

Xie Liuzheng winced in pain, holding his head as he sat back down.

He lowered his voice and scolded, "How could you not tell us something this important? Don't you consider me, the Heir, and Sister Yuntang your friends?"

Hua Feixue lowered her eyes, her expression dark and unreadable. "I originally thought that when I returned this time, I wouldn't run into her again. Yet I never expected to see news of her falling into the water and losing consciousness."

"A Ran is one of the few people in the entire Xishu Kingdom who has been kind to me. I can't just ignore the news that she's sick and do nothing about it."

As she spoke these words, a tenderness she herself hadn't even noticed flickered in Hua Feixue's eyes.

On ordinary days, Hua Feixue seemed extremely optimistic, acting as if nothing ever bothered her. But this time, when she brought up Shen Shiran, her attitude was completely different.

It was the first time Ji Yuntang had ever seen Hua Feixue display such a soft and tender side.

She became even more curious about this Miss Shen who had fallen into the water!

What kind of woman could possibly make someone like Hua Feixue fall for her?

Ji Yuntang had intended to inquire further about the past between Hua Feixue and Shen Shiran, but unexpectedly, the carriage outside suddenly stopped.

------------