Feng Ya had just arrived at Changmen as a guest, taking care to behave very cautiously. After a light sleep through the night, she took the initiative to serve tea in Feng Yunâs courtyard at dawn.
She came early, and Pei Jue and Feng Yun had not yet risen.
Xiaoman yawned as she looked at this former Feng Residenceâs young maiden, already devoid of the respect and tension that was present back in Tai City.
Does just any Tom, Dick, or Harry dare to covet the King?
Xiaoman felt utterly disgusted.
Just one glance, and she wanted to drag the person out for a beating.
"Fifteenth Miss has arrived..."
Even though Xiaomanâs insides were churning with a metaphorical whip, her face was plastered with a polite smile.
This was the ladyâs instruction, and though not understanding why it must be so, Xiaomanâs obedience was precisely why she could serve by Feng Yunâs side diligently for years on end.
Whatever the Lady says, she does.
"The Lady has not yet risen. The young lady has arrived too early."
Feng Ya lowered her head, her demeanor submissively gentle, the corners of her mouth curling into a tender arc, "Being new to this esteemed residence, I feared missing the appointed hour, so I came early to wait, that upon the Twelfth Miss rising, I may pay my respects."
Isnât that being too compliant?
Xiaoman glanced at her with a smirk that wasnât quite a smile.
"Then wait here."
Feng Ya bowed slightly, "Thank you."
With a pot of hot tea and a round cushion, Feng Ya sat quietly under the dim light of the outer chamber.
Pei Jue always woke up earlier than Feng Yun.
He practiced his martial arts every morning, a habit he maintained for many years, with only the occasional indulgence missing an hour, almost never interrupted...
Feng Ya had only sat for a short while when Pei Jue came out carrying the Biyong Sword.
He didnât see the waiting Feng Ya; he simply picked up a cup of water from the tray brought by the maid, casually rinsed his mouth, and turned to leave...
An inadvertent scene, but it caused Feng Yaâs cheeks to burn with embarrassment.
The full movement of his Adamâs apple seemed to roll over her heart, as if it were being scratched by a cat.
Feng Ya, confined to her boudoir, was no stranger to men.
However, Pei Jue was different from the young masters she had met in Tai City.
Among the young masters, there were no lack of handsome faces, but they were superficial, frivolous and light, spouting lavish rhetoric, ultimately lacking something...
They did not possess the powerful aura that emanated from within Pei Jue.
Her heart involuntarily began to race.
The Prince of Yonghuai, a hero of the battlefield, tall and strapping, was a tiger, a leopard, a dragon among men, truly a figure of virile masculinity. What he held was not just a sword, but the world, lives, an air of control over the fate of the masses, a power of authority that demanded submission...
Feng Ya thought, if those young masters were to stand before Pei Jue now, they certainly wouldnât be able to laugh, let alone maintain a composed state of leisurely ease...
They would be just like her, nervous, afraid.
She did not dare to approach, yet she couldnât suppress her excitement, trembling with emotion...
"Brother-in-law."
Feng Ya picked up her skirt, unable to help herself from running over, and as she spoke, her cheeks turned crimson, and her voice shook with shyness.
A deep bow, a lowered head, utterly charming.
"Fifteenth Miss greets brother-in-law."
Pei Jue didnât move.
An expression of discontent was evident on his handsome and austere face.
If Feng Ya were familiar with him, she would know that at such times one should step aside and not humor oneself needlessly.
But she was unfamiliar...
Ever since Lady Tao instilled those girlish thoughts into her, Pei Jue became different in her eyes.
She was going to be this manâs concubine, to bear his children and depend on him for life...
Feng Ya wanted to show him her best and most beautiful side, but Pei Jue was tall with long legs, she couldnât even see his face unless she looked up.
With flushed cheeks and sweaty palms, she grew more anxious and breathless, unable to relax, and the more she tried to be at ease, the more constrained she seemed, now appearing somewhat petty.
"Brother-in-law is up at dawn, diligently practicing martial arts, truly hardworking..."
Pei Jue remained silent.
His gaze swept emotionlessly across her...
In a brief moment, Feng Ya felt eternity.
She didnât know what Pei Jue was thinking at this moment; all she saw from the corner of her eye was a flash of a coldly colored robe passing by, striding away...
She was dumbfounded.
Watching his retreating tall figure, she was awash with embarrassment.
Arenât you embarrassed? Xiaoman, witnessing the look of disappointment on her face, could hardly keep from laughing inwardly.
Thinking she could become the Kingâs concubine with that performance?
If the King didnât dismiss her on the spot, it must be because of his Ladyâs order...
"Xiaoman." Feng Ya spoke awkwardly, her face red, trying to salvage her dignity, "Is brother-in-law always this stern?"
Laughter brimmed in Xiaomanâs eyes, "Always? Heâs even more formidable than this on a regular day. Lucky for Fifteenth Miss. If it were another maid, behaving rudely as just now, obstructing the Kingâs path and blathering on, she would likely be killed on the spot."