CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: THIS YOUNG LADY HAS TWO FACES

The return journey was far more comfortable than the journey there.

There was a carriage to sit in.

Moreover, Emperor Jiawen was considerate of Xiao Chengyu’s health, afraid that he had just recovered, so he didn’t let him rush on the road.

Thus, the journey back felt more like a leisurely tour.

Although it wasn’t to the extent of stopping to play whenever something interesting appeared,

Every noon and evening, they’d stop in towns to rest.

Fu Shinian, having nothing better to do in the carriage, treated fried pastries and cow tongue cookies as snacks, picking up a piece to eat now and then.

Xiao Chengyu was reading in the carriage, while she was munching noisily on her snacks beside him.

Listening to her eating sounds, Xiao Chengyu gradually found it hard to focus on his book.

Staring at the same line for a while, he still didn’t finish it.

Helpless, Xiao Chengyu looked up at Fu Shinian.

He saw her holding a piece of fried pastry, nibbling at it earnestly with both hands, not even noticing that Xiao Chengyu was watching her.

A crumb of crisp crust lingered at the corner of Fu Shinian’s mouth. After finishing half of it and putting it down with contentment, she finally grabbed a cloth to wipe her hands.

Xiao Chengyu poured her a cup of tea and handed it over, "Eating like this, won’t you skip lunch?"

"Boredom makes me restless," Fu Shinian replied after taking a sip of the tea, her belly feeling even fuller.

Xiao Chengyu pointed to the corner of his own mouth.

"Huh?" Fu Shinian’s gaze fell on his lips.

Xiao Chengyu was undeniably handsome, with lips that were strikingly attractive.

But was it necessary to make her observe them so specifically?

He had recovered from his illness, but had he now caught narcissism?

"There’s a crumb at the corner of your mouth." Xiao Chengyu pointed to the corner of his own mouth.

Fu Shinian quickly grabbed the cloth to wipe it off, turning red with embarrassment.

"Is it gone now?" Fu Shinian asked after wiping.

Xiao Chengyu’s eyes fell on her lips.

She wasn’t wearing any lip rouge.

On their way, disguised as a young lad, she naturally didn’t need lip rouge.

The situation in Ganning City wasn’t great either, so Fu Shinian hadn’t bought any.

That’s why her lips were bare, with a touch of residual grease from the fried pastry.

Though she’d wiped with a cloth just now, the pastry’s grease had clung to her lips, not entirely wiped away, making it seem like she’d applied a transparent lip balm, rendering her lips a soft sheen.

Hinting at the natural color of her lips, resembling the soft pink of peach petals.

Xiao Chengyu’s throat suddenly felt dry and warm, hurriedly averting his gaze, clumsily pretending to cover his lips with a fist and coughing lightly, "It’s gone."

Fu Shinian quickly poured him a cup of tea, "Marquis, have some tea to soothe your throat."

He’d started coughing.

Xiao Chengyu looked down at Fu Shinian’s fingers holding the teacup, elegant like scallion tips.

The aroma emanating from her fingertips seemed to overshadow the tea’s fragrance.

Now, Xiao Chengyu’s mouth felt even drier.

He took the teacup, downing it in one go, though it didn’t bring much relief.

At noon, the convoy entered a town for lunch.

They paused to rest before continuing the journey, planning to reach the next resting point before nightfall.

During this period, Xiao Chengyu gave instructions to Jing Lai, who left on his own for a while.

When they resumed travel and got back in the carriage, Xiao Chengyu handed Fu Shinian a package.

"What’s this?" Fu Shinian took it and asked.

"Weren’t you saying the journey was boring, and you were restless?" Xiao Chengyu said, "I had Jing Lai look for some snacks that could aid digestion and buy some."

Fu Shinian: "..."

Aid digestion...

She had indeed eaten quite a lot, feeling extremely full, yet her mouth wouldn’t rest.

Opening the package, she found some hawthorn wrapped in thick sugar powder inside.

The white sugar powder looked like snowflakes covering the hawthorn, only allowing a glimpse of the red inside.

The fragrance of hawthorn and the sweetness of sugar wafted into the air.

There were also pickled plums and a packet of sunflower seeds.

"The town is small, so there aren’t many snacks," Xiao Chengyu said. "Let’s see if there’s anything else at the next place."

"That’s plenty, more than enough," Fu Shinian quickly replied.

Xiao Chengyu pondered over Fu Shinian’s morning appetite, comparing it to the half-eaten fried pastries and cow tongue cookies gifted by the townspeople. After a moment’s silence, he said, "Consider these as snacks to help with digestion."

Fu Shinian: "..."

Did Xiao Chengyu have any misunderstandings about her?

She wasn’t that much of an eater.

Fu Shinian hurriedly set the snacks aside, sitting properly, reverting to her delicate, helpless persona as in the capital, "It was Shinian’s rudeness; actually, my appetite is small."

Xiao Chengyu: "..."

How did she turn into another person within a single sentence?

It wasn’t the same as in Ganning City.

Xiao Chengyu racked his brain, realizing she was quite similar to how she was in the capital.

After a pause, Xiao Chengyu said, "In front of me, you can be yourself."

Fu Shinian blinked, falling silent too, "Marquis, I am naturally gentle and tender, a fragile lady."

Xiao Chengyu: "..."

Alright, as long as you’re happy.

Xiao Chengyu observed that the closer they got to the capital, Fu Shinian seemed as if something was sealing her again.

Her temperament became gentle and soft again, unlike the decisive and vigorous style in Ganning City.

Xiao Chengyu lowered his head with a smile, this young lady really had two sides to her.

If it hadn’t been for witnessing her other side in Ganning, he too might have been deceived by her.

He wondered why she maintained such a delicate, gentle demeanor in the capital.

However, like this, she felt less like a little white rabbit and more like a little fox.

The convoy finally arrived back in the capital, where the first prince personally greeted them at the city gate.

The convoy stopped at the city gate.

Everyone dismounted, and Xiao Chengyu and Fu Shinian alighted from the carriage as well.

"Your Highness," Xiao Chengyu stepped forward to greet.

Fu Shinian followed suit.

"Please, both of you, no need for formalities." The first prince personally helped Xiao Chengyu up, "Father knows you’re returning today and instructed me to welcome you."

"Father especially instructed that upon Marquis Changping’s return to the capital, he must enter the palace to meet him immediately," the first prince said, "But as you’ve all been weary from the journey, there’s no need to rush to the palace right away. Return to the residence to rest first; after you’ve recuperated, Father will summon you to the palace tomorrow."

Fu Shinian asked in surprise, "Your Highness, should this subject’s daughter also enter the palace?"

The first prince smiled and said, "Miss Fu, you ventured into the city with medicine, saving the people of Ganning in their hour of need, and then risked your life to test the medicine, helping the Imperial Physician come up with the most reliable prescription. Each of these actions is a matchless act of kindness and righteousness, making you a major contributor to this effort. Naturally, Father wishes to meet you."

"I won’t delay you any longer," the first prince said with a smile, "Everyone’s had a tough journey, so hurry back to rest."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Everyone echoed.

Back in the carriage, Fu Shinian thought about how her dream hadn’t mentioned the first prince, so she knew little about him.

But from what she’d seen, she had a favorable impression of him.

Even in conversation, he used "I", although this was likely associated with the emperor’s attitude, it showed the first prince’s respect for talent.

Regardless, he seemed more agreeable than the second prince.

However, whatever the outcome of which prince becomes the crown prince, Fu Shinian didn’t really care.