She's Back
"Huh?" Xiao Qi turned to her puzzled.
It had already been two days since they departed. Zhao Xing realized how much she had traveled during this period.
Seeing her looking so curious Xiao Qi coldly replied, "The way you're feeling now."
"Tch, not fun to talk to." She'd just ask Brother Mo later. Besides it was Brother Mo that chatted with her during this trip.
Xiao Qi didn't mind the comment, she closed her eyes as if to sleep.
Zhao Xing saw her and grimaced. Next time when she's traveling she'll surely take her little cute maids along. This way she would have people who would shower her with attention and care.
Some days past and they received word from the Crown Prince stating that they take the Poison Master directly to the Capital.
It seemed the news had already travelled concerning the success of the mission.
And so a carriage took another route, while the other maintained it's path down south.
Within six days, the group arrived Reddened Town, the town the Crown Prince had been in charge of.
They didn't go to meet the Crown Prince directly and lodged in a small inn.
Xiao Qi wore a disguise today, it made her look nothing like herself. Her once stunning looks had turned into that of an ordinary girl's.
She also did so for Brother Mo. But Zhao Xing didn't disguise herself as she was coming back as someone that had been by the Crown Prince's side.
Before they could actually meet the Crown Prince though, was at night, in the same forest as it had been, the day Zhao Xing had departed.
It had been about 2 weeks since she left, but it felt like ages. Now that she was back, she had a sense of unfamiliarity.
Xiao Qi stood outside leaning on the carriage just like that day. Brother Mo also had his hat over his head that covered half his face. She on the other hand waited in the carriage, playing with one of the jewels she had gotten herself while she was in Little Merchant Valley in her hand.
The night was surprisingly cold as they waited. Zhao Xing trembled, and wrapped the cloak around her tighter. The others seemed fine with the weather, she could only speculate that it was because of the poison. The past 6 days she had been a good girl and took her medicine. If Nuo Nuo and Lan'er had seen her they'd probably shed tears of joy, saying the young girl had grown.
Well it was because of the situation, she couldn't afford to act spoilt, besides, apart from Brother Mo who was a soft hearted man, there wasn't anyone who would buy it.
As time went on she began to feel drowsy.
Very soon she fell asleep.
"Master"
"Master"
Those present greeted as the Crown Prince made his way towards them accompanied by Xiao Chen. The Prince nodded at them, under the dim light of the torch, he looked for the silhouette of a petite girl.
Xiao Qi seemed to have realized who the Prince was looking for and moved aside from the carriage making way as he walked forward.
Zhang Zhengyang's hand trembled unconsciously as he opened the curtain leading into the carriage, but when he did he saw the girl asleep in to carriage, wrapped with her cloak, hugging a bag in one hand, holding a piece of jade in another. Her lips were partly opened and she snored lightly. She slept in an uncomfortable position. Her neck bended in the wrong angle, she was sure to have a sore neck when she woke up.
Zhang Zhengyang couldn't help but smile.
She was finally back.
Two weeks…
That was the longest she's ever been apart from him.
He climbed in and took the bag from her hand. It turned out to be the one he had given her. He wondered if she had worn the dress, if she was satisfied with it, if she liked the ornaments. Thinking up to here, he looked at the jade pendant she held onto. His brows creased.
He didn't remember giving her anything of such.
He tried to take it from her but her hand wrapped it tightly. In the end he gave up. He carried the girl out of the carriage.
"Master…" Xiao Qi couldn't believe her eyes. But only one look from him made her keep her mouth shut.
The scene surprised all those that came with the carriage. But not those with the Crown Prince, they didn't look surprised at all.
Xiao Chen was even happy for his master. He was in a very good mood. These days, the master had been working himself like a horse. He involved himself in things he could let his subordinates do. Others would think he was hard working and doing it for the people. Only Xiao Chen knew it was because if his master stayed idle he would think about the Grand Tutor, this was too easy to discover, as he would unconsciously ask about her, every now and then. The Master was proud by nature, when did he start asking about other people like so?
Normally he didn't need to come and meet them here tonight, he and the guards would have been enough, but he insisted on doing so. Wasn't it because he missed the Grand Tutor and couldn't wait to see her?
Now the Grand Tutor had returned, the Master was happy, and he as his loyal subordinate, he was also happy.
Zhao Xing, who had been carried by the Prince had no clue, and slept very soundly. Even going as far as holding onto Zhang Zhengyang's clothes and snuggling, trying to find a more comfortable position.
The Prince's face changed multiple times, in the end it turned dark. He wondered if anyone dared to carry her like this before. If they did, did she also act like this?
The next morning Zhao Xing woke up, she was back to her previous room when she stayed in Reddened Town.
"…?" She sat up and looked around her.
How did she get here? Wasn't she in the carriage waiting for the Crown Prince's people to arrive?