Moving Hearts

Da Ying from the distance could see the two of them exchanging words.

She tightened her brows.

Whatever they were doing, she did not want to know.

In her moments of thoughts, Bai Zhi and Ban Shiang ran over to her. Da Ying whispered, asking what the two men were talking about. Bai Zhi quickly responded back to her.

When Da Ying found out the two of them planned to escort her, she clenched her fists. The Duke of Lan, Qin Xie De was out to ruin all her plans. All she wanted to do was use this time to seduce Xi Feng. Why was it so hard, she thought.

Calming herself, she made her way towards the two men. It didn't take a genius to tell what mood both men were in. Xie De looked as if he was about to start a fight with Xi Feng, while Xi Feng was still leaning on the carriage acting as if he didn't know anything.

When both men saw her, they quickly stood up straight waiting for her response.

Trying to make this go as smooth as possible, she spoke the first and hopefully her last words to them. "The day is not young anymore, I'm afraid I will have to leave first. I bid you both farewells."

She politely excused herself. She didn't take more than two steps when Xi Feng spoke up. With that proper and mannered voice, he reasoned with her. "Princess Da Ying, it is not safe for you to travel alone. It is better to have me accompany you."

Before she could say yes or no, Xie De interrupted with his forceful voice. "Xi Feng is correct! It is not safe for a woman to travel alone; especially at this late hour. I hope Princess Da Ying will not reject our offer. Otherwise how would we be able to sleep at night if something was to happen to you."

"I do appreciate your offer but I do not wish to bother neither of you no more." She was nicely telling them to go but in her head, she was about to tear Qin Xie De's head off. If anyone was to harm her, it would most probably be him.

He had ruined her original plans. If that wasn't bad enough, Plan B to abort was about to fail also. At this point, she really had no choice but to bring them along.

She first made eye contact with Xie De. Her eyes only spoke one thing, anger. And he could clearly see it but knowing who he was, he was not one to back down. Instead he grinned at her. Which only ticked her off even more.

Then she looked at Xi Feng and an idea popped in her head. She smiled shyly at Xi Feng. "If Lord Feng does not mind, then I will not decline." Then she looked down as if embarrassed to ask him to accompany him like a maiden talking to her crush.

She then did a change of personality as she faced Xie De again. "If the Duke of Lan really wants to escort me, then I have no choice but to oblige."

And just like that, she went into her carriage.

It was late evening when they arrived at a town, located right in the middle of the palace and the temple. Bai Zhi quickly checked into a small inn. Xi Feng was about to go rest to give Xie De time with Da Ying when she stopped him. "Lord Feng, it's been a long journey. Why don't you have dinner with us?" She never invited Xie De directly but implying "us", she was indirectly doing so. This made him frown. But he sucked up his hurt and agreed.

As the three of them sat at the table, Xi Feng felt the most awkward. To make things worse, no one spoke for the longest time.

Xie De finally spoke. "Da Ying gongzhu has been in the palace for a month now, have you gotten use to it yet? If there is anything I can help you with, please do not shy away."

"I thank the Duke of Lan for his help but I will not need it. I am finding the palace life the same as it was when I left. I forget how nice it is to be surrounded by people I love." Then she picked up a piece of braised meat and put it into Xi Feng's bowl. "Isn't that right Xi Feng?" Her eyes met his and out of nowhere, he broke the moment. He could only look down at his bowl and agree with her. He was not ready to make contact with her, but a part of him also did not want to see what expression was on his buddy's face.

"Da Ying gongzhu is right, familial ties is the most important. Everyone is happy you are back." Xi Feng said truthfully.

"Oh?" She sounded surprised. "Does that mean Lord Xi Feng is also happy I am back?" She teased him playfully.

If things couldn't get more awkward, he had to look up and meet the jealous gaze of the man sitting across him. Xi Feng was not one to start a confrontation and he sure as heck did not want to start one with the Duke of Lan.

"Not just me, but Xie De could not help but tell me how happy he was that you were back." He tried to squirm out of the situation.

Da Ying turned to face Xie De. His face looked like it had turned two shades darker and she almost wanted to smirk with a look of victory. Who knew it was so easy to make him jealous. Pushing him away wouldn't be that hard. "Is that so?" She raised a brow.

Xie De first reached to grab a piece of fried vegetable and placed it into Da Ying's bowl before smiling at her. "It is true. Since young, I've always wanted to befriend Da Ying gongzhu. Who knew before I could do so, you would leave. But the moment I knew you were coming back, I couldn't help but be happy." His eyes full of sincerity.

And he was telling the truth. He would not have shown his face at the welcoming party not too long ago if it was for someone other than Da Ying. For someone who rarely attended a celebration, if anyone found out the reason he made an appearance that day, who knew what rumors would spread.

She felt a prick in her heart. She was the one that was supposed to be pushing him away, why was it her that felt the little tingle in her heart. Before he could do any more damage to her heart, she quickly excused herself.