Ji Feiyu's mind raced. Immediately, she assumed the posture of a commoner and bowed to him. "Oh, this humble woman failed to recognize your eminence. I was out of line just now. Please spare my life, my lord..."
It was said that when a commoner met an official on an incognito inspection, they must abandon their straightforward and free - talking attitude about current affairs and instead curry favor with the official. This was the true mindset of a commoner. Was Ji Feiyu acting this out correctly?
The "Black Ice Block" folded his arms and turned his head away. He must have found such a worldly display unbearable to watch.
The other man, however, smiled. He supported her with both hands and said, "Actually, I think what you said just now was quite right. Since that's the case, why don't you continue to tell me about the happenings among the common people?"
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu quickly nodded with a smile. "Sure!"
So for the whole afternoon, Ji Feiyu talked non - stop until her mouth was dry. She told him all the things she had seen and heard among the common people recently, including their dissatisfaction with the officials and a true portrayal of their lives.
For a moment, Ji Feiyu felt as if she were really a native village woman.
That day, because the two men in straw hats lingered there, hardly anyone came to buy Ji Feiyu's oranges. So when it was time to pack up the stall in the evening, Ji Feiyu stuffed all the oranges to the imperial envoy, considering it as repayment for the silver he had paid the day before. Ji Feiyu thought that after talking so much in such a down - to - earth way today, if they excluded her, they probably wouldn't come again tomorrow.
Unexpectedly, just as Ji Feiyu was handing the oranges to the man in the straw hat and saying, "Take your time, sir."
A gust of wind blew away the thin veil on the man's straw hat, revealing a pair of familiar eyes and half of a familiar face. Ji Feiyu's face immediately froze.
In an instant, the man noticed and quickly covered the veil.
But Ji Feiyu had already seen. She didn't want to believe it, but she had to. This time she didn't make a mistake.
Realizing her gaffe, Ji Feiyu quickly covered it up with an exclamation. "My lord... is really good - looking!"
The man coughed lightly and immediately turned around and left. The "Black Ice Block" gave her a few more glances because of this.
Ji Feiyu watched their figures getting smaller in the distance, but her mind was in a mess. How could it be? How could it be! The person she just saw was Cheng Xuan. Cheng Xuan wasn't dead?
The face she just saw was definitely Cheng Xuan's. It wasn't someone who just looked like him or resembled him. She was almost certain it was him!
But, but... how could this be possible?
This must be a trap, definitely. In a flurry, she rushed back to the village.
As soon as she got back, she told this to the "Flower Butterfly". After a moment of deep thought, the "Flower Butterfly" said, "Most likely it's a trap to lure you out."
Ji Feiyu calmed her mind a bit and comforted herself, "Yes, this must be a trap. It's fake!" But in the end, her heart didn't listen to her. She desperately wanted to find out the truth.
The "Flower Butterfly" asked, "So are you going out tomorrow?"
Ji Feiyu said, "I don't know if I showed any flaws. I tried to remedy it, but I don't know if it worked. If I'm really exposed, will it be considered as a sign of guilt if I don't go tomorrow?"
The "Flower Butterfly" paced back and forth. After thinking for a while, he said, "How about going out one more time tomorrow? If we can bluff them, we'll stay here. If we can't, I'll take you away immediately."
Ji Feiyu nodded. The "Flower Butterfly"'s suggestion was exactly what she wanted. If that person came again tomorrow, she could take the opportunity to test him. Whether it was real or fake could be determined at once.
But Ji Feiyu's wish was dashed. The next day, neither the imperial envoy nor the "Black Ice Block" came.
If they had come, she would have felt a bit more at ease. Their absence made her even more uneasy.
Ji Feiyu waited at the crossroads for a whole day but didn't see those two figures. During that time, she was absent - minded while selling oranges to passers - by and miscounted the copper coins several times.
After Ji Feiyu returned, she told this news to the "Flower Butterfly" again.
The "Flower Butterfly" stroked his chin and pondered. "This means the other side wants you to go to them voluntarily."
Ji Feiyu's mind was in a complete mess. Cheng Xuan's sudden appearance had thrown her into a panic.
Going might help her find out the truth, while not going would allow her to continue to lie low.
This was a choice, but the temptation was too great for her to resist.
Even if it was a one - in - a - million chance, what if it was real? She didn't dare to think about it.
On the other side, after listening to the daily report from the spy, the "Black Ice Block" waved his hand to dismiss the man. His eyes moved slightly. In his otherwise dead - looking eyes, a glimmer of hope finally ignited. This glimmer of hope washed away all his fatigue, making him look completely different. He never expected that fate would bring them together in such a way. They had almost missed each other again.
The next day, Ji Feiyu didn't go out. Even if she did, she would surely be distracted. It was better to stay at home and think about other possibilities.
Just then, there was a series of knocks on the door.
The "Flower Butterfly" was startled and immediately became vigilant. He had hung a sign outside saying that he wouldn't see patients today. The person knocking on the door at this time must not be a villager.
Ji Feiyu gave the "Flower Butterfly" a look, and he stepped forward to open the door.
Two soldiers stood outside. They asked, "Is the nearby orange orchard yours?"
The "Flower Butterfly" replied, "Yes."
The soldier said, "Are you two interested in supplying some fruits to the military camp? We can help pick them, and the price will be fair."
The "Flower Butterfly" said, "Not interested." He was about to close the door when the soldier stopped him.
The soldier said, "We ate your oranges and thought they were delicious, so we want to buy more. Come on, now that there's business, why don't you take it?"
The "Flower Butterfly" pointed to the sign on the door and said rudely, "Can't you see this? We're taking a rest today."
The soldier laughed. "I see. We've disturbed you. We'll come back tomorrow."
The "Flower Butterfly" said, "Fine. No need to see you out."
The soldiers left.
After they left, the "Flower Butterfly" said, "It seems we've been exposed."
Ji Feiyu said, "So what if we're exposed? I won't admit it. They can't do anything to me. They can't just kidnap a common woman, can they?"
The "Flower Butterfly" shook his head. "I think in a desperate situation, that person would do anything."
Ji Feiyu said, "Let me think. If I were him and found a suspicious target, how would I prevent the target from escaping?"
The "Flower Butterfly" said, "Naturally, I would set up checkpoints to intercept."
Ji Feiyu said, "If you use your light - body technique, what's the probability of us escaping together?"
The "Flower Butterfly" said, "If it was yesterday, the probability would be quite high. But now, with their precautions, it's almost impossible for the two of us to escape smoothly."
Ji Feiyu said, "I see. In that case, I'll have to meet them tomorrow."
The "Flower Butterfly" sighed. "We calculated everything but didn't expect their speed of action."
Ji Feiyu, however, felt at ease. A sense of determination welled up in her heart.
Since she couldn't escape, she might as well face them directly and find out the truth about Cheng Xuan! If that person was really there, she'd like to see how he had the nerve to face her again.
It was he who had let her down in the first place.