Chapter Fifty: Tumultuous Rumors

At the sound of Feng Jingye’s words, Tail Spoon Quietly supported Dongnuan as she stood, handing her over to Ye Jiu. She thought to herself that it would be better for Dongnuan to return to the Prince of War’s residence; the Shadow Guard Tower could take care of her better than she could… After all, Dongnuan was originally one of the Shadow Guards. Tail Spoon Quietly did not turn around, and suddenly realized that most of what she possessed had been given to her by Feng Jingye… The ones best able to protect her—Dongnuan and Banqiu—were Shadow Guards Feng Jingye had assigned her in the past. Even Wanlai Xue and Dongyue Tower had a share of Feng Jingye’s arrangements…

Tail Spoon Quietly smiled softly and took Qingxia’s hand. “Let’s return to the Duke’s residence and visit Aunt…”

Feng Jingye stood behind her, his gaze never shifting from her slender figure. Naturally, he did not miss her intent to return to the Duke's residence.

There was no doubt that Feng Jingye wanted Tail Spoon Quietly to accompany him to the Prince of War’s residence. Whenever he tried to bring her back, she would resist in every possible way. Feng Jingye’s brows furrowed as he strode toward her. Before she could react, he scooped her up in his arms and walked off…

No matter how hard he tried, Feng Jingye could never quite understand Tail Spoon Quietly’s way of thinking.

He thought back to last time, when he was a moment late leaving the Duke’s residence. He had the whole Shadow Guard Tower searching for her for days, from Wanlai Xue to Mingke Residence, then from Mingke Residence to Maple Leaf Grove and Qin Maple Courtyard. He kept urging her to return to the Prince of War’s residence, and after a day of chaos, he realized he should have simply carried her home from the start…

Tail Spoon Quietly was startled by Feng Jingye’s sudden action, nearly crying out. Knowing it was him, she complained, “What are you doing!”

Feng Jingye said nothing, and Tail Spoon Quietly grew flustered. “There are so many people—put me down!”

Feng Jingye paused, deliberately slowing his steps…

Tail Spoon Quietly glared at him in annoyance, inwardly cursing him as a scoundrel. She turned her head away to show her dissatisfaction, but instantly realized that if she looked outward, a crowd would surely be watching her. She quietly turned back, burying herself in Feng Jingye’s embrace…

There truly were many people around. The great fire had alarmed nearly all the citizens of the northern city. Even though it was night, countless onlookers had gathered.

Suddenly, many eyes shifted from the raging flames at Wanlai Xue to the pair walking beneath the night sky.

Tail Spoon Quietly wore a veil. The moment she turned her head, several townsfolk who had seen her at Drunken Qiong Tower whispered, “Is that the Princess of War?”, “Looks like her.” “Seems to be her…”

It was as if a pot had been shattered—everyone wanted to see for themselves! Instantly, all eyes fell upon Feng Jingye and Tail Spoon Quietly.

Tail Spoon Quietly pouted, pinching Feng Jingye’s waist with hidden force. She knew that, with the thick winter clothing—not to mention summer—her efforts would be futile, but she couldn’t shake the discomfort within her heart.

She disliked being the center of attention, much like the way one bows their head in silent mourning after a funeral's gaze.

“You…” Tail Spoon Quietly wanted Feng Jingye to put her down, but if he did, she would surely become a spectacle for all, better to shrink into his embrace like a turtle.

Feng Jingye felt a surge of satisfaction—rarely had he seen the little woman in such a state. Watching her bury her head in his chest, the smile at his lips only grew wider.

Two teams of shadow guards surrounded them, keeping the crowds apart, preventing assassins from mingling.

Unaware of how long she’d been carried, Tail Spoon Quietly finally found herself out of sight of the crowd. She immediately said, “There’s no one now, hurry and put me down!”

But Feng Jingye did not let her go, thinking that if he walked slowly from the north of the city back to the Prince of War’s residence in the west, he could hold her for two whole hours…

“If I put you down, would you find your way alone?” Feng Jingye couldn’t hide the laughter in his eyes.

Tail Spoon Quietly froze. Only she and Feng Jingye remained, and it was late; there were few people on the streets. She realized asking for directions back to the Duke’s residence was impossible.

“An hour’s walk to the Prince of War’s residence, two hours to the Duke’s…” Feng Jingye remarked lightly.

Tail Spoon Quietly wondered, was it really that far? Was Feng Jingye lying?

But she was hopeless with directions and could never figure out how to get to either place.

Feng Jingye felt pleased—he recalled some maid saying, “My lady can’t find her way…”

Tail Spoon Quietly instantly fell silent. With her usual laziness—preferring to sit rather than stand, to lie rather than sit—if not for her predecessor’s diligence in martial practice, she doubted she’d possess any skills at all. Faced with such a long walk, she decided to stay comfortably in Feng Jingye’s arms.

She sighed, content to curl up in his embrace, an action that instantly delighted Feng Jingye.

Tail Spoon Quietly thought that if she returned to the Prince of War’s residence, her departure would lose its meaning. Yet, being carried by Feng Jingye would surely become the talk of the town by morning. She decided that once she arrived, she’d summon a carriage to return to the Duke’s residence.

But she overestimated her self-control; before long, she had fallen asleep in his arms.

Feng Jingye carried her back to Zhi Yu Tower, where Qingxia had prepared everything, waiting for her mistress to return. She hadn’t expected her lady to arrive over half an hour later, already asleep.

Qingxia was puzzled—the Prince’s lightness skill was supposed to be far superior to the shadow guards’, wasn’t it?

She sighed quietly, thinking her mistress must have felt uncomfortable after coming from the fire, yet could still sleep. She also recalled her mistress’s bad temper when disturbed, and thought the Prince must have gained little for all his effort. Tomorrow, her lady would surely be annoyed upon waking.

Feng Jingye gently laid Tail Spoon Quietly down. She clung to his robe, possibly having pinched him all night in her sleep. Feng Jingye, never having heard the “cut sleeve” tale, stayed at Zhi Yu Tower as he had that night she’d driven him away, keeping watch at her bedside through the night.

At dawn, before the sun was fully up, Tail Spoon Quietly felt uncomfortable. After spending the night dirty from the fire, she couldn’t bear it. Still groggy, she mumbled, “Qingxia…”

At her faint murmur, Feng Jingye awoke.

Qingxia, who had kept watch outside all night, entered at her mistress’s call. Feng Jingye, seeing Tail Spoon Quietly’s adorable pout, his eyes full of warmth and laughter, gestured to Qingxia to remain silent.

Qingxia guessed the Prince assumed her mistress was still asleep.

She skillfully poured hot water, wrung out a brocade cloth, and wiped Tail Spoon Quietly’s neck.

Tail Spoon Quietly grabbed at her neck with one hand, took the cloth with the other, and continued to mumble, “Go prepare water—I want a bath…”

Qingxia hesitated. Tail Spoon Quietly started fumbling with the buttons at her collar, one hand unable to find them, growing impatient and tugging at random, radiating dissatisfaction with her poor sleep.

Soon the cloth cooled, and she tossed it aside in frustration, sitting up and using both hands to undo her collar.

Feng Jingye’s mind exploded—he angrily picked up the discarded cloth, wetted it anew, and grabbed her hands, carefully wiping her neck.

Tail Spoon Quietly stiffened, abruptly opening her eyes to see Feng Jingye’s tired face.

She jolted awake, pushing him aside and turning her back to him, annoyed. “Why are you here?”

Feng Jingye, with a barely perceptible irritation, ignored her and left Zhi Yu Tower.

His first act upon returning to Listening Wind Tower was to summon Chu Jiu and have all the servants at Zhi Yu Tower transferred away.

Feng Jingye deeply regretted allowing Ye Shiyi and the others to follow Tail Spoon Quietly; their martial arts were the best, but for a long time afterward, he would bear a mysterious resentment toward them.

Tail Spoon Quietly rose, bathed, had Qingxia change the bedding, and went back to sleep.

The Prince of War’s residence was in uproar—the Prince had carried the Princess home last night, and the news had spread through the entire northern city and even further.

Last night, the Prince stayed at Zhi Yu Tower. Early this morning, hot water was brought and the bedding changed. Today, the Prince truly emerged from Zhi Yu Tower.

Even the usually cold and quiet Shadow Guard Tower was unsettled. The younger generation of shadow guards were jubilant—after all, the mistress they wished to follow was on her way into this world.

Tail Spoon Quietly slept past noon before waking, recalling the previous night and summoning Qingxia to ask, “How wild are the rumors outside?”

Qingxia paused, marveling at her mistress’s foresight. She already knew what was being said in the Prince’s residence—could it be she had planned it herself?

“Miss, did you do it on purpose?” Qingxia asked, puzzled.

Tail Spoon Quietly sighed helplessly, a hint of complaint in her tone. “Weren’t you there? It was Feng Jingye who insisted on carrying me home—what could I do?”

Qingxia realized her mistress could be muddled at times. “Everyone’s discussing whether the Prince loves the Duke’s legitimate daughter more, or the original Tail Spoon General’s daughter more…”

Tail Spoon Quietly nodded. Naturally, last night’s events had spread—high-ranking daughters were always the subject of gossip.

This matter, which had her bidding farewell to Feng Jingye, had in fact gone the opposite way. All her determination had been undone by his effortless actions.

“Sigh…” Tail Spoon Quietly pushed open the door to take a walk and clear her mind, sighing audibly. Feng Jingye, just outside the moon gate, heard her sigh.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to take that step into Zhi Yu Tower.

Qingxia thought Tail Spoon Quietly dissatisfied with being forcibly brought back, and followed her to comfort her. “Miss, you ended your partnership with the Prince, but even then, you’re still the Princess of War. Returning here is only logical, isn’t it?”

“Mm.” Tail Spoon Quietly knew this in her heart, but replied listlessly.

Feng Jingye was about to leave when hurried footsteps approached from the side entrance. Dongnuan, limping, rushed to Tail Spoon Quietly, grabbing her sleeve with her uninjured hand and excitedly asked, “Mistress, the Shadow Guard Tower says we’re going to have a little master—is it true?”

Tail Spoon Quietly froze, foolishly asking, “What little master?”

Feng Jingye trembled all over. He wanted to leave, but couldn’t help listening to Tail Spoon Quietly’s reply.

“Sigh, it’s fake!” Dongnuan saw Tail Spoon Quietly’s reaction and had her answer.

Tail Spoon Quietly suddenly recalled the events of the morning—she realized how easily misunderstandings had arisen.

“Mistress, what good deed have you done!” Dongnuan could see at a glance that Tail Spoon Quietly understood.

Outside the moon gate, Feng Jingye heard Dongnuan’s words, and a frigid aura rose about him. Was the uproar in the residence another of her schemes?