"Ah..." At the mention of her elder brother by Wu Ya, Yue Ling finally relented. "I..."
But Wu Ya paid him no further attention. She had already coiled her whip and walked straight toward Jiu Yue, who was sitting nearby.
Jiu Yue was still lost in thought when she saw Wu Ya approaching, but she instinctively stood up out of courtesy.
Just as she was about to offer a formal "Great Yan welcomes you," Wu Ya instantly transformed into a harmless little lamb, affectionately taking her hand.
"So you're from Great Yan!" Wu Ya tilted her head and pointed at herself. "Do you remember me?"
The howling Yue Ling froze.
Behind him, Sima Qing looked up.
The three attendants holding bowls gasped in unison, thoroughly entertained by the scene.
Seeing Jiu Yue's dazed expression, Wu Ya didn’t seem surprised. She sighed, not particularly disappointed, and simply tugged her along.
"It's fine. I figured you wouldn’t recognize me—I’ve changed quite a bit..." She sounded cheerful nonetheless. "But meeting again is fate! Come, let’s eat next door. Don’t touch this scoundrel’s food—who knows when he’ll stab you in the back later!"
Jiu Yue fell into contemplation.
So her earlier sense of familiarity wasn’t an illusion—she really had met Princess Wu Ya before.
But where had it been...?
Absorbed in digging through her memories, Jiu Yue offered no resistance as Wu Ya led her away.
The remaining people in the private room: "..."
Qiu Dongfang finally set his meal aside, instinctively glancing at Sima Qing’s expression—only to find the royal consort deep in thought.
Mei Wuchang belatedly asked, "Ah, will Her Highness return to the palace tonight?"
"Of course," Sima Qing replied before turning to Yue Ling, who seemed distracted. "If the Grand Prince has finished eating, let’s take a stroll downstairs."
Yue Ling snapped out of it and, for once, didn’t argue with Sima Qing. Suppressing the urge to clutch his backside, he limped out of the room.
Once outside, Sima Qing knocked on the adjacent private room’s door.
The door wasn’t fully closed. Jiu Yue, who had just been pulled into a seat in confusion, looked up at the sound and saw Sima Qing at the doorway. She rose again and approached him.
Sima Qing patted her hand reassuringly. "We’ll wait for you downstairs. Wuchang will stay by the door—call him if you need anything."
Jiu Yue nodded. As she turned back, she glanced down at her hand, wrapped in the cloth bandage he had given her that morning.
The outer layer was rough, but the inner lining was soft, delicate silk—likely to prevent the reins from aggravating her injury again.
Wait.
Injury!
A memory finally surfaced. Jiu Yue lifted her gaze, studying Princess Wu Ya, who was watching her curiously, and suddenly recognized her.
Back when the original host was in Tianqi, she had gone south to assist Prince Ping with a problem—and found a miracle doctor! The one who could save Muling!
Well, to be precise, this Princess Wu Ya had been the miracle doctor’s young apprentice.
At the time, the doctor said she was fifteen, but her gaunt frame made her look no older than twelve or thirteen, her large eyes constantly darting around in wariness.
Two or three years later, Wu Ya was no longer skinny—she’d filled out slightly, her skin fair and smooth, giving her the appearance of a soft, fluffy little lamb.
"So it’s you!" Jiu Yue exclaimed in realization, sitting back down beside Wu Ya in amazement. "You’re actually from Mengwu Kingdom?"
Wu Ya was delighted she remembered—and surprised it had happened so quickly.
"Mengwu borders Tianqi. Back then, my master was searching for herbs, so we traveled there for a while." Wu Ya glanced at her discreetly, skimming over the details before changing the subject. "I never expected you weren’t from Tianqi either..."
Recalling Yue Ling’s presence in the neighboring room, Wu Ya’s expression turned peculiar. "You wouldn’t happen to be the Crown Princess of Great Yan, Yan Zhaoning, would you?"
Jiu Yue waved a hand. "No need for formalities. Aren’t you a princess of Mengwu too?"
Wu Ya grinned. "Seems like we’re all good at disguising ourselves when traveling!"
This girl was downright adorable.
Unable to resist, Jiu Yue pinched her cheek, her tone effortlessly familiar. "Have you eaten yet? Has the food arrived? My treat!"
"How could I impose?" Wu Ya protested before adding, "The dishes should be here soon... I only came because I spotted that scoundrel in Great Yan when I opened the window earlier. Hmph, I knew he’d talk about me like that!"
"Don’t mind him. Just treat it as hot air." Jiu Yue’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned in. "This meal’s on me—but it’s Yue Ling’s money we’re spending. No reason not to take advantage!"
Wu Ya’s eyes widened. "He’s that eager to please you? Willing to spend so much?"
Jiu Yue arched a brow. "Eager to please? More like he brought it on himself. He stepped on my foot this morning. I only asked for five hundred taels in compensation, but the stubborn mule had to argue... What else could I do?"
What else, except effortlessly swindle him out of five thousand taels.
Wu Ya: "..."
Her eyes gleamed with admiration. "Then by all means, treat me! Make sure it’s that scoundrel’s money!"
"Absolutely!" Jiu Yue laughed, generously ordering a few more dishes for Wu Ya.
By the time the food arrived, the private room was still just the two of them. Jiu Yue couldn’t help asking, "Are you alone?"
Wu Ya nodded, happily digging in.
"My elder brother and the others won’t arrive for a while yet... I couldn’t stand the hardship of dry rations on the road, so I sneaked ahead for some proper food." She paused mid-bite, turning to Jiu Yue with an awkward smile.
"Don’t misunderstand! I just wanted a decent meal—I mean no harm to Great Yan."
Mengwu was a small kingdom—who’d dare scheme against Great Yan?
Jiu Yue believed her without question.
A slightly plump princess, her eyes practically sparkling like Ultraman at the sight of a feast—what ill intentions could she possibly harbor?
"Don’t worry. Eat your fill. I’ll take you back to the palace later." Jiu Yue smiled, keeping her company.
Wu Ya brightened. "Hehe, thank you!"
She’d only brought a few attendants to Great Yan and carried no diplomatic documents. She’d resigned herself to staying at an inn until her brother arrived before presenting herself at the palace.
With accommodations settled and no need to stay vigilant outside, Wu Ya relaxed entirely.
Between bites, she chatted with Jiu Yue.
"If you’re the Crown Princess, then the man beside you earlier must be your royal consort?"
"Mm."
"He’s quite easy on the eyes. A good match for you."
A husband’s looks are his wife’s pride.
Jiu Yue waved a modest hand. "He’s alright."
Wu Ya insisted earnestly, "He’s seriously good-looking! Way better than that lumpy-faced Yue Ling! Pah! The audacity of him dreaming about being with you!"
Objectively speaking, Yue Ling’s features were more rugged—less refined than Sima Qing’s delicate handsomeness—but he wasn’t without his own brand of appeal.
But now, being directly called "ugly and misshapen" by Wu Ya… Jiu Yue couldn't hold back and quietly asked her, "Do you have some kind of grudge against Yue Ling?"
Wu Ya waved her hand dismissively. "We're eating—don't bring him up, or I'll lose my appetite."
That must be serious indeed.
Jiu Yue quickly changed the subject.
The meal lasted a little while longer, and Wu Ya also invited the guards to join them. By the time the group stepped out of the private room, it was already dark outside.
As soon as the door opened, Mei Wuchang appeared right behind Jiu Yue, startling Wu Ya.
"Your Highness, the Royal Consort is waiting for you downstairs," Mei Wuchang announced.
"Then go down and meet him. You all can head back first. I’ll stroll around a bit more with Princess Wu Ya and pick up some local specialties," Jiu Yue replied.
But Mei Wuchang immediately added, "The Royal Consort has already purchased everything."
Jiu Yue paused, then turned to Wu Ya. "Let’s head back for tonight then. I’ll take you shopping tomorrow."
Wu Ya nodded in agreement.
