Chapter 125

125 Was this the red string that had eluded her? Part II

“Do you have any money on you?”

“No.”

Her face looked worse. “Why don’t you bring money when you come to a festival?”

“I’ve never gone to a festival before.”

“But at least you should carry money on you.”

“But you also don’t have any money.”

“I’m a young lady. Obviously, my maids would carry my money for me.” This was a typical thing for a noble lady. Did he not know?!

“And I’m a general.”

Bai Yu stopped.

.....

“Oh, ...” Ouyang Feilong stopped, then turned back toward the person he had been leading by hand. “I’m also the first prince too.”

Bai Yu scowled at ‘Qin Wang,’ who held the title higher than her. He was using his status to tell her that he was also not at fault for not carrying money. She knew that, but she still could not help feeling frustrated. Moments ago, she was ecstatic when she heard him saying that he would stay to take a look at the festival, and yet she could not shake the thought that he would be leaving soon. On top of that, they were wasting their time getting lost. Bai Yu felt annoyed by everything! Her lips under the veil pinched together, feeling frustration well up and almost overflow.

She wanted to stay with him, but he still had his duty!

She wanted to be with him longer, but they wasted their time getting lost!

She wanted to eat that strange-looking snack, but she had no money!

She wanted to enjoy the festival like other people, but she would have to waste more time going back to get the money!

It’s absurd!

Warmth moved from her palm to the top of her head. A frown slowly loosened as she looked at him in confusion.

“Crybaby.” Ouyang Feilong intended to scold her, yet did not realize how tender his tone was. Bai Yu, noticing it, blinked at him.

Ouyang Feilong was originally eye-catching, partly because of his height. And when he had another woman, whose beauty was recognizable from her eyes alone, beside him, he attracted even more attention. The passersby could not help but sneak glances at the beautiful match made in heaven.

Bai Yu blinked multiple times before deciding to turn her face away and evade his gaze. Still, she could not hide the red color that had spread from her cheeks to her ears. Ouyang Feilong was amused by her reaction. It seemed she had stopped sulking, but he was still displeased to see that she kept biting and pinching her lips.

“Don’t bite your lip.”

“I’m not biting it,” she mumbled back, still refusing to look him in the eyes.

“Heh.” The warmth from his palm returned to her hand once more. Ouyang Feilong led her away from the main street that was lined with stalls. They stepped into a small alley where people were fewer and fewer. Despite being curious, Bai Yu followed him silently. She was much cuter when she was obedient like this.

“Ah-Zhen.”

When they reached a spot that was out of other pedestrians’ sight, Ouyang Feilong called someone’s name. Suddenly, a man disguised in black clothes appeared in front of them. “Yes, sir.”

Bai Yu assumed he was one of Ouyang Feilong’s men. His face was not obscured by a cloth or a mask.

As a shadow guard, there was no need for him to show himself, and so there was no need to hide his face. Bai He was the only one other than Ouyang Feilong who knew ‘Ah-Zhen,’ a handsome man with a cold and calm appearance that fitted well with his identity as a mysterious shadow guard.

Ah-Zhen had served Ouyang Feilong as a shadow guard since he was young. His duty was to be the last barrier to protect Ouyang Feilong. Every time his name was uttered, it was for a serious matter. He was rarely called out while Ouyang Feilong was with someone else.

The first time was in front of Yue Chen, a master of Ouyang Feilong. The second time was with Bai He, who was like a younger brother. The third time Ah-Zhen’s name was called in the presence of a woman, and for...

“Do you have money?”

For money!

“Oomph!” Bai Yu immediately stifled laughter with her hand.

Ah-Zhen could not describe the shock he felt or how much of a fool he might have looked. Ouyang Feilong cleared his throat once. Bai Yu put her hand away and took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.

Ah-Zhen smoothed his expression back to seriousness. The golden-eyed guard produced his money pouch without any resistance. “This is all I have, sir.”

Ouyang Feilong did not take it, only looking at her in silence.

“Yes, Your Highness?” Because they were in front of his subordinate, she chose to speak formally with him again, despite her confusion.

He turned his gaze to the pouch, then back to her again. “Is it enough?”

“Oh.” Bai Yu finally understood. She stared at Ah-Zhen’s money pouch before shaking her head.

“Not enough?”

“I don’t know, Your Highness.”

“Hm?”

“I’ve never made purchases by myself...” Though she had bought fabrics at Dong Hai, Xu Luanle was actually the one who managed the money and did the transaction for her. She had not even once gone to the market with her maids. She had never experienced such aspects of life ever since she came here!

“May I teach...”

“No need.” Knowing what his guard was going to see, Ouyang Feilong took the pouch and led Bai Yu away. Ah-Zhen, too, suddenly vanished.

“Why don’t you let him teach us?” she asked, racing to catch up with his long legs.

“Do you know how to use money?” He slowed his pace and answered the question with another question.

“I don’t.”

“I don’t either.”

Ouyang Feilong stopped in front of the snack stall she had been eyeing but did not have money. His larger hand tightened her smaller one. “Then let’s learn how to do it together.”

Then...let’s try living a normal life together.

——————-

‘She’s the most beautiful and refined Lady Meihua in history!’

‘She gets stronger and more beautiful each year. The title is truly hers; there’s no mistaking it!’

‘Who won this year?’

‘The first miss of the Bai family, Miss Bai Yu!’

‘This year, Miss Bai Yu is like a goddess. Especially when her magic exploded into silver light, she was so graceful, it was like she was from another realm.’

‘They said when her silver hair was about to fall, a golden light blinded the audience. And when they opened their eyes, she disappeared!’

‘Does that mean her magic is actually gold level?!’

‘But I saw a man take her away before her hairpin could fall. He has golden magic!’

‘What if it’s a god who’s entranced by her purity, so he came down from heaven and swept her away?!’

‘This year’s Lady Meihua is truly a wonder!’

‘True, true’

‘True, true, true, true.’

“Do you agree?” said Lady Meihua, pushing his arm with her shoulder. While Ouyang Feilong was watching the result and listening to the praise from the crowd, his face was expressionless as ever.

“No.” On top of denying it, he also walked away without waiting for her.

“Someone said you’re a god too.”

“I agree with that.”

“You’re too cruel!” She stuck out her tongue at his back before hurriedly following him, still in a good mood.

After a prince and a young lady had learned how to use money like a commoner, Ouyang Feilong led her to Zhaocaijinbao without getting lost. On the way, he also stopped to buy food and to look at ‘strange things,’ according to the young lady’s words.

After getting used to the market of this era, Bai Yu was beyond happy as she enjoyed the various stalls on both sides of the street, especially when the other person followed her around, helping her carry things and not saying a word of complaint. By the time they reached the inn, they had wasted almost half a shichen. Strangely, Bai Yu was not frustrated by this at all.

And when she saw the result showing that she was the Lady Meihua for another year, she was so overjoyed and kept beaming, drawing the eyes of men who passed by. Though no one noticed her, her beauty was still evident through the veil. Similarly, the man beside her was the same way, though his intimidating aura kept others away. However, Bai Yu did not realize that she was surrounded by that aura all the time, or that Ouyang Feilong did not intend to use it to protect himself. He was intimidating men who were looking at Bai Yu or thinking of approaching her.