Chu Yunge listened with a myriad of emotions surging in her heart. “As long as you don’t get so pessimistic.”
“Anyone who had seen Snow City in its heyday kept missing it forever.”
It was just like in modern times, where many people lamented the destruction of some garden—it was a regret that could never be made up for.
“Yes, this subordinate never saw it, but Master and the others always reminisced about it and told us many stories of Snow City. In winter, the entire Snow City would be blanketed in snow. The finest ice sculptors would carve all sorts of ice sculptures, and there were even ice sculpture palaces where people could live.”
“Whenever it snowed, the people of Snow City would offer songs and dances in celebration. Since everyone was skilled in martial arts with excellent lightness skills, regardless of gender, they would don their finest clothes and perform the Flying Heaven Dance. It made onlookers feel as if they had entered a fairyland, so Snow City was also called the Immortal Abode or Fairy City. Anyone who went there found it unforgettable.”
“The Yan people were warm and welcoming. They treated all guests, young or old, male or female, like they were completely at home. They often took them flying to experience the sensation of being immortals. For those afraid to fly, there was the ice skating festival, where guests could learn on their own or be led by Yan people. It was said that the Yan people even selected those with the best looks and skills for it.”
“Snow City gave the world countless beautiful memories, leaving people reluctant to leave. Many spent their whole lives dreaming of visiting once, while others went multiple times and still felt it wasn’t enough.”
“Unfortunately, it all became history long ago.”
Yan Feng looked at Chu Yunge and thought to himself that if Yan State hadn’t been destroyed, he might have been able to take the princess flying in Snow City and let her be an ice-and-snow fairy for once.
His lightness skill was exceptional. Master had once let it slip by accident that if Yan State hadn’t fallen, he would have been born noble and qualified to receive a princess.
He had never confirmed it, though. Master had clammed up and never mentioned it again, since Yan State was gone—knowing would only add pointless worry.
He didn’t usually dwell on such things, but at this moment, the thought suddenly struck him.
“Yeah, what a shame. Such a wonderful place.” Chu Yunge was shocked and sighed with deep regret; she felt it even more keenly now.
“If Snow City in Yan State were still around, I’d definitely go see it.” And let the Yan people take her flying.
She wouldn’t miss out on any little immortal lads or lasses; she’d fly until she was satisfied.
“If the chance arises, this subordinate will surely invite Your Highness to tour it together.”
This conversation between Yan Feng and Chu Yunge lifted much of the gloom from their hearts.
Chu Yunge didn’t want to hold up his time. “You can go now. You worked hard today. Once things settle down, we’ll catch up on more gossip and give you some time off.”
Yan Feng paused at the mention of gossip. “Is Your Highness curious about what happened next with the guard and the two maids?”
“Of course. I wonder how the maid and the guard ended up. We’ll keep listening later.”
Unexpectedly, Yan Feng spoke up. “Your Highness had this subordinate keep an eye out, so I know the progress.”
“You know?”
“Yes. Does Your Highness want to hear now?”
“Of course! Do you have time? Quick, tell me all about it.” Chu Yunge perked up. “We’ll talk it through before you go. Sit.”
She hurriedly had someone bring tea and melon seeds.
With the mood set, Yan Feng found the melon seeds on the table amusing but sat down as she wished, peeling seeds while he spoke.
“After Your Highness’s Maid A and Maid B parted ways, maid A quickly arranged a new marriage.”
“Juicy! And then?”
Seeing Chu Yunge lean in close, Yan Feng’s throat bobbed, but he calmly shifted his gaze away.
“That guard was in agony. He got drunk in the middle of the night and went looking for maid A, only to get an earful from her.”
Yan Feng switched tones to imitate the maid. “Since the matchmaker’s words can’t be broken, you should be filial and obey your parents—so don’t come bothering me. Or do you want to force me to my death?
“‘Don’t think I don’t know. You’re scheming for a wife and concubine both. You’re only here now because your fiancée got kicked out and you regret it. You’re trying to disgust my fiancé into giving me up, so I’ll have no choice but to be with you.’”
Chu Yunge hadn’t expected things to unfold this way. “The previous maid got kicked out?”
“Yes.” Yan Feng nodded. “And maid A nailed it. This subordinate overheard earlier that the guard did plan exactly that. Though he liked maid A, she was just an orphan girl with no backing. His parents opposed it, and he valued maid B’s steward mother for the help she could provide. Hoping to catch the princess’s eye, he agreed.”
Chu Yunge slapped the table. “What a scheming man, pretending his parents left him no choice. Good thing she saw through him.”
“You’re impressive too, or we’d have missed this key intel.”
Yan Feng got praised again. “This subordinate was just paying attention and made a point to ask around last night.”
Chu Yunge lavished more praise without holding back. “Well done. Did the guard fly into a rage when exposed?”
“He did. He tried to force things and cook the rice before it was mature, but this subordinate smashed his head open with a stone.”
The daytime incident where Zhao Zeng had nearly forced himself on the princess was still fresh; Yan Feng couldn’t tolerate this. After the stone strike, he’d even considered castrating the guard.
“With his head smashed, the guard couldn’t hold maid A down. She kicked him right in the privates and stomped several more times. This subordinate didn’t need to show himself or strike again.”
Yan Feng’s tone carried a hint of emotion. “That guard wailed nonstop, cursed up a storm, then begged pathetically.”
Seeing the light growing brighter in Chu Yunge’s eyes, Yan Feng vividly mimicked a few of the guard’s lines. Unlike his earlier stiff awkwardness, this time he infused them with real emotion.
Chu Yunge’s eyes lit up hugely. “What a talent! Where’s maid A?”
She needed to build up her own people. She’d arranged other talents for guards, but she had to scout and train maids too.
Yan Feng caught the sparkle in her eyes, a flicker of amusement in his own.
Truth be told, he hadn’t quite understood Chu Yunge’s fun before. But thinking she wanted to hear, he’d gone checking last night with some anticipation.
He’d been waiting for her to call him for the gossip, and the developments truly exceeded expectations. Those guards and maids who’d seemed identical and worthless to him before turned out to have their own personalities in private.
He was already changing because of Chu Yunge’s words, pondering how to blend in and become anyone. This glimpse revealed real differences.
Unknowingly, his voice grew richer, his emotions fuller. In just a few lines as the guard, he made it feel immersive.
Last night’s drama had let him taste the hundred flavors of life; everything suddenly felt interesting.
Back home, he’d even mimicked the guard’s walk, posture, and voice, imagining himself as the guard.
From the guard’s perspective, then switching to Chu Yunge’s—imagining what she’d focus on, her guesses and views—everything felt different.
Yan Feng’s past life had been nothing but family and national enmity, struggling to survive. Days of cold, hunger, and training for faith, for purity. Without land or home, he lived without stealing or robbing—it took all his strength.
He’d had no time, mood, or energy to observe others. His eyes worked fine, but the world had been black-and-white to him.
This was his first time not scrambling for food and shelter, his first time observing others. He discovered the world was like this.
Ordinary guards and maids, ordinary street life—it wasn’t ordinary at all. They were all vivid, living people.
Maid A really wasn’t bad.
“Last night, the guard’s screams were loud enough to draw the patrols. Now both the guard and the maid are locked up, awaiting Your Highness or the Prince Consort’s judgment.”
“Why wait for the Prince Consort? From now on, this princess will handle these matters personally. Kick that guard out—he embodies every rotten trait of men.”
She could be fickle herself, but she couldn’t stand men scheming for the good stuff, using vile tricks to aim for wife and concubines both.
“Yes.” Yan Feng acknowledged it. Hearing they didn’t need to wait for the Prince Consort inexplicably improved his mood.
He and the princess were in sync; he despised the guard’s fickleness and disloyalty too.
Loyalty and chastity were the basic mark of a good man—like him, both loyal and chaste.
To Her Highness, loyal in body and soul.