Chapter 94 - Identity Revealed (1)

After that last conversation, Xiong Jingfei and Feng Huan had by the fireplace. They haven't spoken with each other unless deemed necessary. The ride began to sound like how they first started off their journey. The sound of two carriages rolling along and the hooves of horses.  

Feng Huan returned back to his emotionless self once everyone started waking up. He led the group in the front while Captain Hu guarded the back. Meanwhile, Xiong Jingfei stayed stuck in the middle and inside the carriage. She barely showed herself unless they stopped for the night. 

While inside the carriage, Xiong Jingfei didn't spend her time moping around. Opening the curtain to let in the sunlight, she diligently picked and threaded her needle. The needle went in on the green silk fabric and out the other side. 

"Miss, what are you making?" Xu Song curiously asked. It was the first time that Xiong Jingfei was doing something different. 

"I am making a fragrance pouch," Xiong Jingfei picked out another thread and replaced the current color thread. 

Yang Zheyan gifted her a hairpin. So she wanted to give him something in return for it. Although it might not be as valuable and beautiful as his.

"What are you going to sew onto the pouch?" Xu Song picked up the edge of the silk fabric to get a closer look. Unexpectedly, her Miss embroidery was not as awful as she would have imagined. 

"Songsong, your doubts about my sewing is showing." Xiong Jingfei raised an eyebrow, and Xu Song backed away with a nervous laugh. "I am embroidering two koi fish. One red for love and one blue for calmness."

Xiong Jingfei was astounded how well her fragrance pouch making was turning out. She thought it was going to be a disaster, and she would be forced to find something else. 

Her love for him was shown on the red koi fish for Yang Zheyan. She hoped he would see her sincerity and loyalty. While the blue one was like Yang Zheyan's personality. Calm and poised in any situation thrown at him.

At long last, they finally reached their destination. Xiong Jingfei was glad they didn't meet any other mishap along the way. Maybe no one dared to sneak an attack on a group with a lot of people with weapons on them.

Feng Huan's soldiers weren't exactly the type that you can just walk up and talk to them. They were a replica of their master.

Upon arriving, it didn't appear like any major battle had taken place yet. More like the other side didn't attack them, but it will come sooner or later. Xiong Jingfei doubted she would be in the midst of the fight. She was assigned in the back to assist the injured.

Xiong Jingfei held onto Xu Song's hand while getting down from the tall carriage. She can no longer jump or do whatever she likes anymore. She must return back to her former self. A groomed elegant lady who had no blemishes.

"Miss, your father requested for you right away." Captain Hu came back with an order from Xiong Guozhi.

"Mn." Xiong Jingfei nodded. Her eyes searched for Feng Huan, but he was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone ahead... There were going to be a lot of things to do now.

"Miss, don't worry. I would watch over how the items are being stored." Xu Song assured that the items will not be stored in an area not meant for it. "I will have Xiong Guang be taken care of as well."

"I will leave it to you, Songsong."

No one needed to lead Xiong Jingfei to her father's tent. It wasn't hard to point out which one belonged to the commander versus the soldiers. It was big and wide that six to seven people can fit inside. It should be expected to be at least that big. Her father's place was the place they discussed strategy and held meetings.

Xiong Jingfei took a quick look at her appearance inside the bucket of water. She tucked in any loose hair, removed her tired eyes, and replaced them with her Eldest Miss's eyes. Smoothing out her wrinkled dress and clearing her throat.

She stood in front of her father's tent, "Fa-"

A burst of thunderous laughter blasted from inside her father's tent. Who was the person brave enough to even laugh in front of her father?

From where Xiong Jingfei was standing, she could vaguely see three figures inside through the tiny open flap.

"Commander Feng and General Feng, I don't know how to thank you enough. You saved my daughter from something that could have turned into a tragic ending." Xiong Guozhi said without using his authoritative tone. He was humbling himself down to show his sincerity.

"There is no need to thank us. Guozhi, between the two of us, there is no need to be so formal. Is there?"

Xiong Jingfei's eyes soften. She should have guessed. There is only one person in the military who had enough courage to have a casual talk with her father. Commander Feng's name is Feng Heng. Making him Xiong Guozhi's closest friend and Feng Huan's father.

Commander Feng is second in command of her father. For him to be in the same place as her father, that means this wasn't going to be an easy war. She was hoping this war wasn't going to last long. The longer it was the more casualties and clean up at the end.

"I heard great things about your son, Feng Huan. He was already making a name for himself during his training days. He has a bright future in front of him." Xiong Guozhi complimented and sighed at once. Showing his disappointment for having no son to succeed him.

Xiong Jingfei smiled, it didn't come off as a surprise that her father complimented Feng Huan. Her father saw Feng Huan's potential just like she and Yang Zheyan did. She knew she made the right choice by asking Feng Huan to train her, although that is over with now.

It was also rare for Xiong Guozhi to praise anyone or have his approval. Yang Zheyan was another rare case, and Feng Huan became second. She didn't count herself since she was his daughter. Out of his three daughters, she was the only one he mentioned being proud of.  

"Thank you," Feng Huan replied in a monotone and gave a courtesy bowed.

Feng Heng patted Xiong Guozhi on the shoulder, "Brother, you may not have a son, but I heard good things about your oldest daughter too. Think of it as a blessing in disguise."

"It would have been great if she was a son," Xiong Guozhi took a sip of the tea that had already gone cold. If only Jingfei was born as a son, he would have no worries. She had what it takes, but she was born into the wrong body.

Feng Huan greatly admired Xiong Guozhi outside of his father. However, he did not see anything admirable in his daughter, Xiong Jingfei. When the bandits attacked, she didn't fight back and was about to abandon one of her maids. He saw the terror in her eyes as she cried, holding onto Xu Song. She was ready to abandon Xiong Guang, who helped them escape.

He couldn't see what his father saw in her. The noble Xiong Jingfei he heard so much about made him eager to meet her. Despite what Zhao Fan said about her and her fangs. However, after meeting her during that mess was utterly a disappointment.

"Are you going to stand there all day?" Xiong Guozhi said, putting down his cup with a thud.

Outside, Xiong Jingfei's inner self jolted while she kept her calmness on the outside. She didn't think she would reveal her identity right away to Feng Huan. Nervously, she opened the tent's door and took small strides towards them.

"Father, your daughter is late to greet you." Xiong Jingfei greeted, she nodded her head and greeted Commander Heng and Feng Huan. "I didn't want to interrupt your conversations."

She peered up at Feng Huan as he was the last person she greeted. It shouldn't come as a surprise how shocked he was. His expression was still cold and void of all emotions. Yet, his eyes betrayed him.

Xiong Guozhi beckoned her to stand next to him, "As long as you arrived safely."

"Is this the daughter I have heard such great things about?" Commander Heng gave his hearty laugh and rubbed his chin. "Indeed, I can see why your father hid you."

Behind Xiong Jingfei's veil, she smiled, "You flatter me too much, Commander Feng."

"Oh! You know who I am?" Commander Feng leaned over the table between him and Xiong Guozhi. "If you weren't already engaged, I would force your father to give you to my son here."

Commander Feng laughed again and gave three loud smacks on Feng Huan's back.

Xiong Jingfei didn't say anything but continued to place a smile on her face. Commander Feng was the total opposite of her father. He laughed so openly and smiled so warmly. The wrinkles around his mouth and eyes show how much of a smiler he was.

"Ahem! You should be careful. What if others heard you?" Xiong Guozhi shook his head. The Yang household had a reputation to uphold, and they would not be pleased to hear that kind of joke about their future daughter-in-law.

"It was a joke, a joke." Commander Feng laughed, smacking the table that caused Xiong Guozhi's cup to go flying.

Xiong Jingfei went over and picked it up. She did not put it back on the table but held onto it.

"Father, please excuse me while I go bring you a new cup and tea. Your tea must have gone cold by now," said Xiong Jingfei.

Although it was more of an excuse to escape the suffocation in the tent. Xiong Guozhi and Commander Feng probably did not notice, but Feng Huan was casting daggers at her. It didn't look like he blinked once since he found out.

"Before you go, did you show your gratitude to General Feng for saving your life?" Xiong Guozhi looked over at Feng Huan, who finally blinked.

Just when Xiong Jingfei thought that the soldiers who were badmouthing him would meet the short end of the stick first. Why did she suddenly become the first one?