Chapter 110 - Practice Run (3)

Yang Zheyan smiled, tracing the rim of the teacup with his index finger. Coming to a stop, he looked up at the unwavering eyes of Xiong Jingfei, "You knew all along, didn't you?" 

"I have no idea what you are referring to, young master Yang Zheyan." Xiong Jingfei replied, addressing him by his real name. Instead of the fake name that was given to her after their market experience. 

Yang Zheyan opened his white fan with nothing on it besides one famous poem line. He flapped it at a slow pace with a smile that became more potent with her response. A smile that felt like it saw right through you. By also putting fear into your bones for eternity. Usually, this smile of his will began to make others confess their deepest darkest secret to him. 

Yet, Xiong Jingfei didn't seem to be affected by him one bit, so he tried a different method that has always proven to be effective. Attacking their weakness, "I wonder what others will think of the Eldest Miss, once they find out she took her veil off in public? Not only does she always sneak out of the Xiong maor, but she also creates trouble occasionally in public?"

A smile played at Xiong Jingfei's lips as she removed her veil. Revealing a face that no longer appeared like a child. Within the past two years, her face was starting to take shape to look more like a woman. Setting down the veil, she removed any trace of a child in her, "I am revealing myself to you, so why don't you drop that fake smile of yours too?" 

The open fan of Yang Zheyan slammed shut, and his smile immediately dropped. He squeezed his fan with excitement. This is the real Xiong Jingfei! Not the little girl who shouted at him to not look at her face that day in his backyard. 

It was surprising she didn't yell at him or became bashful when he took her veil off inside the carriage without her permission. Either she forgot about the reason behind the veil or she didn't care. One way or another, she wasn't acting like it was her first time having her real face shown in public. 

Picking up the now lukewarm tea, Yang Zheyan asked, "When did you find out?" 

Xiong Jingfei did not answer him right away this time. Instead, she was putting the food made due to his unannounced visit into her bowl. She was not going to let the food go cold and starve herself for someone like him. No one was around, so she didn't need to be polite and serve him. He was old enough to put food into his own bowl. 

Yang Zheyan had the time in the world to wait for her to answer. She was only testing his patience, and he has a lot of it in him to spare. As she kept eating in silence, he also picked up his chopsticks to start eating too. If they were going to start a silent war, then they might as well do it on a full stomach.

When Xiong Jingfei found herself to be full. She little out a happy tiny sigh and put down her chopsticks. She finishes it off by drowning the tea she poured for herself. Even with Yang Zheyan's cup being empty. She didn't pour any into his cup like how a future wife should be doing. 

Seeing how patient he has been even after she was impolite. Xiong Jingfei finally answered, "I found out not long after our little adventure at the market."

Yang Zheyan's chopsticks that were in the middle of picking up a piece of meat came to a halt. How in the world did she find out his identity so quickly? Did he underestimate her because of her age? 

She apparently knew for almost two years but acted like she didn't this whole time! He thought he was the one doing the tricking, but it was her doing it to him. She looked so innocent and naive on the outside but was cunning behind it all. 

During the past two years, he spent most of his time away from the Capital. While he was away, he wrote letters to her, but it was addressed from Wei Weimin. Now that Yang Zheyan was stationed to stay in the Capital for the time being. He was going to finally tell her the truth, but she knew all along. 

"Shock that I saw through your lie, and played along with you?" Xiong Jingfei smirked, finally pouring more tea into his empty cup. 

She had no choice but to do her own research on him. He told her that his name was Wei Weimin after that day at the market. Except, he didn't know that she already met this Wei Weimin he claimed to be. There was only one person in Lou Zemin Capital with the surname Wei and the name Weimin. He is well known for being a womanizer.  

Xu Song and her were returning from the spice store. They decided to take an alleyway as a shortcut due to the unfortunate weather. It was sprinkling nonstop all day, so the dusty road became muddy and slippery. 

The hem of Xu Song and Xiong Jingfei's dress were dirty and wet. Their shoes no longer felt like shoes. More like having a heavy cloth wrapped around your feet while you're walking in the water. 

Where the spice shop is located, they could not go by carriage all the way. Their carriage tried taking them as close as it could. However, they had to walk the rest of the way to get there. 

Wei Weimin, however, was in the middle of trying to hide away from the men following him. He didn't know he was flirting with a married woman! It was just his luck to have no one with him today. He decided it will be fun for once without no one guarding him all day and night. He decided wrong!

Turning his head back to make sure they weren't still on his tail. Without watching ahead, he accidentally bumped into Xu Song. Causing her to drop all the spice boxes that Xiong Jingfei had to specially request for. 

"Well, what did I find here? Someone who will turn into a bewitching beauty within the next few years?" Wei Weimin stated, catching Xu Song in one arm, but his eyes were staring at Xiong Jingfei. Even with her face behind a veil, he can tell without her having to take it off. 

Xiong Jingfei shyly hid behind Xu Song and turned away from his comment. He should feel lucky that she was dressed up as the Eldest Miss of the Xiong manor. If not, she would have smacked him and demanded him to replace those spices. They are hard to find and come by! Only once a year does that spice store get a hold of these items, and the only store to get them!

She had to pay twice the price for the shop owner to have them on hold for her. Xiong Jingfei was afraid a mishap would happen, so she had to beg her father for his permission to leave the manor. Thanks to this one person, it was all for nothing!

"You dare speak to my Miss this way?" Xu Song glared at him, not thanking him for catching her from falling. Even though it was his fault if she did fall down. 

Xiong Jingfei stepped in to stop Xu Song from speaking any further. They do not know the identity of this man. He might be someone of a higher ranking based on his outfit. In case he was, they would have offended someone they can't afford to. 

Xu Song quietly scoffed and began picking up any of the spices deemed still usable. Sadly, more than half of them were dirty and cannot be used anymore. Xiong Jingfei also got down and started picking them up too. 

"Miss, let me do this. Please don't dirty your hands." Xu Song stopped Xiong Jingfei from picking any more up. 

Wei Weimin was arching his head to catch a glimpse of Xiong Jingfei's sleeve. He was wondering which household this Miss was from. He was sure that she was someone in a few years, who will become known in the Capital. He can't miss out on this great chance of getting to know" her...

"I-I apologize for my rude words," Wei Weimin suddenly became apologetic towards them. It was only after seeing the embroidery word on Xiong Jingfei's sleeve did he repent. 

Only those who are direct descendants from a noble household will have their surname embroidery onto the hem of their sleeves. Servants and slaves will have the surname of their master embroidery onto the collar of the shirt. It was more visible, so others can identify which household the slaves or servants were from. 

He must not be wanting his life lately by offending his older brother first and now possibly Yang Zheyan.