A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to be Appreciated 3

5

Pingting walked to the table and placed clean paper before her. She dipped the brush in ink, raised her hand in midair when she suddenly stopped, sadness crossing her face. She didn't lower her hand for a long time.

Zuiju knew what she was thinking and waited several breaths long until she could wait no longer. "Miss?" she asked, quietly.

Pingting slowly replied and bit her lip as she lowered her hands to write, not pausing at any time, until the paper was finished. She gracefully wrote her name in the corner and put down her brush.

Zuiju put away the brush and ink while Pingting carefully blew the letter dry and sealed it in an envelope. She added her signature on the top and handed it to Yaotian with both hands.

The letter had been written, as if putting an end to the Chu Beijie she knew.

The two had wanted to leave the Prince Consort Residence since their arrival and had long put thought into what they would bring. Not long later, Zuiju had already packed up their bags.

Yaotian waited for them to pack up properly and summoned a maid. "Prepare a carriage, I am leaving."

With one hand supporting Pingting, Zuiju held the baggage in her other hand.

On the way out of the backyard, all the guards in the atrium were deeply shocked when they saw Pingting's figure by Yaotian. He Xia was out on an expedition and had taken the many Jing-An Ducal residents with him, so most of the guards left behind at the Prince Consort Residence were Yun Chang's men. They knew that it was Yaotian, their country's Princess and knew not to offend her. Even a few of the bravest had taken a step forward to try to stop her anyway. How could they speak after seeing Yaotian's inviolable-looking eyes?

The Prince Consort Residence guards watched Yaotian bring Pingting out the door, when they suddenly heard a clear male voice urging, "Princess, please slow down!"

Dongzhuo hurriedly came forwards from inside, with a small team of guards. He straightened after bowing respectfully to Yaotian and eyed Pingting. "I wonder where Princess is taking Pingting?"

"City entrance."

"Why to the city entrance?"

Yaotian's expression was neutral. "Pingting wanted to go for a walk and I have approved."

"Does the Prince Consort know?"

"I will naturally tell the Prince Consort when he comes back." Yaotian replied, "Please move." As a Princess who had dabbled in national affairs, the power in her words were influential. Her cold words brought a chill.

"Princess, please forgive me! Dongzhuo has been ordered by the Prince Consort to guard the Prince Consort Residence. The outside is very dangerous so without the Prince Consort's protection, she musn't leave the residence."

Yaotian angrily replied, "And you dare defy my orders?"

Dongzhuo bowed three more times, but his voice hardened. "If Princess wants to take away Pingting, then please kill Dongzhuo first."

"How dare you!" Yaotian flew into a rage, challenging him to go further.

How daring could anyone act so rudely to Princess Yaotian in Yun Chang? Yaotian waved her sleeves and the guards that had come with her from the Royal Residence unsheathed their swords, gleaming with its cold light as it pointed towards Dong Zhuo and his group.

The atmosphere was very tense.

Dongzhuo still refused to move. He had received orders from He Xia and had been ordered to guard the Prince Consort Residence. No matter what, he couldn't let Yaotian take away Pingting. He raised his head to look at the sharp tips of the swords, articulating clearly his words. "If Princess wants to take away Pingting, then please kill Dongzhuo first."