Chapter 90: Chapter 84: Feng Bei, Can You Keep Me Company?

Before leaving the house.

Zheng Erniang produced a red, goose-down jacket with a standing collar from somewhere.

A spirited little lion was embroidered on the chest of the jacket, looking exceptionally festive.

Zheng Xiu reluctantly put it on—it was a piece of clothing he had worn as a child. Besides his dislike for old clothes, the reason for his reluctance was that wearing it made him feel as if the clothes themselves were a generation off.

"Look, you look just like your father."

Seeing Zheng Xiu obediently put it on, Zheng Erniang beamed, her eyes crinkling with joy as she looked him over from all sides. "A perfect resemblance."

Zheng Erniang held Zheng Xiu’s small hand as they walked down the street.

After a few streets, Zheng Xiu sensed someone following them.

He abruptly turned to look and was taken aback. It was Feng Bei.

’What is Feng Bei doing, sneaking around and following us?’

A chill ran down Zheng Xiu’s spine. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the current situation was strange, giving him the illusion of being in an Awkward Situation.

"Sweet sticky rice rolls! Free if they’re not sweet enough!"

As the street vendor shouted, Zheng Erniang’s eyes lit up. She went over, bought the two largest skewers, and stuffed one into Zheng Xiu’s hand.

Zheng Xiu’s eye twitched, but he obediently took it and had a few licks. It was so cloyingly sweet it made him queasy.

It was as if Zheng Erniang wanted to make up for all the "grievances" Zheng Er had suffered over the years. Street after street, she bought Zheng Xiu a variety of street foods.

"Get your piping hot wheat tea!"

"Honey cakes and steamed rice balls!"

"Big slices of pea flour cake! Come and have a taste!"

"Get your hot and sour bean jelly and boyu noodles! So sour and spicy!"

"Fried dough sticks in flatbread! Crispy and fragrant!"

"BURP~"

After visiting ten stalls in a row, Zheng Xiu’s mouth was stuffed full. He felt awful and couldn’t stop burping.

By the third stall, Zheng Xiu was starting to feel that something was strange.

Zheng Erniang seemed to be specifically picking out snacks he disliked.

At the tenth stall, Zheng Erniang held a small bowl with a skewer of "fried stuffed intestine" and, smiling, brought it to Zheng Xiu’s lips.

"Eat up!"

Staring at the greasy, golden-brown pig intestine, stuffed with a red and green paste of red yeast rice and cardamom, Zheng Xiu’s cheeks puffed out. He was beginning to have a vague idea of what Second Lady was thinking.

Zheng Erniang’s smile widened. She leaned close to Zheng Xiu’s ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Why have you stopped eating, my lord?"

"!"

Everyone in the Zheng Family knew that fried stuffed intestine was Zheng Xiu’s most hated food.

Zheng Xiu always felt there was still poop in the intestines.

Even if they were washed spotlessly clean, it was a psychological block he couldn’t overcome.

The long bamboo skewer of fried stuffed intestine, held by Second Lady’s pale fingers, nearly made Zheng Xiu vomit.

"Why have you stopped eating, my lord?"

Whispering in his ear, Zheng Erniang had exposed Zheng Xiu’s identity in a single sentence.

’She really did find out!’

When Zheng Xiu didn’t answer, Zheng Erniang relentlessly pushed the fried intestine toward his mouth. "My, this fried intestine looks so fragrant. You must have never tried it, having been born in the south."

Zheng Xiu forcefully turned his head away.

"Xia Yuhe?"

The corners of Zheng Erniang’s lips curled up. She was smiling happily.

Zheng Xiu now understood completely. Zheng Erniang was angry.

It was the same radiant smile Zheng Erniang had when she used to scare him with stories about shady inns when he was a child.

Later, after Zheng Haoran’s death, Zheng Erniang had matured and become more composed, gradually adopting the air of a well-bred lady and reining in her mischievous nature.

The more exaggerated Zheng Erniang’s smile, the angrier she was.

Just as Zheng Xiu was about to mutter a complaint, Zheng Erniang pressed an index finger to his lips, silencing him.

Zheng Erniang turned her head to the side. A moment ago she had been all smiles, but now her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

But when she turned back, she blinked, the tears vanishing. Zheng Erniang smiled. "It looks like you’re full. Let’s go home."

「On the way.」

Zheng Erniang no longer tried to stuff the fried intestine into Zheng Xiu’s mouth.

Steadily holding Zheng Xiu’s hand, she led him toward the Zheng Family estate.

Feng Bei followed from a distance.

Zheng Xiu could feel Zheng Erniang’s hand trembling slightly.

Without turning back, Zheng Erniang said calmly, "Your... father and Second Lady have depended on each other since childhood."

"Your father... he was Second Lady’s Heaven, her very life."

"When something happened to your father, Second Lady was terribly worried."

"If I could have known that your father was safe and sound, Second Lady would have been at ease."

"If your father was hiding things from me, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t angry."

"You,"

Second Lady turned and glared at Zheng Xiu. "Understand?"

Zheng Xiu nodded quickly. He moved closer to Second Lady and whispered, "How did you find out?"

"Hmph," Having forced Zheng Xiu to eat his way through his "ten most hated snacks," much of Zheng Erniang’s bottled-up anger had dissipated. Her face now full of smiles, she snorted lightly and said, "The way you look at me, your eyes are full of unspoken words. You might be able to fool the entire world, but how could you ever fool Second Lady?"

Zheng Xiu felt awkward.

Zheng Erniang knew him too well.

’But along with the awkwardness, for some reason, Zheng Xiu also felt a surge of secret joy and relief. It seemed his bond with Zheng Erniang hadn’t changed despite the world changing. Second Lady was still the same Second Lady who had relied on him as he had on her throughout their childhood; the memories were just as they were. This must be why, after recovering from her illness, she was able to recognize him just from a few glances.’

With light steps, Zheng Erniang led Zheng Xiu back to the Zheng Family estate.

A Maid at home saw Second Lady and the young master return. Noticing the smile on Second Lady’s face, she couldn’t help but ask after paying her respects, "Second Lady, you look radiant today. Has something wonderful happened?"

After giving a perfunctory reply, Zheng Erniang led Zheng Xiu to a secluded spot and pinched his cheek. "When do you plan on explaining things clearly to Second Lady?"

She was referring to what exactly had happened.

Why he was pretending to be a child.

What his intentions were.

Just then, Feng Bei, who had been following Second Lady and Zheng Xiu all this time, appeared and bowed with her hands clasped. "Ye Weiyang, Upper Three, Feng Bei. Forgive the intrusion."

She entered politely.

The Brotherhood Assassins hidden in the shadows of the Zheng Family estate seemed accustomed to Feng Bei’s visits, as her arrival caused no stir.

Watching Feng Bei from a distance, Zheng Erniang’s eyes darted slyly, and she asked with a chuckle, "Heh, is it because of her?"

"No way!" Zheng Xiu swatted away Second Lady’s hand from his cheek and flatly denied it. "I have my reasons."

Seeing Zheng Xiu still acting secretively even after returning to the Zheng Family estate, Zheng Erniang suddenly frowned, understanding the source of his worries.

’The reason my lord has become like this must be hidden even from the rest of the Zheng Family, it seems.’

"Then... is your... father safe and sound right now?"

Zheng Erniang asked, finding a roundabout way.

Zheng Xiu nodded and lowered his voice. "Don’t worry. The body may be a cage, but the heart is free. I’m perfectly fine."

Zheng Erniang breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Zheng Xiu about to dash off toward Feng Bei, she pulled him back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Don’t be in such a hurry. Second Lady has one more question."

"Ask quickly! I’m afraid Feng Bei will leave!"

’And you claim it’s not because of Feng Bei,’ Zheng Erniang thought, glancing at Feng Bei, then back at the child-like Zheng Xiu, and scoffing inwardly. ’To think you’d change into this form... I wonder what strange Miracle Technique you’ve practiced to develop such a peculiar taste. Although Zheng Erniang hasn’t cultivated any Miracle Techniques, she had vaguely sensed that the people around her had strange abilities. Later, Zizi couldn’t hold back and, in the privacy of her boudoir, secretly told Second Lady the secrets of Path Mystic Skills. Only then did Second Lady realize there was a whole other world hidden from view.’

’That might have been one of the reasons she went to the Immortal Maiden Temple back then.’

’Now, connecting all of my lord’s strange behaviors, various bizarre ideas formed in Second Lady’s mind. She even recalled the scene from last night when Pingping and the others, in a moment of emotional overflow, had hugged the young boy tightly. No wonder my lord has shown no interest in the beauties around him all these years, she thought. So that’s how it is. He prefers a different flavor.’

’Hmph, hmph. Second Lady understands now.’

Zheng Xiu noticed that Zheng Erniang’s gaze was a bit odd, but he didn’t give it much thought. His attention was fixed on Feng Bei, completely unaware of the strange misunderstanding blooming in Zheng Erniang’s mind.

"Does anyone else know about this?"

"For now, you’re the only one who’s figured it out, my dear sister."

"Alright~ Go on, then."

Zheng Erniang gave Zheng Xiu a satisfied push.

’Wait, does Second Lady seem... happy about this?’

Noticing Zheng Erniang’s sudden good mood, Zheng Xiu found it strange, but he still turned, marched over to Feng Bei, composed himself, and asked shamelessly.

"Sister Feng Bei, are you free today?"

In the distance, Zheng Erniang watched her lord in his Incarnation as a young boy take the initiative. She nodded silently, her heart pounding. She couldn’t help but press a hand to her chest to calm herself, feeling immensely relieved.

Feng Bei stood with her hands behind her back. After having imposed on them for a night, she was just about to bid the Zheng Family farewell when the shy-looking boy spoke up. For a moment, his familiar face made it hard for her to tell if the person before her was him or his father.

Nodding, Feng Bei answered truthfully, "I am."

"I say, Xiaofeng... ah, no, that’s not it. What I mean is, Sister Feng Bei, you know me. I’ve admired Ye Weiyang since I was a child."

"Hm?" Feng Bei hummed, her tone rising in a question.

"Sister Feng Bei, could you... spend some time with me?"

What Zheng Xiu really wanted to say was: ’Hey, Feng Bei, are you willing to be my personal XP piñata?’

After much consideration, he decided to phrase the question a little more tactfully.

Simply put, this was the "art of the Merchant."