The Ageless Dream

19.6 Race to Wei (78)

"Feifei..." Xiang Ji leaned on her shoulder. Both of them sat by the open hallway as they watched the snow descend from the sky.

"Xiang Gongzhi, the wine is too strong. You should rest here." Dong Li Hua kept herself busy by trying embroidery but she is not quite good at it. A flower she supposedly finished turned into a muddle image instead.

"I like you." he persisted, staring at her innocent face. Xiang Ji cant look away specially from her eccentric green eyes.

"I know." she nodded slowly then brimmed a sweet smile to him. "Xiang Gongzhi should rest her for once. I feel lonely here."

"You have to say you like me too! Say it." Xiang Ji sounded like a child. The wine affected his state that he felt like sleeping for the night. Red lanterns flickered with a small sweet laughter from Dong Li Hua. She found it familiar since the very young Ying Zheng demanded likes this too. Unfortunately, Xiang Ji was unable to hear those words from her as he fell asleep.

"Im sorry." after taking Xiang Ji in her bedchamber, Dong Li Hua changed her clothes into a martial suit. She requested Hai Sheng weeks ago to take a martial suit for her. Now that the time has come, Dong Li Hua have to take advantage of every moment. Leaning down, she placed a letter on the table by the bedside then searched Xiang Ji's outer robe when she finally found the military token from his chest.

Xiang Ji tried to tame her but in truth, she was the one taming him. She packed her clothes and put on a cloak. Thinking it through, Dong Li Hua gave one last glance to Xiang Ji. She purposely made him drown his emotions with the wine as to make him unconscious. Dong Li Hua smiled for a farewell and went out. Freeing the steed, she raced outside Xiang and went straight north where Wei State is located.

"Mn..." Xiang Ji woke up the next morning. He felt a bit lightheaded then looked up to the table. A letter was placed there. Xiang Ji is a bit confused but he chose to read the content.

His face expressed shock and disbelief. Xiang Ji immediately got up and rushed out the room. The letter was left on the floor, written there were these words:

Xiang Ji, I am thankful for everything. However, I had done enough fooling you and it is time for me to return to his side. My name from the start was never Fei Yu but I am Dong Li Hua. My home is now in Wei State. I am terribly sorry for using you as a tool for my escape. May you find someone else to love who deserves it better than me.

"Return to his side…?" Xiang Ji muttered, holding the doorframe of the entrance from the residence. He clenched his hand and the wood in his grasp turned into pieces.

Using the military tally, Dong Li Hua easily went out of the cities nearby. After getting out of Cai City, two months that passed. From the information she got with the soldiers, a general named Huang Zhao was stationed in Wei State's capital city, Daliang. The winter solstice has long left, the sky is more clearer but the weather is still not as clear as the upcoming spring.

"Miss Fei Yu, this is a gift from our master for luck in spying." soldiers foolishly believed her lies since she holds a military token from the family of Xiang. They even tried to see her off because they felt its a shame a beauty like her was to be sent as a bait for Qin's downfall.

"No, thank you." she reigned the steed to a stop then faced the soldiers. Dong Li Hua skimmed in her outer robe and picked the military badge. "Please give this to Young Master Xiang Ji once he arrives. I should go." throwing the badge, the soldiers felt confused why she gave the token back. Must be because she is unsure she can return safe?

After a day, soldiers from the Xiang Clan came, led by the heir of General Xiang Chiao, Xiang Ji. The military official stationed there welcomed him and gave the badge back to him. Xiang Ji remained on the steed and held silver token when he easily crushed it. The ignorant officers doesn't know why he did that.

"Ze Shuai." Xiang Ji called out. A dark steed stepped out as Ze Shuai went next to him. "Tell Uncle and Father Im here in Cai City for a reason. Don't mention Fei Yu to them. I'll be back."

"Xiang Ji, it's dangerous!" Ze Shuai was stunned to hear his words. He never thought the amorous young master of the Xiang Clan will risk his life for a woman.

"She's not far yet. I can catch up with her." Xiang Ji glanced at the open city gate. He reigned the steed and sped it up outside. The crumbled silver token fell on the snowy ground, signifying his wrath.

Dong Li Hua finally crossed the border after a day and night without rest. The steed is on its limit and thankfully, she stopped by a mountain pass. With the map in hand, only few miles away separated her from Daliang. She tied the horse and fed it all the grass left.

"Hm?" a jade object was hidden underneath the snowy ground. Dong Li Hua picked it up and noticed it was a tiger tally with the seal script of Qin written there. "Why is there a tally here? Must be a high ranking general or was it... Ying Zheng?" her eyes brimmed excitement but thinking it through, she calmed herself and tried to look for tracks.

Soon enough, she saw footprints a hundred of meter away from where she was before. Some of them were ruined because of the snowfall yesterday. Dong Li Hua went to a stop, noticing a black furry cloak by a withered tree. She held unto the sword from her waist and slowly went to the person. Her eyes widened to see a familiar face.