Chapter 486: Fei Yi

Deng Shi couldn't care less about that; she was very happy and excited, and she kept talking to herself, saying she herself wasn't in a rush to find her son, as long as she knew her son was safe and sound, that was already plenty good.

She didn't care whether Mu Yuanzhi responded or not; in her view, today Mu Yuanzhi accepted her gift, and also spoke with her at length, even expressing concern, which was already a great joy; she felt that they, mother and daughter, would soon be able to let go of past grievances.

Deng Shi was happy, but she didn't linger too long; soon she bade farewell and left.

Mu Yuanzhi also didn't know how long she could keep Pei Shangling's matter a secret; Deng Shi would eventually find out, but that was also a matter between her and her son, let them work it out themselves.

Fifteen years later.

The Great Zhou dynasty grew ever stronger, the capital's prosperity unprecedented; it had now become the center of the world, with all nations coming to pay tribute.

Recently, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets and lanes of the capital were bustling extraordinarily.

"This young lady! I see your face peach blossom, you must have the Red Phoenix star moving!"

A clear young man's voice sounded from behind.

"Miss?"

Mu Yuanzhi turned her head, smiling, and asked: "You're calling me miss?"

Although she hadn't tied up her hair in a married woman's bun, but instead kept her usual neat high ponytail, it shouldn't be enough for someone to call her miss, right?

"... Could you be a young master?"

The young man sized her up from head to toe, not entirely sure.

Besides, even if gender were ambiguous, would a man have such large chest muscles?

The young man was somewhat doubtful about life.

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but laugh: "Of course not, young master, how old do you think I am?"

"'Scared me to death, but phew!' the young man muttered, then laughed again: 'Miss, your age is probably around twenty?'"

"Nowadays, marrying at twenty is already considered late; I wonder if saying that would offend her?"

"But this pretty miss doesn't look like she's sixteen or seventeen either."

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but laugh again: "Young master, your tongue is so sweet; you must not be new to making a living out there. So tell me, how exactly does one experience the Red Phoenix star moving?"

She looks in the mirror every day, yet she doesn't feel she has lost the beauty of a twenty-year-old in her prime.

"'No, miss, you're not just twenty?!' the young man exclaimed again, shocked."

"Impossible!"

"Could it be that you're in your early twenties?"

"You've maintained yourself too well!"

"Look at this skin that could be blown apart by a breath—it's basically the tender, fair complexion only a young girl would have!"

Mu Yuanzhi said: "I myself am already over thirty."

"'Over thirty?!'"

The young man abruptly raised his voice, his face full of disbelief.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"'Miss, stop teasing me; you might as well just call me a liar.' the young man muttered."

"He really met his match today!"

"'Are you from out of town, young master?' Mu Yuanzhi suddenly asked."

"Perhaps because Mu Yuanzhi found this young man's words sweet and not offensive, she ended up chatting with him a bit more."

"'You can tell all that?!' but he obviously has a Jingcheng accent!"

"'Because in this Jingcheng, the number of people who don't know me can be counted on one hand.' Mu Yuanzhi said."

……

"Mother! It turns out this miss is actually famous!"

"Indeed, such a pretty miss must certainly be famous!"

The young man licked his lips, sighed, and said: "Miss, to be frank, I'm indeed not a local; I've come from far away to make a living, earn a little money to get by. I didn't expect to meet someone as clever as you, miss—I'm utterly impressed."

"'You came all the way to Jingcheng just to earn a little money? You seem quite smart, young master; aren't you planning to pursue an official career?' Mu Yuanzhi rarely showed curiosity about others."

"'I don't want to be an official; what's good about being an official? Where does the freedom and ease come from?'"

"'Everyone has their own aspirations; it seems you, young master, prefer to wander the marketplace.' Mu Yuanzhi thought for a moment, then asked: 'Do you know any martial arts? If not, you could go to the escort bureau to find work—you'd earn money and still be free and easy.'"

"Young man: 'Miss, you're beautiful and kind-hearted; why not see the Buddha off to the west and introduce me to the escort bureau?'"

"'How do you know I know people from the escort bureau?'"

"'Just a guess!'"

"This young man is indeed clever, Mu Yuanzhi thought."

"'We haven't yet asked for your honorable name, young master.'"

"'My name is Fei Yi.' the young man said."

"'How old are you, Master Fei?'"

"'Seventeen!' Fei Yi asked Mu Yuanzhi: 'Miss, how should I address you?'"

"'My surname is Mu.'"

"'Your surname is Mu?!'"

"'What's wrong?'"

"'Nothing much, let's go! Thank you, miss, for introducing me to work!'"

"Fei Yi walked ahead happily, even though he didn't know the direction to the escort bureau."

"Yunjing Lou is not at the escort bureau; he went off to war with the army, and the Great Zhou's naval fleet on towered ships has now become a world-renowned navy, with Yunjing Lou even more famous, known both at home and abroad."

"'Greetings, Princess!'"

"As soon as Mu Yuanzhi entered, before she could have everyone quiet down, someone greeted her with a hearty voice."

"Princess?" Fei Yi felt a bit unsteady.

Good heavens…… He actually tried to deceive the Princess just now!

Ten heads wouldn't be enough to chop off!

No, the current Emperor has no daughter; the Great Zhou's only princess is the appointed Guardian Princess, General Mu's daughter Mu Yuanzhi, so she is Mu Yuanzhi?!

Right, she just said her surname is Mu!

Fei Yi felt foolish and rash.

The Guardian Princess is indeed over thirty years old this year.

Just as he was dazed and lost in thought, someone had already brought paper and pen for him to fill out his information.

Fei Yi still hadn't come to his senses, writing absentmindedly.

"Pei? Young master, your surname is Pei?" the deputy escort asked curiously.

The surname Pei is really sensitive in Jingcheng, after all it's the imperial surname.

"Huh?" Fei Yi finally reacted, "No……"

"Your surname is Pei?!" Mu Yuanzhi seemed to finally react, looking at the characters "Fei Yi" written together.

Right, Fei Yi isn't Pei, is he?!

Mu Yuanzhi took another look at the young man before her, suddenly feeling he was somewhat familiar, his brows and eyes greatly resembling someone!

"I……" Fei Yi was a bit at a loss.

Seeing him like that, Mu Yuanzhi knew he was hiding something.

"Who exactly are you?!"

The atmosphere suddenly took a turn for the worse, and Fei Yi felt as if everyone in the escort bureau had become fierce and menacing.

Sure enough, Dad was right— in Jingcheng you can't casually reveal that your surname is Pei.

It's all his fault for thinking he's a bit clever and calling himself Fei Yi; who knew he'd run into an important figure as soon as he arrived!

Really, he didn't check the almanac— his luck's terrible!

Just now a friendly, pretty older sister, but in Fei Yi's eyes she now looks a bit scary, full of presence, as if she wanted to tear apart the liar he is!

"I really am surnamed Pei……"

"A real man doesn't change his name or surname! You brat, hiding your surname— speak! What's your purpose in approaching the Princess?" the deputy escort slammed a broadsword onto the table.

Fei Yi jumped back a step in fright, terrified that the man before him might swing his blade and cut him down if he was displeased.

"No misunderstanding, no misunderstanding! Hero, don't get excited!" Fei Yi apologetically laughed and begged for mercy.