The girl, as he had been expecting the betrothed of Du Yan to be, was clearly someone who was much older than the gangly adolescent that he had pictured in his mind. She was clearly someone in her late teens! So where was the cute little thing that Du Yan had been talking about?That was when Qin Feng realized that the burly fellow had already spent a good two, three years at the Duchy of the Westlands. Didn"t that mean that he had left her when she was still only about fourteen, fifteen years of age?
To think that someone of that age had been able to twirl this big fellow around her fingertips! That was more than a little shocking, to tell the truth!
Had this Du Yan really been enamored of a girl while she was at such a young age back then? Qin Feng almost cringed away from the taller, broader fellow, as that thought ran through his mind. Was this friend of his some sort of pedophile?
Then he saw how she rushed off her own carriage and threw herself into his arms. While ignoring all the embarra.s.sed looks on her escort and the cries from the woman who was sharing her conveyance. Who had begun shouting at her to mind her decorum, and to remember that she is a young lady, and needs to behave herself. Clearly, to the girl, none of that was of any importance, compared to Du Yan, as she hugged him tightly, without a trace of embarra.s.sment.
The soldiers, on the other hand, were all redfaced. And the older woman, judging from the amount of grey-hairs she had, was already burrowing her face in one of her hands*.
Qin Feng felt a twinge in his heart then. How nice it must be, to have someone like that, he thought. Then quickly shook himself awake. And reminded himself of why it would be a bad idea. It would just give one"s enemies another target to strike at, so that they can hurt you. This whole episode at Ningfei Town had been an example of that, hasn"t it?
But Du Yan and Yuan Qianlei didn"t look the least bothered by that now, and had just finished their long "hug of h.e.l.lo", and was turning to meet the burly fellow"s companions:
"This is Brother Liushui. I"ve already told you about him, in my letters. He"s the oldest of the lot of us, so we usually defer to his grey hairs. Unless we are overruled by Brother Changhai over there, in his armor. He has the clout to order us around, if he desires, since we have both been guests at his place, so it would be a little awkward, if we don"t give him some face. Who knows what he would be serving us for dinner, if we did that.
"And that is little Qin Feng, who has just joined us recently. That"s why I haven"t written much about him. But he"s tough, and reliable in a fight. And he has a wicked sense of humor," Du Yan introduced the young woman at his side to each of them, as she smiled winsomely.
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And Qin Feng had to admit that she was a good-looking woman. But still, there was nothing that exceptional about her looks. She was soft and slightly chubby-looking, being still covered with her baby fat that she had yet to shed completely. But her eyes were large and twinkling with mischief, and there was a certain grace in her movements, as she walked beside Du Yan.
Perhaps the last was the reason why that Royal Prince from the Shu Kingdom Capital had thought to get his hands on her. And why Du Yan was so caught up with this Little Sister Qianlei of his. There was a certain innocence about her, that gave her that allure.
"I"ve heard a good deal about you, Brother Qin Feng. And how my beau had been poisoning you with all his nasty-tasting potions so far. I hope there has not been any ill effects."
Her voice was also pleasant and clear, fitting her young, refreshing appearance, Qin Feng thought, as he managed to squeeze out a smile. Which was easier when he glanced at Du Yan, and saw how he was wincing at what she had just asked him. That was a bit too blatant a put-down, even for someone who had a marriage contract with him.
"Nothing too bothersome. But you are right about how they taste. They were truly horrible, in that regard. I should warn you to have some sweets at hand, if he tries to feed you any."
She giggled. And for some reason, his brain went back to Xu Yanzhi. Probably because of how fond the latter had been, in doing the same. Especially during that little fight he had with her. That was probably why the image had remained in his head.
But Yuan Qianlei was speaking again, and her hands made it clear that she was including everyone in the conversation. "In that case, perhaps we can go somewhere, and have something tastier? The road has been long and these soldiers that my father had sent along with us seemed only to like those icky bits of biscuit they call rations. We haven"t had a proper meal in days!" she half-sobbed, at Du Yan.
Who promptly stuck his chest out and promised to see what he could dig out, to satisfy her palate. Which had everyone present, even the soldiers and the elderly woman who had accompanied the girl in her carriage, rolling their eyes. It was a miracle, to see how easily this idiot was manipulated.
Then again, Qin Feng considered it nothing of consequence, as he followed after the pair that was skipping along the main road of Ningfei Town as if no one was watch, hand in hand. After all, wasn"t the Old Marquis of the South and the Duke of the Westlands similarly under their wives" control? Didn"t all of this put Du Yan in their company then?
So didn"t that put things in a much better light?
The Second Ducal Prince had apparently the same impression, as he revealed when he whispered to Lin Liushui, during their slow walk back to the tavern. It would have been faster, except for the fact that Yuan Qianlei was asking about this and that, and Du Yan was busy stopping to explain things to her.
"Doesn"t this remind you of something familiar? Why do I get the feeling that it is my mother and my father all over again, when I see them walk around like this?" Li Changhai asked, as he followed after the pair.
Lin Liushui, in his great wisdom, refused to comment.
"I am not going to say anything that I might regret," he told the Second Ducal Prince plainly, "You have not seen me at my worst, when I am in the company of the girl that my heart is sworn to. You might have even more biting words for me about my delirium, when you do. So I am going to be keeping quiet now, regarding this matter, to keep you from throwing my own words back in my face."
And Qin Feng, naturally, thought that was a most sensible decision.
* * *
*in our present day, we would call that a facepalm.