The guard’s task was only to protect Young Master Wen Yuan’s safety, not to purchase scented soap.
Staying or departing, it was all the same to him.
Moreover, Young Master Wen Yuan’s words made some sense. With Tang Little North rescued by someone, the guard also felt a faint sense of foreboding.
Since Young Master Wen Yuan had decided to leave, he naturally would not stop him.
He nodded and said, “I will follow your lead, young master.”
After the guard left, Young Master Wen Yuan mentally reviewed the plan once more in his mind, confirming there were no oversights, before going to bed.
In general, during summer and autumn, Guangyuan Prefecture’s city gates opened around five in the morning.
Young Master Wen Yuan woke up the next day already past six. He sent a family slave to scout the city gate, only to find it still closed.
People wanting to leave the city had already been dispersed by the garrison soldiers. The slave also heard the wall guards shouting to those outside, saying it was uncertain if the gates would open today, and telling them to go home first.
“Tang Little North has been found, so why are the gates still closed?”
After hearing the slave’s report, Young Master Wen Yuan felt a surge of irritation. “This Jin Feng is too overbearing. Even relying on Duke Qing, he cannot act so recklessly. When I return, I must have the family head submit a memorial against him!”
Young Master Wen Yuan thought Jin Feng was the one preventing the gates from opening. He had truly wronged Jin Feng.
Jin Feng was not awake yet. He knew nothing of this.
Not only Jin Feng, the prefect, Deputy Captain Xiao, and others had also not rested well these two days due to Tang Little North’s matter. They were all sleeping soundly now.
Without orders from the prefect or deputy captain, how could the gate guards dare to open on their own?
They did not even know Tang Little North had been found.
After two days and nights without sleep, they collapsed and slept deeply, extremely soundly.
This deep sleep was the most refreshing. Plus, being only eighteen after all, full of vitality, Jin Feng slept just a few dozen minutes more than usual.
He slightly opened his eyes, saw daylight, and closed them again with a yawn.
He slept on his side facing inward. After yawning, he rolled onto his back and stretched.
Only then did he see someone had appeared at the bedside.
Tang Little North did not know when she had come. Her arm rested on the bed edge, propping her chin, her two big watery eyes just watching Jin Feng like that.
Jin Feng was startled. Seeing it was Tang Little North, he reached out without good grace and lightly smacked her head. “People scare people to death, you know? Early in the morning, you nearly scared my soul away.”
Since losing her family, Tang Little North had faced all sorts of coldness. No one had treated her with such slightly indulgent actions. The last time in Xhe Bay when Jin Feng patted her head, she had been excited for days.
Now, fresh from the fright, her heart was sensitive. She could not hold back at once.
Tears plopped down.
Jin Feng had just woken up. Seeing Tang Little North cry reminded him she had only been rescued last night.
He hurriedly apologised. “Sorry, Little North, I did not mean to hit you… I was really startled by you…”
Watching Jin Feng stammer in explanation, Tang Little North suddenly laughed.
Gathering courage, she sat up and hugged Jin Feng tightly, burying her head on his shoulder, whispering, “Sir, do not say sorry to me, never. You pulled Little North from the fire pit, let me find my sister. This kindness, I can never repay in a lifetime…”
The more she spoke, the more excited she became. She simply wrapped her arms around Jin Feng’s neck and kissed him.
Her little hand also slipped under the covers.
Jin Feng’s eyes widened round.
Having lived two lives, this was the first time he met such a forward girl.
But at this vigorous age, plus Tang Dongdong had stirred him up badly a few days ago, and with mutual affection, Jin Feng hesitated only a moment before giving up resistance. He held Tang Little North, rolled over, and took the offensive.
Tang Little North slightly narrowed her eyes, trying hard to cooperate.
Just as they were about to be fully intimate, a few knocks sounded suddenly.
Jin Feng’s movements stopped at once.
Tang Little North also grabbed the quilt, covering them both.
“Sir, are you awake? Deputy Captain Xiao is here, asking if the gates should open.”
Da Liu’s voice came from the door.
“This…”
Jin Feng looked down at Tang Little North, then at the door, helplessness on his face.
If it were anything else, he could delay. Clothes half off, finish first.
But the prefectural city was the core of the prefecture. Many merchants came and went, plus vegetable farmers from outside needed to deliver produce into the city every morning.
Gates closed one day delayed countless livelihoods.
Before, fearing Tang Little North taken out of the city, sealing the gates was fine. Now she was found. Continuing the seal was improper.
Jin Feng thought a moment, then finally said, “Tell Deputy Captain Xiao to wait. I will come right away.”
“Alright.”
Da Liu agreed and left.
“Little North…”
Jin Feng looked down at Tang Little North beneath him, a bitter smile on his face.
Tang Little North cursed Da Liu several times in her heart but sensibly said, “Business first. Sir, go handle it. Little North… Little North tonight…”
Still an innocent girl after all, she blushed too much to continue.
Jin Feng kissed her forehead, then casually took two more liberties, before reluctantly lifting the quilt.
Tang Little North quickly got up too, helping Jin Feng dress.
Not one to take losses, she had been groped earlier. While dressing, she doubled back, only stopping with a giggle when Jin Feng’s eyes nearly blazed.
Jin Feng finally understood why some emperors skipped morning court.
These little vixens were too tempting.
“You wait for me. See how I deal with you tonight!”
Jin Feng grumbled unwillingly, then went out.
He lived in a suite at the inn. Out of the inner room, he first relieved himself. While washing his face in the courtyard, Da Liu came again.
Seeing Jin Feng up, Da Liu said nothing, sensibly handing over the towel.
Jin Feng, full of pent-up frustration, saw the culprit Da Liu and gave him no good look.
He took the towel with a dark face, wiped, then tossed it back irritably into Da Liu’s arms.
Da Liu caught it, uneasy in his heart.
Normally, Jin Feng did not treat guards like this. Not hypocritical like Young Master Wen Yuan calling everyone mister, but basic respect was there.
Even if guards erred, punish as needed, never showing such a face.
It must be because I lost Little North girl, making sir too angry.
“Right, losing Little North girl is too grave an error. Not just a sour face from sir, even a chop would be fine if it eases his anger. I would accept it.”
Da Liu was uneasy when suddenly the door behind creaked again.
Turning, he saw Tang Little North coming out of Jin Feng’s room…
