Chapter 87 - The Jade Bracelet (3/4)

***Past***

"Miss, it's time for you to get up." Xu Song pulled the blanket away from the sleeping Xiong Jingfei. It was getting colder in the early morning as they were hitting a season change from summer. 

She wanted to let her Miss sleep in longer, but they weren't the right place and position for it. They have been traveling for the past three days and continued to move forward once lights break through the sky. 

"Miss, wake up!" Xu Song tried again, but Xiong Jingfei laid there as if she was dead. 

Then a tiny groan escaped from the sleeping Xiong Jingfei as she bit the bottom of her lips. Curling herself into a small ball. 

Xiong Jingfei wasn't an early riser but considering the conditions they were in. She became on high alert and an automatic raiser. It lasted until General Feng Huan's team became their traveling companion. 

Even with him around to be an extra barrier of protection. Lately, Xiong Jingfei's sleeping schedule has been off the chart. She is no longer rising with the sun but rose with the moon. 

Xu Song actually became in a change of waking Xiong Jingfei up in the morning. Without opening her eyes, she mumbled, "Can I?" 

"No! You can not!" Xu Song scolded, pulling Xiong Jingfei into a sitting position. "Do not lay back down."

"You are so scary in the morning Songsong," Xiong Jingfei whimpered, she dared not to lay back down after Xu Song's warning. 

In a sitting position, Xiong Jingfei kept her eyes closed to enjoy a few more seconds of sleep. The small shake Xu Song did to wake her up felt more like a mini massage. Her arms and legs were dying from training with Feng Huan. Curse him! 

Feng Huan was a harsh teacher and was not bias that she was a woman. Something she was happy with because it meant he did not take her words lightly. However, his way of training was too much for a novice. 

His training starts before the sun showed itself and ended when the moon was way above their head. She can see why he received the title of a general at his age. Even she felt the pity gazes of Feng Huan's soldiers on her. 

"That poor girl is going to die under General Feng's hands." 

"Anyone would have been a better choice for a teacher. She just had to choose him out of all people."

"Have you seen what he looks like when he swings his sword? A monster!"

Yes, yes, you are all right! Xiong Jingfei muttered in her head. She was taking a break, so that means Feng Huan was doing the same. If she can hear them talking, so can he...

"Heh."

Did he just laugh? Ahh, she did not want to turn around to see Feng Huan's expression. She felt the ice in that dry laugh. For now, she will endure getting tortured until they reach camp. But she prays for those soldiers, they don't know what is coming for them. 

Well, it has been three days since the training started. Although Xiong Jingfei wasn't sure if there was any improvement. The only person she has been sparing against was Feng Huan. If she didn't use any underhand method, he was not an easy opponent to overpower.

Xu Song wrapped the translucent white veil around hers and Xiong Jingfei's face. Taking a comb from the small box that contained her butterfly hairpin. She began to comb through her Miss's long black hair. 

It didn't go without Xu Song's daily morning lecture, "Don't forget who you are! How can a servant also sleep longer than their master?" 

Xu Song was aware of Xiong Jingfei's trick in order to sleep in a bit more in the morning. By knowing her this good, she also knows how to force Xiong Jingfei up without using much energy. 

Besides grinding herbs and taking care of daily household chores. Xiong Jingfei spent most of her time sleeping. There wasn't much to do when she wasn't allowed to step outside without Xiong Guozhi's permission. Also, by not attending any of the invitations, she had more than enough time to do absolutely nothing. 

Embroidery was something she picked up recently and was in the process of making a pouch. Before they left the Capital, Xu Song ran one last errand, and that was to buy threads. 

Xiong Jingfei's reasoning was, "I want to be able to give this to him when I return." 

However, Xu Song is thankful for Xiong Jingfei's ability to dress up quickly.  In case she receives unexpected guests. They can't find many faults with her when she dressed up for the part. An ability to obtain with Xiong Changchang and Xiong Jiayi frequent unexpected visits. 

"I know. I know... You remind me every single morning since Feng Huan joined us." Xiong Jingfei yawned, stretching out her arms and legs. 

"Tsk!" Xu Song hit Xiong Jingfei's arms with the comb. "Don't forget your manners just because you are using Xiong Guang's name." 

Xiong Jingfei put her arms down, but her legs remained spread apart. While she played as her own servant, she had Xiong Guang become Xiong Jingfei. Feng Huan and none of those soldiers of his ever met the Eldest Miss of the Xiong Manor. Making it easier for her to pass Xiong Guang as her. 

There may be a height difference, but Xiong Guang's age wasn't far off from hers. Also, she was still bedridden from that incident of the bandit's raid. 

Outside, someone knocked on the wooden carriage three times and said, "Are you up Xiong Guang?"

Xu Song nudged Xiong Jingfei from the behind, "That's you."

"Ah? Oh!" Xiong Jingfei quickly fixed herself into an elegant sitting position. Hopefully, he did not hear any of Xu Song and her whispering. "Yes, I'm awake!"

Feng Huan opened the thick curtain blocking out any sunlight, "Have you ever rode a horse?"

Xiong Jingfei slowly shook her head. There was no way Xiong Guozhi will allow her to ride a horse. It will ruin her image of an elegant lady. 

As a General household, you would think he would want to raise his daughters like soldiers. Though he is tough on them, he prefers them to be like the other ladies in the capital. It most likely had to do with finding a husband in the future. No husband wants a daughter who is brute apparently. 

If Feng Huan is talking about being on a horse, of course, she has... Secretly! She had ridden on one with Yang Zheyan when he took her out to see the fireflies. Although she is pretty sure Feng Huan means on her own. 

Xiong Jingfei gasped, almost pulling off her veil, "Are you going to teach me on how to ride one?"

Feng Huan's lip curled, "Get ready."

Once Feng Huan's footsteps were gone in the distance. Xiong Jingfei let out a yelp, rubbing the painful pinch Xu Song gave her. It was a "nice" reminder that she is still the Eldest Miss of the Xiong Manor at the end of the day. Do not forget! Her Xiong Guang's identity will fall once they reach her father. 

"Miss, you keep forgetting! You can train, yes. The soldiers won't think much once you get to camp because you are a general's daughter. You..." Xu Song sighed, tightening up the veil on Xiong Jingfei's face. "I just don't want you to get punished by your father." 

Xiong Jingfei was guilty of this. She never felt this free while in the capital, so she couldn't restrain herself. She was happy to be herself to someone else besides Xu Song and Yang Zheyan. She met others in the passing, but they weren't on the level where she is willing to show her true self. 

"Don't worry, I know he won't tell anyone." Xiong Jingfei smiled, reassuring Xu Song's worries were for nothing. 

Xiong Jingfei's eyes never once deceived her of the good and bad people she met in life. Feng Huan was not one to talk about something like this. Even though he may criticize her here and there for her unladylike manner. 

Feng Huan may criticize her here and there about her unladylike manner. But her eyes never once deceived her, he was not one to talk about something like this. 

Before getting on with her training, Xiong Jingfei made sure to go check on Xiong Guang. She was sweating less than yesterday, and colors were returning to her face. She should be well enough to walk around once they reach camp safely. 

"Do you know how to get on one?" Feng Huan brought over his black stallion. The color of the horse's hair was like a reflection of his master. 

Xiong Jingfei reached out her hand to touch the horse, but he refused her touch. Loudly gruffing and gave a few stomps. She looked over to Feng Huan, but it didn't appear like he was going to give her a helping hand.

Fine, you're testing me again. Xiong Jingfei gave it another try, and this time the horse allowed her to touch him. She smiled and stroked his mane, "He is similar to his master." 

"What does that mean?" Feng Huan drew his eyebrow together in a frown. 

"He's beautiful!" Xiong Jingfei avoided telling him. She smiled, meaning, cold on the outside but soft on the inside. Jokingly, she said, "Don't tell I'm riding your horse?"