Ye Feishuang was startled for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
She had nothing to fear, after all, she didn’t know the other person.
When traveling, a wise person should remember four words: mind your own business.
She hoped the other person was wise.
Ye Feishuang closed the window and lay back on the bed.
Her hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement.
She had personally dealt with the person who tried to harm her, avoiding the same path she took in her previous life.
In her previous life, Granny Li had succeeded, leaving three bloody gashes on her face.
Granny Li had also taken all her money.
Moreover, in her previous life, she had traveled by road instead of water, and there was no clinic near the post station, delaying treatment and leaving her with scars.
Back then, she was terrified, thinking her face was ruined and that she would surely be unable to fulfill her marriage contract with Chen Yan.
Chen Yan had gently comforted her, saying he didn’t mind.
At the time, she thought Chen Yan was the best person in the world.
Only later did she realize he had never intended to marry her, so of course he didn’t mind.
A sour, bitter feeling welled up, filling her chest and making it hard to breathe.
These past few days, she had deliberately avoided thinking of Chen Yan’s name.
But she knew that since she had been reborn, she would inevitably meet Chen Yan again.
Ye Feishuang closed her eyes, suppressing the sour emotions, and began to think about the future.
In her previous life, her mother fell ill and passed away at the end of this year.
Her mother had always been healthy, so her sudden illness and decline seemed suspicious in hindsight. She needed to return to the Zheng family to figure it out.
Then, she had to annul her marriage contract with Chen Yan as soon as possible.
In her previous life, she had believed that her marriage contract with Chen Yan would be her protective talisman, clinging to it stubbornly.
Little did she know it would become her death warrant.
Many of the overt and covert abuses she suffered in the Zheng family were due to others’ jealousy over her engagement to Chen Yan.
In this life, she wanted neither the marriage contract nor Chen Yan.
Drifting into a hazy sleep, Ye Feishuang was awakened by a commotion outside.
Just as she was about to go out and see, the window of her room was suddenly pushed open.
A white figure swept in with the river breeze.
Ye Feishuang had just picked up a thick wooden rod when she heard the intruder speak: "It’s me."
It was the person who had seen her push Granny Li earlier!
He was young, somewhere between adolescence and adulthood.
With handsome brows and bright eyes, he carried an air of grace and nobility—a rare beauty among mortals.
Ye Feishuang was certain she had never met this person in her previous life.
Otherwise, such a face would have left a deep impression on her.
Ye Feishuang watched him warily. "Sir, what do you want?"
"To borrow your place to hide for a while." He pointed at the dark figures passing outside and said calmly, "They’re after me."
This man was exceptionally handsome and carried himself with an air of distinction, clearly a noble young master raised in luxury by a wealthy family.
People like him usually attracted big trouble.
Moreover, he had used the word "pursuit."
Sensing Ye Feishuang’s reluctance, the young master added, "If you don’t help me, I’ll go out and tell them I saw you kill someone."
Ye Feishuang: "…"
The young master continued, "The people outside are from the authorities. They’ll definitely arrest you."
Ye Feishuang took a deep breath. "Then why don’t you ask the authorities for help?"
The young master sounded somewhat aggrieved. "But it’s the authorities who are after me."
Ye Feishuang: "…"
The people outside had already reached Ye Feishuang’s room. "Open up! The authorities are apprehending a fugitive!"
Ye Feishuang stared coldly at the person before her. The corners of his lips were slightly upturned, as if carrying a faint smile, appearing gentle and composed.
There wasn't a trace of panic—nothing like someone being pursued.
After the intimidation came the enticement: "Help me, and I'll never breathe a word about you silencing witnesses. Plus, all of this is yours."
He pulled out a thick stack of banknotes and waved them before Ye Feishuang.
The first one was marked with five hundred taels.
Ye Feishuang unceremoniously took them: "Deal."
She had many things to do in the future and was in dire need of silver.
Ye Feishuang pushed the fugitive—now her patron—onto the bed.
She drew the bed curtains, sealing them tightly: "Lie still."
Then she immediately turned to open the door.
Unexpectedly, the people outside had already grown impatient and kicked the door open with a single blow.
Ye Feishuang spread her arms, blocking the group of officers trying to force their way in.
The officers swept their eyes across the room, finally settling on the tightly drawn bed curtains.
The leading officer drew his blade: "Step aside!"
Ye Feishuang quickly sized up the officers, her gaze landing on their waist tokens. A plan formed in her mind.
"I am Fifth Miss Zheng of the Xingyang Zheng clan," she said.
The officer snarled ferociously: "I don't care who you are! Get out of the way—I'm searching this room!"
"I am betrothed to Chen Yan of the Yingchuan Chen clan. He is my fiancé."
Sure enough, at these words, the officer's expression changed.
They were currently in Mianzhou territory.
In her previous life, Chen Yan had said that every magistrate of Mianzhou throughout the generations had been recommended by the Chen family.
In other words, Mianzhou was Chen territory.
Indeed, the officer's tone softened immediately: "Miss Zheng, we are just carrying out our duties…"
Ye Feishuang grew displeased: "This room is so small you can see everything at a glance. And you still want to search inside? Search where? My bed? Do you think I've hidden a fugitive in my bed? What kind of person do you take me for!"
The angrier she spoke, the more she stepped aside: "Fine, search! I'll let you search to your heart's content! When I return, I'll definitely tell Brother Yan, so he knows just how dutiful Mianzhou's officers are!"
The officer hastily sheathed his blade: "No, no, Miss Zheng, that's not what we meant."
Ye Feishuang wore a stern expression, looking thoroughly offended.
"We won't search, we won't search—we were mistaken!" The officer, aware of the strict rules and sensitivities of young ladies from prominent families, hurriedly added, "Miss Zheng, we have overstepped. We'll withdraw at once."
It wasn't Ye Feishuang they feared, but the Chen clan's young master she spoke of.
If that young master decided to appease his future wife by holding their superiors accountable, their jobs would be on the line!
The officers quickly retreated, gently closing the door behind them.
This was the last room on this deck. The officers prepared to head upstairs to continue their search.
At the corner, they brushed past a group of people.
The leading officer glanced over a few times. He noticed a young gentleman leaning against the railing, gazing into the distance. The officer wondered what he could possibly be looking at in the pitch darkness—there wasn't even a moon tonight.
After the officers left, an attendant beside the young gentleman asked, "Young Master, shall I summon that Fifth Miss Zheng?"
If Ye Feishuang had seen these people, she would have recognized the young gentleman at once—it was Chen Yan.
In her previous life, she hadn't boarded this ship, so of course she hadn't known Chen Yan was also on board.
Chen Yan lightly tapped the ship's railing with his fingers and shook his head: "No need."
The attendant grumbled, "That Fifth Miss Zheng grew up in the countryside—she’s completely unworthy of you, Young Master! And you heard it yourself just now—she even used your name to throw her weight around! So impressive! In my opinion, this marriage should be called off as soon as possible!"
Chen Yan smiled faintly. "Why did she use my name instead of the Zheng family’s?"
The attendant choked on his words.
"Perhaps she knows about the relationship between Mianzhou and the Chen family," Chen Yan mused, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at the distant river mist. "Interesting. How did she find out?"
Chen Yan turned around and looked toward Ye Feishuang’s room, as if trying to see through the wall to the person inside.
After a moment, he said to his subordinate, "Send word to my mother. The matter of breaking off the engagement with the Zheng family should be put on hold for now."
"This marriage… I don’t want to call it off just yet."
Meanwhile, Ye Feishuang tiptoed to the door, pressing her ear against it and listening carefully for a while, making sure the group of soldiers had truly left.
Only then did she walk back to the bed.
Her wealthy patron was lying on his side, already asleep.
Ye Feishuang: "…"
How carefree—wasn’t he afraid she’d sell him out?
…Wait, she looked more closely.
His face was pale, his brows slightly furrowed, and a thin layer of sweat covered his skin.
He wasn’t asleep—he had fainted.
…Nobles sure are troublesome.