When Peng Mingzhu left the palace and headed back to where the carriage should be parked, she realized that much time had passed by.
Originally, the sun was still on the horizon, barely starting to go up in the sky. However, at the place where the sun was standing, Peng Mingzhu could tell that it was lunchtime.
If there was anything that Peng Mingzhu was genuinely happy about after coming to the Donghua continent, it would be the fact that they use a 24/7 system just like the modern world. Apparently, the continent started using this way to manage time about two thousand years ago.
However, even though their hour and time system were easy to understand, their calendar was hard to read or understand. The continent used the twelve months system just like the modern era. Only, they did not celebrate New Year's Day on January 1st.
Instead, New Year's Day was on February 12th, a day after the Spring Festival. New Year's Day was also Chinese New Year in the modern-day, but in the continent, it was called Lunar New Year or New Year's Day. The 11th and 12th of February happen to also be the day where the new moon appears.
[A/N: For your information, it is currently February 4th in the story at the moment.]
If anybody has any knowledge of moons, they will know that the full moon refers to a night with no moon because the moon has already done a full cycle; coining the term "new moon". A night full of darkness and no moonlight, allowing people to do many "engaging" activities.
"Do you plan to go back to the estate?" Wei Li asked since Wei Kangnuan had already left to investigate Ren Lin.
"No," Peng Mingzhu shook her head.
"Then…" Wei Li tried to ask another question, not knowing that Peng Mingzhu would already have the answer.
"The Ren Residence," Peng Mingzhu told Wei Li.
"You know where it is?" Wei Li asked. "Wait, that… How do you plan to get there without even knowing where the residence is located?"
"Aren't you taking me there?" Peng Mingzhu questioned, walking at the same pace as Wei Li, which was pretty fast as he was a tall male.
Biologically, males were just able to walk faster than females. However, that was the case for especially tall males since the longer their legs were, the bigger steps they could take. Thankfully, Peng Mingzhu was someone who was not only born tall, but also equal in strength, maybe even more when it came to comparing her with the normal men.
Astounded at her question, Wei Li almost got left behind by Peng Mingzhu when he paused to think at what she had just asked him, "Did you not think about what you would do if I did not know where he lived?"
Waiting for Wei Li to catch up, Peng Mingzhu finally spoke, "You and Wei Kangnuan act as though you guys are the only people I can depend on in this world, in this place, and in this city."
'Is that not so?' Wei Li really wanted to say, but he knew better to shut his mouth.
"I know what you're thinking," Peng Mingzhu stated before continuing to walk at a fast speed. "In fact, I have many things and many people I can depend on to give me information. I may not be a god or an immortal, but I'm pretty strong and smart."
"That is what a lot of the missus here say, but…" Wei Li said with a wry and painful smile.
Peng Mingzhu gave a dark chuckle, "You are relating me with normal people. Wei Li, remember this: If you ever think that I am a normal person, you are deeply mistaken. Well, forget it. Let's hurry to the residence before Wei Kangnuan leaves. I don't like making multiple trips nor do I like to waste my time talking to him."
As soon as Peng Mingzhu said that, she entirely stopped the conversation, letting silence remain ever so present until they both reached the Ren Residence, a living place with a small noodle shop.
When two guards standing outside at the entrance of the place saw Peng Mingzhu and Wei Li, they both bowed while surprised though they did not show the expression on their faces.
"Your Highness," the guards greeted while bowing, then turned to Peng Mingzhu and bowed again though not calling out her name since they did not want to incorrectly greet her.
In their minds, they were thinking that Peng Mingzhu was like other spoiled ladies. Of all the ladies that have tagged along with Wei Li or Wei Kangnuan, the guards have not once met a single well-bred or well-behaved lady. Every single one of them were picky, harsh, and acted as though they were on the top of the world.
Since none of the ladies that the princes introduced to them behave kindly, the guards eventually started distancing themselves from ladies that were close to the princes, choosing to just not interact. Their way of thinking was that if they did not talk too much, there would be lesser punishments.
Of course, the princes knew that they, the guards, were being treated unfairly, so every time the princes told them that they were getting punished due to behaving incorrectly towards a lady, the princes never really did punish them. All the words spoken were merely to maintain face and nothing else. There was no punishment in the least.
"My name is Peng Mingzhu. You guys can call me Miss Peng if you want, but I'd prefer Peng Mingzhu," she told the guards who had yet to rise from their bow. "I also don't expect you guys to treat me in the same way you treat your masters. I know that in the military, the only way you respect someone is through their actions. Anyways, where is Wei Kangnuan?"
The guards were once again surprised, but this time, they were accompanied by astonishment and struck with amazement.
Not only did Peng Mingzhu talk to them in an informal way, but she also greeted them in a way that made her the same level as them. She did not greet them as though she was above them or in a way that made her seem to be better than them in social standing or economic standing.
As for the amazement...not a single person in the empire dared to call Wei Kangnuan by his full name whether out of respect or fear, mostly out of respect.
"General is currently investigating…" after a short while of empty silence, a guard finally answered.
"He's such a workaholic," Peng Mingzhu commented before walking in, ignoring Wei Li and bowing at the guards out of respect.
Entering the small place, Peng Mingzhu looked around at the surrounding environment.
Since the Ren family was a poor family that was barely getting through life with their income from the noodle shop, their house was small and there was not much presence of natural life-like plants or such. All they had was the tables for customers to sit with some seats having a roof too, though not all, and the place to make the noodles.
The house itself was not falling apart, but at the same time, it probably would not be able to withstand a natural disaster should there ever be one.
While Peng Mingzhu was focused on paying attention to the details outside, she did not notice that Wei Kangnuan had sneakily walked up behind her. Even though Wei Li and the guards saw him, he already motioned them to stay still and not alert her of him since he knew she would move away immediately in distaste of him.
Walking up quietly to her, Wei Kangnuan then spoke in a flirtatious whisper right next to her ear, his warm breath hitting the side of her neck, "My dear, did you miss me?"
Instantly, Peng Mingzhu tensed up. However, it was only for a quick millisecond and she immediately smacked the person who was standing behind her by habit.
Wei Kangnuan knew that she would move away, but he did not anticipate the smack, so he did not move away from her fast enough. Even though he did manage to avoid her hand leaving a huge bruise on him, the skin on his face was still red just from the quick wave of wind that instead slapped him in place of her strong hand.
"Ah Nai, are you trying to kill your future husband?" Wei Kangnaun asked in an utterly pitiful voice with puppy eyes.
Since Wei Kangnuan was born with a soft, gentle, and handsome face, the moment that he made such a face, Peng Mingzhu could not stop herself from feeling as though she did something wrong.
Well...maybe she did do something wrong?
Even though Peng Mingzhu felt like she was being trapped, she somehow could not pull herself away from his eyes and his voice that was making her feel out of breath.
Brushing her hand on his red cheek that was almost slapped by her hand, Peng Mingzhu asked, "Does it hurt?"