Now Sun Mei was extremely confused.
It was highly improbable that the young miss of a noble family would know a fierce looking bandit but Bai Jingfei was that improbability.
Bai Jingfei had gotten very familiar with Zou Deming and his gang. Close enough to scam and probably scam again. However there was no innocent way to explain how they knew each other.
'I met him on jade mountain and scammed him by telling him I was the head priestess…' is not a very good explanation for anything. If anything, it causes more questions. Many, many, many more questions.
Sun Mei looked back and forth for a second between a stunned Zou Deming and a smiling Bai Jingfei. She was just as confused as the rest of the bandit gang.
In her mind she had already created an intricate story to explain them knowing each other.
'Zou Deming, bandit leader, falls in love with the noble young miss Bai Jingfei. Unfortunately their love never works out because of their difference in status and Bai Jingfei's weak body. Now he's come back to steal her away so they can get married.'
'"Zou Deming! I love you but my father will never approve~", "Oh FeiFei, run away with me!"'
The coupling of a bear and a loli was quite odd but Sun Mei never once doubted it. Love was blind, and if Bai Jingfei liked Zou Deming she was probably blind too.
'The two of them are probably madly in love.' thought Sun Mei.
Of course that definitely wasn't true.
Sun Mei, who usually looked both precise and scheming from her training as the general's daughter, could definitely become a fantastic author. Especially considering her imagination and ability to create a storyline as fantastic as that one.
Not as fantastic as me, but who comes close to me anyway?
Not wanting to stand between the 'lovers' she decided to move.
Sun Mei finally stepped away from in front of Bai Jingfei, taking a step to the right, leaning on the tree she had tried to hide Bai Jingfei behind. The move was casual but somehow awkward.
Zou Deming, as soon as he caught sight of Bai Jingfei snapped his fingers and the entire gang of bandits got onto one knee, including him.
Bai Jingfei smiled even brighter.
It very much satisfied her rich young miss complex when showered with gold and servants.
Zou Deming had thought Bai Jingfei would go the route of 'It's okay, rise. There's no need to bow' like a demure priestess but he had clearly not been scammed enough.
Bai Jingfei had left the whole gang on one knee without saying anything.
"We are doing well, thank you Ma'am" roared the bandits in sync, still bowing with their heads low. They too had been expecting to be allowed to rise instantly but they knew from last time that questioning Bai Jingfei never went well.
"How're your shoulders, Zou Deming?" asked Bai Jingfei, looking delicate as usual. Her angelic appearance made the bandits want to cry but they simply couldn't muster the tears.
'What a demon.' thought Wonky Teeth.
Sun Mei had never expected an outcome like that. She had been prepared to fight the bandits but with one question from Bai Jingfei they had all voluntarily gotten on their knees without any questions.
She realized she had severely underestimated Bai Jingfei.
While Bai Jingfei may not have had her strength, or poise, or just her general grace, Bai Jingfei definitely had soft power. She was now looking at Bai Jingfei in a new light, one of slight respect, rather than disrespect.
Zou Deming slowly answered, turning his shoulders to demonstrate, "They're fine thanks to you." He then bowed his head again.
Sun Mei understood what had happened. Wrongly of course.
She believed now that Bai Jingfei had treated Zou Deming's shoulders. After all, Bai Jingfei was the student of a heavenly doctor. She knew medicine so there was a good chance of her fixing things up.
Sun Mei knew nothing of medicine so she smiled at Bai Jingfei and nodded along.
"Zou Deming, can you take us to Fa district?" asked Bai Jingfei.
Zou Deming nodded, happy that she hadn't asked any questions about him trying to rob her. After all that spirit attack had left him weak and sickly. But had she not saved him, he might have ended up weak and dead instead.
Sun Mei shook her head while looking at Bai Jingfei. She didn't know what Bai Jingfei was up to but she knew she wasn't sure of whether this was a good idea or not.
"Take her horse please." said Bai Jingfei to one of the bandits.
Now Sun Mei was supremely suspicious. "What are you doing?"
"MeiMei, come sit with me in my carriage!" said Bai Jingfei calmly, still looking as innocent as ever. Sun Mei had no choice but to nod upon meeting her expectant glances.
As the bandits headed forward, they got into the carriage and Sun Mei could help but exclaim at how beautiful the interior of the closed carriage was.
Not only was it stuffed with delicate pillows, there was intricate carving as well as carpeting throughout the tiny carriage. And to be quite honest, the carriage was quite big compared to any other one she had been in.
As it moved forward she was shocked to realize how smooth the ride was.
She felt as if she could sleep in the little carriage, in a cloud of pillows on wheels. Bai Jingfei was already asleep though.
Ten minutes into the journey and she was leaning onto the carriage wall, fast asleep.
Every time the carriage moved, she banged her head against the wall ever so slightly. Sun Mei laughed a little watching her take her nap, and gently held Bai Jingfei's head, slowly lowering it onto her lap.
The rest of the journey, she patted Bai Jingfei's head as she slept and leaned on to the pillows comfortably.