“Now *that’s* how a general should be, like Yi Guo! Being cunning and calculating is much better than being like that old fool Guan, with his rigid loyalty and honor, always talking about standing tall with a clear conscience. Didn’t he still end up dying by the royal blade? What’s the point of that? Better to leave behind a legacy of chaos that lasts a thousand years.”

With a sigh, she asked, “Nanny, do you want to leave this place?”

Nanny Xun gave a soft laugh. “I’m already fifty-three. Anyone waiting for me outside has probably long since found happiness with someone else. What would be the point of leaving now?”

Though she said this, there was resentment in her voice. After hoping for so long to leave the palace and spend her life with her beloved, she ended up trapped in this gilded cage, spending half her life in solitude.

Fengyue said, “At least if you went out to look around, it would be better than dying here without even a tombstone to your name.”

*Such a naive girl*, thought Nanny Xun, shaking her head. How could one simply leave this place as they pleased? She lovingly stroked Fengyue’s hair. “If you ever manage to get out, help this old nanny visit the Xun Village in the south of the city. Look for a man called Ahu, see how many children he has now.”

The tone of her voice made one’s heartache. Fengyue stood there stunned for a moment, sweeping the dust in the corridor alongside her, and asked quietly, “Is there something in the palace that can’t see the light of day? Something so terrible that makes the General treat people this way?”

Things that can’t see the light of day? Nanny Xun pressed her lips together, glancing around before answering softly, “This old servant doesn’t know about others, but in the Yi family, there are plenty of things that can’t bear scrutiny.”

“Please don’t say more, Nanny!” Fengyue quickly covered her ears. “As servants, the more we know, the quicker we die. I don’t want to die!”

Slightly startled, Nanny Xun laughed, tapping Fengyue’s forehead with her finger. “You clever little thing. It’s a pity the General’s mansion doesn’t have a young master – you could have risen high.”

“I’m not interested in rising high.” Lowering her hands, Fengyue looked at her earnestly. “But I will try my best to leave the mansion and check on Ahu for you, Nanny.”

Nanny Xun’s eyes reddened slightly. She opened her mouth but seemed at a loss for words, only stroking Fengyue’s head again before turning to sweep alongside her.

“This old woman has been in this courtyard for too long. Apart from those who come to learn proper etiquette, no one talks to me anymore. Heaven must have seen my suffering and sent me such a thoughtful girl like you.”

“Nanny, you’re too kind.” Slowly sweeping the ground, Fengyue glanced to the right.

The East Court’s security remained strict – if anything, it had become even stricter.

“Nanny, does that area need sweeping?” she asked.

Nanny Xun looked up at the East Court and said, “That area can only be entered with permission from the Young Miss and the General.”

“In that case, I won’t sweep there.” Fengyue smiled. “Nanny, go rest first. I’ll clean up the dust here and then report back.”

“Alright,” Nanny Xun nodded. “I’ll make some rice balls in the courtyard. Come eat when you’re hungry.”

Fengyue froze, her throat tightening.

She had come here with ulterior motives, yet unexpectedly found herself being cared for. This feeling was… surprisingly heartwarming.

“I’ll come by later,” she said.

After Nanny Xun left, Fengyue watched her back for a moment before turning around and making a round of the mansion with her broom.

The areas she could access had already been cleaned by other servants, leaving little dust.

Smiling slightly, Fengyue grabbed a servant and asked, “Where is the Young Miss now?”

Yi Zhangzhu was sitting in the pavilion with Yin Gezhi, while the three young ladies, scorned by Prince Yin, were forbidden to approach and could only sit sighing in the distant water corridor.

As they sighed, they spotted Fengyue approaching. Song Ruoci perked up immediately and went to block her path. “Weren’t you supposed to be cleaning the General’s mansion? What are you doing here?”

Fengyue smiled confidently. “I finished.”

“So fast? Who are you trying to fool?” Feng Huaimeng poked her head out from behind Song Ruoci. “You didn’t clean properly.”

With a light snort, Fengyue shook her head. “This servant has cleaned every corner of the General’s mansion thoroughly. If the three ladies can find even one or two qian’s worth of dust anywhere, this servant will accept the household punishment!”

Household punishment? The three young ladies’ eyes lit up instantly! The General’s household punishment was no joke – it involved military-style beatings that even men couldn’t bear, let alone women.

Glancing at Yi Zhangzhu in the distance, Song Ruoci considered for a moment before quickly running over to report in a low voice.

“One or two qian of dust?” Yi Zhangzhu’s expression shifted slightly as she looked at Song Ruoci. Turning to Yin Gezhi, she said, “The maid from your household is quite presumptuous.”

“Oh?” Yin Gezhi, unable to find what he was looking for, was in a poor mood, his tone particularly heavy.

Yi Zhangzhu quickly explained, “She just made a bet with these young ladies, saying that if they could find anywhere in the General’s mansion with even one or two qian’s worth of dust, she would willingly accept the household punishment. Your Highness, is she in any position to make such claims?”

Looking at the distant figure standing straight in borrowed servant’s clothes, Yin Gezhi’s eyebrows twitched slightly before he said, “She boasted herself, so she’ll bear whatever consequences come of it.”

That was exactly what she wanted to hear! Yi Zhangzhu smiled and stood up. “Well then, let’s go look.”

There was one place in this courtyard that Fengyue definitely couldn’t have cleaned, and the dust there was certainly more than one or two qian’s worth.

Yi Zhangzhu walked excitedly, and even Song Ruoci could see she had something up her sleeve.

That brothel maid was done for!

Yin Gezhi stood up and leisurely followed behind, watching as Yi Zhangzhu passed by Fengyue, saying something with a smile. He also saw Fengyue confidently curtsey and nod, then fall in line behind the group of young ladies.

What scheme was she plotting in that little head of hers?

Narrowing his eyes, he quickened his pace to reach her side and asked in a low voice, “Where?”

Looking completely dejected, the maid gave him a pitiful glance and muttered, “Just follow them. Wherever Young Miss Yi is heading, that’s where the thing is hidden. But Your Highness, if I get beaten, could you give me some time off?”

Frowning slightly, Yin Gezhi said, “You’re asking for a beating?”

“There’s no choice.” Pointing at the excited young ladies rushing ahead without a thought, Fengyue shrugged. “Do you think they would lead the way so eagerly if I wasn’t going to get beaten?”

His heart sank. Yin Gezhi pinched her hard and dragged her behind a nearby rockery, quickly loosening his clothes.

“Hey.” Fengyue was stunned. “What are you doing at a time like this?!”

“Shut up,” he said coldly, glancing at her. “Take off your pants.”

Fengyue’s eyes widened.

Up ahead, Yi Zhangzhu had been whispering with the others for quite a while, getting them all excited until they were practically running. Meng Changjiang casually looked back and called out, “Your Highness, please hurry up!”

He had been right behind them moments ago. How had he fallen so far behind? Yi Zhangzhu also turned back, standing and waiting.

Yin Gezhi caught up expressionlessly, with Fengyue following behind, head lowered and cheeks flushed red.

“What’s this about?” Song Ruoci raised an eyebrow. “Getting nervous because you know you’re going to lose?”

“A promise is a promise. Even if I lose, there’s nothing to say about it.” Clearing her throat, Fengyue asked, “But where do you plan to look? Isn’t the East Court off-limits to outsiders?”

“That’s not a problem,” Yi Zhangzhu waved her hand, smiling at her. “If I say you can enter, then you can enter. Besides, we’re not going to the study – just checking the guest room in the East Court.”

A look of panic suddenly appeared on Fengyue’s face. She tugged at Yin Gezhi’s sleeve and pointed at Yi Zhangzhu, appearing extremely anxious.

Seeing this, Yi Zhangzhu didn’t waste any time. She grabbed Yin Gezhi and rushed into the East Court, pushing past all the guards and heading straight for the guest room door.

Dust billowed out as she opened it, making everyone cough. But Young Miss Yi was particularly pleased, pointing inside between coughs: “Did you clean the dust in here?”

Yin Gezhi and Fengyue stood far back, one showing slight surprise on his face, the other looking thoroughly frightened.

“This… this servant couldn’t enter, so I didn’t clean it. Is it still my fault?” Fengyue said pitifully. “If Young Miss Yi had said I could enter here, I definitely would have cleaned it spotless!”

“Isn’t it too late to say that now?” Song Ruoci sneered. “You said ‘every corner of the General’s mansion’ – isn’t the East Court part of the General’s mansion?”

“This servant…”

“You agreed to accept the consequences of the bet,” Meng Changjiang said. “You can’t back out now!”

“Zhangzhu.” Yin Gezhi spoke up, but before he could continue, Yi Zhangzhu’s face darkened. “Brother Yin, are you going to plead for her?”

“No,” he frowned. “I just think this room is excessively dirty. Let Fengyue clean it before she receives her punishment. Otherwise, who will clean such a filthy place?”

Making sense of this, Yi Zhangzhu’s expression softened as she considered it. “But Father said this room doesn’t need cleaning, just leave it as is.”

Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes, his face full of disgust.

Seeing this, Yi Zhangzhu thought for a moment and said, “Though cleaning it would be good too. There’s nothing valuable here anyway, and nobody stays here. Fengyue, you made the bet yourself. You must accept the consequences.”

Hanging her head pitifully, Fengyue said, “This servant accepts, but this room is so dirty…”

“Brother Yin said you should clean it – you don’t want to?”

“…No, this servant will clean it.” Giving Yin Gezhi a wronged look, Fengyue’s tears fell drop by drop, looking extremely pitiful, which made the young ladies feel quite satisfied.

Finally, they had a chance to teach her a lesson!

Yin Gezhi turned and left without looking back. “It’s too dirty. I’ll take my leave first.”

“Yes,” Song Ruoci responded, pushing Yi Zhangzhu. “Young Miss should go rest too. We’ll supervise her here, guarantee she won’t slack off!”

“Alright,” Yi Zhangzhu nodded, hurrying after Yin Gezhi.

Taking the handkerchief and broom from a servant, Fengyue covered her mouth and nose with a gauze, took a deep breath, and carefully stepped into the dust-filled guest room.