Watching their retreating figures, Feng Yue didn’t try to stop them at all. In truth, she had never known how to tell Feng Ming about what she had done in Wu Kingdom. With Yin Gezhi’s poisonous tongue, he would surely not let her off easily. It would be better to let him do the talking, saving her from facing Feng Ming’s clear eyes that always made her feel guilty.
Feng Ming knew nothing. He only felt that there seemed to be some secret between Feng Yue and Yin Chengbi that he wasn’t privy to. Whenever their eyes met, he felt like an outsider. Being taken away wasn’t so bad – it gave him a chance to ask Yin Chengbi directly how he had come to know Guan Qingyue.
As the three harbored their different thoughts, Yin Gezhi dragged the half-willing Feng Ming back to the Xiaojin Prince’s Manor, left him outside the gate, and then emerged wearing white robes.
Feng Ming turned around. Looking at him from a man’s perspective, he felt Yin Chengbi was truly skilled at pretense. Here was a noble member of the royal family, yet dressed in white robes, he really did resemble a scholar – gentle in demeanor and courteous in manner. He even nodded politely as he came out.
Narrowing his eyes, Feng Ming clutched his sword and asked gravely, “Did the Prince summon me just to look at clothing? If you have something to say, speak plainly.”
Yin Gezhi walked over and calmly pointed at his clothes: “I did indeed want you to see this. This outer robe was made by Feng Yue.”
You want her to make clothes for you? Sorry, but she made them for me, she can’t make any for you. The great Prince Yin’s tail was practically wagging. His typically profound eyes showed, for the first time, something akin to a child’s petulance.
Feng Ming was stunned. It took him a while to understand the meaning behind those words. His heart tightened, and his fingers whitened against the sword scabbard.
“If she made clothes for you, why does she say she doesn’t like you?”
Yin Gezhi replied indifferently: “For a young woman, saying one thing while meaning another is common enough.”
“No.” Feng Ming shook his head, his gaze firm. “She’s such a straightforward person. If she truly liked you wholeheartedly, she would say so.”
Just as she had openly told him when she still had feelings for Yin Chengbi.
“Well, this prince wouldn’t know about that,” Yin Gezhi smirked. “The clothes are made by her, so naturally, she belongs to me as well.”
Feng Ming’s expression darkened. “Have you two secretly pledged yourselves to each other?”
Secret pledges.
At the mention of this, Yin Gezhi’s expression also turned ugly.
Earlier when Feng Yue had deceived him by claiming to be a courtesan, he hadn’t minded that she wasn’t pure. But now that everyone knew she was Guan Qingyue, how had he forgotten to ask – who had the daughter of the noble Guan family secretly pledged herself to?
Looking up at the man before him, a flash of malice crossed Yin Gezhi’s eyes. Without another word, he turned and left.
“Hey?” Startled by this reaction, Feng Ming immediately gave chase. But he wasn’t as fast – the man was like a thousand-li horse, running to and fro without tiring.
However, noting the direction he ran in, Feng Ming pressed his lips together and followed on horseback.
Feng Yue was writing a letter. With Zhao Xu under investigation, many people would have the opportunity to kick him while he was down. These kicks needed to leave him thoroughly bloodied.
Before she could finish writing, her wrist was suddenly grabbed, and she saw the panting Yin Gezhi, who wordlessly pulled her into a nearby room.
The door closed, and Feng Yue found herself pressed against it – a familiar scene. Somewhat bewildered, she looked up at him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
His voice was slightly hoarse as Yin Gezhi looked down at her, his eyes stubborn: “Did you ever have feelings for Feng Ming?”
What? Feng Yue was dumbfounded. Her, having feelings for Feng Ming? In the past, they would fight viciously whenever they met, how could she have liked him?
Still, she found it curious that he would ask such a question. What had happened just now? Why had this lord come charging back in such a rage?
“Why do you ask this?”
His palm was scorching, so hot she could feel it through her clothes. She couldn’t help but shift slightly.
To Yin Gezhi, this small movement seemed like guilt. His heart sank into a bottomless abyss, and for a long while, he couldn’t speak.
After a long time, he finally lowered his head, resting his chin in the crook of her neck, and said hoarsely: “Let me ask differently – if you were betrothed to Feng Ming, would you secretly pledge yourself to another?”
Every hair on her body stood on end, and Feng Yue immediately denied it: “Never!”
“…” Yin Gezhi closed his eyes.
He had thought she wouldn’t, but he couldn’t help asking, wanting to hear the answer from her lips. Yet having heard it, why did it hurt so much? It felt like someone was hammering thick wooden nails into his chest, the pain making his fingertips curl.
What had she been like with Feng Ming?
The image of Feng Yue’s enchanting, seductive appearance floated through his mind. His eyes narrowed, and he violently punched the door she was leaning against, creating a tremendous “bang” that made Feng Yue jump.
Feng Ming, who had just reached the door outside, was about to knock when he heard the sound. Without hesitation, he changed course and climbed through the window. His dark blue robes swept across the windowsill, bringing dust with them as he threw a punch at Yin Gezhi: “Let her go!”
His eyes were slightly red, Yin Gezhi held Feng Yue and dodged, then released her, caught Feng Ming’s fist, and kicked out at him.
Feng Ming flipped away to avoid it. The sight of Yin Gezhi’s robes irritated him. Yin Gezhi, his face cold, continued to attack, growing more irritated at the mere sight of him. With both men’s tempers running high, the fight became especially fierce.
Feng Yue clutched her head and fled, completely unable to understand the sounds coming from the room. She grabbed Ling Shu, who was carrying a hot water kettle, and pointed at the room: “Are they sick or something? It’s one thing to fight regularly, but why are they fighting this time without even giving a reason?”
Ling Shu looked bewildered. Watching tables and chairs flying out, she asked timidly, “Should we call for a doctor?”
Feng Yue covered her face, pushing Ling Shu away to avoid injury, then pulled over Madam Qiu: “Please go stop the fight!”
A punch landed on his jaw, and Feng Ming spat blood. He returned a fierce blow to Yin Gezhi’s abdomen. Watching the intense battle, Madam Qiu shook her head repeatedly: “We can’t stop this.”
“Why not?” Feng Yue stared.
“You don’t even know why they’re fighting, so how would we know? No one here has martial arts skills comparable to these two – we’d only add to the number of injured if we tried to intervene.” Madam Qiu sighed: “Though I can understand the Feng boy’s lack of manners as usual, what’s wrong with the Prince? Such a steady person, yet today he’s fighting too?”
Feng Yue fell silent, roughly guessing the reason. Yin Gezhi had probably remembered that she wasn’t pure and thought she and Feng Ming… This couldn’t be explained. If she did, it would be like running over and pointing at herself, saying, “Look, I was one of those shameless women sent to serve you in the Eastern Palace three years ago!”
Thinking of her past when she had lost all sense of propriety due to love, Feng Yue wanted to bang her head against a wall! Gritting her teeth, she simply charged forward, pulled Feng Ming behind her, and said to Yin Gezhi: “It wasn’t him!”
The first that was about to reach her face stopped mid-air. Yin Gezhi’s eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving as he laughed bitterly: “You’re still protecting him?”
“…” This wasn’t about protection. Feng Yue wiped her face: “It truly wasn’t him.”
“Then who was it?” His eyes turned cold as Yin Gezhi said: “Have you already forgotten what you just said? Or do you think my memory is so poor that I would forget?”
If you were betrothed to Feng Ming, would you secretly pledge yourself to another?
Never.
Remembering these words, Feng Yue wanted to slap herself! This was what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on your foot, what it meant to say there’s no good end to lying!
“Your Highness, please calm down and let me explain.” She forced a laugh, her eyes darting around.
Seeing this expression, Yin Gezhi shook his head. His gaze suddenly turned cold: “Should I listen to your explanation or your made-up stories?”
“Guan Qingyue, have I truly been too good to you, to the point where you think I’ll believe anything you say?”
The cold voice echoed throughout the courtyard, making everyone’s hearts inexplicably tight.
Feng Yue stopped smiling. She felt somewhat lost.
Why was she getting entangled with him over this matter? Were these things really important? No. Would they affect the greater situation? No. Moreover, wasn’t he, the great Crown Prince Yin, once known throughout the land for his fickleness in love? What right did he have to question her so righteously now?
Taking a deep breath, she came to her senses. Looking seriously at the man before her, she said: “If Your Highness doesn’t wish to hear it, then this servant won’t make up stories. Do with me as you will – kill me or flay me as you please. If there’s nothing else, this servant still has matters to attend to and won’t waste Your Highness’s time.”
His throat tightened. Yin Gezhi closed his eyes and laughed bitterly.
Look at this – women truly shouldn’t be pampered. Once spoiled, they won’t consider his feelings at all.
Such nerve to say “Kill me or flay me as you please.” She was relying on the fact that he wouldn’t do anything to her, which made her so fearless.
Fearless indeed…
Shaking his head, Yin Gezhi turned and walked away. His steps were heavy, his eyes turbulent. The wind caught his robes, the thin white garments flying. At the door, Madam Qiu watched contemplatively. As the robes settled, behind them stood Feng Ming with furrowed brows and Feng Yue with an expressionless face, while in the courtyard, a pomegranate tree was in full bloom, its flowers brilliantly red.
Watching Yin Gezhi’s shadow disappear beyond the door, Feng Yue finally moved, sitting down nonchalantly to continue writing.
Feng Ming turned his head and asked her: “Do you truly not like him anymore?”
Feng Yue replied impatiently: “If you insist on talking about these matters of love, then I won’t be polite with you.”
Slightly startled, Feng Ming touched his chin and chuckled: “Although I find it nice that you’re closer to me now, it does lack the interesting tension we used to have. If you truly want to be impolite with me, that might not be bad.”
Feng Yue narrowed her eyes and turned to grab his collar, intending to throw him over the courtyard wall.
However, her hand went weak, and she remembered – how could she be impolite to anyone now? She no longer had that ability.
Slightly frowning, Feng Ming looked down at her hand: “I’ve been wanting to ask – what’s happened to your body? You used to be quite agile, but now you fall when jumping over walls, and you can’t even muster the strength to grab me.”