“Everyone withdraw! It’s just a minor wound.” If the guards saw it was merely a bite mark, where would he put his face? Sheng Fengze put on his outer robe, glanced at Aning, and said softly, “Chihu, follow me.”

Master finally dropped the matter of the parrot blue dye. Chihu breathed a sigh of relief, and noting Sheng Fengze’s change in self-reference, hurriedly followed.

In the inner hall, Sheng Fengze cleared his throat: “Only you and Aning saw this.”

Chihu smiled foolishly, scratching his head embarrassedly: “Master, let’s forget about the parrot blue dye. A row of teeth marks… hehe.”

“Is this how you serve as Captain of the Guard?! This prince meant to watch the Qingping residence! Monitor Du Yan’s reaction! Who would tattoo a woman’s teeth marks on themselves? Aren’t you embarrassed? Go get the white jade healing salve!” Sheng Fengze exploded in embarrassed anger, berating Chihu.

Only he and Aning saw it. If Official Qingping Du Yan knew… Chihu’s expression turned serious as he lowered his head in shame: “Master’s rebuke is justified.”

After waiting a while without hearing Sheng Fengze speak, Chihu lifted his head to request leave, only to see Sheng Fengze sitting in a daze. Unable to read his master’s thoughts, Chihu could only continue standing there.

After a long while, he heard Sheng Fengze say softly: “Her family is all dead. She has every right to hate me.”

Was Master talking to himself or addressing him? Yes, Master had called him in, so it must be meant for him to hear. Since Master had spoken, he couldn’t not respond. How should he answer this? Ji Yingying was the one who bit Master. Master’s unusual concern for her, his distress over her hatred… how should he comfort him? Chihu scratched his head again. Suddenly inspired, he said quietly: “This servant has investigated—Ji killed Ji Yaoting before taking poison herself. Her sister-in-law went into premature labor, and the child wouldn’t have lived long anyway. The only one truly killed by Chi Kuang’s troops was her nursemaid. You had already issued strict orders to minimize civilian casualties. You led troops under the King’s command—she’s just misplacing her anger. Why doesn’t she go bite all the Nanzhao soldiers? If she must hate someone, she should hate General Chi Kuang’s troops.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean ‘go bite all the soldiers,’ she’s not a mad dog…” Sheng Fengze’s voice gradually weakened. He sat there lost in thought, Chihu’s words echoing endlessly in his mind, too chaotic to sort out.

Because she trusted him, she thought he would protect her family. That’s why she displaced her anger… Did this mean she cared for him too? Recalling Ji Yingying’s tear-filled eyes and startled expression, Sheng Fengze knew he wouldn’t sleep tonight without getting a clear answer.

At this point, Chihu, trying to be clever, mumbled: “This humble one means she has no reason to hate Master. Master has saved her multiple times and even hinted for her to leave Yizhou. When you learned Official Qingping had taken her away, you rushed from the palace…”

As he spoke, he watched Sheng Fengze rush past him like the wind. Chihu stood stunned for a moment before giving chase.

When Sheng Fengze mounted his horse and looked back, he saw Chihu and over a dozen guards all mounted in unison. Their faces clearly showed their determination to “not rest until we catch the assassin.”

“Master, it’s late. For safety’s sake, please let us accompany you.” Being bitten by Ji Yingying was a small matter, but encountering real assassins would be trouble. Unable to explain to the guards, Chihu was determined to follow along.

Sheng Fengze remained silent, spurring his horse toward the newly built dyehouse.

Having captured over ten thousand craftsmen, various workshops had been built around Taihe City. The dyehouse where Ji Yingying was taken wasn’t far from White Cliff, visible from the hilltop. The roads were empty, and the horses ran freely, reaching the timber-walled dyehouse gates in moments. Sheng Fengze dismounted and walked straight in: “Where is the dye woman I brought tonight?”

The dyehouse clerk walked alongside him, smiling apologetically: “That Yang-Ji woman twisted her ankle and just saw the physician. Your Highness need not worry, her hands aren’t injured so she can work. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have her start in the dyehouse.”

Sheng Fengze’s steps faltered. Chihu shouted: “These craftsmen were captured by our soldiers at the risk of their lives. If they’re injured, let them rest and feed them well. No mistreatment allowed, understand?”

“Yes, yes, this humble one will take good care of them.” The clerk broke into a sweat at the shouting.

Chihu’s words weren’t unreasonable. They couldn’t carelessly work to death people captured from thousands of li away. The clerk couldn’t help but sigh. Without the whip, how would these captured slaves work hard? Well, as long as they didn’t die…

As they spoke, they reached the quarters built specially for the craftsmen. Several rows of sheds had been constructed of bamboo and timber in the enclosed area. The walls were simply bamboo fences.

“Which room is she in?” Sheng Fengze stopped outside the sheds.

Seeing where the clerk pointed, Sheng Fengze ordered: “You all stay here.”

He walked over alone. The dwelling had no door, only a grass curtain hanging. The captured Tang people had all arrived over the past few days, insufficient time for their emotions to stabilize. Though past midnight, hearing movement outside, most people ran out in panic.

Seeing Sheng Fengze in Nanzhao dress and the guards in the distance, people stood in silence. The hostile gazes instantly sobered Sheng Fengze. He stared at the grass curtain before him and called out: “Chihu!”

Worried about the Tang people suddenly rioting, Chihu ran over with the guards: “Everyone back inside!”

Seeing this, the clerk nodded to the dyehouse guards. A group of soldiers rushed over, forcing all the craftsmen back into their quarters.

Only then did Sheng Fengze lift the grass curtain and enter. Ji Yingying had awakened at the commotion and sat on the bamboo bed watching him. Glancing at the drafty walls, Sheng Fengze suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“Does Prince Bai have business here?” Ji Yingying spoke first.

Sheng Fengze replied automatically: “I heard you twisted your ankle. You don’t need feet to dye silk, do you?”

He came back just to remind her not to use her injured foot as an excuse to slack off. Ji Yingying said proudly: “The clerk here already told me. I need to prepare a hundred jin of dye before I can eat. I won’t let myself go hungry.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to say. Sheng Fengze looked up irritably at the roof letting in starlight, as torchlight now leaked through the bamboo-woven wall gaps. His words could also leak out. Who knew if any of Du Yan’s men were among the soldiers outside?

“Very well. This prince will instruct the clerk to deliver all the dye materials you need. This prince wants to see Shu’s red silk dyed with your materials to match Huanhua’s dyeing perfectly.”

“I didn’t know Nanzhao could raise silkworms in winter?” Ji Yingying rolled her eyes and laughed mockingly, “Winter is only for dyeing cloth. Premium Shu red silk requires fresh silk. Your Highness should come back in spring.”

Sheng Fengze’s cheeks burned, but unwilling to back down, he seized the opportunity to explode: “You dare mock this prince?”

What did he come back for anyway? Surely not to check on her injured foot? She hadn’t forgotten he pushed her off the horse. Hit with one hand and soothe with the other? Ji Yingying looked at him as if he were an idiot, then simply closed her eyes.

Outside, people pricked up their ears. This little Tang woman dared mock Prince Bai—if not death, she’d at least be flogged, right?

Inexplicably depressed, Sheng Fengze paced the narrow room several times before shouting harshly: “No food tomorrow until you prepare two hundred jin of dye!”

Ji Yingying didn’t answer. From Official Qingping’s residence to the palace banquet, she had endured too many shocks today and was exhausted. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep.

She just fell asleep? Sheng Fengze was dumbfounded. He looked at her several times, but unable to stay longer appropriately, stormed out past the grass curtain.

The clerk saw him out ingratiatingly: “Your Highness need not worry. This humble one will ensure she prepares two hundred jin of dye before allowing her to eat.”

Chihu patted the clerk’s shoulder sympathetically: “You have your work cut out for you.”