Early in the morning, after Hua Zhuyu woke up, she went to serve in Huangfu Wushuang’s room. Having beaten Ji Fengli yesterday, this young man was also very pleased, saying with a beaming smile, “Little Bao’er, in a moment, bring some wound medicine and let’s go visit Prime Minister Ji!”
Hua Zhuyu hurriedly responded, “Yes, Your Highness!” But in her heart she was wondering whether Ji Fengli had returned yet!
Huangfu Wushuang brought Hua Zhuyu to Bamboo Garden located on the eastern side. He didn’t have anyone announce their arrival and went directly to Ji Fengli’s bedroom.
There was no one in the room. Huangfu Wushuang found this very strange—he hadn’t expected Ji Fengli to not be in his room so early in the morning. Squinting, he asked the guards who had come with them, “Where is your Prime Minister?”
A blue-robed scholar walked out from a side room. This person had handsome features and a gentle expression, with deep black eyes that were always curved in a pleasant manner. Seeing Huangfu Wushuang, he respectfully bowed, but his long eyes casually glanced toward Hua Zhuyu. There was an amused light flowing in his dark eyes, though his lips still wore a smile.
Hua Zhuyu felt this person’s gaze toward her was very strange—as if he was suppressing laughter, yet also showing a trace of regret and some other meaning. In any case, it was very complex. Actually, today as she walked through the Summer Palace with Huangfu Wushuang, everyone’s gazes toward her were somewhat strange. Having fought that battle with Ji Fengli had indeed relieved her anger at the time, but afterward she realized she had become famous throughout Qingjiang Summer Palace.
Having both punched and scratched the face of the current Left Prime Minister, and even pulled out a strand of the Left Prime Minister’s hair, had earned the admiration of the little eunuchs. However, it had offended some palace maids who harbored romantic feelings for Ji Fengli—those maids’ gazes toward her were far from polite.
“Lan Bing, where is your Prime Minister?” Huangfu Wushuang asked the blue-robed scholar coldly.
Only then did Hua Zhuyu realize this person was Lan Bing, one of the two great scholars under Ji Fengli that Huangfu Wushuang had mentioned. It was said he was an unsuccessful scholar with a belly full of literary knowledge who had participated in several imperial examinations but for some unknown reason never passed. Later, he stopped taking the examinations and began wandering the martial world, apparently learning martial arts through some fortunate encounters.
When Ji Fengli encountered him, he recruited him into the Prime Minister’s residence. However, this person was unwilling to become an official and only wished to serve as an advisor under Ji Fengli.
Hearing Huangfu Wushuang’s words, Lan Bing smiled and said, “Reporting to Your Highness, the Prime Minister is in the bamboo grove. Hearing that Your Highness has come to visit, he originally wanted to personally welcome you. However, he was severely injured yesterday and cannot come. Please move to the bamboo grove, Your Highness.”
In the bamboo grove? He probably just returned and was too disheveled to see Huangfu Wushuang, right?
Hua Zhuyu happily raised her eyebrows. Looking up, she met Lan Bing’s amused gaze. She smiled slightly at him, a trace of coldness flashing through her eyes. This Lan Bing was definitely not someone easy to deal with either. To be Ji Fengli’s advisor, he must be crafty and cunning as well.
The bamboo grove was silent and still. Ji Fengli lounged lazily on a bamboo chair reading a book, looking leisurely with no sign of embarrassment. Hua Zhuyu guessed he had just come down from the mountain, and hearing of the Crown Prince’s visit, had come to the bamboo grove. He wore a wide-sleeved white robe, appearing like a cloud amidst the heavy greenery. However, Hua Zhuyu could tell that his clothes had been hurriedly put on—the jade belt at his waist was tied very loosely. Moreover, he seemed to have no undergarments beneath his clothes, with half a bare leg faintly visible. Huangfu Wushuang and the others didn’t know about last night’s events, so naturally wouldn’t notice, but she observed more carefully.
Oh my, how exactly had he returned from the mountain? This question puzzled Hua Zhuyu greatly!
Hearing footsteps, Ji Fengli slowly set down his book and made a gesture to rise and pay respects.
Huangfu Wushuang’s expression was solemn, but his rolling black eyes couldn’t hide that trace of smugness. He coughed seriously and said, “Left Prime Minister needn’t be overly courteous! Yesterday Yuan Bao was senseless and struck too heavily. Today, this Crown Prince has brought him to apologize to the Left Prime Minister. Yuan Bao…” Huangfu Wushuang turned to Hua Zhuyu beside him with a frown, saying coldly, “Why don’t you quickly apologize to the Left Prime Minister!”
Hua Zhuyu walked forward, bowed to Ji Fengli, and said softly, “Prime Minister, Yuan Bao offended you yesterday!”
Ji Fengli’s eyelashes fluttered, his deep gaze lightly sweeping over Hua Zhuyu, his lips containing rippling smile. “Your Highness needn’t be courteous. Fengli’s injuries are already fine. Thank you for Your Highness’s concern!”
What an act!
Already disheveled, yet still so calm and elegant—she really wanted to deflate his arrogance.
“Since the Prime Minister is completely well, why don’t you bow to His Highness? Moreover, our Highness is still standing, so how can the Left Prime Minister sit?” Hua Zhuyu said impolitely, hoping he would reveal his disheveled state when bowing.
Hearing this, Lan Bing quickly had guards bring another bamboo chair, and Huangfu Wushuang slowly sat down. Being clever, he heard that Hua Zhuyu’s words seemed to have hidden meaning, so he said lightly, “Left Prime Minister, I see the bruises on your face have faded considerably. Your body should also be much better, right?”
Hua Zhuyu also suddenly discovered that the hot spring water was indeed effective—the bruises on Ji Fengli’s face had faded considerably. It seemed he had truly soaked for a long time last night.
“Your Highness, after sleeping through the night, the bruises have indeed faded considerably, but the back of my legs ache terribly—I’m afraid I cannot bow to Your Highness!” Ji Fengli said lightly.
Just as Huangfu Wushuang was about to say something more, he saw a figure flash outside the bamboo grove, and a trace of elegant, light fragrance drifted over.
“Wan’er!” Huangfu Wushuang called out loudly. Though his voice was loud, it still couldn’t hide its tenderness.
Such perfect timing. Hua Zhuyu’s brow furrowed as she turned to see a smile flash through Ji Fengli’s eyes.
Hearing the call, that figure’s graceful form slowly emerged from behind the green bamboo—it was indeed Wen Wan. She walked closer with elegant, swaying steps. First, she curtsied slightly to Huangfu Wushuang, then curtsied lightly to Ji Fengli. Truly worthy of being a young lady from a noble family—her movements were gentle and indescribably charming.
Hua Zhuyu had to admit she couldn’t perform such delicate and graceful curtsying postures. Having been accustomed to disguising herself as a man, even if she tried, it would carry a sense of casual freedom. If she hadn’t learned music and dance from Lady Xuan, she would probably be no different from the rough soldiers under her command now.
“Wan’er, what are you doing here?” Huangfu Wushuang asked somewhat displeasedly.
Previously, when Wen Wan liked being with Ji Fengli, that was one thing, but now that she had the status of a selected maiden, she was still coming to find Ji Fengli—how could this not make his heart burn with anger?
Wen Wan smiled charmingly, her red lips parting slightly, her voice melodious as a warbler’s song. “Reporting to Your Highness, Wan’er has never been to the Summer Palace before. Rising early this morning, I wandered around and inadvertently came to Bamboo Garden. Hearing that the bamboo here grows extremely well, Wan’er wanted to come see it and later paint a bamboo painting to present to Your Highness. I didn’t expect to see Your Highness here and have disrupted Your Highness’s conversation with the Prime Minister. Please forgive me, Your Highness!”
Wen Wan’s words sounded high-minded and proper. Anyone could guess she had come to visit Ji Fengli despite claiming to be casually strolling. However, Huangfu Wushuang believed her words—or perhaps he didn’t believe them but was bewitched by Wen Wan’s tender, sweet words. Hearing she wanted to paint for him, his eyes immediately lit up. “Wan’er, you’re so good to me. This Crown Prince loves bamboo most. How about this—you paint here while this Crown Prince watches from the side.”
“Yes!” Wen Wan agreed. She might not want to paint for Huangfu Wushuang, but this way she could stay here longer and look at Ji Fengli more—this also fulfilled her wishes.
Between Wen Wan and Ji Fengli, perhaps their feelings truly ran so deep that she had disrupted this good match. Actually, Wen Wan wasn’t at fault—she was excellent and attracted everyone’s admiration and love, which was natural. But why should she, Hua Zhuyu, substitute for Wen Wan’s misfortune? Otherwise, how would Jin Se have died for no reason? Toward Wen Wan, Hua Zhuyu had never been able to develop any fondness.
Hua Zhuyu glanced sideways at Ji Fengli, seeing his lips curved in an unchanging slight smile, his dark eyes flowing with faint amusement as he gazed lightly at her. His long eyebrows raised slightly, showing an emotion she couldn’t understand.
Soon guards brought painting supplies and ink, setting up an easel in the bamboo grove. Wen Wan stood before the easel and began painting.
The breeze blew gently through the bamboo grove where flowers and grass flourished, their fragrance wafting continuously. No one spoke—all watched Wen Wan paint. Only Hua Zhuyu wasn’t very interested; her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Through the bamboo grove, she gazed up at the azure sky overhead.
The sky was very blue, like a piece of clear ice with several faint clouds drifting by, thin as gossamer in wisps and strands. A bird glided slowly through the cloud layer.
Hua Zhuyu’s heart jumped—what kind of bird was this? Squinting for a closer look, the bird was too high for her to see clearly. But a bird that could fly so high probably wasn’t an ordinary songbird, right? It should be an eagle or similar raptor. Hua Zhuyu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat—could it be… Xiao Yin’s gyrfalcon?
Thinking about it, she felt it was impossible. How could Xiao Yin’s gyrfalcon come here? Unless Xiao Yin would come to the Southern Dynasty, and Xiao Yin definitely wouldn’t come.
Thinking this way, she looked up again, but the bird had disappeared, making her almost suspect she had been seeing things.
“Finished!” Wen Wan said softly, setting down her brush.
Wen Wan’s painting was quite good—upright green bamboo with considerable character. Among the bamboo were scattered some wildflowers in red and yellow with bright colors. This painting naturally earned everyone’s praise. After the ink dried, Huangfu Wushuang enthusiastically had Hua Zhuyu roll up the painting, and the two returned to Qingyuan Garden. Naturally, before leaving, Huangfu Wushuang confirmed that Wen Wan had also departed before feeling at ease to go. He guarded against Wen Wan and Ji Fengli like guarding against thieves.
That night.
Hua Zhuyu climbed out through the window of Qingyuan Garden. Within the Summer Palace, her movements were actually more convenient. Of the three little eunuchs who had come with Huangfu Wushuang—herself, Ji Xiang, and You Fu—two attended each night. Yesterday, having beaten Ji Fengli, Huangfu Wushuang was greatly pleased and allowed her not to attend at night for the next few days.
Hua Zhuyu used lightness skills to reach where the Imperial Guards patrolled, perched in a large tree, picked a leaf, placed it to her lips, and blew a few bird calls. Then, after the patrolling soldiers passed, she used lightness skills to reach the back mountain.
After about two incense sticks’ time, a vigorous figure bounded toward this direction through the moonlight.
Under the faint moonlight, she could vaguely see he wore black night clothes, revealing only a pair of eyes bright as stars. He alertly surveyed the surroundings, confirmed no one was following, then headed toward the agreed location.
Hua Zhuyu waited about another incense stick’s time, sensing nothing unusual around her, before emerging from her hiding place and walking slowly before him. She coughed lightly and said coldly, “Guard An, in the deep of night, what are you doing on this back mountain?”
The person sat on a large stone. Hearing her light cough, he suddenly straightened his back and stood up. Then, turning to see Hua Zhuyu, he was immediately stunned in place.
“You…” Among the four personal guards, the most brave and extraordinary An was shocked speechless for the first time. His lips opened and closed repeatedly like a fish out of water. After a long while, he only managed the word “you” before trailing off.
Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help but let out a string of light laughter. To see An with such an expression in this lifetime was truly not easy.
Among the four personal guards, Ping was steady, Kang was lively and carefree, while An was the most clever and unrestrained, but also the most sharp-tongued. Even Hua Zhuyu had received her share of his mockery. However, his cooking skills were the best. When idle, he would hunt rabbits and wild chickens in the wilderness, always serving as head chef. Hua Zhuyu was greedy and, having eaten An’s cooking, would laughingly accept An’s occasional jibes.
“An, it’s only been a short while since we’ve met—don’t you recognize me?” After getting the hidden pieces her father had placed in the palace from Zhang Mo, she discovered the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards was actually An. So tonight she used their customary signal to call him out. She wasn’t wearing her mask, meeting him with Yuan Bao’s identity. She hadn’t expected An to be so frightened. He had never seen her true appearance, and suddenly seeing this face and discovering that the fierce eunuch who had beaten the Left Prime Minister was her—no wonder he was scared!
Hearing Hua Zhuyu’s low laughter, An’s soul finally returned to his body. Pointing at Hua Zhuyu’s face, after being stunned for a long while, he came out with a sentence that nearly made Hua Zhuyu die of anger.
“So this is what the face under the mask looks like—truly unsightly to behold, effeminate!”
Hua Zhuyu immediately blinked her eyes pitifully. “An, after not seeing each other for so long, can’t you say something nice? Is my face really unsightly to behold?” She admitted to being effeminate—she was a woman, after all.
An glanced at her sideways. “No wonder you wear a mask. If we’d known you looked like this, which soldier would still obey your commands! Moreover…” An drew out his voice and added, “Wouldn’t it be terrible if the whole army became inclined toward male lovers!”
Hua Zhuyu nearly exploded with rage, her black eyebrows furrowing. “An, with that mouth of yours, how can you be a Deputy Commander? Hasn’t the Head Commander been driven to death by your anger?”
“I was promoted to this position precisely after driving the previous Deputy Commander to death with anger!” An grinned.
“Mm, I estimate you’re not far from becoming Head Commander.” Hua Zhuyu squinted—that mouth would probably drive the Head Commander to death sooner or later too.
“An, it’s been so long since I’ve tasted your cooking. First make me something to eat!” Hua Zhuyu licked her lips. Though the meals in Huangfu Wushuang’s palace were exquisite, those were for the master to eat. Although she, as a eunuch, also benefited from them, she always felt they didn’t taste right.
Hearing this, An didn’t retort. He used lightness skills to go out for a round and returned with a pheasant in his hands. They found a secluded cave, built a fire, and placed the pheasant over it to roast. An took out several small bottles and jars from his chest, sprinkling seasonings on the chicken. Shortly after, the meat was cooked. Hua Zhuyu unceremoniously tore off a drumstick and began eating.
The night was hazy. An sat in the moon’s shadow, watching Hua Zhuyu’s greedy manner, moisture slowly gathering in his dark eyes, creating a layer of wetness.
Hua Zhuyu ate very quickly. Previously, whenever delicious food was made, they would all rush forward together—only those quick with hands and mouth could get some. Sometimes when Hua Zhuyu wanted An to secretly make her something special, those others’ noses seemed to have supernatural powers, always finding their way over by following the aroma.
This time, no one competed with her for food, but eating alone somehow lacked flavor. Moreover, even An wasn’t competing with her, which surprised her greatly.
“An, aren’t you eating? Oh my, are you so moved to see me that you’re crying?” Having eaten her fill, Hua Zhuyu finally thought to ask An. She saw him sitting in the moon’s shadow looking somewhat dejected, with moisture in his eyes.
Hearing Hua Zhuyu’s question, An looked up and snorted coldly with laughter. “Which eye of yours saw me crying? Eat more slowly—look at your oil-covered mouth. Your eating manner is truly ugly. Having been a eun…” The word “eunuch” wouldn’t come out as An got stuck. “General, you wouldn’t… really have done… that thing…”
So that’s what he was struggling with. Hua Zhuyu secretly laughed. Though An’s mouth was poisonous, his heart was the softest. However, to punish him for those earlier comments about being “unsightly to behold and effeminate” and “wouldn’t it be terrible if the whole army became inclined toward male lovers,” she completely ignored An and focused on devouring the entire chicken, then licked her oily hands clean. Only then did she have time to bat her fan-like eyelashes and ask with a smile, “An, what were you asking just now? I was too busy eating and didn’t hear clearly. Say it again.”
An glared at her. Actually, when his sharp tongue met the General’s shamelessness, he was completely helpless. He could drive all his superiors to death with anger, but this superior could never be driven to death! He moved his lips, but that question could no longer be asked.
“How are you progressing with the matter I asked you to investigate?” Hua Zhuyu put away her lazy smile and asked lightly. After learning An was in the palace, though she hadn’t shown herself, she had sent someone to give him tasks.
An’s expression immediately became solemn. “That accusatory letter was indeed written by someone from the Western Frontier, but this subordinate cannot determine who specifically wrote it. If we could find a way to get that letter, perhaps we could see some clues from it. The letter should be in Emperor Yan’s possession. Should this subordinate secretly search the Imperial Study tonight?”
Hua Zhuyu shook her head and said with narrowed eyes, “No need. That would be too dangerous, and besides, the letter certainly wouldn’t reveal anything to you.” The case of Marquis Pingxi Hua Mu had originally resulted from someone in the Western Frontier writing an accusatory letter that reached Emperor Yan. Only then did Emperor Yan become furious and send officials to thoroughly investigate. The investigation results confirmed everything was true, and Hua Mu was immediately convicted.
Her father would absolutely never rebel, so if everything was “confirmed true,” it was clearly a frame-up. Then the letter writer was certainly instigated by someone. If so, that person was most likely silenced afterward. Further investigation would probably lead to a dead end.
Hua Zhuyu walked slowly out of the cave and gazed up at the green mountains under the moonlight, frowning as she said, “Liu Mo is dead. Even I didn’t know he had once served under Father, yet he was still eliminated!”
At Prince Kang’s evening banquet, the song Liu Mo sang was one frequently sung by soldiers on the Western Frontier battlefield. She had suspected he might be one of her father’s former subordinates after hearing his song, but wasn’t particularly certain. Yet that person had efficiently eliminated him that very night—truly lightning-fast methods. Liu Mo was, after all, a military general, yet he was assassinated just like that. Emperor Yan ordered a thorough investigation, and the results showed it was the work of wandering assassins. This was definitely not the work of assassins—that person’s suspicion of Liu Mo arose that very evening, making it impossible to contact assassins so quickly. However, Ji Fengli’s residence was full of skilled fighters. Even that scholarly Lan Bing had superior martial arts. Any one of them would be more formidable than ordinary assassins, and any one could have killed Liu Mo.
But Ji Fengli had appeared that night, seemingly not the instigator. However, given Ji Fengli’s cunning, perhaps this was intentional. That night she had acted as Ying Shuxie. Since Ji Fengli knew Ying Shuxie had shown his face in the capital Yu, there should be some action in the capital these days—after all, Ying Shuxie was a general under Hua Mu.
“Is the capital still peaceful?” As Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, An would naturally know about such matters better than anyone.
“Still relatively peaceful, but someone is quietly searching for you, General.” An said in a low voice. “Those people still won’t let you go, but how could they know you’re right beside them!”
Hua Zhuyu stood with hands behind her back in the night, silent. The night wind lifted her hair, revealing her expressionless face. Her entire being emanated a chilling solemnity that made hearts tremble. She was like an unsheathed sword—such sharpness that even the cold moon seemed to avoid her.
Indeed, who could imagine that the young general who rode forth with horizontal blade, that silver-armored youth who wore a silver mask and always had a lazy smile at the corners of his lips, with such coldness and defiance, would now have broken all that pride and serve as a little eunuch in the Eastern Palace, subject to anyone’s mockery?
Since someone was looking for Ying Shuxie, then she would let Ying Shuxie appear. She wanted to see who else besides Emperor Yan was so interested in Ying Shuxie, so eager for his life. Openly posting notices to capture the criminal Ying Shuxie, while secretly sending people to search quietly. It seemed those people wouldn’t sleep peacefully as long as Ying Shuxie wasn’t eliminated.
“An, come here!” Hua Zhuyu’s lips curved in a faint smile.
An hurriedly approached, and Hua Zhuyu whispered instructions to him. An nodded repeatedly, “Yes, this subordinate will handle it immediately!” After the instructions, Hua Zhuyu asked, “Have you contacted them?” She was referring to Ping, Kang, and Dan Hong.
“This subordinate has found their location according to the General’s instructions, but since they couldn’t contact the General before, they’ve already begun acting. Dan Hong, she…” An hesitated.
“What about her?” Could Dan Hong have done something foolish?
“She entered the palace for the imperial consort selection. You’ll see her soon. However, if she learns of your current identity, who knows how heartbroken she’ll be.” An spoke slowly, word by word. They all knew of Dan Hong’s devoted feelings for Ying Shuxie. If her beloved suddenly became a eunuch—what a thunderbolt that would be!
Similarly, Dan Hong’s entry into the palace was no less than a thunderbolt for Hua Zhuyu. She had already wronged Jin Se—must she now sacrifice Dan Hong as well? She had always felt guilty toward Dan Hong, who had sacrificed even her lifelong happiness for her sake. She didn’t know what identity Dan Hong had assumed. If someone with ulterior motives investigated and discovered the truth, wouldn’t that be a path to certain death?
“An, don’t tell anyone about my identity for now!” Her true appearance had only been seen by her father and tonight by An—no one else had seen it. Even if she came face to face with Dan Hong, Dan Hong wouldn’t recognize her.
But what should be done about Dan Hong’s situation?
“General, no matter how supernatural your abilities, fighting alone will never uncover the truth. We are all willing to serve the General and the Marquis. Dan Hong feels the same. Our lives were given by the Marquis and the General. Being able to contribute now is our greatest honor. Please don’t blame yourself, General.” Seeing Hua Zhuyu’s melancholy, An slowly counseled her.
Hua Zhuyu nodded lightly. She knew what An said was true. No matter what, she couldn’t walk this path smoothly alone. As a general who led troops in battle, how could she not understand the power of cooperation?
She gazed into the distance. Under the faint moonlight’s shroud, the scenery here was treacherous with jagged rocks everywhere, as if carved by knives and axes, making one somewhat fearful—just like the path she must walk ahead, filled with countless dangers and obstacles.
In the back garden of Bamboo Garden, green bamboo swayed in the night breeze with upright postures. On the desk inside the room, a blue and white porcelain vase held several blooming flowers—snow white, elegant yet charming, emanating rich fragrance. The gauze window was half open, and the night breeze blew gently inside.
“You’ve lost again this time…” Ji Fengli lightly flicked his long sleeve and placed a black piece on the board, smiling faintly.
Lan Bing stood up frowning. “Prime Minister, you only win against this subordinate! I dare say that neither-male-nor-female fellow’s chess skills might be even better than yours, otherwise…”
Ji Fengli smiled sinisterly. “Lan Bing, could it be you also want to become neither male nor female? Or have you taken a fancy to that person with male lover inclinations?”
Lan Bing hurriedly waved his hands. “No, this subordinate wouldn’t dare!”
Now he understood—absolutely no mention of that Yuan Bao in front of the Prime Minister, or he’d certainly suffer for it. The Prime Minister had suffered greatly at that Yuan Bao’s hands this time. He was also unlucky, having witnessed the Prime Minister in wild-man attire. Not only was he struck by lightning, but it seemed he’d have more suffering ahead.
“Reporting to the Prime Minister, Ji Shui and Ji Yue have returned.” A maid announced outside the door.
Ji Fengli smiled slightly, though cold light flashed through his deep eyes. “Convey my order—they have two days to comprehend ten formations. If they fail, they can go receive twenty heavy rod strikes themselves!”
“Yes!” The maid went to deliver the message.
The room fell silent. Ji Fengli squinted his dark eyes slightly, picked up a chess piece from the board and rubbed it. The piece instantly turned to powder, scattered by the cool night breeze.
Lan Bing didn’t know what had happened last night, but hearing Ji Fengli order Ji Shui and Ji Yue to study formations, he could be certain these two had been trapped by formations, unable to find the Prime Minister, while the Prime Minister naturally couldn’t search for his subordinates naked. He would absolutely never lose dignity before his subordinates. So he chose to quietly return. Unluckily, today he had the whim to practice martial arts in the bamboo grove. Who knew that sometimes being too alert could be deadly? Originally he thought there were assassins infiltrating the bamboo grove and pursued them to see, but who knew… and so he was struck by lightning.
“Extremely clever, martial arts not particularly high, but perhaps holding back. Knows formations, and moreover, doesn’t see eye to eye with this minister… Who could such a person be?” Ji Fengli picked up another chess piece, lightly tapping the table. His long eyes were slightly closed with hidden sharpness, his entire being coldly penetrating.
Lan Bing knew who he was talking about but remained silent. The Prime Minister could mention this person, but he couldn’t mention them casually. After a long while, he muttered, “Perhaps just a self-important person with male lover inclinations. There are quite a few such talents in the world!”
Ji Fengli nodded, frowning. “Perhaps so!” But why did he always feel this Yuan Bao wasn’t so simple?