Yang Fengpeng, having navigated officialdom for many years and considering himself quite the old fox, immediately recognized from Yin Gezhi’s words that he still had a chance at survival. He hurriedly followed him into the alley for a private discussion.

“There are only two paths now.” Standing at the front of the alley, Yin Gezhi slowly turned around. His white clothes made him appear pure and harmless, but his face remained cold and emotionless. “Either Your Honor takes sole responsibility for all crimes and faces execution of your entire household, or Your Honor reports the complete money trail to His Majesty. The Crown Prince will surely show mercy and spare the lives of your entire family.”

The largest recipient of the funds was the General’s Manor. If he were willing to reveal this, the Crown Prince would certainly protect him. However…

Yang Fengpeng gave a light chuckle and shook his head. “Your Highness, matters of officialdom aren’t so simple. Speaking of exposing others sounds easy, but what if those exposed don’t die? Then this humble official would be finished, and my family still wouldn’t know peace.”

Having served the Yi nation for many years, he couldn’t simply turn against them on a whim. Even if sentenced to death, as long as he kept his mouth shut, General Yi might find a way to save him. Yin merely held the Imperial Command token and had arrested some people – he was far less reliable than General Yi.

Yin Gezhi shook his head slightly and said, “Your Honor perhaps hasn’t thought through what I said earlier carefully enough. You might want to reconsider my words.”

Wasn’t what he said earlier just this? What was there to think about? Yang Fengpeng was about to laugh when he suddenly froze.

Wait, hadn’t he also mentioned earlier that he already had evidence of his money transfers?

Drawing in a sharp breath, Yang Fengpeng looked up at the young man before him.

Though he appeared to be a refined young gentleman, the look in his eyes made Yang shiver, as those eyes reflected his panicked expression. Those thin lips parted as he spoke leisurely, “Though I’m not thoroughly versed in Wu nation’s laws, given the Crown Prince’s people-first philosophy and hatred of corruption, your forty million taels of incoming funds and twenty million taels of outgoing funds over these two years would be enough for him to personally oversee your execution.”

As if feeling that wasn’t specific enough, he added, “That’s four hundred and three thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven taels, to be precise. That odd seven taels was a gift from a small merchant to your former accountant.”

His legs trembling, Yang Fengpeng turned pale, his eyes darting left and right on the ground, his palms sweating profusely.

He had thought Yin Gezhi might be bluffing, but being able to state the amounts so precisely meant he likely did have evidence in hand.

The evidence was in his possession. Even if he didn’t expose General Yi, the General would likely be implicated. Once implicated, to protect himself, the General would never extend a helping hand to him.

What should he do?

“It seems Your Honor doesn’t intend to accept my suggestion. I’ll take my leave then.” Without trying to persuade them further, Yin Gezhi turned to leave.

“Your Highness!” Yang Fengpeng hurriedly stopped him. “You’re… just leaving like this?”

“What else?” Yin Gezhi replied expressionlessly. “Everything that needed to be said has been said. The rest is for Your Honor to consider. It’s no concern of mine – I merely delivered the Crown Prince’s message.”

With that, he turned and left.

Yang Fengpeng was stunned. Based on his many years of experience in officialdom, in such situations, shouldn’t the other party try to persuade him more? Even if not, shouldn’t they at least offer some incentives to make switching sides easier?

None of that happened with Yin Gezhi. Take it or leave it – he said his piece and left.

So Yang Fengpeng struggled with the decision, standing in place for quite a while before secretly making his way back to his mansion.

When Yin Gezhi returned to the envoy’s residence, Feng Yue was calmly tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard. Seeing him enter, she raised her face and gave him a bright smile. “You’re back?”

Glancing at her, Yin Gezhi remained silent and walked straight into the house.

Feng Yue might truly not have taken the antidote, but she had genuinely made him suspicious. Once suspicion arose, he could no longer be as close to her as before.

Guan Zhi still couldn’t trace Feng Yue’s background, and with her knowledge of him plus too many coincidences, Yin Gezhi felt it better to be cautious.

Seeing his cold demeanor, Feng Yue raised an eyebrow, put down the flowers in her hands, and followed him into the room with a smile. Watching him sit down, she reached out to massage his shoulders. “Why are you ignoring this servant? If I’ve done something wrong, you can tell me.”

Hearing this affected tone, Yin Gezhi frowned. “You should act more like a proper maid.”

“How am I not acting like a proper maid?” Embracing him from behind, Feng Yue giggled coyly. “You said it yourself, I’m your maid.”

A personal maid who doesn’t seduce her master – what difference would there be from an ordinary maid!

Yin Gezhi pressed his lips together, trying to be stern, at least to push away her hands. But somehow, even though he raised his hands, he couldn’t bring himself to remove her.

Her soft body pressed against his back, the feeling like someone leading him from a freezing winter day into a warm spring room. People naturally seek warmth – how could anyone bear to leave it?

Narrowing his eyes, Yin Gezhi’s gaze was full of confusion, looking very much like a wolf lost in the snow.

“Master!” Guan Zhi bounced in excitedly, completely used to their intimacy, and spoke directly: “The Crown Prince’s men have surrounded the Three Offices Commissioner’s residence. Yang Fengpeng had already left but somehow rushed back in, and now he’s in the dungeon.”

Coming to his senses, Yin Gezhi said sternly, “Keep watching, and report any news immediately.”

“Yes.”

With a flirtatious glance, Feng Yue smiled. “Official Yang is in trouble now. General Yi surely won’t sleep well tonight.”

“You seem happy?” Yin Gezhi looked up at her. “By rights, given how desperately you saved Young Lady Yi before, I thought you would have quite good feelings toward General Yi’s family.”

She saved Young Lady Yi because both he and Ye Yuqin valued her! Wouldn’t earning a life debt make it easier to get close to them? Thinking of this, Feng Yue smiled. It made sense that Young Lady Yi would dislike her – after all, her initial motives for approaching them weren’t pure. Breaking a hand bone in exchange for His Highness’s attention was quite worth it.

“This servant doesn’t care about General Yi’s family,” she smiled. “Whatever Your Highness wishes to do, this servant will surely help.”

Remembering the suffocating feeling in his chest earlier that day on the street, Yin Gezhi frowned, pulled her into his arms, and glared at her. “You’d better hold back on these honeyed words. If you say too much and truly betray me one day, you’ll die a horrible death.”

Trembling in fear, Feng Yue blinked her innocent large eyes at him. “Your Highness worries too much. How could this servant ever betray you?”

After all, she had never intended to be purely loyal in the first place!