Understand? What’s not to understand? Feng Yue smiled and gracefully bowed: “Just being able to make him suffer a bit is more than I could hope for. I dare not ask for more.”

After all, he was Wu’s greatest general – did anyone expect the Crown Prince of Wu to behead him? Impossible. Feng Yue knew this, and Yin Gezhi knew it too. So figuring out how Yi Guoru should die was quite the brain teaser.

Ye Yuqin told her this in advance to prevent her from pushing Yin Gezhi to corner Yi Guoru. But even without her urging, Yin Gezhi probably wouldn’t let Yi Guoru live.

After numerous battles, Yin Gezhi knew best how Yi Guoru achieved each victory. Such an unprincipled and dishonorable general wouldn’t earn his opponent’s respect even in victory.

If Yin Gezhi respected him and got close to Yi Zhangzhu, he must have had his reasons – and not just a few.

Understanding this from the start, Feng Yue knew she could only ride the Crown Prince’s boat for part of the way, but she could stay on Yin Gezhi’s boat until the end.

Though her mind was churning, her expression remained unchanged. To Ye Yuqin, she appeared as a contented young woman, which put him at ease. “Go find a seat inside first.”

“Yes.”

Yu Hexiang had comforted Yang Fengpeng well. When he appeared in court, he held nothing back. He thoroughly accused Yi Guoru, explaining that all military supplies went through his hands, and he split the profits with those managing military pay. There were detailed account books of all transactions.

When the testimony reached the palace, it caused an uproar. The Emperor was furious and urgently summoned Yi Guoru, ordering him to immediately surrender his military authority on grounds of moral failure.

Would Yi Guoru give up his military authority – his lifeline – at this critical moment? No. Consort Yi immediately knelt outside the Imperial Study, weeping and pleading for Yi Guoru, speaking of his years of meritorious service.

“The Emperor will soften,” Yin Gezhi said with a pale face and closed eyes, his thin lips barely moving. “Fortunately, I was prepared.”

Feng Yue shook her head while changing the compress on his forehead: “Even bedridden with illness, you’re still concerned about Wu’s national affairs. It’s truly moving.”

“Can’t let it all go to waste now.” He coughed lightly, slowly opening his eyes. His long eyelashes trembled, and it took a while for his gaze to focus. His voice was hoarse as he asked, “Did you understand those letters exchanged between General Yi and others?”

Letters? Feng Yue thought for a moment: “Those love poems? I didn’t understand them. They were all about daily meals.”

“Mm.” He nodded slightly. “Those were the Emperor’s daily meals.”

Her hand froze. Feng Yue was shocked: “The Emperor’s?”

She had thought they were love poems between Yi Guoru and Consort Yi!

“Look carefully and you’ll understand,” Yin Gezhi said. “The Wu Emperor has been ill since spring this year. It likely has something to do with them.”

The Emperor’s meals were carefully monitored. Even the palace ladies’ snacks had to be tested first. Only someone very familiar with the Emperor, through long experience, could predict what he would eat and take action.

“You mean Consort Yi and General Yi are plotting against His Majesty?” Feng Yue frowned. “But why? Consort Yi only has an adopted prince, and with the Crown Prince’s strong position, even if they managed to harm the Emperor, Ye Yuqin would still succeed to the throne.”

“That’s why I had someone warn the Crown Prince to be careful of Consort Yi,” Yin Gezhi said calmly. “To prevent them from working together to harm him and seize Wu’s throne.”

Yi Guoru was an ambitious man – it showed in his warfare. He would do anything for victory and have defied imperial edicts multiple times. The Emperor trusted but feared him, while the Crown Prince directly opposed him. Under these circumstances, Yi Guoru’s desire for the throne was understandable.

Still, Feng Yue was shocked. Even though she had no particular loyalty to the country or ruler, the mad idea of regicide and usurpation surprised her. She couldn’t help muttering: “So that’s possible? Then since I don’t like that old man on Wei’s throne, maybe I shouldn’t hold back and just find a way to kill him?”

The room’s atmosphere suddenly chilled. Feng Yue’s skin tightened, and she hurriedly turned to bow three times toward the bed: “Please pretend you didn’t hear that! I was just talking nonsense!”

His gaze was cold as he glared at her: “You’d better not have such thoughts.”

“I don’t, I don’t! I was just joking around. How could I have such thoughts? Guan Canghai would climb out of his grave to strangle me!”

Closing his eyes wearily, Yin Gezhi asked: “If one day I return to Wei, would you be willing to go back with me?”

Slightly stunned, Feng Yue looked at him curiously: “You’d be willing to take me?”

“Just say whether you’re willing or not!”

“I am!” She nodded quickly: “With your protection, who would dare bully me?”

But thinking about it, she deflated: “By the time you can return, I’ll probably be old.”

“You won’t be.”

“Hm?” Feng Yue blinked. “What did you say?”

His voice was too weak, too muffled to hear clearly. Feng Yue leaned closer to his mouth to listen better, but he grabbed her and pulled her down, suddenly pressing her against his chest.

Even, lengthy breaths, carrying traces of lingering fever, emerged from his chest.

Her body stiffened. Feng Yue blinked in confusion and looked up at him.

What was this about? Hadn’t he been going on about how dirty she was before, completely repulsed? Now what, he was initiating intimacy?

Was the fever making him delirious?

She reached out to feel his forehead, but before her hand got halfway there, she saw his hand rising. Remembering the pain from the last time, Feng Yue quickly withdrew her hand!

The person beneath her had his eyes half-open, showing slight displeasure. He reached out to grab her curled hand and firmly placed it on his forehead.

The loud “pat” startled Feng Yue, leaving her mouth agape.

His brows relaxed, and he closed his eyes again, falling into a peaceful sleep, leaving Feng Yue dumbfounded, unable to make sense of it even after a long while.

What was this? Atonement? Was this how the Yin royal family atoned for their sins?

However, feeling the burning temperature of his forehead, Feng Yue pressed her lips together and hurried to get fresh cool water. Whatever the case, before General Yi’s downfall, this man’s mind was essential for survival. It absolutely couldn’t be damaged by fever!

In the palace.

Ye Yuqin walked toward the Imperial Study with a troubled expression. According to reports, Consort Yi’s tearful pleading had just moved the Emperor, who had summoned several elder officials and was now preparing to have him suppress all the corruption charges Yang Fengpeng had revealed.

Agitated, his dragon-embroidered court boots paced several circles outside the Imperial Study’s door, unable to enter.

Wang You, following at his side, saw this and softly said: “Your Highness need not worry too much.”

“How can I not worry?” Sighing deeply, Ye Yuqin shook his head: “Once I go in, all our previous efforts will be wasted.”

“Have you forgotten what His Highness Yin said in yesterday’s letter?” Wang You said: “He said when you face difficult decisions, you need only wait, and a solution will present itself.”

“I haven’t forgotten, that’s why I’m waiting,” clutching his fan, Ye Yuqin frowned: “But I can’t figure out what we’re waiting for. How can this situation possibly be resolved?”

Wang You fell silent.

As Ye Yuqin continued pacing, suddenly a long cry came from inside the Imperial Study: “Summon the Imperial Physician!”

His heart tightened. He hurriedly lifted his robes and went inside.

The Imperial Study was in chaos, with all the elder officials kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. The Head Eunuch supported the Emperor, patting his back repeatedly: “Your Majesty, take care, Your Majesty, take care.”

“Father!” Ye Yuqin frowned as he approached, seeing a pool of blood mixed with unknown substances beside the dragon throne, a frightening sight.

“What happened?!”

The Head Eunuch quickly knelt: “Please calm yourself, Your Highness. His Majesty may have eaten too much recently. The Imperial Physician has been summoned.”

What did he mean by eating too much? Ye Yuqin’s expression darkened as he thought of some items recently brought into the palace from outside.

He wasn’t sure if they came from Feng Yue or Yin Gezhi – it didn’t really matter either way. But that pile of evidence suggested that Consort Yi and General Yi were deeply connected, and their family letters were suspicious, seemingly revealing the Emperor’s daily routine and diet. They might harbor ill intentions, so he should be vigilant.

Eyes slightly narrowed, Ye Yuqin watched thoughtfully as the Imperial Physician entered to take the pulse, standing beside the Emperor.

“Crown Prince.” The Emperor looked at him weakly: “About General Yi’s matter…”

“Father.” His expression turned serious as Ye Yuqin said: “Your son knows you have deep feelings for Consort Yi. But this isn’t just about corruption – it concerns your imperial authority. Let the Imperial Physician examine your illness carefully and determine the cause of your blood vomiting today, then we can discuss state affairs.”

The old Emperor was confused – what did his vomiting blood have to do with state affairs? Could someone be plotting to usurp the throne? Impossible. He had been so careful, never eating the same thing for years. Unless it was someone who had been in the palace for over a decade, no one else would know his preferences. So there should be no opportunity for anyone to take advantage.

However, after checking the pulse, the Imperial Physician knelt and said: “Your servant deserves death! Your Majesty has been poisoned, damaging your spleen and stomach!”

Poison? The Emperor was shocked, and after the shock came fury. He immediately demanded an investigation of the Imperial Kitchen, temporarily setting aside General Yi’s matter.

Ye Yuqin breathed a sigh of relief. Yin Gezhi’s words proved true – waiting had indeed brought a solution.

Now, if they could prove Consort Yi had tampered with the Emperor’s food, that would essentially establish her guilt.

These matters weren’t for Feng Yue and Yin Gezhi to worry about, so the envoy’s residence remained peaceful. Lingshun crouched beside the bed munching on water chestnuts, watching Yin Gezhi curiously: “Master, has His Highness been learning from you lately? He always frowns while sleeping too?”

Looking at his deeply furrowed brows, Feng Yue reached out to smooth them, saying flatly: “He’s not learning from me. People frown when they have nightmares. His Highness isn’t sleeping well.”

“Why isn’t he sleeping well?”

“A guilty conscience.”

Nodding with partial understanding, Lingshun smiled: “Then you should sleep with His Highness. Your servant notices that when you’re together, His Highness always seems happier.”