Yin Gezhi didn’t even humor her cold joke, simply dropping a dispassionate remark: “If you want to return, wait to go with me.”

Then he rose to pour tea at the table.

Feng Yue clicked her tongue and couldn’t help but follow him with the letter, smiling ingratiatingly: “By the looks of it, you’ll need several more years to return. Perhaps this servant shouldn’t trouble you?”

She could just leave on her own! After all, their cooperation had essentially concluded, and going separate ways would be fine. Otherwise, what if one day he remembered the humiliation of being threatened and sought revenge?

Moreover, regarding returning to Wei… they probably wouldn’t be able to stay together anyway.

Taking a leisurely sip of tea, Yin Gezhi turned to look at her, his gaze calm: “Do you have border crossing papers?”

“That can be arranged – this servant has money!”

“After crossing the border, can you withstand scrutiny entering Li Capital?”

“Uh… that can also be figured out somehow.”

“Lian Heng frequently patrols the city gates. If you encounter him, can you figure that out too?”

“…” Feng Yue felt annoyed. The perfectly composed man before her with his profound gaze wasn’t cute at all! He was better when drunk! Looking at him now, he was plotting something again!

Gritting her teeth, she thought carefully for a long while before cautiously asking: “Then does Your Highness have a way?”

“Yes,” Yin Gezhi said. “I can return to the country soon and can take you along. That way, the journey will be smooth, and no one will dare stop us.”

Return to the country soon? Feng Yue was shocked: “You’re a hostage prince, meant to be held in Wu. How could you return whenever you want?”

Did he think Wu was the Dream Return House?

Giving her a contemptuous look, Yin Gezhi turned away without speaking. His silhouette appeared tall and imposing, emanating the aura of a master that others couldn’t see through.

In the palace’s imperial study, the lights had burned all night after the imperial edict was issued. None of the elder ministers, Ye Yuqing, or even the Emperor of Wu had dared to retire for rest.

With deep concern on his face, Ning Guozhong sighed and spoke: “The General has already passed away. No matter how long we try to keep the news contained, it will eventually spread. In this old minister’s opinion, we should make preparations early to deal with Song’s reaction.”

“What Lord Ning says, we all understand, but how do we prepare?” General Xu beside him sighed. “In recent months, those capable of warfare have all been dealt with by His Highness the Crown Prince. If war breaks out now, who can lead the army?”

“General Xu’s words are mistaken. Those people deserved their punishment – how can you blame His Highness? Our great Wu isn’t without capable generals. Isn’t your son also promising in his youth?” Ning Guozhong said. “Rather than seeking people for warfare, Your Majesty, this humble servant thinks we could seek allies for mutual support. This way, Song would have to think twice.”

One stick is easily broken, but what about two? Or three?

The Emperor’s eyes brightened as he looked toward the Crown Prince: “What does our son think?”

Ye Yuqing’s expression wasn’t good. Only when addressed did he bow and reply: “Lord Ning’s words make sense, but… the quickest allies we could seek now would be Wei and Qi. Qi and Wei have ceased hostilities. In terms of strength, Qi comes first, but considering proximity, we should negotiate with Wei first.”

“Wei will understand the principle that when the lips perish, the teeth grow cold. However, this means we should return their prince hostage from Bu Yin City to show our sincerity.”

The Emperor nodded as he listened: “If you understand what needs to be done, why do you seem hesitant?”

Sighing, Ye Yuqing said: “Father, Wei’s Crown Prince Yin Gezhi is resourceful and cunning. Releasing him feels like letting a tiger return to its mountain.”

“Ah, Your Highness’s words are mistaken.” The Marquis of An stepped forward, smiling: “It’s precisely because Prince Yin is resourceful and skilled in warfare that we should let him return. With him leading troops, Wei would truly be worthy as our ally.”

“That makes sense.” General Xu also nodded: “Although Prince Yin is cunning, he’s always been close to our Wu without ill intent. Even in teaching my son and the young master of the An household, he’s been thorough and withheld nothing, showing his generous and virtuous heart.”

Once the Marquis of An spoke, the Emperor’s heart was already somewhat swayed. With General Xu’s words added, the Emperor nodded: “Time is pressing. If we’re going to act, we must do so quickly. Otherwise, if we wait until Song invades before doing these things, it would look unseemly.”

The royal family’s face was very important!

Ye Yuqing still hesitated, but with all the elder ministers agreeing to first send Yin Gezhi back to Wu and then dispatch envoys to discuss alliance matters, he chose to remain silent.

He had thought Yin Gezhi would stay in Wu forever, who could have imagined such a turn of events? Was this fate’s doing, or was someone pulling strings behind the scenes?

With the Emperor having made his decision, those below could only comply. Leaving the palace, Ye Yuqing tiredly rubbed his temples and told the carriage driver to head to the envoy’s mansion.

“How strange,” passing Xiang Yu Street, the driver couldn’t help muttering: “A place usually so lively, why is it so quiet today?”

Listening absent-mindedly, Ye Yuqing lifted the carriage curtain to look.

The prosperous Xiang Yu Street seemed to have many shops closed today, with fewer street vendors, and many shop fronts had signs announcing they were for sale.

With General Yi’s death, people were panic-stricken, and those with foresight would naturally sell their properties early to seek a more stable life in other countries. Ye Yuqing wasn’t surprised, but as they continued forward, he was amazed to find that even the Dream Return House had closed its doors.

It was daytime, so being closed was normal, but usually, there would be several early-rising ladies standing on the balcony, swaying gracefully in the wind.

Today there were none.

“Stop the carriage.”

The carriage stopped at Dream Return House’s entrance, and Ye Yuqing frowned as he pushed open the door.

Madam Jin, who had just tucked some silver notes into her clothes, was startled. Seeing who had entered, she immediately smiled: “Sir, Dream Return House doesn’t receive guests during the day.”

So it was still open. Ye Yuqing’s lips tightened, but his brow relaxed as he smiled: “Many shops on the street have closed lately. Passing by, I thought Dream Return House had closed too.”

Madam Jin paused, adjusted her temple hair, and smiled with her red lips: “What are you saying, sir? How could Dream Return House close? It’s just that this servant needs to return home for some business, and I’m giving the ladies a holiday to rest.”

“Mm.” Since Feng Yue had already been redeemed, Ye Yuqing didn’t care much about the other ladies. After glancing around, he turned to leave.

Patting her chest, Madam Jin watched him leave, then quickly returned to her room, packed her belongings, secured the front door, and left through the back door, hanging a lock outside.

Among Dream Return House’s ladies, those who needed revenge had gotten it, and those who hadn’t must have had their enemies outside Wu. Able to return to Wei, the little minxes ran faster than anything, waving their handkerchiefs and taking dainty steps, leaving Madam Jin behind.

Shouldering her pack, Madam Jin looked back at Dream Return House, smiled and shook her head, then got into a carriage at the street corner, heading toward the city gates.

Feng Yue was in the corner calculating her schemes, wondering whether to knock Yin Gezhi unconscious and sneak away, or dig a tunnel while he was eating.

Before she could figure out exactly what to do, the door was pushed open.

“Prince Yin,” Ye Yuqing’s tired voice rang out: “There’s an imperial edict.”

Is the Crown Prince personally delivering an edict? Feng Yue was dumbfounded. She immediately bounced over to kneel, looking expectantly at him, wanting to hear what tone Ye Yuqing would use to read the edict.

However, disappointingly, he didn’t read it. With a wave of his hand, the eunuch beside him came forward holding the edict, straightened his back, and spoke in a duck-like voice: “By heaven’s mandate and dynastic fortune, the Emperor decrees: Wei’s Prince Yin Gezhi has stopped the weapons between two nations, cultivated national friendship, and enhanced national fortune, deeply moving Us. Considering his homesickness, We especially pardon his return to Wei, with fifty head of cattle and sheep, and three thousand taels of gold and silver, to convey Wu’s friendship and Our desire for mutual progress. So be it.”

Yin Gezhi knelt on one knee in respect, accepted the edict with both hands and looked at Ye Yuqing with a bewildered expression: “Your Highness?”

“You didn’t expect such a day would come?” Ye Yuqing sighed: “Neither did I.”

Feng Yue thought, “Bah, I’m the one who truly didn’t expect it – these two old foxes know each other too well!”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s care,” Yin Gezhi said gravely. “However, my two disciples cannot return with me. After my departure, I hope Your Highness will continue to guide them.”

“Rest assured,” Ye Yuqing said. “They often practice martial arts at General Song’s training ground and have never fallen behind in their studies. When they truly take to the battlefield one day, they will surely become your good assistants.”

“In that case, I can leave without worry.” Yin Gezhi nodded.

Ye Yuqing was still uneasy. Although Yin Gezhi appeared harmless and gentle, having left Wei for over a year, whether he could establish a firm foothold upon return was questionable. But he still felt this person was terrifyingly sharp, like a long halberd that could wound from afar, with an especially keen edge.

Was letting him return truly the right decision?

After thinking for a long while, his head aching, Ye Yuqing sighed: “Very well, Your Highness should prepare well. Here are the border crossing papers and documents, all complete. With these, you can leave Wei. When you decide to depart, send someone to inform me, and I’ll arrange an escort.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Turning to look at Feng Yue, Ye Yuqing’s gaze was deep: “Will Your Highness take Lady Feng Yue back?”

“Naturally.”

“Then, until we meet again.”

Feng Yue smiled faintly, folding her hands at her waist and bowing to him: “Until we meet again.”

A gust of wind swept in from outside – Bu Yin City was having another brilliantly sunny day. Feng Yue’s skirt hem was lifted slightly by the breeze, the spring swallows embroidered on it seeming to come alive, imprinting themselves in Ye Yuqing’s final glance.

Turning around and stepping out of the envoy mansion’s gate, Ye Yuqing headed toward the Eastern Palace without looking back.

Yin Gezhi stood holding the edict for a long while, his face showing no emotion, but Guan Zhi knew he was very happy.

He had been in Wu for over a year. When he left, how many people thought the Crown Prince would never return? Now after just a year, he was returning home.

No one knew how many calculations and schemes lay behind this, all people might see was Yin Gezhi’s unruffled face. Those unaware of the circumstances might even call him lucky.

Much of what appears as luck is built upon strength.