Being pulled along, Luo Hao looked troubled as he said to her: “Young Master, the Crown Prince doesn’t have ill intentions.”
“Even Yi Guoru believed he had no ill intentions until his death.” Rolling her eyes, Feng Yue huffed angrily: “Why do you all think Yin Gezhi is a good person? He’s extremely dangerous, imperceptibly drawing people into his schemes, yet you all still choose to trust him?”
Remembering how the Crown Prince had operated undercover in Wu Country over the past year, everyone shuddered and instantly became more cautious.
They couldn’t be blamed for being too trusting… If the case could be retried, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. But thinking about what happened to those people in Wu Country – well, perhaps it’s better to forget it and not trouble the Crown Prince.
Luo Hao turned away and immediately went to get their disguise materials. While it was still dark, they would go scout their “targets.”
Feng Yue bound her chest and changed into men’s clothing, applied a full beard, and smeared ash on her face, instantly transforming into a sleazy middle-aged man. To be safe, wearing this outfit, she even ran back to the main house to tease Lingshui, nearly getting punched by Ganjiang – fortunately, she dodged quickly.
“Perfect!” Satisfied after touching her face, Feng Yue headed out with Luo Hao, leaving everyone behind in shock.
“Who was that just now?”
“From the voice, it was Young Master.”
“…That’s terrifying.”
If even they, her close companions, couldn’t recognize her, then others definitely wouldn’t – Young Master would be safe.
Lizhou’s prosperity rivaled Buyin City, especially at night. Buyin City retired early, while Lizhou only fully quieted down at the third quarter of the xu hour. So when Feng Yue took to the streets, everywhere was still brightly lit.
“Lizhou is still better,” Luo Hao clicked his tongue in appreciation. “Just from the smell, you can tell what’s on the next street.”
Feng Yue snorted in amusement, about to tease him, when suddenly she heard approaching hoofbeats and quickly pulled him aside.
“Hya!” Several sleek horses thundered past, their leader seeming urgent, constantly shouting commands and cracking his whip hard. His brocade robe’s hem fluttered, and the wind it stirred up made Feng Yue unable to keep her eyes open.
“Galloping through the streets so late at night,” nearby civilians muttered softly. “Whose family is that?”
“You don’t recognize him?” Someone better dressed replied while holding his hands in his sleeves. “That’s General Feng! The heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo, the one who drove back the Qi troops.”
Feng Yue’s body stiffened.
Feng Ming?
Feng Ming was the nightmare in Guan Qingyue’s life. The typically bold and unrestrained Guan Qingyue had her life’s trajectory twisted after meeting him at age fifteen.
At her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen, the Marquis of Zhenguo happened to visit. The sixteen-year-old young master Feng stared at her unblinkingly as she performed the ceremony, then turned to the Marquis and said: “Father, I want to marry her!”
Guan Qingyue lost her balance and fell straight down the steps, raising a huge bump on her forehead!
Feng Ming hurried to help her up, but Guan Qingyue was furious. She kicked him hard in the chest, hands on her hips, grinding her teeth: “Marry your head!”
Her father’s face turned green. She was supposed to be proper and observe etiquette today, or else she wouldn’t be able to marry in the future. Yet here she was, not only kicking the Marquis’s heir but also cursing!
So, after this coming-of-age ceremony, Guan Qingyue was beaten soundly by Guan Canghai and came to hate Feng Ming.
However, unexpectedly, the Marquis, who doted on his son, actually sent matchmakers to propose! This enraged Guan Qingyue, who stood at the gate of the Guan residence with her three-ring blade, ready to cut down anyone who came – one for one, two for a pair!
The matchmakers were all frightened away, until finally, Feng Ming came himself.
“Why won’t you marry me?” he asked angrily.
“No reason!” Guan Qingyue gritted her teeth. “I don’t like you!”
“Then try! Not everyone who gets married necessarily likes each other beforehand!”
“No, I want to marry someone I like!”
“Who do you like?”
Head turned, chin raised, Guan Qingyue proudly declared: “All the daughters of Lizhou naturally admire the Crown Prince!”
Feng Ming’s face darkened, and he left immediately. When he returned the next day, he was covered in injuries.
“No wonder you like him,” the young master Feng said, angry yet unable to help being impressed. “His martial arts are quite good.”
Guan Qingyue was dumbfounded.
She later learned that this unruly demon of the Feng family had gone to the palace to fight the Crown Prince after she said those words! The outcome was obvious, but how could his behavior be even more unruly than hers? If she married someone like him, Lizhou would surely gain a notorious “Male and Female Demons” pair that everyone would avoid.
No, she couldn’t marry him!
However, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers, not for her to decide. While she was stubbornly resisting on one side, Guan Canghai had already returned with the marriage contract. His expression was as relaxed as a vegetable vendor who had finally sold all his leftover produce at dusk – utterly satisfied.
Guan Qingyue cried in anger, grabbed her large blade, and ran away from home. When she was about to be found, she snuck into the Eastern Palace and lay on the Crown Prince’s bed.
She didn’t want this marriage, and no one could force her! If they tried to force her, she’d make Feng Ming wear a green hat first!
At that time, she hadn’t thought about any future entanglements with the Crown Prince; she just purely wanted to spite Feng Ming.
Who knew fate would play such tricks…
Watching the backs of the mounted group, Feng Yue pressed her lips together, touching the headscarf on her head before lowering her head and continuing to follow behind Luo Hao.
When Yin Gezhi announced at the welcoming feast that he would retry the Guan family’s case, even the Emperor couldn’t stop the news from spreading. Feng Ming must have heard about this and was therefore riding to the prince’s mansion in the middle of the night.
Looking at the plaque of the Filial Prince’s Mansion, Feng Ming found it laughable. The old Emperor had tried to pressure Yin Chengbi with the character for “filial,” but ended up being severely embarrassed by his own son – he must be furious in the palace now.
Dismounting and stepping forward, Feng Ming didn’t even think about knocking, directly kicking open the vermillion gates, walking in while shouting: “Yin Chenbi, come out!”
Having just returned to his mansion and barely caught his breath, Yin Gezhi heard this arrogant voice and narrowed his eyes, his mood suddenly turning sour.
If he remembered correctly, Feng Ming had been betrothed to Guan Qingyue. He had heard before that Feng Ming was unruly and had come to the palace to fight him over the Guan family matter. At that time, he hadn’t known that Feng Yue was Guan Qingyue.
Now that he knew, looking at this person became somewhat irritating.
The door was pushed open, and Feng Ming burst in aggressively. After a year apart, his martial arts had improved considerably. His stance was extremely stable, and though he still liked to shout and yell, he had lost his previous impetuousness.
Lowering his eyelids and taking a sip of tea, Yin Gezhi said coldly: “What brings General Feng to visit so late at night?”
Looking at him with great displeasure, Feng Ming’s deeply chiseled face showed an awkward expression: “You’re going to retry the Guan family’s case?”
“Everyone knows the news, why come ask me?”
Digging at his ear, Feng Ming snorted: “Did you eat gunpowder in Wu Country? I haven’t offended you, why are you so angry?”
Yin Gezhi sneered: “For uninvited guests, should I serve tea with both hands?”
Ignoring his attitude, Feng Ming sat down nearby, grabbed the teapot, and poured tea directly into his mouth, wiped his mouth, and said: “Let’s talk seriously, how do you plan to retry the case?”
Feeling uncomfortable inside, even his words sparked fire: “Father Emperor has decreed that anyone who mentions this matter will be beheaded. If General wants to talk seriously, perhaps we should speak on the execution platform.”
His face darkening, Feng Ming sneered: “Since ancient times, listening to counsel with an open mind brings prosperity to the nation, while arbitrary decision-making leads to its destruction. To prevent His Majesty from destroying the country, we subjects must risk death to advise – the Guan family was wronged, General Guan would never betray the country!”
Fists slightly clenched, Yin Gezhi stood up impatiently, looking down at the person before him: “Haven’t you always liked to fight with me?”
“Huh?” Feng Ming looked bewildered. “Fight?”
Who wanted to fight him at a time like this? Weren’t they on the same side now?
“I’m in a good mood tonight.” Slowly removing his white robe, Yin Gezhi smiled coldly at him. “Want to have a match?”
Previously when Feng Ming came to the palace to fight, Yin Gezhi had always reluctantly dealt with him, taking him down in a few moves before disappearing, showing no respect for his opponent! Today, he was rarely in the mood. Feng Ming immediately nodded, took off his outer robe, and followed him out.
Honestly, the past year and more of warfare had matured Feng Ming considerably, so he wouldn’t be toyed with by Yin Gezhi like before. Unfortunately, as soon as they engaged, Feng Ming could feel he was still far behind, especially since Yin Gezhi seemed to have eaten something wrong today – his moves were extremely vicious. If Feng Ming hadn’t dodged quickly, he would surely have been seriously injured!
“Too terrifying,” sighing, Feng Ming frowned and looked up: “Let’s stop here. I didn’t come specifically to fight with you today.”
“The Guan family’s case, you don’t need to concern yourself,” Yin Gezhi withdrew, saying very coldly. “I’ll handle it myself.”
“How can that be!” Feng Ming glared: “Guan Qingyue is my fiancée, the wronged one is my father-in-law. No matter how you look at it, I have more right to handle this than you.”
The surrounding wind seemed to suddenly turn cold, whipping their clothes about. Yin Gezhi clenched his fists and asked softly: “Even if the case is retried, what do you intend to do?”
What to do? Feng Ming crossed his arms: “Naturally, to marry back the one I should marry.”
His heart sank, his gaze suddenly turning sharp. Yin Gezhi reached out and pressed against his throat, killing intent spreading: “The one you should marry?”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with this,” turning away, Feng Ming felt somewhat guilty: “Anyway, I just want to help retry the Guan family’s case.”
He knew Guan Qingyue was still alive, just not where she was. But as long as the Guan family’s charges were cleared, she should be able to return, right? That rough and straightforward girl, who knew how much hardship she had endured out there all these years.
He sighed inwardly but dared not show it. Even if the Crown Prince inexplicably wanted to retry the Guan family’s case, before the case was actually overturned, he couldn’t let him know Guan Qingyue was still alive!
However, after pondering for a long while, the person before him asked: “Were you the one who helped Guan Qingyue escape back then?”