They had originally planned to look around the Imperial Censor’s mansion, but after Yin Gezhi’s words, all three could only sit properly in the guest hall, watching the concubines dance and perform music.
Feng Yue tried to slip away several times but was repeatedly caught by Yin Gezhi grabbing her skirt hem. She gritted her teeth, truly not understanding what he was thinking this time. What was so interesting about song and dance? She could dance better than these performers anyway.
Confusion showed in Feng Ming’s eyes as well. However, when Zhao Xu got up to use the bathroom, Yin Gezhi explained quietly: “Something is interesting to see in the Imperial Censor’s back garden.”
Something interesting? Feng Yue frowned: “What could be interesting? They said the back garden is abandoned.”
“It’s interesting precisely because it’s abandoned.” Watching the beauties dancing gracefully below, Yin Gezhi said: “Isn’t disturbing their peace exactly what you want? The drama in the back garden should be enough.”
Hearing this, Feng Yue narrowed her eyes: “Is Your Highness planning to expose his secrets?”
Regarding Zhao Xu’s situation, she certainly knew more than Yin Gezhi. She had memorized every person who had submitted slanderous reports that led to the execution of the Guan family. She frequently had people investigate them, and even if they couldn’t uncover any major secrets, any leaked information would reach her ears.
The “interesting matters” Yin Gezhi mentioned in the back garden probably referred to rumors from two years ago. Some said the Imperial Censor’s mansion was like a bottomless pit – beautiful women were frequently sent in, yet it seemed they could never fill it. Others spoke of a grand exorcism ceremony held at the mansion, supposedly to drive away evil spirits, though some wondered if it was actually to suppress ghosts. Common people’s imaginations were so rich. They could make up all sorts of stories, and so some claimed that the beautiful women in the Imperial Censor’s mansion must die every year – otherwise, why would they recruit new ones annually without expanding the residence?
But such things could only remain as rumors because there wasn’t a shred of evidence. No one would bother investigating unless they had nothing better to do, so at most, it became dinner table gossip.
Feng Yue pressed her lips together. She knew that when Zhao Xu said “His Majesty comes often” earlier today, Yin Gezhi had glanced at her with some concern, probably worried she might develop thoughts of regicide. After all, regardless of how incompetent the Emperor was, he was still her father. If she tried to kill him, Yin Gezhi would stop her.
However, among the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers back then, Zhao Xu had been the first to step forward and urge the Emperor to execute the entire Guan family. Though this man was an imbecile, Emperor Wei listened to his words. Despite having no previous grudge against the General’s mansion, he had raised the butcher’s knife against them at that time. How could she possibly let such a person live comfortably? And if she wanted to make him suffer, she would have to target Emperor Wei.
“The nation has its laws,” Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes and said: “Rather than having your hands covered in blood, better to let him receive his due punishment.”
Due punishment? Feng Yue laughed mirthlessly, shaking her head as she leaned down close to his ear and asked: “Your Highness, do you truly believe that once something interesting is found in the back garden, this Lord Zhao will be punished?”
“Of course,” Yin Gezhi said: “When the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he faces the same punishment as common people. How much more so for a mere Imperial Censor?”
“Alright,” Feng Yue nodded with a smile, her eyes full of resignation: “Then let’s make a bet.”
“What bet?”
“If Your Highness can ensure Zhao Xu receives his due punishment, I won’t interfere with his matter at all. But if you expose the back garden and he doesn’t receive the punishment he deserves, then no matter what I do, Your Highness must not interfere. How about that?”
Frowning slightly, Yin Gezhi gave her a deep look, but before he could speak further, Zhao Xu had already returned.
So Feng Yue lowered her head and stood back, and Yin Gezhi said nothing more.
After the songs, dances, and feast, Feng Ming and Yin Gezhi were led to the guest quarters. While showing the way, Zhao Xu kept apologizing with a smile: “This courtyard is most comfortable, with one main room and one side hall, plus wing rooms for servants and guards to rest. Very convenient.”
“Thank you for your trouble,” Feng Ming smiled: “It’s just that I tend to sleepwalk at night. If I frighten anyone in your household, please don’t take offense.”
Following behind, Feng Yue thought to herself that Feng Ming had become quite clever after these years, knowing to make excuses in advance for his nighttime activities.
Zhao Xu hesitated for a moment, thinking such coincidences couldn’t possibly happen, and decided sleepwalking was just sleepwalking. So he nodded in agreement and ordered people to serve them well.
Then Yin Gezhi spoke up: “This prince likes to go out and watch the moon at night. General Feng need only be careful not to startle me.”
Zhao Xu pressed his lips together, suddenly feeling uneasy. He looked at Yin Gezhi several times, smiling apologetically: “The weather hasn’t been good these past few days, there’s hardly any moon to see at night. If Your Highness wants to see the moon, this official can have the concubines perform a Moon Splendor dance.”
“Not necessary.”
“…”
Wiping his forehead, Zhao Xu showed these two masters with peculiar habits to the guest quarters, quietly called over some servants, and told them to watch carefully, before finally bowing and leaving.
The summer afternoon was scorching hot and perfect for napping. Feng Yue, dressed as a maid, sat at the entrance of the guest quarters chatting with two servants: “This mansion is really beautiful, even more so than the General’s mansion.”
The two servants were both young and seeing this delicate little beauty wanting to talk, they came over to sit in the shade. One said: “Of course, our master spent a lot of effort designing this place.”
The other, afraid Feng Yue wouldn’t notice him, quickly chimed in: “That’s right! I’ve been in this mansion for eight years, I know every corner of it!”
Feng Yue smiled, catching glimpses of two shadows successfully scaling the wall from the corner of her eye. Then she continued asking: “Do you know about the back garden too? Earlier Prince Xiao said the flowers there are beautiful, I wanted to go see them.”
At the mention of the back garden, the servants’ expressions changed dramatically. They immediately fell silent, and no matter how many flirtatious glances Feng Yue cast their way, they wouldn’t speak another word.
This reaction made things look very suspicious.
Standing up and patting her skirt, she smiled: “If we can’t go to the back garden, while the masters are taking their afternoon rest, why don’t we go look at other places where the flowers are blooming?”
The servants finally relaxed, but since they couldn’t both leave their posts at once, they discussed and played finger-guessing games to decide. The winner then led Feng Yue toward the garden.
Having just been to the garden earlier, she vaguely remembered the direction. Feng Yue stopped in her tracks and let out an “Oh!” with furrowed brows.
“What’s wrong, miss?” the servant quickly asked with concern: “Are you feeling unwell?”
Blushing with embarrassment, Feng Yue asked: “Where’s the privy?”
The servant was startled and also felt a bit awkward, pointing out the direction.
“You don’t need to show me the way, I’ll… I’ll go myself.” Biting her lip, Feng Yue perfectly portrayed a little maid desperate to relieve herself yet embarrassed and annoyed. She stamped her foot and turned away.
The servant didn’t suspect a thing and waited where he was.
Under the blazing afternoon sun, few people were moving about the mansion. Feng Yue made several turns, not quite sure where she had ended up, searching for the back garden purely by luck.
Fortunately, the Imperial Censor’s mansion wasn’t absurdly large, and after wandering for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, she found a locked, abandoned courtyard.
Looking at the rust-covered iron lock, Feng Yue found a secluded corner and simply climbed over the wall!
The wall wasn’t high, and she made it up easily enough, but when jumping down, her luck wasn’t so good – she landed in a patch of weeds and nearly fainted from the strange smell that assaulted her.
“You’re quite bold,” Yin Gezhi’s cool voice sounded beside her: “Even without your martial arts, you still dare to do such wall-climbing stunts.”
Feng Ming appeared from somewhere and pulled her up, saying quietly: “You didn’t need to come.”
“It’s so boring being alone,” Feng Yue pouted: “Better to join in the fun. Besides, I’m just a little maid now – if anything happens, I have you two masters to take responsibility.”
The more honest reason was that she was also very curious whether the rumors about this back garden were true or false.
Looking at her with disapproval, Yin Gezhi continued his investigation of the area.
Feng Yue looked up and noticed this courtyard somewhat resembled an opera troupe’s quarters. There was a stage in the southeast corner, surrounded by old fabric hangings whose original colors could no longer be discerned.
Feng Ming said to her quietly: “Something’s wrong here. Earlier I didn’t know what you two were talking about, and I didn’t know why Yin Chenbi came here. But after coming in, I discovered that there were strange symbols pasted all over the walls. They’re meant to suppress something.”
His words made the whole place seem to be filled with ghostly winds, causing Feng Yue to shudder. She frowned: “Can’t you speak less creepily?”
“I’m just telling the truth, but don’t be afraid – whatever’s here, I’ll protect you from it.” Feng Ming smiled, like sunlight breaking through clouds, making one feel warm just looking at him.
Feng Yue pressed her lips together, about to say something more, when she saw Yin Gezhi walking toward their position with an expressionless face, holding a prop spear used in opera performances, his every step radiating killing intent.
Frightened, she jumped behind Feng Ming and said: “Your Highness, we can talk this through!”
Snorting coldly, Yin Gezhi gripped the spear and exerted force, suddenly thrusting half the shaft into the ground in front of them.
The soil here could hardly be called soft, and seeing the force Yin Gezhi used, Feng Yue unconsciously swallowed, thinking it was fortunate he had stabbed the ground and not her head.
“Pull it out,” Yin Gezhi said to Feng Ming.
Feng Ming felt this was a challenge – as if anyone couldn’t pull it out! So he immediately let go of Feng Yue, stepped forward, gripped the end of the spear with both hands and pulled it out with one heave.
A faint smell of blood made all three of them tense up.
“We shouldn’t stay long. Let’s go.” His expression turning serious, Yin Gezhi immediately picked up Feng Yue and flew out of the abandoned courtyard. Feng Ming followed belatedly, grinding his teeth as he cursed: “Put her down!”
Want him to let go? Yin Gezhi laughed coldly.
Not!
So when the servant who had been guiding Feng Yue returned, he found General Feng and Prince Xiao both awake and sparring in the courtyard, while the maid watched with particularly cold eyes, as if looking at two madmen.
Everything seemed normal, nothing unusual had occurred. However, that evening, to be thorough, Zhao Xu assigned ten more servants to patrol near the guest quarters, ensuring they wouldn’t sleepwalk out or go moon-watching.
Having already obtained the evidence he wanted, Yin Gezhi slept soundly, leaving Zhao Xu to worry all night.
The next day at noon, while Zhao Xu was inviting them to lunch, City Guard Commander Lian Heng unexpectedly arrived with troops, heading straight for the back garden without a word.
Zhao Xu became agitated and shouted angrily: “This is the Imperial Censor’s mansion! What right does a mere City Guard have to force their way in?!”