When they heard these words, Madam Qiu and the others immediately pulled back Feng Yue, who had been intimidating someone. Poor Feng Yue’s menacing expression became distorted from being yanked away. Before she could frighten Shi Youxin to death, she was dragged out like a chick and surrounded by them.
“He was the one who severed our Young Lord’s hand tendons?!”
The killing intent permeating the surroundings frightened Feng Yue into ducking and cowering. She smiled apologetically, “I was just trying to scare him, don’t get so worked up!”
How could they not be agitated? Luo Hao beside them had bloodshot eyes: “The Young Lord’s martial arts were exceptional, achieving countless military feats on the battlefield, built up over more than a decade of practice! How dare he use such a punishment as ‘martial removal’ on you—he deserves to be struck by lightning!”
Yin Yanzhong and the others trembled with anger. Any martial artist knew how devastating “martial removal” was. Especially for those with high martial arts attainment, losing hand tendons meant their martial arts were completely wasted—unable to wield a sword or dance with blades, over a decade of dedication destroyed in an instant! Even a man couldn’t bear such a fate, let alone their Young Lord…
“Oh my. It’s been so long, there’s no use getting angry about it now.” Feng Yue gave a dry laugh, “It’s not good to make ourselves sick with anger. Why don’t we think about how to make that person in there wish he were dead?”
“…” Madam Qiu’s eyes were full of heartache as she pulled Feng Yue into her embrace. Like a gentle elder, she softly patted her back.
They should have been the ones comforting her, but somehow this girl ended up consoling them not to be angry. It was both amusing and filled with an indescribable sadness.
“It’s alright. I’m still alive thanks to the virtuous deeds of our ancestors.” While patting Madam Qiu’s back in return, Feng Yue said, “Now that we have him in our hands, everyone needs to contribute ideas on what crimes to pin on him and how to kill him. I don’t have enough schemes in my belly alone!”
“Oh, you!” Madam Qiu chided with a light smile, “Are you implying that we’re the crafty ones?”
“That’s a compliment, not an insult.” Standing straight, Feng Yue squinted at the room where the prisoner was kept: “To repay evil with kindness, how then shall we repay kindness?”
Then let’s repay evil with evil! Everyone rolled up their sleeves and rubbed their hands together.
Shi Chong said in an ominous tone: “Young Lord, please rest outside while we go have a nice chat with him.”
“Yes, let’s have a good chat.” With a cold laugh, Yin Yanzhong stepped forward and pushed open the door.
The group of people with murderous auras all rushed in, leaving only Feng Yue and a bewildered Ling Shu standing outside. Feng Yue stared in astonishment while Ling Shu munched on snacks with innocent eyes.
Shortly after, screams rang out continuously from the room! The sounds were so tragic as if someone was being dismembered!
Ling Shu was so frightened she dropped her pastry and turned to look at Feng Yue: “Master?”
“Go take a look inside.” Feng Yue said seriously: “Make sure they keep him alive—we haven’t settled all accounts yet!”
“Yes!” Ling Shu picked up her little skirt and ran inside. She came running back out shortly after, eyes wide: “Master! They said they were just having a chat, but somehow during the conversation, the person in the cage’s hand tendons got severed!”
Covering her eyes with her hand, Feng Yue laughed while shaking her head.
These people, though they had no blood relation to her, truly acted like family. By the looks of it, she didn’t need to apply any pressure—they were more than capable of frightening Shi Youxin into sleepless nights.
She suddenly felt somewhat moved.
When Yin Gezhi stepped through the door, he saw Feng Yue smiling with upturned corners of her mouth, covering her own eyes as she stood there, seeming a bit lost in thought.
Ling Shu beside her saw him and he pressed his finger to his lips, causing the clever little girl to hop away to the side.
Silently walking up to her, Yin Gezhi looked down at her and smiled slightly, reaching out to remove the hand covering her eyes.
As expected, her eyes were as red as a rabbit’s.
Suddenly seeing him before her, Feng Yue was a bit surprised. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and before she could ask why he had come, he pressed her captured hand against her mouth. Then Yin Gezhi lowered his head and, without warning, kissed her through her hand.
Feng Yue: “???”
Goosebumps rose all over her body as she jerked backward, wiping her hand on her skirt with eyes full of disgust.
Prince Yin’s mood, which had been good just moments ago, instantly darkened: “Are you tired of living?”
“…Your Highness, we must be reasonable!” Unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, Feng Yue said, “You came at me so suddenly, of course, this servant would be startled—bodily reactions can’t be controlled!”
So, her body involuntarily showed disgust towards him? His expression grew even darker as Yin Gezhi sneered: “To think I still helped you clean up afterward. Next time it would be better to watch you send people to their deaths.”
What was that about? Feng Yue was stunned. Seeing he was about to leave, she quickly reached out to grab his robe hem, smiling apologetically: “Your Highness, finish what you were saying before leaving.”
So, whether he left or not didn’t matter—only what he had to say was important. Yin Gezhi gritted his teeth, absolutely furious, and yanked his robe hem back before continuing to stride away.
Feng Yue reached out again, this time directly grabbing his belt sash, thinking the robe material was too slippery but the belt would be easier to hold. She refused to let go, figuring he wouldn’t shake her off so easily!
However, when she pulled, while the belt indeed wasn’t retrieved by him, instead, the entire sash along with Yin Gezhi’s elegant white silk robe came loose…
In the gusting wind, Yin Gezhi slowly turned his head, fixing her with an icy glare that could freeze for three feet.
“Heh… hehe.” Swallowing hard, Feng Yue held up the belt sash with both hands respectfully above her head: “Your Highness, please calm your anger! Today is an auspicious day, not suitable for killing!”
Yin Gezhi had already raised his hand, but hearing her words, he narrowed his eyes and slowly lowered it: “Tie it back for me.”
“Right away!” Like a loyal servant, Feng Yue held down his wind-blown robe and wrapped the belt around his waist, pulling it tight as if tying up a hemp rope.
Yin Gezhi took a breath, looking down at her with suddenly heated eyes.
Noticing certain changes in him, Feng Yue blinked, appearing to understand. She patted his shoulder as if brushing off nonexistent dust and smiled: “Your Highness, the Meng Hui Tower has already opened on Snow Moon Street in Li City. When you have time, you should go show your support.”
Any amorous thoughts he might have had were instantly doused like cold water over his head. Yin Gezhi brushed her aside expressionlessly: “I’ll go where I please, I don’t need you telling me.”
“It’s just that you haven’t been yet, so this servant thought you didn’t know!” Covering her smile, she revealed a fox-like charm at the corners of her eyes and brows: “The new ladies at the tower are quite excellent, not only beautiful but some even perform strip dances!”
“…” Looking at her with contempt in his eyes, Yin Gezhi said: “Instead of worrying about this, you should think of ways to silence the people I’m keeping at my place. When you kidnapped someone today, three people at the end of Snow Moon Street saw Feng Ming stuffing someone into a barrel. They’re all drinking tea at my residence now.”
Slightly alarmed, Feng Yue quickly said: “Thank you, Your Highness!”
She had forgotten about this detail—if word got out, it might even implicate Commander Lian.
With a cold snort, Yin Gezhi had no desire to accept her thanks and turned to leave.
Guan Zhi drove the carriage taking him back to his residence. The whole way, Yin Gezhi was angry, though he didn’t know what he was angry about. He just felt a stuffy pressure in his chest that couldn’t be relieved.
“Guest, Meng Hui Tower is having a celebration today, come in and take a look!” As they passed Snow Moon Street, Madam Jin’s calls suddenly came from outside.
Guan Zhi reined in the horse, glancing at Meng Hui Tower’s brand new sign and remembering what was written in the letter his master had received last time. He couldn’t help turning his head slightly: “Master?”
“Keep going,” Yin Gezhi said flatly. “Return to the residence.”
Somewhat surprised, Guan Zhi mumbled: “We’re already here…”
“Stop looking,” came the calm voice from inside the carriage. “No need to look anymore.”
No need to look anymore? Guan Zhi was shocked. It had been over three years—more than forty months of waiting for news. Now that they were right at the doorstep, he said there was no need.
At this moment, Guan Zhi suddenly couldn’t understand his master’s thoughts either. After a moment of silence, he shook his head and still cracked the reins, letting the carriage slowly pass by Meng Hui Tower’s entrance.
Feng Yue cheerfully looked at the list of crimes written by Yin Yanzhong, reading as she went: “Wanton killing, corruption, and bribery, using sorcery to harm His Majesty… wait, where did this sorcery charge come from?”
Yin Yanzhong pointed righteously at Madam Qiu: “She made it up, saying that when the Court of Justice was haunted some time ago, Shi Youxin invited witch doctors to exorcise the ghosts. We can frame it as using sorcery to harm His Majesty. After all, in current Wei, only plotting against His Majesty is a capital crime—nothing else would be enough to make him ‘commit suicide from guilt.'”
“What a great idea!” Feng Yue nodded repeatedly as she listened, then turned to ask Shi Youxin in the cage beside her: “What do you think?”
After two days of recovery, Shi Youxin now knew they were people, not ghosts, but hearing such words still frightened him into trembling: “What do you… want to do?”
“Don’t be afraid, we’re not good people after all.” Feng Yue smiled: “This is just framing you, that’s all!”
“Right,” Luo Hao chimed in from the side: “After framing you, we’ll print multiple copies of evidence of your crimes and spread them everywhere to incite public outrage. Then after you die here, we’ll use your hand to stamp a confession, and you can rest in peace.”
His pupils constricted as Shi Youxin shook his head repeatedly: “Why do this? These aren’t my crimes—if you want to charge me, you should let me stand trial!”
“You’re in our hands now, so we decide the crimes. What trial?” Covering her smile, Feng Yue glanced at him, her peripheral vision dark: “Just like Guan Canghai back then—didn’t you also frame him with crimes without any trial?”
A chill ran through his spine as Shi Youxin knelt with hanging hands, crying and kowtowing to Feng Yue: “Please spare me, spare me! I repent, I will repent to General Guan!”
Seeing him like this, Feng Yue burst out laughing, her eyes full of emotion: “Back then, my nanny also knelt in prison begging you like this. Did you spare me?”