Just thinking about it made Feng Yue’s back teeth ache! The Feng Ming of those days truly lacked sense. After reading some romantic novels, he eagerly ran to the street to intercept her. Right there in the bustling thoroughfare, with people coming and going, he shouted—”Guan Qingyue, I love you, I’m willing to die for you!”
The street erupted in a chorus of whispers. Though there were many young girls’ envious glances, most passersby gave strange looks, probably thinking, “Is this person sick?”
Guan Qingyue’s expression matched those of the onlookers perfectly.
Reining in her horse, the female general in red robes and white armor raised her chin and looked disdainfully at the person before her, saying in a deep voice: “Such behavior makes you truly unworthy of being a husband.”
Feng Ming was stunned. Very perplexed, he asked: “Why? Books all say that women like men who would sacrifice their lives for them.”
“Compared to someone like you who constantly proclaims they’d die for me,” Guan Qingyue said haughtily, “I prefer a man who can plan steadily and calmly for our future together, who is composed and dignified, who acts without showing his hand!”
Composed, dignified, and subtle? The Feng Ming of that time had no idea what kind of man that was. He raised his head and said, “I think if you like someone, you should say it! When I say I’m willing to die for you, I mean I’m willing to die for you!”
“Then go die!” Guan Qingyue raged. She pulled the reins, her horse’s hooves rising high, about to trample right over his head!
…
“Thinking back now, what’s said with the lips probably doesn’t move a woman’s heart as easily as what’s done.” With a bitter smile, Feng Ming lowered his gaze: “I used to think I must be the person who loved you most in this world. Now… that’s not necessarily true.”
Completely confused by this, Feng Yue thought for a long while before asking: “You’ve finally fallen for someone else?”
Feng Ming: “…”
He was feeling quite dejected, but how did this girl always manage to say things that could annoy him back to life?
Irritably banging his head on the table, he gritted out: “Stop imagining things. I’ve stuck myself to you and don’t plan to trouble anyone else!”
Feng Yue became angry: “Then why are you saying all these useless things?!”
“I…” Feng Ming was startled, then lowered his head to think. Yes, why had he come to tell her all this? Even if Yin Gezhi better matched the type of man she liked, he still loved her! Whether he said it or not, what difference did it make?
None!
Having figured this out, Feng Ming’s bitter expression instantly returned to its sunny, brilliant self. His sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes were filled with joy, causing Feng Yue to feel dazed for a moment.
Hey, it had to be said, that this young Feng Ming had truly grown up. With his handsome features and overall bearing, he did have something of the air of a noble young master of this turbid world. Looking at him, Feng Yue couldn’t help patting his shoulder: “Girls do change dramatically as they grow up.”
What nonsense? Feng Ming furrowed his brows: “Who’s a girl? Before when I couldn’t beat you, fine, you always teased me about being a young lady, but now my martial arts have reached great heights and I can barely hold my own against Yin Chenbi. It’s going too far for you to still tease like this!”
“Oh.” Nodding very seriously, Feng Yue smiled and said: “Then shall I call you General Feng? The General is so impressive!”
Annoyed and embarrassed by her teasing tone, Yin Gezhi raised his hand as if to pinch her face, but the door was suddenly kicked open!
Both people in the room were startled and turned to look. They saw Yin Gezhi standing gracefully and calmly in the doorway, saying placidly: “The Wu Kingdom’s diplomatic envoys have entered the palace.”
So fast?!
Feng Yue was shocked, rushing to his front and staring at him as she asked: “Didn’t the earlier letters say the Wu Kingdom’s envoys wouldn’t arrive for another half month?”
This was also the information received by the Wei Kingdom palace. When Emperor Wei issued the order for Yin Gezhi to go to Bashan, he had calculated the timing well. Before leaving, Yin Gezhi could still serve as a bridge to introduce both sides, promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries. So, the timing for him to go to Bashan was set perfectly for mid-month.
Unexpectedly, just as the Filial Prince had been demoted and before the rumors had even died down, the Wu Kingdom’s diplomatic mission had arrived in Lidu, preparing to enter the palace.
Feng Yue was completely stunned, and Emperor Wei was even more caught off guard, hurriedly arranging for the Crown Prince to receive them and preparing palace quarters for the envoys. Inside and outside the palace, everything was in chaos.
Yin Chenxue was appointed to this emergency, rushing to receive the diplomatic mission. He had thought the envoys would mostly be eloquent elderly men, but who knew that this time, the leaders would be two young people.
“Wu Kingdom envoys An Shichong and Xu Huaizu pay their respects to the Crown Prince of Wei.”
Blue and grey robes fluttered with dignity at the Wei palace gates.
…
“So, you rushed them to travel day and night to arrive early near Lidu. Then you blocked them from entering until now?” The scenes in her pupils faded away as Feng Yue looked at the person before her with disdain: “You’re being too much of a harsh master! It’s fortunate the two kids were honest and didn’t resist.”
“What nonsense are you talking?” Yin Gezhi glanced at her and said coolly: “I merely wrote to tell them which places had good scenery, that if they left early they could stop and enjoy the mountains and waters longer in certain places. Both children grew up in Buyin City and haven’t seen much of the outside world. As their master, shouldn’t I let them broaden their horizons?”
Feng Yue fell silent, shaking her head and sighing. How exactly was the mind of someone like Yin Gezhi wired, to be able to scheme against people while simultaneously finding perfectly righteous excuses about doing it for their good?
Seeing him, Feng Ming was a bit unhappy and stood up, pouting: “I’m leaving first.”
“Where are you going?” Feng Yue turned to look at him: “Not staying for lunch?”
“You want me to stay and eat here?” His mouth instantly curved up as Feng Ming’s eyes sparkled like stars: “Then I’ll eat here.”
Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes. Although knowing Feng Yue’s intact body wasn’t given to him but to himself made him quite satisfied, he still couldn’t quite stand the sight of this person before him.
“You’re eating here?” he said: “I’m cooking today.”
What? Feng Ming was shocked, and Feng Yue was even more shocked, staring at Yin Gezhi and exclaiming: “You’re cooking?”
Wasn’t a gentleman supposed to stay far from the kitchen? And given Guanzhi’s cooking skills were already that bad, could what he made himself even be edible?
Shaking her head repeatedly, Feng Yue said: “You’d better focus on your scheming. Leave the kitchen to Aunt Zheng and the others.”
“Feng Yue.” Yin Gezhi turned his head, his expression rarely softening as he looked at her deeply and said: “You cooked so many meals for me back in Wu Kingdom, can’t I repay you with one meal now?”
Feng Ming listened with furrowed brows, his glare at Yin Gezhi growing fiercer, but this thick-skinned fellow completely acted as if he didn’t see it!
Feng Yue gave a dry laugh and looked at him seriously: “This is what they call repaying kindness with enmity, returning good with evil.”
“Don’t worry.” Turning to walk out, Yin Gezhi said with full confidence: “It won’t be too unpalatable.”
Feng Ming shook his head, he had absolutely no confidence!
“Do you… still want to stay for the meal?” Feng Yue stiffly asked Feng Ming.
After hesitating for a long time, Feng Ming took a deep breath and said in a tragic tone like “a hero departing never to return”: “I’ll stay! You asked me to stay for the meal, so I have to stay!”
Feng Yue nodded: “Then you stay, I’ll take Aunt Zheng and the others to find a restaurant!”
Feng Ming: “…”
Thunderous sounds continuously came from the kitchen, people in the courtyard fled with their heads covered, and Feng Ming very much wanted to leave with them, but Feng Yue very seriously said: “A man of his word must keep his promise. You can’t leave!”
So he sat in the dining room with a deathly pale face, watching Yin Gezhi bring in plates of “dishes” one by one.
Sweeping his gaze across the empty courtyard, Yin Gezhi didn’t care at all, just put down the plates and said: “Eat.”
Looking down at the murky things in the four plates before him, Feng Ming asked: “Did you dig up the mud from the backyard and put it on plates?”
“No.” Yin Gezhi pointed at the dishes matter-of-factly: “This is braised eggplant with meat. This is stir-fried cabbage, this is radish stewed with ribs, and this is shredded potatoes.”
Following the direction of his finger with an ashen face, Feng Ming shook his head: “Yin Chenbi, even if we’re love rivals, you can’t use such torture to poison me! If you’re a man, compete fairly and openly!”
Fairly and openly? Yin Gezhi smiled, sat down in a chair, and looked at him sideways: “She’s my person, we have years of ties and destiny, what do you plan to compete with?”
“Don’t be too smug.” Feng Ming narrowed his eyes: “I also have a marriage contract with her!”
“You ‘had’ one.”
“I understand her better than you do, we’re childhood sweethearts who grew up together!”
“People change.”
“She doesn’t like you!”
“She likes you even less.”
Sand and stones flew into the room as the two refused to yield to each other, using verbal attacks in an attempt to break down the other’s confidence.
However, Feng Ming’s heart was like iron, and Yin Gezhi was thick-skinned – neither could convince the other.
“I don’t know about other things, but one point,” Yin Gezhi raised his head and added a final sentence: “Only I know what she wants to do, only I can help her accomplish it, only I can keep her from walking down a path of no return.”
Feng Ming was stunned, then frowned.
Indeed, up until now, he only knew Yue’er wanted to avenge the Guan family, but didn’t know how she wanted to do it. He could only help when she needed him.
“Mm, I’m not as good at scheming as you.” Frankly admitting this point, Feng Ming said: “But I have no reservations. Whatever she wants to do, as long as she asks me, I can help her without holding anything back. But you might not.”
Giving a light snort, Yin Gezhi stood up and looked outside: “This is also your last advantage. When I no longer have constraints, you won’t even have this bit of advantage left. General Feng, wise players never make fatal moves in games, they admit defeat when they see an inevitable loss.”
“I won’t admit it.” Feng Ming raised his head, his gaze burning: “As long as she hasn’t personally told me to leave, I won’t admit it.”
Until the very, very end, who knows what might happen? He didn’t want to be wise, he wanted to be brave.
Looking at him with disdain, Yin Gezhi was about to speak again when he saw Guanzhi run in from outside, excitedly saying: “Master, something’s happened in the palace! The Crown Prince offended the Wu Kingdom envoys, and the diplomatic mission has withdrawn from the imperial palace to stay at the post station.”
So fast? Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow: “What happened?”
Coming to his side and cupping his hands, Guanzhi said: “As soon as the two young masters entered the palace, they asked about your whereabouts, probably clashing verbally with the Crown Prince.”
It wasn’t just a verbal clash, it was a direct physical confrontation!