Emperor Wen of Wei initially didn’t believe in such nonsense, but after interacting with the Wu Kingdom’s diplomatic envoys, he discovered that they truly showed no regard for social graces. Neither money nor beautiful women could sway those two young men. As everyone knows, in negotiations, there’s usually some flexibility within the rules. Emperor Wen also wanted to secure better terms rather than simply serving as Wu’s military force.
However, after three days of verbal sparring, he had reached his wit’s end with no options left.
“I’ve never seen such stubborn envoys!” Yin Chenjue angrily exclaimed. “What exactly do they want?”
Shi Hongwei’s expression also darkened: “They want to borrow Wei’s army while Wu provides only half the provisions. This should have been negotiable, especially since Wu had a bountiful harvest this year with plenty of grain in storage.”
“This old official believes Wu has grown too domineering and doesn’t take us seriously. They want to use our strength without providing provisions,” a nearby court official said. “Rather than submit to their demands, we should seek alternative options…”
“You make it sound so simple!” Emperor Wen exploded in anger, slamming the table. “As if we have so many choices! You civil officials always speak of convenient solutions. Only military commanders understand that battlefields don’t follow reason – all your calculations are useless when you can’t win the fight!”
His outburst carried intense anger, directed more at himself than at the court official.
What could he do? He truly didn’t want to let Yin Chenbi have his way. But when faced with the survival of the nation, even the royal family’s dignity became less important.
Everyone before him knelt. Emperor Wen collapsed back into his dragon throne, exhaled deeply, and coughed twice. “Enough.”
“Prime Minister Shi, find someone to fill the position of Minister of Justice, and reopen the investigation into the Guan family’s case from years ago!”
Shi Hongwei was shocked and knelt to ask in confusion: “Your Majesty?”
“Father?” Yin Chenjue also frowned. “Didn’t you say this case…”
“Investigate!” Emperor Wen roared. “When I tell you to investigate, you investigate! Why so many questions? Are you saying my orders no longer carry weight?”
“It’s not that… but…” Yin Chenjue was very troubled. Everyone knew the truth behind that case from years ago – it had been settled by implicit agreement between superior and subordinate. Now the “superior” wanted to reopen it, but how should the subordinates investigate, and where should they redirect the blame?
“Absurd!” Coughing from anger, Emperor Wen shifted his eyes nervously while his words remained fierce: “I’m giving you half a month. If you can’t complete the investigation in half a month, all of you will lose your positions!”
“Your Majesty, please calm down.” Shi Hongwei knelt down. “This case has extensive implications, half a month might not be enough…”
“The Emperor is departing!” Not wanting to argue further, Emperor Wen left the imperial study supported by the Chief Eunuch, his sleeve sweeping dismissively.
The Crown Prince and others looked on in bewilderment. After a while, someone asked: “Prime Minister Shi, what do you think His Majesty means by this?”
Shi Hongwei smiled faintly: “What else could it mean? It means we don’t need to investigate seriously. Just explain for appearance’s sake.”
“The Guan family is gone, who needs an explanation?” Yin Chenjue wondered.
“Whoever has been wanting to reopen the case – that’s who the explanation is for.” Shi Hongwei’s eyes darkened as he brushed his sleeve with the air of a seasoned official. “Our Great Prince, even without his royal title, is still quite formidable!”
Thinking of Yin Chenbi, Yin Chenjue shuddered slightly and said timidly: “Then we’ll trouble the Prime Minister to handle this matter.”
“I accept the imperial command.” After bowing to the Crown Prince, Shi Hongwei’s eyes held an inscrutable look. As soon as he left the palace, he summoned secret guards and whispered instructions before sending them out.
Given that Yin Gezhi had said news about the Guan family case would soon come from the palace, Feng Yue stayed with him at the courier station.
Yin Gezhi had been in a consistently good mood, though no one knew why. Every day he would ask her pleasantly: “What would you like to eat? I’ll make it.”
Feng Yue would shake her head vigorously: “Thank you, but this servant would like to live a few days longer.”
In the afternoons, they would usually watch his two disciples practice in the courtyard. Feng Yue watched with great interest, but when she occasionally turned her head, she would catch their supposedly exemplary teacher staring at her instead of his disciples.
Her face inexplicably reddened as she raised her willow-leaf eyebrows: “What are you looking at?”
“I was just thinking,” Yin Gezhi said expressionlessly, “how did I never notice before that you’re so captivating?”
Feng Yue: “…”
An Shichong heard this and accidentally pierced through Xu Huaizu’s robe with his sword. Xu Huaizu’s reaction was even more alarming – his inseparable Eternal Regret blade fell to the ground with a clang, startling Feng Yue into looking over.
“Haha.” After a forced laugh, Xu Huaizu picked up his blade and hugged it, looking between her and his master before finally running out of smiles. He lowered his head in thought, then raised the blade and swung it at Yin Gezhi:
“What evil spirit dares to possess my master!”
Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow, gracefully sidestepping while pinching the blade between two fingers. With a light flick, the spiritual blade emitted a pleased hum.
“Have your wings grown so strong that you dare to mock your master?” With a slight glance from the corner of his eye, Yin Gezhi kicked Xu Huaizu back into the courtyard and held the Eternal Regret blade behind him: “If you want the blade back, come take it yourself.”
Hearing this, Xu Huaizu was dumbfounded: “Take it myself?”
“Yes,” Yin Gezhi said expressionlessly. “If you can’t take it back, then you won’t get it back.”
With that, his robes swept behind him as he floated into the room like an immortal.
An Shichong looked on in bewilderment. Then he squatted down and patted the shoulder of the person on the ground: “Did you offend Master again recently?”
“No!” Xu Huaizu was about to cry, turning his head pitifully toward Feng Yue and shouting: “Grandfather-in-law, help! My blade!”
Feng Yue picked up her skirt and ran! How did this master disciple conflict with any of her business? She was very busy! If he wanted his blade back, he should go get it himself. Although ten Xu Huaizus might not be able to take it from one Yin Gezhi, one must have dreams!
“Grandfather-in-law—” The tragic cry echoed throughout the courier station.
After that, Feng Yue felt like she was being haunted by an evil spirit. When she opened the door, Xu Huaizu would be kneeling outside with tears in his eyes saying: “Grandfather-in-law, the blade…”
She would slam the door shut with a “bang” and turn to climb out the window, but when she opened the window, Xu Huaizu would be hanging upside down outside, whimpering: “That’s my life!”
Closing the window again, Feng Yue crouched on the ground, beginning to consider the possibility of digging a tunnel to escape.
“Miss Feng Yue.” An Shichong’s voice came from outside the door.
While she felt unable to deal with a rascal like Xu Huaizu, she thought she could reason with a refined gentleman like An Shichong! Feng Yue thought for a moment, then went to open the door.
An Shichong bowed politely to her, then said: “Once Master has something in his hands, no one can take it unless he’s willing to give it up. Huaizu can’t eat or sleep without his blade, so please help us.”
Blinking, Feng Yue said: “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but if even you with your martial skills can’t take it back, what can I do?”
Shaking his head, An Shichong said: “You are Master’s beloved – naturally, you wouldn’t need martial arts to take something from him.”
Be…what? Swallowing hard, Feng Yue pouted: “How do you know I’m his beloved?”
“Why deny it, Miss? Don’t you know it yourself?” An Shichong shook his head, his gaze deep: “If you didn’t know Master’s feelings, how would you dare to act so freely in front of him? Only those held dear in someone’s heart can act with such impunity.”
Anyone with eyes could see that although Master maintained his deadpan expression with Feng Yue, his gaze was incredibly gentle and affectionate. He allowed her to speak and act as she pleased, never showing signs of anger – he even smiled when she threw a chair at him. If this wasn’t keeping her in his heart, where else could it be? As for Feng Yue, she had shed her previous facade of constant smiles and showed her true nature, no longer holding Master in awe or fearing him as before – wasn’t this because she knew he wouldn’t harm her and couldn’t bear to treat her harshly, so she could act with impunity?
Although he wasn’t married yet, he could understand these matters clearly.
Feng Yue fell silent, scratching her cheek with her eyes darting around. She appeared hesitant and somewhat embarrassed.
“If Miss agrees to help, this Shichong will surely repay the favor – whether it requires climbing blade mountains or entering seas of fire, I will not refuse,” An Shichong said seriously.
With such sincerity on display, Feng Yue wasn’t one to be coy. She clapped her hands and agreed: “Fine, it’s just getting the blade back, right? I’ll prepare and think of a way to trip up Yin Gezhi. You go steal it!”
“Thank you, Miss!” An Shichong smiled slightly.
Xu Huaizu, who had been hanging upside down outside, heard this and jumped onto An Shichong’s back: “World Chong is reliable! Grandfather-in-law wouldn’t even listen to me!”
“That’s because everything you say is nonsense.” Giving him a look, An Shichong said: “And that form of address – you haven’t figured out what offended Master?”
Slapping his mouth, Xu Huaizu suddenly realized. He immediately called out sweetly: “Master’s Wife!”
Feng Yue, who had been smiling at these two jesters, instantly darkened her face and kicked them out, slamming the door shut!
Xu Huaizu was stunned, turning to look at An Shichong pitifully: “What did I do wrong now?”
Wiping his face, An Shichong decided not to waste words on such a fool. He went straight to lay in ambush near their master’s quarters.
Yin Gezhi was drinking tea in his room.
“Young Master.” A coquettish voice sounded from outside, with a slightly flirtatious trailing tone: “This servant just made some snacks, would Young Master like to try them?”
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Yin Gezhi said: “Come in.”
The door was pushed open as a flash of red dress swept in, the skirt hem rippling with each step, her waist swaying gracefully. Above that, delicate jade hands held a plate of clearly store-bought mung bean cakes, and a charming face – now without its large mustache – smiled alluringly.
Choking on a mouthful of tea, Yin Gezhi coughed twice and frowned slightly: “What are you doing?”
Feng Yue had wanted to maintain her smile and had even planned how to divert his attention.
But upon entering and seeing the person sitting there, the mung bean cakes in her hand crashed onto the table with a “pa” as she shouted angrily: “Why are you carrying a sword while drinking tea!”