Upon hearing this, Feng Ming laughed: “Indeed, I probably won’t make a good husband. Does Your Highness have a way to refuse this marriage on my behalf?”
Yin Gezhi closed his eyes. How could he refuse? South Peace liked this man, and even if this man’s heart belonged elsewhere, it wasn’t his place to interfere. Moreover, at this crucial moment, if this marriage fell through, who knew what fate would befall the Marquis of Zhenguo’s household?
“When is your wedding date?” he asked.
“The end of next month.”
“Then what I can do is help you move the wedding date forward.” Yin Gezhi raised his eyes, looking at him deeply, and said: “The marriage can proceed, I won’t stop it, but if you truly cannot live with her, maintain proper etiquette. Once South Peace gives up hope, I will come to take her away.”
Feng Yue was startled, staring at him with wide eyes: “After the marriage is done, you’re suggesting South Peace should divorce?”
“I’m not suggesting it,” Yin Gezhi said. “I’m merely leaving South Peace an escape route, in case she truly regrets it. If she feels Feng Ming cannot give her what she wants, then she can choose to leave and choose again.”
Feng Ming nodded without hesitation: “Alright, I will remember the Princess’s help to the Marquis’s household this time. I absolutely won’t hurt her.”
“Then let’s not waste time,” Yin Gezhi stood up and straightened his clothes: “I’ll go to the palace. General Feng should stay at the Marquis’s mansion and not leave for now. As for the others…”
He swept his gaze across the people in the courtyard, landing on Feng Yue, and said in a low voice: “Going to the Prince of Xiao’s mansion would be most appropriate. Lidu will soon begin martial law and searches.”
These words made everyone’s skin tighten. Feng Yue remained silent, very much not wanting to owe this person another favor, but looking across all of Lidu, there was nowhere else they could go where they wouldn’t be searched, or even if searched, wouldn’t be able to do anything to them, except the Prince of Xiao’s mansion.
If they had to be shameless, then so be it – everyone’s lives were most important!
Thus, just as Yin Gezhi took his first step, Feng Yue darted into the room in a flash, grabbed Ling Shu while packing things, and called out while packing: “Everyone go get some change of clothes!”
Everyone followed the order and scattered. Having all served in the military, they were clean and efficient in their actions. By the time Yin Gezhi had walked to the courtyard gate and gotten into his carriage, the group had already emerged carrying their bundles.
Pinching the carriage curtain, he glanced over obliquely and saw that flash of red standing like a mountain chieftain in front of an ox cart, waving: “Hurry up, Madam Qiu gets on first. Where’s Aunt Zheng? Quick, quick!”
The beard on their face fluttered in the wind, completely mismatched with the red dress, but that person paid no attention, stepping onto the cart shaft with one foot and waving with one hand raised, extraordinarily bold.
Yin Gezhi felt like laughing. As his eyes wandered inadvertently, he caught sight of Feng Ming standing at the gate.
Unlike his usual clamorous self, Feng Ming was very quiet today. His robe embroidered with qilin patterns had its hem slightly lifted by the wind, standing as immovable as an iron-cast soldier at the city gate.
However, his gaze was clear enough to see from far away, with many complex emotions surging forth, yet what flowed out was tender affection, passing over everyone to fall directly on the “mountain chieftain” at the front.
The “mountain chieftain” seemed unaware, directing everyone onto two ox carts, then crouched on the cart shaft, turning back to wave at Feng Ming: “Then we’ll go first.”
“Alright.” Nodding slightly, Feng Ming broke into a smile, watching the ox carts slowly move forward. After they turned the corner at the street end and disappeared, he finally withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes.
“General Feng,” Yin Gezhi asked indifferently, “Shall I give you a ride?”
His body stiffened slightly. Feng Ming lifted his eyelids to look at him, strode over, and got into the carriage, squinting as he said: “You must be very happy. Earlier you were restrained in front of her, now you can laugh.”
Glancing at him sideways, Yin Gezhi said: “It would take more than this to make me laugh.”
Feng Ming’s eyes reddened, and he threw a punch at him! The space inside the carriage was small. Yin Gezhi could only catch it with his hand, raising an eyebrow slightly: “Want to fight?”
“Yes!”
Nodding, Yin Gezhi moved extremely fast, landing a punch on his abdomen.
Thus, Guan Zhi, who was driving the carriage, felt the whole thing swaying left and right, with continuous muffled groans from inside the carriage, and the sound of fists hitting flesh was particularly clear.
“Master?” Pulling back on the reins with some worry, Guan Zhi called back.
Blocking his palm, Yin Gezhi said in a calm tone: “Keep going forward, first to the Marquis’s mansion, don’t stop.”
“…Yes.”
Feng Ming had used considerable force, and although he only landed a few hits, the effect of venting his anger was quite good. Spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva, he wiped his mouth and cursed: “You beast! Protecting your face from my punches, what do you mean by landing punch after punch on my face? Jealous that I’m better looking than you?”
Casually brushing his clothes, Yin Gezhi said: “With some injuries on your face, even if your expression isn’t good at the wedding ceremony, people will not mind, they’ll think you’ve been hurt by someone.”
Feng Ming was stunned, lowering his head to think. It seemed to make sense.
Before he could finish thinking, another punch came from across, hitting him directly in the face!
“Damn, your grandmother!” Having realized it, Feng Ming raged: “You just wanted to punch my face!”
With that, he threw a punch back, hitting hard!
Yin Gezhi turned his head, his teeth biting his mouth, and also spat out some bloody saliva, raising an eyebrow to look at the person opposite: “Next time, let’s have a proper fight.”
“Who’s afraid of whom?!”
The carriage stopped, and Feng Ming jumped down angrily, rubbing his cheek, and glaring fiercely at Yin Gezhi. Seeing that his mouth corner also had a bruise, he felt somewhat balanced in his heart, snorted “hmph,” and turned to walk into the Marquis’s mansion.
Guan Zhi shook his head, watching that shadow disappear, then sighed: “I’ve never seen you comfort someone like this.”
Lightly wiping the corner of his lip with his index finger, Yin Gezhi shook his head: “Go to the imperial palace.”
“Yes.”
Feng Yue led everyone to the Prince of Xiao’s mansion. Yin Yanzhong and the others were quite nervous at first. After all, it was a prince’s mansion, such places had many rules and people, what if someone’s spy was inside, betrayed them, or did something wrong? What then?
However, upon entering the mansion, the steward came out to welcome them, and showed not the slightest surprise, taking the bundle from Feng Yue’s hand and saying: “Please come in, everyone. The Prince had someone send word ahead, that the rooms have all been prepared, if you need anything, miss, just say so.”
“Much obliged.” Feng Yue nodded, familiarly entering the main courtyard to put things down, then led everyone to settle in their respective places.
Luo Hao said with an odd expression: “Why does the Young Master seem so at ease as if returning home?”
A chill ran down their back, and Feng Yue gave a dry laugh: “What do you mean? I’m just familiar with this place, after all, I was confined here for a period.”
Madam Qiu shook her head: “Looking at that steward’s attitude, he certainly didn’t treat you as a prisoner.”
“That’s because his household’s people are well-trained. They’re all from military backgrounds, different from those fawning and fortune-seeking servants outside.” Opening the door to a courtyard, Feng Yue pointed: “You all go in first to put down your things.”
“Young Master.”
The people in front entered the courtyard one by one. Madam Qiu walked last, her gaze somewhat worried: “To be honest, no one knows what scene will unfold in the future, and now we’ve received quite a few favors from the Prince of Xiao. In the future, if it comes to a confrontation, what do you plan to do?”
“Haven’t we not reached that time yet?” Turning her head away, Feng Yue smiled: “Since we haven’t reached that time, don’t rush to trap yourself with these questions, I know what I’m doing.”
Looking at her deeply, Madam Qiu squeezed her hand, then followed to put down the bundles.
The next day at morning court. Emperor Wei sat on the dragon throne, his face showing great anger: “Regarding the matter reported by Prime Minister Shi, I intend to investigate strictly! Even though the Guan family’s old case is currently under review, the crime of prison break cannot be taken lightly! Since Guan Qingyue, the eldest daughter of the Guan family, was rescued from prison three years ago, now you shall investigate for me! Investigate her whereabouts, arrest her, and bring her back to the imperial prison for trial!”
The angry rebuke echoed throughout the entire court, and all civil and military officials knelt on the ground, none daring to raise their heads.
If it were an ordinary prisoner who had escaped, it wouldn’t have been enough to alarm the emperor, let alone make him so angry. Unfortunately, the escapee happened to be Guan Qingyue, and it happened that the crime he had committed against the Guan family was wrong, and it happened that he had no choice but to retry the case.
In this way, would he, the mighty emperor, have to apologize to a mere girl?
Impossible!
Emperor Wei was furious, and after a bout of roaring, his vision began to blur.
“Imperial Father, your son will certainly investigate this with all his might!” The Crown Prince rarely took the initiative to step forward: “Imperial Father, please take care of your dragon body!”
After catching his breath and coughing twice, Emperor Wei recovered, his face suddenly appearing much older to people.
Actually, he wasn’t young to begin with, but his spirit had always been good, so even though his face was full of wrinkles, people didn’t think he was decrepit. But now, Emperor Wei was physically weak, and along with that, he had lost his spirit, instantly aging ten years, even his hand-waving movements were very slow: “You go investigate, you go.”
The court was quiet for a while, then Emperor Wei pressed his lips together and asked: “Are there any other matters?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Si Chenling stepped forward, cupping his hands, and said: “Recently there have been changes in the stars, and our Great Wei may face the disaster of war. Your humble servant discussed with the officials of the Imperial Observatory all night, and we believe that to avert disaster, we may need to move up Princess South Peace’s wedding date, to ward off calamity and receive blessings.”