Yin Gezhi’s gaze darkened as he stared at her, giving off an “I’ll stare until you explain” aura.
Feng Yue swallowed hard and turned her head toward Sun Li’s direction, grimacing, “It was him. He wanted to manage my business affairs at the General’s Manor, but I refused. I guess he couldn’t accept losing face, so he came to cause trouble for me.”
So she had returned wearing maid’s clothes because her outer robe had been torn?
Yin Gezhi nodded, his facial features tightening as he slowly turned to look at Sun Li.
Sun Li, who was sitting on the ground, shuddered as if he’d seen something terrifying. He began crawling backward while saying, “This servant won’t try to redeem her anymore. I still need to report back to Young Miss…”
Without a word, Yin Gezhi quietly followed his movements toward the exit. When they reached the entrance of Menghui Tower, Sun Li seemed to finally find his strength, scrambling to his feet and running!
“Go prepare breakfast,” Yin Gezhi calmly instructed Feng Yue before adding, “I’m going out to buy something.”
“…Alright.” Nodding, Feng Yue immediately rushed to the kitchen, moving even faster than Sun Li had!
Yin Gezhi was truly terrifying. When angry, though his face remained expressionless, just standing near him made it difficult to breathe. One feared his rage might suddenly redirect and burn them instead.
Though he was young, his overwhelming presence was more frightening than that of elderly authority figures. No wonder his military command was so strict—anyone who dared to disobey in the army would likely die from fear if not from punishment!
But… why was he so angry?
Having brought Lingsu to help with breakfast preparation, Feng Yue sat beside her, propping up her chin as she pondered this seriously for a while.
“Miss,” Guanzhi entered and rolled up his sleeves to help, “Don’t worry. With Master here, no one can bully you.”
Hmm? Blinking, Feng Yue turned to ask him, “Is your master this kind to everyone?”
“Not necessarily kind,” Guanzhi answered honestly. “It’s just that Master doesn’t like people touching his things. Sun Li violated this taboo. Even though he’s Young Miss Yi’s man, he won’t escape suffering this time.”
“Is that so?” Feng Yue smiled. “Then what if it were Young Miss Yi who was offended? What would your master do?”
Guanzhi paused, thought very seriously, and then said, “If it were Young Miss Yi, Master would take the offender’s life.” After a pause, feeling this wasn’t quite appropriate, he added, “After all, their status is quite different.”
Feng Yue nodded in understanding, feeling slightly relieved.
Beside them, Lingsu became unhappy, glaring and stepping on Guanzhi’s foot. “How can you talk like that?”
Amused, Guanzhi patted the little girl’s head, “You’re quite protective of your master. But I’m only speaking the truth. Miss Feng Yue understands these matters and won’t take offense at such small things.”
Pouting unhappily but seeing her master wasn’t bothered, Lingsu deflated and dutifully returned to cooking porridge and vegetables.
When breakfast was ready, the three went upstairs to return to the room. Upon opening the door, they found Yin Gezhi already inside with two young men beside him.
Feng Yue remembered these two were Yin Gezhi’s newly accepted disciples—the one in blue was An Shichong, the second young master of the An Guo Marquis Manor, and the one in gray was Xu Huaizu, the second young master of the Zhenyuan General’s Manor.
Yin Gezhi was quite fortunate—these two had high status and good talent. Taking them as disciples brought only benefits, no drawbacks.
However, teaching disciples was one thing, but why teach them about visiting brothels?!
Her mouth twitching, Feng Yue pretended to know nothing and entered with a bow, “Breakfast is ready.”
Yin Gezhi had been talking to his two disciples but stopped when she entered. He sat like a lord waiting to be served, even expecting her to place chopsticks in his hand.
“What did you go out to buy earlier?” Raising her sleeve with a smile, Feng Yue blinked at the two young disciples behind him. “You bought back two people?”
These children looked only seventeen or eighteen years old and were still shy. With just one flirtatious glance from her, their faces reddened, one turning left and one right, neither daring to look at her face.
Yin Gezhi looked at her with great disdain and said unpleasantly, “Since when do I need to report my purchases to you?”
“Of course not.” Shrinking her neck, Feng Yue pouted pitifully, “Whatever you say!”
This woman—when smug she made one want to strangle her, but when acting wronged she made it seem like the sky was falling. Her eyebrows drooped, her eyes watery, as if he was bullying her to death.
Yin Gezhi let out a light sigh.
The two young masters behind him heard this and were slightly surprised, couldn’t help but look at their master a few more times.
Master could sigh! Master liked to drink porridge for breakfast! Master seemed somewhat helpless against women!
Moved to tears, An Shichong and Xu Huaizu clasped hands, seeing the same emotion in each other’s eyes—
Thank heavens! Master was human too!
From becoming disciples until now, they had both been extremely cautious, after all, Yin Gezhi was a legendary figure. They feared they might somehow anger their master and bring divine punishment. But from the street fighting earlier to this sigh now, they were delighted to discover their master wasn’t so different from normal people!
Moreover, when master fought—or rather, when he one-sidedly beat someone—he was truly impressive and beautiful to watch! While beating the man, he calmly explained to them:
“The weakest point of the arm is the joint. To break this arm, if you don’t have enough strength, you can use your elbow or the outer side of your forearm. I’ll save some effort and just twist it.”
“When you hear this kind of scream and the hand still can’t move, it means the joint is broken, not dislocated. Dislocation isn’t this painful. Now let’s look at the other hand.”
“When your target tries to resist, give them a knife hand strike to the back of the neck.”
His calm voice wasn’t masked at all by the piercing screams, like the voice of death from the underworld, unhurriedly echoing in the alley.
Yin Gezhi was like a butcher—when he said he would break both of Sun Li’s hands, he truly didn’t leave a single one intact.
A Shichong and Xu Huaizu watched beside him, listening and remembering, never questioning why their master was beating this person.
After all, whatever the master did must be right, so why ask so many questions?
After this incident, the two young masters admired Yin Gezhi even more. Following him, there was truly so much to learn!
So what Feng Yue saw now were two young men whose eyes sparkled with admiration, looking like they might kneel before Yin Gezhi at any moment.
“After breakfast, go to General Song’s place and train with the soldiers under him,” Yin Gezhi said. “Return here at noon for lunch.”
Huh? Feng Yue was surprised. “Come here?”
“Do you have any objections?” Yin Gezhi looked at her.
Her head immediately shook like a rattle drum as Feng Yue smiled apologetically, “None at all, this servant will make sure everything is well prepared!”
Master Yin said nothing more, continuing to drink his porridge. The two young masters obediently sat with him, eating their breakfast with grace.
Feng Yue’s stomach growled loudly.
Giving her a sidelong glance, Yin Gezhi remained silent. After finishing breakfast, he dismissed his two disciples and went to the inner chamber to rest.
What a bastard! When Guanzhi said to prepare two extra portions for breakfast, she thought he had become considerate and wanted to eat with her. Who knew she would still only be allowed to stand and watch? A courtesan truly had no status, not even allowed to share a table for meals!
Angrily picking up the dishes to leave, Guanzhi came over to take over her task, smilingly stuffing two meat buns into her hands.
Eh? Feng Yue blinked, sniffing the fragrant aroma, her eyes brightening, “You’re truly a good person!”
His ears reddening, Guanzhi waved his hands speechlessly, wanting to say something but unable to get it out. He just watched the young woman before he wolfed down the buns, then poured her a cup of tea.
Looking at Guanzhi with great emotion, Feng Yue sighed, “How can the difference between people be so great? A demon-like master with an angel-like servant!”
A cold snort came from the inner chamber, startling Feng Yue so badly that she almost lost her balance. Damn it, he still wasn’t asleep after all this time?
“Young Master, I was just joking! Haha.” Bowing toward the inner chamber, Feng Yue ran downstairs.
Guanzhi couldn’t help but smile, feeling this young woman was truly lively, more spirited than any other woman he had met, even making his master seem more vibrant recently.
That wasn’t bad at all.
At 9:45 AM, just as Feng Yue had finished tidying up and was preparing to go upstairs, she heard a commotion in the main hall, with the orderly sound of weapons and armor clashing, making her shudder.
“Honorable soldiers, what’s happening?” Mama Jin panicked, watching as more than ten armored guards burst into Menghui Tower, forming a circle around the main hall.
The guards at the door made their way, and the last to enter was a young woman wearing armor. Her presence was also intimidating as she immediately barked, “Where is the one who injured my man?”
Mama Jin trembled as she said, “Injured who? My lord, please speak plainly. We haven’t had any incidents of injury here!”
Yi Zhangzhu was furious. She waved her hand and had people carry Sun Li in, “My attendant had both hands broken here at your establishment. Is Menghui Tower running a criminal enterprise?!”
Feng Yue lifted her skirts and ran out, scanning Yi Zhangzhu’s attire with a frown.
Her delicate skin didn’t even wear the helmet properly, yet she put on armor. It reminded her of when she was young and ignorantly tried on her father’s armor—childish and ill-fitting.
“Young Miss Yi.” Bowing to her, Feng Yue smiled and said, “This gentleman was perfectly fine when he left Menghui Tower, and no one laid hands on him. As for what happened after he left, we don’t know, so why do you come accusing Menghui Tower?”
Frowning as she looked at her, Yi Zhangzhu wore an expression of “what a disappointment” as she said, “I kindly sent Sun Li to help you redeem yourself, to save you from half a lifetime of drifting, and this is how you repay me? Not only refusing but having someone break both his hands! Miss Feng Yue, I originally thought you were a good person, but now I see you’re nothing but a lowly courtesan who curries favor with the powerful!”
Forcing a dry laugh, Feng Yue respectfully said, “This servant is indeed not someone noble, and all the guests here know that I am the most shameless person in all of Menghui Tower. That’s why I’m willing to drift. I’m sorry I couldn’t accept Young Miss’s kind intentions. But as for Sun Li’s hands, they have nothing to do with me.”