“How can you say such things, Master?” Ling Shu puffed out her cheeks. “You saved this servant, and you’ve raised me for three years. When you no longer wish to continue in this profession, I will certainly take care of you!”
The little maid’s face radiated sincerity, and with her straight back, she somehow possessed a certain dignity.
Feng Yue smiled, patted her shoulder, and continued walking forward. “Well then, I’ll be counting on you in the future!”
Ling Shu followed behind, taking small running steps, clenching her little fist as she made a silent vow that she would earn lots of silver!
…
The General’s Manor had been broken into by thieves.
Yi Zhangzhu rushed to the palace early in the morning to seek an audience with the Crown Prince, appearing quite frightened. After the Crown Prince dismissed his attendants, she said gravely, “To think thieves could break into the General’s Manor! Your Highness, this matter must be thoroughly investigated!”
Ye Yuqin sat in the main seat, smiling faintly. “The General’s Manor has always been watertight, and thieves who enter rarely survive. Where does Zhu’er think the problem lies?”
Yi Zhangzhu would certainly not consider herself the source of the problem. Even though she had led Crown Prince Ye Yuqin and Miss Feng Yue into the manor, one was the current Crown Prince and the other a lowly courtesan—neither could have designs on the General’s Manor. Therefore, it must be an inside job.
“With Father not here, I might not be able to keep the household staff in check.” Biting her lip, she looked at Ye Yuqin and said, “If someone has truly betrayed the General’s Manor, then I can only beg Father’s forgiveness.”
“Oh?” Ye Yuqin raised an eyebrow. “You don’t suspect that courtesan at all, or perhaps some oversight on my part?”
“How could Zhangzhu ever suspect Your Highness?” She cast him a coquettish glance, then thought about Feng Yue and shook her head. “As for that lady, she seemed simple and unworldly, without any background. There’s no reason she would do such a thing.”
Simple and unworldly?
Ye Yuqin chuckled softly, using his fan to cover his eyes, his gaze deep and contemplative.
If that woman called Feng Yue were truly simple, she wouldn’t have survived beside Yin Gezhi. Since she was alive and well, even able to sit gracefully on a windowsill drinking wine, it meant she was anything but simple.
Speaking of which, it was quite a coincidence. Yesterday, he had visited the Minister’s residence and took a shortcut back to the palace through the alley behind Menghuai Tower. When he happened to look up, he witnessed quite an enchanting scene.
Perhaps “enchanting” wasn’t quite the right word, but he had never seen a woman drink like that before. Not only did she forgo using a cup, but she sat with bare feet and loose robes, holding a wine jar. Surprisingly, she didn’t appear dissolute but rather carried an air of carefree elegance.
After returning, he pondered for a long while, unable to understand how he could see such unrestrained grace in a woman. Yet when he fell asleep that night, the scene entered his dreams. Before he knew it, he had approached her and pulled her into his embrace.
He wanted her.
Whether it was because of Yin Gezhi or because Feng Yue herself was intriguing, his obsession with possessing this woman seemed to be growing deeper.
As for the General’s Manor…
Coming back to his senses, Ye Yuqin smiled again, harmless and gentle. “I will have Commissioner Xu send people to investigate thoroughly. Please rest assured.”
However, now that the case was in his hands, it was destined to remain unsolved.
Yi Zhangzhu remained completely unaware and instead bowed happily. “Thank you, Your Highness!”
“Let me escort you out of the palace.” Considerately leading her to the door, Ye Yuqin spoke with a hint of reproach. “A young lady shouldn’t wander about alone. You can always tell me if anything troubles you.”
Blushing shyly, Yi Zhangzhu nodded and obediently followed him out of the palace.
“Where is Sun Li who serves by your side?” Sitting in the carriage, Ye Yuqin suddenly asked.
Touched that he paid such close attention to even notice her servants, Yi Zhangzhu sighed and said pitifully, “Brother Yin broke his hand and sent him home to recover.”
Yin Gezhi? Ye Yuqin’s expression shifted slightly, but after a moment’s thought, he could guess the reason and drew in a soft breath.
How rare… to care so much about a woman. In just a few days, he was even fighting others on her behalf. In the past, Ye Yuqin had sent him many beauties, but none had managed to stay in his residence. Yet now, he had picked up a treasure from a brothel and was protecting her so carefully?
Shaking his head with a light laugh, he glanced outside and said, “Zhu’er, I suddenly have some matters to attend to. You should return to the manor first. I’ll have someone send you some trinkets later.”
Yi Zhangzhu was startled and quite puzzled. “What are you going to do?”
How could one casually ask about the Crown Prince’s whereabouts? However, Ye Yuqin didn’t take offense, merely smiled without answering, then got off the carriage and rode away on horseback with his guards in another direction.
A Shichong and Xu Huaizu arrived at Menghuai Tower on time for their meal—although they timidly entered through the back door, they seemed to strictly follow Yin Gezhi’s instructions, even slightly nodding in greeting when they saw Feng Yue.
Quickly returning their greeting, Feng Yue smiled and said, “Lunch is ready, please enjoy your meal at your leisure.”
Curiously glancing at the empty room, An Shichong asked, “Where is Master?”
Before Feng Yue could answer, Xu Huaizu beside him grinned and smacked An Shichong’s head. “You don’t use your eyes when walking. Didn’t you see when we came upstairs? Master is in the chamber on the second floor, and seems to be watching someone dance.”
Covering his head unhappily, An Shichong fell silent and began eating quietly and elegantly.
These young masters from noble families certainly had proper manners. Though they wanted to know why Yin Gezhi wasn’t in her room, they refrained from asking. Feng Yue smiled and helped serve their dishes, the bandage still wrapped around her hand, drawing curious glances from both of them.
A Shichong appeared more rule-abiding, but Xu Huaizu was more lively and couldn’t help asking, “Miss, I heard your hand has a bone fracture. Can you still use it?”
Blinking, Feng Yue said, “This servant used to do farm work in the countryside, I’ve suffered many injuries, so I can endure pain better.”
Xu Huaizu’s gaze suddenly filled with respect. “I must say, I’m ashamed. Even I might not be as resilient as Miss. No wonder Master wants us to dine here—he must want us to learn some principles from you. If even a woman can be as firm as rock, how can we men fear blood and sweat?”
A Shichong paused, put down his chopsticks, and looked at Feng Yue with respect, seemingly agreeing with Xu Huaizu’s words.
Feng Yue: “…”
Were young people nowadays all so earnest? Yin Gezhi just wanted her to cook for them—how did it become a lesson in principles?
Speaking of which, with two such righteous disciples, how proper was it for their master to spend every day in a brothel?
“Feng Yue!” Madam Jin’s loud voice suddenly rang out at the door, startling the two young masters so badly they nearly choked.
Apologizing with a smile, Feng Yue turned to open the door and saw Madam Jin winking as she pressed a hairpin into her hand. “The gentle and handsome young master just sent this for you, saying you’d certainly look beautiful wearing it! Look at this—a top-quality white jade hairpin. Such pins are only found in official households!”
Pausing slightly, Feng Yue took the hairpin and examined it.
It was the one Yi Zhangzhu had given to the Crown Prince, and now he had sent it to her?
The General’s Manor had been robbed, so the Crown Prince must have learned of it, but he certainly wouldn’t know of her involvement. So what was the meaning of sending this hairpin?
After thinking for a moment, following the principle of not refusing gifts, Feng Yue removed the two new gold hairpins from her hair and replaced them with this jade one, elegant and noble.
When Yin Gezhi returned from watching the dance, he saw his two disciples had finished their meal and were looking at Feng Yue’s hair.
“This hairpin is beautiful and finely crafted,” said An Shichong.
Xu Huaizu nodded. “It’s very valuable.”
Following their gaze to look at her hair, Yin Gezhi spoke, “A jade hairpin suits a proper young lady, showing elegance and grace. On you, it’s neither one thing nor the other.”
Hearing his voice, the two young masters immediately stood straight and bowed in unison. “Master!”
Feng Yue’s mouth twitched, pretending not to hear his assessment as she bowed as well.
Stepping inside, Yin Gezhi’s expression wasn’t pleasant. He glanced at her, then at the gold hairpins placed on the dressing table behind her, and said harshly, “Those were enough for you. A hairpin specially crafted for officials doesn’t suit you.”
This man’s tongue must have been dipped in poison! Feng Yue rolled her eyes in anger—she had never met someone who spoke so viciously, giving people no way out.
Fortunately, she didn’t care much about beauty or dignity. If it were someone else, wouldn’t they be driven to jump off a building after hearing such words?
“This servant likes this hairpin.” After taking a couple of breaths to calm herself, Feng Yue smiled and said, “Even if it’s unsuitable, this servant still wants to wear it.”
“Master.” Guanzhi approached and whispered, “The Crown Prince personally delivered this earlier, though he didn’t come upstairs—he just delivered it downstairs and left.”
His expression was unchanged, Yin Gezhi looked down at her, his voice calm. “Do you like the hairpin or the person who gave it to you?”
Feeling rather creeped out by his stare, Feng Yue reacted faster than anything, covering her head and dodging. “This servant likes both! How could one not like gifts from patrons? Young Master, you’ve paid for my company for several days, true, but you can’t take away my things!”
Who cares about her stupid jade hairpin? Yin Gezhi felt somewhat annoyed, seeing her guarded expression, and inexplicably felt a surge of irritation.
“Guanzhi, take those two gold hairpins. Shichong, Huaizu, follow me to the training ground.”
He left with a sweep of his sleeves, his face revealing nothing. His two disciples hadn’t noticed their master’s anger, but Guanzhi wiped the sweat from his forehead as he went forward to collect the hairpins from Feng Yue’s dressing table.
“What for?” Feng Yue glared at him. “These hairpins were given to me by Madam Jin.”
What? Guanzhi was stunned and said in confusion, “These were bought by my master for you yesterday. Didn’t Ling Shu tell you?”
Her heart skipped a beat as Feng Yue turned to look at Ling Shu in the corner.
Ling Shu puffed out her cheeks and guiltily looked up at the ceiling.
So they were from Yin Gezhi? Feng Yue was slightly dazed as she looked at the hairpins in Guanzhi’s hand, then rushed forward to snatch them back.
“Hey…”
“Once something is given as a gift, there’s no taking it back,” Feng Yue said shamelessly, clutching the gold hairpins. “Since they were given to me, they’re mine, you can’t take them away!”