Fate was something he didn’t believe in. Every time he came here, he had to leave—surely it was just a coincidence!
But was it just a coincidence?
The Crown Prince pondered this thought throughout his journey and only felt at ease when he arrived at the Grand Commander’s mansion and saw Yin Gezhi.
It must have been a coincidence, because Yin Gezhi was now looking at him with unusual seriousness, saying, “Zhu’er was gravely injured. Why did Your Highness leave halfway?”
Gravely injured? Looking at the seated Yi Zhangzhu, Ye Yuqin wanted to say that her minor flesh wound wasn’t worth making such a fuss over—hadn’t Feng Yue been bouncing around even with broken bones?
However, considering his position, he looked at Yi Zhangzhu with a guilty expression and said, “It was my fault. General Yi entrusted Zhu’er to my care before he left, yet such a thing happened.”
Not only did such a thing happen, but he had also run off with someone else!
Yi Zhangzhu felt utterly wronged, covering her arm as tears streamed down her face.
Ye Yuqin could only console her softly: “I will make sure the assassins are brought to justice. Please don’t cry anymore, alright?”
When Grand Commander Meng came out, he witnessed this scene of someone consoling a young girl and immediately felt it was inappropriate. This was the Grand Commander’s mansion, which oversaw all military affairs of the Wu Kingdom. It wasn’t some open government office where people could come to cry and make a scene.
However, seeing that it was the Crown Prince and General Yi’s precious daughter, Grand Commander Meng still came forward and bowed: “To what do we owe the honor of Your Highness’s visit?”
Turning to look at him, Ye Yuqin sighed: “Bandits are running rampant in the city. There have been multiple assassination and kidnapping attempts. The City Guard has failed in their duties. I come by Father Emperor’s command to request a Surveillance Warrant from the Grand Commander.”
A Surveillance Warrant was meant to hear the people’s grievances. As a warrant, it served as an oversight—if the supervised officials were found to be derelict in their duties or accepting bribes, the warrant could be used to dismiss them from office and imprison them pending investigation. Such warrants were often used when the Three Excellencies were busy but unexpected incidents frequently occurred, serving as a deterrent.
The Crown Prince directly questioning the City Guard seemed too targeted and might invite criticism. However, requesting a warrant was reasonable, especially since the Yi young lady he wished to marry had been injured—it was natural for him to hold the City Guard accountable.
Grand Commander Meng was busy and didn’t think it was a major issue, so he decided to approve it and had someone bring out the warrant.
Ye Yuqin accepted the warrant and immediately placed it in Yin Gezhi’s hands.
“This…” Only now noticing the dark figure beside them, Grand Commander Meng was startled and unconsciously took several steps back, saying apprehensively: “Your Highness wants this person… to supervise the City Guard?”
“Is there anyone more suitable than him?” Ye Yuqin raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Prince Yin has no vested interests with any party, making him the most impartial choice. What does the Grand Commander think?”
That made sense, and Meng nodded. Although this person was like a nightmare to him, being a hostage now meant he neither feared authority nor assassination, making him indeed very suitable for supervision.
“Your Highness is wise. This old official shall take his leave now, as there are military matters to attend to.”
“Farewell, Grand Commander.” Ye Yuqin nodded, and after the man had disappeared, he looked at Yi Zhangzhu with doting affection: “I’ve entrusted this to your Brother Yin, are you reassured now?”
Yi Zhangzhu pressed her lips together and nodded. Brother Yin wouldn’t let her suffer any grievances!
“In that case, I shall take my leave first,” Yin Gezhi said very seriously. “This matter will certainly be answered for to the General’s mansion.”
“Good.” Ye Yuqin felt gratified, and looking at his retreating figure, couldn’t help but sigh: “Your Brother Yin truly cares for you—he’s already eager to seek justice for you as soon as he received the warrant.”
Her face slightly flushed, Yi Zhangzhu huffed: “Of course! He cares for Zhu’er much more than you do.”
“Are you upset?” Ye Yuqin chuckled softly, gently pinching her cheek and teasing: “Then shall I take you to play in the palace and pay respects to Mother Empress while we’re there?”
“I’m injured and don’t want to move,” Yi Zhangzhu pouted. “It’s best to return to the mansion and rest.”
“Alright, whatever you say.” With utmost doting, Ye Yuqin supported her as they walked out.
After leaving the Grand Commander’s mansion, Yin Gezhi mounted his horse with an expressionless face and headed straight for the Menghui Tower.
Feng Yue was sitting with legs crossed, cracking melon seeds, and spitting the shells out towards the door with great effort. So when Prince Yin opened the door and entered, an adorable melon seed shell flew onto his face, sticking there with glistening liquid.
Yin Gezhi gave a cold laugh and looked down at the fearless person inside.
Terrified with all his hair standing on end, Feng Yue immediately came forward with a handkerchief to wipe his face, then laughed awkwardly: “I didn’t know you were coming, my apologies, my apologies!”
His entire aura was notably unfriendly. Yin Gezhi turned around and directly shut out Ling Shu, who was about to bring in tea and bolted the door.
Swallowing hard, Feng Yue smiled apologetically: “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“What did you go to the Commander’s mansion for?” Yin Gezhi asked coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
At this mention, Feng Yue immediately presented a yellow pear wood box like seeking credit, holding it out to him saying: “This, it’s useful.”
Pausing slightly, Yin Gezhi reached out to take it and opened it to look. After just flipping through two pages of the account book inside, he closed it.
“Just for this?”
What does he mean “just”? Feng Yue gritted his teeth: “This account book is very important! It can be used to prove Commander Zhao’s corruption charges and even implicate the Three Departments. It’s killing two birds with one stone—isn’t this enough?”
“So, for such an important account book, what method did you use to obtain it?” Staring at her neck, Prince Yin no longer bothered to hide his displeasure as he approached her step by step, his whole being radiating displeasure.
Swallowing hard, Feng Yue said: “Naturally, I used methods available to a woman. Zhao Xi is lecherous and unrestrained, so this servant thought to try could seduce him. And it worked.”
“Oh?” Slowly reaching out to stroke her neck, Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes: “You’re quite capable, and truly shameless too—offering yourself up to be taken advantage of, then having the nerve to sit at his door crying?”
These words were even more cutting than Yi Zhangzhu’s. Feng Yue frowned and looked up at him: “Does my lord think that bringing back the account book counts for nothing, while this servant’s act was more detestable?”
“Not detestable.” Caressing the marks on her neck, Yin Gezhi lowered his voice, each word like needles and thorns: “Rather, having such a body serve me again would make me feel utterly disgusted.”
Her face paling slightly, Feng Yue quickly lowered her gaze, closing her eyes to digest this for a good while before smiling: “Since the day you chose this servant, you knew I wasn’t a clean person. Why feel disgusted only now?”
“Even among courtesans, there are those who maintain their dignity.” Staring at her with genuine hatred in his eyes, Yin Gezhi clenched one hand while the other gripped her, saying in a low voice: “But you are truly base.”
“Haha.” Unable to help herself, Feng Yue laughed, casting him a seductive glance: “If you like dignified courtesans, you can certainly go to other girls. Why come to this servant and suffer such anger? This servant is the most debased one in the entire tower—shouldn’t you have seen that from day one?”
“How many dare to perform strip dances? This servant dares! Who dares to openly trample on others? This servant dares too! When all bodies are already defiled flowers, what difference does it make serving one person or many? When something can be gained from it, should this servant still pretend to maintain virtue?”
By the last sentence, her eyes had reddened, and Feng Yue’s smile grew colder. She pulled open her clothes and looked at him: “Didn’t you most enjoy this servant’s body? Now that it’s dirty you don’t like it anymore? No one else understands your body like this servant does, no one can serve you as well!”
His grip tightened as Yin Gezhi felt rage for the first time, looking at her with bloodshot eyes—a little more force and he could strangle her to death.
“My lord… don’t forget this servant works for you.” Breathing with difficulty, Feng Yue still smiled, grabbing his hand: “If you kill this servant… who else will use their body to obtain such important things for you in the future!”
“Get out!” Gripping her tightly and throwing her aside, Yin Gezhi was furious beyond measure. His face, frozen in ice for ten thousand years, showed an unprecedented crack as emotions burst forth.
He didn’t know why he was so angry. By the time he realized it, that red figure had already rolled several times on the ground and was now clutching the bed pathetically.
She was a courtesan—he knew she was a courtesan from the moment he chose her. She wasn’t a virgin, had been intimate with countless men, and had probably told many others how much she admired them. He had watched her coldly, observed her graceful sensuality, her bewitching charm, the way she coiled around him like a snake, flicking her tongue seeking pleasure.
Such a woman, he wouldn’t take to heart—she was just a tool to be used.
Yet when he truly discovered how willingly she debased herself, his chest felt unbearably tight, and he was overwhelmed with uncontrollable rage, not knowing what to do.
Suddenly he very much wanted to go to battle. This anger could probably only be quelled by killing.
“Hehehe.” Even though her whole body ached, Feng Yue still laughed with great joy, her fox-like eyes glancing at him as if discovering something extraordinary, delightedly saying: “Your Highness actually getting so angry over this servant—I’m truly honored!”
The anger slightly subsided as Yin Gezhi closed his eyes, roughly wiped his face, and calmed down.
Something wasn’t right.
This woman must know some kind of sorcery—this state he was in was very wrong.
Smiling and leaning against the bedpost, Feng Yue watched as he calmed down and left through the door. Her body hurt, but her heart was very pleased.
The mighty Prince Yin developing feelings for a lowly courtesan—my, my. This was truly a rare sight, worth celebrating.
As that courtesan, Feng Yue felt that seducing Yin Gezhi wasn’t as difficult as she had imagined. Look, hadn’t he taken the bait? Back then she had agonized so much, sleeping with him, chatting with him, carefully hiding herself to avoid being discovered, only to gain nothing in the end.
Now it was different—just performing some strip dances, sleeping with him, and this man had already begun to care for her.
As she smiled, Feng Yue suddenly felt her face itching. She reached up to touch it—it was wet with tears.