After staring at her hand for a while, Feng Yue wiped her face with her sleeve.
What was there to cry about? She was still alive. Compared to those lying in their graves, she could still speak and move—why waste precious emotions on such a ridiculous argument?
Yin Gezhi’s anger meant he had lost. For someone planning great things, he was surprisingly fussy, not at all like the demon king of the battlefield. If he continued like this, she might as well truly help the Crown Prince—they both aimed to succeed, except the Crown Prince might not drive the Yi Kingdom to its death.
Supporting herself on the bed frame to stand up, she rubbed the places that hurt from the fall and glanced at the table.
Good. He had taken the yellow pear wood box with him, not leaving it behind in his anger.
If this matter with the Commander’s mansion wasn’t resolved quickly, she might end up dead by Zhao Xi’s hand. After all, she was the only outsider who had entered his study—if he discovered things missing, she’d be the first one he’d come after.
After some thought, holding her lower back, Feng Yue opened the door and called out to Ling Shu: “Let’s go buy some mung bean cakes!”
Rushing in to support her, Ling Shu looked her up and down: “You’re still in the mood for mung bean cakes! There was such a commotion earlier. Did that gentleman get angry with you?”
Shaking her head casually, Feng Yue said seriously: “He probably had some funeral matter at home, so he was in a bad mood. Don’t worry about it, I’m not hurt. Let’s go. Since there are no guests, let’s go eat something.”
Is that so? Looking at her mistress half-believingly, Ling Shu squeezed her arm, then her waist: “Really not hurt?”
She had heard the sound of someone being thrown.
“No, no, I’m perfectly fine.” Batting away her hand, Feng Yue smiled and walked out.
Ling Shu was pulled along, quickly crawling through the back courtyard’s dog hole to reach Zheng’s Pastry Shop. The whole way she felt something was off, but couldn’t quite put her finger on what.
Her mistress was walking very quickly, and though she was smiling, she seemed… somewhat nervous.
What was there to be nervous about in broad daylight?
“Ah!” As soon as they reached the pastry shop’s entrance, Feng Yue took a heavy fall, her bones hitting the ground, frightening nearby pedestrians who hurried over asking: “Are you alright?”
With such a commotion, naturally, the shopkeeper’s wife came out, saying concernedly: “Miss, that was quite a fall. Would you like to come in and rest?”
“Thank you.” Smiling at her, Feng Yue slowly stood up holding Ling Xi’s hand, limping into the shop.
There were quite a few people having snacks in the shop. Seeing Feng Yue’s disheveled state from the fall, they didn’t pay much attention, only thinking the shopkeeper’s wife was kind-hearted to let her go upstairs to clean up.
The kind-hearted shopkeeper’s wife smiled and asked Ling Shu to fetch water, then closed the second-floor door. Her expression instantly changed.
“What happened? You’ve come personally?”
Rubbing her knee, Feng Yue said: “Time is urgent. Find some brothers to get He Chou out—it must be before Commander Zhao returns to his mansion.”
Looking at the sky outside, Madam Zheng frowned: “This…”
“Don’t worry too much. Once he’s out, leave the city and hide in a village outside for a while.” Holding out a banknote, Feng Yue said: “Do it immediately, don’t hesitate.”
“Yes.” With the mistress giving such orders, Madam Zheng naturally couldn’t say more, going downstairs to have someone pass the message.
So by dusk, when Zhao Lin returned to his mansion and discovered something amiss in his study, questioning Zhao Xi about it, He Chou was already sitting in a carriage leaving the city.
“What about Miss Feng Yue?” She frowned and asked the person beside her: “This matter will likely implicate Menghui Tower.”
“Don’t worry.” The person beside her reassured: “The Young Master is clever and will surely find a way.”
Young Master? Slightly startled, He Chou was surprised: “What Young Master?”
Realizing they might have misspoken, the person hurriedly covered: “I mean, the Young Master will think of a way for Menghui Tower.”
Oh, is that so? He Chou nodded, not asking further.
Having tidied herself up, Feng Yue brought Ling Shu and shamelessly climbed over the wall into the envoy’s mansion.
The blade from the shadows almost swung at their necks, but seeing their faces, it hesitated and stopped midway.
Thus Feng Yue dragged Ling Shu into the guest courtyard with lightning speed.
Yin Gezhi was working in the main courtyard when Guanzhi carefully came to report: “Master, we have guests.”
“Don’t see them.” Flipping through the account book in his hands, Yin Gezhi didn’t look up: “Close the door and say I’m ill.”
“But…” Giving a dry laugh, Guanzhi forced himself to continue: “They’re already staying in the guest courtyard.”
There weren’t many people in all of Yin City with such boldness! “Bang!” Closing the account book, Yin Gezhi looked up, his gaze very unfriendly: “What is she here for?”
“I heard the City Guard’s Commander’s mansion is searching for thieves, saying they lost something, and they’ve surrounded Menghui Tower.” Guanzhi said: “Miss Feng Yue probably came to seek refuge.”
Seek refuge? Glancing at the account book on the table, Yin Gezhi gave a cold laugh.
Did she think Commander Zhao was more frightening than him? Coming to seek refuge under his nose?
Prince Yin had already reflected on his behavior, his emotions had cooled considerably, but with someone delivering themselves to his door like this, he still felt irritated. Putting away the account book, he got up to go see the guest courtyard.
Feng Yue’s whole body ached. Being thrown by him once was bad enough, then falling again herself, her knees were scraped. She could barely bend them, only able to lie across the bed like a corpse, planning to use the injured act when people came to get angry.
What was face worth anyway? As long as she could keep her life, coming to wag her tail at someone who had just scolded her was nothing. If pushed to the extreme, she was capable of anything!
Just as she was clenching her fist to encourage herself, she heard footsteps outside. Feng Yue immediately closed her eyes, lying on the bed moaning “Aiyoyo,” while pinching the dumbfounded Ling Shu to snap her out of it.
The little girl, worthy of running with her, was quite quick-witted, immediately falling by the bedside crying: “Mistress! How did you end up so miserable!”
Although the cry wasn’t particularly heartfelt, Feng Yue thought it would do, matching it with her tragic voice and an even more pained expression.
When Yin Gezhi pushed open the door, this was the mourning-like scene he saw.
His eyes slightly lowered as he walked to the bedside, looking at the half-dead person lying there, saying coldly: “If you want to die, don’t die in my courtyard.”
Weakly opening her eyes, Feng Yue slowly raised her hand, looking at him with tears: “Is my lord so heartless? This servant has given everything for you, willing to die for your cause, yet you won’t show even a bit of pity? This servant… cough cough, is hurt all over.”
His eyes full of mockery, Yin Gezhi said: “Someone like you could endure even broken hand bones. How could these minor external injuries leave you unable to move?”
Secretly gritting her teeth, Feng Yue cursed herself inside—how the hell did she forget to keep acting delicate? What was she doing bouncing around while injured? Now look what happened, even the injured act wouldn’t work!
However, knowing there would be no good outcome once she left this envoy’s mansion, no matter how difficult the act, she had to keep performing!
“This servant… is after all just a frail woman.” Her voice grew weaker, Feng Yue’s face full of grievance as tears streamed down: “Now my life is in danger. Won’t my lord lend a helping hand?”
Lend a helping hand? Remembering her detestable behavior, Yin Gezhi gave a cold laugh, reaching out to hoist her from the soft couch, and walking out without any hesitation.
“Hey hey? Wait!” Instantly coming back to life, Feng Yue hurriedly struggled: “No, my lord! Your Highness! We can talk this through!”
“Don’t let me see you. If you need my protection for something this minor, you might as well be dead.” His voice was ice-cold, the vibrations carrying through as he spoke, making Feng Yue pout.
“This servant has no power or influence. If not relying on your protection, whose protection can I rely on?”
“You can still go seduce Zhao Xi.”
Damn you to hell! Grinding her teeth, she figured since acting weak wasn’t working, she might as well speak properly before being thrown out!
“My lord, when this servant came out, the Xu family had already bought out my contract.” Her tone suddenly carrying a smile, back to her bewitching manner, hanging on his shoulder and speaking coquettishly: “Now I’m your person. Even if you throw me out, when Commander Zhao asks, this servant will say you ordered me to steal those things.”
His footsteps halted as Yin Gezhi threw her to the ground, then looked down at her from above: “Are you threatening me?”
“This servant wouldn’t dare, just trying to stay alive.” Feng Yue smiled apologetically: “Whatever the case, we’re in the same boat now. Throwing this servant out to feed the dogs won’t absolve you of involvement. Why not sit down and talk properly?”
“What makes you think we’re in the same boat?” Yin Gezhi snorted, very disdainful: “Just because you pledged loyalty to me, you think you can share my fate?”
Having long known his ruthlessness, Feng Yue was glad she had kept a backup plan.
“Pardon this servant’s offense.” Smiling and nodding, Feng Yue sat cross-legged on the ground, looking at him shamelessly: “My lord now has no choice but to share fate with this servant.”
Looking at her as if watching a joke, Yin Gezhi crossed his arms, gesturing for her to continue.
Clearing her throat, Feng Yue said: “First, anyone who cares to inquire would know you frequently requested me at Menghui Tower. Moreover, at Duke An’s birthday banquet, Young Master Xu said I was a maid he gave to you. The Crown Prince knows this too. So no matter what, openly or secretly, this servant is your person.”
“Who would believe a mere courtesan could steal someone’s account books without your instructions? When this servant is caught, if you don’t save me, I’ll naturally have to confess—say that you had ulterior motives, wanting to remove General Yi’s pawns, appearing friendly with the Yi mansion on the surface while seeking revenge! With such a confession, wouldn’t the people of Wu Kingdom become wary of you?”
His gaze suddenly sharpened, Yin Gezhi slowly crouched down, looking down at her: “Are you forcing me to kill you?”
“Go ahead.” Shrugging indifferently, Feng Yue said: “Kill this servant, and my network of connections will spread everything I wanted to say to every corner of Yin City.”
This damned woman! Yin Gezhi clenched his fist!