“I think it’s insane that you men need to drag a delicate woman like me into your affairs!”

Feng Yue desperately wanted to say this, but she didn’t have the courage. She blinked, looking at Ye Yuqing, then at Yin Gezhi beside her, before finally giving a foolish smile. “Your servant thinks that young Master An and young Master Xu are both distinguished and handsome as jade trees in the wind!”

Yin Gezhi’s hand paused briefly as he drank his tea. For once, his glance at her held no disdain, but rather a hint of appreciation.

Ye Yuqing burst out laughing, shaking his head as he laughed. “Who asked you about their looks?”

“Your servant wouldn’t know about anything else,” Feng Yue pouted innocently.

Her pure and straightforward answer left him at a loss for words. Ye Yuqing sighed, glancing at the mountain-steady man across from him. Finally, he had to speak for himself: “I find these two have great potential, and as Your Highness’s disciples, if entrusted with important duties, they surely wouldn’t disappoint my expectations.”

Yin Gezhi said, “Your Highness should think thrice. I can’t even make these two fully obedient yet. I fear they’re not the type to readily submit to others.”

“Listen to yourself,” Ye Yuqing shook his head. “When I select people, it’s naturally for protecting the country. Who needs their submission?”

He could lie, but couldn’t others? An Shichong and Xu Huaizu were completely obedient to him, yet he claimed he couldn’t control them. Did he think he was dealing with three-year-olds?

As for submission – with their master on his side, the disciples certainly couldn’t stray far.

“Your Highness may decide,” Yin Gezhi said.

“Very well.” Closing his fan with a smile, Ye Yuqing turned to order dishes and wine. Feng Yue had been hungry for ages, and as soon as the food arrived, she stared expectantly at Ye Yuqing.

At the table, the most honored should pick up their chopsticks first, then others could follow.

Ye Yuqing didn’t notice her, only staring outside with a sigh: “A great rain is coming. All of Bu Yin City is shrouded in mist, filling one’s heart with desolation.”

Yin Gezhi said: “Your Highness dwells in high places, above temples, wearing golden shoes – what is there to worry about?”

Letting out a long breath, Ye Yuqing spoke with concern for the country and people: “I may dwell high, but the four seas are low. Some people’s greed goes too far, harming the innocent and claiming lives. When will this bloody storm ever end?”

“Your Highness will be a wise ruler who understands his people.”

“You’re too kind. Father Emperor is still well, I merely do my best, only hoping for peace under heaven.”

If scholars heard this conversation, they would probably write thirty thousand words of praise, lauding Ye Yuqing from his hair to his toenails. This small private room seemed to be gilded with a layer of gold from the presence of these two great buddhas.

However, Feng Yue was still hungry. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally spoke softly: “Excuse me for interrupting, but the food is getting cold.”

Pulled from their discussion of loyalty and righteousness, Ye Yuqing looked at her, couldn’t help smiling, and picked up his chopsticks to put some food in her bowl, asking: “Hungry?”

She didn’t answer, but after Yin Gezhi also picked up his chopsticks, Feng Yue answered with action: She was starving!

The table was full of all kinds of dishes, and she ate with the force of a whirlwind, leaving nothing behind!

Ye Yuqing was fine, as he didn’t eat much outside the palace anyway, but Prince Yin still wanted to eat. Just as he reached his chopsticks toward the roast chicken, there was a blur of movement, and only bones remained. Looking at the pigeon soup, good heavens, all the meat had been swept into Feng Yue’s mouth. When he finally moved quickly enough to grab some fried eggs, chopsticks whooshed over from the side, startling him into dropping his food.

Taking a deep breath, Yin Gezhi put down his chopsticks and turned to look at Feng Yue: “How many lifetimes has it been since you’ve eaten?”

Mid-wolfing down food, Feng Yue mumbled unclearly: “Your servant is just taste-testing for the two Your Highnesses. Mm! These eggs aren’t poisoned!”

Nonsense – she’d eaten everything, even if it was poisoned, none would reach their mouths!

Though he hadn’t been very hungry, somehow watching her eat with such gusto made Yin Gezhi feel hungry for the first time, and he couldn’t help but call the waiter to order more dishes.

Looking at Feng Yue with concern, Ye Yuqing asked: “Has Your Highness been starving her?”

Yin Gezhi shook his head expressionlessly: “Nothing to do with me. She ate plenty at my humble residence too.”

Not just plenty – she ate more than a pig!

Looking at Feng Yue with amusement, Ye Yuqing said: “A healthy appetite is a blessing. Seeing her appetite makes me feel hungry too.”

After a table of leftovers was cleared and replaced with new dishes, Feng Yue, finally satisfied, remembered something called “restraint.” She took out a handkerchief and smiled behind it: “The food here is indeed excellent. Your servant has tested everything, so the two Your Highnesses can now eat with peace of mind. If there’s any problem, your servant will suffer first.”

How could she make her inability to control her greed sound so righteous? Looking at her with disdain, Yin Gezhi pressed his lips together and, for the first time, seriously ate two bowls of rice.

Ye Yuqing also put down his chopsticks and elegantly sampled the dishes, finally nodding: “The taste is indeed excellent, and the prices reasonable. No wonder they built ten floors – truly an exemplar among common restaurants.”

“Your Highness speaks truly,” Yin Gezhi said. “Why not leave some calligraphy here?”

Feng Yue raised an eyebrow, thinking that even the great Prince Yin would do such meaningless things when bored – perhaps he was in a good mood after surviving death?

However, when the Crown Prince finished his calligraphy and the proprietor was showering thanks, she remembered something.

Damn it, wasn’t Yin Gezhi the secret owner of Wangxiang Tower? Registered under another guard’s name. Gan Jiang had specifically mentioned that this was their most profitable business.

The Crown Prince, kept in the dark, knew nothing. After finishing his calligraphy and applying his seal, he happily dragged Yin Gezhi to a clothing store to change clothes, then planned to visit the training ground to see the two young masters.

Following behind them, Feng Yue kept shaking her head. Too naive, too naive – someone like Yin Gezhi would never expend effort on anything that didn’t benefit him!

“Feng Yue.”

“Ah?” Coming back to her senses, she looked up to see Ye Yuqing pointing at a rouge-colored robe hanging in the clothing store, smiling: “This should suit you well.”

Yin Gezhi, who had finished changing clothes, glanced over, his eyes showing agreement.

Well, she was just accompanying the gentlemen shopping, and she wouldn’t have to pay! Thinking this, Feng Yue smiled sweetly and took the clothes to try on.

The shop was probably expensive, as there was no one else in the front hall besides them, so Ye Yuqing spoke up: “In the Zhao Lin case, many important ministers at court have pleaded with me, and Father Emperor intends to follow the majority opinion.”

“Then what is Your Highness’s opinion?” Yin Gezhi asked without looking up.

“Officials may be numerous,” Ye Yuqing smiled, “but the common people are even more numerous.”

News of Zhao Lin’s corruption had spread throughout Bu Yin City, and among the common people, there were many who had suffered bullying and oppression from his household. As long as public outrage could be stirred up, even the most important ministers couldn’t outweigh the will of the common people.

Yin Gezhi nodded: “Your Highness is wise.”

Just as they were talking, a sudden sweet cry came from outside: “Brother Yin, Your Highness!”

Both men in the front hall started, instinctively turning to face the door.

Yi Zhangzhu looked at them with delight: “Why are you here? Buying clothes too?”

Remembering that Zhangzhu didn’t much like Feng Yue, Ye Yuqing smiled stiffly: “Yes, we happened to meet Yin Gezhi on the road and came to buy some clothes together.”

“Mm.” Yin Gezhi nodded in agreement.

Yi Zhangzhu was a bit surprised, looking back and forth between them: “I didn’t expect you would become so close.”

Shopping together even?

“But this is perfect! Zhangzhu wants to buy some clothes too. Why don’t you help me look?” Rubbing her handkerchief, Yi Zhangzhu happily began browsing the shop.

Glancing at the shop’s only changing area, Ye Yuqing smiled and stopped Yi Zhangzhu: “Let’s look at other places first. We’ve seen this shop, there’s nothing special.”

“No way, I ordered a rouge-colored robe earlier. It’s very pretty.” Yi Zhangzhu said while searching: “Shopkeeper, where did you hang it?”

Laughing awkwardly, the shopkeeper looked at Ye Yuqing, who shook his head vigorously, so he could only say stiffly: “It hasn’t arrived yet. Perhaps the young lady could wait another day?”

“Wasn’t it supposed to arrive today?” Yi Zhangzhu frowned, sighed, and was about to say never mind, waiting was fine, when she felt the hall brighten slightly.

Feng Yue, completely unaware, had finished changing into the robe. She came out adjusting it here and there, muttering with her head down: “This dress is too complicated, like formal wear – it can’t possibly be everyday clothing.”

Quick as lightning, Yin Gezhi reacted instantly, leaping over to push Feng Yue back into the changing room!

Yi Zhangzhu turned around, only seeing a flash of rouge-colored robes, and couldn’t help frowning: “Who was just speaking?”

Ye Yuqing pulled her toward the exit: “No one. Since the robe hasn’t arrived, shall we look elsewhere?”

Shaking off his hand, Yi Zhangzhu frowned and glanced into the shop: “Does Your Highness think Zhu’er is stupid? Is someone wearing the robe I ordered?”

“No, no,” the shopkeeper hurriedly said. “The lady just now was wearing an apricot-colored dress.”

Was she seeing things? Glancing at the changing room, Yi Zhangzhu asked: “Where’s Brother Yin?”

“He had something to attend to and left first.”

Left quite quickly, didn’t he? Yi Zhangzhu pouted, her mood suddenly souring, and said: “I won’t look here anymore. Brother Crown Prince, there’s a lantern festival tonight, will you accompany Zhu’er to see it?”

Feng Chuang, standing outside, quickly bowed: “Miss Yi, His Highness must return to the palace before dusk.”

“It’s late spring, early summer now – the quarterly lantern festival, and Brother Crown Prince won’t accompany Zhu’er?” Yi Zhangzhu pouted. “At worst, I’ll just tell the Empress it was Zhu’er who insisted on keeping the Crown Prince.”

With things put this way, Ye Yuqing couldn’t refuse. He nodded: “Alright, I’ll walk around with you first, then we’ll see the lanterns when it’s time.”

“Mm!” Finally smiling, Yi Zhangzhu pulled Ye Yuqing toward the exit.

In the clothing store’s changing room, Yin Gezhi looked down at the person pressed against the wall, his gaze slightly heated.