The dress was breathtakingly beautiful, with begonia flowers flowing from the shoulders down to the hem. The mandarin collar revealed a glimpse of snow-white shoulders, while crimson silk ribbons cascaded from the tightly fitted bodice down to her half-bent knees.
The fitting room was small and stuffy. Feng Yue saw the person before her swallow, their Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
“What happened outside?” She broke the strange atmosphere with a light chuckle.
Yin Gezhi looked down at her and said softly, “You’re wearing the dress ordered by Young Lady Yi. She was just outside.”
A chill ran down Feng Yue’s spine, making her shudder. She hurriedly said, “Then I’ll take it off right away.”
“Mm.” Yin Gezhi nodded, then reached out and skillfully untied the ribbon at her chest.
Feng Yue was stunned. She looked around the space, then at the long eyelashes of the man before her.
My, how could a man have such long eyelashes! She hadn’t noticed before, but up close, they were even more beautiful than her own.
No, that wasn’t the point! The point was they were in public, and this was a place of business!
Snapping back to her senses, Feng Yue quickly tried to stop his hands, but he countered her moves like a tai chi master, firmly restraining both her hands. Then he lowered his head and used his teeth to pull apart the thin collar.
“Young Master,” Feng Yue said seriously, her eyes darting to the doorless entrance as her voice trembled, “Though I may be shameless, someone of your status shouldn’t be!”
“Mm.” Yin Gezhi nodded, his chin brushing against her neck. Then he opened his mouth and bit her like a dog!
Feng Yue let out a soft hiss, tears nearly forming in her eyes. “If you care about face, then not here!”
“They’re closing soon.”
In broad daylight, with so many people walking the streets outside, what closing time? He must be joking! She struggled against his wandering hands, her cheeks flushing red with anger.
Amusement flickered in his eyes as Yin Gezhi raised his head and captured her lips with his.
As they pressed close, every time Feng Yue tried to speak, he would silence her with a kiss. When she reached out, he would interlock their fingers. When she tried to move her legs, he would pin them down with his own. In terms of overall combat effectiveness, she was thoroughly defeated.
Amid her indignant despair, they heard the shopkeeper instructing his assistant outside: “It’s getting late, let’s close up and go to the restaurant.”
“Yes, sir!” The assistant responded cheerfully and then began fitting the door panels into place one by one.
Feng Yue was dumbfounded, forgetting to resist as she listened to the sounds. She stared at the man before her.
“You…”
“They decided to close on their own. It has nothing to do with me.”
As he lifted her, wrapped in her clothes, Feng Yue thought dazedly, how could the timing be so perfect?
Her back met something cool, and Feng Yue thought, this hall table isn’t bad at all, it’s actually made of agarwood.
Her clothes had come loose, and someone pressed against her, their burning body making her jump.
Wait? Wait! Coming back to her senses and looking at the person above her, Feng Yue pushed against his chest and said, “Didn’t you say I was dirty?”
His movements paused slightly, and Yin Gezhi lowered his head to bite her lip hard.
She yelped in pain and pouted, “You’re the one who said it, saying you didn’t want my services anymore. But now… like this… right? What if I dirty your body? Will you come after me later?”
An inexplicable pain shot through his chest, and Yin Gezhi said with slight annoyance, “Can’t that mouth of yours say something nice?”
“What’s nice?” Feng Yue tilted her head and smiled like a flower. “I don’t quite understand.”
Slightly flustered, Yin Gezhi fell silent and responded with actions instead of words.
On Changning Street, the busiest in Bu Yin City, a well-located clothing shop was mysteriously closed. Passing citizens glanced curiously, wondering what business could have made the shopkeeper close at this hour.
Outside, the street bustled with carriages and crowds, but inside, separated by just a wooden door, was a scene of intimate passion.
Perhaps stimulated by the sounds from outside, this encounter was more intense than usual. The Crown Prince Yin took back his previous words without an ounce of shame.
Feng Yue pressed her lips together. She found it strange – he hadn’t said anything, and in the darkness, she couldn’t see his expression, but through his movements, she seemed to feel his apology.
What nonsense! Since when could apologies be conveyed like this?!
Still, being accepted again was a good thing. She couldn’t speak to him about fairness or injustice – they weren’t equaled, to begin with, and this wasn’t some romantic affair.
As long as His Highness was happy.
At dusk, the street grew even more lively. Two people emerged from the clothing shop as if nothing had happened, melting into the bustling crowd.
Having changed into light-colored clothes, Feng Yue sighed, “You know how to pick a location.”
How convenient that they needed to change clothes, and the shop was full of them.
Walking beside her with an expressionless face, the Crown Prince was in a good mood. Unusually, he didn’t snap at her, but instead looked at the locals hanging lanterns and asked, “What’s this?”
As a veteran who had lived in Wu Kingdom for three years, Feng Yue immediately explained, “It’s the Flower Lantern Festival. They hold it at every change of season to pray for protection from natural disasters in the coming season.”
The Wei Kingdom also had a Lantern Festival, but their lanterns came in various shapes and were only displayed once a year. In the Wu Kingdom, all the lanterns were shaped like lotus flowers – some hung from eaves, some carried in hand, and others floated on the river.
“Would you like to see?” Feng Yue asked.
Shaking his head with disdain, Yin Gezhi said, “I need to head back.”
“Then take care.” Waving her handkerchief, Feng Yue said, “I’ll stay and watch for a while.”
Yin Gezhi: “…”
Looking her up and down, he said, “You’re going to watch alone?”
“When you start watching alone, it often turns into watching with someone else. Don’t worry about me,” Feng Yue said, her eyes fixed on a spot in the crowd. “I’ll return later tonight.”
Who cares if she comes back or not? Yin Gezhi frowned. If he stayed, it might seem like he was giving her too much face. But if he left… what would he do at this hour?
After brooding for a moment, the Crown Prince turned and went to the nearby teahouse.
Bowing to his retreating figure, Feng Yue turned and pushed through the crowd to a small lantern stall.
“Madam, I’d like to buy a lantern.”
The kindly vendor looked at her and took out a lantern from under the stall: “Such a beautiful young lady! Holding this lantern will make you even more radiant – you’re sure to find a good husband.”
“Thank you for your kind words.” Smiling and nodding, Feng Yue handed over some copper coins and received the lantern along with a note pressed to its bottom.
The vendor covered her smile with her hand and pointed toward the crowd, saying, “Quite busy today. Why don’t you try over there?”
“Alright.” Feng Yue agreed, carrying the lantern as she walked. Her hands opened the note, and taking advantage of the crowded confusion, she quickly read it before tearing it to pieces and scattering it on the ground.
“Look at that, the girls this year are more and more lovely,” onlookers by the river commented. “If the Emperor were to select consorts now, half the girls along this river might become imperial concubines.”
“The Lantern Festival is wonderful! So many young ladies from good families come out – you’d never see them otherwise. Better look while you can.”
Somehow, the Wu Kingdom’s Lantern Festival had become known for its beautiful women viewing their lanterns. Men of Wu made it a habit to appreciate both lanterns and beauties and even nobles would dress in common clothes to mix with the crowd. If they spotted an exceptional beauty, they might even take her home as a concubine.
Because of this, young women at the Lantern Festival would dress their best. Whether or not they wished to become concubines, they would display their beauty for all to see. If they attracted many suitors, it would give matchmakers something to work with later.
Feng Yue threaded through the crowd to the riverside, looked at the lanterns covering the river, and showed a troubled expression.
“Miss, did you forget to bring a flint?” Someone immediately laughed nearby. “I have one here – would you like to use it?”
Hearing this, many people looked over, and after just one glance, they exclaimed, “She’s more beautiful than any of them!”
Soon, Feng Yue was surrounded by quite a crowd. The commotion was so great that even people drinking tea in the nearby shops looked over.
In the middle of the crowd, the young woman appeared somewhat flustered, shaking her head and speaking softly, but the men around her showed no intention of letting her leave. Between their teasing and declarations of love, they made the young woman blush furiously.
Squinting at the scene, Leng Yan said, “Now that’s a rare beauty indeed.”
His attendant quickly responded, “If you like her, shall I invite her over for tea?”
Seeing no objection, the attendant rushed over, pushing through the young men around Feng Yue, and bowed: “Miss, my master is in the teahouse next door. Would you care to join him for tea?”
Looking at him gratefully, Feng Yue nodded: “Alright.”
The crowd was unhappy, but after noting the quality of the attendant’s clothes, they didn’t dare say much and reluctantly dispersed.
Entering the teahouse, Feng Yue first bowed to the seated man, saying very properly: “Thank you for your help, my lord.”
Her curtsy was perfect, and her clothes were of fine quality – clearly from a good family. Leng Yan smiled and gestured for her to sit: “A chance meeting is a fate. Would you honor me with your company?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Feng Yue fidgeted with her handkerchief and said, “This humble girl lost her maid in the crowd. I must return home soon, but I will remember your lordship’s kindness.”
Her family must be quite strict. This piqued Leng Yan’s interest even more. He set down his cup and studied her for a moment before asking, “May I ask where your family resides?”
Looking at him in surprise, Feng Yue recalled Young Lady Yi’s demeanor. She immediately forced a blush and said softly, “Why does my lord ask such a thing?”
Her voice was soft and sweet, mixing coyness with panic, and Leng Yan found it quite pleasing. As someone who had achieved the position of Minister of the Imperial Stud at just thirty, he believed heroes should be susceptible to beauty, so when encountering a beautiful woman, he lowered his guard. He teased, “With such extraordinary beauty as yours, your home must be blessed with spiritual energy. I’d like to visit and absorb some of that auspicious atmosphere.”