If He Can’t Control You, I’ll Control Her

This was the meaning Feng Yue saw in Ye Yuqing’s eyes.

She gave a couple of dry laughs, then turned to Yin Gezhi with tears in her eyes, “Will you be going too?”

Setting down his chopsticks, Yin Gezhi gave Ye Yuqing a deep look. Their gazes clashed in midair, battling fiercely. After a thunderous exchange, Ye Yuqing opened his fan with a smile, “Since Miss Feng Yue is going, naturally Lord Yin must go too. Otherwise, if Zhu’er throws a tantrum, no one will be able to stop her.”

Swallowing hard, Feng Yue felt like a tiny shrimp being dangled on the Crown Prince’s fishing hook, only to be suddenly snapped up by Yin Gezhi with a “chomp.”

The hook-caught Yin Gezhi replied reluctantly, “Since Your Highness insists, we’ll go then.”

The fisherman Ye Yuqing smiled gleefully, fanning himself as he said, “Very well, you should head back and prepare then.”

Yin Gezhi stood up, nodded, and walked toward the exit.

Feng Yue was still pondering whether she was about to be swallowed into the big fish’s belly. Her feet hadn’t kept up, and unsurprisingly, she heard the Crown Prince whisper near her ear, “You’re quite capable, Miss. Lord Yin seems to care about you greatly.”

A shiver ran down her spine, and Feng Yue quickly shook her head, “Your Highness, this servant isn’t that capable. Lord Yin cares most about Miss Yi.”

“Oh?” Glancing at the person ahead, Ye Yuqing’s eyes darkened, “How do you know?”

“He said so himself,” Feng Yue replied sincerely. “This servant heard with both ears. He said he likes Miss Yi, but liking is just liking. He doesn’t know how to win her favor, so their relationship isn’t very pleasant.”

Seeing that she didn’t appear to be lying, Ye Yuqing nodded and gestured for her to catch up with the person ahead.

Feng Yue immediately picked up her skirt and rushed out.

Stealing something from the General’s mansion wouldn’t be so simple. The Crown Prince had assigned the task casually, but executing it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven. Who knew what Yin Gezhi was thinking when he agreed?

Back at the envoy’s residence, after closing the door, Feng Yue looked at the person before her seriously and asked, “Do you have a plan?”

“No,” Yin Gezhi said. “It was a sudden assignment, I have no preparation.”

“You’re really in trouble,” Squinting her eyes with a smile, Feng Yue stood before him, pacing back and forth three times before pointing at her nose proudly, “But fortunately, you still have a treasure like me.”

Treasure? Looking her up and down several times, the great Prince Yin’s eyes were practically overflowing with disdain.

Straightening her back, Feng Yue snorted, “I know you’re capable and don’t need help, and you look down on weak women like me. But, Your Highness, what if this servant knows where important items are hidden in the General’s mansion?”

His eyes brightened slightly as Yin Gezhi pulled her close, “How do you know everything?”

“That’s my talent.” Pouting, Feng Yue took the opportunity to sit on his knee, channeling strength to her dantian and pressing down hard!

However, this amount of force was barely noticeable. Yin Gezhi didn’t even react. Gripping her shoulders, he asked, “Where is it?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.” With a coquettish smile, Feng Yue broke free from his grip and fluttered away like a butterfly.

Yin Gezhi frowned.

Why did she always know things that even he didn’t? Could it be that General Yi had visited Menghui Tower before?

That seemed impossible. She must have used some powerful methods behind the scenes. A woman like this…

A woman like this, yet her embrace was surprisingly warm – wasn’t that strange?

Shaking his head, he came back to his senses and called Guanzhi to pack some clothes and prepare some special items to bring to the General’s mansion.

That evening, at General Yi’s mansion.

Yi Zhangzhu certainly had no intention of chatting with Feng Yue, but the Crown Prince sat before her, smiling as he said, “You’ve always been generous and kind. Feng Yue has already left that place of suffering. Since she’ll be serving your Brother Yin anyway, why not keep her in the mansion and teach her some proper etiquette?”

“If Zhenzhu teaches her etiquette, won’t Brother Yin be heartbroken?” Yi Zhangzhu said. “The matrons in the Yi household are famously strict.”

Ye Yuqing paused, then said, “Just teach her casually, no need to be too serious. Besides, your Brother Yin has faced several assassination attempts recently. I thought letting him hide in the General’s mansion would allow him to get a few peaceful nights of sleep.”

Thinking of Yin Gezhi, Yi Zhangzhu pouted, hesitating for a while before nodding.

Ever since her father brought Yin Gezhi to Wu, he only spoke to her. Even the servants and maids knew he liked her, but… somehow, recently, she felt like he didn’t like her as much anymore.

“Miss,” seeing the Crown Prince leave, Dianchai quickly came out and said, “Haven’t you been displeased with that Feng Yue for a long time? This is a good opportunity!”

“Hmm?” Looking at her in confusion, Yi Zhangzhu asked, “What good opportunity?”

“A good opportunity to teach her a lesson!” Dianchai said. “Since the Crown Prince asked you to teach her etiquette, why not hand her over to Matron Xun?”

Matron Xun? Just hearing these three words made Yi Zhangzhu shudder, looking at her in horror.

In a place like the General’s mansion, even though she was Yi Guoru’s precious daughter, she didn’t dare slack off when learning etiquette as a child. Back then, there were other young ladies learning with her under this matron who came from the palace. In less than half a year, everyone emerged extremely proper, but… no one ever wanted to see Matron Xun again! Her methods were cruel, her heart was vicious, truly terrifying to the extreme!

Handing Feng Yue over to her did seem like a good idea, and it couldn’t be considered deliberate mistreatment since she had learned from this matron.

Having decided this, Yi Zhangzhu quickly invited three of her childhood friends who had learned etiquette together to come watch the spectacle.

So the next day, when Feng Yue followed Yin Gezhi into the General’s mansion, she saw four delicate flowers lined up at the entrance, smiling brilliantly at Yin Gezhi.

Without even looking at them, Yin Gezhi walked straight to Yi Zhangzhu and lowered his head, saying, “Sorry to intrude.”

The other three young ladies let out soft exclamations, some covering their faces, others wringing their handkerchiefs. Only Yi Zhangzhu remained composed, smiling as she said, “Brother Yin, this way please.”

Yin Gezhi lifted his foot to walk. Feng Yue, carrying her bundle, tried to follow but was cut off by the others. Three large bottoms blocked her path, very properly squeezing her to the back, along with six not-very-friendly glances.

Feng Yue clicked her tongue, looking down at her clothes. She was dressed quite properly like a respectable woman today, how had she offended anyone?

Yin Gezhi obviously wouldn’t turn back to help her, so Feng Yue just obediently followed. The three young ladies ahead didn’t deliberately make things difficult for her, just whispered among themselves, occasionally glancing at the tall man in front, their cheeks flushing red. From time to time they would turn back to look at her meaningfully.

Scratching her chin, Feng Yue figured it out – these three must be Yi Zhangzhu’s friends, and they admired Yin Gezhi. Their eyes were practically sparkling when they looked at him.

“Lord Yin’s face is truly handsome…” sighed the young lady in the egg-yellow dress. “I thought Young Master Xu was already quite handsome, but there’s always someone better!”

“You’d better be careful!” the young lady in the pink dress beside her nudged her, laughing, “If those words reach Young Master Xu’s ears, you won’t need to become his bride – he’ll directly cite the seven grounds for divorce!”

The young lady in the green dress shook her head, “Ruoci, don’t tease Huaimeng. Tell me, is the husband your family arranged for you even half as handsome as Lord Yin?”

Song Ruoci fell silent, looking at Yin Gezhi’s back and letting out a long sigh.

Indeed, Lord Yin was the most handsome, but besides Yi Zhangzhu, who else was fortunate enough to be by his side?

Thinking of this, Song Ruoci looked back at Feng Yue, frowning as she muttered softly, “I wonder where the Xu family found such a maid, she looks rather improper.”

Feng Yue smiled and spoke up, “From a brothel.”

What? The three of them all froze, immediately surrounding her with wide eyes, “A brothel?”

“Yes.” Feng Yue nodded seriously, “This servant did business in a brothel, and Lord Yin called for me many times. Perhaps because my bedroom skills were good, His Highness liked me very much, so Young Master Xu redeemed me and gave me to him as a favor.”

These sheltered young ladies had never heard such shameless talk. Their faces immediately turned red, and after stammering for a while, someone finally managed to curse, “So you’re from that kind of place!”

“What’s wrong with that place?” Feng Yue blinked, “Many men go there. Even those refined young masters from noble families show their beastly true nature in brothels. Isn’t that interesting?”

She spoke so matter-of-factly that all three young ladies couldn’t find words to refute her!

Were courtesans nowadays all so brazen?

Taking a couple of breaths, Song Ruoci frowned and asked, “What’s your name?”

“This servant is Feng Yue.”

Feng Yue? Frowning, Song Ruoci snorted coldly, “True to your name indeed, reeking of the pleasure quarters.”

“You flatter me.” Smiling slightly, Feng Yue bowed, “You also live up to your name, truly having the air of poetry and refinement.”

Staring in anger at being countered, Song Ruoci said furiously, “Don’t be too smug. Soon you’ll be learning etiquette from Matron Xun!”

“Thank you,” Feng Yue nodded.

Seeing her fearless expression, Meng Changjiang shook her head sympathetically, “You surely don’t know who Matron Xun is.”

“Better watch out for your skin!” Feng Huaimeng chimed in to frighten her, “Even we noble young ladies couldn’t avoid having nightmares for half a year. She’ll be even less merciful to you!”

Blinking, Feng Yue looked at their threatening expressions and belatedly showed some panic, “Really?”

“Hmph, you’ll find out soon enough.” Pointing to Yi Zhangzhu and Yin Gezhi who had walked far ahead, Song Ruoci said, “Lord Yin won’t save you. Look, with Zhangzhu there, he doesn’t even notice you’re not following!”