Yin Gezhi cast a sideways glance at her. “You’re quite clever.”
“You flatter me. Under your guidance, I wouldn’t dare be foolish – that would be a death sentence.” Feng Yue’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she fawned, “Following Your Highness makes this humble one feel secure.”
Looking at her with disdain, Yin Gezhi asked sternly, “Is it because you think I’m formidable?”
“No!” Feng Yue clenched her fist. “It’s because your two disciples now hold positions as Commander and Captain of the City Guard. That means we have connections in Wu’s official circles! Even if we accidentally end up in prison, given those young masters’ respect for you, they’ll surely get you out – and take me along too.”
As she spoke, she raised her chin and cast him a flirtatious glance.
Ignoring her coquettish look with indifference, Yin Gezhi said, “Don’t be too smug. If you truly commit a crime, they won’t be able to protect you.”
“This humble one understands,” Feng Yue replied. “But if the Imperial Guard Commander were to be imprisoned, who would take that position? You don’t have a third disciple.”
“The Imperial Guard is the royal family’s armor,” Yin Gezhi said. “The Crown Prince will only use those loyal to the royal family. Don’t concern yourself with this. Focus on organizing what you have and see what’s useful.”
General Yi’s guest quarters contained valuable items, including obvious ledgers and numerous unsigned secret letters whose contents Yin Gezhi hadn’t finished reading.
Feng Yue lowered her eyes and smiled in acknowledgment. “Yes.”
Many people had secret correspondence with General Yi, and they discussed many secrets. She wasn’t particularly interested – after all, these were Wu’s internal affairs.
However, among all those old letters, not one mentioned Guan Canghai.
Back then, Yin Gezhi had received an anonymous letter claiming Guan Canghai was secretly communicating with Yi Guoru and selling military secrets. So now – where was this correspondence? Such important letters wouldn’t have been easily destroyed, yet she had searched through that pile of letters and found not a single word.
She clenched her fist tight before releasing it. Feng Yue looked up with a smile and asked, “Your Highness, do you think if General Yi truly committed a grave error one day, with irrefutable evidence, would Wu’s emperor execute him?”
“No.” Yin Gezhi shook his head without hesitation. “In these turbulent times, Yi Guoru is Wu’s sword. No matter what happens, they can’t afford to lose him.”
Then why did Guan Canghai fall?!
She desperately wanted to scream these words, but the consequences would be too severe. She could only suppress them. After staring at the ground to compose herself for a moment, she smiled again and said, “This humble one will go attend to her duties.”
Yin Gezhi turned his head, watching her retreating figure for a while with slightly furrowed brows.
Many visitors came to the General’s mansion, most of them late at night. With only Young Miss Yi Zhongzhu managing affairs, along with some clueless concubines, everyone was thrown into confusion.
Despite the chaos, Feng Yue had managed to sneak from Matron Xun’s courtyard into Yin Gezhi’s room to sleep, using the excuse that she had “learned proper etiquette and needed to attend to him personally” while Yi Zhongzhu was overwhelmed.
The same bed, but Yin Gezhi’s had jade cooling mats – it would be a waste not to sleep there! After all, they were both just idle onlookers, so why not share a bed?
Thus that night, under the bright moon and strong winds, when Yi Zhongzhu pushed open the guest quarter’s door wearing a cloak, Feng Yue was kicked under the bed by Yin Gezhi, tumbling like a rolling embroidered ball.
“Brother Yin.” With worry clouding her features, Yi Zhongzhu lowered her cloak’s hood and choked out, “Zhu’er doesn’t know what to do anymore.”
‘At this late hour, this Young Miss Yi doesn’t care about her reputation, making such a night visit?’ Feng Yue silently clicked her tongue, thinking that with a young man and woman alone, burning with passion, wouldn’t something happen?
Yin Gezhi’s cultured yet beastly voice responded gently: “What’s wrong?”
‘What else could be wrong! You’ve burdened your little beauty with responsibilities she can’t handle, so she’s come seeking you!’ Rolling her eyes, Feng Yue found a comfortable position to lie down and prepared to eavesdrop.
Yi Zhongzhu sighed, hesitantly beginning, “Many things have happened recently. Many uncles and elders have come asking me to contact Father, but the capital is so far from the border – it would take a month for messages to go back and forth, and they seem very anxious.”
Oh, very anxious. Then what? Tell Yin Gezhi and expect him to fly there like a bird. Feng Yue pursed her lips.
“You’re a young lady, you needn’t worry about such matters,” Yin Gezhi said. “Just do what you wish to do.”
Though he said this, Yi Zhongzhu bit her lip, her eyes suddenly filled with resentment. “But the Crown Prince is going too far! Why must he antagonize these people? The country is peaceful now, and they haven’t committed any serious crimes. Why must he dismiss them from office and investigate so severely?”
Haven’t committed any serious crimes? Feng Yue was stunned. Setting aside everything else, Leng Yan had neglected his duties, traded Imperial Guard positions, and recruited people with no military capabilities into the Imperial Guard to eat imperial grain – this crime alone warranted a hundred deaths. Wasn’t that serious? Ye Yuqin feared too harsh a punishment would provoke a backlash, so he only ordered dismissal and investigation, yet she thought this too severe.
The daughter of Wu’s General’s mansion was truly frightening.
However, the Wei Crown Prince outside actually nodded along with her words: “Indeed, the Crown Prince is being somewhat hasty and overeager.”
How shameless! Where was his bottom line?
Looking at Yin Gezhi with gratitude, Yi Zhongzhu said, “With Father away, Zhu’er can only rely on Brother Yin. Please help Zhu’er think of a way to stop the Crown Prince.”
“Zhongzhu.” Yin Gezhi frowned. “I am merely a hostage prince, with no right to interfere in Wu’s affairs. I truly cannot help.”
“Then…” Breaking into sobs, Yi Zhongzhu asked, “What should I do… The Crown Prince opposes me, and you can’t help me…”
Her crying grew louder, her words trailing off into outright sobbing. Listening to this, Feng Yue thought that at such a moment, if Yin Gezhi were to comfort her properly, with some embracing and kissing, he would have Young Miss Yi in his grasp. Given his personality, such meat delivered to his mouth – how could he not take a bite?
However, the man outside said: “Go back, drink some hot tea, and rest well. Don’t think too much.”
Yi Zhongzhu: “…”
Her face was tear-stained, a sight to stir pity – why was Brother Yin sending her away? She couldn’t understand and looked up at him somewhat aggrieved.
Yin Gezhi’s expression remained gentle, but his eyes showed little emotion as he looked at her face, wet with tears but no mucus. He said softly, “It’s late. If you stay longer, it might damage your reputation.”
She had come without regard for her reputation in the first place, yet his words made her face flush red. Yi Zhongzhu stood and left, but stopped at the door. Looking back, she asked, “Brother Yin, do you truly like Zhu’er?”
“I do,” Yin Gezhi answered flatly.
But books said that when a man likes a woman, he would want to… why did he always push her away? Although she had no intention of offering herself, his complete lack of interest truly made her uncomfortable.
Gritting her teeth, she asked again, “Is Miss Feng Yue your maid now, or your bed-warmer?”
“Chambermaid,” four words gave Feng Yue a precise position, making the person hiding under the bed bare her teeth.
Her face growing paler, Yi Zhongzhu asked, “Does Brother Yin enjoy sleeping with her?”
“Zhongzhu.” His expression darkening slightly, Yin Gezhi said, “Mind your status, don’t speak improperly.”
How could a young lady from a noble family say such things?
Turning away in shame, Yi Zhongzhu quickly fled. Her final glance was full of unwillingness and grievance.
Yin Gezhi calmly watched her leave, then closed and bolted the door.
Turning back, he saw a head sticking out from under the bed, looking at him with a strange expression.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“You don’t want to sleep with Young Miss Yi?” Feng Yue asked with an odd look.
Coming from someone like her, these words sounded quite pleasant to his ears. He glared at her with disgust: “What nonsense are you talking?”
Crawling out from under the bed, Feng Yue said, “It’s obvious she came seeking your comfort, but you just told her to go drink hot tea. Your Highness, how can you win a woman’s heart like this?”
Looking at the dust on her sleeping clothes, Yin Gezhi reached out and pulled them off. She was quite cooperative, showing no signs of shyness, extending her arms to let him strip her. Then she stood properly before him in just her undershirt, continuing to prattle: “Haven’t you been acting like you’re very fond of Young Miss Yi lately? At least play the part thoroughly, don’t let her doubt you.”
“You knew I was acting?” Yin Gezhi sneered. “What if it’s real?”
“Whether it’s real or fake, this humble one doesn’t know, but I can see Your Highness’s intentional display,” Feng Yue narrowed her eyes. “Though I don’t know Your Highness’s purpose, the act must be complete to be convincing.”
Picking her up and removing her dust-covered lower garments before tossing her onto the bed, Yin Gezhi said coolly, “Selling art, not self.”
What? Feng Yue was stunned. Thinking carefully about these five words, her face turned ashen.
As expected of Crown Prince Yin, he was just that impressive, just that unreasonable. The young lady hadn’t cared about what she might lose, yet he looked down on her.
Who knew how many lifetimes of bad luck Yi Zhongzhu had accumulated to encounter such a beast, yet still treasure him like a jewel!
Lying in bed, Yin Gezhi reached out to embrace her, and they curled up together like two shrimp.
“Return to the envoy’s mansion tomorrow,” Yin Gezhi said. “Do you have anything left unfinished?”
“Yes,” Feng Yue asked. “Can we take Matron Xun out?”
“The General’s mansion rules forbid giving away servants.”
“Then nothing else.” Feng Yue closed her eyes. “This humble one will visit Dream Return House tomorrow to organize some things, then return to the envoy’s mansion to pay respects to you.”
Her belly was soft and warm, feeling very nice to hold. As Yin Gezhi listened, his mind wandered, and he reached out to pinch it.
“Ow!” Instinctively scratching at him, Feng Yue shouted angrily, “Don’t pinch!”
The air behind her instantly turned cold, and her anger quickly softened. She pitifully said, “My belly is very ticklish, please pinch somewhere else.”