“Well…” An Shichong said helplessly, “It was only three days. I merely asked for a favor in advance…”
“Did you ask for this favor from His Majesty, or the jail guards?” Yin Gezhi coldly interjected. “Does entering official service mean your master can no longer govern your actions?”
“No!” An Shichong hastily replied. “One day a master, forever a father—I will always heed your words, Master!”
“Then send him back.”
Struggle and conflict roiled in his eyes. An Shichong took a deep breath and called out hoarsely, “Master…”
“Either send him back, or you no longer have me as your master.”
The onlookers had mostly pieced together the situation: the City Guard Commander had found a way to get a prisoner released early, but his master had discovered this and intercepted them. The strict rules of their master-disciple relationship forbade such violations of protocol, so either the disciple had to return the prisoner or face severance of their relationship.
“This scholar in white looks delicate, but who knew he’d have such integrity!” exclaimed the previously animated brother. “If we had more people like him, how could officials protect each other while the law only binds common folk?”
“Hmph, I think this scholar is making a mountain out of a molehill. High officials do this sort of thing all the time in secret. Even if caught, returning the prisoner would settle it with no consequences.”
“Say, who is this scholar anyway? Why do such high officials listen to him?”
Amid the various discussions, Feng Yue stroked her chin as she observed for a while. She noticed only one thing—since becoming Yin Gezhi’s disciple, An Shichong hadn’t just improved in martial arts; he’d also thoroughly inherited his master’s talent for acting! That grieved expression and dejected bearing were truly moving to behold.
“This disciple will go return him now.”
Waving his sleeve, Yin Gezhi said, “If I can catch you once, I can catch you twice. Should you commit such errors again, don’t blame your master for showing no mercy.”
“Yes.” Hanging his head in acknowledgment, An Shichong led the prisoner back, his figure weary and his steps heavy.
Yin Gezhi turned and walked righteously toward the envoy’s residence. The crowd dispersed, their discussions continuing—the news would likely spread quickly throughout An Ju Street.
“Big Brother!” A child suddenly burst forth from the side, directly hugging Yin Gezhi’s leg and looking up at him. “Big Brother is so amazing! When Shui Sheng grows up, he wants to be like Big Brother, able to scold bad people and uphold justice!”
The soft child had just thrown himself at the Demon King’s feet, making Feng Yue’s back break out in a cold sweat. The woman nearby, probably fearful of Yin Gezhi’s stern expression, carefully tried to reach out and take the child back.
However, Yin Gezhi looked down and, instead of kicking the child away, said very gently, “Then grow up quickly.”
“Okay! When Shui Sheng grows up, he’ll come to find Big Brother!” The child called out happily before being tremblingly retrieved by his mother.
Yin Gezhi turned his head, glancing at the child, his lips curling slightly.
“Eh? You’re smiling?” The shocked Feng Yue beside him forgot to stay hidden and jumped in front of Yin Gezhi, reaching out to poke at the corner of his mouth.
The face before her darkened as he irritably brushed away her hand. “Have you forgotten all your manners?”
Withdrawing her paw, Feng Yue pouted, “This servant was just too surprised! I’ve never seen you smile so gently before—I thought you were born unable to smile.”
Snorting, Yin Gezhi shook his head and walked past her.
“Hey hey, Young Master, this servant brought back wine!” Following after him like seeking credit, Feng Yue said, “Let’s drink until we can’t tonight!”
“There’s much to do tonight,” Yin Gezhi said expressionlessly. “No time for your foolishness.”
Unhappily pursing her lips, Feng Yue carried the wine jar, resentfully walking behind him and stepping on his shadow while muttering, “Madam Jin’s wine isn’t even sold outside, it’s so delicious, called ‘Beauty’s Brew.'”
“Madam Jin counts as a beauty?”
“Who wasn’t a beauty in their youth?” Feng Yue said. “Madam Jin once had nobles offering ten pecks of pearls for just one song!”
Too lazy to discuss such useless matters with her, Yin Gezhi maintained his proper appearance, walking with hands behind his back, every bit like a teacher from an academy, bound by rules and conventions. The sight made the young ladies who usually squealed around him not dare to act up, only standing far away watching him pass by, their eyes full of admiration.
Why were young, ignorant girls always so easily deceived by appearances? Feng Yue could only sigh, lowering her head to step on his shadow from Chang Ning Street to the envoy’s residence. She hadn’t even noticed that this person had chosen to walk rather than take his carriage, only feeling satisfied at having thoroughly stomped his shadow.
Just that the rope on the wine jar had left her hand swollen.
Blowing on her hurt hand with concern, then looking up at the person who had entered the study without a backward glance, Feng Yue narrowed her eyes in thought before breaking into a sly smile.
A courtesan who doesn’t seduce isn’t good!
Yin Gezhi truly had many things to do. With An Shichong’s performance concluded, all the pressure had shifted to him. From now on, An Shichong would use him as an excuse to refuse people, so accordingly, he needed to help sort out relationships and carefully handle matters.
The Wu Kingdom court was currently in turmoil, with everyone fearing they would be the next to enter prison, so there were few troublemakers, and people could resolve conflicts privately. However, this peace would probably only last a month.
In this month, the Crown Prince had to gain more leverage, otherwise, when real confrontation began, he would be at a severe disadvantage.
Taking up the account book from the desk to read, Yin Gezhi instructed Guan Zhi: “Guard the study door closely, don’t let anyone in.”
“Yes!” Guan Zhi responded, gripping his sword as he took position at the door.
Soon after, Ling Shu came bouncing over, holding a plate of fried peanuts and looking at him curiously: “Lord Guan Zhi, what are you guarding here for?”
This is exactly to stop people like you who rush in recklessly! Guan Zhi smiled and said softly, “Master is busy inside and ordered that no one should disturb him, so I’m watching here.”
“Oh…” Ling Shu nodded, then looked at what she was holding: “Then he doesn’t want peanuts either? They’re freshly fried and smell so good!”
“Master probably won’t eat them, you have them yourself.”
“Okay.” Nodding, Ling Shu pulled him to sit with her on the steps, her small hand picking up a peanut. She innocently moved to feed it to his mouth.
Guan Zhi blushed. He knew this girl was completely innocent and feeding him food was surely just because she was in a good mood, but still… Ah well, it was rare for a young lady to feed him anything. Since Master’s eyes couldn’t see through walls, it should be fine if he ate some, right?
Looking left and right, Guan Zhi opened his mouth to gently accept her fried peanut, then happily sat with Ling Shu eating together.
Thus Feng Yue very smoothly climbed through the study window.
Yin Gezhi was deeply absorbed in reading when he suddenly sensed someone beside him. His pupils contracted in shock as he instinctively struck out!
“Young Master.” Barely dodging the strike, Feng Yue pouted, batting her eyes, “This servant came to keep you company while reading, why are you so fierce?”
Yin Gezhi: “…”
Turning to look at the tightly closed door, then at the wide open window beside him, he sighed.
Oh, Guan Zhi, Guan Zhi, when told to watch closely, it wasn’t just the door—couldn’t you pay attention to the windows too? Fortunately, it was only Feng Yue who entered; if it had been someone else, wouldn’t that have been terrible?
Raising his eyes to look at the person before him, Yin Gezhi frowned: “What do you want to do?”
She hadn’t worn this red gauze dress in quite a while, and her face was painted with seductive makeup—clearly, she hadn’t come for anything proper.
“This servant brought wine, but Young Master won’t drink it. This servant is so hurt.” Speaking coquettishly as she sat on his lap, Feng Yue held up a jar of wine in her hand and said with alluring eyes, “Just try some.”
Looking at her composedly, Yin Gezhi asked, “And if I don’t?”
“Then this servant will feed you.” Feng Yue curved her lips and tilted her head back to pour wine into her mouth.
This was how it was drawn in books—reclining in someone’s arms to drink wine, then lowering one’s head to kiss him seductively, full of enticing implications. No man could resist! She had practiced this move in front of mirrors at the brothel for a very long time. The movement was graceful!
However, she forgot one thing—her love of alcohol. Having not had this wine for so long, her throat’s instinctive reaction was too strong. As soon as the wine entered her mouth, she swallowed it with a “gulp.”
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
Seeing his look of watching an idiot, Feng Yue gave a dry laugh, immediately took another mouthful of wine, and moved toward his lips.
Turning his head away, Yin Gezhi said, “In broad daylight, where are your principles?”
Wearing a scholar’s white robes and now talking about propriety and shame? Who was it that did such-and-such in the carriage last time? And who was it that always indulged in broad daylight? Feng Yue couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the ceiling, then without another word, directly grabbed his chin to turn it back and kissed him fiercely!
The sandalwood chair was very sturdy—even with Yin Gezhi pressed against the backrest by her forceful momentum, it didn’t make a sound. However, the person before her revealed displeasure in his eyes, half-lowering them to look at her calmly.
That pretense of false propriety set one’s blood boiling. Feng Yue smiled, a fierce glint showing in her eyes as she forced open his teeth and made him drink the wine. Grabbing his clothes, remembering how he usually manhandled her, she took courage from the wine and paid him back in kind, tooth for tooth!
The clear fragrance of wine lingered between their lips. A light flashed in Yin Gezhi’s eyes, but his body remained motionless, allowing her to pull open his clothes. When his mouth was free, he mockingly asked, “Want it?”
Want your grandmother’s leg? Feng Yue smiled seductively and reached downward, but was caught by the wrist, unable to move.
Their gazes met—one cold as iron, one soft as water—locked in an intense silent battle!
But unfortunately, in the end, Feng Yue lost, getting wrapped in clothes and thrown out the door.
Landing with a “thump” between two innocent peanut-eaters, Feng Yue dejectedly picked up a peanut and said to Guan Zhi: “Your master is hard to serve!”