Glancing back at her action, Yin Gezhi remarked coldly, “You’re quite strong.”
Feeling somewhat intimidated, Feng Yue lowered her foot and pouted, “Your servant wishes to be more proper, but please don’t frighten me! Taking me away so aggressively, as if you’re going to skin someone alive!”
Was he really that fierce? Yin Gezhi frowned, reflecting for a moment before forcefully pulling her inside as if tearing a piece of cloth.
The door slammed shut, and Feng Yue pressed against it, closed her eyes, and tried to sweet-talk: “Your Highness, you’re as magnificent and beautiful as the flowers outside! Your servant…”
Before she could finish, her lips were sealed by his. The cool lips covering hers quickly became burning hot. Feng Yue opened her eyes, startled to see the red color in his eyes.
Oh no, the demon king is going to eat someone!
As her clothes were torn open, Feng Yue didn’t resist but merely pouted, saying, “In broad daylight, Your Highness, where are your manners?”
“You brought this upon yourself.” He bit her earlobe as Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes and said, “Time to pay for your sins.”
Her sins? Feng Yue stared blankly at the ceiling. If she remembered correctly, wasn’t it already more than ten days ago when she had tempted him with the Beauty’s Wine? Wasn’t His Highness’s reaction a bit too delayed?
Just as she was thinking this, the fragrance of Beauty’s Wine filled her nostrils. Feng Yue blinked and let out a surprised cry.
Yin Gezhi held the wine jug, looking down at her: “You like drinking this?”
Yes, yes! Her eyes brightened. Feng Yue smiled, feigning modesty for a moment before snatching the wine jug from his hands and taking a drink.
Holding her, Yin Gezhi watched with deep eyes, observing her fair neck and the slight movement of her throat as she swallowed. Satisfied, he opened his mouth and gently bit down.
“Cough.” Nearly choking, Feng Yue blinked. She felt herself being lifted as he sat down in the master chair, placing her in his lap.
“Is it good?” Yin Gezhi asked.
Feng Yue nodded. The two jugs she had brought back from Dream Return House were long gone, and she had just been thinking about getting more when surprisingly, he had some here.
After finishing a jug, Feng Yue’s vision became slightly hazy. She looked down and asked drowsily, “Did you send someone to Dream Return House to get this?”
“Yes.” Taking the empty wine jug from her, Yin Gezhi reached under the desk and pulled out another jug of wine. He poured her another jugful and placed it in her hands. “Don’t you enjoy drinking it?”
“Yes, this wine is brewed by Madam Jin using flowers. It’s very fragrant.” Smiling with narrowed eyes, Feng Yue said, “I used to love drinking this, never getting tired of it. I would get drunk for days, which angered Madam Jin so much that she hid the wine. But she didn’t know I had a keen nose. I could smell and find it no matter where she hid it.”
Watching her slowly finish another jug, Yin Gezhi remarked, “You can hold your liquor well.”
“Of course! Last time when I drank with the Crown Prince, if it weren’t for my good tolerance, I would have gotten drunk and talked nonsense to him.” Giggling, Feng Yue cast flirtatious glances, squirming restlessly in his lap. “Drinking with the Crown Prince is no fun though, he doesn’t drink, just makes me drink.”
His hands gripping her waist tightened as Yin Gezhi’s eyes darkened: “A proper lady shouldn’t drink with men.”
“What? Proper?” Feng Yue widened her eyes before bursting into laughter. After finishing the last sip, she pulled down her shoulder clothing and blinked coquettishly, speaking in a sweet voice: “Do I look like a proper lady to you, Your Highness? The Crown Prince paid money, how could your servant refuse to drink with him?”
A murderous intent suddenly flashed in his eyes as Yin Gezhi’s grip tightened, his voice cold: “Don’t think that just because you’re drunk, I’ll treat these words as drunken ramblings.”
“Hehe.” Feng Yue laughed and lowered her head, letting him grip her waist. Her wine-flavored lips kissed his, engaging in an intense exchange. Afterward, she smacked her lips and said, “Your lips are so soft, why are your words so harsh? Why get angry when your servant speaks some truth? Since you’re finally free today, why don’t we drink until we’re completely drunk?”
This woman… Yin Gezhi frowned. For some reason, he always felt Feng Yue had a wild nature about her. While other girls were raised in boudoirs, had she grown up running wild in the mountains? There was also a subtle hint of defiance about her.
What kind of woman was this?
Just as he was pondering, she pulled at his collar. The woman in his arms whimpered as she tore open his clothes and bit down on his chest with a “chomp.”
“Hiss—” He frowned, rising angrily and pinning her down on the desk.
“You’ve already been redeemed.” Gripping her hands tightly, Yin Gezhi said, “Don’t mention the past anymore.”
Hmm? Feng Yue blinked, her eyes both hazy and confused, letting him tear open her clothes, unable to understand the meaning behind his words for a long while.
However, the study was a good place.
Ling Shu and Guan Zhi sat at the main courtyard entrance cracking melon seeds. As Ling Shu cracked them, she sighed, “Your master initially kept despising my master. It’s only been a few months, and we’re already living in the envoy’s mansion.”
Guan Zhi shook his head: “You shouldn’t trust my master’s surface expressions. What he likes or dislikes can’t be seen from his face, only his actions can prove it.”
“Huh?” Ling Shu looked completely puzzled, her bright eyes full of confusion: “Didn’t Goddess Nüwa give us these faces to express our true thoughts? If your master doesn’t use his face properly, what’s it for?”
Guan Zhi: “…”
It seemed to make sense.
There was quite a commotion in the study, but the two chatting outside couldn’t hear anything. When evening came, Ling Shu went to ask her master about dinner plans, but it was Prince Yin who opened the door, saying coldly: “Have Guan Zhi order food from outside and have it delivered.”
“Where’s my master?” Ling Shu asked curiously.
“She’s resting,” Yin Gezhi said. “She just tired herself out.”
The pure and innocent Ling Shu didn’t understand anything, thinking he had made her masterwork again, and quickly said: “The doctor said master’s health isn’t good and needs proper rest. Please don’t exhaust her.”
Is health not good? Yin Gezhi sneered: “Your master is perfectly healthy, don’t worry.”
Her strength could match two other girls.
Looking at him worriedly, Ling Shu sighed and turned to ask Guan Zhi to order food.
Feng Yue was asleep, either from exhaustion or the effects of the wine, sleeping particularly sweetly. Yin Gezhi closed the door and returned to the bedside to look at her.
Why would he take a liking to someone like her? Perhaps because… she somewhat resembled someone from many years ago.
He couldn’t say exactly where the resemblance lay, as they were completely different people, but the feeling she gave him was similar, so he couldn’t help but linger a while longer.
And now, he found himself unable to leave.
Laughing at himself, Yin Gezhi shook his head.
That person had bones as hard as iron, a nature both free-spirited and clever, and most precious of all, a pride that no other woman possessed. Even in bed, she wouldn’t let him bully her as if she were his equal, not a step beneath him.
He greatly admired that pride and found such people rare. If they had met in broad daylight, he might have sparred with her, since she was also skilled in martial arts, and from what he could tell, quite competent.
Unfortunately, after returning from the Battle of Pingchang, he never saw her again. He searched the entire Eastern Palace but couldn’t find her.
Three years had passed, and he had met many women who resembled her, became entangled with them, and indulged in them, but none stayed by his side. Only this Feng Yue, though vulgar and without any pride, somehow reminded him of her.
Just where was the resemblance?
Shaking his head, Yin Gezhi thought he might be going mad.
Once she finished what she needed to do, he would let her go. As for now… considering her slight resemblance to that person, he could treat her a bit better.
This decision was made while she was asleep, so when Feng Yue woke up, she felt the world had changed!
Yin Gezhi no longer looked at her with disdain. Though his expression was still not particularly pleasant, he had become much gentler. He even called a doctor to check her pulse, and after the examination, prepared medicinal foods for her!
“Your Highness.” Trembling as she pulled his sleeve, Feng Yue asked pitifully, “Has your servant contracted some incurable illness?”
Looking at her contemptuously, Yin Gezhi said, “Troublemakers live a thousand years.”
Feng Yue: “…”
Bu Yin City entered two weeks of continuous bright sunshine. Under the great and glorious radiance of Crown Prince Yin, Feng Yue was initially like a frightened bird, but later grew accustomed to it, eating and sleeping as she pleased. As she grew bolder, she even dared to steal snacks from his plate.
When Ye Yuqing arrived, he saw Feng Yue sitting in Yin Gezhi’s lap cracking walnuts. When she encountered ones she couldn’t crack, she naturally passed them to the person behind her. That person held a book in one hand and took the walnut with the other, crushing it without even looking and returning it to her.
Feng Yue then munched away like a little mouse, making crunching sounds.
This scene was so unexpected that Ye Yuqing stood at the main courtyard entrance, not daring to step inside.
“Your Highness?” Seeing him, Feng Yue smiled sweetly and jumped down from Yin Gezhi’s lap. She bowed and said, “We didn’t know Your Highness was coming. Please forgive our rudeness. Please sit here, your servant will crack walnuts for both Your Highnesses!”
Yin Gezhi put down his book and also rose to bow: “Please, Your Highness.”
Coming to his senses, Ye Yuqing smiled and walked in, sitting down at the stone table. Looking at them, he said, “I merely came to see what you two were up to when I had some free time. I didn’t expect… you two to be getting along so well.”
“Not at all,” Feng Yue said modestly. “His Highness has simply been merciful to your servant lately.”
Yin Gezhi didn’t even lift his eyelids as he directly asked Ye Yuqing: “Has there been any response from General Yi?”
“Your Highness is perceptive,” Ye Yuqing smiled. “Just received news that the northern campaign… has been lost.”
Slightly raising an eyebrow, Yin Gezhi said, “Mere remnant forces of a small country could defeat the invincible General Yi?”
“Your Highness has spent years on the battlefield; surely you understand the reasons for victory and defeat better than I do.” Ye Yuqing pressed his lips together. “I hear General Yi was severely wounded and is on his way back to the capital.”
Feng Yue kept her head down cracking walnuts, trying to make these two important figures ignore her, but she couldn’t help wondering.
Could General Yi, who used underhanded tactics like kidnapping civilians and killing innocents on the battlefield, really be defeated by a small northern country? That battle was merely fought for glory, with Wu’s forces vastly outnumbering the enemy. Anyone else would have won. He probably heard the movements in the capital and couldn’t stay at the border any longer. Unable to return without cause, he deliberately lost the battle to come back and stabilize the situation, right?
What a shameless way to be a general. She thought it would take at least half a month for General Yi to react, but unexpectedly, to protect himself, he was willing to sacrifice the merit of so many soldiers and disregard the lives of border civilians.
Such a person… was he worthy of wearing that armor and carrying those banners?
“I wonder if Your Highness still deeply loves Miss Yi?” Ye Yuqing glanced at Feng Yue and suddenly asked.
Feng Yue snapped back to attention, looking at Yin Gezhi.
The Crown Prince’s question was indirect, essentially probing which side Yin Gezhi would take when General Yi returned.
He would side with the Crown Prince—the enemy of my enemy is my friend. But the previous act of “serving Miss Yi without complaint” couldn’t be wasted. Yin Gezhi’s face now showed conflict, hesitation, and unease.
Seeing this, Feng Yue’s lips trembled, and tears immediately appeared: “Why won’t Your Highness answer? Didn’t you say just last night that I was the love of your life?”
His mouth twitched slightly. Yin Gezhi looked up at her, quickly immersing himself in the scene, and frowned: “Feng Yue…”
“I won’t listen!” Covering her ears with both hands, Feng Yue said angrily: “You said a gentleman’s word is as swift as a horse’s whip! Why can’t you answer the Crown Prince’s question now?”
“General Yi saved my life,” Yin Gezhi sighed. “If not for him, I would have died on the battlefield without even the chance to come to Wu as a hostage. Do you understand?”
Whether or not Feng Yue understood, Ye Yuqing did, suddenly realizing: “So that’s how it is.”
Yi Guoru had saved Yin Gezhi’s life? No wonder Yin Gezhi didn’t blame him for his actions against Wei. Instead, he was quite close to Yi Zhangzhu.
Now the situation was complicated. He needed Yin Gezhi’s help, but Yin Gezhi clearly still remembered Yi Guoru’s life-saving grace. What could be done?
Ye Yuqing frowned, still troubled, when he heard Feng Yue burst into tears with a “waa.”
“I don’t want to stay in the envoy’s mansion anymore!” Crying miserably, Feng Yue stood up and said: “I hate Your Highness!”
With that, she stomped her foot and rushed out.
For a moment, Ye Yuqing thought he saw Yi Zhangzhu—the scene was so familiar. Even more familiar was how Yin Gezhi, without thinking, chased after her, grabbed her wrist, and said painfully: “Don’t make trouble!”
“How am I making trouble?!” Crying in anger, Feng Yue sobbed: “I told you I have a blood feud with the General’s mansion! You told me not to hold grudges, and I listened, but you still think of Miss Yi!”
“I’m not thinking of her…”
“Then tell me, between Miss Yi and me, who do you choose?” Feng Yue glared, acting unreasonably.
Yin Gezhi sighed with a headache: “I choose you.”
Ye Yuqing was dumbfounded.
Feng Yue smiled, triumphantly making a gesture toward Ye Yuqing, then wiped her tears and asked pitifully: “Then is your promise to never interfere with the General’s mansion’s affairs true or not?”
Yin Gezhi’s brows furrowed deeply, his eyes full of helplessness and a hint of indulgence. After a while, he said: “True.”
Breaking into a smile through her tears, Feng Yue threw herself into his arms, coaxing: “I knew you were the best!”
With a light snort, Yin Gezhi flicked her forehead, then turned to look at Ye Yuqing somewhat embarrassedly: “My apologies for the display, Your Highness. This girl has been spoiled lately and become a bit willful.”
Picking up his jaw from the floor, Ye Yuqing nodded: “I’m happy that Your Highness has found a kindred spirit.”
He glanced at Feng Yue again.
That her influence could be so great was completely unexpected, but it was a pleasant surprise. It seemed the saying that women could bring down kingdoms wasn’t unfounded. He had never experienced being swayed by a woman and didn’t plan to try it in this lifetime.
It was safer to remain a ruthless Crown Prince.
Now that this matter was settled, Ye Yuqing’s words became easier to deliver. He continued: “Father Emperor intends to let General Yi retire peacefully, without having to rush about anymore. Noble Consort Yi is aging and childless, needing company. He might as well spend more time in the palace.”
“I understand Your Highness’s meaning,” Yin Gezhi said. “However, General Yi is a hero of his generation, accustomed to the battlefield. He may not be content with peace.”
“A tiger with teeth naturally wants to eat meat,” Ye Yuqing opened his fan, looking at the landscape painted on it. “But a tiger without teeth finds it quite easy to settle down.”
Yin Gezhi looked up: “Your Highness has great ambitions.”
Want to pull Yi Guoru’s teeth? That depends on whether he has the ability to take back the military tally.
The Crown Prince smiled confidently: “With a hundred thousand troops stationed at the northern border not returning, and General Yi bringing only three thousand men back to the capital—if he can enter the capital, everything else can be arranged.”
Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes in silence, casually taking a walnut that Feng Yue couldn’t crack and crushing it for her.
Feng Yue smiled: “Thank you, Your Highness.” Then she turned and gave the walnut to Ye Yuqing.
Ye Yuqing was staring at Yin Gezhi and didn’t pay attention to what Feng Yue handed him, simply taking it in his hand.
Yin Gezhi’s expression immediately soured. He looked up and said: “Whatever Your Highness commands, I will cooperate fully. It’s getting late; Your Highness should return to the palace rather than lingering outside too long.”
With that, he stood up and made a “please” gesture.
The Crown Prince was confused but had gotten the attitude he wanted. He stood up, bowed, and left with dignity.
After leaving the envoy’s mansion’s gate, just as he was about to board his carriage, he remembered something in his hand. Opening it, he found a walnut kernel lying quietly.
Something stirred in his heart, and Ye Yuqing laughed loudly three times in the street, unable to contain himself.
“Your Highness?” Feng Chuang watched bewilderedly, bowing with concern.
“It’s nothing, nothing,” Ye Yuqing waved his hand. “This eternal empire, in his eyes, can’t compare to a beauty’s charm—I just find it amusing. Yin Gezhi is a good man, but unfortunately, he’ll probably spend the rest of his life in our Wu country.”