Yin Gezhi’s fierce expression froze for a moment as he turned his head away, lips pressed together lightly, his gaze instantly softening.
Someone once said those with the hardest words have the softest hearts. Fengyue smiled sweetly at him, wielding her soft blade and stabbing at his heart: “Do you like this servant?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“…”
“If you can’t give a reason, then you must like me!” Laughing with her whole body shaking, Fengyue hooked his chin with her finger, eyes full of charm: “To have Your Highness’s affection, this servant is truly happy.”
Pinching her, Yin Gezhi said: “Behave yourself!”
What fun would there be in behaving? Fengyue grinned and bit his chin.
The envoy’s mansion was truly a paradise apart. No matter how the situation changed in Bujin City, she could playfully joke with him without worry. This feeling of being allied with someone powerful was something to cherish.
Fang Wenxin was thrown into prison by Ye Yuqin. Before going in, he glared viciously at He Chou: “I won’t let you get away with this!”
He Chou stood with lowered eyes, saying nothing as she watched him being chained, lingering sorrow in her eyes.
“Miss,” Feng Chuang came over and cupped his hands: “This way, please.”
Looking at him puzzled, He Chou said: “This commoner has already filed the complaint. His Highness has concluded the case, where are we going now?”
Feng Chuang said nothing more, just waved for people to escort her into a small room beside the Chief Justice’s court.
“You seem to hate Commander Fang deeply.” Ye Yuqin sat in that room, fanning himself while smiling at her: “Every word in court just now was filled with resentment.”
He Chou lowered her head: “Thank you, Your Highness, for handling the case justly.”
If she didn’t hate him, who would?
“Unfortunately, this prince can’t sentence him to death for this case, yet your family is already completely gone.” Ye Yuqin sighed: “Doesn’t that make you feel unfulfilled?”
Looking at him, He Chou frowned: “Of course it does.”
“Then how about this prince gives you another chance?”
“What chance?” Her eyes brightened as she looked at him hopefully.
Ye Yuqin smiled: “Here’s a dagger. First, stab me once, then you’ll be locked in Fang Wenxin’s cell.”
Trembling slightly, He Chou frowned: “This weak woman is no match for Commander Fang.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Ye Yuqin said: “Once you’re in there, you can kill him. However… after killing him, you might not be able to leave.”
“Alright.” Without thinking, He Chou nodded and agreed, taking the dagger from his hand, and immediately moving to stab him!
Unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, Ye Yuqin blocked her with his closed fan, saying softly: “Don’t rush, this prince can’t be injured.”
Saying this, he took out a bulging leather pouch and stuffed it in his clothes.
He Chou watched dumbfounded as he took her hand, guiding it gently but firmly to the pouch’s position, indicating where to stab.
Her cold hand held in his warm palm, and for a moment He Chou felt comfortable. But she wasn’t truly foolish—she hadn’t forgotten who this person was. Steadying herself, she used just enough force to pierce the pouch.
Fresh blood immediately stained his dragon-embroidered robes. Ye Yuqin cried out in pain: “Seize the assassin!”
Feng Chuang outside was already prepared. He came in and took He Chou away, not even confiscating the dagger, carrying her straight to the prison cell.
Landing in the soft straw pile, He Chou was stunned for a moment before quickly coming to her senses, warily looking around.
Sunlight shone through the small window. There were only two people in the cell—besides her, the other person was somehow sleeping deeply.
Squinting to make out his face, He Chou’s hand trembled slightly as she gripped the dagger, slowly approaching his side. Taking a deep breath, she plunged the blade fiercely toward his heart!
In the middle of their playful moment, Fengyue suddenly stiffened, frowning as she looked up at the sky.
“What is it?” Yin Gezhi glanced at her: “Possessed?”
“This servant just thought of something.” Mumbling, Fengyue turned to look at him: “If Fang Wenxin dies without cause in prison while still holding his position, his family surely won’t let it rest. So how should he die to make it reasonable?”
Yin Gezhi said calmly: “Killed by someone seeking revenge.”
“Right!” Fengyue narrowed her eyes: “So if his enemy does act, what will be their fate?”
“A life for a life.”
A chill ran from her feet to her heart. Fengyue shuddered, grabbing his clothes: “The Crown Prince wants He Chou to take the blame?!”
“Not taking the blame.” Yin Gezhi said: “It’s her choice. She wants revenge, the Crown Prince is giving her the chance.”
But what about after the revenge? Fengyue’s eyes widened: “She’ll die!”
“Living doesn’t mean much anyway.”
“Whether someone else’s life has meaning or not should be for them to say. Why are you speaking so coldly about it?!” Fengyue was angry: “She could keep living!”
His expression darkened. Yin Gezhi said: “You’ve grown bold. Dare to shout at me?”
“…” Pouting pitifully, Fengyue softened her tone: “This servant didn’t mean to shout, but…”
“She chose her path, what’s it to you?”
“But…”
“If she doesn’t die, should someone uninvolved die instead?” Yin Gezhi said methodically: “You said you wanted to be bad people, so don’t hold onto mercy. No one can save all suffering beings.”
Fengyue’s eyes reddened.
She wasn’t a deeply compassionate person, but she wanted the girls from Menghui House to live well after getting their revenge. They’d suffered enough—surely heaven should have a chance to make it up to them over time.
Picking her up, Yin Gezhi walked toward the bed, saying coldly: “Rather than worry about others, you should think about yourself. The doctor said you have a cold constitution, you might not be able to bear children in the future.”
“Oh.” Responding absent-mindedly, Fengyue said: “If I can’t have them, then I can’t. Having them would just be troublesome.”
His hand stiffened. Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes, suddenly asking: “Every time you serve me, do you drink contraceptive medicine afterward?”
“Of course.” Fengyue nodded: “A lowly woman like this servant couldn’t possibly bear your noble child.”
All brothel women had to drink it; she was no exception.
Yin Gezhi nodded, his expression very calm, but his hand showed no mercy as he threw her onto the bed with a loud “thud.”
Fengyue grimaced, holding her waist, caught between laughter and tears: “Are you trying to say you want me to do this, or that you disapprove?”
“A bowl of medicine afterward is the rule.” Yin Gezhi said expressionlessly: “Drink what you should drink.”
With that, he turned and left.
Lying on the bed, Fengyue narrowed her eyes, thought for a moment, and then let out a long sigh.
Fang Wenxin’s death caused an uproar in court. Some officials stood up to accuse the Crown Prince of brutal governance and killing the innocent but were silenced by the murderer’s confession from the Chief Justice’s office.
“I’m brutal?” Ye Yuqin smiled gently: “This prince is merely carrying out the law as it should be. Good and evil have their rewards—it’s all their karma, what does it have to do with me?”
The officials were angry but dared not speak. The Crown Prince waved his hand, ordering the Clan Court to make more preparations in Bujin City for General Yi’s triumphant return.
Many of the tiger’s claws had been cleared away, but the tiger returning to its lair would still hurt for a while. Now that those who needed dealing with had been dealt with, the bloody smell in Bujin City couldn’t be too strong.
“Your Highness.” Feng Chuang whispered in his ear: “Miss He Chou has been put on death row.”
Thinking of the resolution in that woman’s eyes, Ye Yuqin opened his fan and laughed: “She helped this prince greatly and proved reliable. As it happens, this prince needs a thoughtful palace maid—think of something.”
Feng Chuang was startled, frowning involuntarily: “Your Highness, this woman is ruthless…”
“She just had too deep a grudge.” Ye Yuqin said: “Now that her great revenge is done, she probably feels grateful to this prince and can’t wait to repay the favor. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to keep such a loyal girl by my side?”
Feng Chuang thought for a moment, then lowered his head in agreement.
So on the day of He Chou’s execution, Fengyue sat next to He Chou herself, staring dumbfounded at Ye Yuqin across from them.
“Crown Prince…”
“She is my newly recruited palace maid, called Wangyu (Forgetting Sorrows).”
Yin Gezhi’s eyes remained undisturbed as he drank his tea without even raising his eyelids, but Fengyue was so excited her eyes were watery as she grabbed Wangyu’s hands repeatedly saying: “Your Highness is truly good, Your Highness is truly a great person!”
Wangyu maintained her dignified and quiet manner, the accumulated grief in her eyes now gone, appearing even more docile as she smiled slightly at her: “Thank you for your concern, Miss.”
“It’s nothing, nothing.” Fengyue said: “I thought you were going to die, I was wondering how to explain to Madam Jin. Now it’s all good, I can sleep soundly!”
Ye Yuqin laughed, shaking his head: “Miss Fengyue seems to worry about quite a lot.”
“Yes, yes.” Nodding seriously, Fengyue grabbed a lock of her hair, complaining: “I’m worried my hair will turn white.”
Looking at her hair which was as black as ink, Yin Gezhi snorted and shook his head.
Her ability to tell such obvious lies was getting stronger and stronger.
“Speaking of which, hasn’t Your Highness not visited Pearl for a long time?” Looking sideways at Yin Gezhi, Ye Yuqin said: “General Yi has already reached Bujin City’s borders and will likely enter the city tomorrow. Pearl has suffered quite a bit lately.”
More importantly, there were still many things that hadn’t been returned to the general’s guesthouse.
Yin Gezhi nodded: “Once Huaizu arrives, I will visit the general’s mansion.”
“Commander Xu?” Ye Yuqin raised an eyebrow: “You’re going with him?”
“Naturally.” Yin Gezhi said: “The Xu family previously arranged a marriage with the Song family, but the two children haven’t had a chance to meet. General Xu’s meaning is, since they’re going to marry anyway, might as well find an excuse to sit down for tea—better to know each other.”
Fengyue started, blinked, and suddenly asked: “So Miss Song’s fiancé is Commander Xu?”
“That’s right.”
Letting out a couple of dry laughs, Fengyue said: “This servant wants to go too.”
Though last time it was her fault for getting beaten, she still remembered how happy Miss Song had looked while kicking her when she was down. What a great opportunity—how could she not go see?
“Of course, I’ll bring you.” Yin Gezhi said: “We must thank them for teaching manners.”