The words were spoken with such earnestness that neither of the two people beside him detected anything amiss. However, Feng Yue paused, giving him an unexpected glance.
Could it be that she wasn’t the only one holding a grudge? Or perhaps those strikes on his spiritual core had left a deeper wound in his heart?
Inexplicably more excited now, Feng Yue held her head high as she waited for Xu Huaizu to arrive.
Ye Yuqing looked at them and suddenly turned to ask Wangyou: “Don’t you think they’re growing more and more alike?”
Wangyou froze for a moment, carefully glancing at him before lowering her head and responding, “Miss Feng Yue stands above all others in beauty, while His Highness Yin is peerless in grace. Their appearances couldn’t be more different, but if you speak of their bearing… they are indeed quite similar.”
Especially that spine-chilling feeling they gave people—it was the same!
Ye Yuqing shook his head and chuckled softly. He had lost his greatest treasure but gained an arm instead; it seemed like a fair trade. Yet seeing these two so close made him slightly displeased. But no matter—what was beauty compared to an empire?
Xu Huaizu arrived shortly after, wearing a gray brocade embroidered with the currently fashionable snake pattern. He looked both gallant and elegant, his hair bound with a bronze crown. Unlike other fair-faced young gentlemen, he possessed a unique air of a great general.
“Master, Your Highness.” He bowed properly upon arrival, Xu Huaizu smiled, showing a row of white teeth. “It’s time to head to the General’s mansion.”
Ye Yuqing nodded: “We can’t delay your lifelong happiness. Please proceed, Prince Yin. This prince should return now as well.”
“Respectfully seeing Your Highness off.” Xu Huaizu bowed with cupped hands, watching until those dragon-embroidered boots had walked away. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and turn to call out: “Master…”
His voice was full of grievance and reluctance, causing Yin Gezhi to raise an eyebrow: “Don’t want to go to the General’s mansion?”
Sitting down dejectedly, Xu Huaizu said, “A man should establish his career before thinking of romance. My father is really… it’s as if he fears the Xu family line will end, arranging a marriage for me so early.”
Feng Yue smiled sweetly: “Young Master An is also betrothed. You wouldn’t want to fall behind him, would you?”
Speaking of this made Xu Huaizu even more troubled: “That’s exactly it! Since his betrothal, he hasn’t been joining me for morning practice. He just hides in his mansion primping himself like a young lady! Tell me, what girl would like someone like that?”
Yin Gezhi lifted his eyelids slightly: “I heard he’s been hiding at home practicing diligently because he can’t beat you lately.”
“Is that so?” Xu Huaizu frowned: “He should have just said so! I could have gone easy on him. We grew up together, what’s there to compete about?”
Feng Yue couldn’t help but laugh. The young master of the Xu family was straightforward, while the An family’s young master was more sensitive—it was normal for him to care about winning and losing.
“Alright, let’s go,” Yin Gezhi stood up and said, “It’s not good to keep them waiting too long at the General’s mansion.”
Sighing, Xu Huaizu stood up and walked beside Feng Yue, muttering: “This is so annoying. Couldn’t we just meet for a meal together? Why must it be at the General’s mansion? I don’t like that place…”
“Why not?” Feng Yue asked with a smile.
“Everything feels strange there,” Xu Huaizu pouted.
Of course, it feels strange with mechanisms everywhere, Feng Yue thought, shaking her head with a smile. She asked him: “Have you met the Song family’s young lady?”
“No,” Xu Huaizu replied with a worried expression. “According to the matchmaker, she’s a virtuous and proper young lady, doesn’t talk much, knows how to manage a household, and is accomplished in painting and calligraphy. She writes excellent poetry too. I suppose she can’t be too bad, but I’m not particularly excited about it.”
He preferred someone with a cooler temperament, someone who didn’t talk much but had their own opinions. Otherwise, after marriage, she might try to boss him around all the time—how annoying would that be?
“This servant has seen her before; she’s quite pretty and won’t embarrass you,” Feng Yue said. “As for whether she talks too much, you’ll have to see for yourself.”
“Oh?” Xu Huaizu became interested: “How did Miss Feng Yue get to see her?”
“I accompanied His Highness to the General’s mansion last time and had the honor of meeting her.”
Last time? Xu Huaizu froze, then frowned immediately: “Last time, Guanzhi mentioned that you returned from the General’s mansion injured. I never asked, but what happened?”
Feng Yue blinked, still hesitating whether to explain, when Yin Gezhi, who was walking slowly ahead, spoke: “Nothing major happened. Just some young ladies helping Zhu’er get revenge. They taught Feng Yue a lesson.”
My goodness, the way he put it, completely skipping over how she had made the bet and gotten herself into trouble, Feng Yue clicked her tongue, thinking this sounded rather like tattling.
Xu Huaizu paused, then his face darkened: “No wonder we have to go to the General’s mansion to see her. So she’s the type who likes to rely on powerful connections to bully others?”
“You can’t judge someone just by what the matchmaker says, nor by what we say,” Yin Gezhi stepped onto the footstool to enter the carriage and said, “You need to see for yourself.”
Though he nodded in agreement, Xu Huaizu was still annoyed. He helped Feng Yue into the carriage, followed her in, and then said solemnly: “Master doesn’t have many people around him, and I’ve always regarded Miss Feng Yue as half a master’s wife. She was sent to master’s side in my name, so if anyone bullies her, they’re crossing me!”
Having learned his lesson from being severely punished last time for saying Feng Yue was like a master’s wife, Xu Huaizu was smarter this time and said “half a master’s wife.” He also carefully observed his master’s reaction.
Unexpectedly, this time Yin Gezhi didn’t mind at all, instead nodding: “That’s thoughtful of you.”
…Was this approval? Xu Huaizu was stunned, looking at Yin Gezhi, then at Feng Yue who was obediently nestled beside him, his jaw nearly dropping.
How had their relationship improved so much in just a few days?
Raising his chin, Xu Huaizu clenched his fist! Since Master had permitted it, he would seek justice for Miss Feng Yue!
Song Ruoci waited anxiously in the flower hall, wringing her handkerchief nearly to shreds, making Yi Zhangzhu laugh: “Why are you so nervous? He doesn’t eat people.”
“You don’t understand. Before I left, mother told me I absolutely cannot leave a bad impression, or the marriage might fall through.”
The Xu family’s young master had become the City Guard Commander at such a young age—such a good marriage prospect would be hard to come by even for daughters of noble families. Since this opportunity had fallen to her, she had to handle it well!
Yi Zhangzhu shook her head with a smile, just about to tease her when Dianchai came in and said: “Master, they’ve arrived at the gate.”
Setting down her teacup, Yi Zhangzhu hurriedly went out to welcome them, with Song Ruoci following behind, her face flushed red.
Servants lined up in two rows at the gate. As Yin Gezhi led his group down from the carriage, he was met with Yi Zhangzhu’s gentle yet aggrieved gaze: “Brother Yin finally deigns to visit Zhu’er.”
Nodding slightly, Yin Gezhi waved for people to fetch things from the carriage: “I’ve been busy lately, and you have many affairs to handle here, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Today Huaizu is coming, so it’s a good chance to return the books I borrowed from the General’s mansion.”
After he finished speaking, Xu Huaizu came forward and bowed to Yi Zhangzhu: “Miss Yi.”
Behind them, Song Ruoci’s heart was pounding. Her eyes wandered for a while before she finally gathered the courage to glance in Xu Huaizu’s direction.
Xu Huaizu pressed his lips together, then turned to help Feng Yue who was curtseying: “Miss, your injuries haven’t fully healed, be careful.”
Song Ruoci was stunned, and Yi Zhangzhu’s brow also furrowed slightly as she smiled faintly: “Miss Feng Yue came as well.”
“I shouldn’t impose, but His Highness needs someone to attend to him, so this servant came along,” Feng Yue smiled in a way that made others want to slap her: “Greetings, Miss Yi, Miss Song.”
Song Ruoci’s face turned ashen. As a young lady raised in the inner chambers, she didn’t know much about outside affairs. Why was Xu Huaizu so good to this woman?
It’s over, it’s over! She must have already spoken ill of her on the way here, what would Young Master Xu think of her now?
“Let’s go inside to talk,” Yi Zhengzhou hadn’t noticed Song Ruoci’s expression, only looking at Yin Gezhi as she said: “Father is about to return to court, and Zhu’er still has many things unfinished. I hope Brother Yin can help.”
“Alright,” Yin Gezhi agreed and stepped inside.
Feng Yue lowered her head and followed behind, intending to walk last, but unexpectedly, Xu Huaizu pulled her arm to walk beside him. He whispered: “Miss Feng Yue, Huaizu’s lifelong happiness depends on you!”
What? Feng Yue blinked: “Isn’t your lifelong happiness dependent on Miss Song?”
“Precisely because it depends on her, I need your help to test her true character. If I marry the wrong person, Huaizu’s entire life will be ruined!”
Seeing his serious expression, Feng Yue couldn’t help but laugh, nodding: “Alright.”
Thus, what should have been Yi Zhangzhu leading Yin Gezhi away to let the betrothed couple chat turned into three people sitting in the pavilion—two smiling sweetly while Song Ruoci’s face turned green.
“Miss Song,” Xu Huaizu smiled: “I hear you’re skilled at writing poetry.”
Forcing a smile, Song Ruoci glanced at Feng Yue: “If Young Master Xu wishes to discuss poetry, perhaps we could move somewhere else?”
“This spot is fine,” Xu Huaizu said. “Is the young lady shy?”
It wasn’t shyness, it was fear! Looking warily at Feng Yue, Song Ruoci couldn’t help but ask: “Why is this lady sitting here? If I remember correctly, she’s Prince Yin’s servant.”
“That’s right, she’s the servant I gave to my master,” Xu Huaizu nodded and smiled: “I heard she learned some manners last time at the General’s mansion, thanks to the young lady’s guidance.”
Her heart sinking, Song Ruoci frowned and said: “Young Master must not listen to nonsense. Last time at the General’s mansion, I didn’t do anything!”
Feng Yue lowered her head to crack melon seeds, her movements graceful, appearing completely uninvolved.
Xu Huaizu nodded: “Did I misunderstand? Feng Yue said the young lady took good care of her and wanted to express her gratitude.”
She would say that? Song Ruoci didn’t believe it, but the atmosphere was too awkward now. After much hesitation, she said: “There’s no need for thanks, but could Miss Feng Yue step aside for a moment? I have something I’d like to say to Young Master Xu privately.”
Feng Yue nodded, very obediently taking her melon seeds to stand in the courtyard with her back to them.
Xu Huaizu continued to smile at Song Ruoci, who became serious and said in a low voice: “Young Master Xu, I did indeed meet this Miss Feng Yue before. While I can’t speak of giving guidance, she showed no self-awareness, attempting to compete with Miss Yi for Prince Yin’s favor. It was truly too much. Please be careful of this person, and don’t be deceived by her appearance.”