He moved so swiftly that he seemed to vanish into thin air. Among all the watching eyes, only Feng Yue could track his movements.

Xu Huaizu immediately gathered his robes and gave chase, with Yi Zhangzhu hurriedly following. The two ran without looking back, leaving behind Miss Song, who remained crying softly in the main hall.

Seeing everyone had left, she felt somewhat relieved. Wiping her tears, she shot Feng Yue a venomous glare.

Feng Yue shrugged. “How is this my fault?”

She hadn’t done anything today – all the words had come from Miss Song herself. Xu Huaizu already disliked women who talked too much. Running straight into trouble like that – how could she blame others?

“If you hadn’t spoken ill of me, would Young Master Xu have shown such hostility?” Song Ruoci sneered. “How convenient for you to act so innocent and uninvolved!”

“Miss Song.” With few people left in the hall, Feng Yue smiled sweetly as she picked up Yin Gezhi’s tea and took a sip to wet her throat before continuing, “What wrong have I done? Have I committed some offense against you, or has my conduct been improper – perhaps flirting with His Highness in front of you?”

She paused briefly. Song Ruoci frowned. “You’re just a courtesan – going against a young lady from a general’s family, looking down on everyone!”

“So because you disapprove of me, you righteously sacrificed your marriage prospects? And now the person involved is out there practicing lightness skills while you sit here crying alone?” Feng Yue shook her head. “You’re even more compassionate than Young Lady Yi.”

Her body stiffened as Song Ruoci realized the truth. She glanced outside, feeling somewhat angry herself. But maintaining her dignity, she stubbornly replied, “As sisters, it’s only right to stand up for each other.”

“A noble friendship is as light as water, while petty people cluster together,” Feng Yue giggled. “For the sake of so-called sisterly bonds, you blindly united against a common enemy – that’s far too hasty. Even if you share a close friendship, there’s no need to rush to someone’s defense before understanding the truth. Besides, Young Lady Yi hardly needs you to stand up for her.”

She could crush an ant-like Song Ruoci with a mere twitch of her finger.

Unable to argue back, Song Ruoci felt regret and couldn’t help but start sobbing again. She had been too impulsive, and now the situation was completely unsalvageable.

“Would you like to hear my advice?” Seeing her crying so pitifully, Feng Yue asked.

Song Ruoci stopped crying and looked up at her in surprise, pressing her lips together before saying, “Speak.”

“If Young Master Xu doesn’t like you, there’s no need to marry him,” Feng Yue said with a mischievous smile. “Wouldn’t it be better to find a man who truly cherishes you? As a daughter of a noble family, finding a match shouldn’t be difficult. Rather than waiting for the Xu family to break off the engagement, why not be bold and end it yourself, citing Young Master Xu’s unreasonable behavior today? This way, you’ll receive the Xu family’s apology while preserving your reputation.”

Her face stiffened, and Song Ruoci’s gaze turned hateful again. “You just want to see me fail!”

How many people were fighting for a marriage alliance with the Xu family? How could she possibly break it off?

Shrugging, Feng Yue said, “Then pretend I said nothing.”

With a cold laugh, Song Ruoci declared, “Zhangzhu is the one who truly won’t harm me. This marriage cannot be broken! You don’t want me to marry, but I will anyway. I’ll marry into a good family, and you can stew in your anger!”

With that, she lifted her skirts and stood up, heading to the side hall to fix her makeup in the mirror.

Feng Yue couldn’t help but laugh, finding these petty noble young ladies quite amusing – when angry they would hop about, yet still try to maintain their dignity and proper manners, both adorable and pitiful.

Shaking her head, she slowly walked outside, intending to check on how things were progressing with Yin Gezhi. Instead, she found Xu Huaizu crouching beside the pile of books in the courtyard, looking quite angry.

“What’s wrong?” Feng Yue asked.

Xu Huaizu replied in frustration, “We couldn’t see Master at all! There was no way to keep up with him. Might as well wait here – he’ll have to come back for these books anyway!”

Yi Zhangzhu beside him wasn’t angry; rather, she seemed proud as she said, “That’s because your master’s lightness skills are exceptional. He moves through my general’s mansion as if it were empty.”

Feng Yue pondered silently, thinking this young lady was truly too trusting – letting such a dangerous demon roam freely in her home without fear of consequences!

Trouble had already occurred – General Yi had suffered heavy losses, and once Yin Gezhi returned everything to its original place, it would be even worse. General Yi wouldn’t even know how the losses had happened.

Shaking her head with a sigh, Feng Yue helped tidy up the books scattered in the courtyard. Soon after, they saw Yin Gezhi fly back, landing gracefully in the courtyard.

“Still half left,” he said seriously to Xu Huaizu. “Watch carefully this time and keep up.”

Xu Huaizu shook his head sullenly. “Can’t keep up, won’t try!”

Giving him a sideways glance, Yin Gezhi held ten books in his hands, balanced five on his head, and held one in his mouth as he slowly walked toward the exit.

This was looking down on someone! Ah! Young Master Xu was enraged – he had just said he wouldn’t follow, but now he let out a roar and pounced forward.

Yi Zhangzhu couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration: “Brother Yin is truly amazing.”

A woman’s love for a man often grows from admiration, and Feng Yue nodded, understanding Yi Zhangzhu’s feelings completely.

Because she had once looked at Yin Gezhi with the same eyes.

The man was like a god, omnipotent, magnificent with his long halberd, slaying countless enemies. Yet his personality wasn’t steady – he was arrogant and wicked, completely different from other dignified generals.

But later she understood – such a person was meant to be admired from afar, not to be played with, and certainly not to be the object of improper thoughts.

Now she had learned her lesson, but Young Lady Yi had not.

Looking at her sympathetically, Feng Yue turned and silently left the main courtyard.

Nanny Xun’s courtyard was still completely silent, but after three knocks, the door creaked open.

“Nanny!” Feng Yue smiled sweetly. “I’ve come to see you!”

Nanny Xun’s eyes brightened, and she smiled, pulling her inside by the hand. “You’ve come at just the right time, girl. I just made some rice balls – come try them.”

“What perfect timing!” Feng Yue said. “Then I’m in for a treat.”

After giving her the rice balls, Nanny Xun said, “I thought I wouldn’t see you again for a long time.”

Swallowing a rice ball, Feng Yue smiled. “Since Nanny entrusted me with a task, of course, I had to come to report back soon.”

Remembering what she had asked her to do last time, Nanny Xun trembled, her eyes suddenly reddening. “You… you went to look?”

“I did,” Feng Yue smiled with narrowed eyes. “As soon as I entered the village, I found Uncle Hu. His hair has grayed somewhat, but his spirit is good. He can still carry a hoe to work in the fields. The villagers all say he’s been waiting for his wife to return, so he never married and has no children.”

Nanny Xun’s throat tightened, her lips trembling. After a long while, she finally choked out, “Really?”

“Yes,” Feng Yue sighed. “He asked if something had happened to Xiaolan and that’s why she hasn’t returned. I have a big mouth, so I told him about your current situation. Uncle Hu said… it’s alright, as long as you’re alive, he still has decades left to wait.”

The old woman before her was speechless, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes. Feng Yue hurriedly offered her a handkerchief, saying softly, “He doesn’t blame you, don’t be sad.”

Crystal drops rolled down her wrinkled face as Nanny Xun breathed heavily for a long time before finally breaking into sobs. “I’ve wronged him! All these years, how has he managed alone!”

Rubbing her back, Feng Yue said, “Haven’t you also been alone?”

“But his mother always wanted to hold a grandchild.” Her straight back bent, and the stern Nanny Xun cried like the young girl she had been when first entering the palace. “She used to always say that once I came out, we must give her a chubby grandson to hold. It’s been so many years… I… I couldn’t even send a letter back!”

Her crying was heartbreaking. Feng Yue pressed her lips together and stood to embrace her, comforting her softly. “Shall we find a way to get you out?”

“How could I possibly get out!” Nanny Xun wailed. “After all these years, do you think I haven’t tried to find ways to leave? It’s impossible – I’d be caught and brought back before taking two steps!”

Under the heavy, dignified clothes, she seemed to be nothing but bones. Feng Yue took a breath and patted her back. “I’ll think of a way. You don’t know martial arts, so naturally, you couldn’t escape alone. But if someone helped you, it would be different.”

The crying stopped abruptly. Nanny Xun looked up, her eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky, asking hopefully like a little girl, “Really?”

“Really,” Feng Yue nodded and clenched her fist. “Wait for me to make someone happy – once they’re happy, getting you out won’t be a problem.”

Nanny Xun was stunned. She watched the girl let go and run out without looking back, though in her heart she didn’t hold much hope.

However, she truly wanted to leave – even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, she would pray for it!

Feng Yue crouched outside the east courtyard wall. Soon she saw a shadow float past overhead.

The shadow paused briefly upon seeing her but still entered silently. When he came out again, he immediately scooped her up and pressed her against a corner of the wall. “Seeking death?”

Waiting for him here – what if others had seen him?

Feng Yue looked up pitifully and said, “I truly have something to ask Your Highness’s help with, which is why I had no choice but to wait here.”

Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes, bracing his hand against the wall, and asked impatiently, “What is it?”

“I want to ask Your Highness to help smuggle Nanny Xun out of the mansion!”

He almost lost his footing in shock. Yin Gezhi looked at her in disbelief. “Have you gone mad? What do you want to steal a nanny out for?”

“Would Your Highness please help me this once?” Hands clasped together, Feng Yue blinked her large, watery eyes. “Just one favor.”

With a cold snort, Yin Gezhi turned to leave.

She grabbed his belt, making him stop. He turned back to glare at her in annoyance. “How irritating!”

Taking a deep breath, Feng Yue forced tears to well up. “But Nanny Xun’s situation is truly too tragic – separated from her love for decades, unable to even see him one last time before dying here.”

Seeing her tears, Yin Gezhi grew even more agitated. “You think crying will work?”

Hearing this, Feng Yue bit her lip as tears suddenly poured down like a waterfall. She choked out, “Your Highness…”

Covering half his face, Yin Gezhi cursed under his breath shook her off, and walked away. “Fine! I got it!”