Although that group of people also wore official robes, their accent differed somewhat from the locals. The leader had an arrogant demeanor, wearing a plain gold bird gauze hat, a round-collared red robe with small floral patterns, and a golden lychee belt—he appeared to be a fourth-rank official.

Beside him stood a pale-faced man in fifth-rank attire, wearing a cold sneer. He pointed at the courtyard with raised eyebrows and declared: “This office is sealed today and receives no outside guests. Lord Liu, Left Counselor under Lord Shen, has personally arrived to oversee the transfer proceedings. All idle persons must leave!”

Prefect Peng caught up, his face covered in sweat, and angrily said: “Even if there’s a dismissal transfer, what does it have to do with others? You people are far too domineering!”

“Old Peng,” that pale-faced man Shen Junxin glanced at him sidelong, “you’d better shut up. At this point, you’re like a clay buddha crossing the river—barely able to save yourself. Still wanting to meddle in such irrelevant matters? Better think about how to write your confession memorial!”

“The guest being received today is an Imperial Guard!” Prefect Peng stamped his foot. “You’re being far too presumptuous!”

“Silence!” That fourth-rank Counselor Liu said coldly and ominously, “An Imperial Guard, so what? Just a sixth-rank guard. Do you really think you can escape punishment by relying on that person? Today with me here, no one can protect you!”

“Outrageous!” Prefect Peng said coldly, “Though Imperial Guards have low rank, they are His Majesty’s personal guards. Once they leave the capital, they represent imperial dignity. Have you truly become so absurdly domineering that you have no limits—you even dare to disregard the Emperor’s personal guards?”

That Counselor Liu tilted his head, looking at him strangely for a long while, then suddenly cackled with laughter. Leaning close to his ear, he laughed: “…You’re right. In Longxi, in the three prefectures and seven provinces directly under the Provincial Administration Commissioner, Lord Shen is your heaven!”

Prefect Peng stepped back, looking at Counselor Liu with surprise, then after a long moment heavily sighed, “I knew the Shen clan was arrogant, but never imagined it had reached such extremes!”

“Remove your gauze hat and official robe, get to your study, don’t take one step out, and await the Lord’s judgment!” With someone backing him up, Shen Junxin’s arrogance soared. He viciously shoved him, and several bailiffs rushed forward and immediately knocked off Prefect Peng’s official hat.

“What crime have I committed!”

“Bribery!”

“You can search my inner courtyard!” Prefect Peng struggled and pointed at the inner courtyard. “If you find more than ten taels of silver, then take me to the capital!”

“To the capital?” Counselor Li glanced at him sidelong. “Lord Shen cannot handle you? The Provincial Administration Commissioner’s office has full authority to deal with subordinate officials who commit crimes!”

“I’m not guilty!”

“Disrespecting Lord Shen is itself a crime!” Shen Junxin roared, then pointed at Feng Zhiwei’s courtyard. “A few sixth-rank minor guards daring not to come out and pay respects to Lord Liu is a crime!”

“Smack!”

A boot suddenly flew out from the courtyard with a whoosh, accurately and viciously hitting Shen Junxin’s face.

Shen Junxin howled, and amid stars exploding before his eyes, he suddenly smelled an indescribable odor that nearly knocked him unconscious from the stench.

“Crime your ass! Pay respects your dead person respects!” Someone didn’t use the main door but the window, stepping out in one stride, wearing only one boot, standing in the courtyard rolling up his sleeves with raised eyebrows, cursing: “Han people are truly not fucking decent! Foul!”

Through the half-open window, Feng Zhiwei, who was drinking tea and playing blind chess with Ning Yi, shook her head and sighed.

Helian Zheng immediately turned back, apologizing with a smile: “Not talking about you.”

Feng Zhiwei calmly said: “No matter, it is indeed foul.”

“If my Eight Tiger were here,” Helian Zheng’s jaw muscles bulged, “I’d have long since made him eat my whip first!”

“You can also make him eat it.” Feng Zhiwei coolly reminded him.

“Audacious!” Shen Junxin, who had been knocked senseless, only now reacted. Furiously enraged, he shouted: “How dare you assault someone in the prefectural office! Seeking death! Someone—”

“Smack!” Helian Zheng’s whip sent him flying ten steps, rolling into the mud to eat dirt.

“Rebellion!” That Counselor Liu appeared to have some martial arts skills. He stepped forward and stamped on Helian Zheng’s whip. “Where did this domineering brat come from? Seize him for me!”

Helian Zheng flicked his wrist and sent him sprawling face-first, laughing angrily while shaking his head: “Truly the thief crying ‘thief’—the chief domineering one calling others domineering. I thought I was domineering enough on the grasslands, but turns out I’m far behind!”

“You dare assault a fourth-rank court official!” Counselor Liu grabbed the whip and clung to it, reaching to draw his blade.

The blade didn’t come out, but his hand was stepped on. Looking up, he saw someone steadily standing on his right hand, bending down to look at him.

Counselor Liu couldn’t see the person’s face, only saw a pair of eyes bright as morning stars behind white gauze.

Then he saw that person slowly take off his waist token, look at it, and slowly say: “Fourth rank.”

Then slowly remove a blue plaque with gold characters from his own waist that read “Yongchen Palace Imperial Attendant with Blade Privilege,” slap it on his face, and say: “Fourth rank.”

“…”

Then the fourth-rank attendant with blade privilege steadily walked over Counselor Li’s body.

“Rebellion rebellion rebellion rebellion!” Both Counselor Liu and Shen Junxin, having been trampled and fumigated into confusion, clutched their heads and scrambled up, shouting in overlapping voices, kicking and yelling for the bailiffs to attack. Unfortunately, those bailiffs couldn’t get anywhere near Helian Zheng—they were all kicked out like balls.

Prefect Peng was trembling with anger, but when the conflict suddenly erupted here, he stood frozen in place for a moment.

“You’re the ones rebelling!” Just as the chaos reached its peak, a chess piece shot out with a snap. The window swung fully open, revealing Feng Zhiwei’s calm yet stern face. “Northern Border Huozhuo tribe’s Prince Helian, accompanied by the Longxi Circuit specially dispatched Surveillance Commissioner, graces your Jiyang Prefecture, and you dare to be so presumptuous!”

This long string of titles shocked the entire courtyard full of officials and bailiffs who had been about to rush forward. Their arrogant momentum instantly deflated as they stood there looking at each other in confusion—weren’t they told it was just a few sixth-rank guards? Where did this Commissioner and Prince come from?

Feng Zhiwei sat still, slowly drinking tea. She had discussed this with Ning Yi. Shen Xuru had acted quickly, probably obtaining some information. Wanting to block them in Jiyang and strike first, he had framed Prefect Peng and sent trusted subordinates to control Jiyang. Now hoping that Prefect Peng would dispatch troops for their escort was impossible—the forces here had already been controlled by the Shen clan. And their main imperial mission entourage hadn’t caught up yet. It wasn’t time to reveal their identities. Once exposed, if the Shen clan took desperate action and mobilized the entire prefecture’s military forces, relying on just Gu Nanyi and Helian Zheng for protection might not end well.

Earlier, it was precisely because of carelessness—not expecting that even before reaching Nanhai territory, the Chang family’s hand would reach them, not expecting the Chang family’s collusion with interior officials to be so deep, not expecting the Shen clan to be so bold—their preparation and defensive strength hadn’t been arranged in advance, leading to the two of them suffering hardships and nearly losing their lives. The current Feng Zhiwei naturally prioritized prudence.

After descending the mountain, Gu Nanyi’s hidden guards had already sent out messages through separate channels. Helian Zheng notified Eight Tiger to come. Ning Yi notified his restlessly wandering attendant Ning Cheng, not using his own three thousand imperial mission guards but mobilizing prefectural troops from neighboring Longnan province for protection. The Longnan Commander was a staff general from the Chunyu family, precisely from Prince Chu’s faction.

What they needed now was just to wait.

Since they temporarily couldn’t appear as Ning Yi and Wei Zhi, naturally only Helian Zheng or Gu Nanyi could take the stage. Fortunately, Prince Helian had left the capital following Feng Zhiwei in his capacity as a Qingming Academy student—only the Emperor knew this. Gu Nanyi superficially was just her guard. Shen Xuru couldn’t possibly know these details clearly.

To prevent these people from also having portraits of the two of them, Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi had both changed to wear masks, both in scholar’s appearance.

When she spoke like this, it shocked everyone in the courtyard. Everyone knew that although Surveillance Commissioners had relatively low rank, they could supervise all officials, inspect counties, correct criminal matters, regulate official conduct, and their memorials went directly to the Emperor. They were the most powerful positions that officials feared. In previous years, the Circuit Surveillance Commissioners who came were all honored guests at Lord Shen’s table, enjoying the highest level of hospitality. Moreover, there was the noble and important Prince Huozhuo!

Looking again at the fully opened window, one person was half-reclining slowly eating walnuts, two people were playing chess on the couch, dressed in light casual robes with leisurely demeanors. That bearing and temperament was thoroughly capital-style. Never mind a Surveillance Commissioner—they looked like princes!

Helian Zheng sneered, pulled his belt, and in his palm, the golden plaque showed a fierce bird, the gyrfalcon, with wings spread ready to fly. Several engraved gold characters “Manufactured by the Imperial Workshop in the Seventh Year of Changxi” were very distinct. In the sunlight, it showed seven-colored light at the angles—this was precisely the craftsmanship that only the Imperial Workshop, which specially manufactured identity tokens for royalty and above by imperial command, could produce. No one could forge it.

Counselor Liu stood frozen there, his face turning iron-blue with changing expressions. Shen Junxin was dumbfounded, standing with a pale face. Prefect Peng also stared wide-eyed, momentarily not knowing whether to feel joy or sorrow.

Helian Zheng picked up his boot and put it on. Only then did everyone in the courtyard let out a long breath, struggling out from the predicament of nearly suffocating to death.

“Such impressive airs in your prefecture!” Feng Zhiwei continued drinking tea without lifting her head. “Seeing the noble Prince Huozhuo who enjoys princely rank, you don’t even bow?”

The Huozhuo tribe were grassland kings, enjoying Tiansheng’s second-rank princely status.

“Greetings to Prince Huozhuo!” Events came suddenly. Counselor Liu and Shen Junxin, intimidated by Feng Zhiwei and the others’ imposing manner, immediately lost their arrogant air. After standing dazed for a long while, they had no choice but to bow deeply. The bailiffs frantically dropped their weapons and fell to the ground in prostration.

Helian Zheng waved his hand and without a word turned back to leave. Although Feng Zhiwei had instructed him that pretending a bit wouldn’t hurt, the Prince simply wasn’t happy about being falsely polite with these scoundrels. Such a difficult task should be left to that masked woman Feng Zhiwei.

His hands itched. His hands really itched. His knuckles cracked as he clenched them.

Feng Zhiwei felt helpless and could only get off the couch. Carrying a cup of tea, she shuffled over and leaned against the window, smiling cheerfully: “This humble one is Longxi Circuit Surveillance Commissioner Tao Yixi. Greetings to all you lords.”

Though she said “greetings,” she didn’t even bend her waist.

Counselor Liu and the others actually found this behavior appropriate—the Circuit Surveillance Commissioners had always been like this, small officials with big airs. They didn’t even need to bow to Lord Shen. They hurriedly returned the courtesy: “We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare. We’ve been remiss toward Commissioner Tao…” As they spoke, they felt somewhat guilty, exchanging glances hesitantly.

Feng Zhiwei took it all in. Behind the swirling tea vapor, she smiled coldly, then said, “What just happened was a misunderstanding. Commissioner Tao failed to report his identity beforehand. Can’t blame you two.”

Both men breathed a sigh of relief, pulling at their stiff facial muscles to force smiles, saying: “Thank you for your understanding, Commissioner.”

Feng Zhiwei continued leisurely: “Although Commissioner Tao has been ordered to supervise the Longxi Circuit, I have no authority to interfere with your prefecture’s personnel changes…”

The two smiled even more broadly.

“It’s just that since this coincidentally came before Commissioner Tao’s eyes…” Feng Zhiwei frowned with apparent distress, as if to say “with you acting like this, it’s very difficult for me to cover for you,” “…Commissioner Tao can’t completely ignore it…”

The two men hesitated, exchanged glances, then laughed: “It’s only a temporary transfer. Prefect Peng’s crimes haven’t been determined yet. Since the Commissioner is here, naturally we must request the Commissioner to preside over this matter.”

They immediately ordered people to prepare a banquet, inviting “the Prince, Commissioner, and Guard Lord” to honor them with their presence.

They also couldn’t forcibly remove Prefect Peng’s gauze hat anymore. Prefect Peng, in a dreamlike state, stared at the group for a long while before taking his office bailiffs to the front to handle routine business.

“Pedantic scholar!” Shen Junxin viciously spat at Prefect Peng’s back. “Just wait and see what’s coming for you!”

Feng Zhiwei watched with a half-smile, following the two men into the flower hall to take seats. Helian Zheng ignored everyone, swaggering to take the seat of honor. As he sat down, he glanced at Ning Yi with disdain.

Ning Yi didn’t even glance at him—couldn’t see him anyway.

Young Master Gu sat down and smoothly cleared the two seats to his left and the two seats to his right, occupying half the table by himself, forcing everyone else to squeeze into the other half.

Feng Zhiwei wasn’t drinking this time. These past few days, she’d been avoiding alcohol like the plague. Dry-laughing with “this brother doesn’t drink well, doesn’t drink well,” she smoothly removed the wine from Ning Yi’s place as well.

Ning Yi smiled faintly and drank tea.

Though he was blind, his demeanor was composed, his gaze not dull. Most of the time his eyes were lowered, so no one could tell there was a problem with his eyes.

Feng Zhiwei most admired this about him—His Highness could pretend to be anything convincingly. When pretending not to be blind, he looked completely not blind, haha.

“With this humble wine, we respectfully present…” Counselor Liu, who had been beaten into submission, wore a grim face, barely forcing himself. The smooth Shen Junxin raised his cup, wanting to smooth things over.

Before he could finish his toast, Young Master Gu grabbed a plate of Dongpo pork and drifted past the table like a sleepwalker.

“Respectfully present…” Shen Junxin began to stutter.

Young Master Gu counted the meat, his voice flat and emotionless: “One, two, three…”

“Respectfully present…” Shen Junxin clutched his cup, completely forgetting what he wanted to say.

“Four, five, six…”

“Respectfully present…” Shen Junxin’s hand holding the wine cup began to tremble. Clearly that person was just flatly counting meat—why did he feel a chill rising from his heart?

“Seven, eight, nine!”

Helian Zheng grabbed a wine pot and jumped onto the windowsill.

Feng Zhiwei dragged Ning Yi back three steps, and with quick hands and sharp eyes, took away His Highness’s cup of tea.

Counselor Liu and Shen Junxin stood with mouths agape, not understanding why everyone had left their seats in the blink of an eye.

“Smack!”

A plate of meticulously prepared Dongpo pork landed face-down on the table.

A hole the size of the plate immediately appeared in the table. Nine innocent pieces of meat fell on the tips of the two masters’ boots.

“Eight pieces.” Young Master Gu said slowly.

“…”

Shen Junxin and Counselor Liu were completely bewildered, not knowing how to react. They wanted to be angry, but looking at that solid table that now had a hole from one casual slap with a plate, thinking their own heads probably couldn’t withstand such a slap, they could only swallow their saliva and console themselves that people from the capital naturally had to be a bit different.

“Eight pieces.” Young Master Gu very patiently repeated.

Eight pieces… eight pieces of what?

Still, Shen Junxin’s brain worked better. His gaze swept across the floor, and he suddenly understood, tentatively asking: “Too much meat?”

Young Master Gu looked at him with an expression that said “you’re an idiot—why did it take you so long to understand when Feng Zhiwei understood after one explanation?”

Feng Zhiwei, receiving Young Master Gu’s gaze, showed a proud smile, thinking “you two fools breaking one plate is nothing—back in the day at Qingming Academy, the braised pork was always excessive, causing me to overeat every day. I gained eight jin in one month, so painful. Young Master Gu’s temper has really been getting better lately, haha.”

The unforgivable nine pieces of meat were swiftly removed. Shen Junxin learned his lesson. Next came eight pigeon eggs, eight steamed crabs, eight powdered taro. Even the turtle in the Farewell My Concubine dish—to achieve the perfect effect of eight, they forcibly cut off four legs from another turtle and attached them to the turtle bearing this heavy responsibility, creating a miraculous eight-legged turtle to meet Young Master Gu’s high requirement for eight.

Young Master Gu didn’t even glance at it, just buried his head in eating his meat.

Feng Zhiwei gazed sorrowfully at that world’s only eight-legged turtle—the chef’s brain really worked well. Too bad she forgot to mention earlier that Young Master Gu’s eight-piece requirement only applied to meat.

The still-shaken Shen Junxin no longer dared mention toasting. He obediently attended to the meal. During the meal, he brought up the matter of investigating and impeaching Prefect Peng again. After all, although Shen Xuru had the authority to handle Prefect Peng, if it went through the Surveillance Commissioner’s hands to submit a memorial directly, it would be more legitimate.

“I’m just a seventh-rank Surveillance Commissioner. How could I discipline a fifth-rank prefect…” Feng Zhiwei yawned long and lazily.

Her sleeve suddenly moved, and a thick stack of something was pushed in. Shen Junxin, leaning very close, smiled obsequiously: “Surveillance Commissioners supervise all officials. Of course you can, of course you can.”

Feng Zhiwei’s hand gathered in her sleeve, feeling that stack of banknotes. Her smile grew increasingly gentle and rippling: “Is that so? Well said, well said.”

“Yes, yes…”

Feng Zhiwei pulled out the banknotes and slapped Shen Junxin’s face with them repeatedly, praising sincerely: “Lord Shen is clever and adaptable. Your future will surely be limitless!”

Shen Junxin’s face turned purple from the slapping. He laughed awkwardly: “You flatter me, flatter me…”

“If you ask me, this matter needn’t be rushed.” Feng Zhiwei smiled and leaned close to Shen Junxin’s ear, saying: “Old Peng has quite a good official reputation in this area. Why must you two make such an ugly scene pursuing this so viciously? What if it provokes a civil uprising? How would you handle it? Take it slowly, take it slowly…”

“The Commissioner speaks truly.” Shen Junxin said with a bitter face, “It’s just that our superior has some business that must be handled immediately…”

“Don’t tell me about that.” Feng Zhiwei carelessly waved her hand. “Your Longxi Prefecture’s internal affairs—perhaps some matters aren’t suitable for us capital officials to handle. Don’t dare listen, don’t dare listen.”

Saying this made Shen Junxin somewhat uneasy. After thinking, he said: “It’s nothing really. The other day my elder brother summoned me and said the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s office forwarded some wanted circulars. Among them were two major bandits who recently wandered into our prefecture. He wants me to search diligently after taking office, and if caught, I must report immediately.”

He leaned close, quietly saying in Feng Zhiwei’s ear: “My brother said these two major bandits did some earth-shattering things in the capital, involving that… palace secrets and such. So it absolutely must not be publicized—only suitable for private apprehension.”

They really were major bandits, and involving palace secrets too! What secrets? That Prince Chu couldn’t drink alcohol? Feng Zhiwei smiled and glanced at Ning Yi, thinking this person really understood Shen Xuru thoroughly. She smiled while turning her cup, saying: “Mmm, ah, catching bandits. Speaking of which, this brother can contribute a small effort.” She gestured toward Young Master Gu. “This is fourth-rank Attendant with Blade Privilege Yi. He was specially sealed by His Majesty to protect the Prince and observe the people’s conditions throughout Tiansheng. Before entering official service, he was a senior disciple of the Wuji Sect of Mount Qingzhuo in the snowy mountains. His martial arts, well… you’ve seen it. Never mind plates—he can smash heads too. Since childhood, he’s practiced the Head-Smashing Skill. Every day he must smash eight shells. There’s no shell under heaven he can’t smash…”

Shen Junxin and Counselor Liu listened with shivers running down their spines, both feeling their skulls seemed to emit the sound of shattering plates…

Helian Zheng looked sympathetically at the unmoved Young Master Gu, thinking what tremendous willpower was required to resist this woman’s shameless fabrications. This Lord Gu was truly a case of “people cannot be judged by appearance, the sea cannot be measured with a bushel”—his endurance must be looked up to with awe.

Ning Yi, who had been calmly drinking tea, suddenly sprayed all the tea back into his cup with a “pffft.” He looked helplessly at his teacup, pushed it aside, thought for a moment, then took Feng Zhiwei’s cup—after all, she was busy deceiving people and wouldn’t finish it.

“Crack.” Young Master Gu calmly shattered today’s eighth shell—a walnut’s.

Although frightened into trembling by Feng Zhiwei’s bloodthirsty tone, Shen Junxin’s eyes still brightened. He had personally seen Gu Nanyi’s imperial attendant with blade privilege waist token—absolutely genuine. In the Tiansheng dynasty, imperial attendants with blade privilege were already nominal positions, rarely bestowed on anyone. Mostly granted to trusted expert guards of princes. In earlier years, only one expert beside the meritorious Prince Changning had been granted this. Now that this Lord Yi was ordered to protect the important Prince Huozhuo, he was clearly an absolute contemporary expert.

Though the expert had a rather peculiar temperament, Shen Junxin and Counselor Liu couldn’t help but feel their hearts racing. With such a unique expert here, wouldn’t completing the task Lord Provincial Administration Commissioner assigned be twice as effective with half the effort?

The two exchanged glances, remembering how anxious Lord Shen had been lately over those two major bandits. The desire to claim merit and curry favor burned intensely. Shen Junxin took two sheets of paper from his chest and pushed them to Feng Zhiwei: “Commissioner, these are precisely those two people. They’re said to be able to scale walls and fly over eaves, capable of anything, and with honeyed tongues skilled at deception. Lord Provincial Administration Commissioner instructed that we absolutely cannot give these two people a chance to speak. I wonder if Lord Yi could…”

Feng Zhiwei grabbed Ning Yi’s portrait, clicking her tongue in admiration: “Drawn so realistically! Look at those shifty eyes, that wretched expression. One look and you know this is truly an evil bandit guilty of countless crimes, sinister and treacherous. Just looking makes one feel righteous indignation with bristling hair. Lord Shen can rest assured—eliminating evil and capturing villains is our generation’s bounden duty!”

Ning Yi leaned over, picking up Feng Zhiwei’s other portrait, also pretending to “look” at it seriously, smiling: “Yes, drawn so realistically. Look at that narrow nose and beady eyes, those character-eight mountain eyebrows. One look and you know this is truly someone who can scale walls and fly over eaves, capable of anything, with a honeyed tongue skilled at deception. Looking at it makes one feel anger rising from within, utterly outrageous.”

Feng Zhiwei held his portrait, he held Feng Zhiwei’s portrait. The two gazed at each other gently, smiling sweetly.

The woman who valued appearance couldn’t help but resentfully stare at that half-resembling portrait, thinking “which bastard drew this—my nose is clearly much higher and my eyes much bigger!”

The man with ulterior motives, while the appearance-conscious woman was still fretting over the inaccurate likeness, used the portrait to block his movements and quietly pushed over the cup of tea he’d just spat in.

The appearance-conscious woman, feeling indignant, put down the portrait and angrily drank all the tea before her in one gulp.

Only after drinking did she notice the man beside her holding a cup of tea, smiling with flowering eyes and brows, his gaze full of ambiguous meaning.

Feng Zhiwei felt somewhat confused, thinking “this person was just pointing at the mulberry to curse the locust, implying criticism—how did he become so rippling in the blink of an eye?” She ignored him and casually handed both portraits to Young Master Gu, smiling: “Lord Yi, I’ll trouble you.”

Young Master Gu looked down at them, grabbed a chicken leg, and dabbed sauce on Feng Zhiwei’s portrait to touch up the eyebrows.

Feng Zhiwei looked on with tears in her eyes, thinking “my Gu Xiaodai is so thoughtful, able to face my beauty squarely—not like certain people whose eyeballs are just decorations.”

Then Young Master Gu looked at Ning Yi’s portrait again and, with a gesture full of disgust, viciously stabbed the chicken leg at it.

“Smack!” The chicken leg pierced through the portrait. Ning Yi’s face shattered into pieces…

Helian Zheng’s eyebrows twitched wildly, feeling like his own face had also been viciously stabbed.

Feng Zhiwei looked at Ning Yi, who was still rippling and drinking tea, completely unaware of what had happened, and smiled with great satisfaction, oh such great satisfaction.

“Lord Shen can rest assured. This matter is on us. Since we’re imposing here, we naturally must contribute what little we can.” Feng Zhiwei yawned again. Counselor Liu and Shen Junxin immediately took the hint and bid farewell.

“This humble one has received the imperial command to supervise the Longxi Circuit.” Feng Zhiwei seemed to just remember, smiling: “I’ve already inspected Jiyang here. Very good—the people are settled and the granaries full. This is all the Prefect’s achievement in governance. I will certainly submit a memorial to request rewards for the Prefect in the future.”

Shen Junxin’s expression changed, unsure if she was talking about him or Prefect Peng. After all, the one who had been governing Jiyang all along wasn’t him.

“Moreover, how to write this memorial still requires good discussion with Lord Shen.” Feng Zhiwei turned with a smile. “So I must ask you two lords—in a couple days, the Prince will go to Fengzhou. Naturally, we’ll need to meet Lord Shen. Will you two stay here or accompany us?”

Both men were delighted, thinking “how can we not be present when writing a memorial reporting our own merits?” Besides, receiving the Prince and Surveillance Commissioner well was also a merit. How could they not claim credit before Lord Provincial Administration Commissioner? They hurriedly said: “Since the Prince is going to Fengzhou, naturally we subordinates must escort him.”

“Good, very good.” Feng Zhiwei responded quickly. “Since you’ll be accompanying the Prince to Fengzhou soon, there’s no need to rush the transfer of affairs here. I think Prefect Peng should continue temporarily. After this brother investigates his crimes and submits an impeachment memorial, the court will officially issue documents removing him from office. That will also provide an explanation to the local people.”

Shen Junxin hesitated, vaguely feeling this reasoning was somehow wrong but unable to pinpoint where. Just as he hesitated, Ning Yi said coolly: “Lord Shen can wait until returning from Fengzhou to handle the full transfer. Otherwise, these few days of being busy and unable to leave might not be good.”

When he said this, Shen Junxin felt a chill and thought of Prefect Peng’s standing among the locals. He immediately nodded repeatedly. He glanced sideways at Ning Yi, his gaze carrying some speculation. Although Helian Zheng hadn’t introduced this man, who appeared to be just a follower, the seasoned bureaucrat Shen Junxin just felt that this man who had been quietly drinking tea and barely eating possessed a presence not inferior to anyone present—even surpassing them.

Perhaps he was some high official traveling incognito on a private inspection tour. He pulled Counselor Liu aside, arranged for people to take Feng Zhiwei and the others to rest, then carefully withdrew.

Earlier, Prefect Peng had only arranged a courtyard for everyone without assigning rooms yet. The courtyard had four rooms total, enough for one person per room. But now how could Feng Zhiwei dare let Ning Yi sleep alone? Hesitating whether to pair Helian Zheng with him or Young Master Gu with him, she had just turned toward Helian Zheng when the Prince began smiling and removing his boots.

Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei immediately said in unison: “Helian, you sleep alone.”

Feng Zhiwei tried turning toward Young Master Gu, who held up that grease-soaked portrait of Ning Yi with a chicken leg hole through it.

Feng Zhiwei immediately said decisively: “Brother Gu, you also sleep alone.”

Helian Zheng protested: “No way. Either I sleep with my little aunt or I sleep with His Highness.”

“I don’t want to become Tiansheng dynasty’s first person fumigated to death by boots.” Ning Yi’s stance was clear-cut in refusal.

“So many grassland women have paid large sums seeking one of my boots!” Helian Zheng refused to accept this.

“Your little aunt will never become your grassland woman.”

“She won’t be your grassland woman, but she also won’t become your princess consort!” Helian Zheng retorted. “A man who’s been slept with by so many women!”

“I’ve heard grassland men must be taught bedroom arts by healthy women of the tribe upon coming of age, grandly called a coming-of-age ceremony.” Ning Yi remained unruffled, his eyes slightly lowered, smiling faintly. “A man who’s been slept with by middle-aged hags.”

“You—”

“Stop!” Feng Zhiwei could bear it no longer and exploded.

What was all this!

How did a simple room assignment turn into earth-shattering personal attacks? Look at these two noble, precious men—better at cursing without profanity than trained market grandmothers.

“You and Gu Nanyi each take one room, right next door. I’ll sleep in the outer small room of this suite.” She pushed those two out and slammed the door with a bang.

Before she could let out a long breath, she heard that person coolly order: “Bring hot water. I want to bathe.”

Someone brought water. Feng Zhiwei waited a long time, thinking the vicious Prince definitely wouldn’t miss the opportunity to make her serve as an attendant. But the room remained silent without even the sound of water. Feng Zhiwei felt uncomfortable. She climbed onto the bed to meditate, but after meditating for a while, she still couldn’t enter a meditative state, thinking “he can’t see—how can he bathe?”

Just thinking this, she suddenly heard a “thud.” Feng Zhiwei’s heart jumped. She grabbed a cloth strip, tied it over her eyes, and rushed into the room.

Unable to see, she entered calling softly: “Hey, Ning Yi, are you alright? Ning Yi?”

No one answered. There was only heavy and light breathing. Then another thud. Feng Zhiwei’s heart panicked again. She fumbled for a long time but couldn’t find anything. With no choice, she yanked off the cloth strip.

As the cloth fell, light flooded her vision. Under the oil lamp, a bucket of hot water steamed. Ning Yi stood perfectly fine beside the bucket, smiling in her direction, his finger tapping the bucket rim. Every so often—”thud”—he tapped once.

Feng Zhiwei felt exasperated and turned to leave. Her sleeve was suddenly grabbed by Ning Yi. Then she heard him say innocently: “I can’t see. I finally felt my way to the bucket rim and was tripped by my clothes and fell.”

Feng Zhiwei then remembered His Highness really wasn’t good at dressing himself, let alone now when he couldn’t see clearly. Her heart softened and she could only turn back.

Turning back, she froze, only now seeing Ning Yi’s current appearance clearly. Her whole face immediately flushed red.

Under the candlelight, that person had removed his mask and outer robe, loosened his long hair. His inner garment was also slightly open. Hair like satin hung over jade-colored shoulders. His exquisite collarbone was straight as if carved by a masterful brush. Below the smooth shoulder line was his half-bare chest—skin luminous and containing both elasticity and strength. Under the pale red light, it glowed like pearls and jade with flowing radiance. Combined with those feathered eyebrows and vermilion thin lips, his entire being was beautiful as carved jade, as if emanating misty brilliance from within.

This person had a thousand faces and a thousand kinds of grace. Only this one was rarely seen, thus all the more captivating. Even Feng Zhiwei stood dazed for a moment before turning her eyes away.

She lowered her eyes. Her tone quickly recovered its calm, saying: “Since that’s the case, let this subordinate attend His Highness.”

The respectful, indifferent tone of subordinate to superior—as if she truly were the man Wei Zhi. Ning Yi’s eyebrow raised slightly, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes—this woman, once out of danger, turned her back and refused to acknowledge him!

But his face still smiled as he opened both arms, saying: “Remove my clothes.”

Under the lamplight, his posture of opening his arms and slightly raising his head was like a proud, head-held-high phoenix, carrying nobility and inviolable dignity. Feng Zhiwei slowly shuffled over, face turned aside, slowly undoing his clothing fastenings. Under the candlelight, the pure white silk underrobe drifted down like a cloud, softly covering their feet.

Waist sash, long pants, undergarments…

Layer after layer of clothes fell, silently piling at their feet. Feng Zhiwei’s gaze didn’t know where to settle and could only drop to the floor. With this drop, she saw that person’s slender legs unhurriedly kick aside the pile of clothes and walk toward her.

Feng Zhiwei hadn’t never helped Ning Yi remove clothes. Last time in that abandoned palace, she had handled him thoroughly clean. But that was under-the-covers business after all. Now they faced each other directly. No matter how bold and composed she was, she couldn’t control her face, flushing layer upon layer. Seeing Ning Yi seemingly walking toward her, she hurriedly retreated.

That pale yellow halo illuminated those slender legs with fine texture as they suddenly turned direction and stepped into the bathing bucket.

Water sounds rang out, splashing onto Feng Zhiwei’s burning face. She let out a long breath and turned to leave, but heard that person ask: “Where’s the bath bean?”

Feng Zhiwei could only hand over the bath bean.

“Cloth.”

She handed over the cloth.

Hot steam rose up. In the rising steam, the noble His Highness unhurriedly ordered: “Scrub my back.”

Feng Zhiwei smiled: “Your Highness, I’ve given you everything. Now your eyes don’t hinder bathing. Taking my leave, taking my leave.”

“Crack!”

The beam overhead suddenly made a cracking sound.

Feng Zhiwei, who had just turned around, startled and slid straight toward the bathing bucket on the water-slicked floor. Unable to see Ning Yi clearly through the rising steam, she instinctively reached for her sword. Suddenly a bare arm extended from the bucket and grabbed her, yanking her toward the bucket!

Caught off guard, Feng Zhiwei was pulled into the bucket. In her panic, her head went under and she swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Then remembering this was Ning Yi’s bathwater, she became furious. Opening her eyes, she dimly saw underwater… With a splash, she quickly raised her head from the water.

As soon as her head emerged, she angrily said: “Ning Yi, what are you up to now—”

But she heard someone on the beam say lazily: “Master, she’s come in.”

Ning Yi looked up with a smile, saying: “Thank you.”

On the beam, Ning Cheng said seriously: “You’re welcome.”

Feng Zhiwei felt her seven orifices smoking with rage. These master and servant had conspired together to play tricks on her! Just as she was about to climb out of the bucket, Ning Cheng on the beam punched through the roof and called up to someone on the roof: “Nothing’s wrong. Do you want to come in and look?”

Ning Yi smiled and was about to embrace her and stand up.

Feng Zhiwei thought if Gu Xiaodai saw herself and Ning Yi squeezed together in the bathing bucket at this moment, and it caused trouble for Helian Zheng to know, she’d have no face to see anyone for the rest of her life. She could only say: “Brother Gu, nothing’s wrong. I’m bathing.”

On the roof, Gu Nanyi said “Oh,” then Helian Zheng’s voice eagerly came over: “Bathing? Bathing? Do you need me to scrub Little Aunt’s back…” Immediately followed by a “bang” as some object fell in a straight line.

Ning Cheng still sat seriously on the beam. With him sitting there, the thoroughly soaked Feng Zhiwei had no way to stand up. She could only continue staying in the bucket. The bucket was only so big. Squeezed together with Ning Yi, she couldn’t avoid or hide anywhere. She had nowhere to look, nowhere to touch. She couldn’t even draw her sword to break the bucket—there was no room to move.

That person without clothes didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. At his leisure, embracing her, he actually unhurriedly began discussing serious matters with Ning Cheng.

“Where did you go?”

Ning Cheng actually showed no shame: “When I was coming to meet you, I received news halfway—the Fifth Prince has disappeared.”

This news made Ning Yi’s body stiffen. Feng Zhiwei also raised her head—the Fifth Prince had escaped from the Cangshan palace where he was under house arrest? No wonder the Chang family made such moves. In other words… the Chang family was destined to rebel!

No wonder Ning Cheng, upon receiving this news, went straight to handle it without even attending to Ning Yi. However, this guard was truly casual—just running off like that. Although Ning Yi was strict with his subordinates, he seemed especially lenient with this guard. Was there something special about him?

“Where is he now?” Ning Yi indeed wasn’t angry. His tone was grave.

“I finally found that group and followed them all the way. Now they’ve already left Longxi territory.” Ning Cheng answered. “If I hadn’t received news from here and had to rush back, I could have intercepted and killed him.”

Feng Zhiwei’s eyebrow raised. The Chang family’s people sent to rescue the Fifth Prince must be super experts, and their movements must be extremely secretive. Yet Ning Cheng could so casually find that group and almost intercept them? Such extraordinary capability?

Connecting this to Ning Yi’s tolerance for this guard and Young Master Gu’s earlier failure to kick Ning Cheng down, Feng Zhiwei had an epiphany.

After finishing speaking, Ning Cheng smiled down from the beam, saying: “Your Highness, the water’s getting cold. Hurry up.”

“You can get lost now.”

Only a hole remained in the beam. Ning Cheng had indeed immediately gotten lost. Feng Zhiwei sighed, saying: “Had enough fun?”

Heat suddenly pressed against her neck as the drenched Ning Yi leaned close, wearily resting his chin on her shoulder. His burning breath sprayed at her ear as he said lowly: “Zhiwei… After descending the mountain, must everything return to the beginning? Then let me play one more time… After tonight, you must be your Wei Zhi constantly climbing upward, and I must continue my endless struggles… Fifth Brother has escaped. The Minnan and Nanhai journey is destined to be bloody and violent… Zhiwei, Zhiwei… Going forward, we don’t know if that road draws us closer or further apart… Tonight… can you… can you… completely be close to me once…”