Раusing аt hеr tone, Yin Gеzhi frоwnеd.
Fеng Yuе snappеd bаck to hеr senses аnd immеdiаtеlу sоftened hеr expression, joking, "Whаt I mеan is, tо cоrrесt оne's mistаkеs is thе grеаtest virtuе. Since yоu knоw yоu were at fаult, why not сhange?"
Lоwеring his еуеs, First Рrinсe Yin said unhарpilу, "It mау not nеcеssаrily be mу fаult. It was just thаt the situation аt the time forсеd mе to аct, leaving nо timе tо investigаtе реrsоnаlly, sо I hаnded thе mattеr over tо othеrs. Whо wоuld havе thоught... thеу would handle it sо carelessly."
Тhere must be sоme hidden сircumstаnсes. Оtherwise, he wouldn't always have nightmares. But since everyone involved was already dead and no one cared about the matter anymore, it seemed foolish for him to dwell on it.
If it truly... truly was his fault, how could he ever repay the loyalty and sacrifice of that entire family?
His heart felt heavy. Yin Gezhi shook his head, his expression grim. "Enough."
Enough? Feng Yue sneered inwardly. Who would let him off so easily? He might escape for a moment, but not for a lifetime.
After tidying his clothes, Feng Yue looked up and sincerely praised, "Your Highness truly is as graceful as jade and as dashing as the wind."
With a light hum, Yin Gezhi casually brushed off his robe and suddenly felt something unusual. He looked down.
It was still the style of the white robe he usually wore, but the fabric was lighter and thinner, different from his usual attire.
"Your Highness is so observant," the person before him smiled charmingly. "This is a summer robe I made for you myself. It suits you very well."
Narrowing his eyes, Yin Gezhi suddenly remembered that she had been sewing something every night recently. When he casually asked about it, she said it was clothes for Lingshu.
It turned out she was making it for him?
He felt a flicker of joy, but he couldn't show it too obviously. So, the cold-faced First Prince still wore a stern expression as he complained, "The stitches are so rough."
It's good enough that it's wearable, and you're still not satisfied? Feng Yue's face fell. "Then take it off, and I'll change it for you."
Sidestepping her hand, Yin Gezhi turned and walked out, his sleeves fluttering. A flash of white brushed past Feng Yue's fingertips, carrying the faint scent of soap, leaving her momentarily dazed.
She had never seen anyone who could wear both white robes and black robes so elegantly. In white, he was like a noble gentleman untouched by worldly dust; in black, he became a bloodthirsty demon from hell. Good and evil seemed to meet at a delicate balance within him—one thought could make him a Buddha, another a devil.
Yin Gezhi...
Shaking her head, Feng Yue snapped back to reality, smiled, lifted the hem of her skirt, and followed him out.
Yin Gezhi set off for the General's Mansion. Even if Feng Yue didn't go, he intended to demand an explanation from General Yi regarding the incident where the General's Mansion's people had seized Feng Yue.
Feng Yue stood at the doorway, watching him leave. Once he was far away, she handed Lingshu a tael of silver. "Good girl, go buy some mung bean cakes again."
Lingshu nodded and rushed out without another word. Feng Yue looked up at the clear, sunny weather after the rain and thought to herself, truly befitting of Shadowless City—bright and sunny, no matter how stormy the night, the daytime sun would dry the ground until not a trace of moisture remained.
Yang Fengpeng being personally guarded by Feng Chuang had left General Yi deeply uneasy. With the thunder and lightning last night, he hadn't slept at all. Today, when Yin Gezhi arrived, he was in low spirits.
"General," Yin Gezhi clasped his hands in greeting. "May I ask why you sought out the maid from my residence?"Pausing slightly, Yi Guoru chuckled softly, his eyes shifting from side to side as he spoke in a kindly tone, "I'm afraid I've disturbed you unintentionally. I heard from Zhu'er that you've taken on a beautiful maid, and she's been feeling a bit unhappy about it. So, I thought I'd invite you over for a chat."
"General," Yin Gezhi replied with a hint of displeasure, "Although I hold great admiration for Miss Yi, given my current status, I'm afraid there is little future for us."
The implication was clear: Why should you care what maids I have around me? After all, I'm not marrying your daughter!
Patting his knee, Yi Guoru smiled and said, "My daughter also greatly admires Your Highness. If one day you return to the Wei Kingdom and diplomatic relations between our two nations remain intact, then perhaps there is still a possibility."
He was certainly thinking far ahead.
Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze. Just as he was wondering what excuse he could use to stay, Yi Guoru continued, "Never mind. I won't pry into who you have around you. However, Your Highness, there has been much unrest outside lately. Why not stay at the mansion for a couple of days to avoid the storm?"
Avoid the storm? Yin Gezhi sneered inwardly. Yi Guoru must have received word of his unusual behavior and wanted to keep him under house arrest in the General's Mansion.
Coincidentally, he also wanted to stay here for a while.
"I have no objections to the General's decision."
Yi Guoru was quite satisfied with his cooperation. His expression softened considerably as he spoke in a gentler tone, "Consider it as keeping my daughter company. She hasn't been in the best of spirits lately."
Yin Gezhi nodded, rose to his feet, bowed respectfully, and then walked out indifferently.
"General," Xue Liang, who had been standing nearby, couldn't help but whisper, "Prince Yin truly doesn't seem to have any issues. I don't understand why the other officials suspect him."
"Let's wait and see," Yi Guoru replied. "In these times, few people can be trusted easily."
Xue Liang paused, sighed silently, and then respectfully stepped aside.
Yin Gezhi quietly followed the servant through the General's Mansion, carefully observing everything he passed and comparing it with the information Feng Yue had provided.
It matched perfectly, down to the smallest detail.
A strange sense of restlessness stirred within him. He felt he couldn't quite understand Feng Yue, nor did he know where she had acquired such extraordinary abilities. If she were any more capable, could she even know the layout of the imperial palace?
She was problematic—her identity was questionable, and her motives were unclear. But until he uncovered her true identity, he dared not act rashly. Yet, if he didn't act, she was like a stubborn weed taking root in his heart. He feared that by the time he discovered she was a poisonous plant, pulling her out would cause him immense pain.
The First Prince, who had spent years dominating the battlefield, had never been so troubled by matters of the heart. Even when someone disappeared without a trace three years ago, leaving him longing, it hadn't troubled him to this extent!
"Brother Yin," Yi Zhangzhu's voice called from a distance. He looked up to see her curtsying gracefully with a dignified smile. "You've finally come."
Pausing slightly, Yin Gezhi stopped in his tracks and studied her face intently.Indeed, this is what a young lady's face should look like to be considered beautiful, right? An oval face, delicate eyebrows like distant mountains, and bright, almond-shaped eyes. A body exuding floral fragrance, appearing dignified and graceful in every way. How could he have taken a liking to someone like Feng Yue? Fox-like eyes, red lips, a body scented with powder, smiling in a seductive and bewitching manner. Vulgar and lowly.
It must be that he kept her by his side for too long, growing accustomed to her appearance. As the old saying goes, "Familiarity breeds affection," and it’s not without reason.
Taking a deep breath, Yin Gezhi snapped back to attention. Looking at her, he said, "I’ll stay for a couple of days."
"To accompany Zhu'er?" Yi Zhangzhu asked with a smile.
Yin Gezhi nodded.
Eyes sparkling, Yi Zhangzhu twisted her handkerchief, thought for a long while, and suddenly blushed: "Perfect timing... Zhu'er has something she wants to say to Brother Yin."
"Hmm?" Absentmindedly responding, Yin Gezhi followed her as they walked forward.
After hesitating for a while, Yi Zhangzhu mustered her courage and spoke: "I won’t marry Crown Prince Brother anymore."
"Hmm?" This time, Yin Gezhi snapped back to attention, raising an eyebrow: "Why?"
Or rather, when had she ever decided to marry him? The Crown Prince’s marriage proposal had been turned away by General Yi, and she herself had personally refused it.
"He wants to go against Father." Pressing her lips together, Yi Zhangzhu’s eyes reddened: "All that doting on me before was fake. I asked him to spare Lord Yang, and he wouldn’t listen."
"...You asked him to spare Lord Yang?" Yin Gezhi was somewhat shocked: "You went and told him directly?"
Yi Zhangzhu nodded: "Yes, he seemed very angry, saying I was meddling too much, and just left."
Remembering the Crown Prince’s attitude that day, she still felt a lingering annoyance: "Even if I shouldn’t have meddled so much, couldn’t he have spoken nicely? So harsh, and he even left me alone on the street! In his eyes, these trivial court matters must be more important than me."
Indeed, they are more important than you! Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze.
Sometimes he truly couldn’t understand what Yi Zhangzhu was thinking; the things she did often exceeded his expectations. What he found absurd, she instead considered perfectly reasonable.
Are all women this difficult to understand? Not really—Feng Yue always seemed to be on the same page as him and could even offer advice.
So what was the issue?
Shaking his head, Yin Gezhi said, "Since you feel he doesn’t care about you, then indeed, there’s no need to marry him."
"But..." Blushing as she glanced at him, Yi Zhangzhu said, "Zhu'er has also reached the age where she should marry."
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