Gеnеrаllу, this sоrt оf thing should makе а уоung wоman blush with shyness, but Fеng Yuе’s exрression wаs fаr tоо nаturаl, even сarrying a hint of teasing соquetrу. It prоvоkеd Yin Gеzhi into а slight аnnоуаncе, making him the onе whо felt unnаtural instead.
“Nо sense оf proрriеtу!”
Соvеring thе young mаstеr’s eуеs with hеr hand, Fеng Yue sаid with а smile, “This sеrvаnt has lоng been aсcustomed tо hаving nо prоpriety. Наvеn’t yоu knоwn thаt fоr а whilе now?”
Тhе cаrriagе stopрed. Shе thrеw him а flirtatiоus glаnсе and then pushеd him out.
The carriаge had stoрped right nеar thе Gеnerаl’s Mansion. Yin Gezhi snapped back to his senses and, without delay, landed lightly on the ground before flying like an eagle toward his own lodgings.
The General’s Mansion grew lively. Upon learning that Young Master Yang had gone missing, Yi Guoru immediately stood up and sent people to pursue him. After the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, he felt something was amiss. Turning around, he headed straight for Yin Gezhi’s room.
Who else could have taken someone out from under his nose? Regardless of anything else, based on skill alone, Yin Gezhi should be the first suspect!
He pushed open the guest room door forcefully. General Yi swept his gaze inside, only to see Yin Gezhi drowsily rising from bed, draping his clothes over himself, and looking at him with confusion as he asked, “What happened?”
Suspiciously scanning the room twice, Yi Guoru sighed and entered, taking a seat. “The mansion has been robbed again.”
“Robbed?” Yin Gezhi paused slightly, then chuckled. “If even the General’s Mansion can be robbed, then what place in Shadowless City can be considered secure?”
“Your Highness jests,” Yi Guoru said. “Even though my residence is heavily guarded, it cannot stop those with exceptionally high martial prowess.”
Like you.
Yin Gezhi nodded. “That’s true. Then the General should strengthen his defenses even more.”
“…” Seeing his completely guiltless demeanor, Yi Guoru’s expression darkened. He lowered his head and pondered for a long while before saying, “Your Highness and I, though we were once enemies on the battlefield, share similar interests and can be considered half confidants, can’t we?”
“Naturally.”
“Then if one day, I were framed by someone, would Your Highness be willing to believe me or the words of outsiders?”
Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze. “Naturally, I would believe the General. The General is honorable and upright, as was already evident on the battlefield. It’s just that you are surrounded by treacherous individuals who drag you down.”
When it came to honor and uprightness, Yi Guoru truly was honorable and upright. After all, all the underhanded schemes were thought up by “those around him” and had little to do with him. After every battle, he could use the pens of scholars to wash away the sins on his own person, enjoying only the glory of victory and escaping worldly censure.
Such a clever general was indeed rare in this age.
Yin Gezhi’s tone was sincere, and Yi Guoru took it to heart. He smiled bitterly and said, “With Your Highness’s words, I am reassured. After all, human hearts are treacherous. As my friend despite our age difference, Your Highness is easily exploited by others. I hope Your Highness will be more cautious about this.”
Yin Gezhi nodded slightly in agreement.
Yi Guoru finally smiled. Sitting by the table, he exchanged pleasantries with him for a while longer before continuing his search for the missing person.
However, tonight, he was destined not to find the person. Feng Yue had smoothly taken the young master out of the city and placed him in Yu Hexiang’s arms.
“Thank you, Madam.”
This young master was born to the wife, but he was very close to Yu Hexiang. As soon as he saw her, he felt at ease, collapsing onto the nearby bed and falling asleep.The room was dimly lit by candlelight. Feng Yue looked at her and sighed, "I'm sorry to have you endure such hardship and instability again."
With a faint smile, Yu Hexiang said, "Fengpeng was not a good man. I knew this day would come long ago. If I can do something to cleanse the sins he carried, I would gladly face death a thousand times."
Hexiang had left Dream Return Pavilion half a year ago. After avenging her great grievance, she met Yang Fengpeng, who treated her with deep affection, and she left with him. At the time, Feng Yue had warned her that Yang Fengpeng might not come to a good end. Hexiang had long anticipated this day, yet she harbored no regrets.
Now that the time had finally come for him to atone for his sins, Hexiang felt that being able to preserve the young master for him had already fulfilled his final wish. As for the rest, she would leave it to fate and had no regrets.
Those who commit many wrongs will inevitably bring ruin upon themselves.
Feng Yue sighed with emotion, reached out to embrace her briefly, then urged the carriage onward toward the city.
With the young master rescued, all that remained was for him to see Yang Fengpeng tomorrow, and General Yi would surely be dragged into the mess.
Initially, she thought these matters would be troublesome to handle, perhaps taking several years. But in practice, it had only taken a few months.
"Miss," the driver, Gan Jiang, spoke gravely from the carriage shaft outside, "His Highness has grown suspicious of you lately."
"I know," Feng Yue replied with a smile. "That man, once he suspects someone, makes it very obvious."
"What do you plan to do?"
"What can I do?" Propping her chin in thought for a moment, Feng Yue chuckled. "When I'm discovered, I'll just run."
"This subordinate believes His Highness may not be an unreasonable person," Gan Jiang sighed. "Now that you and His Highness share a deep bond, why not try asking him to see if he is willing to trust you?"
Trust her? Feng Yue raised an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes as she pondered seriously.
Would Yin Gezhi trust her? Even if he discovered she was Guan Qingyue, he probably wouldn't kill her immediately—he would likely give her a chance to speak. But to make him face the mistakes he made back then... someone like him seemed unwilling to confront such things.
Better to take it one step at a time. Overthinking was pointless.
"Halt!" Just as they approached the southern city gate, a sharp shout rang out from the watchtower above.
Feng Yue immediately sensed trouble and wanted to get out of the carriage, but the City Garrison soldiers ahead moved faster, swiftly surrounding the carriage.
When they left, they had relied on An Shichong's convenience. Logically, no one should have stopped them on their return, unless...
"Who is in the carriage? Entering the city in the middle of the night?" Xue Liang stood at the city gate, eyeing the carriage. "Step out!"
Gan Jiang tensed, unsure what to do. He was about to claim it was the Envoy's Mansion carriage when a hand pressed down on his shoulder.
"Please, sirs, show some mercy," the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a woman with a charming and alluring gaze. She looked around at the surrounding men and said, "My mother is gravely ill, and I am rushing into the city to fetch a doctor."
Seeing it was a woman and noticing nothing else in the carriage, the nearby City Garrison soldiers were about to let them pass when Xue Liang raised a hand to stop them.
"Your mother is gravely ill, and you're rushing into the city?" Xue Liang chuckled. "Miss, do you think no one recognizes the Envoy's Mansion carriage?"
Feng Yue's heart sank heavily as she narrowed her eyes.I was careless, truly careless. Few could afford a carriage, and Xue Liang, being from the General's Mansion and frequently interacting with the Envoy's Mansion, naturally recognized this carriage.
With a long sigh, she lowered her eyes and reacted swiftly, saying, "Since I can't hide it, I won't bother trying. I am Feng Yue, a maid from the Envoy's Mansion, just returned from visiting a grave outside the city. With nowhere to stay outside, I thought it best to find a way back to the mansion."
The maid from the Envoy's Mansion? Xue Liang's eyes lit up. They had tried to capture her many times without success, yet tonight she had delivered herself right to their doorstep.
"Take her away!"
Ganjiang grew anxious and quickly stepped out of the carriage to shield Feng Yue. "Prince Yin ordered that she be brought back safely. Please don't make things difficult for me, officers."
"I'll take her to see Prince Yin myself," Xue Liang said. "Prince Yin is currently at the General's Mansion, not the Envoy's Mansion."
Sweat beaded on Ganjiang's palms as he grew increasingly nervous. Ever since General Yi returned to the city, Feng Yue had warned everyone that the general would recognize her. If she fell into his hands, they must find a way to rescue her, or she would surely lose her life.
But in this situation, with only him alone against the City Garrison and the numerous servants of the General's Mansion, resistance was futile.
Feng Yue was also tense, but her mind worked quickly. After just a moment's thought, she placed her hand on Ganjiang's shoulder and whispered, "You go first. Find Prince Yin."
Ganjiang hesitated, looking at her with deep concern.
Feng Yue lifted her head and smiled coquettishly, smoothing her hair by her temples with a graceful, captivating gesture that momentarily stunned several of the garrison soldiers.
Taking small, delicate steps toward Xue Liang, she said with a smile, "In that case, let's go, officer."
Xue Liang was taken aback and frowned slightly. No wonder the general was so determined to capture this girl—how could the young lady ever be a match for her?
"Take her away."
With her hands bound by rope, Feng Yue followed behind Xue Liang's horse, glancing back calmly at Ganjiang.
You must succeed! Hurry and contact Yin Gezhi to save me!
Snapping back to reality, Ganjiang immediately drove the carriage into the city at full speed.
Originally, Yin Gezhi had intended to sleep after the matter was settled, but he found himself unable to rest peacefully. In his drowsiness, he seemed to have another nightmare. Restless and irritable, he rose and went to the window to gaze at the moon.
Unexpectedly, just then, a commotion erupted outside. It sounded as if someone had broken in. Frowning, Yin Gezhi was about to investigate when a crumpled paper ball flew over the wall and landed by the window.
The noise faded into the distance as the intruder seemed to lead the pursuers away.
Squinting, Yin Gezhi picked up the paper ball and unfolded it.
"Feng Yue trapped in General's Mansion!"
His expression tightened. Yin Gezhi immediately dressed and headed toward the eastern courtyard.
Yi Guoru had been unable to sleep, waiting in his study for news. Instead of news, however, someone arrived.
"General!" Xue Liang announced cheerfully. "We've captured the maid from the Envoy's Mansion!"
Slightly startled, Yi Guoru quickly said, "Bring her in!"
Feng Yue tried desperately to stall for time, but Xue Liang remained unmoved, pushing her swiftly into the study.
As soon as she caught the nauseating scent belonging to Yi Guoru, she retched dryly.
"Meeting you, young lady, is truly a rare occasion," Yi Guoru said, rising and walking toward her. "Lift your head and let me see."
Feng Yue remained silent, her mind in turmoil.Yi Guoru clearly had little patience. Seeing her unwilling to lift her head, he bent down, directly pinched her chin, and forced her to look up.
Her pupils contracted. Feng Yue closed her eyes, scrunching her face tightly into a ball.
At the same time, Yin Gezhi kicked aside Xue Liang, who was blocking the doorway, and barged straight in.
Yi Guoru narrowed his eyes, looking at the face in his hand. Startled by the sound of the door opening, he quickly turned his head to look.
"General," Yin Gezhi's expression was grim, the look in his eyes making Yi Guoru slightly uneasy. "I have said before, if the General wishes to find a maid from my humble residence, you may seek her through me. There is no need to take matters into your own hands."
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