That bоаst wаs еvеn more imprеssivе than the frеquent bragging оf Shорkеерer Li! Thе crowd burst into laughter agаin, just аbout tо teаsе hеr with а chоrus оf соmmеnts when thе door was kiсkеd oрen with a loud "bаng."
Yin Gezhi stoоd exрrеssiоnlеss аt thе dоorwaу, his gаze swеерing pаst the сrоwd and landing рrеcisеly on Feng Yuе.
Feng Yue neаrlу bit hеr own tоngue!
"Y-Your Highnеss?"
In аn instаnt, the rооm fеll silеnt. Еvеryоnе scrаmbled tо gather thеir low tаblеs, hоlding ontо thеm аlоng with their cushions аs they retreatеd to either sidе, making waу with remаrkаble сoordination. At the end of this path sat Feng Yue, her face a picture of shock.
With a gaze that seemed both mocking and amused, Yin Gezhi stepped inside, slowly walking toward her step by step.
The scene was reminiscent of a wolf eyeing its prey, certain that escape was impossible. I’ll just watch you approach slowly, letting you savor the fear and unease before death!
Swallowing hard, Feng Yue forced a grin. "Your Highness, it’s so soon to see you again... How did you know we lived here?"
In the corner, Gan Jiang shivered, focusing intently on eating meat in an attempt to appear innocent. However, while everyone else in the room remained still, he was the only one eating with relish. Feng Yue spotted him at a glance, narrowed her eyes, and gritted her teeth. "I was careless!"
The hem of his white robe swept before her as Yin Gezhi looked down at her from above, his eyes filled with disdain. "Do you look down on me?"
"No, no..." Feng Yue waved her hands hurriedly. "Let me explain!"
"I won’t listen." Lifting his chin, Yin Gezhi’s expression turned grave. His gaze was so sharp it seemed as though he might slap her down at any moment!
Frightened, Feng Yue squeezed her eyes shut, raising her hands to shield her head in a defensive posture.
However, after waiting for what felt like an eternity, the slap never came. Instead, someone murmured softly:
"I’m hungry."
What? Opening one eye, Feng Yue looked at the person before her in confusion, wanting to say, "This isn’t a restaurant, lady! If you’re hungry, why not find the imperial chefs?"
Yet, as soon as she met his eyes and saw the loneliness in the gaze of this towering figure, her heart tightened.
What had happened?
Without asking, Feng Yue pulled him down to sit beside her and called out, "Aunt Zheng, bring another set of bowls and chopsticks!"
"Right away!"
Seeing that the slap hadn’t landed, everyone felt disappointed—they’d missed out on a good show! But why had the First Prince, Yin Gezhi, come to their place for a meal instead of attending the welcome banquet at the palace?
Questions filled everyone’s eyes, but no one voiced them. They all pretended to carry on eating casually, though their ears were stretched long in the direction of the main seat.
A fresh set of dishes was placed before Yin Gezhi. Watching him finish a bowl of rice, Feng Yue finally asked, "Did something happen at the palace?"
"No." Yin Gezhi replied lightly. "The food at the welcome banquet wasn’t good."
This reason left everyone in the room stunned. Aunt Zheng sighed with emotion, "So the food I make is even better than what the imperial chefs prepare."
"Enough of that." Madam Qiu chuckled. "They’re just trying to make you happy. Use less salt next time."
"Madam Qiu’s plate was the cleanest of all, yet you have the nerve to say that?" Yin Yanzhong shook his head. "Be careful, or you might not get any next time."Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere in the entire mansion harmonious. It didn’t feel like a young master and his subordinates, but rather a happy, harmonious family—arguing and bickering, with those who refused to accept defeat opening the door to go outside and settle things with their fists, then returning to continue drinking.
Yin Gezhi watched in a daze, his lips slightly pursed, a strange expression flickering in his eyes.
Feng Yue looked at him in surprise and asked, “Your Highness, are you… envious?”
Snapping back to reality, Yin Gezhi snorted coldly, “Who’s envious?”
Clearly, he was envious! Feng Yue pursed her lips, picked up her chopsticks, and placed a duck head in his bowl. “You should eat this. It suits you well.”
Lowering his head to look at the duck’s beak in his bowl, Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes. “Are you tired of living?”
“Yes.” Since the threats between them no longer existed, Feng Yue mustered her courage and said, “If you’re unhappy, go ahead and expose me. Have someone arrest me and chop off my head!”
Yin Gezhi frowned, giving her a displeased look before lowering his head to continue eating.
“Young Master!” Someone rushed in from outside, darting to Feng Yue’s side and saying, “Something big has happened!”
Looking at the sweat on his forehead, Feng Yue smiled. “Brother Shi Chong, speak slowly. There’s no need to rush.”
Wiping away his sweat, Shi Chong panted heavily, completely unaware of the person sitting beside Feng Yue, and blurted out, “Something really big has happened! The First Prince confronted His Majesty in the Palace of Fortune and Longevity, saying General Guan was wronged and demanding the Guan family’s case be overturned. The emperor was furious and said anyone who brings this up again will lose their head! Right now, the First Prince has already left the palace, and his whereabouts are unknown!”
Everyone gasped, and Feng Yue also widened her eyes, slowly turning to look at the person beside her.
Shi Chong wiped his sweat while looking at them in confusion. “Why are you all looking to the side…”
As he spoke, he also looked over and nearly collapsed in fright, his legs going weak.
Yin Gezhi calmly took a sip of tea, set down the teacup, and looked up at him. “Has the news spread?”
“It… it has spread.” Swallowing hard, Shi Chong braced himself and said, “Isn’t tonight your welcoming banquet? Officials of the third rank and above are all present, and many palace attendants and eunuchs are there too. With such a big incident happening in front of so many eyes, it naturally spread like wildfire…”
“That’s good.” Yin Gezhi nodded, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and looked at Feng Yue. “In that case, you’ll have to beg for my help again, Young Master.”
The last two words carried a hint of teasing, making Feng Yue flush with anger. She gritted her teeth and said, “The emperor wants to chop off your head. Why would I still need to beg for your help?”
“Because he won’t chop off my head, and I can think of a way to overturn the Guan family’s case.” Yin Gezhi curled his lips, lifting his chin and looking down at her. “In this matter, I am the only one in the entire Wei Kingdom who can do it.”
Feng Yue trembled violently, frowning at him in utter confusion. “Why would you want to overturn the Guan family’s case? The charges against the Guan family back then were determined by you!”
“Not by me.” Cutting her off, Yin Gezhi said very seriously, “I only provided the evidence. I wasn’t the one who determined the charges.”
“Isn’t that the same?” Feng Yue snorted coldly, gritting her teeth. “If you had believed my father back then, you wouldn’t have handed over that evidence!”"It's not the same." Yin Gezhi frowned. "I have always judged matters, not people. Since there is evidence of General Guan's collusion with the enemy, coupled with the earlier defeat, any rational person would not rely on personal judgment to determine right or wrong. It must be handed over to the judiciary. The case must go through three trials."
"..." Left speechless by his words, Feng Yue grew furious and turned her head away sharply.
Madam Qiu, standing nearby, sighed and moved to Feng Yue's side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Softly, she said, "What His Highness says is not without reason. It's just that hatred for the crow extends to the nest. Regardless, the imperial family was negligent, allowing General Guan to die unjustly and the Guan family to be exterminated. These are facts."
"I know." Yin Gezhi pressed his lips together. "So if there is a mistake, I will correct it. At the very least, I should be given the chance to make amends."
"How do you know it's a mistake now?" Feng Yue sneered. "Just because you believe me?"
Glancing at her sideways, Yin Gezhi looked utterly disdainful. "You really think highly of yourself."
Feng Yue: "..."
"I overheard the final conversation between Yi Guoru and you," Yin Gezhi said calmly, watching as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to strike. "I heard it."
Struck with shock, Feng Yue stared at him in disbelief. "Didn't you say you were outside at the time?"
"I was outside—on the rooftop above you."
"Then why didn't you tell me?!"
So she wasn't the only one who knew the truth, the only one burdened with the heavy injustice of the Guan family. There was someone else in this world who knew!
Why hadn't he said anything sooner?
An inexplicable sense of grievance washed over her. Feng Yue's nose stung, and her eyes reddened.
Yin Gezhi turned his head away, his fingers clenched so tightly under his sleeves that his knuckles turned pale. "Talking is pointless. Action is what matters. I will clear the Guan family's name, as compensation..."
"Your Highness, when you offer grace, have you ever asked whether others are willing to accept it?" Feng Yue laughed coldly. "What use is compensation? I have thick skin and don't care about reputation. Whether the case is overturned or not—I don't care."
"..."
"I returned to your Wei Kingdom only to seek revenge. Who would want to risk execution by overturning the case under your stubborn, indiscriminate father?! Misjudging someone can be apologized for. Wrongfully killing someone—what use is an apology then?!"
The last words were shouted out. The memory of her father, with his stern, loyal face and thick beard, brought tears streaming down Feng Yue's cheeks like rain.
When she was seven, her father held her and recited, "Only understanding death on the battlefield for the sovereign, why need a horsehide to wrap the body home?" At ten, military texts and "On Loyalty to the Sovereign" were placed before her. At fifteen, when she went to the battlefield, her father told her not to be afraid. A true man dies for his country—there is nothing to fear in death!
Yet he did not die for his country. He died at the hands of the one he had served his entire life, his grievances unredressed.
Who wouldn't hate that?!
Frowning as he watched her, Yin Gezhi raised his hand, only to stiffly withdraw it halfway. Coldly, he said, "Since you refuse to accept it, I will not involve myself in this matter."
What? Those around him were stunned by his sudden change. Though everyone thought simple revenge was fine... but if the injustice could be rectified... Madam Qiu sighed and looked at him. "Your Highness could still intervene."
"Why should I?" Yin Gezhi's jaw tightened. "If I don't intervene, nothing happens. The moment I say I will, look how fierce she becomes."These words left one torn between laughter and tears. Feng Yue was momentarily stunned, her mind racing through several twists and turns. In an instant, she wondered if she was being unreasonable. Yet, something still felt off. His words sounded perfectly logical, but... was she really being so fierce just because he wanted to control her?
"Let it be," Yin Gezhi stood up and said calmly, "I'm tired too. I'll return to the palace first. Thank you for your hospitality."
"Wait, wait," the others urged him to stay, but Yin Gezhi seemed genuinely angry, leaving with an air of indifference and without looking back.
Feng Yue was taken aback. She roughly wiped away her tears and pouted, "Fine, don't interfere if you don't want to. Do you really think I need your help? Brother Luo, let's go prepare what we need!"
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