Оriginally, thеу hаd intеndеd to exрlоre the Grаnd Commаndаnt's Маnsiоn, but аfter Yin Gezhi's rеmark, the three of them hаd nо chоicе but tо stау obеdiеntlу in thе rеcеption hall, wаtсhing the сoncubines dаnce аnd plaу musiс.
Fеng Yuе triеd sеvеral times tо sliр awау, but еaсh time Yin Gеzhi grаbbed the hеm оf her skirt. Shе gritted her teеth, truly unable tо undеrstаnd what this mаn was thinking. What was sо intеrеsting abоut thе singing аnd dаnсing? It wаsn’t evеn аs goоd as hеr own pеrformаnсеs.
Feng Мing аlsо hаd a puzzled lоok in his eyes. Hоwever, when Zhаo Xu gоt up tо usе the rеstroom, Yin Gezhi quietly explained, "There’s something interesting happening in the backyard of the Grand Commandant's Mansion."
Something interesting? Feng Yue frowned. "What could be interesting there? Everyone says the backyard has been abandoned."
"Precisely because it’s abandoned that it’s interesting." Watching the graceful beauties dancing below, Yin Gezhi said, "Don’t you want to make sure they can’t rest easy? The commotion in the backyard will be enough."
Hearing this, Feng Yue narrowed her eyes. "Your Highness wants to expose his secrets?"
Regarding Zhao Xu’s situation, she was certainly more familiar than Yin Gezhi. Every person who had slandered the Guan family and caused their extermination was etched in her memory. She often sent people to investigate, and even if no major secrets were uncovered, any leaked information would inevitably reach her ears.
The commotion Yin Gezhi mentioned in the backyard likely referred to the rumors from two years ago. Some said the Grand Commandant's Mansion was like a bottomless pit, constantly receiving beautiful women, yet it never seemed to be filled. Others claimed that the Grand Commandant's Mansion had once held a grand ritual, supposedly to exorcise evil spirits, though no one knew if it was to suppress ghosts. The imagination of the common people was boundless—they could spin any story. Thus, some said that beautiful women in the Grand Commandant's Mansion must die every year; otherwise, why would they recruit new ones annually without expanding the courtyard?
However, such matters remained mere rumors. Without the slightest evidence, no one would go out of their way to investigate, so at most, they became topics of idle conversation after meals.
Feng Yue pursed her lips. She knew that when Zhao Xu mentioned earlier, "His Majesty often visits," Yin Gezhi had glanced at her with some concern, likely still worried that she might harbor thoughts of regicide. After all, even if the emperor was incompetent, he was still his father. If she tried to kill him, Yin Gezhi would undoubtedly stop her.
But Zhao Xu was the first among the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers to step forward and urge the emperor to exterminate the Guan family. This man, a useless glutton, had the ear of Emperor Wen of Wei. Though he had no prior grudge against the General's Mansion, he had raised the executioner’s blade against it at that time. How could she possibly let such a person live comfortably? And if she didn’t want him to live comfortably, the only option was to target Emperor Wen of Wei.
"The state has its laws," Yin Gezhi said, lowering his gaze. "Rather than staining your hands with blood, it’s better to let him face the consequences he deserves."
Face the consequences he deserves? Feng Yue chuckled softly, shaking her head as she leaned closer to whisper in his ear, "Your Highness, do you truly believe that if there’s commotion in the backyard, this Lord Zhao will be punished?"
"Of course," Yin Gezhi replied. "If the emperor breaks the law, he is punished like any commoner, let alone a mere Grand Commandant."
"Very well," Feng Yue nodded with a smile, her eyes filled with a sigh. "Then let’s make a bet."
"What bet?"
"If Your Highness can ensure Zhao Xu faces the consequences he deserves, I will not interfere in this matter at all. But if you uncover the backyard’s secrets and he does not receive the punishment he deserves, then no matter what I do, Your Highness must not interfere. How about that?"Frowning, Yin Gezhi gave her a deep look and was about to speak again when Zhao Xu returned.
Feng Yue then lowered her head and stepped back, and Yin Gezhi said nothing more.
After the singing, dancing, and banquet, Feng Ming and Yin Gezhi both went to the guest courtyard. Zhao Xu led the way, smiling apologetically. "This courtyard is the most comfortable, with just one main room, one side hall, and adjoining quarters for maids and guards to rest—very convenient."
"Thank you for the trouble," Feng Ming said with a smile. "It's just that I tend to sleepwalk at night. If I disturb anyone in the mansion, please don't take offense."
Feng Yue followed behind, thinking to herself that Feng Ming had grown cleverer over the years? He even knew to prepare an excuse in advance for his nighttime activities.
Zhao Xu hesitated for a moment, thinking it couldn't be such a coincidence—sleepwalking was sleepwalking, after all. So he nodded in agreement and even instructed his people to serve them well.
Then Yin Gezhi spoke up. "This prince enjoys going out to admire the moon at night. General Feng need only be careful not to startle me."
Zhao Xu pursed his lips, suddenly feeling uneasy. He glanced at Yin Gezhi several times and said with an apologetic smile, "The weather hasn't been good these past few days, and there isn't much of a moon to see at night. If Your Highness truly wishes to admire it, this humble official can have my concubines perform a Moonlight Dance."
"No need."
"…"
Wiping his forehead, Zhao Xu ushered these two eccentric masters into the guest courtyard, quietly summoned the servants, instructed them to keep a close watch, and then bowed and left.
The sweltering summer afternoon was perfect for a nap. Feng Yue, dressed in a maid's attire, sat at the entrance of the guest courtyard and chatted with two servants. "This mansion is truly beautiful, even more so than the General's Mansion."
The two servants were both young, and seeing this delicate little beauty wanting to talk, they both gathered to sit in the shade. One said, "Of course, our master put a lot of effort into building this place."
The other, afraid Feng Yue wouldn't notice him, hurriedly chimed in, "That's right! I've been in this mansion for eight years, and I know every corner of it!"
Feng Yue smiled, her peripheral vision catching two shadows smoothly scaling the wall. She continued to ask, "Do you know the backyard well too? Prince Xiao mentioned earlier that the flowers there are beautiful, and I'd like to take a look."
At the mention of the backyard, the two servants' expressions changed, and they immediately fell silent. No matter how charmingly Feng Yue batted her eyes, they didn't speak again.
This made it clear—there was a big problem.
Standing up and patting her skirt, she smiled and said, "If we can't go to the backyard, let's take advantage of the masters' nap and go see other places with beautiful flowers."
The servants finally relaxed, but since both couldn't leave at the same time, they discussed for a moment, played rock-paper-scissors to decide the loser, and the winning servant led Feng Yue toward the garden.
They had just passed through the garden. Vaguely remembering the direction, Feng Yue stopped and let out a soft "ouch," her delicate brows furrowing tightly.
"What's wrong, miss?" the servant asked with concern. "Are you unwell?"
Blushing with embarrassment, Feng Yue asked, "Where is the latrine?"
The servant was taken aback and also felt a bit awkward, pointing her in the direction.
"Don't lead the way, I… I'll go myself." Biting her lip, Feng Yue acted out the part of a little maid who was desperate to relieve herself, shy and annoyed, stomping her foot before turning and walking away.
The servant didn't suspect a thing and simply waited where he was.The afternoon sun blazed brightly, and there were few people moving about the mansion. Feng Yue twisted and turned through the corridors, unsure where she had ended up. She was searching for the rear courtyard purely by luck.
Fortunately, the Grand Commandant's Mansion wasn’t unreasonably large. After wandering for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, she finally spotted a deserted, locked courtyard.
Examining the rust-covered iron lock, Feng Yue found a secluded corner and directly scaled the wall!
The courtyard wall wasn’t high, so she managed to climb up without much trouble. However, her luck ran out when she jumped down, landing in a patch of overgrown weeds. The strange smell that assaulted her made her eyes roll back.
“You really are bold,” Yin Gezhi’s cold voice sounded from beside her. “Even without your martial arts skills, you still dare to do such wall-scaling feats.”
Feng Ming suddenly appeared from somewhere, pulling her up and whispering, “You didn’t have to come.”
“It’s boring to be alone,” Feng Yue pouted. “Might as well join in the fun. Anyway, I’m just a little maid now. If anything happens, you two gentlemen can handle it.”
The more honest reason was that she was also quite curious—were the rumors about this rear courtyard true or false?
Giving her a disdainful look, Yin Gezhi continued to investigate the surroundings.
Feng Yue looked up and noticed that the courtyard resembled a theater troupe’s setup. A stage stood in the southeast corner, and around it hung tattered strips of cloth, their original colors long faded.
Feng Ming whispered to her, “There’s something off about this place. Earlier, I didn’t understand what you were talking about, nor why Yin Chenbi came here. But after entering, I discovered that the walls are covered in ghostly talismans. Clearly, something is being suppressed here.”
His words made the surroundings feel as if a chilling wind had swept through. Feng Yue shivered and frowned. “Could you please not speak so eerily?”
“Just telling the truth. But don’t be afraid—I’ll protect you from anything,” Feng Ming smiled, bright as the sun breaking through clouds, radiating warmth.
Feng Yue pursed her lips, about to say something more, when she saw Yin Gezhi emerge expressionlessly from the other side, holding a long spear used in theatrical performances. He walked toward them step by step, exuding a murderous aura.
Startled, she jumped behind Feng Ming and cried out, “Your Highness, let’s talk this out!”
With a cold snort, Yin Gezhi gripped the spear and, with a burst of strength, drove half of it into the ground in front of them.
The soil here wasn’t exactly soft. Seeing the force in Yin Gezhi’s hands, Feng Yue instinctively swallowed, thinking it was fortunate he had stabbed the ground and not her head.
“Pull it out,” Yin Gezhi said to Feng Ming.
Feng Ming took this as a challenge—as if he couldn’t pull it out! He immediately released Feng Yue, stepped forward, gripped the spear’s end with both hands, and yanked it out with a single forceful tug.
A faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood made all three of them tense.
“We shouldn’t stay long. Let’s go,” Yin Gezhi said seriously, scooping Feng Yue into his arms and flying out of the abandoned courtyard. Feng Ming, slow to react, followed, gritting his teeth and shouting, “Let her go!”
Let her go? Yin Gezhi sneered.
Absolutely not!
By the time the servant who had guided Feng Yue returned, he found General Feng and Prince Xiao both awake, sparring in the courtyard. The maid beside them watched with an exceptionally cold gaze, as if observing two madmen.Everything proceeded as usual, with no unexpected incidents. However, that evening, to be thorough, Zhao Xu dispatched ten additional servants to patrol near the guest courtyard, ensuring they would not wander out in their sleep or come out to admire the moon.
Having already obtained the evidence he sought, Yin Gezhi slept soundly and peacefully, leaving Zhao Xu to worry through the night.
At noon the next day, while Zhao Xu was hosting them for lunch, the commander of the City Garrison, Lian Heng, unexpectedly arrived with soldiers and barged straight into the rear courtyard without a word of explanation.
Zhao Xu grew frantic and roared in anger, "This is the residence of the Grand Commandant! How dare a mere City Garrison force its way in?!"
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