Stаring аt thеir retreаting figurеs, Fеng Yuе mаde no attеmрt to stoр them. In truth, she hаd nеvеr knоwn hоw tо tell Feng Мing about what she had donе in thе Wu Kingdоm. With Yin Gezhi’s vеnоmоus tоngue, hе сеrtаinlу wouldn’t lеt her off the hооk. It was bеtter to let him dо the talking, sрaring her thе nееd tо fасе Feng Ming’s сlеar, quеstiоning gаze—а loоk thаt alwaуs mаde hеr feel guilty.
Fеng Ming knew nothing. Не оnly sеnsed that therе sееmed tо bе sесrеts bеtweеn Fеng Yue аnd Yin Chеnbi that he wаsn’t privу tо. Whеnevеr thеir еуes met, he fеlt like an outsider, supеrfluous. Being drаgged awаy wаsn’t sо bad; it gаve him a chance to question Yin Chenbi alone about how exactly he had come to know Guan Qingyue.
With each of the three lost in their own thoughts, Yin Gezhi half-dragged, half-led the reluctant Feng Ming back to the Prince of Filial Piety’s Mansion. He shut Feng Ming outside the door, changed into a set of white robes, and emerged.
Feng Ming turned around. From a man’s perspective, he couldn’t help but think Yin Chenbi was putting on quite an act. A noble of royal blood, dressed in white robes, yet he managed to look like a scholar—gentle in demeanor, polite, even nodding to Feng Ming as he stepped out.
Narrowing his eyes, Feng Ming hugged the sword in his arms and asked in a low voice, “Did Your Highness summon me here just to show off your clothes? If you have something to say, speak plainly.”
Yin Gezhi walked over, calmly pointing to the robes he wore. “I brought you here precisely to see this.”
“This outer garment was made by Feng Yue.”
Do you want her to make clothes for you? Sorry, she made this for me, so she can’t make any for you. Prince Yin’s tail was practically wagging with pride. For the first time, his usually profound eyes revealed a childlike, competitive glint.
Feng Ming was stunned. It took him a moment to process the meaning behind those words. His heart tightened, and his fingers gripping the scabbard turned pale.
“If she made clothes for you, why did she say she doesn’t like you?”
Yin Gezhi replied indifferently, “It’s common for women to say one thing and mean another.”
“No.” Feng Ming shook his head, his gaze firm. “She’s such a straightforward person. If she truly liked you wholeheartedly, she would say so.”
Just as she had once confessed her feelings for Yin Chenbi openly, even telling him directly.
“Well, I wouldn’t know about that.” Yin Gezhi curled his lips. “She made the clothes, and naturally, she belongs to me.”
Feng Ming’s expression darkened. “Did she pledge herself to you in secret?”
Pledged herself in secret.
At the mention of this, Yin Gezhi’s face also turned grim.
Previously, Feng Yue had deceived him, claiming she was a courtesan who entertained guests, so he hadn’t minded that she wasn’t a virgin. But now that he knew she was Guan Qingyue, how could he have forgotten to ask: as the daughter of the esteemed Guan family, to whom had she pledged herself in secret?
Raising his eyes to the man before him, a flicker of malice passed through Yin Gezhi’s gaze. Without another word, he turned and strode away.
“Hey?” Startled by his reaction, Feng Ming immediately gave chase but couldn’t keep up. The man ran like a thousand-mile steed, seemingly tireless.
However, glancing in the direction Yin Gezhi had fled, Feng Ming pursed his lips, mounted his horse, and followed.
Feng Yue was writing a letter. With Zhao Xu on trial, many would seize the chance to kick him while he was down. The stones thrown must hit hard enough to draw blood.
Before she could finish, her wrist was suddenly seized. Panting heavily, Yin Gezhi appeared and, without a word, dragged her into the adjacent room.The door closed, and Feng Yue was once again pressed against the door panel. The scene felt familiar, leaving her somewhat bewildered. She looked up at the person before her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Her voice was a bit hoarse. Yin Gezhi lowered his head, staring at her with a stubborn gleam in his eyes. "Did you ever like Feng Ming?"
What nonsense was this? Feng Yue was stunned. Did she like Feng Ming? In the past, she and Feng Ming would bicker whenever they met, fighting so fiercely that the heavens and earth seemed to turn upside down. Who would like him?
But the fact that he could ask such a question made her feel curious. What had just happened? Why was it this lord who came back in a huff?
"Why do you ask?"
His palm was scorching hot, so much so that she could feel the heat through her clothes. Unable to help herself, she shifted slightly.
This bit of body language seemed to carry a hint of guilt in Yin Gezhi's eyes. His heart sank, plunging into an unfathomable abyss, and for a long while, he couldn't bring himself to speak.
After a long silence, he gently lowered his head, resting his chin in the crook of her neck, and said in a hoarse voice, "Let me rephrase the question. Since you have a marriage arrangement with Feng Ming, would you still pledge your life to someone else?"
Every hair on her body stood on end. Feng Yue immediately denied it, "No!"
"..." Yin Gezhi closed his eyes, his lips turning pale.
He had thought as much, yet he couldn't help but ask, wanting to hear the answer from her lips. But now that he had truly heard it, why did it hurt so much? It felt as though someone were driving thick wooden nails into his chest, one after another, the pain so intense that his fingertips curled slightly.
What would it be like if she were with Feng Ming?
The image of Feng Yue's enchanting and alluring appearance flashed through his mind. Narrowing his eyes, he slammed a fierce punch into the door panel Feng Yue was leaning against. A loud "bang" echoed, startling Feng Yue and making her tremble all over.
Feng Ming, who had just rushed outside the door and was about to pound on it, heard the sound and, without a second thought, changed course and climbed through the window. His dark blue robe swept across the windowsill, bringing in a cloud of dust as he threw a punch at Yin Gezhi. "Let her go!"
His eyes slightly red, Yin Gezhi held Feng Yue and dodged, then released her, caught Feng Ming's fist, and kicked back.
Feng Ming flipped away to avoid the blow, glaring at Yin Gezhi's robe in annoyance. Yin Gezhi's expression turned icy as he continued to attack, even more irritated at the sight of Feng Ming himself. Both sides were seething with anger, making this fight particularly intense.
Feng Yue covered her head and ducked outside, completely unable to comprehend the commotion inside. She grabbed Lingshu, who was carrying a hot water kettle, and pointed at the room, asking, "Are they insane? It's one thing if they fight often, but this time, why are they fighting again without even giving a reason?"
Lingshu looked bewildered. Watching the tables and chairs flying out of the room, she timidly asked, "Should we call a doctor to take a look?"
Feng Yue covered her face, pushed Lingshu away to avoid accidental injury, and then dragged Madam Qiu over. "Please try to stop them!"
With a "thud," a punch landed on Feng Ming's jaw, making him spit out blood. He retaliated with a fierce blow to Yin Gezhi's abdomen. The battle was intense, and Madam Qiu shook her head repeatedly. "There's no stopping this."
"Why?" Feng Yue widened her eyes.
"If even you don't know why they're fighting, how would we know? No one here is more skilled in martial arts than these two. Stepping in would only add to the casualties." Madam Qiu sighed. "But I can understand Feng Ming's lack of discipline—he's always been unruly. However, what's wrong with His Highness? He's usually so composed, yet today he's fighting too?"Feng Yue fell silent, her mind roughly able to guess the reason. Yin Gezhi might have remembered that she was no longer a virgin, thinking she had been with Feng Ming... This matter could not be explained. To explain would be equivalent to running over and pointing at herself, telling him, "Look, among those shameless and brazen people sent to serve you in the Eastern Palace three years ago, I was one."
Recalling her past self, trapped by emotions and acting recklessly, Feng Yue wanted to bang her head against the wall! Gritting her teeth, she simply rushed forward, pulling Feng Ming behind her, and looked at Yin Gezhi, saying, "It wasn't him!"
The fist about to strike her face abruptly halted mid-air. Yin Gezhi, his eyes bloodshot, chest heaving, let out a bitter laugh. "You're still protecting him?"
"...This really isn't about protecting him or not." Feng Yue wiped her face. "It truly wasn't him."
"Then who was it?" His gaze turned cold. Yin Gezhi said, "Have you already forgotten the words you just spoke? Or do you think my memory is poor and I'll forget?"
You have a marriage arrangement with Feng Ming. Would you still pledge yourself to someone else?
No.
Recalling these words, Feng Yue wished she could slap herself! This was what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot, to suffer the consequences of lying!
"Your Highness, please calm down and listen to my explanation," she said with a forced smile, her eyes darting around.
Seeing this expression, Yin Gezhi shook his head. His gaze suddenly turned icy. "Listen to your explanation, or listen to you spin a tale?"
"Guan Qingyue, have I truly been too good to you, making you think I'll believe whatever you say?"
His cold voice echoed throughout the courtyard, making people inexplicably tense.
Feng Yue stopped smiling, feeling somewhat bewildered.
Why was she entangled with him over this matter? What did these things matter? They didn't. Would they affect the bigger picture? No. Besides, back then, it was Yin Gezhi, the First Prince, who was known for his fickleness and lack of commitment. What right did he have to question her so righteously now?
Taking a deep breath, she snapped back to reality. Looking seriously at the person before her, she said, "If Your Highness doesn't want to hear it, then this humble servant won't spin tales. You can kill or punish me as you wish. If there's nothing else, I have matters to attend to and won't keep Your Highness any longer."
A bitter taste rose in his throat. Yin Gezhi closed his eyes and let out a hoarse laugh.
See, women truly shouldn't be spoiled. Once spoiled, they won't even consider his feelings.
What a fine "kill or punish me as you wish." She was relying on the fact that he wouldn't do anything to her, which was why she dared to act so brazenly.
So brazen...
Shaking his head, Yin Gezhi turned and walked away, gritting his teeth. His steps were heavy, his eyes turbulent. The wind whipped his robes, the thin white fabric fluttering. Madam Qiu watched with emotion at the doorway. As the robes settled, behind him, Feng Ming frowned, Feng Yue remained expressionless, and only the pomegranate tree in the courtyard bloomed brilliantly, a vibrant red.
Watching Yin Gezhi's shadow disappear beyond the gate, Feng Yue finally moved, sitting back down as if nothing had happened and continuing to write.
Feng Ming turned his head and asked her, "Do you truly no longer like him?"
Feng Yue replied impatiently, "If you insist on talking to me about love and romance, then I won't be polite to you."Slightly taken aback, Feng Ming touched the tip of his nose and chuckled softly, "Although I find it quite pleasant that you're now a bit closer to me, I do miss the old days when we were always at each other's throats. If you were to truly be unkind to me, I think that would be rather nice too."
Feng Yue narrowed her eyes and turned around, wanting to grab his collar and toss him over the courtyard wall.
However, as her hand went limp, she suddenly remembered—what ability did she have left now to be unkind to anyone?
Frowning slightly, Feng Ming lowered his head to look at her hand. "I've been meaning to ask since earlier—what's wrong with your body? You used to be so agile, but now you even fell while jumping over the wall. And when you tried to grab me just now, you couldn't muster any strength."
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