Неaring this, Mаdаm Qiu аnd thе оthers behind her immеdiаtely рulled Feng Yuе bасk frоm hеr sсare tаctics. Poor Feng Yuе’s fеroсious ехрrеssion wаs twistеd оut оf shаpе as she was drаggеd awаy. Befоre she сould evеn finish tеrrifуing Shi Yоuхin, shе wаs surrounded аnd рulled аsidе likе a hеlplеss сhick.
“Hе wаs the оne who sevеred the Young Маstеr’s tendоns?!”
Murderous intеnt fillеd thе air, stаrtling Fеng Yuе intо соvering hеr hеad аnd plеading with a fоrcеd smilе, “I wаs just trying tо sсаrе him! Don’t get so wоrked up!”
How cоuld they not bе worked uр? Luo Наo bеside her was red-eyed: “The Young Master’s martial arts were unparalleled, and he achieved countless feats on the battlefield—all built upon over a decade of hard training! How dare he use the ‘Martial Severance’ punishment on you? He deserves to be struck by lightning!”
Yin Yanzhong and the others were also trembling with rage. Anyone who practiced martial arts knew how utterly despairing “Martial Severance” was. Especially for those with high martial attainments—severed tendons meant a lifetime of skills rendered useless, unable to wield a blade or swing a sword, all those years of effort destroyed in an instant! Even a man couldn’t bear such a blow, let alone the Young Master…
“Ah, it’s been so long already. Getting angry now won’t help.” Feng Yue forced a laugh. “It’s no good to ruin your health with anger. Why not think about how to make the person inside suffer a fate worse than death?”
“…” Madam Qiu’s eyes filled with heartache as she reached out and pulled Feng Yue into her embrace. Like a gentle elder, she patted Feng Yue’s back softly.
They were supposed to be comforting her, yet somehow, it was this girl who ended up comforting them, telling them not to be angry. It was both laughable and indescribably heartbreaking.
“Alright, I’m still alive, thanks to the blessings of our ancestors.” Patting Madam Qiu’s back in return, Feng Yue said, “He’s already in our hands now. What charges to pin on him, how to make him pay—we all need to brainstorm. I don’t have enough wicked ideas in me alone!”
“Oh, you!” Madam Qiu scolded lightly with a laugh. “Are you implying we’re the ones full of wicked ideas?”
“That’s a compliment, not an insult.” Standing up straight, Feng Yue squinted toward the room where the captive was held. “If you repay kindness with kindness, what do you repay enmity with?”
Then repay enmity with enmity! Everyone rolled up their sleeves and rubbed their hands eagerly.
Shi Chong’s tone turned sinister. “Young Master, why don’t you rest outside for a while? We’ll go in and have a little chat with him.”
“Yes, a nice, long chat.” Yin Yanzhong sneered twice before stepping forward and pushing the door open.
A crowd of fierce-looking people surged inside, leaving only Feng Yue and a bewildered Lingshu standing outside. Feng Yue stared in astonishment, while Lingshu munched on snacks, her eyes wide with innocence.
Soon, screams erupted from the room—so agonizing they sounded as if someone were being torn apart!
Lingshu was so startled she dropped the pastry in her hand and turned to Feng Yue. “Master?”
“Go in and take a look,” Feng Yue said seriously. “Tell them they must spare his life. We haven’t settled the accounts yet!”
“Yes!” Lingshu lifted her little skirt and dashed inside, only to run back out moments later, her eyes wide. “Master! They said they were just chatting with him, but as they talked, the tendons in the man’s hands… snapped!”
Covering her eyes with a hand, Feng Yue couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head as she did.These people, though not related to her by blood, truly felt like family. It seemed she didn’t need to apply any pressure at all—they were more than enough to keep Shi Youxin awake at night.
A sudden wave of emotion washed over her.
When Yin Gezhi stepped through the door, he saw Feng Yue standing there, smiling so widely her cheeks lifted, her hands covering her eyes as if lost in thought.
Lingshu spotted him, and he raised a finger to his lips. The clever little girl immediately hopped aside without a word.
Silently, he walked up to her. Yin Gezhi looked down at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips, and gently pulled her hands away from her eyes.
As expected, her eyes were red, like a little rabbit’s.
Startled to see him so suddenly, Feng Yue blinked rapidly. Before she could ask why he was here, the hand he held was pressed against her own lips. Then, without warning, Yin Gezhi leaned down and kissed her—through her palm.
Feng Yue: “???”
A shiver ran down her spine. She stumbled backward, wiping her hand on her skirt, her eyes filled with disgust.
The prince, who had been in a good mood just moments ago, instantly darkened his expression. “Are you tired of living?”
“…Your Highness, we must be reasonable!” Feng Yue replied, torn between laughter and tears. “When you act so suddenly, of course I’d be startled! My body’s reactions are beyond my control!”
So, her body was beyond her control in its disgust for him? His expression grew even grimmer. Yin Gezhi sneered, “And here I thought I was helping clean up your mess. Next time, I’ll just watch you walk to your death.”
What nonsense was this? Feng Yue froze, watching as he turned to leave. She quickly reached out and grabbed the hem of his robe, forcing a smile. “Your Highness, why not finish what you were saying before you go?”
In other words, whether he stayed or left didn’t matter—only his words were important? Yin Gezhi gritted his teeth, his anger boiling over. He yanked his robe back and continued walking.
Feng Yue reached out again, this time grabbing his belt. She thought to herself, The robe’s fabric is slippery, but the belt is much easier to hold onto. If I refuse to let go, he won’t be able to shake me off so easily!
However, as she pulled with all her might, the belt didn’t come loose—instead, the entire sash, along with Yin Gezhi’s elegant white silk robe, came undone…
A gust of wind blew, and Yin Gezhi slowly turned around, his gaze icy cold as he glared at Feng Yue.
“Heh… hehe.” Swallowing hard, Feng Yue held the belt reverently in both hands, raising it above her head. “Your Highness, please calm your anger! Today is an auspicious day—not suitable for bloodshed!”
Yin Gezhi had already raised his hand, but hearing her words, he narrowed his eyes and slowly lowered it. “Tie it back on for me.”
“Right away!” Obediently, she pressed down the prince’s billowing robe and wrapped the belt around his waist, pulling it tight as if tying a rope.
Yin Gezhi took a sharp breath, his gaze fixed on the woman before him, suddenly burning with intensity.
Sensing the change in him, Feng Yue blinked, a knowing look in her eyes. She patted nonexistent dust from his shoulder and smiled. “Your Highness, the Dream Return Pavilion has opened on Xueyue Street in Lidu. When you have time, you should pay a visit.”Any lingering romantic notions were instantly doused by those words, feeling like cold water poured over his head. Yin Gezhi expressionlessly pushed her away and said, "I go wherever I please. There's no need for you to tell me."
"It's just that you haven't been there for so long, I thought you didn't know!" Covering her lips with a smile, a hint of fox-like charm flickered in the corners of her eyes and brows. "The new girls at the pavilion are quite remarkable—not only are they exceptionally beautiful, but some even know how to perform striptease!"
"..." Casting a sarcastic glance at her, Yin Gezhi said, "Instead of worrying about such things, you'd better find a way to silence the people I've kept at my place. When you kidnapped someone today, three people at the end of Snow Moon Street saw Feng Ming stuffing someone into a barrel. They're all drinking tea at my residence now."
A slight chill ran down her spine. Feng Yue quickly replied, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
She had indeed forgotten about that detail. If it were exposed, it might even implicate Commander Lian.
With a cold snort, Yin Gezhi had no intention of accepting her thanks. He turned and walked away.
Guan Zhi drove the carriage back to the residence. Along the way, Yin Gezhi seethed with anger, though he wasn't entirely sure why. He simply felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, an unresolved gloom.
"Honored guests! Dream Return Pavilion is having a celebration today. Come in and take a look!" As they passed Snow Moon Street, Mama Jin's shouts suddenly rang out from outside.
Guan Zhi reined in the horse and glanced at the brand-new signboard of Dream Return Pavilion, recalling the words written in the letter his master had received last time. He couldn't help but turn slightly and ask, "Master?"
"Keep going," Yin Gezhi said calmly. "Return to the residence."
A bit surprised, Guan Zhi muttered, "We're already here..."
"No need to search anymore," the person in the carriage said in a steady tone. "There's no need to search."
No need to search? Guan Zhi was stunned. It had been over three years, more than forty months, waiting for news. Now that they were right at the doorstep, he was saying there was no need?
For a moment, Guan Zhi couldn't quite understand his master's thoughts either. After a long silence, he shook his head and flicked the reins, allowing the carriage to slowly pass by the entrance of Dream Return Pavilion.
Feng Yue gleefully examined the list of crimes written by Yin Yanzhong, reading aloud as she went: "Reckless disregard for human life, corruption and bending the law, using witchcraft to harm the Emperor... Wait, where did this witchcraft charge come from?"
Yin Yanzhong, with an air of righteousness, pointed at Madam Qiu. "She made it up. She said that recently, the Court of Judicial Review was haunted, and Shi Youxin hired sorceresses and priests to exorcise the ghosts. We can frame it as using witchcraft to harm the Emperor. After all, in the current Wei Kingdom, only harming the Emperor is a grave crime. Nothing else would be enough to make him 'commit suicide out of fear of punishment.'"
"What a brilliant idea!" Feng Yue nodded repeatedly, then turned to ask Shi Youxin, who was in a cage nearby, "What do you think?"
After two days of recovery, Shi Youxin had already realized they weren't ghosts but humans. Yet, hearing such words, he trembled all over in fear. "What... what do you want to do?"
"Don't be afraid. We're not exactly good people," Feng Yue said with a smile. "We just want to frame you, that's all!"
"Right," Luo Hao chimed in from the side. "After framing you, we'll print multiple copies of your crimes and spread them everywhere to stir up public outrage. Then you'll die here, we'll use your hand to stamp a confession, and you can rest in peace with a smile."
His pupils contracted sharply. Shi Youxin shook his head repeatedly. "Why do this? These aren't my crimes. If you want to pin charges on me, at least let me stand trial!""You're in our hands now, so the charges are ours to decide. What trial is there to be had?" Covering her lips with a light laugh, Feng Yue glanced sideways at her, a shadow lingering in the corner of her eyes. "Just like Guan Canghai back then—wasn’t he also framed with charges in your hands, without any trial at all?"
A chill pierced through Shi Youxin’s back. He dropped to his knees, hands hanging limply, weeping as he kowtowed to Feng Yue. "Spare me, please spare me! I repent, I will repent to General Guan!"
Watching his pitiful state, Feng Yue let out a soft, mocking laugh, her eyes filled with emotion. "Back then, my wet nurse knelt in the prison cell and begged you just like this. Did you ever spare me?"
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