Just thinking аbоut it still mаkes Feng Yuе's bасk tееth ache! Ваck in the dаy, Feng Мing trulу hаd nо brаins. Аfter reаding some flowery romаnсe bоoks, hе ехсitedlу rаn tо thе strеet tо block her раth. Amidst thе bustling crowds and hеavy trаffic, he shоutеd lоudlу—"Guаn Qingуuе, I like yоu, I'm willing tо die fоr уоu!"
Thе streеt еrupted in murmurs. Whilе thеre wеre plentу of young girls саsting еnvious glаnces, morе раssersbу gаvе him strаngе lоoks, рrоbablу thinking, "Is this guy сrazy?"
Guаn Qingyuе’s ехprеssiоn аt thе time mirrored thаt of the onlookеrs.
Reining in her horsе, the femаle gеnеral in rеd armor and white armor lifted her chin disdainfully at the person before her and said sternly, "Such behavior is truly unworthy of a husband."
Feng Ming was stunned. He asked, utterly confused, "Why? The books all say that women like men who are willing to sacrifice their lives for them."
"Compared to someone like you who shouts about dying for me at every turn," Guan Qingyue said proudly, "I prefer a man who, for the sake of being together, can plan calmly, be steady and composed, and act without showing his hand!"
Steady, composed, and acting without showing his hand? At that time, Feng Ming had no idea what kind of man that was. He looked up and declared, "I think if you like someone, you should say it! Saying you're willing to die for them means you're willing to die for them!"
"Then go die!" Guan Qingyue flew into a rage. She tugged the reins, causing the horse to rear up, ready to trample right over his head!
...
"Thinking back now, words spoken probably aren’t as moving to a woman as actions taken." Feng Ming let out a bitter laugh and lowered his gaze. "I used to think I was definitely the one who liked you most in this world. Now... that might not be the case."
Utterly confused, Feng Yue thought for a long moment before asking, "Have you finally fallen for someone else?"
Feng Ming: "..."
He was feeling miserable just now, so how did this girl always manage to say things that could infuriate a person back to life?
Irritated, he banged his head against the table and gritted his teeth, "Don’t even think about it. I’m sticking to you—I don’t plan on ruining anyone else’s life!"
Feng Yue was furious: "Then why did you say all that useless stuff?!"
"I..." Feng Ming was taken aback. He thought for a moment—right, why did he come here to tell her all this? Even if Yin Gezhi fit the type of man she liked better, he still liked her! What did it matter whether he said it or not?
It didn’t!
Once he realized this, Feng Ming’s bitter expression instantly brightened again. His handsome features were filled with joy, making Feng Yue momentarily dazed.
Hey, not bad—Feng Ming really had grown up now. His handsome features and dignified bearing truly had the air of a noble young master in this chaotic world. Looking at him, Feng Yue couldn’t help but pat his shoulder: "Truly, a girl changes eighteen times as she grows up."
What nonsense? Feng Ming scowled: "Who’s a girl? Back when I couldn’t beat you, you always mocked me for being a girl, but now that my skills have greatly improved and I can barely hold my own against Yin Chenbi, it’s too much for you to keep mocking me like this!"
"Oh." Nodding seriously, Feng Yue laughed, "Then I’ll call you General Feng. The general is quite impressive!"
Annoyed and embarrassed by her teasing tone, Yin Gezhi raised his hand as if to pinch her cheek, but the door was suddenly kicked open with a bang!Both people in the room were startled and turned their heads to look. They saw Yin Gezhi standing tall and composed at the doorway, calmly stating, "The Wu Kingdom envoy delegation has entered the palace."
So soon?!
Feng Yue was shocked and dashed over to him, staring wide-eyed as she asked, "Didn’t the previous letters say the Wu Kingdom envoys wouldn’t arrive for another half month?"
This was also the message the Wei Kingdom palace had received. When Emperor Wen of Wei issued the decree sending Yin Gezhi to Ba Mountain, he had calculated that before leaving, Yin Gezhi could still serve as a bridge to introduce both sides and promote friendly exchanges between the two kingdoms. Thus, the timing for his departure to Ba Mountain was set precisely for the middle of the month.
Unexpectedly, just after Prince Xiao had been demoted, before the rumors had even died down, the Wu Kingdom envoy delegation had already arrived in Lidu, ready to enter the palace.
Feng Yue was utterly stunned, and Emperor Wen of Wei was even more caught off guard. He hastily arranged for the Crown Prince to receive them and prepared the palace quarters for the envoys. Inside and outside the palace, everything was thrown into chaos.
Yin Chenjue was entrusted with the urgent task of receiving the envoy delegation. He had initially assumed the delegation would mostly consist of eloquent elders, but to his surprise, the leaders this time were two young men.
"Wu Kingdom envoys An Shichong and Xu Huaizu pay our respects to the Crown Prince of Wei."
Their blue and gray robes fluttered with an air of dignity at the entrance of the Wei Kingdom palace.
...
"So, you urged them to travel day and night, arriving near Lidu ahead of schedule. Then you blocked them from entering until now?" The scene in her pupils faded away as Feng Yue looked at the man before her with disdain. "As their master, you’re going too far! It’s a good thing those two kids are honest and didn’t resist."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Yin Gezhi glanced at her and said indifferently, "I merely wrote to them about which places had beautiful scenery, suggesting that if they left early, they could take their time sightseeing. Both kids grew up in Shadowless City and have never seen the outside world. Shouldn’t a master broaden their horizons?"
Feng Yue fell silent, shaking her head with a sigh. How does someone like Yin Gezhi, who schemes against others while still finding lofty excuses to claim it’s for their own good, even think?
Seeing him, Feng Ming felt displeased. He stood up, pursed his lips, and said, "I’ll take my leave first."
"Where are you going?" Feng Yue glanced back at him. "Aren’t you staying for lunch?"
"You want me to stay for lunch?" The corners of his mouth instantly lifted, and Feng Ming’s eyes sparkled like stars as he said, "Then I’ll stay and have lunch here."
Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes. Although he was pleased to know that Feng Yue’s purity had been given to him and not to Feng Ming, he still found the sight of this person before him rather irritating.
"You’re staying for lunch?" he said. "Today, I’m the one cooking."
What? Feng Ming was shocked, and Feng Yue was even more astonished. She stared at Yin Gezhi and asked, "You’re cooking?"
Isn’t it said that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen? Besides, even Guan Zhi’s cooking skills are questionable—could anything he makes himself even be edible?
Shaking her head repeatedly, Feng Yue said, "You should just focus on your scheming. Leave the kitchen to Aunt Zheng and the others."
"Feng Yue," Yin Gezhi turned his head, his expression softening unusually as he gazed deeply at her. "You cooked so many meals for me back in the Wu Kingdom. Can’t I repay you with just one meal now?"
Feng Ming frowned upon hearing this, glaring even more sharply at Yin Gezhi. Unfortunately, the man was thick-skinned and completely ignored it.Feng Yue gave a dry laugh, her expression serious as she looked at him and said, "This is what you call repaying kindness with enmity, returning good with evil."
"Don't worry." Turning to walk out, Yin Gezhi said with full confidence, "It won't be too hard to eat."
Feng Ming shook his head; he had absolutely no confidence at all!
"You... still plan to stay for dinner?" Feng Yue stiffly asked Feng Ming.
After hesitating for a long time, Feng Ming took a deep breath and, in a tragic tone as if "a hero goes forth never to return," solemnly declared, "Stay! You asked me to stay for dinner. I have to stay no matter what!"
Feng Yue nodded: "Then you stay. I'll take Aunt Zheng and the others out to find a restaurant!"
Feng Ming: "..."
In the kitchen, the rumbling sounds continued unabated, and the people in the compound fled in panic. Feng Ming really wanted to leave with them, but Feng Yue said very seriously, "A true man's word is his bond. You can't leave!"
So he sat in the dining room with an ashen face, watching Yin Gezhi bring in plate after plate of "dishes."
Glancing at the empty courtyard, Yin Gezhi didn't care at all. Setting down the plates, he said, "Eat."
Looking down at the four plates of black, gooey stuff in front of him, Feng Ming asked, "Did you dig up the black soil from the backyard and put it on the plates?"
"No." Yin Gezhi pointed at the dishes with an air of importance. "This is braised eggplant with pork. This is stir-fried cabbage, this is radish stewed with pork ribs, and this is shredded potatoes."
Following the direction of his finger with a livid expression, Feng Ming shook his head. "Yin Chenbi, even if you and I are love rivals, you can't use such cruel torture to poison me! If you're a real man, let's compete openly and fairly!"
Openly and fairly? Yin Gezhi laughed, sitting down in a chair and glancing sideways at him. "She is mine, bound to me by years of ties and fate. What do you plan to compete with me over?"
"Don't get too cocky." Feng Ming narrowed his eyes. "I also have a marriage contract with her!"
"It's 'had.'"
"I know her better than you do. We grew up together as childhood sweethearts!"
"People change."
"She doesn't like you!"
"She likes you even less."
The room was filled with flying sand and stones as the two refused to yield, using verbal attacks in an attempt to undermine each other's confidence.
However, Feng Ming's heart was as hard as iron, and Yin Gezhi was shameless. Neither could convince the other.
"There's one thing I know for sure." Yin Gezhi looked up and added one last line. "Only I know what she wants to do, only I can help her achieve it, and only I can keep her from walking down a dead-end road."
Feng Ming was stunned, then frowned.
Indeed, up until now, he only knew that Yue'er wanted to avenge the Guan family, but he had no idea how she planned to do it. He could only help when she needed him.
"Well, I'm not as scheming as you." Feng Ming admitted this generously. "But I have no reservations. Whatever she wants to do, as long as she asks me, I can help her without holding back. But you might not."
With a light snort, Yin Gezhi stood up and looked outside. "That's your last advantage. Once I have no more restraints, you won't even have that left. General Feng, a wise man never plays a losing hand. Once he sees a situation he cannot win, he concedes."
"I won't concede." Feng Ming looked up, his eyes blazing. "As long as she doesn't tell me to leave with her own words, I won't concede."Until the very end, who knows what might happen? He had no desire to be a sage; he wanted to be a warrior.
Giving him a disdainful glance, Yin Gezhi was about to speak further when he saw Guan Zhi rushing in from outside, excitedly saying, "Master, something has happened in the palace! The Crown Prince has offended the envoy from the Wu Kingdom, and the envoy's delegation has withdrawn from the palace and is now staying at the post station."
So quickly? Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Bowing beside him, Guan Zhi replied, "The two young masters of the family inquired about your whereabouts as soon as they entered the palace, which likely led to a clash of words with the Crown Prince."
It was more than just a clash of words—it was a direct physical confrontation!
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