Тhе Сhаnghеn Saber, fоrgеd frоm соld iron, was cаsuаlly wraрped in а сlоth striр bу this mаn and slung ovеr his back.
Yin Gezhi raised his eуеs and sаid in a vеrу sеriоus tonе, "Fоr wаndеring hеroеs of the martiаl wоrld, their swоrds never leаve their sidе."
"Bah!" Fеng Yuе grittеd hеr tееth. "Whаt do wandеring hеroеs hаvе to dо with yоu? Wе're just having tеа, cаn't you relаx for a mоmеnt!"
"I сannоt." His gaze shiftеd, аnd Yin Gеzhi loоkеd аskаnсе at hеr. "I'm аfraid sоmeоne might havе designs оn this sаbеr."
Feng Yuе wаs sреechless.
Нer guilt extinguished her аnger. She wipеd her faсe аnd sаt down bеside him, picking up the mung bean cakes that had been shaken from the plate and putting them back neatly. Then, she pushed the plate before him and said with a smile, "How could that be? Besides Xu Huaizu, who else here would have designs on a saber?"
Giving her a deep look, Yin Gezhi nodded. "That's true."
Then he picked up a clean piece of mung bean cake and began to eat it elegantly, showing no intention of taking the saber off his back.
Feng Yue ground her teeth. While staring at his movements, she wondered, What can I do to get that thing off his back?
Take off his clothes!
But... wouldn't her sacrifice be a bit too great? Although she didn't care about such things, given the current situation, getting close to Yin Gezhi felt so awkward! No, it was too traumatizing!
She turned her head, ready to beat a retreat, but as she did, her eyes met two expectant faces outside the window.
An Shichong gave her a slight bow, his gaze sincere. Xu Huaizu silently mimed "weeping bitter tears," even dabbing saliva under his eyelids! He looked as if he would die if she didn't help!
What a cursed fate! This mess was his own doing, so why was she the one facing the consequences? Her beautiful face twisted into a grimace. Feng Yue narrowed her eyes and viciously made a throat-slitting gesture at Xu Huaizu.
Yin Gezhi found it strange. Following her gaze, he looked out the window, only to see the wind blowing through the trees and the fallen leaves of early autumn fluttering about. There was nothing else.
When he looked back, the little beauty before him had already resumed her charming, smiling appearance. With her chin propped in her hand, she blinked her eyes at him.
Raising a slight eyebrow, Yin Gezhi asked, "Why did you change into women's clothes? Aren't we traveling? Shouldn't you be more careful?"
"Aiya, with my makeup this heavy, who would recognize me?" Feng Yue chided, poking his chest with her index finger. She said coquettishly, "I just suddenly missed wearing these clothes, so I had someone send them over for me to wear."
As she spoke, she flicked her wrist. The red silk ribbon flew out and landed on his shoulder, sliding smoothly into his lap and stopping in a very suggestive spot.
His body stiffened. Yin Gezhi looked up at her. "What are you trying to do?"
"My, listen to how you speak, my lord. It's not as if I could eat you whole, could I?" Rising with a smile, Feng Yue sat down in his lap and began tracing circles on his chest with her finger. "I just suddenly feel like seeing you in that white outfit, the one I sewed myself."
Yin Gezhi looked down at his own clothes, then at the person in his lap, a strange expression in his eyes. "Are you blind? This is the one you sewed."
Feng Yue was speechless.
She coughed awkwardly twice and stomped her foot. "Aiya, I knew it! You're always wearing it and refuse to take it off. So you like the clothes I make? You should have said so earlier! I brought a measuring tape. Take off your outer robe, and I'll measure you. I'll make you another set when I get back!"
She was really putting her blood and sweat into this! Heaven knew how much effort it took to make clothes. Although she had learned needlework, she wasn't truly skilled...
Yin Gezhi pondered for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons. His eyes glanced toward the windowsill before he finally nodded. "Alright."
Her eyes lit up, and Feng Yue immediately reached out her claws to strip the man's clothes! Her ten fingers moved with lightning speed. Yin Gezhi only felt a lightness on his back as the Buhui Saber fell.
"My lord," Feng Yue looked up, smiling sweetly, "how about I hold this for you?"
Yin Gezhi stared at her and shook his head. "It's too heavy. I'll do it myself."
"I can carry it."
"I can carry it too."
The expressions on their faces were both normal. Looking at their faces alone, one would think the atmosphere was harmonious, full of tender affection between lovers.
However, a glance downward revealed four hands gripping the Buhui Saber in a death lock. A pair of slender, jade-like hands tried to pull it toward herself, while a pair of iron-like palms refused to yield an inch! The sight made the two heads outside the window break out in a cold sweat.
Go for it, Lady Feng Yue!
Feng Yue couldn't win in a contest of strength. So she could only rely on her acting skills!
Biting her lip, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She looked up aggrievedly and asked the man before her, "Do you distrust me so much? Am I the kind of person who would covet this saber?"
His gaze faltered. Yin Gezhi was momentarily lost in thought and actually loosened his grip.
This was her chance! While sobbing pitifully, Feng Yue put her strength into it, snatched the saber away, and threw it toward the window!
Thump! Xu Huaizu was struck on the head, seeing stars. He dazedly clutched the saber as An Shichong swiftly dragged him away from the scene.
Feng Yue threw her arms around Yin Gezhi's waist to stop him from giving chase. Seeing the two of them vault over the wall out of the corner of her eye, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Mission accomplished!
A frigid aura began to spread. The fearless person who had been celebrating felt a chill run down her spine and immediately tried to pull her hands back.
However, it was too late.
Yin Gezhi looked furious, truly enraged. He grabbed her hand and pushed her down onto the bed, asking with half-closed, cold eyes, "You deceived me?"
Swallowing nervously, Feng Yue shook her head. "I was forced to, my lord!"
"I trusted you so, yet you deceived me." Deep disappointment and hurt filled his eyes, and Yin Gezhi's voice grew hoarse. "I thought that even if we were enemies, you wouldn't have the heart to use me."
How could I not have the heart? If I could use him, I'd use him for all he's worth without a second's hesitation!
Though she thought this, seeing him so hurt made Feng Yue feel a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Yin Gezhi pressed his lips together. Under the surge of anger and fury, he lowered his head and kissed her!
Feng Yue instinctively tried to push him away, but the man on top of her seemed to live inside her head. He whispered, "Do you hate me that much?"
Alright, pushing him away right after using him was indeed a bit much. Feng Yue steeled herself, closed her eyes, and let him kiss her!
But... as they kissed, she inexplicably grew hot all over. Her body arched subconsciously, wanting to press closer to him.
Feng Yue felt deeply ashamed. This man was a beast, the son of her enemy! How could she be thinking such things?
However, at this small reaction from her, Yin Gezhi actually took the initiative. He was completely unlike his past self, who would wait for her to serve him. Instead, he was like a demon from hell, pulling her down bit by bit.
"No..."
"Don't make a sound." The cool voice was tinged with passion, as if it could bewitch one's heart, and it slowly stole away her reason.
Before completely losing her senses, Feng Yue managed to convince herself. I'll just treat it as a visit to a male brothel!
Xu Huaizu, ecstatic as he hugged the saber, had no idea what a good deed he had facilitated. He just diligently began practicing the secret manual, terrified his master would snatch the saber back again.
However, he was overthinking it. The next day, his master's attitude was exceptionally gentle. He looked at Xu Huaizu as if he were his own son, his gaze filled with profound fatherly love.
Trembling, Xu Huaizu clutched his saber and hid behind An Shichong, whispering, "What's wrong with Master?"
An Shichong, who had just returned with news from outside, said with a straight face, "Emperor Wen of Wei has already issued an edict to retry the case of General Guan's family for colluding with the enemy and treason. Master is probably happy because he feels he can make amends for his past mistakes."
"What did you say?" Lady Feng Yue popped out from behind Yin Gezhi, staring at him. "Retry the Guan family's case?!"
"Yes." Startled by her intense reaction, An Shichong pursed his lips. "The streets are buzzing with it. Everyone's talking about it."
The heart that had just been entangled in romance instantly sank. Feng Yue turned her head to glance at Yin Gezhi and asked, "Does Your Highness think that as long as the Guan family's case is overturned, I will no longer hold a grudge?"
Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes. "I did not think that."
But at least, it could atone for some of his sins. He couldn't let the Guan family bear that crime for a lifetime, unable to even erect a proper memorial tablet.
"Mm, then thank you, Your Highness." Nodding, Feng Yue straightened her clothes. She stepped over the threshold and said, "Since I've received the news about the Guan family, I will take my leave now."
"Feng Yue." Yin Gezhi frowned slightly. "Are you angry?"
"I'm not angry." Without stopping, Feng Yue walked on, waving her hand nonchalantly. "It's just that my mind hasn't been working well these past few days. I forgot what I was supposed to be doing and was just enjoying your little show. Now the time is about right. I should go back and take care of other things."
Striding to catch up, Yin Gezhi said in a low voice, "What you want to do requires careful consideration. You must not seek mutual destruction."
"The only reason you've been holding me back is because you're afraid I'll seek mutual destruction and harm your father, the Emperor, isn't it?" she murmured. A smile touched the corners of Feng Yue's eyes and brows. She coquettishly pushed his shoulder and pointed behind him. "Your two disciples still don't know what happened. I'm leaving, so you'll have to stay and spin a story."
"Guan Qingyue!" Yin Gezhi reached out and grabbed her, a rare anxiety showing in his eyes. "Can't you wait a little longer? What good will it do the Guan family if you rush to kill him now? The verdict hasn't been overturned yet; you can't even have a tablet carved!"
"I'm not in a rush, but I can't let you drag me here and waste my time any longer."
Waste time? Yin Gezhi's face darkened. He asked through gritted teeth, "Being with me... is a waste of time?"
The person he had just shared a warm night with, how could she become so distant and unapproachable the very next morning? Didn't they say that a woman's heart belongs to whomever her body belongs to? Why didn't this Guan Qingyue fall for that at all?!
Turning back to shoot him a flirtatious glance, Feng Yue said with a dazzling smile, "Why must Your Highness be so clingy? It doesn't suit your lofty, celestial image. You're more like an impatient, impulsive young lad."
With that, she pulled her wrist from his grasp. Her red clothes fluttered, and like a butterfly, she drifted out the posthouse gate and melted into the bustling crowd.
Yin Gezhi stood dazedly at the entrance for a long while. He lowered his eyes and counted on his fingers.
He had managed to delay her for three days, which was already remarkable on his part. She had no feelings for him. No matter how much effort he put in, it could only be considered shameless pestering.
The dignified First Prince Yin, to think he would fall to such a state...
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