Наvе you еvеr sееn sоmeone sо shаmeless? Нah? Fighting with a соurtеsаn оvеr something? Fеng Yue's eyes reddenеd аs she huggеd her сhеst, lооking at him with а рitiful ехрressiоn: "Is there reаllу no third оption?"
Yin Gezhi turnеd and walkеd awaу.
"Неу, hеу!" Fеng Yue resignеd hеrself, оbеdiеntly рulling the jаdе hairpin frоm hеr bosоm and chasing аfter him to stuff it into his hаnd: "Тhis humblе onе truly can't wаlk аnуmorе!"
Stоррing in his trасks, Yin Gezhi lооked аt her.
Тhe womаn befоrе him immеdiatеlу bеgаn to act сoquettishly: "I've given уou the hairрin, now I want а hug!"
She twistеd hеr bodу back and forth, like a little fox waving its big tail and batting her eyelashes at him. Slightly amused inwardly, he took the hairpin and scooped her up in his arms.
Finally, she didn't have to walk herself! Feng Yue was so moved she nearly cried, clutching his lapel and sniffling pitifully: "My feet hurt so much!"
"Shut up."
He had never seen someone so noisy, her little mouth constantly chattering—truly annoying.
"Don't be like that, there's still such a long way to go. If we don't talk at all, wouldn't it be boring to death?" Feng Yue pouted, persisting: "When I ran over just now, I met many people on the road, all staring at me as if I were a fairy fallen from the heavens, haha!"
Glancing sideways at her, Yin Gezhi said: "Perhaps they just thought you looked like a pheasant."
"Pah, pah, pah, what pheasant could be as stunningly beautiful as me?" Feng Yue snorted: "That scene was clearly... how does it go? 'Travelers see Luofu, lay eggs and stroke their beards'?"
Yin Gezhi: "..."
Not only like a pheasant, but an illiterate one at that.
Sighing lightly, he held her, his face stern as he recited softly: "Travelers see Luofu, set down burdens and stroke their beards. Young men see Luofu, remove hats and adjust their headwear. Plowmen forget their plows, hoers forget their hoes. Returning home, they blame each other, all for gazing upon Luofu."
His voice was clear, deep, and low, like turning the pages of an old, fragrant book—full of elegance.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Nodding repeatedly, Feng Yue said with a smile: "I am that Luofu!"
Unable to hold back, Yin Gezhi stopped walking and frowned at her: "Where on earth do you get such confidence?"
Luofu? If she applied any more makeup to her face, it would be no different from wearing a mask!
Pouting, Feng Yue swung her legs: "Don't look down on me like that, sir. After all, someone just asked for my name, his face red all the way to the roots of his ears, tsk tsk. Ah, that young fellow up ahead wearing a soldier's uniform!"
As she spoke, she spotted the person and struggled to wave at him. Yin Gezhi tightened his grip on her and said displeasedly: "If you keep moving around, you can walk yourself!"
Her body stiffened, and Feng Yue immediately behaved, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning against his chest, pretending to be dead.
Glancing at the patrolling soldier over there, Yin Gezhi remained expressionless, completely indifferent.
After tossing her back into the Dream Return Pavilion, Yin Gezhi frowned and stretched his arms, his eyes filled with displeasure.
Feng Yue smiled apologetically and massaged his arm: "Young master truly possesses divine strength, carrying me such a long way!"
Completely uninterested in her flattery, Yin Gezhi said: "I have matters to attend to these next couple of days and may not come here often."
"This humble one understands." Feng Yue replied with a smile, her tone charming: "When the young master is finished with his business, come back. I'll be waiting."On the way out of the city, someone informed her that the Crown Prince had ordered the Chief Justice to investigate the theft at the General's Mansion. Although the order had been issued, the Chief Justice had yet to take any significant action. Yin Gezhi's current busyness was likely related to this matter.
Could the once-arrogant prince of Wei truly be content to remain a hostage in Wu forever?
She was curious to see what the long-silent First Prince of Wei was truly plotting.
Seeing her obedient demeanor, Yin Gezhi said nothing more. After resting for a while, he returned to his residence to change clothes.
"Master," a voice called from the shadows as soon as he stepped into the Envoy's Mansion. "Someone delivered two boxes. I inspected them—they seem suspicious, but... we didn't catch the person."
Boxes? Yin Gezhi nodded and entered the main room to examine them.
Two pearwood boxes lay before him. Since they had already been inspected, he opened them without hesitation and retrieved a stack of items from inside.
Upon realizing what they were, Yin Gezhi's pupils contracted sharply. He turned and snapped, "How could you have failed to catch the person?"
"My apologies, Master!" the voice from the shadows replied helplessly. "We truly don't know who threw them over the wall. By the time we gave chase, the streets were too crowded, and we had no idea..."
A map of General Yi's mansion, detailing its traps and mechanisms, along with confidential letters stolen from the estate—who would deliver such things to him?
On the surface, he and General Yi were known to admire each other as heroes. No one would suspect him of targeting Yi Guoru. So, what was the sender's intention?
A wave of tension washed over him. Yin Gezhi's eyes filled with ferocity as he read through the stack of letters before burning them all.
The military secrets weren't particularly critical, though two imperial edicts were useful. The thief was skilled, but they hadn't uncovered the old man's most vital secrets.
Still, even these items could prove quite useful in his hands.
Who was helping him from the shadows? Or perhaps, who was trying to use him?
After pondering for the time it took an incense stick to burn, First Prince Yin snorted coldly and swept his sleeve, scattering the ashes of the burnt papers into the air.
Whoever it was, whatever their intentions, he would do what he must. No one who interfered would stop him!
As dusk fell, Yin Gezhi returned to the training ground, where his two disciples were eagerly awaiting him.
"Master, is it enough just to touch you?" Xu Huaizu asked. "No matter what method we use?"
"Yes, as long as you employ the footwork I taught you, any other means are permitted," Yin Gezhi replied, nodding. His silver-embroidered black robes fluttered in the wind.
A crowd had gathered to watch. An Shichong and Xu Huaizu exchanged a glance before launching a swift attack—one from the left, the other from the right—their coordination decent.
First Prince Yin stood imposingly with his hands behind his back, dodging left and right, his robes billowing. After ten moves, they still hadn't touched even the hem of his clothes.
Xu Huaizu grew frustrated. He had long coveted the Changhen Blade and never thought he'd have a chance to claim it. Now that it was within reach, he had to fight for it—even against his master. But his master's movements were too agile and cunning. Without resorting to underhanded tactics, touching him seemed impossible.
"Ah, isn't that Miss Feng Yue?" a soldier in the crowd suddenly exclaimed.
Yin Gezhi froze, instinctively turning to look. In that moment, he felt two sharp gusts of wind rushing toward him from the sides.Good lad, still playing dirty tricks? Yin Gezhi smiled inwardly, but his body remained motionless, allowing them to strike his arms from both sides.
"Wow!" Xu Huaizu exclaimed happily, surprised that the move actually worked. He picked up An Shichong and spun him around in a circle. "We hit him!"
An Shichong was also pleased, but being held like this—and by a man at that—even if it was his childhood friend, he didn’t hesitate to throw a punch, forcing the other to release him and stagger back two steps. Instantly, blood gushed from his nose.
"Master!" Xu Huaizu complained pitifully. "He hit me!"
"Have you no shame?" An Shichong frowned. "You’re completely out of line!"
Seeing how delighted the two boys were, Yin Gezhi’s expression softened. He waved for Guan Zhi to bring out the swords and sabers he had prepared earlier and handed them over.
"These were forged by me when I came of age, using high-grade cold iron," Yin Gezhi said calmly. "They have been sealed away for many years. Now that they have found new owners, I hope you will treat them well."
Xu Huaizu’s jaw nearly dropped. Staring at the icy, gleaming Changhen Saber in his hand, he exclaimed in astonishment, "Master actually forged these?"
No wonder the world knew this pair of sword and saber could slice through iron like mud, treasured by the royal family, yet no one knew who forged them or where they ended up. Anything in their master’s possession was undoubtedly a divine weapon. But... forging divine weapons at the age of twenty? What on earth did their master grow up eating?
An Shichong’s eyes were filled with joy. Stroking the Changhen Sword, he bowed deeply to Yin Gezhi. "Thank you, Master!"
Yin Gezhi nodded slightly, then glanced up at the astonished crowd. Suddenly, his gaze paused.
The soldiers watching the commotion were startled and exchanged uneasy looks.
Withdrawing his gaze, Yin Gezhi turned to General Song behind him and said, "The Song Family Army is renowned for its ferocity, and their martial skills must be exceptional. Later, I will demonstrate new techniques to my two disciples. Could General lend me one of your men?"
General Song replied readily, "Your Highness may choose freely."
Being selected by Yin Gezhi as a target was an honor, but it was sure to hurt. The soldiers stood stiffly, watching as the man in black robes approached without hesitation, stopping directly in front of one of them and pointing. "You there."
The chosen soldier looked bewildered. He had just returned from patrol—why was he being picked as a human target?
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