Wоrds uttеrlу devoid оf аffесtiоn were like рiсking dishes from а platе—tаstу оnеs stuffеd into the mоuth, unpalatable onеs tоssed tо the grоund.
If оnе hаd anу sеnsе оf shаme, hеaring such words wоuld inеvitablу stir discomfort. Аfter all, whо wasn’t human? It wаs suрроsеd tо bе a mutuallу bеnefiсiаl рartnеrship—whу did it hаve to risk lifе аnd limb?
But аs it happеned, Feng Yue hаd nо shаme. Nо matter how fiеrсе or ruthlеss hе bесаmе, she соuld alwаys рress forwаrd with a bеаming smilе, flattеring him: "Whо еlsе would this humble servаnt be loyal to if nоt you?"
Evеn the cоldest iсе cоuld not extinguish her fiery spirit. Her smile was shameless, her actions equally so—she even dared to hook her leg around his belt.
"Why aren’t you afraid of me?" After enduring it for a long time, Yin Gezhi finally couldn’t help but ask.
Even someone as close as Guan Zhi was often frightened by him. Yet here she was, having shared a bed only a few times, acting as though he were no stranger at all. No matter how grim his expression or how menacing his aura, she could withstand it all—and still flash him that shameless smile.
"Afraid?"
Feng Yue truly wanted to tell the truth—of course she was afraid! But she dared not show it too plainly, fearing that if she didn’t handle it properly, he might uncover her secrets, leaving her with nothing but the underworld to fear.
Yet with a light laugh, she turned her face and said, "How could I be afraid? You, young master, are a dragon among men. Just look at your eyes, your bearing—even passing by on the street, you’d make young ladies blush. How could this humble servant, fortunate enough to remain by your side, possibly be afraid?"
Flattery may wear thin, but it never fails to please! Everyone enjoys hearing sweet words, and hearing them brings peace of mind. And those with peaceful minds generally refrain from killing!
Since that was the case, she was willing to shower Yin Gezhi with compliments every day, smoothing his feathers and ensuring she never offended him!
Yin Gezhi fell silent. Earlier, he had been sizing her up with his gaze, but now he couldn’t even muster the interest to spare her a glance. He stood up, poured himself a cup of cold water, and sipped it with downcast eyes.
Seeing that the young master had lost all interest in engaging with her, Feng Yue wisely withdrew her "hoof" and rolled nimbly behind the screen.
"Master, the water." Lingshu carried a bucket inside, struggling as she made her way toward the screen.
Guan Zhi, watching from outside, couldn’t bear it and reached out, saying, "Give it to me. I’ll do it."
With someone offering to help lighten the load, Lingshu naturally didn’t refuse. She handed it over and said, "There’s more. I’ll go fetch it."
Guan Zhi nodded, carrying the water toward the screen, wondering what so much water was for. A bath?
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the scene behind the screen unfolded before his eyes—the beauty undressing.
Gasping sharply, Guan Zhi’s face turned ashen. The bucket of water clattered loudly, nearly spilling entirely.
Both Feng Yue, standing behind the screen, and Yin Gezhi, seated at the table, snapped back to attention. One swiftly crouched behind the bathtub, while the other, without a word, grabbed his attendant by the collar and hurled him straight out the window and down the building.
A loud thud echoed, painful to imagine.
The window was shut. The door was closed. Yin Gezhi stood grimly beside the screen, pouring the remaining water into the tub. "You truly have no regard for propriety."
Peeking her head over the edge of the bathtub, Feng Yue complained pitifully, "I knew Lingshu was simple-minded, but I didn’t realize she was so utterly clueless!"
It was obvious she was preparing to bathe, yet that little girl had still let Guan Zhi bring in the water!
Narrowing his eyes as he stared at her, Yin Gezhi suddenly remarked, "You lied earlier.""Hmm?" Standing up to continue removing her clothes, Feng Yue casually responded.
"You said you fell into the world of pleasure, serving people for a long time before you could hang your plaque at Dream Return Pavilion." Yin Gezhi glanced at her with a flicker of his eyelids: "That was a lie."
Nonsense, if she hadn't lied, how could someone who appeared out of nowhere hang her plaque at Dream Return Pavilion? Wouldn't that seem even more suspicious?
Stripped down to only her undergarment, Feng Yue turned and gave him a seductive glance: "These things don't seem very important, young master. There's no need to dwell on them."
Not very important?
Frowning slightly, Yin Gezhi opened his mouth to say something more but then remembered the first time he was intimate with her—this person before him was already no longer a virgin.
What does it matter whether she's a courtesan or not? They do the same things anyway. Why bother fussing over a title?
He scoffed, though it was unclear whether he was mocking himself or her. The First Prince had no interest in watching the beauty bathe, so he returned to the soft couch, reclining to continue pondering matters.
The bathtub was filled with water. Lingshu, with a string of bumps on her head, reluctantly closed the door and retreated.
Feng Yue looked left and right, wrapped herself in a thin gauze, bolted the doors and windows, then, with her long hair draped over her shoulders, took small, delicate steps as she swayed in front of the soft couch.
The beauty's skin was like snow, her black hair like a waterfall. Her body, wrapped in red gauze, was faintly visible—it should have been a scene to make one's blood boil with desire.
Yet, Yin Gezhi watched her expressionlessly for a long time before curling his lips and saying disdainfully, "Do you also have a hobby of performing shamanic dances?"
Her smiling face instantly fell. Looking down at herself, she felt aggrieved: "This humble servant thinks she's dancing like a celestial fairy."
After staring at her with disbelief for a long time, Yin Gezhi pointed to the screen: "Get behind there."
Reluctantly turning around, Feng Yue went behind the screen. After a moment's thought, she pushed the folding screen aside, grabbed the edge of the bathtub, and cast an enchanting glance toward the soft couch.
Yin Gezhi: "..."
The little temptress probably felt that dying too slowly was boring, so now she dared to act so brazenly even while bathing. Her legs stretched out, her arms swayed, her clothes half-fallen, revealing endless allure.
Yin Gezhi watched with a cold smile, arms crossed as he leaned against the soft cushion, waiting to see what tricks she could pull.
Feng Yue was trying very hard to pull off some tricks. After all, the person sitting in the room hadn't relaxed his guard at all. Since they were about to become partners, such an attitude made her feel very insecure.
If serious conversation didn't work, then she could only resort to seduction. Between men and women, it was still more suitable to talk in bed.
So now, Feng Yue made full use of her bathing time, trying her best to captivate the person on the other side with her beauty.
But despite her efforts, it seemed to have little effect. Her hands were almost waving like windmills, yet she hadn't seen that lord smile even once.
Damn it, he's really hard to please!
Stepping onto the edge of the bathtub to get in, Feng Yue kept her eyes fixed on Yin Gezhi. Not paying attention, her foot slipped, and with a loud "thump," she fell into the bathtub, splashing up a huge wave of water.From his detached vantage point, First Prince Yin Gezhi watched as a duck-like creature plunged headfirst in a bizarre posture! The woman who had been alluring and enchanting moments ago now only had a pair of snow-white feet flailing in panic outside the water.
Unable to hold back, he let out a laugh. The ice in his eyes melted away, replaced by a shimmering light, radiant and breathtaking.
After struggling for a while, Feng Yue finally managed to swap her head and buttocks, surfacing with a sputter of water. Blinking her eyes, she tried to make out what was in front of her.
The mist from her spray slowly settled. With water in her eyes, she blinked hard, and in the haze, she seemed to see a celestial being on the soft couch, gentle in appearance, smiling with a damned good-looking face.
However, when she wiped her face and looked more carefully, the celestial being was gone. In his place was a lord, looking at her with utter disdain.
Was she seeing things?
She stared at him blankly for a moment, and only when she caught the mockery in his eyes did Feng Yue feel a twinge of shame. She stopped struggling, turned around, and obediently washed herself thoroughly from head to toe.
"What are you doing?" Seeing her come out after changing and sit down at the dressing table, Yin Gezhi frowned.
"Putting on makeup," Feng Yue replied, holding an eyebrow pencil as she stared into the mirror. "Mama Jin said that a woman’s face is her greatest weapon. To go into battle, one must first prepare the weapon."
He stood up, snatched the item from her hand, and tossed it out the window. Then, picking her up, Yin Gezhi said calmly, "The face is the weapon, not the makeup. At least, not for you."
Feng Yue was stunned. After thinking for a while, she remembered—ah, this lord had unique tastes. He didn’t like glamorous women but preferred rough, unrefined ones.
Well, her face suited that just fine.
As the bed curtains fell, Yin Gezhi tugged at her loosely tied sash and suddenly asked, "If I wanted to find someone, could you find them too?"
Find someone?
Recalling what Guan Zhi had mentioned earlier—that his master seemed to be looking for a man—Feng Yue smiled. "If they’re from Wu Kingdom and have been to Dream Return Pavilion, then it’s easy to find them. But if they’re from elsewhere, I’m afraid I can’t help."
So, that meant he wouldn’t be able to find the person he was looking for.
His gaze dimmed slightly as Yin Gezhi lowered his head and captured her lips.
Hmm? He was still willing to stay here. Did that mean she had performed well tonight and could keep her life for now?
The stone hanging over her heart finally dropped. Feng Yue smiled, twisting her body to respond to him, giving him all the passion she could muster. Like a demoness feeding on yang energy, she clung to him, entangling herself wantonly.
Yin Gezhi didn’t refuse. As if nothing had happened, he let her serve him comfortably. In the end, he even tucked banknotes into her undergarments, like a satisfied customer paying after a meal. "Not bad," he remarked.
Feng Yue gritted her teeth, wrapped herself around the banknotes, and rolled into bed to sleep.
Under the bright moonlight, Yin Gezhi took his first careful look at her body.
Even on her back, there were many scars, deep and shallow. If she were an honest farmworker, he wouldn’t believe it. Yet, after repeatedly checking her meridians, he found them weak and difficult to fill, with many acupoints blocked. Pressing on them caused her slight pain.
Such a person definitely had no martial arts skills.Without martial arts, yet covered in wounds. In control of the entire Dream Return Pavilion, yet appearing as an ordinary courtesan easily manipulated. Using women to gather intelligence, he was no good man, yet his once loyal subordinate would betray him for her.
Most of what she said today was the truth, he knew, but not the whole truth.
The rest, she would not reveal further; he would have to find it himself.
The next morning, Mama Jin convened an emergency self-preservation meeting in the main hall of Dream Return Pavilion, inviting everyone present except Yin Gezhi.
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