Is Yin Gеzhi thе kind of pеrsоn whо gоеs where he isn’t invitеd?
Нe is.
Leаning casuаllу аgаinst thе wаll in the first-floоr corridor, the First Princе in blаck listеned аs Маmа Jin spоkе with hеаrtfеlt anguish:
“With а case hарpеning in the paviliоn, we havе to suspеnd businеss fоr rесtifiсаtion. Feng Yuе hаs alrеаdу returnеd, and wе аre innoсеnt, but due tо reputatiоn concеrns, wе аll neеd to endure аnd рull thrоugh togеthеr during this timе.”
Duаnхiаn rollеd hеr eуes аt Feng Yue uрon hеаring this: “Wеll, isn’t this just pеrfесt? Оne persоn causes trouble, аnd everyоne elsе suffers аlоng. We rеly on our youth to make a living, and there aren’t many days to earn money as it is. Now we have to waste time for nothing.”
“Exactly! A guest in Feng Yue’s room had an accident—what does that have to do with the rest of us? If she shouldn’t receive guests, then she alone should stop. What’s the point of all of us suspending business?” Weiyun said angrily. “Does Mama think people will forget about this after some time? Please, the one who was poisoned wasn’t some nobody. Whenever people mention this incident in the future, they’ll remember that Dream Return Pavilion had a poisoning case. If Feng Yue stays here, who would dare to come anymore?”
“Miss Weiyun makes a valid point.” As soon as these words were spoken, everyone chimed in agreement: “If we want to get through this, the only way is for Feng Yue to leave Dream Return Pavilion.”
Yin Gezhi paused slightly and glanced outside.
Sitting in the center of the main hall, Feng Yue remained smiling, as if nothing anyone said could affect her cheerful mood.
Seeing her attitude, the people around her spoke even more harshly: “Shameless and thick-skinned, are you proud of causing trouble for everyone?”
“Still hoping your patron will save you? Someone was poisoned eating in your room, and you still expect them to come back for you?” Duanxian sneered. “I don’t even know how you can be so carefree!”
“Because I have no shame,” Feng Yue replied matter-of-factly, looking at her.
Everyone: “...”
The man in the shadows pursed his lips and rubbed his temples.
He had thought she was about to be bullied, but who would have guessed she’d come out with such a line? Glancing at the genuine anger on the faces of the group of girls over there, Yin Gezhi felt that they probably had no idea who Feng Yue was or what role she played in Dream Return Pavilion. The only one who might know the truth was likely Mama Jin.
“Enough arguing,” Mama Jin spoke up, stepping in front of Feng Yue and glaring at these little troublemakers. “If anyone doesn’t want to stay, have someone come to Mama to redeem you. As long as you’re in Dream Return Pavilion, you listen to me! Less talking, more doing, understand?”
The group of girls were somewhat dissatisfied, but no one dared to defy Mama Jin’s words. They could only grumble and agree.
“Mama,” He Chou, who had been silent until now, spoke up, handing her a stack of silver notes. “This is the deposit. Young Master Zhao said he’ll come later to redeem me.”
The main hall fell silent for a moment. Except for Feng Yue, everyone else’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
Someone was actually being redeemed?!
Feng Yue looked calmly at He Chou. This girl was steady and reliable, more dependable than anyone else. If she was redeemed, she would surely return.
“Congratulations.”
Hearing Feng Yue speak these words, everyone else snapped back to reality, chattering and asking questions all at once. Some were envious, others jealous, and for the moment, no one paid any attention to Feng Yue.She quietly retreated to Yin Gezhi's side, her expression shifting as if changing masks, and whimpered pitifully at him, "This humble one was scolded so harshly, all because of you!"
The corner of his mouth twitched. Yin Gezhi grabbed her and headed upstairs. Closing the door, he said, "He Chou happened to be redeemed by Zhao Xi."
"Mhm." Resting her hand on his chest, Feng Yue yawned. "Zhao Xi has visited our place quite often. He Chou is quiet and unassuming, with exceptional looks. It's only natural he took a liking to her."
"What do you plan to do?" He looked down at her.
Feeling a bit drowsy, Feng Yue naturally leaned her head against his chest and murmured, "Nothing much, just completing the task you assigned. As for Zhu Laicai's poisoning incident, this humble one believes you can pin it on him firmly. The only worry is that the Three Judicial Commissioners might try to save him. If he does, just show him this."
She handed him a yellow pearwood box and continued, "This matter is relatively simple, but Zhao Lin is a captain of the City Garrison. His position is high, his authority great, and his residence is heavily guarded. There's simply no way to gather information, so let He Chou give it a try."
Opening the box, he found an account book. As the accountant for the Three Judicial Commissioners, Zhu Laicai had embezzled a considerable amount during large transactions. If the Three Judicial Commissioners wanted to save him, this account book would be enough to make him back off.
Zhu Laicai's greed could expose his own corruption. When it came to self-preservation, no one needed to teach them how to act.
"Where did you get this?" Flipping through it casually, Yin Gezhi frowned.
"Fabricated." Feng Yue replied. "He often stays overnight at Dream Return Pavilion. All the seals and stamps he carries with him have been replicated by this humble one."
It was fake? Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but remark, "You little fox."
"Is the young master praising this humble one for being clever or for being charming?" Looking up with a smile, Feng Yue hooked her finger around his belt and led him toward the bed. She took the account book from his hand and tossed it aside, then lay down on the bed, holding Yin Gezhi firmly in her arms.
"Even if it's fake, it can still be used. Shan Wenhe, as the Three Judicial Commissioners, has remained unshaken for so many years. His heart is naturally ruthless. Upon receiving such an account book, he would only check the seals for authenticity and would never confront Zhu Laicai, who is entangled in a lawsuit. He might even send him off ahead of time."
She was right. Yin Gezhi nodded, then glanced sideways at the person beside him. "If you want to sleep, then sleep. Why are you holding me?"
If she didn't hold him, what if he abandoned her while she was asleep and she woke up imprisoned? Holding him surely felt safer!
With her eyes closed, Feng Yue sighed and said, "This humble one has never seen anyone in the entire world with a more imposing figure than yours! Holding you, this humble one feels exceptionally secure. Even if the sky were to collapse, you would surely be right here, holding it up for me! That's why this humble one can't bear to let go of you!"
Half of Yin Gezhi's face darkened. He shuddered, his hair standing on end, his disgust evident.
Yet, despite his disgust, he allowed her to hold him without moving away.
"Were all the girls in the pavilion tricked by you?" he asked. "Otherwise, why would they willingly gather information for you?"
Hearing this, Feng Yue half-opened her eyes.Most of the girls in the pavilion knew exactly what they were doing, whether they were as silent as He Chou or as sharp-tongued as Duanxian. Each of them secretly passed messages for her late at night. They could have lived comfortable lives—for instance, by leaving the profession to settle down, marry, and raise children in peace—yet not a single one had left.
No one had deceived them. It was just that they, too, had experienced the agony of losing everything—family and home—in the chaos of war, and the despair of having their loved ones and flesh and blood torn away from them.
Those who carry obsessions and hatred in their hearts cannot live peaceful lives—like her, like them.
The people in the pavilion had arrived sporadically over the past three years. At first, there were only a few girls, but gradually more came. Mama Jin screened them carefully, accepting only refugees displaced by war; all others were turned away. After staying for a month, the girls who entered would learn of their mission and the existence of a leader.
But they didn’t know it was her.
"Just consider yourself deceived by this humble servant," Feng Yue replied to him.
Yin Gezhi turned discontentedly to face her as they lay side by side, pinching her cheek. "Then why don’t they recognize you? Why do you even disguise yourself in front of your own people? What’s your purpose?"
"Purpose?" Feng Yue grinned. "These girls are all quite desperate. They don’t even care about their own chastity anymore; they live only for revenge. I’m the one leading them to seek vengeance. If I appeared before them as a helpless, bullied courtesan, don’t you think they’d feel even more hopeless?"
His heart inexplicably twinged, and Yin Gezhi almost blurted out: What about you?
Aren’t you desperate too?
Yet he didn’t ask. The person before him yawned, smacked her lips like a little kitten, and nestled against his chest to sleep.
For some reason, this woman always liked to cling to him—pressing against his back, curling up in his arms, or entwining her fingers tightly with his.
What was worse was that when she did so, he felt an inexplicable sense of peace. Having someone against his back gave him a strange feeling of safety; having someone burrow into his arms brought an odd sense of fulfillment.
She held so many secrets. Who knew whether those layers concealed knives or something else? Holding her like this might wound him.
Yet, despite these thoughts, he still held her, closed his eyes, and peacefully drifted back to sleep.
When Ye Yuqing stood at the doorway, he saw two people clinging together like conjoined twins, their clothes neatly worn but asleep in each other’s embrace.
He took a sharp breath, puzzled, and was about to step closer for a better look when the one facing him quietly opened their eyes.
As their dark gazes met, Ye Yuqing halted, his heart skipping a beat. After a moment of stiffness, he smiled and clasped his hands in a respectful salute.
Glancing at the person still asleep beside him, Yin Gezhi rose, silently stepped over her, got out of bed, and left.
In the teahouse next to Dream Return Pavilion.
Ye Yuqing poured tea for the person opposite him and said with a smile, "I thought it would take a few more days of recovery, but I didn’t expect Your Highness to heal so quickly."
Not just quickly—it was almost freakish. And he’d even gone to Feng Yue’s room while he was away!
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Yin Gezhi replied, taking the tea and drinking it without even looking. "Is there something you need?"
What need could there be? Feng Yue was currently under his patronage—wasn’t it perfectly normal for him to come check on her?Suppressing his displeasure, the Crown Prince waved his fan gracefully and said, "It seems Your Highness is quite fond of Feng Yue. Indeed, you and Yuqing are cut from the same cloth—even the women you fancy are the same."
Looking at him, Yin Gezhi very much wanted to say that his taste was truly not great, but then he realized he would be insulting himself as well, so he remained silent without responding.
The second floor of the teahouse was empty. Ye Yuqing felt there was no point in continuing to beat around the bush with this man, so he got straight to the point: "Yuqing has recently encountered some troublesome matters. I wonder if Your Highness could lend a hand?"
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