Gan Jiang's fасе, uроn hearing thesе wоrds, instantly turnеd from pаlе tо сrimsоn, thеn to ashеn. He lowered his heаd, nоt daring tо utter а sоund.
Yin Gеzhi lоokеd аt hеr ехprеssionlessly.
Fеng Yuе sighed tоward the sky, trуing hard to rеcall: "It wаs а fеw mоnths аgо. Тhis young mаstеr cаmе tо the Drеam Rеturn Рavilion fоr fun аnd haрpened tо meet me in thе bасkyаrd. He was immеdiаtеly stunnеd bу mу brеаthtаking, pееrless bеautу and wantеd to sреnd а pаssiоnаtе night with me."
Yin Gezhi's brow twitсhed slightly. Gan Jiang felt а chill run down his spinе and cоuldn't helр but rеtort, "Тhat's not true!"
"It didn't happen, but the young master did stay overnight at the Dream Return Pavilion," Feng Yue blinked, fabricating with a serious face. "That night, I tested him all night, but he didn't reveal his identity. Instead, he discovered the secret of my Dream Return Pavilion. After that, whenever he encountered tricky matters, he would occasionally come to me for help."
Yin Gezhi's expression remained impassive. He propped his chin on his hand, watching her as if she were performing in a grand opera.
Swallowing hard, Feng Yue straightened her back. "I'm not lying. This young master only came to me for help twice. Because I feared he might expose the secret, I agreed both times. I was a bit nervous at first, worried he might be a bad person, but it turns out he's your man! My admiration for you is like the endless flow of a river, unceasing..."
"Enough!" Having heard enough, Yin Gezhi glanced at her and turned to the man still kneeling on the ground. "You speak."
Gan Jiang wore a look of utter despair as he raised his head to look at him. "I have nothing to say."
What else could he say? Such an outlandish story had been spun by Guan Fengyue. Was he supposed to add more details to it?
"You are a brother who has fought alongside me through life and death," Yin Gezhi said calmly. "We've fought so many battles together. You've even taken swords and arrows for me. I truly cannot think of a reason for you to betray me."
Feng Yue lowered her gaze, obediently clutching her handkerchief as she stood to the side.
Gan Jiang was the deputy general of the Wei Kingdom's vanguard camp, highly skilled in martial arts and with numerous military achievements, which was why Yin Gezhi trusted him. Even after coming to the Wei Kingdom, he brought him along and made him a hidden guard.
In truth, staying in the Wei Kingdom, though more demanding, would have granted him a higher status than that of a hidden guard. Yet he willingly followed Yin Gezhi to the Wei Kingdom, disappearing into the shadows, unseen by others. For such a man, fame and fortune were but fleeting clouds. But when it came to beauty...
Yin Gezhi glanced sideways at Feng Yue and thought that perhaps what she said was true. Gan Jiang had indeed visited the Dream Return Pavilion and inadvertently discovered it was a place for intelligence exchange. After all, he was now involved in such work himself and observed things more meticulously than Yin Gezhi did.
After discovering it, he paid no mind to matters unrelated to him, only remembering to seek help here when faced with particularly difficult tasks assigned by Yin Gezhi. Over the past year, Gan Jiang had been privy to all of Yin Gezhi's affairs. If he truly intended to betray him, it wouldn't make sense for him to do so now, especially when his actions were beneficial rather than harmful.
Based on his trust in Gan Jiang, Yin Gezhi forcefully convinced himself that this explanation made sense. It had to be this way—there couldn't be any other possibility. Gan Jiang was loyal only to him, and no one could take him away.
"Let it be," he said. "Next time something like this happens, you should inform me in advance."Having long given up hope, Gan Jiang was stunned upon hearing these words. But after a moment's thought, he calmly kowtowed to Yin Gezhi and then left the room.
"Master, come try this," Feng Yue quickly put on a bright, flower-like smile after narrowly escaping danger, holding out a plate of pastries as she approached him.
Yin Gezhi watched her quietly, his gaze sweeping over her, not missing a single strand of her hair. Feng Yue smiled, but her body tensed, suddenly feeling the eerie sensation of being seen through.
However, after scrutinizing her for a moment, the man before her said nothing, simply taking a pastry and eating it.
Her heart suddenly relaxed, and Feng Yue felt that serving this man for a few more days might shave years off her life.
Having already lost years of his life, Gan Jiang slipped out through the back door of Dream Return Pavilion and silently entered Zheng's Pastry Shop.
Seeing his expression, the proprietress Zheng Shi maintained her smile, asked the shopkeeper to watch the front, and followed him upstairs.
"Has something happened?" she asked, handing him a handkerchief with a frown.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Gan Jiang's frown was even deeper than hers. After a long pause, he finally said, "How did that girl run into His Highness?"
Zheng Shi paused and sighed, "Perhaps it was fate."
"What fate! If her identity is discovered, how could she possibly survive?" His eyes reddened, Gan Jiang lowered his voice, his throat tight. "General Guan's entire family was executed under His Highness's supervision. In His Highness's mind, the general was a traitor. Do you think he would spare his daughter?"
Zheng Shi was also worried, wiping her hands as she sat beside him. "What can we do? They've already met, and worrying won't help. The young lady is very clever; she should be fine."
But would that cleverness truly be of any use before His Highness? Gan Jiang shut his eyes tightly and let out a long sigh. "Just be careful to cover things up. Inform the others tonight—you are all dead people now. Forget the past entirely, and don't reveal the slightest flaw. I can't stay long; I must go now."
"Yes," Zheng Shi replied, her face full of worry. She followed him downstairs, but as soon as she was in front of others, she changed her expression, handing Gan Jiang a package of pastries. "Come again next time, sir~"
Gan Jiang nodded and left without looking back.
He had sworn lifelong loyalty to the First Prince, but General Guan had once saved his life.
He was the deputy commander of the vanguard battalion, which had fought alongside the First Prince and, naturally, alongside Guan Canghai. At the time, he was still a young officer, charging too far ahead during a battle. Surrounded by enemy soldiers, he fought desperately, exhausted and on the verge of becoming another casualty. It was General Guan, with his full beard, who galloped over on horseback, swinging his blade to rescue him.
He still remembered how the man pulled him onto his horse, laughing heartily as he praised him, "Good lad! You're brave enough!"
Those who have fought side by side on the battlefield share a special bond and trust. So, when everyone believed General Guan had truly betrayed them, he did not.He secretly enshrined General Guan's memorial tablet at home, offering incense to him every day. He knew that the entire Guan family, loyal and heroic to the last, was already gone. If he didn’t make offerings, their heroic souls would have nowhere to return. He had considered speaking to the First Prince about it. However, with the flames of war reigniting, His Highness had no time to spare for other matters. Moreover, he was just a rough and simple man, unable to articulate his thoughts clearly. So he felt that the Guan family might be wronged for all eternity.
Yet, when he first arrived in the Wu Kingdom with the First Prince, Guan Qingyue contacted him.
Or rather, it was Guan Fengyue.
The legendary female general, known for her passionate and decisive nature, carefree and unrestrained, appeared before him dressed in a red gauze robe, adorned with a head full of pearls and jade, smiling as she asked, "General, could you give me my father’s memorial tablet? It’s inconvenient for you to carry it around."
Looking back now, Fengyue probably knew all along that she would one day encounter the First Prince, which is why she sought him out. But how did she know he was enshrining General Guan’s memorial tablet?
Regardless, from these events, it was clear that Guan Fengyue was a clever and well-prepared young woman. His worries were useless—if she were to be exposed before the First Prince, there was little he could do to conceal it anyway.
His mind in turmoil, Gan Jiang sighed and decided to stop dwelling on it. He quickened his pace and returned to where he was supposed to be.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Yin Gezhi was in a good mood and took Fengyue with him to the training grounds.
An Shichong and Xu Huaizu had arrived early to practice sword techniques and saber forms. Observing their movements, it was clear they were both diligent and talented.
"Your Highness’s luck has always been excellent," Fengyue couldn’t help but remark. "Even the disciples you casually took in possess extraordinary talent."
Who told her he had taken them in casually? Yin Gezhi chuckled lightly and turned his gaze to An Shichong.
"Master!" The two of them noticed their arrival and immediately sheathed their swords, rushing over to bow.
"You’ve been practicing well," Yin Gezhi nodded. "Shi Chong has made significant progress."
"Thank you for the praise, Master," An Shichong smiled, clearly delighted. Beside him, Xu Huaizu pouted unhappily. "Master, I’ve made progress too."
"No one said you haven’t improved. It’s just that Shi Chong has clearly practiced longer than you, so his stance is more stable." Yin Gezhi reached out and tapped the back of his hand, causing the Changhen Saber to slip from his grip and land in his own palm.
"Watch."
Xu Huaizu was stunned, looking down at his hand in disbelief. "I thought I’d never let go of this saber, even if I died!"
Fengyue chuckled softly. "That’s your master’s technique of disarming an opponent barehanded. You don’t need to die to lose your grip."
An Shichong nodded. "Even Miss Fengyue understands. Look at how little you’ve accomplished."
Rubbing his wrist, Xu Huaizu pursed his lips and reluctantly turned his attention back to his master.
He hadn’t paid much attention before, but now he was astonished.
Yin Gezhi was demonstrating the saber, executing each move exactly as depicted in the manual he had given him. Yet, why did the same techniques look like street performances when he practiced them, while in his master’s hands, they became a formidable martial art?A strong wind swept through, carrying dust and sand. Feng Yue watched Yin Gezhi with an appreciative gaze. His frame was not particularly burly, and draped in a white robe, he could easily pass for a frail scholar. But only by touching him would one know—every inch of his body was taut and firm, capable of unleashing terrifying power.
For instance, at this moment, with a simple horizontal sweep of the blade, he wielded the saber with such stability that it did not waver in the slightest, cutting through the air with a fierce, whistling sound. The movement stirred up a cloud of sand, leaving Feng Yue covered in dust.
Wiping her face, Feng Yue clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Young master truly excels in both literary and martial arts, capable of reaching the heavens and delving into the earth—there is nothing you cannot do! This saber technique is exquisite and unparalleled, and in your hands, it becomes invincible."
An Shichong and Xu Huaizu had originally intended to offer their own praises, but they never expected that every possible word of flattery had already been used by Feng Yue. Their innocent, youthful faces stared at her in stunned silence.
Retracting the saber, Yin Gezhi shot Feng Yue another disdainful glance before walking back to them and returning the blade to Xu Huaizu.
"Master!" Regaining his composure, An Shichong said, "Tomorrow is my father's fiftieth birthday. I wonder if you would honor us by gracing our humble home and sharing a cup of wine?"
OpenNovel