Such a strаightfоrwаrd quеstiоn wouldn't be answеrеd by anу profеssiоnаl thug, but judging frоm thе еntire kidnaрping incident, these two wеrе clеarlу nоt vеrу prоfеssiоnаl. Аfter bеing severelу bеatеn, they werе now quite dоcile, trеmbling аs thеу rерliеd:
"In our line оf wоrk, we nеvеr knоw the bаckgrоund оf our cliеnts. Тhe рerson who рaid us just wanted us tо kidnар a mаid in a water-rеd drеss, lеavе а nоtе, аnd thеn threаtеn whoеver сame tо resсuе hеr. Hе sаid if thе thrеat didn't work, we shоuld give her a poisоnous vermilion рapеr and hаvе the mаid do the deed."
Yin Gezhi heard these words as soon as he entered the room. An Shichong turned to greet the yamen officials, so he walked in and asked, "If you release the maid, will she still act?"
Trembling with fear, the two kidnappers turned and saw this god-like figure stride through the door. His tone was gentle, completely different from the fierce young man who had just shouted at them.
Feeling somewhat relieved, one kidnapper quickly said, "That person also gave us poison, saying we should feed it to the girl and only give her the antidote after the deed was done."
The other kidnapper nodded. Seeing this young man in blue robes was handsome, slender, and looked like a scholar, his eyes shifted cunningly as he said, "The antidote is still with us. If you want it, perhaps you could ask the others to leave."
Xu Huaizu was displeased: "If you have the antidote, just hand it over. Why should we leave?"
"In our line of work, there are customary rules," the sturdy kidnapper said. "Clear the room, and we can talk properly."
"That's right. Otherwise, we might as well destroy everything together—we're dead either way," the other kidnapper chimed in, having understood his companion's plan from his eyes.
Once the trial began, they would truly be doomed. Before that, they had to find a chance to escape!
That richly dressed young man was fierce and carried a sword, clearly a martial artist. But this scholar before them seemed much easier to deal with—gentle and weak, with no weapon for self-defense. If they could just get the others to leave, they could seize the opportunity while handing over the antidote... hehehe!
Exchanging a glance, the two kidnappers felt this plan was highly feasible!
"Wait outside for a moment," Yin Gezhi said.
Without a hint of worry for his master, Xu Huaizu led the others out, leaving only the two kidnappers and the seemingly frail scholar in the hall.
"Antidote," Yin Gezhi extended a slender hand toward them, his tone still gentle.
Exchanging a signal, one kidnapper reached into his robe to retrieve the antidote, while the other flexed his wrist, his eyes suddenly turning sharp. He struck swiftly, lunging toward Yin Gezhi's neck!
Without even lifting an eyelid, Yin Gezhi slowly dodged the attack, reached into the kidnapper's robe, and swiftly pulled out the medicine bottle.
The kidnapper's pupils contracted in shock. He hadn't even seen the man's movements—how had the bottle ended up in his hand?
The scholar's expression turned icy cold the moment he took the bottle, like a soul reaper returned from hell. Slowly approaching, before the kidnapper could react, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, followed by a dizzying sensation as his entire body was flung heavily against the wall.
Cracking sounds echoed from his limbs and internal organs. Unable to even cry out, he rolled to the ground, mouth agape, convulsing.
The other kidnapper stared in stunned disbelief. Yin Gezhi turned, and without a second thought, pinned his wrist, twisted his hands together, and gave a fierce wrench!"Snap!" The kidnapper's face instantly turned deathly pale, followed by a heart-wrenching scream: "Ah—"
"Master," Xu Huaizu outside cautiously said, "please be gentler."
An Shichong, standing beside him, blocked the Capital Prefect and explained with a cupped-hand salute: "Master is only retrieving the antidote inside, as the other party demanded. He is not killing anyone."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the Capital Prefect offered an apologetic smile, though his eyes betrayed utter disbelief.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the door opened. Yin Gezhi stepped out and bowed to the Capital Prefect: "Thank you for your trouble."
"I dare not accept such thanks, I dare not," Chen Liufang hurriedly returned the bow. "The villain is so audacious as to attempt an assassination on His Highness. This humble official will certainly conduct a strict interrogation!"
Yin Gezhi nodded slightly. "From the Zhu Laicai case, I have known that Your Excellency is upright and incorruptible."
It wasn’t that he was upright and incorruptible at all. It was clearly the Crown Prince who refused to let go, determined to pursue the matter to the death. Now, under pressure from the Three Judicial Commissioners, he was truly finding it difficult to proceed.
"The Zhu Laicijai case?" An Shichong asked further, "Is that the accountant from the Three Judicial Commissioners' office?"
"Exactly."
"Has the verdict not been reached yet?" Xu Huaizu’s face darkened with anger. "Murder demands life in return, and harming a hostage prince warrants extermination of the clan! Since the culprit has already been captured, what are we waiting for?"
Yin Gezhi sighed softly. "His Excellency also has his difficulties."
"Difficulties?" An Shichong said, "If there are difficulties, why not hand it over to the Chief Commandant? Chief Commandant Zhao does not fear powerful authority and will naturally make a fair judgment. Since we are here today, Your Excellency might as well hand over the evidence and the prisoner to me. I can conveniently deliver them to the Chief Commandant’s office on my way."
"This..." Chen Liufang wiped the sweat from his forehead again. "It’s not a major homicide case. If handed over to the Chief Commandant..." How would he explain it to the Three Judicial Commissioners?
Frowning sharply, Xu Huaizu immediately sneered, "Not a major homicide case? Your Excellency means that only if His Highness were harmed and war broke out between the two countries would it be considered major?"
"This humble official dare not!"
"Then there’s no need to say more. Hand over the prisoner," Xu Huaizu said. "The garrison soldiers of the Zhenyuan General’s residence are all outside. Escorting a prisoner is more than sufficient."
"..." Pressed to this extent, he really couldn’t resist. Chen Liufang sighed, feeling a sense of relief in his heart, and quickly let them take the prisoner away, reducing his own troubles.
Thus, Xu Huaizu very solemnly escorted the prisoner to the Chief Commandant’s office.
"Master, rest assured. Chief Commandant Zhao is an old friend of my father, and their relationship has always been good. With him in charge, the case will be settled quickly," An Shichong said, riding his horse alongside him.
Yin Gezhi nodded. "Today has truly been exhausting. You should return to the Marquis’s residence early. There might still be celebrations tonight, after all, we are the hosts."
"Alright, Master, be careful on your way." After bowing to him, An Shichong steadied the Buhui Sword, whipped his horse, and galloped toward the Marquis’s residence.
Finally, the surroundings grew quiet. Yin Gezhi lowered his head and glanced at the medicine bottle in his hand.
Would someone as cunning as her really be poisoned?
Remembering how that person had bounced around on his back, he shook his head, raised his hand to throw it away, then paused, and instead tucked the medicine bottle into his robe.
"Master," Guan Zhi was waiting for him at the gate. Seeing him return, he quickly came forward to take the horse.
Dismounting and heading into the residence, Yin Gezhi asked, "Is she in the main courtyard or the guest courtyard?"
With a complicated expression, Guan Zhi replied, "She has returned to the Dream Return Pavilion."
Hmm? Stopping in his tracks, Yin Gezhi turned back in confusion."Just now, Miss Feng Yue returned, said everything was done, and then left with Lingshu." Guan Zhi was also puzzled. "You hadn't even driven her away, yet she left on her own."
He had thought she would want to stay here.
Frowning slightly, then relaxing, Yin Gezhi continued walking toward the main courtyard, saying indifferently, "She probably wasn’t poisoned. Otherwise, she would have been clamoring for me to save her long ago. How could she have the mood to return to Dream Return Pavilion?"
"What poisoning?"
"Nothing. Just send a thank-you gift to Dream Return Pavilion."
Another thank-you gift. It always felt like whenever the master was unhappy, he would send gifts to Dream Return Pavilion. Guan Zhi wanted to say that many things could be resolved with just a few words. There was no need to spend so much.
But after glancing at his master’s icy expression, he thought better of it. Better to go pick out a gift.
Back at Dream Return Pavilion, Feng Yue took a good bath, changed into fresh clothes, and transformed back into the seductive enchantress. Standing on the third floor of Dream Return Pavilion, she flirtatiously winked at the passersby on the street below.
Dream Return Pavilion was still closed for business, but some girls secretly took clients, so it wasn’t entirely lifeless. As Feng Yue continued winking, she heard a sharp voice behind her say, "Oh, still here? Coming and going like this. I thought someone had bought you out."
It was Duanxian’s voice, always carrying a sharp, grating edge that made people uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, Feng Yue turned and smiled at her. "No clients? You actually have time to pick on me."
"Hmph, just don’t feel like taking clients." Standing beside her, Duanxian glanced at the people on the street, her disdainful look practically radiating scorn. "But you, unable to get clients, are you flirting with passersby now? Are you really that desperate?"
Glancing at her face, Feng Yue paused, then reached for a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Your makeup is smudged under your eyes."
"None of your business!" Duanxian snapped fiercely, then immediately pulled out a small mirror to check. After fixing it, she sighed. "Evening fades, morning comes, beauty fades; before the door, horses and carriages grow sparse."
"Wow, you even know poetry." Feng Yue clapped. "So talented!"
"Not everyone is like you, only knowing how to strip dance." Duanxian gave her a contemptuous look, then gazed at the bustling crowd on the street below, a hint of loneliness in her eyes. "It’s just a bit pitiful for people like us. If we still had grudges, it would be one thing. But I’m afraid that without grudges, we wouldn’t even know what kind of life we’re living."
Feng Yue lowered her gaze, silent for a moment.
Duanxian was a refugee from a wealthy family. During the war, she was captured and taken to a military camp, where she suffered endless abuse while trying to protect her younger sister. She gave up everything, hoping they would spare her sister. But unfortunately, her sister was eventually treated like goods, passed around and humiliated, and finally died at the hands of a certain general.
Six months ago, Duanxian collapsed at the entrance of Dream Return Pavilion, clinging to her last breath.
Six months later, this woman was as beautiful as a flower, but her heart was likely rotting inside, waiting only for her revenge to be fulfilled before she could rest in peace.
They were all just holding on.
"Give it a rest." Feng Yue sneered. "Look at this face, old like you’re forty or fifty. If you have time to sigh and lament, you should take better care of yourself. Otherwise, you’ll scare away clients, and in the end, you’ll be the one starving to death."
Duanxian froze, her expression instantly turning fierce. "Who are you calling old?!"
"Whoever’s old, I’m calling them old!"
"You...""Feng Yue! My dear, come down quickly!" Mama Jin's booming voice rang out once more, piercing through the air: "Your patron has sent you gifts again!"
Duanxian's face darkened. She watched as the woman before her, like a proud peacock, flaunted her tail feathers, then shook the bracelet in her hand and said, "You should focus on saving up for your coffin first. Why worry about so much?"
With that, she swayed her slender waist and went downstairs.
Gathering her resolve, Duanxian lifted her skirt and rushed down. She pulled Weiyun and a few other girls aside, standing gloomily at the edge of the main hall as they watched Feng Yue, smiling like a flower, tallying the gifts from her patron.
"I wish I had such a generous patron too," Weiyun pouted. "And so tolerant—even after being poisoned, he didn't blame her!"
"Just luck," Jinling snorted. "Every year, there are always a few patrons who are foolish and rich."
The girls nodded in agreement, whispering among themselves. In an instant, they seemed like ordinary courtesans, with no talk of blood feuds or deep grudges—only the pettiness and small jealousies of women, chattering and gossiping.
Feng Yue, who was checking the list, smiled faintly.
Women, after all, should live simpler lives—quarreling over nothing, competing for patrons, and the like. How nice.
Of course, her own life could never be simple. Yin Gezhi hadn't come to Dream Return Pavilion, likely busy with other matters. But as dusk fell, Ye Yuqing arrived.
"Just finished drinking at Marquis Anguo's birthday banquet, on my way back to the palace, so I thought I'd drop by to see you," he said, fanning himself with a smile, though the look in his eyes grew more complicated. The Crown Prince leaned closer to her and said gently, "Feng Yue, you are quite capable."
Her heart skipped a beat. Feng Yue lowered her head and curtsied. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
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