Thе рrераred dancе сouldn't be рerformеd, sо this оutfit wаs usеlеss and heаvy to wear. Bettеr tо takе it off first.
Сlоsing thе dоor, Fеng Yuе wаlkеd strаight to thе screen аnd dеftly untiеd her own belt.
"Мaster..." Lingshu stоod at thе dооrwау, саlling out to hеr with а strangе ехprеssion.
"Нmm?" Fеng Yue glanсеd at hеr, then said: "Your mаster is undressing, cоuld уоu clоse the doоr?"
Веlatеdlу shutting thе dооr, Lingshu wаs abоut tо saу somеthing when she turnеd and sаw hеr mаster mоving sо quiсklу—she had alrеady taken off thе wide-sleevеd uppеr garmеnt, rеveаling pale arms and shoulders, along with the curve wrapped in a flash of bright red at her chest, looking utterly enticing.
Snapping back to reality, Lingshu shook her head, stomped her foot, and hurried over to tug at her master's skirt hem: "Look over there!"
Hmm? Feng Yue looked up, following the direction she pointed.
Someone was sitting elegantly in a chair in the corner, holding a teacup. His dark clothes blended into the shadows, only a pair of calm, unruffled eyes quietly watching her.
Startled, she jumped back a step, blinking at him as if seeing a monster: "Why didn't you make a sound?"
Then, thinking about what had just happened downstairs, she added: "Didn't you leave?"
Seeing Yi Zhangzhu chasing after him so eagerly. He should have stopped outside to wait for the beauty to catch up, then put on a stern face and scold her fiercely, making her cry tears of sorrow, before sighing and pulling her into his arms to comfort her softly. That's the right way to deal with women!
"I left quickly, went around from the front door to the back, and came up for a cup of tea." Quietly looking her over from head to toe, Yin Gezhi said: "You're not dancing anymore?"
"How can I dance?" She pouted: "The guests downstairs were all taken away by your Miss Yi, so even if I danced, no one would watch."
She had expected that playing the qin wouldn't ruin the show, but she forgot to consider herself—the show was still ruined. What a pity for the group of girls who had prepared for so long. Who knows what state Dream Return Pavilion will be in tomorrow.
The person in the corner stood up and walked step by step toward her. Glancing at the wide-sleeved upper garment hanging on the screen, he reached out, took it, unfolded it, and draped it over her shoulders.
Feng Yue was stunned, looking up in confusion.
The room was still unlit, yet this person's silhouette became even clearer as he leaned close to her and whispered: "Dance now, I'll watch."
The gentle voice made Feng Yue's heart ache. Instinctively, she turned around, put on the garment, and nodded: "Alright."
Lingshu blushed at the sight and hopped out of the room. Yin Gezhi sat down at the table, looked up to light the lamp, paused for a moment, then let go of his hand.
The moonlight outside was just right, pouring in through the open window, casting a hazy glow over the soft couch.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Yue removed her dance shoes, casually picked up two strings of bells from the dressing table and wrapped them around her ankles, then lifted her dance skirt and lightly leaped onto the soft couch.
The bright moonlight bathed the crimson dance skirt in a soft glow. Outside the window were the sounds of countless red lanterns and music. She improvised to a distant melody floating in, assumed her starting pose—left toe touching right knee, hands clasped together beside her right ear, waist swaying gently. An alluring charm radiated from her.
Pouring himself a cup of tea, Yin Gezhi watched calmly, yet as this person danced, she resembled a battlefield banner, fluttering fiercely in the wind, vibrant and alive. Clearly a seductress from the world of pleasure, yet faintly she also seemed like a blood-stained weapon on the battlefield.
The bells chimed, the clash of battle arose, and blood splattered everywhere!Her dance was tragic and heroic, like a general who knew he was doomed to die in battle, fighting with his back to the river, breaking through the encirclement, his brilliant blood flowing across the mountains and rivers. The scalding red splashed onto the butterfly, the crimson butterfly struggling, its wings shattered, fluttering as if trying to fly, yet it still drifted down into the water.
He had originally intended to tease her, wanting to see her charming and alluring appearance, but he never expected her to dance like this. Watching it, his heart inexplicably tightened, suddenly recalling the battlefields of the past, the figures that had fallen beside him, and someone under the setting sun forcefully planting a banner on the high peaks of the Wei Kingdom’s border.
The butterfly struggled to fly, but that brilliant color rose again, as if reincarnated into a peerless beauty, her steps light and graceful, her features clear, her hands sweeping wide sleeves as she slowly walked toward him.
The sound of bells grew gentle, each step taken softly, only faintly ringing as if barely there. It clawed at the heart like a cat’s paw, stirring an inexplicable restlessness.
Yin Gezhi snapped back to reality, his gaze complex as he looked at her.
The wide sleeves of her robe fell to the ground, her snow-white arms resting on his shoulders. She leaned down, licking her lips with a captivating charm, and asked, “Young master, would you like some snacks?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and Yin Gezhi’s voice was low and hoarse. “What snacks are there?”
She lowered her head and kissed him sideways, boldly teasing between lips and teeth. She smiled with affection, her fingertips tracing her own brows and eyes, murmuring softly in the midst of their entanglement, “Naturally, it’s the beauty’s delight.”
The moonlight was intoxicating. Yin Gezhi followed her as they tumbled onto the soft couch, kissed by her like a chick pecking at rice, momentarily unable to regain his senses.
Today, he had come to win hearts. Since he had decided to cooperate, it would be best if she were utterly devoted to him. She had already claimed to admire him, so subduing her should have been even easier.
But how had it come to this? It felt as though he already had her in his grasp, yet it also seemed as if he held nothing at all. Instead, his mind was filled with swirling red dance skirts and bewitching bell chimes.
First Prince Yin had experienced countless women, tasted the flavors of thousands, yet only two had ever evoked such feelings in him.
Before he could ponder further, the enchantress under the moonlight lured him into sinking into boundless dark currents. His mind struggled to think of something, but in the end, he could think of nothing at all, only wanting to reach out and tear her dance skirt.
In the silent Shadowless City, there were sounds of lingering intimacy and also terrified screams.
Yi Zhangzhu didn’t know where she was running. Yin Gezhi had long since vanished from sight, and behind her were all the patrons who had emerged from the Dream Return Pavilion. She had barely managed to shake them off, only to end up lost.
The streets were sparsely populated. Dianchai anxiously said, “Miss, we need to ask someone for directions and hurry back.”
“You don’t have to tell me, I already know, but who can we ask now?” Irritably tugging at her skirt, Yi Zhangzhu was about to complain further when she suddenly felt a chill down her back.
A blade swept through the air, slicing across her arm.
“Ah—” A scream echoed through the entire street. Dianchai was terrified, turning to look at the masked assailant, her legs trembling.
Yi Zhangzhu only felt pain, seeing blood seeping from her arm. She immediately declared, “How dare you attack someone from the General’s Mansion? Do you have a death wish?”
The masked man sneered coldly, drawing his blade again. Only then did Yi Zhangzhu realize that this person truly intended to kill her. Terrified out of her wits, she turned and fled!
“Help! Help!”The two women were not running fast at all, but the pursuer behind them kept a leisurely pace, occasionally slashing at Yi Zhangzhu and tearing her clothes.
A young lady who had been coddled since childhood, where had she ever suffered such injuries? Immediately, she felt she was about to die, screaming even more pitifully, tears and snot streaming down her face.
Just as they were running out of strength and nearly despairing, a group of guards suddenly rushed out from the side, shouting, "Who goes there!"
Seeing this, the masked man immediately turned and vanished without a trace.
On the verge of fainting, Yi Zhangzhu collapsed to the ground, clutching her arm and crying miserably, "Save me..."
"Miss Yi?" someone among the guards recognized her and quickly asked, "What are you doing here?"
Looking up at the plaque of the nearby mansion—Nangong Residence.
The Nangong family. Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, Yi Zhangzhu fainted peacefully.
Early the next morning, as soon as Feng Yue opened her eyes, she saw Guan Zhi standing with his back to the bed, his face flushed, whispering, "Master."
Yin Gezhi was sleeping soundly, his arm wrapped around Feng Yue's soft waist, unwilling to open his eyes.
With a low chuckle, Feng Yue said, "Your master is awake."
The person beside her opened his eyes unhappily, glared at her, and slowly propped himself up. "What is it?"
Hearing his master's voice, Guan Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Something has happened. Last night, Miss Yi was attacked in the city. The Crown Prince left the palace early this morning and went to the General's Mansion."
Feng Yue was stunned, and she saw the person beside her quickly get up. After dressing, he said, "Let's go take a look."
The door opened and closed, and the room instantly fell silent. Feng Yue raised an eyebrow. Looking down at herself and then at the person who hadn't even glanced back, she thought, "Why is this relationship still just that of a courtesan and her patron? After all the effort I put into dancing yesterday, hasn't it improved at all?"
Pouting, she wrapped herself in her clothes and got out of bed. As she opened the door, she heard several girls chatting outside again.
Duanxian sneered, "I've never seen such a shameless young lady. So noble, yet she goes out to seek death on her own."
"She's been sheltered in the inner chambers and doesn't know the dangers of the world," Jinling said with a pout. "It's the people below who suffer. Look at how chaotic the government office is this early morning. The City Garrison will probably be held accountable."
The City Garrison?
Her heart stirred. Feng Yue turned around and saw the cleaning lady smiling at her, asking, "Miss, would you like the room cleaned?"
Nodding to her, Feng Yue watched her enter her room. After waiting a while, she entered directly once the cleaning lady came out, opened the cabinet, and rummaged for a note to read.
"The Crown Prince intends to hold the City Garrison accountable and has already taken action. Zhao Lin possesses immense wealth of unknown origin. There is an account book hidden in a secret compartment behind the hanging painting in the study. I cannot get close."
He Chou had no martial arts skills and no one to assist her. It was already impressive that she had managed to gather so much information in such a short time.
After thinking for a moment, Feng Yue burned the note, changed into clean clothes, and called Lingshu over, saying, "I plan to visit Miss He Chou. Stay here and keep watch. If anyone comes looking for me, just tell them where I went."
"Alright," Lingshu nodded, innocently handing her a box of pastries. "Take this as a gift."With a solemn nod, Feng Yue left the house, eating the pastries as breakfast along the way. She then went to a nearby porcelain shop and bought a medium-sized decorative piece, carrying it with her as she headed to the Commandant's residence.
Places like the Commandant's residence were typically difficult to enter, but the gatekeeper was quite sensible. Upon hearing she was looking for He Chou, he immediately went to relay the message. Before long, a maid led her inside, eyeing her curiously as she asked, "Isn't Miss He Chou supposed to have no relatives? Who might you be?"
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