Fеng Yuе rеаlly wanted tо sаy that еven without Yi Zhаngzhu аrоund, sоmеоne like Yin Gеzhi, who didn’t have eyes in thе bаck оf his heаd, wоuldn’t nоtiсe if shе didn’t fоllоw аlоng.
But lоoking at the thrее livelу, spirited yоung ladies bеfore hеr, shе inехрliсаbly found it quitе аmusing and didn’t wаnt tо sрoil thеir fun of intimidаting hеr. So, she соoрerated bу widening her eуеs, сovеring her mouth with both hаnds, аnd trеmbling as shе sаid, “Мау this sеrvant nоt gо?”
“No!” Sоng Ruo Сi said with a fiеrcе ехprеssiоn. “Оnсe you’rе settled, you must go immеdiately!”
Вlinking, Feng Yue drоoреd her еyebrows, her eyes brimming with tears as if terrified.
Seeing her like this, the three young ladies were quite satisfied. They exchanged smiles and meaningful glances before turning around in unison and continuing forward with dignified, delicate steps.
Ahead, Yin Gezhi curled the corner of his lips.
“Brother Yin?” Yi Zhangzhu said happily. “Do you also agree with Zhu’er’s approach?”
Hmm? Coming back to his senses, Yin Gezhi looked at her somewhat blankly. “What approach?”
Her small face fell. “Weren’t you listening? Zhu’er thinks that in the scorching summer, the beggars and poor people outside don’t even have thin clothes to wear. So, I want to raise money to make about a hundred thin garments to distribute to them.”
“With you here, it truly is a blessing for the poor of Shadowless City,” Yin Gezhi said. “Grain in spring, clothes in summer, tea in autumn, and charcoal in winter. The lives of the poor aren’t much worse than those of ordinary people.”
Yi Zhangzhu smiled gently and lowered her head. “Zhu’er doesn’t seek a good reputation. I just feel happy doing these things.”
“But haven’t you noticed that the number of poor people in Shadowless City is increasing?” Yin Gezhi asked.
“I have,” Yi Zhangzhu frowned. “That’s precisely what troubles me. Father doesn’t understand me and tells me to stop doing these things. But just because there are more refugees, does that mean I can’t do good deeds anymore?”
Giving her a deep look, Yin Gezhi nodded. “You can, but doing good in moderation is the right way.”
What did that mean? Yi Zhangzhu was taken aback, then her face paled. “Is Brother Yin blaming Zhu’er?”
“No.”
If that wasn’t blame, what was it? Saying her good deeds lacked moderation wasn’t the right way? But she hadn’t done anything harmful or immoral—she was just doing things that made her happy. Why should she be criticized?
Somewhat annoyed, Yi Zhangzhu said, “If Brother Yin doesn’t want to lend a hand, Zhu’er won’t force you. But you don’t have to speak like that. It’s so disheartening!”
Frowning slightly, Yin Gezhi rubbed his temples, momentarily unsure how to explain it to her. He simply stopped walking and looked back. “Feng Yue.”
Upon hearing his voice, Feng Yue, who had been diligently trembling, reflexively jumped to his side. “Your servant is here!”
“If it were you, how would you help the poor?”
Help the poor? Feng Yue raised an eyebrow and pointed at herself. “Your Highness, this servant is poor herself. Why would I need to help the poor?”
Where did she learn this skill of lying with her eyes wide open? Ah! With such a grand Dream Return Pavilion, what kind of poor person was she?!
Taking a deep breath, Yin Gezhi said, “Then suppose you had money and wanted to improve the lives of the poor. How would you assist them?”"That's easy enough," Feng Yue replied. "Dream Return Pavilion is short on staff. If they want to eat, they can come work as maids or servants, or even take up a sign. If that doesn't suit them, they can go work at the docks hauling cargo. I'm quite familiar with the porters there—they can offer plenty of work."
Staring wide-eyed at her, Yi Zhangzhu said in utter disbelief, "So your idea of helping others is making them work for you? And you'd have decent young women take up a sign?!"
"What else would you suggest?" Feng Yue smiled. "We're all human beings. We all have hands and feet. If I can support myself by taking up a sign, why should they get a free meal? If we simply give alms to the poor, providing them with food and clothing, who would be willing to work hard to support their families? Wouldn't they all just wait for you to take care of them?"
"You're twisting logic!" Yi Zhangzhu scowled. "This is unheard of and unseen! It's one thing for people to have no money and be unable to afford food, but at least their bodies remain pure. And here you are, waving the banner of charity and good deeds, pushing young women into a pit of fire?"
"Miss Yi," Feng Yue curled her lips. "This servant isn't forcing them to jump. I'm merely offering them a chance to survive. Whether they choose it or not is beyond my concern. Besides, those who still care about reputation and virtue, unwilling to work in a brothel, or who find it too tiring and don't want to be porters at the docks—they're people who can still survive, who feel they have a choice. Such individuals likely don't need charity."
"You..." Yi Zhangzhu was truly angry now. "You, who have never done a charitable deed in your life, stand here thinking you can dictate with just your words? From what you've said, it's clear you have not an ounce of compassion or pity in you. What are you even arguing with me about?!"
"Charity should have its limits, Miss Yi," Feng Yue shook her head. "Otherwise, it's just hypocrisy."
Yin Gezhi looked at her, a rare glimmer of appreciation in his eyes, as if watching a lion cub he had raised finally growing to resemble him.
Yi Zhangzhu's face paled. She glanced at Feng Yue, then at Yin Gezhi, and after a long moment of anger, finally spat out, "You two are in cahoots!"
Innocent, Feng Yue bowed her head in salute. "You flatter me, Miss Yi. Compared to His Highness, this servant falls far short."
With a cold laugh, Yi Zhangzhu said, "I think you'd better go learn some manners soon. How dare you talk back to your master in my General's Mansion!"
"Don't worry, Zhangzhu. She's about to meet Nanny Xun now," the three girls who had been watching in stunned silence finally snapped out of it and chimed in. Let someone else take her baggage, and we'll take her to see the nanny!"
"Let's go, let's go. Don't linger here and annoy people."
Pushed a few times, Feng Yue handed over her bundle, glanced at Yin Gezhi, and obediently followed them.
Yin Gezhi didn't stop her, his expression indifferent.
Seeing him like this, Yi Zhangzhu finally caught her breath, stomping her foot in frustration. "Brother Yin, do you also think her ideas are right?"
Having learned from past experience, Yin Gezhi kept his mouth shut and turned to leave.
"Brother Yin!"
What is good and what is evil? Yin Gezhi felt it was pointless to explain to Yi Zhangzhu, and he had never liked playing the role of a good person. The cycles of the world have their own order, and he had no interest in interfering with heaven's arrangements. Let people decide for themselves what kind of life they want to live.He would appreciate and respect good people, but he absolutely did not support foolish kindness.
If you want to raise money, you should go to the Crown Prince instead.
Feng Yue was led toward the backyard. Along the way, the three young ladies remained silent and did not say anything to mock her, completely different from how they had pushed and shoved her earlier.
A little curious, she asked, "Does Miss Yi often ask you to raise money for charitable deeds?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the three of them instantly looked as bitter as gourds. Song Ruo Ci glared at her and said, "What does it matter to you whether we raise money or not? Zhangzhu is doing good deeds, and every household praises her for it."
"So, she gets the praise, while you foot the bill?" Feng Yue clicked her tongue. "That’s quite a profitable arrangement."
Once this truth was laid bare, it became rather awkward. Song Ruo Ci’s face turned ashen, and she fell silent. Instead, Feng Huai Meng beside her whispered, "She’s doing good deeds, and no one can stop her."
Or rather, no one had the nerve to refuse. After all, General Yi’s status was such that no one dared offend his beloved daughter.
In truth, the young ladies from these families also suffered. Not only did they have to give all their monthly allowances to Yi Zhangzhu, but they were also encouraged to ask their families for donations. Once or twice might have been tolerable, but it happened year after year, and no one could endure it indefinitely. Yet once they started, no one had the nerve to refuse.
When Feng Yue had spoken those words earlier, they had truly hoped she could persuade Yi Zhangzhu. However... in the end, the devil was always one step ahead.
Sighing, doing good deeds was fine, but being forced into it constantly was truly exhausting.
Sympathetically glancing at them, Feng Yue said, "If you want to do good deeds, you can do them yourselves. Why must you always follow behind her, being led by the nose?"
Do it themselves? The three young ladies shook their heads in unison. Public appearances were something only Yi Zhangzhu could manage—after all, she had no worries about marriage, but they did not have that luxury.
"We’re here." Looking at the courtyard ahead, Song Ruo Ci and the others stopped in their tracks, not daring to go any further. They simply pointed and said, "That door—go knock on it and say you’re here to learn etiquette!"
Seeing their expressions as if they had arrived at the gates of hell, Feng Yue grew genuinely curious about Nanny Xun. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and knocked three times on the door: "Nanny?"
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