А gеnеrаl shоuld be like Yi Guоru! It's sо muсh bеttеr to be cunning аnd sсheming, unlike thаt stubborn old mаn Guаn, whо insistеd оn unwаvering loуalty, talking about standing tаll аnd having а clеаr соnsciеnсе. In thе еnd, didn't he still diе by the roуаl bladе? What's the pоint? It's better tо live long аnd саusе trоublе.
Sighing sоftly, she аskеd, "Nannу, dо уou wаnt to lеаve?"
Nannу Хun chuсkled lightly, "I'm alrеady fifty-thrее уeаrs old. The реrsоn waiting fоr mе оutsidе hаs рrobаblу long sinсe mоved on аnd found hаррiness with sоmеоnе else. What's thе point of leaving nоw?"
Though she sаid this, her tonе clеаrly сarried resentment. After finally hoping to leave the palace and spend her life with her beloved, she was locked in this gilded cage, enduring half a lifetime of loneliness.
Feng Yue said, "At least leaving would be better than dying here, where not even an epitaph would be left."
Such a naive girl. This place isn't one you can just leave if you want to. Nanny Xun shook her head and affectionately patted her hair bun. "If you ever manage to leave, help this old nanny take a look at Xun Family Village in the southern part of the city. See a man named A Hu, and find out how many children he has now."
Her tone made one's nose ache with sadness. Feng Yue was momentarily stunned. As they swept the dust from the corridor together, she quietly asked, "Is there really something unspeakable in the palace? Something so terrible that the Grand General has to treat people this way?"
Something unspeakable? Nanny Xun pursed her lips, glanced around, and whispered in reply, "This old woman doesn't know about other things, but the Yi family... they have plenty of unspeakable secrets."
"Nanny, don't say it." Feng Yue hurriedly covered her ears. "As a servant, the more you know, the faster you die. This servant doesn't want to die!"
Slightly taken aback, Nanny Xun laughed and tapped Feng Yue's forehead with her index finger. "You clever little thing. It's a pity the General's Mansion doesn't have a young master, or you'd surely soar to great heights."
"This servant doesn't dream of soaring to great heights," Feng Yue said, lowering her hands and looking at Nanny Xun seriously. "But this servant will work hard to leave the mansion and go see A Hu for you, Nanny."
Her eyes slightly reddened, Nanny Xun opened her mouth as if unsure what to say. She simply patted Feng Yue's head again before turning to sweep alongside her.
"This old woman has been in this courtyard for too long. Besides those who come to learn the rules, no one talks to me anymore. Heaven must have seen how much I've suffered and sent me such a thoughtful girl like you."
"You flatter me, Nanny," Feng Yue replied, sweeping slowly as she glanced to the right.
The guards at the eastern courtyard remained as strict as ever—or perhaps even stricter.
"Nanny, should we sweep over there?" she asked.
Nanny Xun looked up at the eastern courtyard and said, "Only those with permission from the eldest young lady or the General can enter there."
"In that case, this servant won't sweep there," Feng Yue said with a smile. "Nanny, you go rest first. I'll clean up the dust here and then report back."
"Alright," Nanny Xun nodded. "I'll make some sesame balls in the courtyard. Come eat if you get hungry later."
Feng Yue was momentarily stunned, her throat tightening slightly.
She had come with a purpose, never expecting to be treated with such affection. This feeling was... unexpectedly heartwarming.
"Alright, this servant will come later."Nanny Xun turned and left. Feng Yue watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning back, broom in hand, and patrolling the General's Mansion and library.
The areas she could access had already been cleaned by the servants, leaving little dust.
With a faint smile, Feng Yue stopped a household servant and asked, "Where is the young mistress now?"
Yi Zhangzhu was sitting in the pavilion with Yin Gezhi. The three young ladies, having been shunned by Prince Yin, were forbidden from approaching and could only sit sighing on the distant water corridor.
As they sighed, they saw Feng Yue approaching. Song Ruo Ci perked up and immediately went to block her path. "Weren't you supposed to clean the General's Mansion? What are you doing here again?"
Feng Yue replied confidently, "I've finished cleaning."
"So quickly? Who are you trying to fool?" Feng Huai Meng poked her head out from behind Song Ruo Ci and said, "You definitely didn't put any effort into it."
With a light snort, Feng Yue shook her head. "This servant has cleaned every corner of the General's Mansion, inside and out. If the three of you can find even a single liang of dust anywhere, I will willingly accept the household punishment!"
Household punishment? The eyes of the three young ladies lit up instantly! The General's Mansion's household punishment was no joke—military-style caning directly on the body. Even men couldn't withstand it, let alone women!
Glancing at Yi Zhangzhu in the distance, Song Ruo Ci weighed the situation and immediately ran over to pull her aside, whispering the news.
"A single liang of dust?" Yi Zhangzhu's expression shifted slightly as she looked at Song Ruo Ci. Turning to Yin Gezhi, she said, "Your Highness, your maid truly speaks without restraint."
"What is it?" Yin Gezhi, who had been unable to find something, was in a foul mood, and his tone was particularly heavy.
Yi Zhangzhu quickly explained, "She just made a bet with these young ladies, saying that if they could find a place in the General's Mansion with a liang of dust, she would willingly accept the household punishment. Your Highness, can she really say such a thing?"
Looking at the figure in the distance, dressed in the mansion's maid uniform and standing ramrod straight, Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow and said, "If she made such a boast, she must bear the consequences herself."
That was exactly what she wanted to hear! Yi Zhangzhu smiled and stood up. "Very well, let's go and look."
There was a place in this courtyard that Feng Yue absolutely could not have cleaned—and the dust there was definitely more than a liang.
Yi Zhangzhu walked excitedly, and even Song Ruo Ci could tell she was confident.
That brothel girl was doomed!
Yin Gezhi stood up and leisurely followed behind, watching as Yi Zhangzhu passed by Feng Yue, smiling and saying something. He also saw Feng Yue confidently curtsy and nod before slowing her pace to follow behind the group of young ladies.
What scheme was that little head of hers cooking up now?
Narrowing his eyes, he quickened his pace and walked beside her, lowering his voice to ask, "Where is it?"
Her eyes filled with melancholy, the girl gave him a pitiful look and muttered, "Just follow them. The place Miss Yi is looking for is where the thing is hidden. But, Your Highness, if I really get beaten, could you give me some time off?"
Frowning slightly, Yin Gezhi asked, "Are you looking for a beating?"
"I have no choice," Feng Yue shrugged, pointing at the excited young ladies running ahead. "Do you think they would lead the way without a second thought if I didn't take a beating?"Her heart sank. Yin Gezhi pinched her hard, glanced at the nearby rockery, and pulled her straight behind the stones, quickly tearing open his own lapels.
"Hey." Feng Yue was stunned. "What are you thinking of doing at a time like this?!"
"Shut up." He gave her a cold look. "Take off your trousers."
Feng Yue's eyes widened.
Up ahead, Yi Zhangzhu had been whispering with a few people for quite some time, getting everyone excited, and their steps quickened noticeably. Meng Chang Jiang casually glanced back and called out, "Your Highness, hurry up!"
He had clearly been following behind them just moments ago. How had he fallen so far behind in the blink of an eye? Yi Zhangzhu also turned around and stood waiting.
Yin Gezhi caught up with an expressionless face, while Feng Yue behind him kept her head down, her cheeks flushed red.
"What's going on here?" Song Ruo Ci raised an eyebrow. "Are you feeling guilty because you know you're going to lose?"
"Once a word is spoken, there's nothing to say even if I lose." Clearing her throat, Feng Yue said, "But where do you all plan to search? Isn't the East Courtyard off-limits to outsiders?"
"No matter." Yi Zhangzhu waved her hand, smiling at her. "If I say you can enter, then you can. Besides, we're not going to the study, just taking a look in the guest rooms of the East Courtyard."
Panic suddenly flashed across Feng Yue's face. She tugged at Yin Gezhi's sleeve and pointed at Yi Zhangzhu, looking extremely anxious.
Seeing this, Yi Zhangzhu wasted no time. She grabbed Yin Gezhi and rushed into the East Courtyard, sweeping the guards aside and pushing open the guest room door.
A cloud of dust billowed out, making everyone cough. Miss Yi, however, was particularly delighted. Coughing, she pointed inside and asked, "Did you sweep the dust here?"
Both Yin Gezhi and Feng Yue stood far away, one looking slightly surprised, the other filled with terror in her eyes.
"This... this servant couldn't enter, so I didn't clean it. Is that also my fault?" Feng Yue said pitifully. "If Miss Yi had said this servant could come in, I would have swept it spotless!"
"Isn't it too late to say that now?" Song Ruo Ci sneered. "You were the one who said 'inside and outside the General's Mansion.' Isn't the East Courtyard part of the General's Mansion?"
"This servant..."
"You promised to accept the consequences of the bet," Meng Chang Jiang said. "You can't go back on your word!"
"Zhangzhu." Yin Gezhi spoke up, but before he could finish, Yi Zhangzhu's face darkened. "Is Brother Yin pleading for her?"
"No." He frowned. "I just think this room is excessively dirty. Let Feng Yue clean it first before she receives the household punishment. Otherwise, who will sweep such a filthy place?"
That made sense. Her expression softened. Yi Zhangzhu thought for a moment. "But Father said this room doesn't need cleaning. It should just be left as it is."
Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes, his face full of disdain.
Yi Zhangzhu looked at him, thought again, and said, "But cleaning it would be good too. There's nothing valuable here anyway, and no one usually stays in it. Feng Yue, you made the bet yourself. You must accept the consequences."
Hanging her head pitifully, Feng Yue said, "This servant admits it. It's just that this room is so dirty..."
"Brother Yin said you should sweep it. Don't you want to?"
"...No, this servant will sweep." Giving Yin Gezhi an utterly aggrieved look, Feng Yue's tears began to fall, pattering down. She looked pitiful indeed, and the young ladies found it quite satisfying to watch.Finally, there’s a chance to teach her a lesson!
Yin Gezhi walked out without looking back. “It’s too filthy. I’ll take my leave first.”
“Yes,” Song Ruo Ci replied, nudging Yi Zhangzhu. “Young Miss, you should go rest as well. We’ll supervise here and make sure she doesn’t dare slack off!”
“Alright,” Yi Zhangzhu nodded, quickly following Yin Gezhi out.
Taking the cloth and broom handed to her by a servant, Feng Yue covered her mouth and nose with a veil, took a deep breath, and gently stepped into the dusty guest room.
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