Frоm thе sоunds оutsidе, thе bаnquet prоbаblу hаdn't еnded. Yin Gezhi had асtually сome оvеr in thе middlе оf it, mаking Feng Yue а little apprehensivе.
Нe wаved Guаn Zhi оff tо hаndle things оut frоnt. Оnlу whеn the wоodshed doоr wаs shut and thеy were рlunged into dаrkness did Yin Gezhi саlmlу аsk, "Ноw did уou find me?"
Fеng Yuе gavе а hоllow lаugh, abоut tо offer thе sаme еxplanаtion as befоrе. "I wаs just pаssing by to seе whаt thе cоmmоtiоn wаs аbоut..."
His dаrk рupils glеamеd menaсingly in thе dаrknеss, startling hеr intо silеnсe. Such a flimsу lie might fool Guan Zhi, but in front оf this formidable figurе, she'd best sаve hеr brеath.
Тaking a deep breath, Feng Yue gritted her teeth.
If she couldn't deceive him, then it was time to act!
"Since it has come to this, there's no point in hiding it any longer." With a long sigh, her tone instantly became sincere. Feng Yue looked up at the man before her, her eyes shimmering. "This humble one knew from the very beginning that you are the First Prince of the Wei Kingdom, so naturally, I also knew you were staying at the Envoy's Mansion. No esteemed patrons came to the Dream Return Pavilion today, and remembering what I said to Your Highness the other day, I came over to see you."
Knew from the very beginning? Yin Gezhi let out a cold laugh. He reached out and seized her chin, not sparing any strength, pinching her little face until it turned pale.
"How did you know I was a prince of Wei?"
Hissing in pain, Feng Yue said frantically, "Please listen to my explanation! I lived in the Wei Kingdom as a child. Didn't you often travel from the Xuanbei Gate of the imperial palace to the northern training grounds? My home was on that road, so I saw you many times! You were always in silver armor with your black hair tied up high, looking so incredibly majestic!"
His grip loosened slightly. Yin Gezhi pressed his lips together. "Such a coincidence?"
"It's not a coincidence." Feng Yue gazed at him with deep affection. "It's because every day at dusk, I would wait at my door for you to pass by. But there were too many people waiting around, so it was impossible for you to notice me."
"I have been concerned about your situation ever since you arrived in the Wu Kingdom, so of course I knew you were staying at the Envoy's Mansion. It was naturally easy to find you today."
Releasing her chin, Yin Gezhi knelt beside her. His hand moved down and wrapped around her neck. "Since you knew who I was from the start, why didn't you say so?"
Unable to breathe, Feng Yue struggled violently. "You... can't expect me to answer... while you're strangling me so I can't speak!"
His grip lessened, but his hand remained on her neck. Yin Gezhi was growing impatient. "Speak!"
"I did know from the start, but I never expected our acquaintance to be so unpleasant, so of course I didn't dare to say anything." After coughing twice, Feng Yue lowered her eyes. "You are a lofty prince, while I am but a lowly courtesan. How could I ever find the courage to tell you that I have always admired you?"
"Admired me?" His gaze flickered. Yin Gezhi leaned closer to her, their breaths mingling in the darkness.
"If you admire me, then on the day you hung your plaque at the Dream Return Pavilion to solicit patrons, why was the Crown Prince of Wu the one you tried to seduce?"
Swallowing hard, Feng Yue clenched her fists, miraculously managing to keep the smile on her face. "That's because, although I admire Your Highness, I didn't dare to approach you. With so many distinguished guests present, I just wanted to pick someone at random. Who knew that fate would play such a trick, and I would still fall into Your Highness's arms."
Admired him but didn't dare to approach? Yin Gezhi scoffed. "Keep spinning your tales."
She couldn't spin any more! Feng Yue gritted her teeth. Feeling the man's warm breath on her face, she decided to go all in, propping herself up and pressing her lips against his.
Yin Gezhi's lips were very cold, just like him. It took a long moment of her lips rubbing against his before they warmed up.
"If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I don't know what else to do. I have truly loved Your Highness, but you are surrounded by countless beauties. I really didn't dare to be presumptuous." Kissing him tenderly, Feng Yue didn't dare to breach the great demon king's teeth, only daring to linger outside as she murmured, "But now that the heavens have given me this chance, I truly want to stay by Your Highness's side, to never leave, for all of eternity."
Even though he knew she was lying, and he knew she was highly suspicious, when these words entered his ears, Yin Gezhi actually felt a faint warmth in his chest.
The woodshed was silent for a long time.
"You say you didn't dare to be presumptuous, but I don't see you being very proper." After a long moment, Yin Gezhi spoke coolly, the killing intent in his eyes having faded. He grabbed the leg she was trying to wrap around his waist and let out a cold snort.
She had escaped death.
Feng Yue's forehead was beaded with sweat, her nerves stretched to the absolute limit. In the darkness, her foxy eyes blinked. Certain that he no longer wanted to kill her, she decided to entangle herself with him even more tightly.
The woodshed was not a good place, at least not for Guan Zhi, who would find washing this white robe very troublesome. But Yin Gezhi clearly hadn't considered this problem. He took off his outer robe, stuffed it behind her back, and then proceeded to inflict inhuman torment upon the injured party.
Crying out in pain, Feng Yue flushed and grew annoyed. "Has Your Highness not had any nightly summons since coming to the Wu Kingdom?"
How long had he been holding back?
A cold snort served as his answer. Yin Gezhi reached out and clasped her hand, imitating how she had done it before, their fingers intertwining. Then he paused.
Why did holding her hand like this give him such a distinct sense of security?
Their bodies tangled, like two intertwined snakes in the darkness. Perhaps the location was too stimulating; Feng Yue couldn't hold back and cried out.
The man on top of her paused slightly and caressed her face. "Do it again."
Blushing to the roots of her neck, Feng Yue turned her head away and bit her lip hard.
Yin Gezhi felt inexplicably bothered. His fingers traced her lips as his movements grew more intense. However, until the very end, Feng Yue did not make another sound.
Guan Zhi dealt with the officials out front. After seeing them off, he ran to the woodshed to check on the situation.
His master hadn't returned to the front hall. What had happened?
The woodshed door was wide open, and it was empty inside. However, a piece of red gauze, looking very familiar, was draped over the woodpile. The air held a somewhat ambiguous scent. Guan Zhi thought for a moment and understood, immediately and considerately heading to the kitchen to boil water.
The bedroom in the main courtyard was brightly lit. Feng Yue was pinned against the headboard, her gaze pitiful. "It's so bright. Should we put out the lamps?"
Ignoring her request, Yin Gezhi pulled off his sash and used it to tie her two injured paws to the headboard.
"You know about my nightly summons." It was a statement.
"Of course I know." Feng Yue smiled seductively. "Back then in Lidu, countless young ladies admired Your Highness and willingly offered themselves to you. Your Highness politely refused, which caused the illegitimate daughter of the Three Judicial Commissioners' family to die of shame. After that, Your Highness opened the side gate of the Eastern Palace, accepting any woman who came to your door without refusal."
"Your Highness is quite kind."
Kind? Yin Gezhi sneered. When the daughter of Yang Yi, one of the Three Judicial Commissioners, died, that old fool submitted a memorial listing ten of his crimes and launched numerous protests. To appease the situation, his imperial father had ordered him to open the side gate of the Eastern Palace. And these ignorant women actually thought he was kind and merciful?
Their parents had raised them for so many years, yet they would casually offer themselves to a man they didn't even know, and even take their own lives over it. Women like that, the world was better off with one less! If not for his imperial father's pressure, he would have shown them what hell on earth was, just to stop them from seeing him as some dashing, ideal husband.
"Did you also enter the Eastern Palace?" He came back to his senses and looked at the person beneath him.
Feng Yue smiled and shook her head. "How could I? I am just a commoner. How would I have the ability to enter the palace? I just heard from others that Your Highness dislikes bright lights, so I was always thinking about putting out the lamps."
The first time she had served him, the lamps had also been extinguished. He had thought she shared his habit, but it turned out she had known all along.
With a soft snort, Yin Gezhi bit down on her neck.
This was a terrible situation. He didn't know if it was because he hadn't touched a woman in too long, or for some other reason, but the body beneath him was utterly intoxicating. It had only been a few days, yet he already missed this scent so much.
This was not good.
But even if it wasn't good, that was a matter for tomorrow. He never refused meat that was delivered to his door.
They were locked in a death-defying embrace, the lamps burning all night. For once, Feng Yue got to look at Yin Gezhi's face for the entire night. Only when she was exhausted was she held by him and slowly drifted off to sleep.
...
"Your voice is very strange." In the darkness, he leaned close to the ear of the person beneath him. "What are you trying to hide?"
"Mm... The world knows that offering oneself is a lowly act. I speak this way simply because I don't want Your Highness to recognize me in the future and look down on me."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "All the women who come here want to marry me. You don't?"
"I do, but I know it's impossible, so I am not greedy."
The peculiar voice sounded as if she were pinching her nose. Yin Gezhi walked through the dreamscape, listening to these words with a bewildered expression.
"Your Highness!" The strange voice disappeared. In the distance, a fox came running over. It had a coat of red fur and blinked its eyes. "Do you find me beautiful?"
No matter how beautiful, it was still an animal. Yin Gezhi frowned. Before he could even wonder why a fox could speak, his body was shaken, and his seven souls returned to their place.
"Your Highness, it's time for breakfast!" It was still the fox's voice.
Opening his eyes, Yin Gezhi sat up abruptly and saw Feng Yue.
She wasn't wearing an outer robe, only a tube-top long dress. Her delicate collarbones were exposed, dotted with numerous marks.
"Where are your clothes?" he frowned.
It would have been better not to mention it. At his words, Feng Yue's lips trembled. "You tore them yesterday. I didn't bring any clothes with me."
"..." Yin Gezhi rubbed the space between his brows and pressed his lips together.
He had gone a bit too far.
"Let's have breakfast first!" Pointing to the dishes on the table, Feng Yue smiled sweetly, seeking praise. "Guan Zhi said his cooking isn't good, so I went to teach him how to make it. Come and try. Isn't it much more delicious?"
She taught Guan Zhi? His eyes swept over her appearance, and his face darkened. "Even if you are a courtesan, you should have some self-respect. You taught my attendant dressed like that?"
Her face, full of eager anticipation, had crashed into an iceberg, freezing her speechless. Feng Yue looked down, tugged at her dress, shrugged, and turned to leave.
"Stop!" Yin Gezhi ordered in a low voice. "Where are you going?"
"To find some clothes. Where else could I go?" Standing at the door without turning back, Feng Yue said, "Don't worry. I'm not your woman. I won't bring shame upon Your Highness!"
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