Fоr а mоment, Feng Yue еvеn wanted tо salute him аnd аsk, "Gеnеrаl, will this humblе subordinatе be under your commаnd frоm now оn, under уоur рrоteсtiоn, сhаrging fоrward fоr you?"
Yet shе knеw without аsking—yes, Yin Gezhi wаs extrеmely рrоtесtivе оf his оwn. Oncе оn the sаmе bоat аs him, he wоuld shiеld against аnу storm thаt came. Вehind him was safеr thаn аnywhеre else.
Раtting thе objесt, Fеng Yuе tuсkеd it direсtlу into hеr bosоm, then rubbed hеr buttoсks.
Тhе matеriаl оf this thing wаs quite speсial—neither too sоft nor too hаrd, and verу lightweight. Using it аs рadding hаd lessened the pain considerably, but she still had to endure some suffering. Limping into the room, Feng Yue asked, "Nanny, shall I sleep with you tonight?"
"This old woman has an extra quilt. We can just make a bed on the floor." Leading her inside, Nanny Xun opened the cabinet and began making the bed, chattering as she worked, "This is a winter quilt, so it’s a bit warm. I’ll lay a mat on top. It’s been a long time since anyone came here. I’ve been living alone, so please bear with it."
Feng Yue nodded, suddenly feeling that this nanny seemed to enjoy having company. She wasn’t as terrifying as those young ladies had made her out to be. If they found her frightening... it was probably because they couldn’t endure the hardships of learning the rules, unlike someone like her, toughened by years on the battlefield, who never felt tired no matter what she did.
Once the bed was made, Feng Yue slowly lay down on her stomach, letting out a comfortable sigh, then turned her head and smiled at Nanny Xun. "Thank you, Nanny!"
She could put on a grand performance for anyone, but with a kind elderly person like this, she just wanted to obediently crouch in front of them and wag her tail.
Nanny Xun sighed happily, looking in good spirits, and offered her the sesame balls on the table. "I talk a lot. Since we’re idle, let me tell you about the General's Mansion. Don’t find this old woman annoying."
"Not at all, not at all," Feng Yue laughed. "Please go ahead, I’d love to hear it."
She truly did want to hear it! She would have had to spend effort gathering information, and even then, she might not have learned much. Now, with an old-timer from the mansion specifically telling her, it was a godsend.
So Nanny Xun picked up her embroidery hoop and needle, and as she embroidered a handkerchief, she began, "To talk about the General's Mansion, we naturally have to start with the General. General Yi came from a commoner background. His family ran a small business, so his status wasn’t high, but he was skilled in martial arts and good at warfare. After just two years in the army, he rose to the rank of centurion. Then came Miss Yi... General Yi’s younger sister, Yi Yuxuan. She was fortunate enough to enter the palace and was made a consort within a year. Because of this, General Yi was appointed as a general after suppressing bandits, receiving many favors. Later, during the war with the Wei Kingdom, General Yi achieved great military merits, and the Emperor bestowed this mansion upon him."
Blinking, Feng Yue couldn’t help but ask, "Were you serving by Consort Yi’s side?"
"Yes," Nanny Xun said. "Consort Yi was stunningly beautiful and enjoyed the Emperor’s favor for ten years without decline. It’s just a pity she had no children. No matter how favored she was, she remained only a consort. But the Emperor never looked down on her, granting her many favors, so she lived quite comfortably."
No children, no competition for the position of empress or the throne—what secrets could she have that would make the General keep the palace maids who served her confined in the mansion, not allowing them to leave? Feng Yue couldn’t figure it out, her eyes filled with curiosity.Seeing her expression, Nanny Xun guessed what she was thinking and smiled faintly. "Those who can hold high positions are naturally meticulous. Even if we know nothing, we still can't leave this General's Mansion."
Carefully glancing around, Feng Yue pressed a hand to her waist and struggled to sit up, leaning closer to Nanny Xun. She blinked and asked, "Then do you really know nothing?"
For a moment, Nanny Xun's eyes flickered away. "Whether I know or not, it's all going to the grave with me. What does it matter?"
"It matters!" Feng Yue said earnestly. "This servant wants to hear it!"
Her eyes sparkled, just like those idle people in teahouses who, having nothing better to do after a meal, would listen to gossip and private affairs. Nanny Xun couldn't help but laugh, tapping Feng Yue's head with the back of her hand. "Didn't you say that knowing too much leads to an early death?"
"This servant has thought it through. Since I don't know when I'll be beaten to death by my master anyway, I might as well learn more before I die." Clenching her teeth, she glanced behind her with a look of indignation.
This girl was truly amusing, and since there was nothing else to do, Nanny Xun thought for a moment, set down her embroidery needle, and stood up to close the door.
"For so many years, I've never been able to understand one thing," Nanny Xun said slowly, squatting down beside her. "The Noble Consort once carried a child—a royal heir, of the utmost nobility. Yet she miscarried it herself and, in the process, caused the death of a Zhaoyi. Using her own child to deal with a Zhaoyi—doesn't that seem unworthy?"
Royal secrets! Feng Yue grew excited. "She miscarried it herself?"
Nanny Xun's eyes grew distant, as if recalling something, and she murmured, "She was in a bad mood and drank heavily, shutting herself in her palace day and night. The physician had clearly warned her not to drink... Then one day, she stopped. After bathing and changing, she took a long walk and happened to encounter that Zhaoyi. In the scuffle, she fell, and the child was lost. The Emperor was furious and confined the Zhaoyi to the Cold Palace. But I don't understand—if she truly wanted this child, why would she drink so much? And if she didn't want it... why wouldn't she want it?"
Listening in shock, Feng Yue instinctively blurted out, "Could it be that it wasn't the Emperor's?"
Nanny Xun's face paled, and she gave Feng Yue a horrified look.
Frightened by her expression, Feng Yue quickly waved her hands. "This servant was just talking nonsense. Please don't take it to heart, Nanny."
Nanny Xun opened her mouth, then closed it again, shaking her head. She let out a long sigh and changed the subject. "However, General Yi was very concerned about the Noble Consort. When he was in the capital, he would visit the palace three times a month to pay his respects. It was because of him that Her Ladyship wasn't bullied by anyone."
"Nanny," Feng Yue blinked. "May this servant ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"When the General went to the palace to pay his respects, what did he usually talk about with Her Ladyship?"
Nanny Xun shook her head. "When the siblings spoke, all the palace attendants waited outside. No one could enter, so naturally, no one heard what they said."
"I see," Feng Yue nodded, then smiled. "Let's rest early. This servant's body may need to lie down for a couple of days, so I won't have to work. I can keep you company and chat to pass the time."
"It's clearly me talking and you listening, and you call that keeping me company?" Nanny Xun shook her head. "You're taking advantage and still acting innocent!""Nanny is the best," Feng Yue chuckled, burying her face in the pillow and pretending to sleep.
Nanny Xun stood up, tucked her in, then fetched water to tidy the courtyard before finally lying down. She lay flat with her hands folded over her stomach, falling asleep in a proper manner.
As she slept, Feng Yue suddenly felt her body lift, the sensation of weightlessness jolting her awake!
The sky was pitch black. Tonight, there wasn’t even a moon—perfect for murder, arson, theft, or mischief.
His Highness Yin Gezhi, who was about to go steal something, was dressed in dark, unremarkable clothes, his ink-black hair tied high. He was carrying her as he flew out of Nanny Xun’s courtyard.
"Hey, hey?" Feng Yue whispered, "What are you doing?"
If you’re going to steal something, go steal it properly—why steal her?
Giving her a disdainful look, Yin Gezhi threw her into a deserted corner, then reached out and went straight for her chest!
"Hey!" Feng Yue gritted her teeth, crossing her arms over her chest. "Your Highness, if you want me, at least pick a better place."
Rolling his eyes, Yin Gezhi pried her hands away, pinning them against the wall behind her. Then, lowering his head, he used his snow-white teeth to tear open her collar, directly pulling out the piece of protective scale she wore.
Feng Yue: "..."
Is this guy part dog?
"Shouldn’t you be in the guest room?" Freed from his grip, Feng Yue awkwardly adjusted her collar and whispered.
Yin Gezhi didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled something from his robe and held it out to her.
Squinting in the darkness, it took Feng Yue a while to recognize what he was holding—the earring she had thrown away.
He already got it?! Feng Yue was stunned. "So fast?"
There hadn’t been any commotion in the mansion at all—not even a diversion like shouting "Fire!"—and he had already retrieved it?
Giving her a scornful look, Yin Gezhi said, "If you weren’t somewhat useful, I’d have let you get beaten to death for being so foolish."
She’s foolish?! Feng Yue glared. Since it was pitch dark and no one could see each other anyway, her courage instantly swelled. "How am I foolish? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have found the place so easily."
"That’s why you’re somewhat useful," Yin Gezhi replied. "The rest is just foolishness."
Seriously, now that he’s succeeded, he’s in the mood to mock her? Feng Yue narrowed her eyes and stomped down hard with her foot!
"Oof." The First Prince grunted in pain, annoyed. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry, I couldn’t see and thought there was ground to step on," Feng Yue blinked innocently. "Since you’re done and have taken back the protective scale, I’ll go back to rest now."
"Wait." Yin Gezhi pursed his lips. "There’s one more thing for you to do."
"What?"
"The things in the guest room," Yin Gezhi said, his lips tight. "There’s too much. I couldn’t move it all alone, so I’ve piled it behind the courtyard where you’re staying. Figure out a way to transport it to the back gate by daybreak."
What?! Feng Yue’s face turned pale. "And transport it by daybreak? Do you think this is the Envoy’s Mansion, where you can come and go as you please? How am I, a mere maid, supposed to explain all those confidential things?"
"That’s not my concern," Yin Gezhi said with a slight smirk. "I trust you."
Trust a ghost! Ghosts can float—she can’t! Fuming, Feng Yue glared at him, about to retort, but the wolf in sheep’s clothing hoisted her over his shoulder and silently tossed her back.Heavens above! Feng Yue was utterly distraught. What should she do? Putting aside everything else, how was she going to explain to Nanny Xun all those things that had appeared out of nowhere when she woke up the next morning?
Burying her face in the pillow with a headache, Feng Yue thought, to hell with it! She would just act as if she knew nothing and play dumb with Nanny Xun tomorrow. Better for others to suffer than herself!
However, early the next morning, when Nanny Xun opened her eyes, she saw Feng Yue smiling brightly and holding a brush, asking her, "Nanny, do you know how to read?"
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