Shаking hеr hеad, Nannу Хun sаid, "I nеvеr learned tо rеad. Do уou want tо writе sоmеthing?"
"Аh... уes, Prinсe Yin ordered me to рrаctiсe writing." Guiltilу аvеrting hеr faсе, Fеng Yuе rеpliеd, "But if Nanny саn't reаd, I'll just practiсe lying dоwn by mysеlf."
Finding hеr bеhаviоr sоmеwhat odd, Nаnnу Xun gоt uр, wаshed аnd chаngеd her clоthеs, then sаt propеrly in front of hеr аnd аsked, "It's nоt even dawn уеt. Whу would Рrinсе Yin соmе to mаkе yоu prаcticе writing?"
Blinking hеr еуes, Fеng Yuе bit thе brush аnd grinned foolishlу. "Who knows what our mastеr is thinking? He evеn gave mе a рilе of bоoks to read, all stacked in the backyard."
Curious, Nanny Xun stood up and went to check the back of the room. Sure enough, there was a large pile of papers and books. She returned and asked Feng Yue, "Are these from the General's Mansion?"
Feng Yue nodded. "Yes, they’re definitely from the General's Mansion!"
"It doesn’t seem right to leave them piled here. Why didn’t Prince Yin have you read them in the library?"
"These... seem to be books His Highness wants to take back to the Envoy's Mansion for me to read." Lying on her bed, she lowered her head and said, "When we came, His Highness said the General's Mansion had many books and insisted on borrowing some to take back."
Frowning slightly, Nanny Xun gave her a puzzled look. This child... speaking so nervously, how could anyone believe it was true?
She turned to go out and ask someone, but as soon as she opened the door, she saw Dianchai, who served Yi Zhangzhu, approaching with others. Standing outside, Dianchai said, "These are all the books Prince Yin requested. His Highness said Feng Yue should first move them back to the Envoy's Mansion herself and then return to report."
Nanny Xun frowned, glanced at the books carried by the servants behind Dianchai, then looked back toward the backyard and shook her head. "Feng Yue is still injured. How could she possibly move so many books?"
"That’s not my concern," Dianchai retorted with a roll of her eyes. "I’ve delivered the message. Prince Yin’s orders are that Miss Feng Yue must return by noon."
With that, she waved for the servants to place the books at the door and turned to leave.
Nanny Xun’s expression darkened. She stared at the books for a moment, then turned and went back inside. Squatting down seriously, she asked Feng Yue, who was lying on the floor bedding, "Did you offend Prince Yin too?"
"Huh?" Feng Yue, who had been deep in thought trying to find a solution, was caught off guard by this question and looked up blankly. "Prince Yin?"
Whether she offended him or not, he always looked like someone owed him their life!
Sighing, Nanny Xun said, "Dianchai just came and delivered another pile of books. She said Prince Yin ordered you to move them back to the Envoy's Mansion alone and return by noon... Tell me, isn’t this just making things difficult for you?"
"Great!" Feng Yue nearly jumped up in excitement, grinning widely. But when she met Nanny Xun’s shocked gaze, she immediately lowered herself and softened her tone. "What I meant was, this is too much! How could he do this?"
Has this child been beaten silly? Nanny Xun looked at her with pity and thought for a moment. "I’ll find someone to get you an ox cart. You can transport both piles of things back."
"Thank you, Nanny!" Feng Yue was so moved that she grabbed Nanny Xun’s hand and said, "I’ll never forget your kindness!"Patting her hand, Nanny Xun smiled and stood up to leave. Once the shadow disappeared from the doorway, Feng Yue immediately sprang up and ran toward the backyard.
Fortunately, Nanny Xun was illiterate, so she couldn’t understand these confidential letters, account books, and various lists, allowing Feng Yue to escape a disaster. Carefully tucking them one by one into the books Dianchai had just delivered, Feng Yue thought that Yin Gezhi still had a conscience—he hadn’t truly left such a daunting task for her to complete alone. Otherwise, he might really have had to collect her corpse.
The oxcart was ready, and Nanny Xun helped Feng Yue slowly load the books onto it. Dianchai watched at the back door, feeling somewhat displeased with Nanny Xun’s assistance. However, seeing Feng Yue’s pained expression as she limped along, she felt a sense of satisfaction.
A pile of books passed before her eyes, but Dianchai didn’t even glance at them, directly allowing them to pass.
Thus, the little maid Feng Yue, disabled in body but strong in spirit, diligently carried the General’s Mansion’s greatest secrets, walking painfully back to Yin Gezhi’s lair.
Yin Gezhi leisurely sipped tea in the General’s Mansion. Before long, Dianchai came to report, somewhat discontentedly criticizing Nanny Xun for a moment before adding, “It seems we’ve wasted Your Highness’s efforts to temper her.”
“It’s fine,” he said indifferently. “No need to dwell too much on a maid.”
“Indeed,” Yi Zhangzhu nodded. “We have more important matters to attend to. Crown Prince Brother has already agreed to provide aid to the poor. Now, I need to decide on the styles and materials for the clothes. Will Brother Yin accompany me?”
“Of course,” Yin Gezhi nodded, following her out with great grace. From the fabric shop to the money shop and back to the fabric shop, he even accompanied her to eat wontons at a street stall, then considerately shielded her as they passed through the crowded streets. For the entire morning, he didn’t utter a single complaint.
Yi Zhangzhu was deeply moved. She felt that her Brother Yin had returned to her. All around, there were admiring voices, praising her good fortune and remarking on the young master’s imposing presence, which pleased her immensely.
Within a few hours, Ye Yuqing received the news and was left bewildered. “Accompanying Zhu’er?”
“Yes, according to those who saw it, Prince Yin had no one else with him. His gaze remained fixed on Miss Yi the entire time, appearing quite enamored.”
Yin Gezhi had always liked Yi Zhangzhu—he knew that. But he had thought Feng Yue would gradually replace Yi Zhangzhu in his heart. Unexpectedly… perhaps what one cannot obtain is always the best?
Still, his fondness for Yi Zhangzhu was a good thing. Even if they couldn’t truly be together, his affection for her would make him more lenient toward General Yi. Previously, he had always worried that Yin Gezhi would seize any opportunity to eliminate Yi Guoru. Now, with Yi Zhangzhu in the picture, he could rest a little easier.
Fanning himself, the Crown Prince felt that, at least for now, Yin Gezhi could be fully relied upon.
As soon as noon arrived, Feng Yue swiftly returned to Nanny Xun’s room and lay down again.
Nanny Xun asked, “Did you finish moving everything?”
“Yes, His Highness likely won’t trouble this servant anymore,” Feng Yue grinned happily, hugging her pillow. “I can sleep peacefully for a couple of days.”
Not just peacefully—she could even have a few good dreams, joyfully awaiting the coming storm!The list requested by the Crown Prince soon reached his hands. Although Ye Yuqing found it incredibly fast when he received it, every name on the list checked out perfectly upon investigation—each person was intricately connected to General Yi.
Now things became straightforward. With the tiger away from home, the young master of the house directly raised his blade and struck hard at the tail the tiger had left behind.
Leng Yan was convicted and thrown straight into prison, staring blankly at his own handwritten letters and account books, utterly bewildered as to how these items had ended up in the Crown Prince’s possession. Eighty Imperial Guards and ten commanders were imprisoned within the Imperial Guard, an event later recorded in history as the "Imperial Guard Purge." Overnight, many found themselves in prison cells without even knowing what had happened.
Shadowless City was hit by another day of heavy rain. Feng Yue stood in the pavilion, clutching her waist and smiling as she remarked, "A raging storm, indeed a raging storm."
The most crucial military authority in the capital lay with the Imperial Guard and the City Garrison. Acting with swift decisiveness, the Crown Prince had, in less than a month, stripped both forces to their bones. Anyone with a bit of sense could see that he was targeting General Yi.
An old minister in the court knocked his head against a pillar, warning that the Wu Kingdom was about to repeat the mistakes of the Wei Kingdom—while soldiers fought on the borders, imperial power was turning its blade against their backs.
The usually mild-mannered Ye Yuqing immediately threw his fan in the court, his face flushed with anger as he declared, "The soldiers of our great Wu Kingdom, the Imperial Guard of the royal family—have they become someone else’s back? Lord Liao, what do you mean by that?"
His words left the old minister speechless. Indeed, everyone knew that those recently arrested were General Yi’s people, but how could such a thing be stated openly in court? Whoever’s people they were, once they served as officials of the court, they should belong to the court!
Thus, those who still wished to plead for leniency submitted memorials to the emperor’s study. The old emperor couldn’t be bothered to read them and instead passed them all to the Crown Prince.
Ye Yuqing carried these memorials and visited each household for a "heart-to-heart talk," frightening everyone into trembling silence, not daring to utter another word.
Yin Gezhi should have returned to the Envoy’s Mansion after the matter was settled, but he had no intention of leaving. Feng Yue also had no desire to go out. Clinging to a pillar of the General’s Mansion, she smiled and said, "This roof is large—larger is better. No rain can reach us here."
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