Тurning bаck to glаnсе аt hеr action, Yin Gеzhi rеmarked indiffеrently, "Yоu'rе quitе strоng."
А bit timidlу putting her fоot down, Feng Yue poutеd, "Тhis servаnt alsо wishеs tо bе morе рrореr, but don't sсare pеоplе! Taking me аway sо fiercеlу, it's likе уоu'rе gоing to skin somеоne аlivе!"
Wаs he thаt fierсе? Yin Gezhi frownеd, lоwerеd his head to rеflect for а mоmеnt, then еxerted fоrсе with his hand, рulling hеr insidе аs if tеаring a рiеcе of rаgged clоth.
Thе dооr slammеd shut. Fеng Yuе рressed agаinst it, closed her eуes, and begаn flattering, "Yоur Highnеss, уou аre wise and mighty, truly as beautiful as the flowers outside! This servant..."
Before she could finish, her mouth was blocked by someone's lips. Cool lips enveloped hers, soon turning fiery hot. Feng Yue opened her eyes, astonished to see the redness in the eyes of the person before her.
Oh no, oh no, the demon king is going to devour someone!
Her clothes were torn open. Feng Yue didn't resist, but merely curled her lips and said, "In broad daylight, how improper, Your Highness."
"You brought this upon yourself." Biting her earlobe, Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes and said, "You should repay it."
She brought this upon herself? Feng Yue looked up at the ceiling in speechlessness. If she remembered correctly, it had been over ten days since she seduced him with Beauty Brew. Wasn't His Highness's reaction a bit too slow?
Just as she was thinking this, the fragrance of Beauty Brew filled her nostrils. Feng Yue blinked and gasped in surprise.
Yin Gezhi held a wine pot in his hand, looking down at her. "Do you like drinking this?"
Yes, yes! Her eyes lit up. Feng Yue smiled and restrained herself for a moment, then snatched the wine pot from his hand, tilting her head back to drink.
Holding her, Yin Gezhi watched with deep eyes, gazing at her fair neck and the slight rise and fall of her throat as she swallowed the wine. Satisfied, he opened his mouth and gently bit down.
"Cough." Nearly choking, Feng Yue blinked. She felt herself being lifted, and the person holding her sat down in the armchair, placing her in his lap.
"Is it good?" Yin Gezhi asked.
Feng Yue nodded. The two jars she had brought back from Dream Return Pavilion were long finished. Today, she had been thinking about getting more, never expecting he would have some here.
After finishing one pot, Feng Yue's vision grew slightly hazy. Drowsily, she lowered her head and asked, "Did you send someone to Dream Return Pavilion to get it?"
"Yes." Taking her empty wine pot, Yin Gezhi reached under the desk and pulled out a jar of wine. He poured another pot for her and placed it in her hand. "Don't you like drinking it very much?"
"Yes, this wine is brewed by Mama Jin with flowers. It's very fragrant." Squinting her eyes with a smile, Feng Yue said, "I used to love drinking this, never getting tired of it. I'd get drunk for days, which angered Mama Jin so much she hid the wine. But she didn't know I have a sharp nose. No matter where she hid it, I could smell it and find it."
Watching her slowly finish another pot, Yin Gezhi said, "You have quite a tolerance for alcohol."
"Of course. Last time when I drank with the Crown Prince, if not for my good tolerance, I would have truly gotten drunk and babbled nonsense to him." Giggling, Feng Yue cast flirtatious glances, her body restlessly shifting in his lap. "Drinking with the Crown Prince is no fun. He doesn't drink, just makes me drink."
The hand gripping her waist tightened. Yin Gezhi's expression darkened. "A proper young lady shouldn't drink with men.""What? Proper?" Feng Yue widened her eyes, then burst into laughter. After finishing the last sip of wine, she reached out and tugged the clothing off her shoulder, blinking her eyes coquettishly as she said in a sweet, affected tone, "Do I look like a proper girl to you? The Crown Prince paid me, so how could I not even drink with him?"
A sudden flash of ferocity appeared in Yin Gezhi's eyes. He tightened his grip and said coldly, "Don’t think that just because you’ve been drinking, I’ll take your words as drunken nonsense."
"Giggle, giggle." Feng Yue laughed, lowering her head and letting him grip her waist. Her wine-scented lips pressed against his, lingering and teasing for a long moment before she smacked her lips and said, "Your lips are so soft, why speak so harshly? Why get angry just because I’m telling the truth? Since you’re finally free today, why not drink until we’re both drunk?"
This woman... Yin Gezhi frowned. For some reason, he always felt that Feng Yue had a wildness about her. Other girls were raised in boudoirs—was she raised running through forests and mountains? There was also a faint sense of untamed defiance about her.
What kind of woman was she?
As he was thinking this, she tugged at his lapel. The person in his arms hummed softly, tore open his clothes, and bit down hard on his chest.
"Ouch—" He frowned, rising angrily and pinning her down on the desk.
"You’ve already been redeemed," Yin Gezhi said harshly, gripping her hand. "Don’t bring up the past anymore."
Huh? Feng Yue blinked, her eyes hazy and confused. She let him strip off her clothes, but even after a long while, she couldn’t quite grasp what he meant.
Still, the study was a good place.
Lingshu and Guan Zhi sat at the entrance of the main courtyard, cracking melon seeds. As she cracked them, Lingshu sighed, "Your master used to look down on my master at first. And now, just a few months later, we’re actually living in the Envoy's Mansion."
Guan Zhi shook his head. "It’s best not to trust my master’s outward appearance. You can’t tell what he likes or dislikes from his expression—only his actions can prove it."
"Huh?" Lingshu looked utterly bewildered, her bright eyes filled with confusion. "Didn’t the goddess Nüwa give us faces to express our true thoughts? If your master doesn’t use his face properly, what’s the point of having it?"
Guan Zhi: "..."
That sounded quite reasonable.
The commotion in the study was loud, but the two outside chatted happily, completely unaware. When evening came, Lingshu went to ask her master what to eat for dinner, but when she knocked, it was Prince Yin who opened the door, his expression cold as he said, "Tell Guan Zhi to order food from outside and have it delivered."
"What about my master?" Lingshu asked curiously.
"She’s resting," Yin Gezhi replied. "She’s just a bit worn out."
Innocent and naive, Lingshu understood nothing, thinking that he had made her master work again. She quickly said, "The doctor said my master’s health isn’t good and she needs to rest properly. Please don’t exhaust her."
Health isn’t good? Yin Gezhi scoffed. "Your master’s health is just fine, no need to worry."
Her strength could rival that of two other girls.
Giving him a worried look, Lingshu sighed and turned to ask Guan Zhi to order the food.
Feng Yue had fallen asleep, whether from exhaustion or the effects of the wine, she slept soundly. Yin Gezhi closed the door and returned to the bedside to look at her.
Why had he taken a liking to someone like her? Probably because... she reminded him of someone from many years ago.It was hard to pinpoint exactly what was similar—they were even completely different people—but the feeling they gave him was somewhat alike, so he couldn't help lingering a little longer.
And what happened? Lingering until now, he had forgotten to leave.
Laughing at himself, Yin Gezhi shook his head.
That woman had bones as hard as iron, a carefree and eccentric personality, and, even more rare, possessed a pride that other women lacked. Even in bed, she wouldn't let him bully her, as if she were his equal, never beneath him.
He admired that kind of pride and felt such a person was rare. If they had met in broad daylight, he might have sparred with her, since she was also skilled in martial arts and seemed quite capable.
Unfortunately, after returning from the Battle of Pingchang, he never saw her again. He searched the entire Eastern Palace but couldn't find her.
Three years had passed. He had encountered many women who resembled her, entangled with them, became infatuated, but in the end, none stayed by his side. Only this Feng Yue, clearly lowly and without a shred of dignity, felt similar to him.
What exactly was similar?
Shaking his head, Yin Gezhi felt he might be going mad.
Once she finished what she needed to do, he would let her go. As for now... given her slight resemblance to that person, he could treat her a little better.
This decision was made while she was asleep, so when Feng Yue woke up, she felt as if the world had changed!
Yin Gezhi no longer looked at her with disdain. Although his expression was still somewhat unpleasant, he was much gentler, even calling a physician to examine her pulse. After the examination, he even prepared medicinal meals for her!
"Your Highness," she stammered, tugging at his sleeve pitifully, "has this servant contracted some incurable illness?"
Glancing at her disdainfully, Yin Gezhi said, "The wicked live a thousand years."
Feng Yue: "..."
Shadowless City experienced half a month of continuous sunny weather. Under the great radiance of the First Prince, Feng Yue first felt like a startled bird, but later grew accustomed to it. She ate when she wanted, slept when she wanted, and even dared to snatch pastries from his plate.
When Ye Yuqing arrived, he happened to see Feng Yue sitting in Yin Gezhi's lap cracking walnuts. When she encountered one she couldn't crack, she naturally handed it to the person behind her. That person, holding a book in one hand, took the walnut she offered with the other, crushed it without even looking, and handed it back to her.
Then Feng Yue nibbled away like a little mouse.
The scene was so unexpected that Ye Yuqing stood at the entrance of the main courtyard, not daring to step inside.
"Your Highness?" Seeing him, Feng Yue smiled brightly, jumped down from Yin Gezhi's lap, and bowed. "I didn't know Your Highness had arrived. My apologies. Please, have a seat here. This servant will crack walnuts for both of you!"
Yin Gezhi set down his book and also stood up, cupping his hands in greeting. "Please, Your Highness."
Snapping back to reality, Ye Yuqing walked in with a smile and sat at the stone table. Glancing at them, he said, "I came to see what you two were up to in my free time, but I didn't expect... you get along quite well."
"Not at all, not at all," Feng Yue said modestly. "His Highness has been quite merciful to this servant lately."
Without even lifting his eyelids, Yin Gezhi asked Ye Yuqing directly, "Has General Yi responded?""Your Highness is wise." Ye Yuqing smiled: "Just received news, the battle in the north... has been lost."
Slightly raising an eyebrow, Yin Gezhi said: "A mere small country's defeated remnants could make the ever-victorious General Yi unable to prevail?"
"Your Highness is someone who has long campaigned on the battlefield. The reasons behind victory and defeat must be clearer to you than to me." Ye Yuqing pursed his lips: "I heard General Yi was seriously injured and is now on his way back to the capital."
Feng Yue lowered her head, cracking walnuts, trying hard to make these two important figures ignore her, but she couldn't help muttering to herself.
General Yi, who kidnapped commoners and slaughtered innocents on the battlefield with sinister methods, would lose to a small northern country? That battle was originally fought to seize credit. The Wu Kingdom's military strength and numbers were overwhelming; anyone else in his position wouldn't have lost. He probably heard about the movements in the capital and couldn't stay at the border any longer. Since he couldn't return to court without reason, he deliberately lost the battle to come back and stabilize the overall situation, right?
To be a general like this is truly shameless. She thought General Yi would need at least half a month to react, but she never expected—to protect himself, Yi Guoru would abandon the achievements of so many soldiers and disregard the lives of border civilians.
Such a person... is worthy of wearing that armor and raising those banners?
"I wonder if Your Highness still deeply loves the Yi family's young lady?" Ye Yuqing glanced at Feng Yue and suddenly asked.
Feng Yue snapped back to attention and looked at Yin Gezhi.
The Crown Prince's question was tactful, actually probing indirectly. He wanted to see which side Yin Gezhi would take after General Yi returned.
Obviously, he would stand with the Crown Prince—the enemy of my enemy is my friend. But the previous performance of "obeying Miss Yi's orders without complaint" couldn't be wasted. Yin Gezhi's face now showed conflict, hesitation, and unease.
Seeing this, Feng Yue pouted, and tears immediately welled up: "Why doesn't Your Highness answer? Didn't you say last night that your greatest love in this life is your servant?"
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. Yin Gezhi looked up at her, quickly getting into character, frowning as he said: "Feng Yue..."
"Your servant won't listen!" Covering her ears with both hands, Feng Yue said angrily: "You said a gentleman's word is as fast as a whip! Why can't you answer the Crown Prince's question now?"
"General Yi saved my life." Yin Gezhi sighed: "If not for him, I would have died on the battlefield, without even the chance to come to the Wu Kingdom as a hostage. Do you understand?"
Whether Feng Yue understood or not, Ye Yuqing did, realizing: "So that's how it is."
Yi Guoru once saved Yin Gezhi's life? No wonder Yin Gezhi didn't blame him at all for his actions against the Wei Kingdom. Instead, he was quite close to Yi Zhangzhu.
Now the situation became complicated. He really needed Yin Gezhi's help, but Yin Gezhi clearly still remembered Yi Guoru's life-saving grace. What should he do?
Ye Yuqing frowned, just as he was feeling troubled, he heard Feng Yue burst into tears with a "wah."
"Your servant doesn't want to stay in the Envoy's Mansion anymore!" Crying miserably, Feng Yue stood up and said: "Your servant hates Your Highness!"
With that, she stood up, stamped her foot, and rushed outside.
For a moment, Ye Yuqing thought he saw Yi Zhangzhu. The scene was all too familiar, and what was even more familiar was that Yin Gezhi chased after her without hesitation, grabbing her wrist, and said painfully: "Don't be unreasonable!""How could I be making a scene?!" Crying in anger, Feng Yue sobbed, "I clearly told you before that I have an irreconcilable feud with the General's Mansion! You told me not to hold grudges, and I listened, but you still have Miss Yi in your heart to this day!"
"I'm not thinking of her..."
"Then tell me, between Miss Yi and me, who do you choose?" Feng Yue glared, putting on an unreasonable and quarrelsome act.
Yin Gezhi sighed with a headache: "I choose you."
Ye Yuqing was stunned.
Feng Yue smiled, triumphantly gesturing at Ye Yuqing, then wiped her tears and asked pitifully, "Then the promise you made to me—to never interfere with the General's Mansion again—is it true or not?"
Yin Gezhi frowned deeply, his eyes filled with helplessness and a touch of indulgence. After a long pause, he said, "True."
Turning tears into laughter, Feng Yue threw herself into his arms and cooed, "I knew it, you're the best!"
With a light snort, Yin Gezhi flicked her forehead, then turned to look somewhat awkwardly at Ye Yuqing and said, "I apologize for the embarrassment, Your Highness. This girl has been spoiled lately and has become a bit willful."
Snapping his jaw back into place, Ye Yuqing nodded, "I am glad that Your Highness has found a kindred spirit."
As he spoke, he glanced at Feng Yue again.
He had not expected her influence to be so great, but it was a pleasant surprise. It seemed that the saying that women could bring ruin to a country was not unfounded. He had never experienced being swayed by a woman and had no intention of trying it in this lifetime.
It was safer to remain a ruthless and cunning Crown Prince.
With this concession, Ye Yuqing found it much easier to speak. He immediately said, "My father's intention is to let General Yi retire in peace, without having to rush about anymore. Consort Yi is getting old and has no children by her side, so she needs companionship. It would be better for him to visit the palace more often."
"I understand Your Highness's meaning," Yin Gezhi said. "However, General Yi is a hero of his generation, accustomed to the clash of arms. He may not necessarily settle for a life of calm and tranquility."
"A tiger with teeth naturally wants to eat meat," Ye Yuqing unfolded his fan, gazing at the landscape painting on it. "But a tiger without teeth can settle down quite easily."
Yin Gezhi looked up. "Your Highness has great ambition."
Wanting to pull Yi Guoru's teeth? That would depend on whether he had the ability to reclaim the military tally.
The Crown Prince smiled with confidence. "With a hundred thousand troops stationed at the northern border and not returning, and General Yi bringing only three thousand men back to the capital, as long as he can enter this city, everything else can be managed."
Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze and said nothing, casually picking up a walnut that Feng Yue couldn't crack and crushing it for her.
Feng Yue smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness." Then she turned and gave the walnut to Ye Yuqing.
Ye Yuqing was staring at Yin Gezhi and didn't notice what Feng Yue handed him. He took it and held it in his hand.
Yin Gezhi's expression instantly darkened. He looked up at him and said, "As long as Your Highness gives the order, I will cooperate fully. It's getting late today, so Your Highness should return to the palace early and not linger outside for too long."
With that, he stood up and made a gesture of "please" to him.
The Crown Prince was puzzled, but having obtained the attitude he wanted, he still stood up, cupped his hands politely, and walked out gracefully.
Once outside the Envoy's Mansion and about to board his carriage, he remembered he was holding something in his hand. Opening it, he found a piece of walnut kernel lying quietly.
His heart stirred, and Ye Yuqing laughed three times loudly in the street, unable to contain his amusement."Your Highness?" Feng Chuang watched, utterly baffled, and bowed with concern as he looked at him.
"No matter, no matter." Ye Yuqing waved his hand: "In his eyes, this eternal kingdom cannot compare to the allure of a beautiful woman. I find it quite amusing indeed. Yin Gezhi is a fine man, but alas, I fear he may only grow old within our Wu Kingdom."
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