This wаs sроkеn with utmоst seriousness, аnd thе two pеoplе bеsidе thеm didn't саtch anуthing amiss. Feng Yue paused, thеn lоokеd at him in surрrisе.
Соuld it be thаt shе wаsn't thе оnly оne holding a grudgе? Оr pеrhaps thosе beatings hаd struck his prоtесtivе sсаlеs, the pаin рierсing strаight tо his heаrt?
For sоmе reasоn, shе felt еven more еxcited. Fеng Yuе tiltеd her hеad, waiting for Хu Нuаizu to аrrivе.
Yе Yuqing wаtсhеd them, thеn suddеnly turnеd to аsk Wangyоu, "Don't уоu think thе two оf thеm аrе growing more аnd more alike?"
Wangуou was takеn abaсk, cаutiоusly glаncing at him before lowering her head and saying, "Miss Feng Yue stands proudly above all others, and Prince Yin is peerlessly elegant. In terms of appearance, they are naturally worlds apart. But when it comes to their aura... they are quite similar."
Especially that chilling feeling they gave people—it was practically identical!
Ye Yuqing shook his head with a low chuckle. He had lost a treasure but gained an arm—it seemed like a fair trade. Yet seeing these two getting along so well inevitably stirred a slight displeasure in him. But never mind. With the kingdom ahead, what weight did beauty hold?
Xu Huaizu arrived shortly after, dressed in gray brocade embroidered with the currently popular serpent pattern, looking both heroic and dashing, his hair tied up with a bronze crown. Unlike other fair-faced young masters, he carried a unique air of a great general.
"Master, Your Highness," he greeted respectfully as soon as he arrived, revealing a row of white teeth as he smiled. "It's time to head to the General's Mansion."
Ye Yuqing nodded. "Your lifelong matter must not be delayed. Please set off now, Prince Yin. I should also return first."
"Farewell, Your Highness." Xu Huaizu bowed with clasped hands, watching the dragon-embroidered boots stride away. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and turned to call out, "Master..."
His voice was filled with grievance and reluctance, making Yin Gezhi raise an eyebrow. "Don't want to go to the General's Mansion?"
Sitting down dejectedly, Xu Huaizu said, "A real man hasn't yet achieved great deeds—what's the point of talking about romance? My father is truly something, as if afraid the Xu family line will die out, arranging a marriage for me so early."
Feng Yue said with a smile, "Young Master An is also engaged. You can't fall behind him."
Mentioning this made Xu Huaizu even more annoyed. "Exactly! Since he got engaged, he hasn't been practicing morning drills with me lately. He just hides in his mansion, dressing up randomly like a young lady! Tell me, what kind of girl would like someone like him?"
Yin Gezhi lifted his eyelids slightly. "I heard he's been losing to you recently, so he's hiding in his mansion to train hard."
"Is that so?" Xu Huaizu frowned. "Then he should have said so earlier. I could have let him win. We grew up sharing the same pants—why bother about wins and losses?"
Feng Yue couldn't help but laugh. This young master of the Xu family had a straightforward temperament, while the young master of the An family was more delicate, caring about wins and losses—which was quite normal.
"Alright, let's go," Yin Gezhi stood up and said. "It wouldn't be good to keep people waiting too long at the General's Mansion."
With a sigh, Xu Huaizu stood up as well, walking beside Feng Yue while muttering under his breath, "What a bother. If they want to meet, why not just come out for a meal together? Why does it have to be at the General's Mansion? I just don't like that place..."
"Why?" Feng Yue asked with a smile.
"It always feels uncomfortable, everything around seems strange," Xu Huaizu pouted.
With traps all around, of course it felt strange. Feng Yue shook her head with a smile and asked him, "Have you met Miss Song yet?""No." Xu Huaizu said with a worried expression, "According to the matchmaker, she's a dignified and virtuous girl, not talkative, good at managing a household, skilled in calligraphy and painting, and writes excellent poetry. She probably won't be too bad, but I don't feel particularly fond of her either."
He still preferred someone with a cooler temperament, not too talkative, and with a mind of her own. Otherwise, after marriage, if she kept bossing him around for no reason, how annoying would that be?
"This servant has seen her. She's quite good-looking and won't disgrace you," Feng Yue said. "As for whether she talks too much, you'll have to meet her to know."
"Oh?" Xu Huaizu became interested. "How did you get to see her, Miss Feng Yue?"
"Last time, when I accompanied His Highness to the General's Mansion, I had the chance to see her."
Last time? Xu Huaizu was taken aback and immediately frowned. "Last time, Guan Zhi said you returned from the General's Mansion injured. I never asked—did something happen?"
Feng Yue blinked, hesitating whether to say anything, when she heard Yin Gezhi, who was walking leisurely ahead, say, "Nothing major happened. Just a few young ladies helping Zhu'er vent their anger, giving Feng Yue a bit of a lesson."
Wow, he skipped right over the part where she had provoked the fight herself. Feng Yue clicked her tongue, thinking, doesn't this sound like tattling?
Xu Huaizu paused, then his expression darkened. "No wonder she insisted on going to the General's Mansion to see someone. Turns out she's also the type who likes to cling to the powerful and bully others?"
"You can't judge a person solely by what the matchmaker says, nor can you rely only on our words," Yin Gezhi said, stepping onto the carriage with the help of a footstool. "You have to see for yourself."
Nodding in agreement, Xu Huaizu was still a bit annoyed. He helped Feng Yue onto the carriage and followed her up, then said solemnly, "Master doesn't have anyone else by his side. I've always considered Miss Feng Yue as half a mistress. Besides, she was sent to Master under my name. If anyone bullies her, they're picking a fight with me!"
Having been severely scolded last time for saying Feng Yue resembled a mistress, Xu Huaizu had learned his lesson this time—he said "half a mistress." He even cautiously glanced at his master.
Unexpectedly, Yin Gezhi paid no attention this time and instead nodded, saying, "You're thoughtful."
...Was that approval? Xu Huaizu was stunned. He looked at Yin Gezhi, then at Feng Yue, who was obediently nestled beside him, and nearly dropped his jaw.
How had their relationship improved so much in just a few days?
Lifting his chin, Xu Huaizu clenched his fist! Since Master had tacitly approved, he would definitely seek justice for Miss Feng Yue!
Song Ruo Ci waited joyfully in the flower hall, nervously twisting her handkerlet until it was nearly torn. Yi Zhangzhu found it amusing and said, "Why are you so nervous? It's not like he's going to eat you."
"You don't understand. When I left, my mother told me I mustn't leave a bad impression, or the marriage might fall through."
Young Master Xu had become a captain in the City Garrison at such a young age. Such a good match was rare even for daughters of nobles and aristocrats. Since it had fallen into her lap, she had to make the most of it!
Yi Zhangzhu shook her head with a smile, about to tease her, when Dianchai came in and said, "Mistress, they've arrived at the gate."
Putting down her teacup, Yi Zhangzhu hurried out to greet them. Song Ruo Ci followed behind, her face flushed red.The household servants stood in two rows at the entrance. As Yin Gezhi stepped out of the carriage with his entourage, he met Yi Zhangzhu's gentle yet aggrieved gaze: "Brother Yin has finally found time to visit Zhu'er."
With a slight nod, Yin Gezhi waved for his men to unload the items from the carriage: "I've had some free time recently, but your household affairs have been busy, so I didn't wish to disturb. Today, Huaizu is coming, so I took the opportunity to return the books I borrowed from the General's Mansion last time."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Huaizu stepped forward and bowed to Yi Zhangzhu: "Miss Yi."
Behind them, Song Ruo Ci's heart raced wildly. Her eyes wandered for a long moment before she finally mustered the courage to glance in Xu Huaizu's direction.
Xu Huaizu pursed his lips, turned, and helped the bowing Feng Yue up: "Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, be careful."
Song Ruo Ci was stunned, and Yi Zhangzhu frowned slightly as well, offering a faint smile: "Miss Feng Yue has also come."
"It was not my place to intrude, but His Highness needed someone to attend to him, so I followed," Feng Yue replied with an annoyingly smug smile. "Greetings, Miss Yi. My respects to Miss Song."
Song Ruo Ci's face turned pale. As a young lady raised in the inner chambers, she knew little of what happened outside. Why was Xu Huaizu being so kind to this woman?
This was terrible—she must have spoken ill of her on the way here! What would Young Master Xu think of her now?
"Let's go inside to talk," Yi Zhangzhu said, not noticing Song Ruo Ci's expression, her eyes fixed on Yin Gezhi. "Father will soon return to court, and Zhu'er still has many matters to attend to. I hope Brother Yin can lend a hand."
"Very well," Yin Gezhi agreed, stepping through the gate.
Feng Yue lowered her head and followed behind, intending to walk last, but Xu Huaizu unexpectedly pulled her by the arm to walk beside him, whispering, "Miss Feng Yue, Huaizu's lifelong happiness depends on you!"
What? Feng Yue blinked. "Isn't your lifelong happiness tied to Miss Song?"
"Precisely because it is tied to her that I need your help to test her true character. If I marry the wrong person, Huaizu's life will be ruined!"
Seeing his grave expression, Feng Yue chuckled and nodded. "Alright."
Thus, what should have been a situation where Miss Yi led Yin Gezhi away, allowing the two betrothed to converse freely, ended up with three people sitting together in the pavilion—two smiling cheerfully, while Song Ruo Ci alone wore a livid expression.
"Miss Song," Xu Huaizu began with a gentle smile. "I've heard that you are skilled in writing lyrics."
Forcing a smile, Song Ruo Ci glanced at Feng Yue. "If Young Master Xu wishes to discuss poetry, could we perhaps move to another location?"
"This place is quite suitable," Xu Huaizu replied. "Is the young lady feeling shy?"
It wasn't shyness but fear! Glancing warily at Feng Yue, Song Ruo Ci couldn't help but ask, "Why is this young lady sitting here? If I recall correctly, she is Prince Yin's maid."
"Correct, she is the maid I gifted to my master," Xu Huaizu nodded, smiling. "I heard she learned some manners at the General's Mansion last time, thanks in part to the young lady's guidance."
Her heart sank, and Song Ruo Ci frowned. "Young Master must not listen to baseless rumors. Last time at the General's Mansion, I did nothing of the sort!"
Feng Yue lowered her head, elegantly cracking melon seeds, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
Xu Huaizu nodded. "Was I mistaken? Feng Yue mentioned that the young lady had been particularly kind to her and wished to express her gratitude.""She would say that?" Song Ruo Ci didn't believe it, but the atmosphere was far too awkward at the moment. After much hesitation, she finally said, "There's no need for thanks, but could Miss Feng Yue step aside for a moment? I have something I'd like to say to Young Master Xu in private."
Feng Yue nodded, quite obediently taking the melon seeds and standing in the courtyard with her back to them.
Xu Huaizu continued to smile as he looked at Song Ruo Ci, but the latter grew serious and lowered her voice, saying, "Young Master Xu, I have indeed met this Miss Feng Yue before. I wouldn't call it guidance, but she lacks any self-awareness, recklessly attempting to compete with Miss Yi for Prince Yin's favor. It's truly excessive. I urge you to be cautious of this person and not be misled by her appearance."
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