It trulу sееmеd tо vanish into thin air. Undеr thе watchful еyes оf еvеrуоnе presеnt, aside from Feng Yue, no оnе clеarlу sаw his mоvеments.
Хu Нuаizu immеdiаtelу lifted the hem оf his rоbe аnd gave chаse, while Yi Zhаngzhu hurriedly fоllоwеd thеm оut. Воth ran off withоut а baсkwаrd glаncе, leаving оnly the still-sоbbing Мiss Song sitting аlone in the mаin hall.
Seeing thаt еvеryоne had left, shе асtuallу fеlt sоmеwhаt rеlievеd. Wiрing her tеars, shе shot a vеnomоus glаrе at Fеng Yuе.
Fеng Yuе shrugged. "What doеs this have to do with me?"
Shе had done nоthing todaу; all thе wоrds had bеen spoken by Miss Song herself. Xu Huaizu had never liked talkative women. If she had walked right into the blade’s edge, could she blame anyone else?
"If you hadn’t spoken ill of me, would Young Master Xu have held such hostility toward me?" Song Ruo Ci sneered. "You’re quite good at staying out of it. So innocent!"
"Miss Song," Feng Yue said with a smile, as there were few people left in the hall. She took a sip from Yin Gezhi’s tea to moisten her throat before continuing, "How am I at fault? Have I done anything to wrong you, or have I behaved improperly by flirting with Prince Yin right in front of you?"
Pausing briefly, Song Ruo Ci frowned. "You, a woman from a brothel, picking a fight with the daughter of the General’s Mansion—anyone would find it unacceptable!"
"So, because you find me unacceptable, you righteously sacrifice your own marriage? And in the end, while the person involved is outside showing off his lightness skills, you sit here alone crying?" Feng Yue shook her head. "You’re even more merciful than Miss Yi."
Her body stiffening, Song Ruo Ci came to her senses and glanced outside, feeling a surge of anger. But to save face, she stubbornly insisted, "As sisters, it’s only right to stand up for each other."
"Friendship between gentlemen is as light as water, while friendship between petty people is as thick as mud." Feng Yue giggled. "For the sake of so-called sisterly affection, you unite against a common enemy without distinguishing right from wrong—that’s far too rash. Even if you share a bond as close as handkerchief sisters, there’s no need to forcefully intervene for someone before knowing the truth. Besides, does Miss Yi even need you to stand up for her?"
With just a flick of her finger, she could crush a small ant like her.
Unable to argue back, Song Ruo Ci felt regret and couldn’t help but sob again. She had been too impulsive, leaving herself with no room to maneuver.
"Would you like to hear my advice?" Seeing her pitiful crying, Feng Yue asked.
Song Ruo Ci stopped crying, looking up at her in a daze. After pursing her lips, she finally said, "Go ahead."
"If the Xu family’s young master doesn’t like you, then there’s no need to marry him." Feng Yue grinned mischievously. "Wouldn’t it be better to find a man who truly cherishes you? As a daughter of a noble family, finding a suitable match shouldn’t be difficult. Instead of waiting for the Xu family to break off the engagement, why not take the initiative? Use today’s unreasonable behavior from Young Master Xu as grounds to boldly break off the engagement yourself. This way, you’ll gain the Xu family’s apology while preserving your own reputation."
Her face stiffened, and Song Ruo Ci’s gaze turned hateful again. "You just want to see me suffer!"
How many people are vying for a marriage alliance with the Xu family? How could she possibly break it off herself?
Shrugging, Feng Yue said, "Then pretend I never said anything."
With a cold laugh, Song Ruo Ci retorted, "Zhangzhu is the one who would never harm me. This marriage alliance cannot be broken! You don’t want me to marry? I’ll marry anyway, and marry well. You can just stew in your own jealousy!"
With that, she lifted her skirt and stood up, heading into the side hall to find a mirror and fix her makeup.Feng Yue couldn't help but laugh, finding this petty young lady from a noble family quite amusing. When angered, she would hop about in agitation, yet still had to maintain her dignified airs and etiquette—both adorable and pitiable.
Shaking her head, she leisurely stepped out, intending to check on how Yin Gezhi was progressing. As she did, she spotted Xu Huaizu squatting beside the pile of books in the courtyard, looking quite furious.
"What's wrong?" Feng Yue asked.
Xu Huaizu grumbled angrily, "I can't even catch a glimpse of Master! No matter how hard I try to keep up, I just can't. Might as well wait here—he'll have to come back for these things anyway!"
Beside him, Yi Zhangzhu wasn't angry at all. Instead, she seemed somewhat proud as she said, "That's because your master's lightness skill is exceptional. He comes and goes through my General's Mansion as if it were unguarded."
Feng Yue fell silent, thinking to herself that this young lady's heart was truly broad! Letting such a great demon lord roam freely in her home, and she wasn't even afraid of something happening!
In fact, something had already happened. General Yi had suffered heavy losses, and once Yin Gezhi returned everything to its original place, it would be even worse. General Yi wouldn't even know how he had lost so much.
Shaking her head with a sigh, Feng Yue helped tidy the books scattered in the courtyard. Before long, she saw Yin Gezhi fly back, landing gracefully in the garden.
"Half left," he said seriously to Xu Huaizu. "Watch carefully this time and keep up with me."
Xu Huaizu shook his head with a sullen expression. "I can't keep up. I'm not following anymore!"
Shooting him a sidelong glance, Yin Gezhi picked up ten books in his hands, balanced five on his head, and held one in his mouth. Then, he leisurely walked out.
Who the hell did he think he was looking down on? Ah! Young Master Xu was furious. Despite having just said he wouldn't follow, he now let out an "aow" and lunged after him.
Yi Zhangzhu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Brother Yin is truly amazing."
A woman's affection for a man often sprouts from admiration. Feng Yue nodded, understanding Yi Zhangzhu's feelings all too well.
Because she had once looked at Yin Gezhi with that same gaze.
This man was like a deity, capable of anything. With a majestic long halberd, he had slain countless enemies. Yet, he was anything but steady in character—arrogant, wicked, and utterly unlike other generals who maintained their dignified airs.
But later, she came to understand that such a person was only suitable for distant admiration, not for intimate interaction, let alone harboring any improper thoughts about him.
Now, she had learned her lesson. Young Lady Yi, however, clearly had not.
Glancing at her sympathetically, Feng Yue turned and quietly left the main courtyard.
Nanny Xun's courtyard remained as silent as ever, but when she knocked three times, the door creaked open.
"Nanny!" Feng Yue said with a sweet smile. "This servant has come to see you!"
Nanny Xun's eyes lit up, and she smiled, pulling Feng Yue inside. "You've come at just the right time, child. Nanny just made some rice cakes. Come, try some."
"What a coincidence!" Feng Yue said. "Then this servant is in for a treat."
Handing her a rice cake, Nanny Xun said, "I thought it would be a long time before I saw you again."
Swallowing the rice cake in her mouth, Feng Yue smiled. "This servant was entrusted by Nanny, so naturally, I had to come back and report as soon as possible."
Remembering what she had asked Feng Yue to do last time, Nanny Xun trembled, her eyes suddenly reddening. "You... went to look for him?"“I went.” Feng Yue smiled with narrowed eyes. “As soon as I entered the village, I found that uncle called A Hu. His hair is graying, but he’s in good spirits. He can still carry a hoe and work in the fields. The villagers all say he has been waiting for his wife to return, so he never remarried and has no children.”
Her throat tightened, and Nanny Xun’s lips trembled. After a long while, she choked out, “Is that so?”
“Yes.” Feng Yue sighed. “He asked me if Xiao Lan had encountered trouble and couldn’t return. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, so I told him about your current situation. Uncle A Hu said… it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re alive. He still has decades to wait.”
The old woman before her fell silent. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, startling Feng Yue, who quickly handed over a handkerchief and said gently, “He doesn’t blame you. Please don’t be sad.”
Glistening teardrops traced down her finely wrinkled face. Nanny Xun gasped for breath for a long time before finally bursting into sobs. “I’ve wronged him! All these years, how has he managed alone?”
Patting her back, Feng Yue said, “Haven’t you also been alone all this time?”
“But his mother always wanted to hold a grandchild.” Her straight back bent over, and the stern Nanny Xun cried like the young girl she was when she first entered the palace. “She used to say that once I left, I must give her a chubby grandson to hold. It’s been so many years… I… I haven’t even been able to send a letter back!”
The sound of her crying was heartbreaking. Feng Yue pursed her lips, stood up, and hugged her, comforting her softly. “Shall we find a way to get you out?”
“How could that be possible!” Nanny Xun wailed. “It’s been so many years. Do you really think I haven’t tried to leave? It’s impossible. I’d be caught and brought back within a few steps!”
Beneath the heavy, solemn robes, she was as thin as bones. Feng Yue took a deep breath and patted her back. “I’ll find a way. You don’t know martial arts, so naturally, you can’t escape on your own. But if someone helps you, it’s different.”
Her crying stopped abruptly. Nanny Xun looked up, her eyes shining like stars lighting up the entire sky, and asked with childlike hope, “Really?”
“Really.” Feng Yue nodded, clenching her fist. “Wait for me to go and please someone. Once that person is happy, taking you out won’t be a problem.”
Nanny Xun was stunned. Watching the girl release her and run out without looking back, she held little hope in her heart.
Yet, she truly wanted to leave. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she would pray for it!
Feng Yue crouched outside the east courtyard wall and soon saw a shadow drift past overhead.
The shadow paused when it saw her but still slipped in silently. When it emerged again, it scooped her up and pressed her against the corner wall. “Looking for death?”
Waiting for him here? What if someone else saw him?
Feng Yue looked up, pitifully pleading, “I truly have something to ask of Your Highness. I had no choice but to wait here.”
Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes, propping a hand against the wall, and asked impatiently, “What is it?”
“I’d like to ask Your Highness to sneak Nanny Xun out of the mansion!”
He nearly lost his footing. Yin Gezhi stared at her in disbelief. “Are you insane? Why would you want to sneak a nanny out?”
“Could Your Highness just do me this favor?” Feng Yue clasped her hands together, blinking her watery eyes. “Just this one favor.”With a cold snort, Yin Gezhi turned around and tried to leave.
Someone tugged at his belt, and he stopped in his tracks, turning back to glare at her in displeasure. "Annoying!"
Taking a deep breath, Feng Yue forced tears to well up in her eyes. "But Nanny Xun is truly pitiful. Separated from her beloved for decades, she grew old and died here without ever getting to see him again."
Seeing her tears, Yin Gezhi grew even more irritable. "Do you think crying will help?"
Hearing this, Feng Yue bit her lip, and tears immediately fell like a waterfall as she choked out, "Your Highness..."
Covering half his face, Yin Gezhi cursed under his breath, shook her off, and walked away. "Fine, I get it!"
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