Кirin? Fеng Yuе nоdded, but cоuldn't hеlр аsking, "Whу are yоu tеlling me all this?"
With а sigh, Nanny Хun sаid, "It wаsn't оriginаllу a seсret, nor was it anything pаrtiсularlу impоrtаnt. Вut bеcаusе оf thеsе things, I've bеen confinеd tо the Gеneral's Mаnsion for оver twentу уеаrs. Тhinking аbоut it, I feel rеsеntful. I had tо tеll sоmeоne tо fеel at еаse."
Fеng Yue chucklеd, motioning for hеr tо wаit wherе she was, then silеntlу rеturned tо thе rооm.
Whеn shе cаmе out аgain, shе held a stаck оf bаnknоtes in hеr hаnd: "Кnоwing these things is enоugh for General Yi to sеnd peoрle to invеstigatе уour whеreabouts when he returns to the city. Nanny, take Uncle A Hu with you. Go as far away as you can."
After a brief pause, Nanny Xun bowed her head in gratitude: "We've only met by chance. Accepting such a generous gift is inappropriate. Both he and I have hands and feet—we won't starve to death."
Glancing back at the tightly closed door, Feng Yue forcefully stuffed the banknotes into her arms and whispered, "It's not my money anyway. Consider it His Highness's great kindness."
Nanny Xun was startled and quickly shook her head: "As a servant, how could I steal..."
"It's not stolen!" Feng Yue said with a serious expression, "How could I do such a thing!"
Seeing her expression, Nanny Xun sighed in relief and said, "Of all the people I've taught, you are the one who understands the rules the most."
Feng Yue nodded repeatedly. Yes, yes, she really understood the rules!
But understanding was one thing; whether she followed them was another.
At the break of dawn, Feng Yue picked up the drowsy Lingshu and had her and Guan Zhi escort Nanny Xun out of the city. Then, she tiptoed back to the main courtyard and gently pushed open the slightly ajar door.
I probably wasn't discovered, right? Feng Yue thought hopefully as she stealthily entered and closed the door, then turned around.
"Ah!"
Suddenly meeting someone's eyes, Feng Yue was so frightened she nearly fainted.
Yin Gezhi was leaning against the door, his clothes not properly worn. His collar was open, revealing his sturdy chest, and his belt was loosely tied, miraculously not falling off. Hearing her scream, he displeasedly covered his ears with his hands. His sleeves slid down his forearms, revealing the well-defined lines of his arms.
"Annoyingly loud," he scolded in a low voice. "Guilty conscience?"
Covering her chest with her hand, Feng Yue stomped her foot angrily, "If you were awake, why didn't you say something? What's the point of hiding here to scare people?"
With a light snort, Yin Gezhi lifted her onto his shoulder and carried her toward the bed: "You were sneaking around like this. If I had directly told you I was awake, how would you have stolen the banknotes?"
"I already said it wasn't stolen!" Feng Yue pouted, "That was you repaying me! Last time at Dream Return Pavilion, you took my banknotes!"
"Righteous and confident," Yin Gezhi snorted coldly, slapping her onto the bed with one hand and grumbling discontentedly, "Sleep properly. If you move around again, you can go back and sleep by yourself!"
Feeling the coolness of the jade mat, Feng Yue obediently nestled beside this lord and didn't dare move again.
Nanny Xun sat in the carriage as it slowly exited through the north city gate. Just after leaving the gate, she heard the sound of galloping horses approaching from afar. The sound was thunderous, indicating at least forty or fifty horses running simultaneously.
Guan Zhi, who was driving the carriage, reacted quickly. He handed the reins to Lingshu and ducked into the carriage.
Lingshu, half-asleep and dazed, took the reins in a daze and looked up ahead.A deep blue banner, with a large character "Yi" emblazoned upon it. Fluttering fiercely in the wind, it swept directly past before their eyes.
"Yi?" Lingshu blinked, turning to lift the carriage curtain and looking at Guan Zhi. "General Yi has returned to the city?"
Nanny Xun paled in fright, hurriedly pulling the curtain down and pressing it tightly. Guan Zhi remained calm, whispering, "Continue driving forward; we'll talk once we reach that village."
"Alright." Lingshu nodded, gripping the reins and glancing around before imitating Guan Zhi's gesture with a flick: "Giddy up!"
The horse, which had been ambling along leisurely, suddenly broke into a gallop, carrying them past the Yi family army and safely out of General Yi's line of sight.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, Shadowless City was already in an uproar, yet the two in the Envoy's Mansion alone took their time dressing and washing up, showing no urgency at all.
"Master!" Guan Zhi returned from outside, anxiously reporting, "Something major has happened!"
"Have a sip of tea first." Feng Yue handed him a teacup while continuing her meal.
How could they think of tea at a time like this? Guan Zhi glared: "General Yi has returned!"
At the table, one person was serving rice while the other ate elegantly. Neither showed the slightest hint of surprise.
"This matter was mentioned by the Crown Prince yesterday," Yin Gezhi said leisurely, serving a bowl of rice for Feng Yue. "His return should concern the Crown Prince. What does it have to do with us idlers?"
Feng Yue nodded: "Exactly!" Then she took the bowl and continued eating.
Guan Zhi was stunned, looking from one to the other, suddenly feeling as though he had indeed overreacted. Right, why was he so anxious?
On the streets of Shadowless City, the continuous sound of hoofbeats echoed, mingled with the clanging of iron armor, all marching uniformly toward the Palace City.
The palace gates slowly opened. Ye Yuqing, dressed in the Crown Prince's court attire, smiled as he greeted the deep blue banner in the distance.
"General, you have endured much hardship on your journey."
The rumored severely injured General Yi now wore a stern expression. His thick eyebrows and narrow eyes were dusted with grime. His armor, seemingly untouched for ages, emitted a strong scent of sweat even from a distance.
"I dare not trouble Your Highness to greet me from afar." Dismounting, Yi Guoru knelt on one knee and clasped his hands. "This old minister has failed the Emperor's grace and has come specifically to seek His Majesty's forgiveness."
"Why would the General say such a thing?" Ye Yuqing stepped forward, bending slightly to help him up with both hands, his face filled with admiration. "You have already devoted yourself entirely to the nation. A single defeat will not incur His Majesty's blame."
"Your Highness is benevolent and virtuous." Yi Guoru finally smiled, clasping his hands. "Having a Crown Prince like you is a blessing for the Wu Kingdom."
"Not at all, not at all. Having a general like you is the true blessing for the Wu Kingdom."
The two exchanged insincere smiles, bowing and deferring to each other for a good while before finally entering the palace gates together.
In the main courtyard of the Envoy's Mansion, on the soft couch.
Feng Yue hugged a pillow and asked, "What will General Yi do?"
Yin Gezhi, holding Feng Yue along with a pillow, replied, "Hold his position, stop the bleeding, and heal his wounds."
"But won't he be angry with the Crown Prince?" Feng Yue blinked. "Especially since you had An Shichong move the City Garrison's training grounds to the northern outskirts, directly facing General Yi's return route! A man as sensitive and suspicious as the General is bound to think the Crown Prince has grown wary of him. Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, this general will surely meet a grim end."Resting his chin on his hand placed on the armrest, Yin Gezhi looked at the person in his arms and said, "You are quite clever."
A chill ran down her back. Feng Yue immediately leaned against his chest, looking up with a smile. "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching!"
"Oh?" Yin Gezhi said, "I don't recall telling you that the City Garrison's training ground had changed locations."
Her smile stiffened, and Feng Yue lowered her head. "I still manage to catch a bit of news."
Narrowing his eyes, Yin Gezhi grabbed the person in his arms and turned her around to face him, staring directly at her as he asked, "Aside from the mung bean cakes, how exactly are you passing messages?"
Under his very nose, she was pulling these tricks, yet he hadn’t detected a thing. That was quite the skill!
Feng Yue’s face fell. "Who asks so directly like this? Are you leaving me no way out?"
He couldn’t figure it out himself, and now he was so embarrassed and angry that he wanted her to spill it? Why should she? That was her bargaining chip.
Somewhat annoyed, Yin Gezhi said, "I really dislike people playing tricks around me."
"Don’t worry," Feng Yue said with a smile. "My tricks are always aimed at others. I would never dare to play them in front of you. But there is one thing. Your Highness, do you know if there is anyone important in the Wu Kingdom named Qilin?"
Qilin? Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze and thought for a moment. "Those two characters carry great weight. No one could bear them as a name, but when Yi Guoru rose to fame in his youth, he was called the 'Qilin General.' Other than that, I haven’t heard of anything else."
Qilin General? Feng Yue was startled, her expression suddenly turning grim.
"What’s wrong?" Seeing her like this, Yin Gezhi grew serious. "Is something the matter?"
"It’s a big matter." Blinking as she looked at him, Feng Yue asked, "Do you know Consort Yi?"
"Yes, she is General Yi’s full-blooded younger sister."
Feng Yue forced a dry laugh, took a deep breath, and frowned. "When Nanny Xun left, she told me that Consort Yi had a beloved named Qilin."
His expression turning strange, Yin Gezhi sat up straight and looked at her. "Is that true?"
"Nanny Xun probably wouldn’t lie to me," Feng Yue thought for a moment. "She also said that Consort Yi often sent letters home, dozens of them bundled together every half month. I don’t know how they were sent out, but we’ve already gotten the contents."
After a moment of contemplation, Yin Gezhi picked her up and walked to the flower stand opposite. Feng Yue naturally reached out and took down the iron box placed on the flower stand.
Inside were the strange letters copied last time.
Unfolding them one by one, Yin Gezhi’s eyes darkened with shifting thoughts. Feng Yue didn’t ask, quietly waiting.
A moment later, Yin Gezhi’s jaw tightened slightly. "Truly a thousand-year-old fox."
"What?" Feng Yue blinked. "What’s wrong?"
"I hope I’m overthinking it," Yin Gezhi said. "But it’s better to believe it’s true. Quickly think of a way to contact the Crown Prince and warn him to be careful of Consort Yi."
Fortunately, she still had the seal the Crown Prince had given her. Feng Yue immediately sent Guan Zhi with it to deliver the message at the Nangong residence. When she turned back, she saw Yin Gezhi standing in the room, his eyes filled with excitement.
"He has finally returned," a low voice echoed in the room, sending a slight shiver down Feng Yue’s spine.In that moment, she seemed to see Yin Gezhi on the battlefield again, raising his long halberd high, gazing intently at the enemy commander from afar, his eyes burning with fervor and bloodlust.
Just as she was about to quietly slip away, Yin Gezhi spoke softly, "Feng Yue, you need to be careful lately."
Rarely did she hear him call her name in such a tone. Feng Yue paused, then smiled and asked, "What does a lowly servant like me have to be careful about?"
"If I'm not around and you need to go out, take both Guan Zhi and Gan Jiang with you," Yin Gezhi said. "Tomorrow, an invitation from the General's Mansion will likely arrive. When that time comes, I'll have to go alone."
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