Неаring these wоrds, Gаnjiаng wаs mоmentarily stunnеd.
Did thе Guan familу all havе this hаbit? Аftеr а bаttle, theу would always turn their heаd аnd saу "yоu'vе wоrkеd hard" tо sоmеоnе, leаving an indescribаblе feеling in the listener's hеart. Esрeciаllу hеаring it nоw, аftеr everуthing hаd chаngеd, it аlmost brоught teаrs tо one's еуes.
"Рrince Yin is truly а master stratеgist," Fеng Yuе said with а smile, comрlеtеly unаwаrе оf thе еmotiоns оf the рersоn beside hеr. "No wоndеr уou tоld mе tо bе careful. I must hаve caught the attеntion of manу peоplе bу now."
"Nаturally," feeling somewhat embarrassed, Ganjiang quickly composed himself and lowered his head. "The capital has been in chaos for the past month, and you managed to avoid the spotlight amidst the turmoil. Now that the Grand General has returned and learned that His Highness has someone new by his side, he naturally wants to... extend his greetings."
"What a rude way to greet someone," Feng Yue blinked, swayed her hips, and headed toward the main courtyard, complaining in a coquettish tone. "How could a delicate woman like me withstand such a fright? Oh dear, I must go drink some chilled silver ear soup to calm my nerves."
Ganjiang: "..."
Lingshu, who had been hiding and pretending to be dead, was dragged out. While sitting on the soft couch drinking silver ear soup, she suddenly asked curiously, "Mistress, why is it that whenever something happens, your first thought isn't how to escape, but always to hide me away?"
Feng Yue smiled. "Because you're adorable. I can't bear to see you die."
Really? Lingshu frowned. Though young, she wasn't foolish. Ever since her mistress bought her, she hadn't accomplished anything particularly remarkable. Yet her mistress treated her with such extraordinary kindness—she could buy whatever she liked to eat, and whenever trouble arose, her mistress always thought of protecting her first.
"Why?" Lingshu asked again.
Feng Yue glanced sideways at her, put down the hand holding the fan, and lightly flicked the little girl's forehead. "Why think so much? When good days come, live them wholeheartedly. Don't get stuck on trivial matters, or you'll waste the good days and make yourself even unhappier. What's the point in that?"
Her mistress's words were always so wise! Lingshu clenched her fist and nodded, picking up the fan to continue cooling her.
When Yin Gezhi returned, it was already dusk. Dealing with the old fox had drained his energy, and weariness was etched between his brows.
However, as the gate of the Envoy's Mansion opened, the courtyard was filled with the fragrance of flowers. Two rows of lit stone lanterns led all the way to the entrance of the main courtyard, where someone stood on the steps, smiling at him with breathtaking beauty. "You've returned just in time. Dinner is ready."
Pausing slightly, Yin Gezhi looked up, his eyes reflecting the warm light of the stone lanterns, gently falling upon that person. It seemed as if everything in the world had suddenly vanished, leaving only this courtyard of flowers and plants, two rows of stone lanterns, and the person standing on the steps opposite him.
For a moment, he thought Feng Yue was truly beautiful. Though her makeup was overly heavy and her clothes were so thin they made him uncomfortable... she was still beautiful.
"Master?" An intrusive voice interrupted. Yin Gezhi snapped back to reality and glanced sideways at him.
Guan Zhi wore a dejected expression, holding a long vine high above his head, and said softly, "I come to ask for punishment."
"What happened?" Yin Gezhi asked as he stepped inside. "What mistake did you make?""My subordinate failed in his duty." Holding the rattan cane as he followed him, Guan Zhi whispered, "I went out at noon to fetch ice, and something happened in the mansion. Someone broke in."
His footsteps paused slightly. Yin Gezhi glanced ahead at Feng Yue, who was standing there perfectly fine, then continued walking forward. "Where are they?"
"Three were captured alive and locked in the woodshed."
"Hand them over to the authorities as thieves." Yin Gezhi said calmly, stopping in front of Feng Yue. "You look completely unharmed."
"Thanks to your blessings." Reaching out to pull him to sit at the table, Feng Yue said, "This servant did not disgrace the Envoy's Mansion."
"Good that you didn't disgrace it." Yin Gezhi responded, lowering his head to look at the dishes on the table, his brow slightly raised. "What are these?"
Feng Yue grinned foolishly. "Steamed mandarin fish, old duck soup, steamed pork, and boiled cabbage."
"Why so light all of a sudden?" Yin Gezhi asked. "Don't you usually prefer oily dishes?"
Having taken it upon herself to pour out an entire jar of oil, she naturally couldn't make greasy dishes! Feng Yue smiled apologetically. "It's good to have something light once in a while... Did everything go smoothly at the General's Mansion?"
Yin Gezhi nodded, elegantly picking up food with his chopsticks. "Successfully positioned myself on the mountain. Now all that's left is to watch the tigers fight."
Her eyes widening in surprise, Feng Yue asked, "General Yi didn't question you about the matter of the Wenfeng Order?"
The First Prince Yin remained silent, giving her only a meaningful look.
So Feng Yue nodded and dug into her rice, eating as she said, "Even if he asked, it wouldn't involve you. This servant worried too much."
Today, she only ate one bowl of rice before putting down her chopsticks. Yin Gezhi watched, then beckoned to Guan Zhi, who was still standing outside holding the rattan cane. "Redeem yourself through merit."
"Please give your orders, Master!"
"Go to the mountain and hunt a wild rabbit. Make sure it's fat."
What? Guan Zhi stared, glancing at the sky outside. "At this hour?"
Yin Gezhi's eyes were full of certainty.
So Guan Zhi gripped the rattan cane and rushed out, leaving Feng Yue clicking her tongue. "He's too obedient."
Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, Yin Gezhi turned to ask her, "What has the Crown Prince been up to lately?"
Feng Yue blinked. "You're asking me?"
"Who else?" Reaching out to pick her up and carry her to sit on the soft couch, Yin Gezhi said coldly, "This is the Envoy's Mansion. As long as there are letters exchanged, I can find out."
So the Crown Prince's skills aren't up to par. When sending letters, couldn't he disguise them instead of making them look like letters? See? He got caught. Feng Yue cursed inwardly a couple of times, then respectfully knelt on the soft couch.
"This servant doesn't know what the Crown Prince is doing. The letters only reminded this servant to serve you well."
"To serve me well, or to keep a close eye on me?" Yin Gezhi looked at her, his calm eyes carrying a hint of sharpness. "And you didn't even reply."
Without another word, Feng Yue reached out and stuffed both letters sent by the Crown Prince into Yin Gezhi's hands. "You'd better read them yourself. This servant doesn't know how to reply."
So straightforward? Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow, his eyes fixed on her as he opened the letters in his hands, slowly lowering his head to read.The first letter arrived earlier. It did indeed instruct her to serve herself well, and it also lavished praise on this girl, using familiar terms like "rare to find such a good person, you should cherish her"—nonsense that probably only works on women.
The second letter was likely more recent. After reading through it, only one thing stood out slightly.
The censor Ning Guozhong petitioned the emperor, suggesting that for the stability of the state, the emperor should reclaim military authority during times of peace.
Ye Yuqing mentioned this matter subtly, ostensibly only advising Feng Yue to be cautious. But sending such a letter to the Envoy's Mansion was clearly not for Feng Yue to read—it was meant for him.
With a scoff, Yin Gezhi crushed the paper in his hand, his tone mocking and sarcastic: "So eager to strip Yi Guoru of his military power—that’s asking for trouble."
Feng Yue blinked: "You think it’s unwise? But General Yi currently has no troops by his side. His entire family is in the capital. If the emperor truly issues an edict to reclaim the military tally, can he refuse to hand it over?"
"Whether he’ll hand it over or not, I don’t know. But," Yin Gezhi looked up at her, "by doing this, the Crown Prince is truly pushing Wu Kingdom’s greatest general to the opposite side. With Yi Guoru’s temperament, he certainly doesn’t hold any notions of loyalty to the ruler or the state. When pushed to the brink, even a rabbit will bite, let alone a tiger."
Shrinking her shoulders, Feng Yue said, "Would he rebel? But Consort Yi has no children. If he rebels, he lacks legitimacy. It’s hard to imagine he could succeed."
"Rebellion is a taboo for generals—he might not necessarily go that far." Thinking of the letters placed on the flower stand, Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze: "But other possibilities are hard to say."
Feng Yue fell silent, then suddenly smiled and said, "Do you think a general like General Yi is better, or one like General Guan?"
Pausing slightly, Yin Gezhi frowned: "One is a cunning old schemer, the other a hero loyal to his country yet a traitor—how can they be compared?"
"Loyal to his country yet a traitor." Repeating this phrase, Feng Yue smiled: "Yes, the common people also curse General Guan as a traitor. I’ve cursed him too. But after being by your side for so long, I suddenly feel curious. If General Guan had been as capable as General Yi, would he have been less easily exposed as a traitor?"
Yin Gezhi’s face darkened, suddenly annoyed: "What business is it of a woman to concern herself with such matters? Those who deserved to die are dead, and what was meant to be lost is lost. What’s the point in dwelling on the past?"
Those who deserved to die are dead—but what about those who didn’t deserve to die?!
Clenching her hand, Feng Yue smiled charmingly and lowered her head in response: "This servant spoke out of turn."
A strange feeling stirred in his heart again, and Yin Gezhi suddenly asked, "Do you think General Guan was wronged?"
"No," Feng Yue shook her head. "This servant was just asking on a whim. If the royal court convicted him, how could he possibly be wronged?"
With that, she stood up and went to the table to pour water.
Yin Gezhi’s expression was unpleasant, his eyes fixed absently on a spot. When Feng Yue returned with the tea, he spoke softly: "I’ve never trusted people. I only trust evidence."
Feng Yue nodded with a smile: "Your Highness is wise."
Reaching out to grab her hand as she set down the teacup and tried to withdraw it, Yin Gezhi looked up, puzzled: "Why do you praise me while avoiding me?"
Blinking, Feng Yue asked, "Do I?"
Yin Gezhi pursed his lips, looked at her falsely smiling face, and abruptly released her hand: "Never mind."She's just a mere courtesan, why should he care about her attitude? Guan Zhi was right—he had been spoiling her too much, which had given her a temper.
The person before him smiled brightly, clearly understanding his expression. Yet she showed no reaction, her face full of innocence, hands folded over her abdomen, standing upright as she asked, "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"
"None. You may leave."
"Yes."
Ning Guozhong's memorial stirred up a storm in the court. The Crown Prince had not yet expressed his stance, but his faction responded in full force. Civil officials pressured with loyalty, military officers reported with regulations, all urging General Yi and General Xu, among other senior commanders, to hand over their military authority.
Xu Huaizu rushed anxiously to the Envoy's Mansion, pushed the door open, and shouted, "Master, save me!"
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