Chapter 22 questions, "If you were a woman, what would you do?"...

The light was dim, the candlelight flickered, and the sash of her clothes brushed against Feng Tan's kneecaps and then fell onto Xiao Yinshi's boots, folding up into a ball and tangling with alluring thoughts.

Xiao Yinshi's fingers continued to unbutton Feng Tan's inner garment. Before the garment was completely removed, Feng Tan met his bloodshot eyes and urgently rebuked him, "Lord Xiao! How can you humiliate me so blatantly based on mere speculation? Just because you have lustful desires, does that mean you can force me to commit filth?"

Feng Tan used all her strength to break free from Xiao Yinshi's large hand, pressed down on his fingers that were causing trouble in front of her, and scolded again: "My lord has been bewitched by aphrodisiacs, please have some self-respect!"

“Feng Tan, I suppressed the effects of the aphrodisiac with my internal energy before it took effect. It was your beauty that truly bewitched my mind and forced out the drug's effects…” Xiao Yinshi looked at Feng Tan’s cheeks, now tinged with rouge, and maliciously gripped her wrist, his voice hoarse beyond belief, “It was you.”

This was a blatant case of turning the tables. Feng Tan sneered and scoffed, "Lord Xiao, you really have quite the airs of an official! You can twist the truth and falsely accuse people so easily. I'm just short, thin, and pretty, and you suspect me of being a woman? Then wouldn't Lord Xiao have to verify the identities of all the male prostitutes in the brothel?!"

As the boy spoke, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. Xiao Yinshi squinted at him for a moment, then raised his hand to touch it.

Seeing this, Feng Tan quickly raised her hand to stop his invading fingers, slightly raising her chin to look at Xiao Yinshi, and said, "Xiao Yinshi, how about we make a bet? If I were a man, you would repay me for insulting and humiliating me with a slap. If I were a woman..."

Xiao Yinshi's eyes burned red, but the smile that appeared on his face was full of amusement. He said in a low, confident voice, "If you were a woman, what would you do then?"

Feng Tan raised her eyes to meet the man's dark, reddish pupils and said in a clear voice, "You may take this body tonight."

Xiao Yinshi said, "Okay."

He slowly loosened his grip on Feng Tan, his warm breath moving away from the boy's pale skin, his eyes clearing slightly.

Feng Tan pursed her lips, her heart pounding like a drum, but her face remained calm. She stood in front of Xiao Yinshi and slowly clenched her fingers.

Xiao Yinshi said impatiently, "Why aren't you taking them off?"

Feng Tan chuckled coldly, "It's such a cold winter day, it's terribly cold to be bare-chested and exposed. Wouldn't it be better for you to feel it for yourself?"

After saying that, she raised her hand, grabbed Xiao Yinshi's wrist, and pressed it down.

This is a unique craft of Uncle Meng, a lifelike object made from plant gel. It is usually soft and not hard, but it is a bit cold in the library where it is now, so it has gotten a little cold.

"I'm sorry, sir, you touched me for a while just now, and I got a little aroused." Seeing Xiao Yinshi's suddenly changed expression, Feng Tan smiled shyly, but her words became flirtatious.

Xiao Yinshi placed his palm on Feng Tan's sensitive spot, his lustful eyes surging with intense emotions, and the pent-up passion within him suddenly subsided. He quickly withdrew his hand, pursed his lips, and stared intently at Feng Tan.

Seeing his sudden change in expression, Feng Tan felt relieved and asked, "Is Your Excellency willing to accept the loss?"

As his passion subsided, Xiao Yinshi reverted to his usual cold and ruthless demeanor. "Naturally."

Feng Tan picked up the fallen sash from the ground, put her clothes on methodically, combed her loose hair into a bun, then stretched her wrists, walked up to Xiao Yinshi, stood in front of him, smiled, and swung her arm to strike.

"Smack!"

The slap was crisp and clear. Feng Tan had suffered such a great loss at Xiao Yinshi's hands, and her anger was still burning. She used her full strength in the slap.

Xiao Yinshi clenched his teeth, his gaze towards Feng Tan like that of a ferocious beast. After a long while, he chuckled softly and said, "Feng Tan, you'd better not be lying to me, otherwise..."

He didn't explain what would happen otherwise, but Feng Tan knew that with the methods of this former commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she wouldn't get away with it.

Feng Tan felt a chill run down his spine, but smiled sincerely and deceitfully: "My lord, you are overthinking this. A true man walks upright and honestly between heaven and earth. Why would I need to deceive you?"

Seeing that Xiao Yinshi was no longer speaking, Feng Tan picked up the "Dahuang Geographical Tales" that he had accidentally dropped and put it back on the bookshelf, then bowed and took his leave.

"Come back." Xiao Yinshi stood in the dim light, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. He stopped Feng Tan and turned to sit down at the desk. "Weren't you here to investigate clues? Tell me what you've found."

Seeing his unfriendly expression, Feng Tan withdrew his fingers from the palace door, turned and sat opposite Xiao Yinshi, saying solemnly, "Lord Xiao, that day I saw you holding this book, 'Strange Tales of the Great Huang Geography,' in your sedan chair. Your Excellency... you know that this book records strange events of alien races in the Linzhang sea area. In other words, Your Excellency already knew that Su Bai was a member of the Jiaosi tribe. That day in the prison, he mentioned 'evil' and 'Evil Spirit Island,' which is why I, your humble servant, consulted this book. There is a sentence in it, 'When a spirit medium goes astray, evil spirits appear in the world and are cast onto the island to appease the women.' This sentence is vague and doesn't seem to have much to do with the theft of the national treasury. The next page contains records about the Jiaosi tribe, including the sentence, 'The skin of the Jiaosi tribe is different from that of ordinary people. Their tattoos are not visible in winter, but only when the waves surge in summer do they appear.' Therefore, I have a guess in my mind..."

Xiao Yinshi stopped flipping through "The Strange Tales of the Linzhang Sea Area" and casually raised his eyes to ask, "What guess?"

Feng Tan said, "The mastermind behind this plot to steal from the national treasury involves numerous steps, but the most important and confidential is the map of the treasury's plunder route. He's clever; he chose to empty the treasury during a national war, making the route more concealed and less likely to be discovered. As for where he'll transport the silver, he'll go to the most chaotic areas, making it easier to cover his tracks. Therefore, the national treasury's silver is in the Linzhang sea area. As for its specific location, there are over a dozen islands of varying sizes in the Linzhang sea area, but I've never heard of an Evil Spirit Island… the location of this Evil Spirit Island…"

Feng Tan's brows furrowed with growing doubt as he asked, "My lord, has the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated Su Bai's whereabouts during those months?"

The shadows of ancient books loomed across the candlelight, and Xiao Yinshi gazed at the boy's calm face in the dim light. "Su Bai's whereabouts remain unknown."

Feng Tan nodded and said, "That's right. They didn't take the open route, they took the secret route. Only by sneaking across the sea could they disappear from the capital so silently. And there are many islands in the Linzhang sea area, and the location of the islands changes with the ocean currents... The location of Evil Spirit Island may be on Su Bai."

Just now, while flipping through the book "Tales of the Great Geography," she noticed the sentence, "The skin of the Merfolk is different from that of ordinary people; their tattoos are not visible in winter, but only appear when the waves surge in summer." This led her to this suspicion. Since the mastermind behind it all used Su Bai as a compass and refused to reveal even a hint of the location where the silver was hidden, the most foolproof method would be to tattoo the navigation map onto Su Bai, who was already a Merfolk. Utilizing the unique skin characteristics of their race, they could ensure that only those who knew the core secrets could see the navigation map.

Xiao Yinshi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Feng Tan, saying, "You're right, the route map is indeed on Su Bai."

Looking at his nonchalant demeanor, Feng Tan remained silent for a moment before picking up his teacup, taking a sip to moisten his throat, and said, "Did you know all along, sir?"

Feng Tan learned about the Linzhang sea area through information given to her by Ren Pingsheng. Xiao Yinshi had been reading "The Strange Tales of Dahuang Geography" when he first met Feng Tan. Combined with the information he obtained when she interrogated Su Bai that day, he must have already made a guess.

Xiao Yinshi turned "Records of Strange Events in the Linzhang Sea Area" to face Feng Tan, who was sitting opposite him, and stopped his finger on a line on the open page.

Feng Tan read aloud: "On the anniversary of the founding of the Ming Dynasty in the year of Gengzi, the day of the universal holy mother's sacrifice, I led my clansmen to visit the island of evil spirits. We happened to encounter an evil formation, with flames soaring into the sky, and female spirits devoured them all."

Feng Tan looked puzzled and asked, "Sir, what does this have to do with the case?"

Xiao Yinshi succinctly stated, "If you want to land on the island and seize wealth, you must do the necessary preparations."

“My lord,” Feng Tan slammed his teacup down on the table and stood up, his voice now colder, “the deal between us was that I would help you interrogate Su Bai and find out the whereabouts of the national treasury's silver, in exchange for you rescuing Wan Niang. I had no agreement to continue the investigation with you. Now that I have completed my task, it is your turn to do what you are supposed to do.”

Xiao Yinshi tilted his head slightly, the dim light highlighting the coldness and ruthlessness in his eyes. He stared at Feng Tan for a long while, then let out a cold, mocking laugh: "Feng Tan, from the moment I told you about the theft of the national treasury, you've been in the same boat as me. The matter isn't finished, and now you want to jump ship..."

His voice lowered, like the murmur of a hellish demon, "The storm is too big; you'll only end up as a drowning ghost."

His dark, sharp eyes revealed an almost morbid ruthlessness and indifference, like a hunter scrutinizing his prey with unwavering determination. Although he sat quietly below, an indescribable aura of power swept over Feng Ruan.

Feng Tan met Xiao Yinshi's gaze without flinching, her fearless spirit radiating from her. "Lord Xiao, you have a world of wisdom in your heart. Feng Tan is not a helpless victim to be manipulated. The capital is treacherous, and I am already in the midst of the storm, so why should I fear being swallowed by the giant waves?"

She hadn't finished what she needed to do in the capital, and getting involved in a case that had nothing to do with her would be of no benefit. Her initial intention in making a deal with Xiao Yinshi was simply to rescue Wan Niang.

The two men, one standing and one sitting, faced each other silently, the only light in the flickering candlelight of the library. Xiao Yinshi sensed a familiar, solitary courage in the young man—unwavering, undaunted, and unafraid of power, yet also too rigid and easily broken. He didn't intend to explain this to him, but instead slowly offered a pre-prepared bait: "The position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice is vacant. After this matter is resolved, I will recommend you for this position, allowing you to advance to the fifth rank with fewer years of experience. What do you say, Lord Feng?"

Feng Tan carefully considered the situation. Xiao Yinshi was serving as the Left Censor-in-Chief, the head of the Censorate, and was responsible for supervising and evaluating the performance of officials every year. If he could recommend her for a promotion to the fifth rank, it would indeed be much easier for her to plan the reversal of her husband's case. At her current position of seventh rank, she was already facing too many constraints. If she could obtain the title of Assistant Minister of Justice...

Feng Tan tightened his grip and asked, "Lord Xiao, do you keep your word?"

“Of course.” Xiao Yin looked over through the tea steam, his handsome face half-hidden in the mist. “It’s normal that Lord Feng is hesitant to trust you since the last transaction wasn’t finished. Tomorrow, I will personally go to the Ministry of Justice to release him.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Tan lowered his guard by half and nodded, saying, "Alright, then I'll go to the Imperial Prison now to trace the flight path on Su Bai's body."

Xiao Yinshi stood up, walked to the bookshelf, took out another ancient book, and said, "No need."

Feng Tan asked in confusion, "Does Your Excellency intend for Su Bai to go along? But I see that he refuses to reveal any more information."

Xiao Yinshi handed the newly acquired ancient book, along with the two books from before, to Feng Tan, looking down at him and saying with a double meaning, "Stubborn people are useless to keep; he is already dead."

"You killed him, sir?! But the navigation map was attached to his body as a tattoo. Now that Su Bai is dead, how can the navigation map still be displayed?" Feng Tan took the ancient book, looked up at Xiao Yinshi in disbelief, trying to find a flaw in his cold and stern face. "Or has the sir already obtained the navigation map?"

The lonely palace was silent in the dead of night, with only the cawing of crows. Xiao Yinshi took out a roll of soft, resilient silk from his sleeve, unfolded it, and saw that it was a navigation map of the islands in the Linzhang sea area. He said in a cold voice, "The best-trained Jinyiwei guards in the Imperial Prison only used fifteen cuts to peel off this human skin completely. After scalding it in boiling water, the navigation map immediately appeared. So this matter is not for Lord Feng to handle."

The crows fell silent. Feng Tan looked at the former commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, whose face was like a god and whose methods were ruthless, and said weakly and intermittently, "My lord... peel... peel off Su Bai's skin?"

Looking at the slightly unsettled expression on the young man's face, Xiao Yinshi said, "I never show mercy to people, nor am I a person with clean and gentle methods. Lord Feng's question is a rhetorical one, and it is something you shouldn't have asked."

Feng Tan had recovered from her shock. She had seen Wan Niang in the Ministry of Justice prison, suffering horrific torture while shackled, and she had also heard about Xiao Yinshi's cruel methods from the common people and officials. Severe laws and cruel tortures were the methods used by high-ranking officials to interrogate prisoners, and a stroke of the pen in the Book of Life and Death could erase the life of a living person.

Su Bai was someone she had only met once, so Feng Tan didn't feel much emotional fluctuation. After a moment of silence, she said, "Lord Xiao, you have good methods. Your swift action has indeed saved a lot of trouble. So, I'll leave Wan Niang's matter to you."

As the winter moon broke through the clouds, its clear light spilled into the square courtyard outside the library. Suddenly, a group of footsteps sounded, and dozens of eunuchs and palace maids entered in single file, carrying lanterns. The lady in palace attire at the head of the group looked anxious.

The eunuch who had been lazily dozing on duty outside the palace was startled by the commotion and announced in a loud voice, "Consort Su has arrived!"

Inside the hall, Feng Tan and Xiao Yinshi exchanged a glance, and Feng Tan nimbly slipped behind the bookshelf.

At the same time, the palace doors were pushed open by two palace maids in pink. Consort Su, with her arm around the old nanny beside her, lifted her skirt and entered. She glanced around the palace without making a sound before saying to Xiao Yinshi, "Lord Xiao, I am truly sorry to disturb you so late at night..."

She paused, her face showing hesitation and anxiety, and said, "My sister has done such a heinous thing, I have no face to see Lord Xiao, but just now she couldn't bear the effects of the drug and knocked out the palace maid, Aunt Siyun, who is serving her. I don't know where she has run off to now. She has been drugged with such a strong... aphrodisiac, I am really worried..."

Consort Su, tears welling in her eyes, wiped the tears from her cheeks with a handkerchief and asked, "Did my sister come looking for Lord Xiao?"

Feng Tan, hiding behind the bookshelf, trembled upon hearing Consort Su's voice. She gently moved the books close together with her fingers and peered through the narrow gaps at the palace woman in soft weeping in the candlelight.

Consort Su's headdress was luxurious, and the gold hairpins inserted in her thick black hair swayed gently as she lowered her head to cover her face and wipe away tears. When she raised her head, her face was reflected in the candlelight, and to Feng Tan, it seemed as if an old friend had come.

Consort Su looked remarkably like the late Empress.

A raging fire ignited in Feng Tan's chest. She stared incredulously at Consort Su's face, motionless as if her acupoints had been struck, only the knuckles of her fingers holding the book turning bluish-white.

The new concubine Emperor Chongming took after Empress Xiaoxian's death looked exactly like the Empress—it was utterly ridiculous! My mother was no substitute for anyone, and she shouldn't have been sealed in an ice coffin in a secret chamber after her death because of her face!

Feng Tan was so angry that she snapped the book she was holding with a sharp "crack" as the seal on it broke.

Consort Su turned around upon hearing the voice, her doubts rising, but the words from the person opposite her quickly put her mind at ease.

“The princess is not here with me.” Xiao Yinshi said without showing any emotion. “The aphrodisiac that the princess gave me today was very strong. I almost couldn’t resist it. The Consort would better find the princess as soon as possible, otherwise it will be too late if she loses her mind due to the drug.”

Upon hearing this, Consort Su felt as if she were being roasted in a frying pan. Her composure vanished, replaced by anxiety for her daughter's plight. Forgetting all etiquette, she hurriedly turned and left the palace.

Feng Tan slowly walked out from behind the bookshelf, her expression complex as she watched Consort Su leave.

Xiao Yinshi said, "With your cautious nature, you wouldn't make such a foolish mistake. You know her."

Feng Tan shook her head and denied it, saying, "I don't know her. I lost my composure because she looks somewhat like an old friend."

Looking at the boy whose mood had clearly become low, Xiao Yinshi said something unusually long, “Consort Su’s name is Su Zirou. In the tenth year of Chongming, His Majesty met her by chance in the mountains when he was offering sacrifices to Heaven in the suburbs of the capital. He fell in love with her at first sight. At that time, the harem had been empty for two years. After Consort Su returned to the palace with His Majesty, she was extremely favored. In less than a year, the Consort became pregnant and gave birth to the second princess, Feng Dai, ten months later.”

Feng Tan asked, "Has Your Excellency met the late Empress?"

"No."

That's it. When Xiao Yinshi entered officialdom, his mother had already passed away three years earlier. He had never seen the late empress's face, so Feng Tan dared to say without fear that Consort Su looked like her.

"Does Your Excellency know... how does Consort Su's favor compare to that of the late Empress?" Feng Tan forced a smile and said, "Your Excellency, please do not worry. I am just asking out of curiosity."

Xiao Yinshi said calmly, "I am not clear about matters within the palace."

“I have one last question,” Feng Tan said, standing in the light and looking up at Xiao Yinshi. “With so many talented officials in the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, why did you choose me to accompany you to the Linzhang sea area?”

Xiao Yinshi lowered his gaze, toying with the sandalwood incense sticks on the table as he turned around and chuckled, "Lord Feng is intelligent, courageous, and a lone hero."

The moment Xiao Yinshi saw Feng Tan, he keenly sensed certain qualities in the young man. He seemed to be carrying reeds as he stepped onto the high platform, but in reality, every step he took was a reckless fall into the dust. In this fearless lone wolf tactic, he saw something familiar.

He saw himself from many years ago, biting his own kind in the arena.

He rose from humble beginnings to his current high position amidst the power struggles and infighting in the officialdom of the Great Emperor, enduring countless hardships and cold stares. With a mindset that even he himself couldn't quite explain, he was eager to know whether the young man would be torn apart and devoured after entering the arena, or whether he would bring other heretics under his command.

As for helping him now, it's like... giving a blessing to my past self from many years ago.

Xiao Yinshi was in a secluded and desolate realm when, by some strange twist of fate, he wanted to travel with this white crane in the clouds.

Seeing that Xiao Yinshi did not want to say more, Feng Tan did not ask any further questions. She put the book that Xiao Yinshi handed her into her bosom and said goodbye, "Tonight's business is finished, I will take my leave first. Tomorrow, may I accompany you to the Floating Prison?"

Xiao Yinshi waved his hand, signaling Feng Tan to step back, and casually uttered two words, "As you wish."

As the palace doors opened and closed, Xiao Yinshi saw the moonlight outside the window, so bright and clear that it seemed within reach. He raised his arm to embrace it, only to realize it was a mirage.

Just like a young man who came from afar.

Strangely, he didn't develop any romantic feelings for the boy; he was simply infatuated with his handsome appearance.

It's really hard to figure out.

***

The gyrfalcon circled in the dark sky. As the winter night mist began to rise, the palace road, now quiet after the banquet, was shrouded in stillness. Feng Tan quickly changed back into his official robes at a secluded corner, then pretended to be drunk and walked towards the palace gate.

She carefully made her way along the narrow palace path, where the palace lanterns were few and the light was dim. Suddenly, with a "clang," a gold and jade hairpin inlaid with pink plum blossoms was thrown in front of Feng Tan.

Startled, she quickly grabbed the palace wall for support.

Feng Dai's sobs were intermittent, mixed with Yu Ruxi's impatient coaxing: "Your Highness, why are you still crying? Alright, stop crying, get dressed quickly, I'll take you back."

Feng waited for her sister to speak, and cried her heart out without stopping.

Yu Ruxi yawned, lazily lifting her eyelids to look at Gao Zhizhen, the son of Gao Yu, the Minister of Justice, whose expression was strange, and said, "Young Master Gao, what's wrong? You've caused such a huge disaster, and you're still hoping I'll clean it up for you?"

Yu Ruxi sighed inwardly. She was truly cursed for the worst. Instead of taking the main palace road, she chose this secluded path, only to stumble upon these two making love in the bushes. In the brief moment Yu Ruxi paused, Feng Daijie gradually regained consciousness. When she saw who was inside her, her flushed face turned pale. Fortunately, she still retained some composure and didn't scream to attract the attention of the palace servants. She tightly covered her mouth, trembling. She hurriedly pushed the person off her and frantically put on her clothes, crying uncontrollably. Her fingers trembled as she struggled to dress. The pain in her heart intensified, and in a moment of desperation, she pulled out a hairpin from her hair and prepared to stab herself in the chest.

Seeing this, Yu Ruxi dared not stand idly by any longer. She leaped forward, snatched the hairpin tightly held in Feng Dai's hand, and quickly threw it aside.

Gao Zhizhen is the only son of Gao Yu, the Minister of Justice. He is not yet of age and works as a compiler in the palace. He is responsible for recording the banquet at Wushuang Palace. He drank a lot of wine while chatting with his friends at the banquet. After the banquet, he chose a secluded path to go home and bumped into Feng Daijie. Then the two of them had a passionate encounter and rolled around behind the wintergreen grass. When they sobered up, it was too late to take back what had happened.

Knowing he had committed a grave offense, Gao Zhizhen tried his best to defend himself, saying, "Your Highness, this matter is really not my fault. If you hadn't thrown yourself into my arms first and tried to seduce me, I wouldn't have dared to do such an indecent thing to Your Highness even if you gave me a hundred lives."

Upon hearing this, Feng Dai's anger burned even more fiercely. She wanted to expose this hypocrite who had gotten the better deal and was now acting innocent. Her fingers touched her empty hair bun, and she remembered that Yu Ruxi had just taken her hairpin. She wiped away her tears, got up from the ground, and rushed to the spot where the hairpin, which was faintly shimmering with golden light under the hazy moonlight, had fallen to the ground.

As she picked up the hairpin and looked up, a figure pressed against the corner of the wall came into view.

"Who...who are you?!" Feng Dai gripped her hairpin tightly, pointing the tip at Feng Tan, and cried out in alarm, "Come out here!"

Feng Tan sighed inwardly at her bad luck tonight. She stepped out of the thick, damp fog, bowed and said, "This humble official is the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice. Greetings, Your Highness."

The scene was in complete chaos. Even though Feng Dai was spoiled and willful, this was the first time she had encountered such an embarrassing and difficult situation. Her voice softened as she said to Yu Ruxi, "Sister Yu, what... what should I do! Please, please kill them!"

Despite being under fifteen, Feng Daijie's words and actions revealed obvious malice. Yu Ruxi had never liked Feng Daijie and had just felt some pity for her, but after hearing this, that pity vanished completely. However, since Feng Daijie was a member of the royal family, she could not abandon her. Otherwise, after today's scandalous affair was exposed, the emperor would inevitably harbor resentment towards the Yu family.

Ugh, what a troublesome mess.

Yu Ruxi gripped the hilt of her sword tightly and said sternly, "Lord Feng, a young woman's reputation is of utmost importance, especially the reputation of a member of the royal family. You are an official, so you should know that you must keep your mouth shut, for words can lead to disaster."

It's no wonder that a young girl would have suicidal thoughts after such an incident, especially with strangers watching her. Feng Tan, being cautious and polite, said, "Miss Yu, rest assured, I didn't see anything tonight."

Feng Dai, clutching Yu Ruxi's arm tightly, shook her head through teary eyes, saying, "Sister Yu, you can't let him go! I haven't even been engaged yet. If this gets out, the royal family will lose face, and Father will not forgive me! Sister Yu, please help me... please help me..."

Yu Ruxi looked up at the sky helplessly, took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness, what do you intend to do? The young master Gao who took your innocence is the son of a second-rank official in the court, and the one who witnessed your embarrassing incident is a censor from the Six Ministries who has the power to speak out. Does Your Highness really intend to kill him to keep him quiet?"

Gao Zhizhen touched his nose, cleared his throat with a light cough, and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely take responsibility for you. My father will definitely come to propose marriage after the princess's coming-of-age ceremony!"

As if possessed, Feng Dai threw the hairpin in her hand at him and scolded, "What do you think you are! You have neither power nor looks, do you think this princess will marry just any Tom, Dick, or Harry?!"

In the darkness of the night, a hint of malice flashed in Gao Zhizhen's narrow eyes, but he quickly concealed it, replacing it with a subservient demeanor. "Now that things have come to this, if Your Highness has any other options, I will accept them without hesitation."

"You!" Feng Daijie's pretty face flushed red with anger. "Are you saying that I, the princess, am now a worthless slut? Gao Zhizhen, don't think that just because your father is the Minister of Justice I won't dare to touch you!"

Gao Zhizhen said, "Women are delicate. The princess has just been exhausted, so it's best not to get angry."

“Despicable scoundrels! Despicable scoundrels…” Yu Ruxi cried and cursed, pointing at the two men standing in the field. “I won’t let you have a chance to spread this. Where’s the knife… Sister Yu, your Yu family’s swords are the sharpest. Can I borrow it? Father can’t know about this. I will marry the most handsome man in the world. It can’t be this kind of scoundrel!”

Seeing that Feng Dai had lost her mind, Yu Ruxi quickly stepped forward, turned her hand into a knife, and chopped hard at her neck. Feng Dai softly fainted in Yu Ruxi's arms.

Yu Ruxi, with her arm around Feng Daijie, turned to the other two people in the room and calmly arranged, "His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine deeply love the princess. The two gentlemen should know what the consequences would be if tonight's events were to become public. Young Master Gao, you will bear the consequences of your actions. You stay here and watch over the princess. I will send someone to inform the Imperial Concubine. As for Lord Feng, the palace curfew is about to begin. I will take you out of the palace."

Yu Ruxi clearly wasn't planning to get involved in this romantic affair, so Feng Tan remained noncommittal, saying, "Miss Yu, please go first."

A gust of wind rose on the official road outside the palace walls, and the biting cold seeped into winter clothes. Feng Tan glanced at Yu Ruxi's smooth profile and smiled, "Miss Yu, you've just come down from the battlefield and we've bumped into each other twice. It's quite a coincidence."

Yu Ruxi's fingers, which were holding the horse's reins, were red from the cold. She switched hands to hold the reins, breathed on her red fingers, and said, "The first time we met, it wasn't really fate, but today is quite a coincidence."

“Speaking of which,” Feng Tan led Yu Ruxi’s horse over and patted its head, the horse gently resting its head against her palm, “Where did Miss Yu settle Miss Wanzhou?”

Yu Ruxi stared in astonishment at Feng Tan's fluid movements, then looked at her unresponsive red-headed horse and wondered if the little beast had been frozen silly today. Wasn't it always the same old horse that would take advantage of any stranger who approached?

Yu Ruxi said, "Lord Feng has fallen deeply in love with Wanzhou after only meeting her two or three times?"

Feng Tan smiled and said, "She is very important to me. I hope she is safe."

"These words don't sound like something you'd say to a girl you love." Yu Ruxi looked thoughtfully at the young man's otherworldly face. "In the capital, the rumors about Lord Feng's romantic escapades are spreading like wildfire. He even stole a woman from the cold-faced Yama Xiao Yinshi and slapped his superior. I heard that Wan Niang from the Red Sleeve Pavilion is also your lover? This lady seems to be involved in a major case and has been arrested by Gao Yu, hasn't she?"

At this point, Feng Tan's expression relaxed slightly. "Yes, but she'll be out soon."

Yu Ruxi said, "In this day and age, the lives of prostitutes are as worthless as grass. Lord Feng is willing to go to great lengths for her, which shows his sincerity. However, since Lord Feng has already provoked Wan Niang, he should not provoke Wan Zhou in the future."

Feng Tan nodded and said softly, "Miss Yu has followed her father and brothers in battles on the frontier over the years, from the Japanese pirates in the north to the cavalry of the southern barbarians. She has won every battle and made outstanding contributions. Why not ask her for a general's position?"

Yu Ruxi suddenly stopped in her tracks, the playful expression on her face vanished, and she said self-deprecatingly, "Not to mention that there has never been a female general in our dynasty, even if I went to His Majesty to exchange military merits for an official position, my father would break my legs before I even left home. Allowing me to go to the battlefield to fight is the limit of my father's tolerance towards me."

Feng Tan looked at the spirited young woman beside him. She had always been vibrant, bright, and passionate, galloping across the boundless grasslands. Now, Feng Tan suddenly understood that Yu Ruxi's freest moments were only when she was running on the grasslands. Even though Yu Ruxi was born a general and her combat talent surpassed that of her brother, due to the ancient ethical and moral constraints of the Da Huang Dynasty, she could only be buried under the iron hooves of her father and the imperial court for the rest of her life.

Feng Tan wanted to pat Yu Ruxi's shoulder, but after slightly raising his hand, he didn't dare to touch her shoulder. He comforted her, saying, "Miss Yu, this road is made by people walking on it. I see that the Protector General of Hua Kingdom, Shen Shiyi, is also a girl, and she still shines brightly in Hua Dynasty. If she can do it, so can you."

Yu Ruxi shook her head and chuckled, her voice filled with a helpless relief. "The Shen family of Hua Kingdom, like my family, are both military families. Shen Shiyi's brother was the top general of Hua Kingdom. After being captured, Hua Kingdom had no more famous generals to use. The reason Shen Shiyi was able to stand out was because of this connection. My brother is brave and skilled in battle. He has doted on me since I was a child. I don't want anything to happen to him. So, having been on the battlefield a few times in this life is worth it!"

The moon was swallowed by the clouds, the stars dimmed, a cold wind blew, and winter had arrived. Yu Ruxi's expression was no different from the night sky.

Feng Tan suddenly remembered what her teacher had said: In a new era, women, just like men, could also achieve academic success, strive for their dreams, and have a broader stage to perform on. In that era, the world would be bright and the roads clear, and the flowers of women would bloom as brilliantly as the morning sun.

“Don’t say that women are not heroic; the Longquan sword sings on the wall every night.” Feng Tan Ning said to Yu Ru Xi, “Perhaps, there will be a day when girls in Da Huang can also participate in the imperial examinations.”

The moonlight suddenly spilled out, its clear light falling on the young man's brows and eyelashes. Yu Ruxi was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Lord Feng, there's no need to comfort me. My husband said the same thing. Not only did she say it, she also did it. But what was the result? The emperor ordered her to be imprisoned for ten years, and once the ten years were up, she was immediately tortured to death."

Feng Youming has set his sights on becoming a saint, but he is walking a path that leads to certain death. Feng Tan doesn't actually believe the words he just used to comfort Yu Ruxi; since ancient times, the imperial examinations have never been open to women.

She replied, "Miss Yu is a woman of strong emotions; there is no need for her to be saddened by the future. Nowadays, Japanese pirates invade the borders of Dahuang every year, so Miss Yu still has many opportunities to prove herself."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ruxi laughed and said, "I really didn't realize that Lord Feng was such a confidant. Meeting such a wonderful person as you today has made this trip to the palace worthwhile. My brother has come to pick me up. It's late and the dew is heavy. Lord Feng, please ride my horse back. Remember, its name is Sha Po Lang!"

At the end of the official road, a man in military uniform rode a tall horse, his hawk-like eyes scrutinizing Feng Tan. Feng Tan felt a chill and bowed, saying, "This humble official greets General Yu."

It was Yu Zhenyu, the son of Grand Commander Yu Fangyi.

When she was a child, Yu Ruxi was Princess Yongle's study companion. Whenever she left the palace, Yu Zhenyu would pick her up. Therefore, Feng Tan had met Yu Zhenyu several times.

Yu Zhenyu was stern and rarely smiled. His aura was sharp and aloof. He gave Princess Yongle a slight nod as a greeting, and the two did not interact much.

Seeing Feng Tan bow and greet him, Yu Zhenyu nodded slightly, then turned his head and tossed a cloak to Yu Ruxi, who was running over, and coldly scolded, "Wearing so little in the dead of winter, put this on!"

Yu Ruxi mounted her horse, took the cloak, and said with a grin, "I knew my brother would come to bring me clothes."

"You've got guts!"

"It's all because my brother spoils me!"

Feng Tan smiled as she watched the two ride away, a hint of envy in her eyes. She murmured softly, "It's so good to have family."

The tall, magnificent horse beside her yawned, and Feng Tan patted its head to soothe it. Suddenly, she heard the clatter of hooves again, and the rider galloped through the thick fog. She squinted and, after recognizing the person, said, "Aunt Ren, what brings you here?"

Ren Pingsheng tightened the reins, and the horse reared up with a long neigh before settling down and saying, "According to the scouts, Gao Yu went to the Floating Prison three hours ago and interrogated Wan Niang overnight! In short, Wan Niang is in danger tonight. A'Tan, I have no right to enter the Floating Prison..."

Feng Tan interrupted Ren Pingsheng, quickly mounted her horse, and said, "Aunt Ren, I'm going to Futu Prison to take a look! But I'm weak and my official rank is low, so I can't shake Gao Yu's authority. Xiao Yinshi promised to help me rescue Wan Niang, and he should be back at his residence now. Have Uncle Meng call him to come and agree on my behalf!"

Author's note: I'm recommending this book for pre-order. If you're interested, please add it to your favorites!

"It's Impossible to Be PUA'd by the Emperor" and "The Empress Imprisoned on the Island"