Chapter 67: Taigong Fishing
The temperature in the room gradually dropped, and the rapid breathing became smoother.
The young man held his beloved, his arms as still as iron. The soft touch of the person in his arms was so real that it trembled. He stubbornly maintained this position, like a child covering a caught firefly, naively believing that if he didn't move, time would stop and everything would stop moving.
Yet the light outside the window continued to fade, the last ray of setting sun filtering through the crimson veil, outlining the silhouettes of the two people standing in each other's embrace in a hazy and gentle manner. Those unfinished words, those unspoken worries, all transformed into silent silhouettes in the fading afterglow, quietly cast on the blue brick floor.
Feng Yanyuan's chin rubbed lightly against the top of her head, and he suddenly laughed softly, with a hint of self-mockery, a hint of satisfaction, and indescribable tenderness.
The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the room. Feng Jiu knocked three times on the door, his voice very low: "Young Master..."
Feng Yanyuan frowned slightly, but remained in his embrace. Yun Yuan could clearly feel the vibrations in his chest: "Didn't I say..."
"It's the envoys from the Huainan Palace..." Feng Jiu's voice was filled with helplessness. He whispered, "The people from the palace have already come once. When you returned to Lei Ting Manor, they came back empty-handed. They just found out that you've returned to Shouchun..."
Before he had finished his words, a clear announcement echoed from the corridor. The messenger, extremely respectful, announced through the carved door, "The prince has been staying in Shouchun for the past few days. I heard that Young Master Feng San was also there, so I sent this invitation." After the rustling of brocade, he added, "The prince said that if you are free, you can come to the mansion anytime for a chat."
Feng Yanyuan looked down at Yun Yuan, with some lingering feelings still in his eyes, but now covered with a thoughtful expression.
While the Dianqian Pavilion was a semi-open, relaxed space, it was, after all, a vital part of the royal palace. How could anyone trespass without warning? Furthermore, Feng Yanyuan's surge of inner strength shook the area ten miles in radius like a hurricane. Even the Prince of Huainan, ensconced in his inner courtyard, was awakened from his slumber and dispatched agents overnight to investigate. The surrounding civilians were terrified. Fortunately, it was curfew, so the streets were deserted. Furthermore, with the lights out and everyone asleep, further disturbances were avoided.
The interrogation that was coming was inevitable. What was rare was that the King of Huainan was so polite in inviting me.
Feng Yanyuan had no choice but to accept and politely escorted the messenger out the door. When the figure in the brocade robe disappeared at the alley entrance, he turned back to the house, only to find Yun Yuan had changed into a moon-white skirt and was fixing her hair in front of the mirror.
"You're quite quick." Feng Yanyuan chuckled, leaning against the door frame. "Have you thought of an excuse?"
The bronze mirror reflected the girl's sallow face. She held up a rouge brush, meticulously tracing the line of her lips. The tip of the brush traced the pale lines of her lips, leaving traces of blood that mixed with the rouge to form an eerie purple-red. This sudden burst of vibrant color bloomed across her gray face, like a crabapple blossom trampled in the snow, the brighter it was, the more fatigued its flesh and bones became.
She lightly touched her lips with her fingertips, and suddenly turned around, her eyes flickering with a hint of cunning: "It's not difficult to make an excuse. But my lord..." The ending tone rose slightly, "Are you willing to be another living chess piece set by the master?"
Feng Yanyuan was startled when he heard this, then shook his head and sighed, "If Father knew that you had figured out his chess moves..." He suddenly chuckled, "I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to sleep."
Yun Yuan smiled and said, "This move by the young master is quite clever. He is patiently waiting for the young master to fall into his trap."
Feng Yanyuan pulled the corner of his mouth helplessly, turned around and shouted to the outside: "Prepare the car!" After that, he turned back and looked at Yun Yuan who was adjusting his sleeves.
The dusk filtered through the window screen, giving her profile a soft outline.
"Do you still look haggard?" Yun Yuan blinked.
Feng Yanyuan feigned seriousness for a moment, then assumed an exaggeratedly pitiful air. "Very haggard," he trailed off, "working hard, yet pitiful." He stepped aside, making way and gestured "please," "Let's go, my little Zhuge."
The copper bells on the eaves of the carriage rang out a series of clear sounds as it moved further and further away towards the palace.
The main hall of the Huainan Palace was solemn and dignified. The prince sat upright in his seat, not uttering a word.
Yun Yuan knelt on the gilded carpet, her forehead pressed against the cool jade brick.
Before the prince could ask any more questions, she confessed to all the crimes.
Learning that a spy had infiltrated the Dianqian Pavilion, she disguised herself as a scholar and made a nighttime visit. However, her identity was discovered, and as the guards were about to lead her out through a side door, they were suddenly pursued. Had it not been for the young master's timely rescue, she would have perished. Her subsequent burial in the tunnel was all due to her own cleverness; the young master had nothing to do with it. She disturbed the peace of the Dianqian Pavilion and broke the curfew. Please, Your Majesty, punish her.
The Prince of Huainan pondered for a long moment. When he finally spoke, he neither pointed out that she had clearly returned to the city last night nor questioned how she knew there was a spy in the Dianqian Pavilion. He simply followed her lead and asked, "If that's the case, then you've been taken away. Why did the assassin break into the Dianqian Pavilion again?"
Yun Yuan was startled: Wu Yi was also captured?!
"Did you see anything unusual in the pavilion last night?" Prince Huainan asked.
Yun Yuan pondered for a moment and replied, "There was another person copying the scriptures that night. The scholar's hand was as white as jade, unlike a poor student. If that person didn't come to copy the scriptures tonight..." Yun Yuan paused and said, "I'm afraid he was a spy."
The Prince of Huainan tapped his fingertips lightly on the gilded desk, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He already knew the details of that night. After carefully comparing Yun Yuan's account with his own, he knew that someone had indeed managed to sneak into the Dianqian Pavilion in disguise, but that person had disappeared the previous night. However, the place only housed a few ancient books, so even if a spy had managed to sneak in, their efforts would be wasted. At most, it would be a place for the spy to hide or meet. Perhaps they realized their plan had been exposed and fled, fearing further trouble.
Since he had opened the Dianqian Pavilion, he had anticipated this, so he didn't take it too seriously. If we were to say what the King of Huainan cared about most at the moment, it was the three assassins' bodies, their organs shattered. The resounding thud that knocked him off the brocade couch was no less powerful than Lei Zhentian's famous Infinite Palm. This level of skill only made him more determined to win over the Third Young Master Feng.
The prince looked at the girl lying on the ground, and suddenly smiled. He turned to Feng Yanyuan and said, "Zishang, you are so lucky."
Feng Yanyuan watched the bewildered little girl, Yun Yuan, confessing her guilt and defending her master, a smile flickering across his lips. He bowed to the King of Huainan and feigned helplessness, "Your Highness, this girl is prone to acting on her own..." His tone was three-tenths resentful and seven-tenths indulgent. "This kind of 'blessing' is often too much for me to handle."
There was clearly something else in his words. Yun Yuan glanced over and met his slightly raised brow.
The Prince of Huainan took in the flirting and laughed, "Alright, alright, you're almost unable to suppress your smile." He then personally helped Yun Yuan to her feet, resting his palm on her elbow. "Pharmacist, there's no need to apologize. If it weren't for your alertness, that spy would have remained dormant for who knows how long. If he had succeeded, it would have been a real problem."
Yun Yuan thanks you.
King Huainan sighed, then looked at Feng Yanyuan and said, "It seems that the spies in the dark have set their sights on my palace."
The prince then clapped his hands and called the commander of the guards over. In front of the two of them, he ordered that spies be placed in all the teahouses and guesthouses around the palace to report any unusual movements at any time, without any reservations about secret codes or the location of the secret agents.
Feng Yanyuan's heart was slightly moved - the prince was so open about it, it was obvious that he had already regarded him as one of his own, but he...
Feng Yanyuan hurriedly bowed and said goodbye.
The King of Huainan was visibly taken aback, but he didn't try to persuade him to stay. He simply waved his hand at the commander and said, "Go down and make arrangements first. I'll escort Zi Shang back."
After saying this, King Huainan hooked his arm around Feng Yanyuan's shoulder and personally escorted the two of them to the gate.
The prince laughed heartily. He first talked about his well-deserved martial arts skills, then asked about the health of the Feng family master. When he reached the corridor, he suddenly paused and said, "I heard that Xiaofeng Hall never takes sides..." He leaned closer and lowered his voice, "But you always bet on the winner. Your father's ability is really enviable."
"Your Highness, you are too kind." Feng Yanyuan kept smiling.
"By the way," the King of Huainan suddenly clapped his hands again, "I heard you're quite good at chess. Why don't you come play a few games with me someday?" He added casually, "Don't cry if you lose."
Feng Yanyuan frowned: "That depends on how many moves the prince gives."
The King of Huainan was delighted when he heard this, and then he laughed loudly: "Then it is accepted!" Before his laughter died down, he added meaningfully: "I have made a note of it."
The moonlight was soft, and the carriage rumbled across the bluestone pavement. After turning out of the palace street, Feng Yanyuan turned to look at Yun Yuan and suddenly smiled, "Why aren't you blushing for lying?"
Yun Yuan was leaning against the car wall. Upon hearing this, she turned around, her eyes reflecting flickering light and shadows. "How could I have lied? Every word is true."
Feng Yanyuan was startled, then shook his head and laughed: "Indeed, what I said was the truth, but..." He leaned forward and lightly touched her lips with his fingertips, "I just didn't say it."
A faint smile played on Yun Yuan's lips. "Did the prince really want to investigate the Dianqian Pavilion? He just wanted to gauge the young master's attitude." Suddenly, she lowered her brows and smiled. "There are many things I haven't said, but the prince only understood the four words 'the young master secretly promised.'"
How could a servant act so freely under the master's nose? Of course, the master had tacitly approved it. The servant, fearing her master would be trapped by her family's position and unable to speak out, volunteered to take the blame. This scenario was not new, and it perfectly suited the King of Huainan's thirst for talent. How could he pursue the "slips" in Yun Yuan's words?
Feng Yanyuan shook his head and smiled bitterly: "On the surface, he admitted his guilt and submitted himself to the emperor, but secretly he helped me submit his surrender."
"Young Master and the King of Huainan are on good terms. Since the Lord has already tacitly agreed, why should Young Master hesitate?" Her expression was hidden in the shadows in the night. The second half of the sentence, "If it's any later, it might be too late," lingered on her lips, but she swallowed it in the end.
Feng Yanyuan suddenly leaned forward, enveloping her with the delicate fragrance of pine and ink. His fingers lifted a strand of her loose black hair and slowly twisted it between his fingers. "My little Zhuge, how about you tell me how you guessed my Master's thoughts?"
Yun Yuan chuckled and said, "The young master is on good terms with the King of Changshan, who in turn has a deep brotherly bond with the King of Huainan. How could the young master not know this?" She paused. "He allowed the young master to attend the Shouchun banquet and has remained in Shouchun without asking a single question. His intentions are obvious."
Feng Yanyuan's playful expression darkened, and he leaned back into the carriage, letting out a long sigh. Moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, drawing a silver line across his handsome features.
"You're right. Father, this move is indeed a wise one."
The night wind lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, letting in a few wisps of osmanthus fragrance. Moonlight flowed in, forming a silver river between the two of them.
Yun Yuan stared at him, her eyes darkening.
She understood why Feng Yanyuan hesitated. Feng Xiaotian was playing a double game - letting his eldest son secretly surrender to King Zhao, and using his younger son's friendship with King Changshan to establish a friendship with King Huainan. No matter which side ultimately prevailed, Xiaofengtang would remain invincible. Of course, if the two sons happened to clash, for example, with Taoist Yuanyi, the father would come forward to stand impartially. So when Taoist Yuanyi was kidnapped, Feng Diao didn't make a move. In fact, sending only Feng Wu to lead the team, wasn't that just waiting to be kidnapped? This kind of calculation was exactly the same as his business methods. Even his own flesh and blood were just beads rolling on the abacus.
Feng Yanyuan frowned.
The moonlight cast shadows of varying shades on his well-defined face, making the indelible gloom even heavier.
He ultimately couldn't learn this kind of social skills—knowing his father had tacitly approved his brother's secret surrender to King Zhao, yet still feigning ignorance as he maneuvered around the Huainan King's tent, portraying Xiaofengtang as a bulwark for the Huainan faction. Rather than this, he preferred retreating to a separate courtyard, alone with the clear breeze and bright moon.
Outside the car window, the shadows of bamboo swayed and rustled, as if echoing this intractable dilemma. In the distance, the sound of a night watchman's drum startled a nocturnal bird from its perch in the shadows.
Yun Yuan gently touched his furrowed brow with her fingertips, feeling a chill as she whispered, "Don't think about it."
He grabbed her hand, his brows suddenly relaxed, "As you wish." A smile flickered in his eyes, "Just think of one thing."
Before she could even ask, "What's going on?", he kissed her lips. Strong arms swept her up, sweeping her into his embrace. His dark cape rose and fell, completely blocking out the chill of the night. The only scent between heaven and earth was the cool, fragrant scent of pine wood and his hot, moist lips. She pressed her hand against his chest, exerting a slight pressure, mumbling something like, "Outside..." But his burning tongue and lips sealed her silence. As their palms touched, he suddenly clenched his knuckles, clasping her slender wrist against the carved wood. His sleeve slipped from where their fingers intertwined, revealing a sliver of her white wrist, gleaming in the moonlight.
"Hmm..." Her broken gasps were swallowed up between their intertwined lips and teeth. He kissed her deeply and urgently, until he realized she was truly out of breath. He then slightly withdrew half an inch, still lingering to peck at the corner of her red lips. "What did you say just now?" His low chuckle was filled with a hint of mischief. "I didn't hear clearly."
Feng Jiu was about to whip his horse when the carriage suddenly swayed slightly and he heard laughter and coquettish words from inside. He couldn't help but turn his wrist slightly, and the whip tip drew an arc in the air, but it didn't fall.
The horse walked forward slowly, stepping on the scattered moonlight on the ground.
Feng Jiu's mouth was grinning almost to his ears, and he thought that if he went back and told Ruyue, she would be so happy.
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