"The young lady's hair grows so well. I heard from the old wet nurse in the manor that good hair signifies good fortune, and that she will marry a good husband when she weds."
These words made Feng Jin Yao feel stifled. She suddenly thought of Wen Meng Sheng, and her good mood under the moonlight dissipated by more than half.
A good husband? She didn't think so.
After suffering so much in her previous life, she didn't even have the thought of marriage in this one.
Meeting Xu Ming Yue today had indeed enlightened her. Once all the revenge she needed to exact was settled, could she then find solace in nature and live a carefree, leisurely life?
She didn't want to be confined to the inner chambers, nor did she want to fight with her husband's concubines. She had had enough of such a life once, and in this life, she wanted to live happily.
The moon hung high above the trees. In the distant Yun Xiao Pavilion, Xiao Ting Yi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.
His face, bathed in moonlight, was no longer pale but had a healthy flush. He was dressed in a dark brocade robe, and there was no charcoal fire in the Yun Xiao Pavilion.
Strangely, he, who always coughed, was now perfectly still.
Yun Xiao Pavilion floated in the air, overlooking the entire Great Jin dynasty. The myriad lights of households were all within his sight.
He often stood here for an hour at a time, watching the common people live their peaceful lives, and only then did he feel he had not failed his father's trust.
Few people in this world knew that a hidden residence of Xiao Ting Yi was concealed within the woods behind the Fahua Temple.
The mountain air was cool and crisp, yet his courtyard occupied a position of geothermal warmth, making it spring-like throughout the year, unaffected by the mountain winds and undisturbed by outsiders.
After returning from the Southern Yue battlefield, outsiders had always believed he was recuperating in his prince's manor. This was not the case; he had already made a clean escape and come here.
It was precisely with the help of the geothermal warmth here and the miraculous healing of Physician Zhang that he had recovered his health.
He was still feigning illness now, merely a ruse for Emperor Qi. Otherwise, his prince's manor would undoubtedly be filled with numerous consorts and concubines to carry on the "family line."
To the suspicious emperor, a sickly prince with no wife or heir, even one who commanded a large army, posed little threat.
Having no desire to waste his energy on scheming, he simply maintained his pretense of illness, thus enjoying a peaceful life for many years.
The small courtyard lent to the Xu family was merely a cover for the outside world. Occasionally, people would deliver vegetables, unaware that these vegetables were being sent to Xiao Ting Yi's hidden residence.
Separated by a patch of forest, the outside world had sealed off the woods with formations of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. Ordinary people could not find the entrance to the hidden residence, so after so many years, very few people knew of this place.
As the lights gradually extinguished one by one, Xiao Ting Yi withdrew his gaze from the distant view. Unexpectedly, he caught sight of a scene in the small courtyard, illuminated by the lanterns.
It was truly a surprise to see her here.
Could it be that the Xu family's maid kept her here?
Although they were far apart, Xiao Ting Yi could see clearly.
She appeared to be in a state of peaceful contentment, yet there was an indescribable sadness in her expression.
At times, her eyes were as deep as a bottomless pool, and at other times, they were as clear as a flowing stream, captivating his attention.
Having lived for nearly thirty years, this was the first time he had taken an interest in an outsider.
He watched her quietly for a while under the moonlight, and for some reason, an idea spontaneously arose: all these lights could not compare to the bright eyes of the girl by the courtyard window.
Just as he was thinking, he heard a faint sound of footsteps behind him. Before he even turned around, he knew who it was and said softly, "You're here."
Yang Zhao, holding newly delivered military intelligence, stopped outside the pavilion. He was not surprised by Xiao Ting Yi's astonishing hearing. "Your Highness, this is the latest military report."
Xiao Ting Yi withdrew his gaze from Feng Jin Yao and turned to walk towards Yang Zhao.
After receiving and reading the report, his expression remained impassive. He then asked, "How is the investigation into the Zhu family's affairs progressing?"
"Replying to Your Highness, our spies embedded within the Zhu family have not yet transmitted any information. We have only heard that the eldest son of the Zhu family is getting married next May, to a daughter of the Chi family from Jinling."
"He is quite cunning. By borrowing the Chi family's influence, even if he is found guilty of corruption later, he can evade most of it."
Xiao Ting Yi's words were laced with mockery. "Send a command. We must obtain the evidence of his corruption in the漕司 (Cao Si - River Transport Bureau) before May."
"Yes." Yang Zhao received the order and turned to leave to make arrangements.
To think of marrying into the Chi family for protection, what a dream!
The military report, held in his palm, crumbled into dust with a slight rub, vanishing like a trace left by a passing goose.
When Xiao Ting Yi turned back to look at the small courtyard, the beauty by the window was no longer there, and the lights inside had dimmed. Judging by the appearance, she must have retired for the night.
He withdrew his gaze and looked into the distance again, the darkness as thick as ink, now tinged with a hint of killing intent.
The Great Jin dynasty had been established for many years. Through several successions of rulers, the powers had become deeply intertwined. Power bred desire, and it also bred many corrupt officials.
For the past two years, his focus had been on investigating the corruption within the Jiang-Zhe Cao Si, but he had repeatedly failed to strike at the core.
The vast thirteen bureaus of the Cao Yun (river transport), with commanders in dozens of prefectures and counties along the route, were like a vast net, firmly entrenched, impenetrable to needles or oil.
Having finally caught hold of the Zhu family, he would naturally not let them go.
Since they were colluding and unwilling to cease their actions, he would break them from within. This way, the cleanup would be more swift and decisive.
With this thought, the fleeting sentiment of romance was cast aside, and he gazed into the distance towards Jiang-Zhe.
His tall figure stood within Yun Xiao Pavilion, overlooking the world from the vantage point of the mountain, devoid of any sense of desolation or loneliness.
In the main room, the Xu family's orange cat slept soundly. Old Madam Xu had specifically left the cat there, fearing that the few girls would be lonely here.
Cats were the most sensitive. If anything were to happen, they could provide an early warning.
Two lamps were extinguished, and the entire room softened. The night outside was deep.
Feng Jin Yao looked at the cat's sleeping posture and couldn't help but think of her own cat, Chi Ling, at home. Her eyes curved with a smile. She wondered how that little fellow was doing.
As she was thinking of it, a fiery red figure dashed in from outside the door. It leaped into Feng Jin Yao's arms, whimpering and whining, as if complaining why she had abandoned it.
For a moment, Feng Jin Yao was astonished. When she saw who the "person" was, her entire heart melted for it.
"I didn't abandon you; I was just out playing for a few days." She lifted it to her eyes and gently comforted it.
"But how did you run here? If Xiu Qiu discovers you're not home tomorrow, won't she worry?"
No matter what, you can't leave for so long again!
Although it didn't speak, its spoiled demeanor clearly conveyed its meaning. Feng Jin Yao helplessly called for Yun Xu.
"Tomorrow morning, send someone back with a message to tell Xiu Qiu that Chi Ling ran away."