Yue Jin's words immediately choked the young woman's loud cries, turning them into soft sobs.
"Rou'er, Zishu can't see the current situation clearly, can't you see it clearly either?"
"No, daughter-in-law doesn't understand." Rou'er held her child and bowed her head deeply. She didn't want to know these things, even though she could clearly see them. But those things were enough to be considered outrageous, even morally reprehensible. She didn't want Yue Jin to use her child to do these evil things, and she didn't want her child to forever bear these blood debts. Therefore, she would rather pretend not to understand, not to see through things, and even secretly encourage Yue Zishu to resist Yue Jin's intentions.
"Rou'er, you clearly understand."
"I don't understand! I don't understand!" Rou'er suddenly cried out, looking at Yue Jin with teary eyes, "Father-in-law, please! Let us go! I don't want Wei'er to live a miserable life because of these dirty things! I would rather my child be just an innocent farmer, enjoying all the ordinary joys of life, than be forced to bear such a burden, especially a bloody and cruel one. If it were a true mission, that would be one thing, but are those things right? They were all built with the lives of innocent people! Anyone who gets even a little tainted will be forever entangled in karma and unable to escape! Father-in-law, do you want our Yue family line to end?"
Every word Rou'er uttered struck Yue Jin's heart like a hammer blow. With each sentence Rou'er spoke, Yue Jin's face paled further. Yue Jin knew perfectly well that what he had done was utterly unacceptable, yet he couldn't escape it. The loyalty and obedience ingrained in his bones had robbed him of all his spirit. But he also didn't want the Yue family line to end because of him, and Yue Jin slowly fell into a struggle.
Lu Fei saw this and slowly approached Yue Jin, embracing him and gently stroking his back to soothe him.
After a long while, Yue Jin sighed and looked at Rou'er, saying, "Take Wei'er and Zishu and leave this place. Go as far away as you can, and never contact us again. We will have no relationship from now on. No matter what happens here, you must never come back! If you can agree to do this, I will let you leave."
Rou'er was overjoyed and knelt down, kowtowing several times: "Your daughter-in-law will certainly do these things! In order for Zishu, Wei'er and mother-in-law to live well, I will definitely make sure they never come! Thank you, father-in-law!"
After saying that, Rou'er disappeared from the room with Yue Zishu and the child.
After watching Rou'er leave with her entourage, Yue Jin slumped down on a stool, his face somber, lost in thought.
Why let them leave?
Why ask a question you already know the answer to?
“It will always be inconvenient for us to do things after they leave.”
"That's the only way."
"Actually, we have another way."
“I know what you mean, but if we leave here too, those people will notice something is wrong with us. Then, Zishu and the others will definitely not escape their investigation. If Zishu and the others fall into their hands, the consequences will be unimaginable. But if we stay here, we can cover things up for a while.”
"But now our situation is somewhat dangerous."
"I've dragged you into this mess."
"I did this voluntarily, you can't say that anymore."
"..." Yue Jin remained silent, his heart filled with guilt towards Lu Fei, unsure how to make amends. "Actually, we're not necessarily in a predicament—although we're publicly announcing it as Wei'er's full moon celebration, no one else has seen Wei'er. We'll need you to take the 'child' and hide in the mansion, while I entertain the guests. If anyone asks, just say the child caught a cold."
Although Yue Jin's method was simple, the simpler the cover-up, the less likely people were to suspect it, and it might be able to help them get through this crisis.
Feng Fei and Yuan Jue overheard the entire conversation between Yue Jin and the others, and a plan formed in their minds. After exchanging glances, they quietly left the city lord's mansion. They soon returned to their secret hideout.
"It seems that Yue Jin and the others were also forced into this situation, and Hua Tianzhao is probably really going to do those harmful things."
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Begging Xiaoying!
Finally, Feng Fei and Yuan Jue decided to secretly attend the banquet held by the City Lord's Mansion, believing that the truth about everything would be revealed on that day.
Time quickly came to the day when the city lord's mansion was hosting a banquet. On that day, the city lord's mansion was crowded with people. Everyone was beaming with joy, as if some great happy event had happened to them, rather than just coming to the city lord's mansion to ask for a cup of celebratory wine.
Yue Jin arrived at the city lord's mansion early, a distant yet gentle smile on his face, and welcomed the guests who came to attend the banquet inside.
Feng Fei and Yuan Jue stealthily entered the City Lord's Mansion, but the mansion was no longer the same as when they last visited. It was as if all the buildings in the front half of the City Lord's Mansion had been demolished, leaving only a large open space. Rare flowers and trees were planted around the open space, and round tables filled with cold platters were placed among the flowers and trees.
Each round table can seat eight people, with ample space between them.
Everyone casually chose the seats they wanted to sit in, and soon the entire courtyard was full of people.
Feng Fei and Yuan Jue chose a seat that was neither too far nor too far away. The six people sitting next to them were all men, some with broad shoulders and thick waists, others with delicate features. The six men all had different appearances, but they all had the same thing: they were staring at Yue Jin, who was slowly walking to the high platform in the center of the courtyard, with stern faces and tightly pursed lips.
"Thank you all for coming. I am truly honored. Today is only my son's one-month celebration, but I never expected so many people to come and offer their congratulations. In principle, I should bring my son out to meet all of you, but unfortunately, my son caught a cold a few days ago and is resting in the courtyard. My wife is also heartbroken because of this and is currently taking care of the child. So..." Yue Jin said apologetically with a gentle smile, his face full of remorse.
No sooner had Yue Jin finished speaking than someone in the courtyard replied loudly and cheerfully, "Lord City Lord, you are too kind! We came here hoping to share in the young master's good fortune. Even if we don't get to see him, we are already more than satisfied with your hospitality!"
His words were immediately met with a chorus of agreement.
Yue Jin smiled and waved his hand, finally saying repeatedly, "Please, everyone, start eating and drinking!"
Feng Fei and Yuan Jue didn't start eating immediately, nor did the six people at their table. They exchanged glances, each seeing the wariness in the other's eyes. Although the eight of them knew that the other party's origins were definitely unknown, none of them intended to reveal it at this moment. Instead, they quietly watched the other party while carefully observing the situation of the others.
As the wine flowed freely, shouts and cheers echoed through the courtyard.
Yue Jin sat alone in the central pavilion, drinking fine wine and occasionally clinking glasses with people from other places. Behind him were two beautiful maids who served him, refilling his wine cups from time to time.
Suddenly, someone stood up, raised a cup of wine to Yue Jin from afar, and said loudly, "Lord City Lord, although we came because of the young master's full moon celebration, we also rushed here because the Flower Queen will be attending this banquet. Moreover, the invitations we received were sent in the Flower Queen's name! But at this moment, we don't know where the Flower Queen is, and whether she can meet with us?"
Yue Jin had not yet reacted. Someone below said unhappily, "It's already an honor for us that the Empress has sent us her calling card. What if she doesn't come out now? The Empress's status is so noble; how could she possibly meet with us so casually?"
"You're mistaken! While our status may not be particularly high, we're not exactly lowly to have received a personal invitation from the Queen of Flowers! Besides, since we already have the Queen's invitation, what's wrong with her coming out to meet us?"
"..."
The two people who were speaking suddenly started arguing, and everyone at the table slowly began to whisper among themselves.
"Tsk tsk, this flower queen is truly mysterious; I've never seen one before!"
"Who says otherwise! It seems only the city lord and his entourage have seen the flower queen. We are far from having that privilege!"
"I've heard that the Flower Queen is exceptionally beautiful, a rare beauty in the world. Even though my Vermilion Bird Kingdom has had women before, none could compare to her!"
"Yes! But the Flower Queen is also a person of my Vermilion Bird Kingdom, and is still an honor to my Vermilion Bird Kingdom!"
Some people were whispering: "This so-called Flower Queen is really indifferent! She invited us here but didn't even show her face!"
"Shh. Keep your voice down! Who knows if someone from the Flower Queen is in here! Watch your life!"
"Could it be that the Flower Queen would harm us in broad daylight?"
"..."
Yue Jin ignored what these people were saying and just kept drinking.
The courtyard suddenly erupted into chaos.
A beautiful maidservant behind Yue Jin approached him with a somewhat flustered expression. Taking advantage of a moment while pouring wine, she whispered to Yue Jin, "My lord, things have gotten chaotic here."
Upon hearing this, Yue Jin looked up and glanced down, then laughed nonchalantly, "I know."
"Sir, are you just going to let it be like this?"
Yue Jin glanced at the beautiful maid, who was immediately horrified and retreated to her seat, lowering her head and remaining silent.
The guests didn't actually cause any trouble; they just wanted to force the Flower Queen to show herself. But after so long without seeing her, they gradually calmed down.
The atmosphere in the courtyard returned to its previous festive state, as if everything that had just happened was a dream.
Feng Fei coldly observed everything that was happening in the courtyard, while secretly communicating with Yuan Jue.
As the banquet was drawing to a close, and just when Feng Fei and Yuan Jue thought nothing would happen, a dazzling, colorful cloud suddenly appeared in the sky above the courtyard. The cloud tumbled and rolled, and a fragrant aroma slowly filled the entire courtyard. Everyone was captivated by the fragrance, their faces filled with intoxication. Only Yue Jin remained engrossed in drinking his wine.
The colorful clouds slowly stopped churning and transformed into the shape of a lotus flower in the air, blooming quietly.
Everyone held their breath, afraid that even a heavy exhale would cause the lovely lotus to vanish into thin air. The colorful lotus petals slowly unfurled, and on the lotus seedpod stood a woman in colorful clothes, her face veiled.
The woman in colorful clothes moved gently with her lotus-like steps, and the ground beneath everyone's feet was instantly covered with blooming lotus flowers.
At this moment, Yue Jin stood up and stopped the woman in colorful clothes, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
"Your subject pays respects to the Flower Queen!" Yue Jin knelt on one knee and bowed deeply to the woman in colorful clothes.
Feng Fei was surprised: Could this woman in colorful clothes be Hua Tianzhao?
The woman in colorful clothes gently waved to Yue Jin, signaling him to stand up. She remained atop the lotus flower, looking down at the crowd with a barely perceptible hint of disdain in her eyes.
"Today is the banquet I am holding for the full moon celebration of Yue Jin's youngest son, but due to some issues of my own, I am late. I hope you all will not mind." Hua Tianzhao spoke slowly, her exposed eyes looking over everyone, finally landing seemingly on the table where Feng Fei was.
"Your Majesty is far too kind!"
"We are already fortunate to have received the Queen's invitation; for her to say such things is truly too much for us!"
"Yeah yeah!"
Clearly, Hua Tianzhao's words won the approval of everyone present, and praise for Hua Tianzhao rose and fell. People wanted to use every word of praise they could think of, but it seemed that no amount of praise was enough.
Of course, Feng Fei and Yuan Jue are not included among these "all people".
Feng Fei and Yuan Jue secretly communicated: "Yuan Jue, does Hua Tianzhao's voice sound familiar?"
Yuan Jue frowned. He had the same question, but he couldn't remember who it was. Could it be that he and Feng Fei had known Hua Tianzhao from that small family for a long time? Or perhaps they had met Hua Tianzhao by chance at some point?
Suddenly a gust of wind blew by, gently lifting Hua Tianzhao's veil and revealing a breathtaking face beneath it.
It was precisely because of this face that Feng Fei suddenly remembered where this sense of familiarity came from.
"Yuan Jue, do you still remember that Qi Xiaoying from back then!" Feng Fei's voice was slightly distorted, but Yuan Jue couldn't sense Feng Fei's emotions.
Upon hearing Feng Fei's question, the escort girl immediately recalled Qi Xiaoying's voice and appearance, which gradually overlapped with the image of the haughty, veiled woman in colorful clothes before her. "It really is her! But how could Qi Xiaoying become Hua Tianzhao? And how could she make Yue Jin submit?"
Yuanjue's problem was something Fengfei couldn't understand either, and Fengfei and Yuanjue could only quietly wait for the next development of the situation.
Unnoticed by Feng Fei and Yuan Jue, subtle yet alluring pink patterns appeared on everyone in the courtyard. However, due to the coverings of their clothing, no one noticed these issues.
Feng Fei suddenly felt extremely unwell and was immediately startled. Not knowing why he felt this way, he quickly asked Yuan Jue if he felt the same way.
Yuan Jue gradually felt uneasy, but he couldn't find the source of his unease.
At that moment, the situation in the courtyard suddenly changed drastically. Everyone frantically tore off their clothes and, regardless of whether the person next to them was male or female, began to engage in sexual acts on the tables, chairs, and the ground. For a time, the entire courtyard was filled with the sounds of men and women moaning.
Because they were on high alert, Feng Fei and Yuan Jue did not react like the others, but their bodies were still aching and constantly telling them that their condition was not good.
Hua Tianzhao turned to Feng Fei and Yuan Jue with a smile, her cold voice coming from behind her veil: "Is this what you call vigilance?!"
At this moment, Hua Tianzhao had already removed her veil.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Duan Hongjie