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Feng Yanyan got what he wanted. He was out of the wangfu. But his face was still sullen.

So much that JuZi could feel his mood even if his face was covered by a veil hat.

"Young... master, you know that your face is too eye-catching right? This is the only way this servant thought of to hide our tracks." She said in all seriousness.

"You still know how to call me young master but everyone will see me as a young miss. Trampling on my dignity like this! I'll never forget about this day, I'm telling you now Zizi."

"Alright, alright." JuZi nodded patronizingly but still held him by the arm to guide his steps.

Every merchant and shopkeeper who saw them looked at the high quality fabric the 'young miss' was clad in. From the muslin veil on her head to the embroidered shoes she was wearing, they were all subtle but those with good eyes could see the difference from cheap materials at once. She was also escorted by a maid and a guard.

This was clearly a rich young miss who went out incognito! So they were very enthusiastic in hawking their wares and services to her.

Feng Yanyan eyed the guard that JuZi brought with them. She wouldn't budge without a guard so he agreed with having only one.

Seriously, if they took more than that, wouldn't it be a slap to wangye's face? What kind of sneaking out was this and still having guards?

He was worried it would implicate these two if they got found out. Maybe he could convince the Junwang to punish him only if that happens. Feng Yanyan was still clear headed and knew the risks of going out like this without permission. But he still wanted to do it. Back in Tanglin Great Palace, he was not new to this kind of expedition.

His eldest brother would even help him. He only did it twice or thrice during his stay there. Whenever he was too depressed or too worked up with overthinking.

Beauty Feng had only been here in Suliang for less than three months but his worldviews were already challenged. His goal seemed unreachable and he couldn't fight like the others.

It was frustrating to face the reality that he didn't stand a chance. Just one look at Ping Junwang and one would know he was disgusted by Feng Yanyan. 

Beauty Feng had no idea what he did to that prince for him to act so repulsed. He didn't even resort to cheap tricks like hurting people or using sensual drugs.

And yet, he was acting all mushy with that Zhang Yunlei. Such double standards!

Bastard! I don't even like you and you're giving me this attitude. What more if I really wanted to offend you?!

Feng Yanyan believed that Long Sangyu wouldn't be able to sleep at night if he decided to creep him out for real.

Thinking of his grievances, he couldn't take it anymore. As they rounded the alley corner with fewer people, Feng Yanyan yanked off the veil hat and put it on JuZi's head.

He removed the accessories on his wrists and ears and wiped off the cosmetics on his face with the inside of his sleeves.

JuZi was shell shocked and only watched him erase the intricate flower on his forehead and take off the coronet on his head. Young master Feng disheveled his hair and redid it.

The result amazed even Guard Tang.

Gone was the delicate and frail mei ren. Standing in front of them was an unruly young master with a mischievous smile on his lips.

Feng Yanyan brushed his jaw and laughed at both of them. "What? Never seen a handsome man before?"

He also dropped the tender manner of speaking taught by palace ladies. This was Feng Yanyan without inhibitions. The person he had been repressing these four years so he could achieve being an Emperor Consort in the future.

Tsk, he could just let go today.

Who would have known all these changes were observed by another pair of eyes from a distance. A white tiger waiting for its prey was almost smiling. Feng Yanyan... this person. More and more mysteries enshroud his character. But she was patient.

"Continue to observe. No need to make any movements. Report back to me by the end of the day." Inside the unassuming carriage, Long Xu Le quietly gave her orders.

Whether it was a trap or not, only Wan Li will decide.

There was a sound of assent from the outside and with that, the carriage left with no other traces.

---

Inside Junwang's study...

Xiao Bao addressed his master and friend. "Sangyu... that person sneaked out of the palace."

Ping Junwang paused what he was writing. Ink splashed all over the parchment. His eyebrows ticked. "What did you say?!"

"Feng mei ren was able to stealthily leave the palace."

If Long Sangyu was a dynamite, he would have exploded long ago. Barely holding himself back from slamming the brush to its holder, he spat his words out. "How in the world? Are all the guards of the wangfu dead?"

There was a hint of danger in his tone.

But Xiao Bao wasn't alarmed because he saw something scarier while he was following Feng Yanyan. "There's no need to capture for now..."

He stared at Long Sangyu and seeing his abnormal reaction, the prince calmed down a little.

"What is it?"

"Father is tailing him."

A few words effectively ended this issue. Who was Xiao Bao's father?

Xiao Hao, Wan Li Wang's right-hand man and confidant. No wonder, nobody stopped Feng Yanyan from the gates.

If these guards saw Xiao Hao, it was as effective as seeing wangye herself.

Long Sangyu's thoughts turned quickly.

"A'Bao, recall our people monitoring Feng Yanyan and his courtyard. Don't leave anyone. Make sure to do it within the next hour." He didn't want to lose any men.

"But we haven't gotten anything conclusive from that side." Xiao Bao was doubtful.

The prince glared at him, hating iron for not being steel. "Uncle Hao appeared. That means da jie discovered something and wants to take care of Feng Yanyan personally. We will get in trouble if we get in the way. So leave everything and retreat!"

This taking care of that he mentioned wasn't near anything good. That Feng Yanyan sure was in trouble. He had big guts. Whoever he would meet up with outside would be six feet under by the end of the day.

From the beginning, he knew that Beauty Feng was a trap set up by the Empress. It's just that the beauty was too stupid to think that he could achieve anything in the palace with that pitiful skill of his.

Who knew the Empress would resort to using such a fool?

---

"I come from a long lineage of mediocre soldiers. Hear that? Me-di-o-cre!"

Feng Yanyan was laughing his heart out with his arm wrapped around the courtesan who was just serving him wine a while ago. By his feet was another pretty lady massaging his calves meticulously.

One of the ladies giggled. "But Master Feng doesn't look mediocre at all~"

The man narrowed his alluring eyes. His visual aesthetic outshone the ladies who were supposed to be two of the most famous courtesans of this brothel. They could only sigh in wonder.

His finger lightly traced the woman's cheek. "You really think so?"

With a voice so sultry, it tickled the courtesan's heart. Her face started blushing despite this not being the first time a man poured attention to her. Daring, she inched her way even closer and put a hand on his chest.

She breathed out a yes.

Who would have expected that Handsome Feng would suddenly loosen his grip? The pretty lady stumbled on the floor and even dragged the other with her. There was a series of shrieks but Feng Yanyan was a little too intoxicated to care.

He grasped his forehead dramatically. "I'm really too handsome for a prince. He keeps rejecting my goodwill so I'll just live in the mountains after being released. Hopefully, the heroic Wan Li will grant huge rewards to me for decorating her palace with a beautiful creature such as me- hmpphh uhmmphh mmphh"

JuZi was so frightened upon hearing his speech that it took her a while to grab young master Feng's mouth shut. Ignoring all matters of proper etiquette, she almost wrestled with Feng Yanyan who was trying to break free.

If JuZi knew that he would get this drunk, she shouldn't have been so softhearted.

Daring to name both Junwang and Wangye in a single breath. It seemed he didn't want to live anymore!

The lithe palace maid lashed out at Guard Tang. "What are you foolishly waiting there for?! Help me bring the young master home!"

Guard Tang had never seen sister Zizi be this fierce. He was at a loss for words. A guard like him couldn't touch a mei ren of the palace no matter their gender. Even eunuchs couldn't carelessly lay their hands on the palace beauties if they weren't directly serving the said beauty. They could be punished for overstepping their boundaries.

But JuZi wasn't thinking things through because this was clearly an emergency that could cost their lives. If young master Feng said a wrong word and it reached wangye's ears, they were done for!

The deadlock didn't last long as the door of the private booth slammed open.

Both the palace maid and the guard couldn't believe their eyes.

"G-greetings to wangye!"

---

Oh shoot, I didn't plan for this cliffhanger. I swear!

Edit: Feb. 13, 2023