Restless, Pei Ji unwittingly arrived at the Princess’s Bedroom.
The Princess’s Bedroom was a mess. Du Ruo swaggered arrogantly as she led people in driving out the maids and guards.
Chu Yunge sat inside the hall, watching everything lazily, as if it were none of her business.
When Pei Ji saw the maids and guards looking terrified, his first reaction was to frown. “Your Highness, what is this?”
“Dismissing the maids and guards.”
After returning to her bedroom, Chu Yunge immediately made the decision: dismiss all those she had punished and tormented before.
She valued her life and did not want to be plotted against again someday. She also disliked seeing dead people and did not want to see another maid die in front of her after failing to take revenge.
“Why dismiss them for no reason?”
Those who could serve in the Princess Mansion were basically slaves. Once expelled from the Princess Mansion, it was hard for them to find a good place to go.
Chu Yunge glanced at Pei Ji. “Naturally, because This Princess dislikes them.”
She raised her voice. “Du Ruo, hurry it up. You’ve given them their dismissal silver. Don’t dawdle. This Princess doesn’t want to see them. Make them leave as fast as possible. Anyone still in the Princess Mansion after a quarter of an hour… heh.”
Du Ruo grew even more ferocious. Everyone looked panicked. Though some harbored resentment, they did not dare act on it. When they were driven out, some did not even have time to pack their things properly.
But Chu Yunge paid no attention. She coldly and harshly forced them to leave.
Pei Ji frowned as he watched everything in the courtyard. When he saw the guards using whips to drive away those kneeling on the ground and begging to stay in the Princess Mansion, he could no longer hold back. He snatched the whip from the guard and told the maids to leave quickly.
Holding the whip, he entered the hall again. “Your Highness, they haven’t done anything wrong…”
“Don’t meddle in this. It’s for their own good.” Chu Yunge patiently explained once.
“Driving them away is for their own good? What’s the reason?”
Chu Yunge waved her hand. “Don’t interfere in the Princess Mansion’s affairs. This is not the place for you to play the hero.”
“You…” Pei Ji’s eyes flashed with anger, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave.
Chu Yunge did not look at Pei Ji.
The incident where she had nearly been retaliated against by a maid had surely reached the palace by now. Given the Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s way of doing things, they would never allow such a danger to happen again. They would surely eliminate future troubles forever.
Driving them away actually gave them a way to live.
She could not explain it directly to Pei Ji. All she could do was this much. If Pei Ji misunderstood, so be it. In his eyes, she was not a good person anyway.
After leaving the Princess’s Bedroom, Pei Ji’s eyes were full of anger. “I thought she had changed. Turns out she’s still the same, just as she always was.”
He decided not to care about Chu Yunge’s matters anymore. Being used by Xie Wangze, losing her chastity to detoxify—it was what she deserved.
After dealing with the maids and guards, Chu Yunge had no appetite left.
The sky had not yet darkened, but she had lamps lit.
When night fell, she could not help but seek out Yan Feng.
“Yan Feng, let’s chat.”
Yan Feng obediently entered the room but had nothing to say to her. He simply stood there.
Chu Yunge could not find words for a moment, and the air fell silent for quite a while.
“Yan Feng, have you killed people before?”
Yan Feng: “…Your Highness, This Subordinate is one of the Yan People, born to be a killer.”
He had been destined to be a killer from birth. How could he not have killed? Before, when assassinating the Zhao State prince, he had killed several people.
Chu Yunge: “All right.” She had asked a pointless question.
Yan Feng fell silent for a moment. “…Is Your Highness worried about what the maid said?”
He realized it then. Chu Yunge was afraid. He considered his words before speaking. “Your Highness need not worry about her words. ‘Even as a ghost, I won’t let you go’ is all nonsense. If there were really such a good thing, the ghosts of us Yan People would have bitten the Zhao State royals to death long ago.”
Once dead, that was it. Nothing remained. No matter how great the hatred or resentment, it was useless.
The Princess was truly strange. She had punished and killed people before without issue. Why was she afraid now?
“Your Highness, have you done so many guilty deeds that you’re scared now that you’ve nearly suffered retribution?”
Chu Yunge: “…”
She rubbed her temples. “Yan Feng, how have you managed to stay alive this long? Why didn’t This Princess beat you to death before?”
Yan Feng fell silent for a moment. “This Subordinate rarely spoke in the past.”
The Princess had never paid him much attention before. Only because he had been constantly by her side did she glance at him a few times, but she would not talk to him.
Moreover, as a killer, it was not appropriate for him to talk much. When he was young and talked too much, his master had disciplined him for it.
Chu Yunge: “I see.”
So it was because he spoke little and had not yet exposed his low emotional intelligence.
“Good thing you spoke little before.”
Yan Feng pursed his lips. So he had said something wrong again.
“If Your Highness dislikes hearing it, This Subordinate will speak less from now on.”
As if to make amends, Yan Feng added, “Your Highness need not fear. As long as you know your mistakes, refrain from doing evil in the future, and all will be well.”
Chu Yunge: “…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Your Highness.” Yan Feng answered earnestly.
Chu Yunge could not help but burst out laughing. “Pfft, haha.”
She finally saw it. Yan Feng, this dutiful worker, had somewhat low emotional intelligence.
Yan Feng’s face was full of seriousness. The Princess was laughing at him… So she had not really thanked him earlier.
He said nothing, but a trace of grievance appeared in his eyes.
Chu Yunge stopped laughing. She thought that probably no one had taught Yan Feng, after all. Emotional intelligence was sometimes tied to upbringing and family education.
Not everyone could receive good guidance.
She herself had lacked emotional intelligence in the past because her parents ignored her and never taught her how to conduct herself. They only taught her brother. Later, she had suffered many losses because of her lack of emotional intelligence.
“It was wrong of me. I shouldn’t have laughed at you. You’re just young, and no one taught you. You spoke too plainly.”
“Talk more with me. You’ll get better at it in time. Seeking revenge, repaying favors, handling affairs—all require communication, even adaptability. That way, you can cope no matter the situation.”
Surprise filled Yan Feng’s eyes. “Aren’t killers supposed to be calm and silent?”
Chu Yunge had never been a killer, but she had watched movies and TV shows about them.
“True, but aren’t top-tier killers not only calm and silent with great skills, but also adaptable and versatile? Ideally, broadly knowledgeable and versatile, proficient in many languages, able to disguise themselves in various ways, blend into any environment at any time. That way, they can evade pursuit, assassinate targets more effectively, and escape without a trace, right?”
She touched her chin. “I don’t know if I’m right. Maybe you Yan People pursue open and honorable revenge, but without flexibility, relying only on hot-blooded fervor will just lead to endless deaths.”
The Zhao State was powerful, Chu State’s great enemy. If the Yan People wanted revenge, they had best succeed and weaken their strength.
But the Zhao State royals were hard to kill. The Yan People threw themselves forward one after another, yet achieved little.
Seeing Yan Feng’s expression, Chu Yunge hurriedly clarified. “I’m not questioning you all. It was just a passing thought.”
“The Yan People’s unyielding pride is beyond doubt. I actually have no right or standing to say anything. But now that we’re more familiar, I don’t want you, at such a young age, to charge ahead recklessly into danger.”
“Sometimes you can clearly avoid death. Wouldn’t it be a pity to die?”
Yan Feng’s face showed contemplation. What Chu Yunge said actually made sense.
But he stated first, “Your Highness, This Subordinate is not young. Look how tall and grown This Subordinate is.”
Chu Yunge, whose mind was full of dirty thoughts, could not control her gaze and glanced downward.