Yun Qingge understood immediately upon hearing this. She scrambled up and walked toward the curtain.
But as she rounded the curtain, she froze for a moment.
The man sat upright in his chair, his clothes already neatly arranged—this hardly looked like someone who needed to change or get dressed.
“Uh… Your Highness, do you need to change your clothes?” Yun Qingge asked suspiciously.
The man behind the curtain seemed to have grown impatient waiting, and finally said in a low voice: “Drag him out and beat him.”
Since he was unwilling to serve, then he would simply be dragged out and beaten.
These words made Yun Qingge’s heart clench painfully. She immediately rolled up her sleeves and tried her best to look respectful as she said: “Your Highness, this servant will attend to you.”
Forced by circumstances—a young woman must know when to bend and when to stand. She wasn’t afraid!
The man seated in the wheelchair swept his gaze over her face inch by inch, narrowing his eyes as he said: “Are you really new here?”
In the candlelight, this young servant’s face was covered in black soot.
Actually, before Yun Qingge had entered the study, the guards at the door had already reported to him that a suspicious tea-serving servant had entered the study.
He couldn’t help but think of the woman who had suppressed his poison last night, which was why he had allowed this dark-faced one into the room.
Although the face was too dark to discern features clearly, he still felt a hint of familiarity.
Yun Qingge’s hand stiffened slightly as she nodded: “Really new here…”
“The steward has never seen you before.” Ye Feimo curled his lips coldly. “The way you look… you seem more like a thief.”
Yun Qingge’s heart skipped a beat.
Right—she was a book thief.
No one had ever been a princess consort as humiliated as she was, right?
“Your Highness must be mistaken.” She immediately lowered her head, not daring to meet the man’s eyes.
Ye Feimo’s hand tapping on the armrest paused slightly. His sharp gaze cut into her as he was silent for a moment before saying: “I’ll give you a chance. Go wash your face. If you wash it clean, I’ll forgive your crime of trespassing into the Wangfu.”
Yun Qingge ground her teeth secretly, so furious she couldn’t put her feelings into words.
“Qingxuan, take her to wash her face.”
Yun Qingge thought to herself that this was bad. She planned to knock him out with her silver needle and escape before Qingxuan entered the room. She had just retreated a few dozen steps when, unexpectedly, a strange suction force came from somewhere and pulled her over instantly.
She stumbled and fell directly—onto the man’s lap.
Her chin happened to knock against it, hurting so much she grimaced.
Ye Feimo glanced at the black soot stains on his robe, and his face beneath the mask instantly darkened like ink.
Just then, Qingxuan walked into the room and happened to see Yun Qingge collapsed directly on his master’s lap, his face full of question marks.
“Master…”
Ye Feimo curled his lips coldly: “Fetch a basin of water. Have her wash her face clean!”
The soot had stained his white brocade robe, and a large chunk of black ash had fallen off Yun Qingge’s face, revealing her originally fair skin beneath.
He glanced at the “young servant” still sprawled on his lap, frowned, and was about to raise his sleeve to brush her off—when unexpectedly, his sleeve tightened.
Yun Qingge gritted her teeth and said: “Your Highness, this servant really is new here. I have no intention of harming you. Please stop making things difficult for me, Your Highness…”
“Making things difficult?” He looked down at her from above.
She was like a rogue, desperately clutching his sleeve, taking the opportunity to wipe her hands on it. She had been holding a fire striker in the study earlier, so her hands were covered in black soot and mud—now she wiped it all onto the man’s moon-white sleeve.
Ye Feimo glanced impassively at the marks on his sleeve, furrowed his brow, and commanded coldly: “Let go!”
If he hadn’t guessed that she was the female assassin from last night whose silver needles could suppress his poison, he would have strangled this woman to death right now!
Those two words carried a suppressed killing intent.
Yun Qingge lowered her head, silently pursing her lips in speechless frustration, and reluctantly released his sleeve.
“What’s your name?” Ye Feimo asked coldly.
Yun Qingge’s lips moved hesitantly before she said: “Wuming Shi.”
Ye Feimo gave her a cold sidelong glance, as if looking at an idiot.
Feeling the oppressive force of the man’s gaze, she quickly explained: “Your Highness, please don’t misunderstand. This servant’s surname is Wu. My family was poor, my parents couldn’t read a single character, so they just gave me that name.”
The man continued to look at her coolly, as if watching a joke.
“If Your Highness finds it awkward to say, you can just call me Xiao Wu from now on.”
“Xiao Shi.” He deliberately went against her wishes.
Yun Qingge gritted her teeth.
Xiao Shi? “Laugh to death”?
Fine, she’d endure it! She’d retreat safely first!
At that moment, Qingxuan actually brought over a basin of clean water, looked at Yun Qingge, and made a gesture of invitation.
How could Yun Qingge agree? She could only steel herself and clasp her fists toward Ye Feimo, saying: “Your Highness, to be honest, this servant was born ugly and unfit to be seen. I’m afraid I’d offend Your Highness’s eyes.”
These words were spoken without ill intent, but the listener took them differently.
Qingxuan frowned and scolded: “How dare you! What do you mean by that?”
One might think she was deliberately implying that Ye Feimo was disfigured.
Yun Qingge inwardly cried out in alarm and quickly added: “No, no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Where do you serve? I expect to see you again tomorrow.” He gave her a deep, penetrating look, clearly not believing she was merely a simple servant boy.
Yun Qingge let out a soft “eh” and straightened her posture, casting a suspicious glance at him.
His sudden lack of harassment was strange.
“…Your Highness, this servant is just a laborer who weeds the courtyard.” With no other option, she had to fabricate a story.
Ye Feimo eyed her obviously uneasy demeanor, a faint, mocking smile curling at his lips as he repeated: “A weeder?”
“Y-yes… yes, and this servant hasn’t been here long either.”
A bead of cold sweat dripped down Yun Qingge’s back.
Though she was certain this man wouldn’t kill her just yet, she still felt a constant sense of danger.
He fell silent, and a heavy pressure filled the room, suffocating in its intensity.
After what felt like an eternity, with Yun Qingge’s feet growing numb from standing, the man finally spoke as if granting a reprieve: “Very well, you may withdraw. I expect to see you tomorrow.”
Yun Qingge laughed inwardly.
Whatever. Even if he searched the entire Wangfu tomorrow, he wouldn’t find out who she truly was.
“If I don’t see you, I’ll issue a nationwide warrant for your arrest.”
Yun Qingge: “…” Damn man, ruthless! He was forcing her to avoid appearing in her true form!
“You may go.” With that, the man leisurely raised the teacup beside him and took a light sip, his gaze never returning to her, looking utterly disdainful.
Yun Qingge wore a fake smile as she silently retreated.
Shortly after she left, Qingxuan entered the room and asked, “Master, that servant boy…”
“Follow her immediately.” Ye Feimo tightened his grip on the teacup, the calm facade on his face instantly vanishing.
He wanted to see just who this “servant boy” really was.
If he forcibly detained her, she might refuse to cure his poison. Better to… win her over first. By letting her go, he hoped to uncover the secrets of this “female thief.”
Someone who could come and go from the Wangfu so freely without alerting the guards could only be someone within the estate…
Qingxuan was startled but dared not ask questions. He nodded and turned to dispatch someone to tail her.