Chapter 2, Imperial Edict (1)

Yun Feifei pushed against the tightly closed vermilion door, shot a glance at Dingxiang, and said: "Fool, who said we must enter through the main door? The wall by the side door is quite low; we can just jump over it!"

The Yun family is also a family of officials. Yun Feifei's grandfather, Yun Yuan, was originally a founding general who fought for the previous emperor and held significant military power. However, as the saying goes, a new emperor brings new ministers. More than three years ago, after the new emperor Sima Cheng ascended to the throne, personnel changes became frequent. Yun Yuan was well aware that he had long been a target of suspicion, so he took the opportunity to request retirement. The new emperor granted his request and simultaneously posthumously honored his deceased eldest son, Yun Zhi, as a General of the Cavalry, while promoting his second son, Yun Cong, to the position of Counsellor. This was a military officer being assigned a civil post, which also implied a subtle demotion. Although Yun Cong was dissatisfied, he did not dare to express his anger, blaming only himself for not supporting the new emperor, who was still the third prince at the time, during the struggle for succession.

The lilac pleaded repeatedly: "Miss, please spare me, it would not be good if they hear the commotion inside!"

Yun Feifei was born into a military family and had learned some skills over a few days. It was no problem for her to jump over the wall, but pulling Xiangling up to the top of the wall and then sending her down to the courtyard required quite a bit of effort. When she finally reached her own room, she lit the fire stick, only to suddenly see a formidable dark figure pounce in front of her, causing her to cry out in shock, and the fire stick fell straight down.

Dingxiang murmured: "It is already the hour of the rat, one might say it is this morning!"

Ding Xiang murmured: "Young Master Qin has excellent martial skills. As long as you do not wander around recklessly, is there any need to worry about him being unable to protect you in the future?"

The Yun Zhi couple passed away early, leaving behind a daughter, Yun Feifei, who relied on her grandfather and uncle for her livelihood. Yun Yuan, feeling pity for her since she had been lonely and helpless since childhood, inevitably indulged her. As a result, she acted capriciously and recklessly. By the time he thought of imposing restrictions, she had already become a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, impossible to rein in again. Only when Yun Yuan was angry did she show a hint of fear.

Yun Feifei's legs went weak, and she fell to her knees, exclaiming: "Grandfather!"

Having settled the drunkard, it was already close to midnight. Yun Feifei hurriedly took Dingxiang home. Unfortunately, the Yun residence was already shrouded in darkness, and when peering through the crack of the door, not a glimmer of light could be seen inside

Yun Yuan glared at the two of them and after a long while said: "Since you are in such good spirits, able to play until midnight and return, it must be no problem for you to stay awake for a day or two! Go kneel in the ancestral hall at home, and do not rise without my command!"

The lilac let out a mournful cry again

As I looked out the window, the first light of dawn appeared, and the candles before the ancestral tablets slowly lost their brilliance, dwindling to two tiny flames that flickered weakly. Dingxiang murmured, "Miss, the ground is so cold... the floor is so hard... my knees hurt so much..."

This time Yun Feifei did not hit her on the head. Because she herself let out a cry of pain

"Who told you not to practice your lightness skill with me usually?" Yun Feifei was about to give Dingxiang a playful knock on the head, but Dingxiang had already crouched down, hugging her head. Yun Feifei looked at her with a face full of regret and said: "What a pity, your physique is much better than mine. If you were to take it seriously, you would probably have learned it better than I have by now"

Yun Feifei rolled her eyes, truly at a loss for what to do with the girl who had a head as thick as a wooden block.

Yun Feifei hung his head, constantly dozing off, murmuring: "You are so talkative..." yet he lacked the strength to fly over and give a light tap.

That person was quick and nimble, and with a light scoop, he had already grasped the fire stick in his hand, illuminating his aged yet spirited face, with his beard and hair all standing on end, glaring angrily at Yun Feifei.

At this moment, seeing that Yun Yuan was still waiting in his own room at three in the morning, Yun Feifei already sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly knelt down to admit his mistake

"Miss! Miss!" Dingxiang trembled as she hurriedly followed Yun Feifei, saying, "This is bad, it's already past midnight, the main gate is closed!"

Yun Feifei suddenly felt her face flush, and she reached out to pinch Ding Xiang's mouth, exclaiming: "You little brat, if you don't speak, will someone take you for a mute?"

Yun Feifei replied with a soft "Hmm": "I fear that grandfather and uncle must be asleep by now. After all, grandfather is quite old, and uncle never pays attention to me, especially since he has to attend the morning court tomorrow."

The lilac mournfully exclaimed: "Jumping over the wall again? The last time I jumped over the wall, I sprained my ankle, and it took a full two weeks to heal!"