Drive the Tiger to Devour the Wolf

The woman sitting at the very top was dressed in a light green, gold-threaded feather garment, her hair piled high in a cloud-like bun adorned with a hollowed-out red gold peacock hairpin. Standing neatly beside her were four or five maids dressed in silver-fox fur jackets, each one of them beautiful and charming.

"You have an appointment with a friend? Ordinary people cannot enter the Marquis Wuwen estate at will; surely young master Yi knows this rule. Besides, the First Lady asked to see you today. If you don't arrive on time, it makes things very difficult for us servants."

Facing these four or five expressionless guards and the whispering of the people nearby, Hong Yi did not show excessive surprise, worry, or fear. Instead, he flicked his sleeves with calm confidence. He did not stand up, but merely rubbed the thumb ring on his finger.

The title of Princess Zhennan of the Divine Wind Kingdom was not bestowed by the ruler of the Divine Wind Kingdom, but was personally conferred by the Emperor of the Great Gan Dynasty. Years ago, when the Yunmeng Kingdom attacked Yujing, they also sent an army from the southern seas. The Divine Wind Kingdom, then a vassal state of the Great Gan Dynasty, sent troops to intercept them alongside the Great Gan navy, resulting in a fierce battle that routed the Yunmeng army.

"What? Hong Yi has been brought here? Then tell him to come over and kneel in the courtyard first." Lady Zhao saw the guards and spoke in a calm tone, stroking a cat in her hands.

The students in the Imperial Academy were all related to the Marquis Wuwen estate, and they were well aware of Hong Yi's status within the estate and the subtle relationships involved.

"What?" Lady Zhao stood up abruptly.

"Ordinary people? Not ordinary people. Hmm? Since you have come, that is perfect. Go to the Imperial Academy opposite and invite Princess Zhennan of the Divine Wind Kingdom for me; she said she would be visiting the estate today. You should also take this iron thumb ring as proof, so that when you encounter her guards, you have a token." Hong Yi took the iron thumb ring from his hand, placed it on the table, and said to the guard who had spoken.

"You go back and notify the First Lady to prepare; I will go to the Imperial Academy." The guard leader said hurriedly, then took the ring and rushed off to the Imperial Academy.

"However, I have an appointment with a friend today to visit the estate. I think I will meet this friend first, and then return to the estate to pay my respects to the First Lady."

Hong Yi was selective about the people he befriended, and the other party's innocence reminded him of the little fox in the valley.

There were two women sitting in the main hall, with a crowd of maids serving them.

Although these guards did not understand how Hong Yi could know Princess Zhennan, Hong Yi possessed a genuine thumb ring, and the matter was of great importance, so they dared not be the slightest bit negligent.

Just then, a guard walked in hurriedly.

She was holding a small, pure white cat in her arms.

"This really is Princess Zhennan's thumb ring. Last time Princess Zhennan went to the Rong Prince's estate to read, the First Lady of that estate prepared for days, and the etiquette was so perfect that even the Emperor was pleased when he heard of it... If she comes to our estate..."

"That is true, that is true."

"Although doing this will greatly embarrass Lady Zhao, and life will be even harder in the future, but... I never intended to stay in the estate for long. Once the imperial examinations are over and I become a Juren, I can move out in a legitimate manner."

"I find it strange. Hong Yi has always been evasive when encountering trouble in the past; why is he being so tough today?"

One of the guards took the ring, weighed it, and then saw the characters on it; his expression changed.

"Hong Yi... why have you only come to find me now... I have things I want to tell you. But this month has been truly too busy; I have been in the Imperial Palace."

Just as Hong Yi was thinking, a noisy sound suddenly came from the entrance of the academy, and a crisp voice rang out.

In short, many people believed that Hong Yi was in for trouble this time.

Now that Princess Zhennan had come of age, she had come to the Great Gan capital of Yujing to study and visit the Emperor in the palace. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress all liked her very much and formally recognized her as an adopted daughter; her status was extraordinary. Even if she went to the homes of dukes and ministers, the ladies and noblewomen of the house had to observe perfect etiquette; otherwise, if it reached the Emperor's ears that the Great Gan had been discourteous, the consequences would be grave.

"Sister, who in our estate does not say you manage the household well? As for someone like Hong Yi, if I may be so bold, if he were in any other noble house, he would have been secretly sabotaged and killed long ago. How could he be like this, with you being so tolerant? You provide annual funds and monthly rice, his monthly allowance has never been short, you have never abused him, and you even let him study in peace. Who would have known he would turn out to be such an ungrateful wolf? The Marquis told him not to practice martial arts, yet he practiced in secret. Clearly, he wants to fight for status for that dead, lowly mother of his, wanting that lowly woman's status to be placed above yours and breaking the rules of our estate. Look at how vicious his heart is. This time he injured my Rong Pan and Gui'er. You can no longer be tolerant; you must take charge."

A guard heard Hong Yi's words, and a trace of imperceptible coldness appeared on his expressionless face. Although his words were polite, there was no doubt that they would take action if Hong Yi refused.

Hong Yi stood up quickly, and he saw that Luo Yun had changed into light, casual women's clothing, looking slender and graceful.

Hong Yi spoke unhurriedly.

In wealthy families, the emphasis is on etiquette, especially in front of a foreign princess.

"I have already sent someone to call Hong Yi; I doubt he would dare not come."

Marquis Wuwen's main residence.

"This time, Hong Yi is in trouble. The punishment will surely be severe."

"Indeed, let's go back and watch the show later."

"In any case, his return trip will be disastrous."

"I have an appointment with Princess Zhennan today. You take this ring to the Imperial Academy and say that Hong Yi invites her. If she comes later and does not see me, and some rumors arise..." Hong Yi added.

A cold light flashed in Lady Zhao's eyes, but her tone remained very calm.

Later, when the Emperor bestowed rewards, the ruler of the Divine Wind Kingdom requested the title of Princess Zhennan for his unborn daughter. (If it had been a boy, it would have been Prince Zhennan.)

The reason Hong Yi dared to strike Hong Gui today was that he had a small plan in mind; otherwise, he would have chosen to avoid the conflict for the time being.

"I have already learned the cause of the matter. Your Hong Gui was at fault for charging on horseback. However, this Hong Yi dared to break the Marquis's prohibition and practice martial arts in secret, so I must enforce the family law; otherwise, how can we manage the seven or eight hundred people in our estate?"

"Very well." The guard was truly afraid of causing any trouble.

"I don't know, perhaps he lost his composure. But looking at that move he used to hit Hong Gui, it was clean and efficient; I don't know where he learned such martial arts."

The people in the academy finally reacted from their stupor.

Princess Luo Yun, don't blame me for using you as a shield, but I, Hong Yi, am borrowing your influence and will certainly compensate you, Hong Yi thought to himself.

Seeing one guard leave, another guard hurried toward the Marquis's estate.

Hong Yi felt a sense of relief in his heart.

Luo Yun had asked Hong Yi to find her to play that day, and now it had come in handy.

"Princess Zhennan is coming to our estate and is already on her way. I have come ahead to inform you, My Lady." The guard said hurriedly.

"Princess Zhennan is coming to the estate!"

As soon as the four or five guards heard the words "Princess Zhennan," their expressions showed extreme surprise, but then a look of doubt appeared on their faces, their eyes fixed on the iron thumb ring on the table.

This woman was none other than Lady Zhao of the First House, who managed the internal affairs of the entire estate, which had seven or eight hundred people.

This iron thumb ring had a unique design, with chrysanthemum-like cloud patterns, and the body of the ring was carved with extremely delicate, twisted characters. They were the characters of the Divine Wind Kingdom. And that iron thumb ring was made of the Divine Wind Kingdom's Chrysanthemum Cloud-Pattern Steel, which was more expensive than an equal weight of gold.

Seeing the four or five guards from the estate burst into the school, the students scattered around began to whisper.

Hong Xuejiao had befriended the "Duke of Xiaoli" Jing Yuxing, and the two were close and likely to become a couple. With the hope of becoming a Duchess in the future, her status in the estate had risen steadily, and even the First Lady had to be somewhat cautious of her.

It was the Luo Yun he had met by chance at the "Guan Shi Shop" that day. Hong Yi thought to himself.

A woman studying at the Imperial Academy, a foreign royal, a chrysanthemum cloud-pattern ring—it was very easy for Hong Yi to investigate, and he naturally knew she was "Princess Zhennan."

"Is the First Lady calling me back?"

Saying this, she turned and pulled Hong Yi out of the academy.

That day at the "Guan Shi Shop," Hong Yi had seen through Luo Yun's identity, which was why he had approached her. He had even disregarded the decorum of a scholar to talk to her about the path of immortality, harboring the intention of making her acquaintance...

Sigh...

Just then, the woman sitting below Lady Zhao spoke. This woman was also dressed in a very luxurious manner, her lips moving as she spoke with a sharp tongue.

"The First Lady never really liked him, and today he actually beat his brother. Although that Hong Gui was reckless on horseback, the Third Lady is not someone to be trifled with."

As soon as Luo Yun saw Hong Yi, she spoke as innocently as before, then took the ring from her hand and handed it back to Hong Yi. "I have long wanted to visit the Marquis Wuwen estate. Marquis Wuwen is an incredible person; my father often mentions him. Let's go, let's go to your home and chat."

The few guards looked at each other, and one of them couldn't help but mutter in a low voice.

"Quick, light the incense, get all the maids ready, and go to the gate to welcome her! We must not ruin the etiquette!" Lady Zhao ordered immediately! Her expression was tense.

At this moment, hearing the conversation between Hong Yi and the guards, many people's eyes widened. No one had expected such a turn of events.

This woman had no wrinkles on her face, her skin was fair and clean, and she appeared to be only in her thirties or nearly forty. Between her brows, there was a graceful, scholarly air, but her eyebrows were slightly straight, revealing a sharp edge.