Ninth Imperial Uncle wanted to see her!

Feng Jiu’er felt an inexplicable chill creep across the back of her neck.

In truth, she very much wanted to see Ninth Imperial Uncle too — but she didn’t dare.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle wants to see — Physician Feng, or —” Or Feng Jiu’er herself?

“I don’t know.” On that point, the Prince certainly hadn’t been specific. Yu Jingfeng scratched his head, and now that she’d asked, he found himself confused too.

“The Prince only said he wanted to see the one who made the soup. His exact words were ‘have her come see me’ — I think it must be you, Young Miss Feng Jiu’er.”

The Prince’s expression just now had been rather peculiar — and what’s more, even the former lord and Leng Yue had been sent away. What else could it be, if not because he wanted to see Feng Jiu’er?

“But how would he know —” Feng Jiu’er wasn’t certain either, whether those words she had taught Yu Jingfeng to say had given her away to Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Ninth Imperial Uncle was far too sharp. Trying to deceive him would be near impossible.

After thinking it over, not going was not an option — if she didn’t go, he might well make his way over to find her himself.

At a time like this, how could she let Ninth Imperial Uncle get up and wander about? He needed rest.

She hesitated for only a moment before making up her mind. She would go.

But — “Brother Yu, you absolutely cannot tell him about my giving him blood tonight.”

“But, Young Miss Feng Jiu’er, your arm is wounded this badly. The Ninth Prince cannot possibly miss it — won’t he see when the robe is removed —”

Suddenly, Yu Jingfeng bit down hard on his own tongue and could have slapped himself senseless.

How could he go saying something like that so carelessly? Even though he had indeed witnessed the two of them in a state of dishevelment before, and without thinking too hard about it, one could easily guess how intimate the atmosphere must have been between them that night.

But could he just say that sort of thing in front of a young lady?

Sure enough, when he stole a glance at Feng Jiu’er, she had turned a deep crimson and looked as though she would very much like to give him a kick that sent him flying.

“Ahem! I misspoke, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, truly, I really didn’t —”

“Are you going to leave or not?” So much nonsense! Who knew what earth-shattering words might tumble out of him next.

“I really didn’t mean it that way, it’s just that you two —”

“I said leave!”

“All right, I’m leaving.” Yu Jingfeng turned to go. This topic was truly mortifying — made all the worse by the fact that he was the one who had brought it up.

Honestly, why did he have to go looking for trouble?

“Wait — get back here first!” Feng Jiu’er’s expression was stern, though her cheeks were flushed a rosy red. Still, the dignity she carried couldn’t be allowed to crumble.

That wretch — did he not know she was a girl too?

The blush was beyond her control. Even if she forced herself to appear perfectly calm on the surface, the color in her cheeks simply would not fade.

“Oh.” Yu Jingfeng turned back and walked a few steps toward her, stopping before her. “I’m back, Young Miss Feng Jiu’er. Was there something else?”

As for why he was this obedient to Feng Jiu’er — going when she told him to go, coming back when she told him to come back — the reason was simple: the Ninth Prince was currently counting on Young Miss Feng Jiu’er to survive.

Young Miss Feng Jiu’er was now his Guanyin, his Bodhisattva, his divine goddess — how could he not wait upon her hand and foot?

“Remember — do not tell Ninth Imperial Uncle about this matter.” Feng Jiu’er gave him a pointed look.

“But —” Yu Jingfeng wore an expression of utter helplessness. The Prince’s particular habit of removing Feng Jiu’er’s robes was not something he could control.

“In any case, just don’t say it. You must remember — not a word.” Feng Jiu’er pursed her lips, her face going redder by the moment. “I’ll handle it myself. As for you — you may actually leave now.”

“Don’t you need me to take you to the Prince’s chambers?”

“……” Finally, with a glare, she said, “Take me there first, then leave!”

“As you command!”

Outside the Ninth Prince’s bedchamber, several guards stood watch in the courtyard; more than a dozen more were posted at the rear courtyard; the inner and outer perimeters of both side courtyards were occupied by soldiers from the Longqi Army.

Together with Yu Jingfeng, who had escorted her here and then retreated to stand guard in a corner, the courtyard could truly be said to be defended without a single gap.

Unless they encountered someone of the same unnaturally powerful martial arts as that black-robed man from before, there generally shouldn’t be any serious trouble.

Besides, that elderly man in the wheelchair looked, at a single glance, like someone of immense hidden depth.

Though Feng Jiu’er hadn’t had the opportunity to approach him, he was a person even Qiao Mu did not dare come near — his strength was beyond question. Feng Jiu’er had no need to doubt that.

The door was left slightly ajar. Feng Jiu’er hesitated at the threshold for a moment before pushing it open and stepping inside.

She entered, and casually turned to close the door behind her. When she looked up, that figure clothed in white swept into her sight all at once.

Only then did she understand — how deep longing truly ran. The moment she saw him, the tip of her nose ached, her heart ached, even her eyes ached.

This bittersweet sensation — she had never experienced it before. It was as though something had simultaneously and forcefully pierced her nose, her eyes, and her heart all at once.

So very sour, so very sharp — sharp enough that tears nearly forced their way out.

What a strange feeling. This kind of heartache — Feng Jiu’er was experiencing it for the very first time in her life.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle…” She called out to him softly, wanting to go to him, yet in that moment, her legs were as though weighted down by a thousand catties.

She couldn’t move — not even half a step.

Ninth Imperial Uncle — he had grown thinner. Though his color had recovered just a little, he looked haggard. So haggard.

That one word — “Ninth Imperial Uncle” — made Zhan Qingcheng’s palm clench tightly as he sat with his eyes closed in meditation. He did not open his eyes to look at her; he only responded lightly, “Mm.”

Still that familiar voice — still that melodious and compelling voice that could drive women to madness.

Feng Jiu’er drew a deep breath. She could no longer hold herself back. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him.

Just let her be bold for a moment — just one small moment. In that instant, she so desperately wanted to hold him, just hold him and nothing more.

The man seemed to have not expected her to be so enthusiastic — to throw herself at him with such a warm embrace the very moment she arrived.

His composedly feigned face of indifference gradually began to crack, and at last, something shifted within him. He could no longer remain unmoved.

His starlit eyes opened just slightly; he tilted his gaze downward to look at the small head buried in his chest. Though his gaze was written with tender indulgence, the words that came from his lips carried reproof.

“Who gave you permission to be so bold and reckless?” To travel to Phoenix City under his name, of all things — she truly had no small amount of nerve!

Feng Jiu’er did not lift her head. She still held tightly to his lean, firm waist. “Ninth Imperial Uncle gave me permission!”

“Nonsense. When did this Prince ever give such permission?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle gave me the token — that was telling me I could do as I pleased.”

“You girl —” Zhan Qingcheng’s large hand fell atop her head, and he exhaled a helpless, faint sigh. “So willful!”

“Even if I am willful, it was Ninth Imperial Uncle who spoiled me that way — it is Ninth Imperial Uncle’s responsibility.”

These words from Feng Jiu’er, Zhan Qingcheng found he could not refute.

From the moment he had given her that token, hadn’t he already silently consented that this girl could do as she wished?

She was willful, yes — and indeed, he had spoiled her into it.

No matter what, she was here before him now at last. The anxious heart that had worried the entire journey finally settled.

“Raise your head — let me look at you.”