Must not miss this opportunity — what exactly did that mean?

Who were these people? Why had Liuli always addressed Mu Mu’s master as Palace Master, while Mu Mu himself was called Young Palace Master?

Mu Mu had previously said he was a disciple of Master Wuyou. That much had surely been verified by the Imperial Academy. But why had the title of Young Palace Master suddenly appeared?

Though Feng Jiu’er had spent these recent days among them, she had never closely examined who these people actually were.

After all, they were all people who had saved her life.

But why had they suddenly become connected to the Ninth Prince?

“Who’s there?” There was a sudden surge ahead, and a grey-clad figure lunged straight toward her.

Jiu’er drew a sharp breath, instinctively shifted her footing — and the person’s hand barely grazed past her shoulder, failing to catch her on the first try.

But who was Ye Luosha? A martial artist of many decades’ practice, with profound inner cultivation — how could she possibly be resisted by someone like Feng Jiu’er!

The instant that first strike missed, she curled her five fingers inward and snapped back with a reverse hook. Jiu’er immediately felt a sharp stabbing pain through her shoulder blade, and all strength drained from one side of her body.

“Master, do not hurt her!” Mu Mu’s tall, lean figure arrived before them in an instant, and his large hand came down atop Ye Luosha’s, careful not to press hard.

But placing it there was itself a measure — to prevent Ye Luosha from suddenly releasing her inner energy and injuring Feng Jiu’er.

Ye Luosha turned to look at him, her brow creasing deeply.

This little wretch — actually guarding against her! Truly, a child once grown forgets his mother the moment he finds a wife!

She shot him a glance, then released Feng Jiu’er — though her wariness toward the girl remained intact.

“What did you just hear?” The girl should not have been capable of this right now…

She turned to look at Elder Shi not far away, a thread of puzzlement in her eyes.

Elder Shi shook his head, signaling that she need not worry.

He walked over and suddenly spoke with a smile. “Mu Mu will be returning to the imperial capital soon. Have you not been doing things on the Ninth Prince’s behalf? Once the Ninth Prince returns to the capital, seize the opportunity to distinguish yourself in the Prince’s eyes.”

Mu Mu said nothing, only nodded.

Elder Shi continued. “It has always been said: first establish a family, then build your career. Since you and Miss Jiu’er are drawn to each other, why not let the Palace Master make the decision and have you two wed within the next two days?”

Wed.

Mu Mu’s heart lurched. This was something he had never considered.

Though he had determined that Feng Jiu’er was to be his wife, he had never imagined it happening so soon — and besides, he still had no idea what Jiu’er’s own feelings were.

Ye Luosha naturally understood what Elder Shi meant. She looked at Feng Jiu’er — a girl toward whom she had never shown much warmth.

“You owe me a life. Since my Mu’er is so fond of you, you shall marry him.”

“Palace Master, tomorrow is an auspicious day.”

“Good. Wed tomorrow, depart for the imperial capital the day after.”

……

By the time Mu Mu escorted Feng Jiu’er back to her room, she was still in something of a daze, her mind not quite right.

“If you’re unhappy, I’ll tell them. There’s no need to worry — it’ll be fine.”

Mu Mu helped her to the chair and brought her a cup of warm tea. “Your hands are a little cold — drink some warm water to settle your stomach.”

Jiu’er came back to herself. But it wasn’t the tea that caught her eye — it was Mu Mu’s head of white hair.

What the Palace Master had said moments ago rose again in her ears. “For your sake, my Mu’er’s hair has gone white. If you don’t marry him and become his wife in this lifetime, how could you ever repay such a debt?”

“If you’re still fickle-hearted over some other man, can you face my Mu’er with a clear conscience? Someone wanted you dead — it was my Mu’er who refused to spare even his own life to save yours.”

“Feng Jiu’er, your life was bought by Mu’er with his own life, traded for this head of white hair. If you spurn him, do you still deserve to call yourself human?”

Feng Jiu’er looked up at Mu Mu. The man before her was as strikingly handsome as ever — even with all-white hair, it did nothing to diminish his unparalleled looks.

Beauty like that — apart from the Ninth Prince, there was truly no one else but Mu Mu.

How could Jiu’er possibly spurn him? He was genuinely beautiful — one in ten thousand.

He simply lacked the Ninth Prince’s renown. Otherwise, the title of second most handsome man under heaven — he could absolutely hold it.

“I don’t spurn you. Truly.” She simply didn’t know how to feel about getting married — it felt strange somehow, though she couldn’t have said exactly why.

Since waking up, the one who had always been at her side was Mu Mu.

She didn’t know quite what to make of what she and Mu Mu were to each other. It felt more like the bond of comrades, she thought. From the early days of training together as a team, to later, when Mu Mu had followed her lead without hesitation…

“Actually — Mu Mu, why did you suddenly leave the unit? What happened to it?”

“With the Ninth Prince returning to the unit, the matter was smoothed over. Even if certain people had questions, as long as the Ninth Prince was back with the army, those questions could only remain questions.”

Mu Mu’s words finally put her mind at ease.

As long as Phoenix City held, His Majesty should have no further cause for rebuke — this matter could be considered cleanly settled.

But the problem now was…

Seeing the faint dimming in Feng Jiu’er’s eyes, Mu Mu suddenly turned and walked toward the wardrobe.

He was actually packing things!

It seemed he was packing a bundle?

“Mu Mu, where are you going?” Feng Jiu’er stood up and walked to stand behind him. “Are those… my clothes you’re packing?”

“This is your room. If not your clothes, whose would I be packing?” Mu Mu replied with a faint smile, not even turning his head.

“So I… you want me to leave?” Was this his way of saying he didn’t want to get married either? Or was he trying to spare her from a difficult situation?

“I have determined that you are my wife. I will not take another in this lifetime. Rest assured — I won’t drive you away.”

He had a reasonable grasp of this girl’s thoughts, more or less.

He finished packing her bundle, set it on the bed, and covered it with a blanket. Then he turned to face her and said, “Wait here for me a moment.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er had no idea what else he was going to fetch — presumably things for her to take along.

Honestly, leaving might be for the best. After all, now that they were talking about marriage, her heart felt as though it hadn’t quite caught up.

But leaving would also be irresponsible. Her life had been saved by both Mu Mu and the Palace Master — just walking away like that would be deeply unconscionable.

And yet marriage… why did it always feel as though something heavy was pressing on her chest?

She didn’t know how long she sat in the room, but eventually the door was pushed open — and Mu Mu walked in, something strapped to his back.

“You…” He actually had a pack on his back as well. He was planning to leave with her?

“Since we’re both heading to the imperial capital anyway, we might as well go now.” Mu Mu walked to the bed, picked up Feng Jiu’er’s bundle too, and slung them both onto his own back.

“Jiu’er, let’s go — any later and we’ll be found out.”

“What happens if we’re found out?” Feng Jiu’er was still a little blank-faced, sitting in the chair, looking up at him, making no move.