Xiao Yingtao looked at Feng Jiu’er, her expression earnest: “Okay.”

Since that was how things were, no matter what kind of relationship Mu Mu and Jiu’er had, Xiao Yingtao decided she would no longer concern herself with it.

After all, Mu Mu would never belong to her. Though it did sting a little — no, it hurt, it hurt a great deal — but, once she accepted it, that would be enough.

She pressed a hand over where her heart was, taking a soft breath in: “Still… it’s a bit hard to bear. Jiu’er, I want to cry.”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing. She took her hand and led her behind a nearby cluster of flowers.

Hardly anyone passed by this spot. Even if she wanted to cry, no one would see, so at least it wouldn’t be too unsightly.

Xiao Yingtao leaned against her shoulder and truly began to cry, weeping with a forlorn sorrow.

She really had liked Mu Mu. But even Jiu’er could sense that this girl had truly made up her mind to forget him.

No — not forget. Rather, to take back that feeling she had given.

She had no idea how long she cried before she finally felt some relief.

Wiping away her tears, ignoring her swollen red eyes, she turned to Feng Jiu’er with a smile: “Let’s go. Let’s head back and rest. Starting today, I’m a brand new Xiao Yingtao.”

“Good!” No matter what, for the sake of this brand new Xiao Yingtao, they ought to raise a glass and celebrate properly.

“In a few days, I’ll take you out to eat and drink to your heart’s content.”

“It’s a promise.”

The two of them walked along the path back to Mingyue Courtyard. Xiao Yingtao had something on her mind she couldn’t help but ask: “Jiu’er, what exactly is the relationship between you and… and the Ninth Prince?”

She and Mu Mu seemed to be getting along well now, even though Jiu’er didn’t seem to feel as deeply for Mu Mu as he felt for her. But before that, Jiu’er and the Ninth Prince…

Xiao Yingtao wasn’t sure if she was simply guessing wrong, but she couldn’t help feeling that the relationship between Jiu’er and the Ninth Prince was no ordinary one.

“Me and the Ninth Prince?” Feng Jiu’er thought it over, and even she herself couldn’t quite work it out.

“I suppose it’s because the Ninth Prince is beloved by all the people, and I’m simply one among the many who admire him. So, for his sake, I’d give everything I have.”

Mm, that should be about right.

“Besides admiration, what about you and the Prince…” Xiao Yingtao glanced around to make sure no one was near, then asked in a low voice: “Is there no private affection?”

“What private affection could there possibly be?” If words like that were overheard, it could easily bring a charge of gross disrespect.

“Let’s hurry along.”

“I heard the Ninth Prince has already set off back to the imperial capital. The Dragon Cavalry Army accompanying him might arrive in a day or two.”

“So soon?” Wasn’t marching an army supposed to take a great deal of time? Why did it look as easy as playing in the mud? This speed was almost too astonishing.

“Indeed. I heard the Prince personally cut down the enemy general, drove back their forces, and then wouldn’t even stay for the victory banquet — he rushed straight back to the capital. It looks as if something important must have come up, something he had to hurry back for.”

“Did some upheaval happen at court?” Oh no! How could Feng Jiu’er have forgotten — at the time, Empress Nanmeng Rong had led a party out to pursue the Ninth Prince!

If the Empress had done such a thing, would His Majesty place the blame on the Ninth Prince?

The Empress’s recklessness could easily bring harm upon the Prince!

That wretched woman — she truly caused no end of trouble!

“That, I wouldn’t know. It’s possible something really did go wrong within the court, who can say. In any case, the Prince will be back soon — probably the day after tomorrow, in the morning.”

“Where do you get all this news from?” Surely the Dragon Martial Academy wouldn’t be the source of such information.

Xiao Yingtao grinned and leaned in close to whisper: “Xing Zizhou’s sources are remarkably well-informed. Something this big — there’s no way he wouldn’t know.”

Xing Zizhou… Feng Jiu’er fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

That fellow really did have astonishingly good information. Truly impressive.

She recalled that when she and Qiao Mu had rushed off to chase after the Ninth Prince, it had been Xing Zizhou who supplied the intelligence. All in all, that fellow really was talented.

If only he weren’t the one who had betrayed the group.

Even now, Jiu’er still couldn’t be certain who exactly was the person Zeng Lanyue had warned her to be wary of.

But everyone seemed so good to her — it was hard to suspect any one of them.

When they returned to their quarters, there was still one other girl there. Having not seen each other for so many days, the group chatted for a while before getting ready to rest — and then, unexpectedly, Huo Yan arrived.

“General Feng, please come to the Martial Practice Hall.”

Feng Jiu’er tidied herself before stepping out, then followed Huo Yan toward the Martial Practice Hall.

Along the way, the atmosphere felt a little awkward. After a good while, Feng Jiu’er finally spoke: “Commandant, I’m no ‘General Feng.’ Right now, I’m merely a student under your charge.”

Huo Yan glanced down at her, not quite certain what she meant by that.

Feng Jiu’er said, “Commandant, it’s true that the Ninth Prince was injured and went south to seek medical treatment. I only happened to receive his token, and on my own initiative took up the role of vanguard general.”

She could speak of these things now because the Prince had safely returned, and because she had also protected the people of Phoenix City — which counted as a contribution.

“At the time, Jiu’er took up the post under sudden, urgent circumstances, out of necessity that could not be avoided. Now that the Prince is about to return, the token should naturally be returned to him.”

“So please, Commandant Huo, don’t tease me about being ‘General Feng.'”

She had taken no real merit and deserved no such title; the token still needed to be returned to the Ninth Prince.

Huo Yan looked at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but in the end said nothing more, only nodding casually.

Whether or not she was truly “General Feng” was something only the Prince himself could decide; Huo Yan was merely someone who followed orders.

“Commandant, who sent for me to come to the Martial Practice Hall? Is something the matter?” Jiu’er had only just returned tonight and hadn’t had the chance to catch up on the recent happenings at the academy.

Being summoned at this hour — could it be some sort of scheme again?

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t do something so vile as to frame a loyal person.” One look at Feng Jiu’er’s expression told Huo Yan she was thinking back to the time she’d been framed before.

Huo Yan smiled wryly. “I don’t actually know what this is about either. It’s the Academician’s wish — I’m only the messenger.”

Feng Jiu’er felt a little uneasy; she and the Academician were hardly familiar with each other at all.

“Here we are. Go on in yourself.”

“Inside the room?” Feng Jiu’er was a little surprised.

She had assumed it would be in some main hall. The rooms in this Martial Practice Hall — surely those were reserved for higher-ranking personnel?

Suddenly she recalled — before she had even entered the Dragon Martial Academy, there had been that lavish feast.

It seemed… it had been in this very room?

She turned to look at Huo Yan, her expression all but saying, “You’d better not be setting me up.”

Huo Yan gave a helpless laugh. “The Academician is no wolf or tiger waiting to devour you. He’s actually quite easy to get along with.”

Feng Jiu’er let out a breath and nodded. After watching Huo Yan leave, she finally knocked on the door.

No one answered from inside. Jiu’er pushed the door open and stepped in. The moment she entered, there came a sudden bang — the door behind her had been slammed shut by someone’s palm strike.