The Ninth Imperial Uncle’s warning was something Jiu’er had not expected at all. Why was it that in her memory, she always felt he should be angry, and then imperiously insist she leave?

The Ninth Imperial Uncle back then was not as reasonable as the Ninth Imperial Uncle of today.

Yet no matter which Ninth Imperial Uncle it was, he always seemed so… ahem, so easy to become hopelessly drawn to.

“That…” Jiu’er still felt a little uneasy. The Ninth Imperial Uncle of the present seemed somewhat different from the one in her memory.

But when had she formed that memory? Why did she always carry this impression, yet at the crucial moment, she could not recall the details?

“That… Ninth Imperial Uncle, you are not angry that I treated the Crown Prince?”

“Why should this Prince be angry?” He raised an elegant brow, fixing his gaze on hers. “In the state he is in right now, he is hardly in any condition to do anything improper.”

“…” Feng Jiu’er was rendered speechless. So this was the real reason the Ninth Imperial Uncle was “not so imperious.”

Because he had calculated that even if Zhan Yuheng had the inclination, right now he lacked the strength?

The tips of her ears went faintly red, feeling a little hot. She glared at Zhan Qingcheng with an aggrieved look and said with pursed lips: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, please do not be so shameless — His Highness the Crown Prince is surrounded by so many young ladies. What does any of this concern you?”

Was it truly appropriate to speak of such things this matter-of-factly?

Suddenly, a cold, chilling current of air swept in. Feng Jiu’er looked up abruptly, only to find that she had already been pulled to his side by the force of his palm energy.

“Are you calling this Prince old?” He narrowed his eyes — that gaze of his was quite alarming.

Feng Jiu’er swallowed, not out of fright, but because being this close made her heart accelerate involuntarily, until even breathing became somewhat difficult.

“I… how could I?” Ninth Imperial Uncle — could he please not stand this close? She could barely breathe!

Just as Feng Jiu’er’s face was flushed, her heart racing, and she was nearly on the verge of fainting, a low, muted voice came from outside: “Your Highness, the appointed time has arrived.”

Only then did the Ninth Imperial Uncle finally release her, after casting one more glance her way.

Feng Jiu’er immediately retreated to one side, putting herself as far from him as possible.

But… “Ninth Imperial Uncle, you are leaving?”

“Departing the city tonight. For the next two days I will not be within the city walls. Remember — if the opportunity arises, leave the palace and go back to the academy.”

“I understand. I will be careful. Ninth Imperial Uncle need not worry on my account.”

“This Prince did not say he would worry.”

“…” Truly, such a stubborn mouth — even at the moment of parting, still trying to salvage some semblance of dignity. Hmph!

If he truly did not care in the least, he would not have made a point of coming here at all — when he was already rushing to leave the city — just to see her and remind her to be on her guard.

When had the Ninth Imperial Uncle become so prone to saying one thing and meaning another?

Still, it appeared the Ninth Imperial Uncle truly was in a hurry to leave the city. Under such pressing circumstances, he had still taken the time to come by, just to see her and speak with her for a moment.

It seemed, other than that, nothing particularly remarkable had happened.

The meeting had lasted barely the time it takes to burn a stick of incense…

Jiu’er stood at the entrance to the side hall, watching the Ninth Imperial Uncle depart, her feelings complex — always carrying several indescribable traces of warmth.

Even within the palace, when pressed for time, the Ninth Prince could ride on horseback — what an extraordinary privilege that was within all of Bei Mu.

Aside from those who actually resided within the palace, the Ninth Prince was likely the only one who enjoyed such an honor.

He was in such haste to leave the city — what could he possibly be doing?

He had not mentioned it, and she did not dare ask. After all, it was a matter of state. And yet she could not help but worry…

This was the second morning after the Ninth Imperial Uncle had left the imperial capital. Zhan Yuheng woke.

The news of the Crown Prince’s awakening spread throughout the entire palace in an instant. Even the Emperor came in person — one could see from this just how much he valued this prince of his.

“This subject greets Your Majesty.” When Emperor Qiwen and Empress Rong arrived, Jiu’er had just finished feeding Zhan Yuheng his medicine.

Upon learning that his beloved son had been perfectly obedient while taking his medicine — even having finished to the last drop the bitter medicine he usually most despised — Emperor Qiwen was overjoyed beyond measure.

“This time, we have your Feng Family’s Ninth Miss to thank. Afterward, We will most certainly bestow generous rewards upon your Feng Family!”

Feng Jiu’er immediately bowed with composed grace and said: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s kind praise. However, tending to the Crown Prince was a duty incumbent upon this commoner subject. This subject asks for no reward — only that His Highness may make a full recovery soon.”

“What a clever girl she is!” This was Emperor Qiwen’s first proper look at this legendary Feng Jiu’er.

What a lovely sight she was — lively and clear-eyed, genuinely beautiful!

Zhan Yuheng sat up at the bedside, and watching his imperial father and Jiu’er getting along harmoniously, he felt an indescribable comfort in his heart.

“Imperial Father, Jiu’er and your son have known each other since childhood. In years past, when Jiu’er’s mother, General Long, was still alive, she rendered many meritorious services to the court.”

When Zhan Yuheng mentioned General Long, something flickered deep within Emperor Qiwen’s eyes — it looked almost like a measure of regret.

He let out a faint sigh, and his words carried several strands of melancholy: “To think of what a magnificent and gallant figure General Long once was! If not for what happened back then…”

“Your Majesty, are you about to reminisce over the past again?” Empress Rong’s expression darkened, with a discernible hint of displeasure: “Your Majesty, the imperial son has only just woken. Should Your Majesty not say a few proper words to him?”

Feng Jiu’er had noticed it — whenever her mother was mentioned, Empress Rong’s expression became unfriendly.

She had never forgotten a scene she could still dimly recall — that memory was carved into her heart as though she had lived through it herself.

It was that peculiar fragrance! In the great fire of those years, she had clearly detected a strange and distinctive floral scent.

And the first time she had seen Empress Rong after crossing over into this world, she had detected that very same scent. And before that, the time she had been seized by those two men in black…

It had never been merely what they claimed — that she had been snatched away to be sold for money to some other man in black. She did not believe a word of that.

The most likely truth was that someone had been after her all along. Upon learning that someone had put a price on her life, those two men in black had simply gone along with it, handing her over to the man in black who had previously been wounded by the Ninth Imperial Uncle.

What they had not foreseen was that the man in black had not killed her immediately, and as a result, she had been rescued by the Ninth Imperial Uncle acting under his other identity — Di Wuya.

…Wait! How did she know that Di Wuya was the Ninth Imperial Uncle? Who had told her?

Yet she simply knew — the Ninth Imperial Uncle was Di Wuya, the Lord of the Heavenly Sovereign Sect, and Di Wuya was the Ninth Imperial Uncle…

Feng Jiu’er suddenly furrowed her brows deeply, pressing her hands forcefully against her own head.

Pain! The moment she tried to think deeply about anything related to the Ninth Imperial Uncle, her head immediately hurt!

“Jiu’er, what is the matter?” It was Zhan Yuheng who first noticed something was wrong with her.

Emperor Qiwen’s and Empress Rong’s gazes both fell upon her at the same moment.

“It’s… nothing.” Feng Jiu’er rubbed her head. As long as she stopped thinking about the Ninth Imperial Uncle, her head no longer ached the same way.

But there were matters that, it seemed, no one had ever spoken to her about — not since she had become a “simpleton.”

She looked at Emperor Qiwen and asked boldly: “Your Majesty, why did my maternal grandfather’s family move out of the imperial capital? Where are they now?”