The Long Family had once been a family of powerful ministers — warriors for generations.

Feng Jiu’er’s mother, Long Feiyan, had been the most outstanding general of her generation.

Though a woman, when it came to conducting military campaigns, she not only held her own against men, she was even more astute.

She could scheme from behind a command tent, and on the battlefield she could overturn the tides with ease, striking fear into the enemy forces of every nation.

Though Feng Jiu’er had practically no memory of her mother, she had frequently heard of General Long’s deeds from her grandfather’s own lips.

Some memories were indeed hazy — as though forcibly implanted — but at least there was still some impression left.

Long Feiyan had made her name over a decade ago. By accounts, at that time she had been a young woman in her teens, yet she could already hold a pass against ten thousand men, and had become the commander of an entire army.

In those years, the Zhan imperial dynasty had only been established for a few years, and the situation was turbulent — beset by internal troubles and external threats. By all accounts, the Zhan imperial dynasty had come close to being overthrown entirely.

At that time, both the Long Family and the Nanmen clan had rendered tremendous meritorious service to the Zhan imperial dynasty. It could be said that without the Long Family and the Nanmen clan, there would be no Zhan imperial household today.

Yet the Nanmen clan had since gone from strength to strength, commanding such formidable military power.

And the Long Family? Why had no one ever mentioned the Long Family’s affairs to Feng Jiu’er? What had befallen the Long Family over these years? Even the Feng Family patriarch had never breathed a single word about it.

Feng Jiu’er’s question caused Emperor Qiwen’s expression to shift at once, while Nanmen Rong’s face became unspeakably dark.

“Feng Jiu’er, that you can still live so peacefully within the Feng Family is something for which you should thank the Emperor’s benevolent grace. Matters concerning the Long Family are never to be raised again!”

Jiu’er’s five fingers clenched tight. Before she could say anything, Zhan Yuheng immediately said: “Jiu’er is still young and understands nothing. Imperial Father, please forgive her.”

Emperor Qiwen’s expression did not reveal any displeasure. Yet his expression had unmistakably shifted just now.

He was not like Empress Rong — when the Long Family was mentioned, it seemed as though there was simply something that could not be said aloud. But Empress Rong was plainly hostile toward the Long Family.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and said no more.

Seeing that Zhan Yuheng had no serious complications, Emperor Qiwen spoke a few words with him and then departed. Empress Rong personally escorted him to the door. Jiu’er had originally thought the Empress would certainly return to make trouble for her — yet to her surprise, the Empress simply left.

This was practically a miracle! Every time she and Zhan Yuheng were together, had the Empress ever not intervened?

This time, knowing perfectly well that the inner chamber held only the two of them, the Empress had left without a care?

It looked very much as though the Empress had deliberately left the two of them alone together.

Before Feng Jiu’er’s bewilderment had subsided, she saw Zhan Yuheng propping himself up and trying to rise.

Her eyes darkened slightly, and she immediately stopped him: “You are seriously injured. Do not move about on your own.”

Today was only the second day since he had been wounded. She wasn’t sure whether it was because ancient people cultivated martial arts and recovered quickly, but those in this world who suffered injuries always healed far faster than people from the modern era!

In the modern world, if someone were injured this badly, never mind being able to sit up by the second day — even by the third day they would not necessarily be able to roll over, let alone sit up.

Just from the wound alone — did he not know how much it hurt?

Seeing the faint expression of reproach in her eyes, Zhan Yuheng was not the least bit angered. Instead, he felt a warmth spread through his heart.

“Jiu’er, are you worried about me?”

Feng Jiu’er felt a touch of exasperation. Whenever this fellow spoke to her without using “this Crown Prince” and used “I” instead, something was surely up.

She said: “I am presently the Crown Prince’s attending physician. If something were to go wrong with the Crown Prince, Jiu’er’s head could be removed at any moment by your imperial father and mother…”

“It would not!” Zhan Yuheng grew a little agitated, afraid she harbored ill feelings toward his family. He quickly added: “I promise it would not.”

Just afraid that if you truly did end up with some mishap, even your promise would carry no strength to back it.

But this, Feng Jiu’er did not say aloud. “In any case, the Crown Prince must still take good care of himself, and not make me suffer along with him.”

“Is it truly only because you are afraid I might suffer something, and you would then be made to suffer, that you are concerned for me?” He sounded slightly disappointed.

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er nodded emphatically, refusing to give him any opportunity to let his imagination wander.

But once a person has made up their mind about certain things, how could they possibly not let their imagination wander?

“Are you still angry? Is that it?” Was that why she was being this cold toward him?

Feng Jiu’er felt a little impatient, truly unsure how to dispel this notion from his mind.

“Your Highness…”

“Can you not call me Heng-gege, as you used to?” He stared at her face intently, his eyes full of expectation.

Let them stop being angry, stop quarreling. He already knew now why she had kept the truth from him all those years. And now that he knew, he would absolutely never let her suffer again.

“Jiu’er, in the past, we…”

“Your Highness, there is a distinction between sovereign and subject. Your Highness is of the imperial family, while Jiu’er is nothing more than a common woman. Naturally, one must address you as ‘Your Highness.’ The realm has its laws, the palace has its rules — please do not press me, Your Highness. Do not let Jiu’er be punished simply for improper address.”

He said nothing. This girl — and she insisted she was not angry. Was this her way of resenting the fact that his imperial mother was always pinning trumped-up charges on her?

There was no need to fear. From this day forward, never again!

“Call me however you wish.” She knew, after all, that following proper court etiquette was a good thing. Did that mean she had already decided she would be staying in the palace for a long time?

With so many eyes and ears in the palace, a little propriety was always for the best.

But Feng Jiu’er was thinking of something else entirely. The Ninth Imperial Uncle had only just reminded her last night that she should seize the first opportunity to leave the palace.

Zhan Yuheng looked in no serious danger now — surely they would no longer need her here?

“Your Highness, Jiu’er has a request.”

“Speak freely.”

“I…”

“Miss Feng, the medicine has arrived.” Suddenly, Qing Yun’s voice came from outside.

Feng Jiu’er sighed helplessly — of all times for it to arrive. She could hardly announce she was leaving right now. She would have to wait until this batch of medicine had been decocted first.

Qing Yun had only brought the herbs. Jiu’er was in the habit of decocting the medicine herself, right here. So she stepped out from the inner chamber and went to prepare the medicine outside.

Zhan Yuheng sat on the bed, tilting his head to watch the slender silhouette beyond the canopy curtain.

The image of her busy at work for his sake was carved into his heart just like that, and from this day on, it could never be erased.

In the past, it was he who had not known how to cherish her, who had not understood her heart, and had thus missed chance after chance.

He truly regretted it now. If he had not asked his imperial father to annul the betrothal back then, Jiu’er should already be his Crown Princess by now.

But as things stood, due to his imperial mother’s interference, his imperial father had betrothed Jiu’er to Nanmen Xu. With the imperial decree already issued, reversing this matter would be no easy task.

Yet no matter how difficult, he was absolutely determined to have this engagement cancelled. Jiu’er — in this lifetime, she could only marry him!

Before long, Feng Jiu’er brought in the decocted medicine and personally fed it to Zhan Yuheng.

After she had set down the empty bowl, Zhan Yuheng suddenly gripped her wrist in both hands, his expression full of agitation: “Jiu’er! In the past, I know it was my fault. Now, I want…”

Then suddenly, his five fingers clenched tight, and his complexion underwent a drastic change…