As for Nanmen Xu’s remark about his so-called “betrothed who had yet to cross the threshold,” Feng Jiu’er was not particularly pleased.

But this was hardly the moment to bicker amongst themselves, was it? When you were in the middle of a fight, what sense was there in squabbling internally? Deal with the outside enemy first — everything else could wait.

“What do you mean, ‘betrothed who has yet to cross the threshold’? Sixth Brother, I think your eyes have grown too dim with age — you’ve even mistaken the wrong girl for a fiancée.”

Nanmen Jie fanned himself leisurely, striking the most elegant pose he could manage. “Miss, are you heading to the back mountain for training? As it happens, this Young Lord is also going to the back mountain. Why not let this Young Lord accompany you?”

Nanmen Xu concentrated his inner energy into his palm. Regardless of how his own martial skills measured up, he swore to himself — whoever dared lay a hand on Feng Jiu’er, he would fight them to the death.

Jiu’er, however, quietly waved her hand behind her back, signaling him to remain calm.

She turned her gaze to Nanmen Jie, curved her lips into a light smile, and laughed with sweet, captivating charm: “But you look so terribly unattractive — why would I ever want to go to the back mountain with you?”

“You—!” This girl — what a sharp tongue she had!

Were it not for the fact that she was genuinely beautiful, Nanmen Jie — who had never suffered so much as a grievance since childhood — would have already flown into a rage.

But the young lady truly was stunning, and this was almost certainly Feng Jiu’er herself, no mistake about it.

This girl had spent her entire life as an ugly duckling, and now that she had become beautiful, a little arrogance was understandable.

Still, he was firmly convinced that a girl who had been plain-looking for so many years must surely be starving for affection deep in her heart. This was the perfect moment to make his move.

“I believe there has been a small misunderstanding. This Young Lord and Nanmen Xu are brothers, and within the Nanman Clan, this Young Lord holds considerable rank and authority. Miss, you—”

“But I heard that among the various Young Lords of the Nanmen Clan, the one most favored by Consort Rong — oh, she’s Noble Consort Rong now, isn’t she — “

Jiu’er’s lips curved upward, her eyes crinkling with a smile so lovely it was almost dazzling — enough to make every man’s eyes go wide.

“I heard the one most favored by Noble Consort Rong is Fifth Young Master, Young Lord Tuo, while the one most beloved by General Nanmen is Seventh Young Master, Young Lord Jun. I wonder — are you Young Lord Tuo, or Young Lord Jun?”

The smile on Nanmen Jie’s face stiffened. Hadn’t he just introduced himself a moment ago? Did this girl not know who he was?

Still, the fact that Nanmen Tuo was favored by his aunt and Nanmen Jun was favored by their father — these were well-known matters throughout the household, impossible to deny even if he wished to.

At least, he was a Young Lord of the Nanmen Clan — and in terms of power, he was leagues above that penniless wretch of a fiancé, Nanmen Xu!

He let out a cold snort, unwilling to let the indignity show too plainly: “This Young Lord is neither Fifth Brother nor Seventh Brother. This Young Lord is—”

“Oh? You’re not favored by your aunt, and you’re not cherished by your father — and yet you have the audacity to claim you hold great rank and authority within the Nanmen Clan!”

Feng Jiu’er wrinkled her nose with an expression of utter disdain, then turned and took hold of Nanmen Xu’s sleeve, blinking with feigned innocence. “Xu-gege, this brother of yours is truly shameless — what a disgrace.”

“You—!” Every shred of composure Nanmen Jie possessed crumbled on the spot. He snapped his fan shut and pointed directly at Feng Jiu’er. “You wretched girl — don’t think that just because you’re somewhat good-looking, you can be insolent in front of this Young Lord!”

This girl was beautiful, to be sure, but she had no sense of what was good for her whatsoever. She had made him lose all face in front of his companions — how could he not be furious?

Though he hadn’t looked back at his companions, everyone knew they were struggling to hold back their laughter.

They all spent their days eating, drinking, and making merry together, putting on the appearance of great friendship — but beneath it all, there was always rivalry and comparison.

He, as a Young Lord of the Nanmen Clan, had always lorded it over them. And now, to be mocked by a little slip of a girl for having no power or influence — where was he supposed to put his face?

If he swallowed this humiliation today, the title of Young Lord Jie would be worth nothing from this day forward!

“You wretched girl — today, this Young Lord wants you, and I’d like to see what you can do about it!”

What was she, after all, but an unwanted little servant girl from the Feng Manor? Even if he stripped her bare right here and left her unable to show her face in the world, who would dare interfere?

Having said his piece, Nanmen Jie strode forward with great steps.

Nanmen Xu stepped up to block his path. Though he knew full well he was no match for this elder brother of his, he absolutely could not allow Jiu’er to suffer any wrong.

Nanmen Jie regarded Nanmen Xu with complete contempt. Ever since they were young, this good-for-nothing had never received any proper training to speak of.

They say that a great master produces outstanding disciples — his other brothers each had several teachers apiece, yet Nanmen Xu had not a single one.

Whatever techniques he knew now had all been picked up on his own by following military officers around in training. What was there to fear from such a worthless wretch?

Nanmen Jie snapped his fan shut and reached out to grab Feng Jiu’er. Nanmen Xu moved to intercept — but the one who pulled him back turned out to be the young woman standing behind him.

“Jiu’er—” The words had barely left Nanmen Xu’s lips when Nanmen Jie’s hand had already landed on Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder.

He hadn’t expected to catch the wretched girl so easily. Overjoyed, Nanmen Jie immediately yanked at the front of Feng Jiu’er’s collar.

Jiu’er looked as though she had been frightened out of her wits. Under cover of the commotion, she gave Nanmen Xu a shove, pushing him out of the fighting circle, then said in a low, firm voice: “Young Lord Jie — do not be insolent!”

Nanmen Xu had never anticipated that the girl would push him away. By the time he tried to rush back in, it was already too late.

Nanmen Jie had indeed managed to tear open the front of Feng Jiu’er’s collar, and his watching companions instantly lit up with excitement: “Well done, Young Lord Jie!”

In truth, all that had happened was that the front of Feng Jiu’er’s collar had been pulled open just a little — nothing could actually be seen; not even a sliver of bare skin.

But now that the collar had been pulled open, didn’t that mean there was more entertainment ahead?

Nanmen Jie was certainly not about to stop here. In a little while, he might very well strip the beauty down entirely.

Such a lovely little girl — who knew how breathtaking she would look with nothing on?

Every man stood there waiting, all but itching for Nanmen Jie to tear Feng Jiu’er’s clothes off completely.

Nanmen Xu steadied his footing, and rage flooded his eyes red in an instant — he was about to turn and charge back at Nanmen Jie.

But in the next second, something no one could have predicted happened right before their eyes.

Without warning, Nanmen Jie let out a terrible scream — and the next moment, his entire body was flung away by Feng Jiu’er. He hit the ground with a resounding crash and began foaming at the mouth, utterly unable to rise.

No one understood what had just happened. In the blink of an eye, the Young Lord Jie who had been harassing Feng Jiu’er had somehow… somehow suffered a devastating blow, and couldn’t even crawl back to his feet?

What… was going on?

Nanmen Xu quickly returned to Feng Jiu’er’s side, opening his arms wide to shield her behind him.

After a stunned silence, one of Nanmen Jie’s companions finally came to his senses: “You — Nanmen Xu, you actually injured Young Lord Jie!”

Someone had to be held responsible, after all. It couldn’t very well be said that Feng Jiu’er had beaten Nanmen Jie — that… was a bit hard to put into words.

Right now, with Nanmen Xu standing in front of Feng Jiu’er, it was most convenient to push all the blame onto him.

Otherwise, when the Nanmen family came to settle accounts, they might all end up getting swept into the mess as well.

Nanmen Xu hadn’t even had a chance to say anything when, from not far away, a deep and measured voice slowly carried over: “What’s going on here?”