When Jiu’er saw Mu Mu’s expression at that moment, she did feel a faint softening in her heart.

After all, they had once faced life and death together — they were the best of friends.

But how could she allow herself to soften? These people were right now devising ways to bring harm to the Ninth Imperial Uncle!

To show them any softness was to be cruel to the Ninth Imperial Uncle. Absolutely not.

Jiu’er lowered her gaze, concealing her thoughts, then lifted her head again to look at him: “I won’t run anymore. I know the consequences of trying to escape would be terrible. So — does that mean you don’t have to seal my acupoints every single moment?”

Being carried around like a cripple the entire time was truly unbearable.

“You truly won’t run?” Getting this girl to yield was impossible — but if she could come to understand things on her own, that was at least something.

He didn’t want to keep using force on her, nor did he want to see her in pain.

“There’s no escaping anyway, is there?” She turned her face away.

“Good. As long as you behave, I won’t make things hard for you.”

And if she didn’t behave? Would he then make things hard for her?

She shouldn’t place any more hope in Mu Mu. Right now, she had to rely on herself.

“I don’t want to eat with the others. Can it just be the two of us?”

And so the two of them indeed ate apart from the group, sharing a meal in that rundown room with no one to disturb them.

Feng Jiu’er’s chopsticks picked through the dishes for quite a while, yet she still couldn’t find anything she wanted to eat.

Mu Mu felt a pang of concern: “Is the food not to your taste? I’ll have them bring you a different portion.”

“Have who bring it?” Jiu’er gave him a sideways glance. “You’re all fugitives right now. Did you bring many people along?”

Mu Mu was momentarily at a loss. They truly hadn’t brought many people, and the food was indeed simple and makeshift.

“In a few more days, once all of this is over, I’ll make sure you eat well.” His voice was soft with reassurance.

“What will be over? Is it the matter of plotting against the Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er bit her lip and set down her chopsticks, her gaze vacant and empty.

“Did you truly send those things to the Ninth Imperial Uncle? Does he despise me now? He won’t want me anymore, will he?”

Mu Mu didn’t know how to answer. If it were him — he knew with certainty he would never let her go.

Losing her chastity wasn’t something she had wanted. She was a victim. Shouldn’t that mean holding her even more tenderly in the days to come, making it up to her properly?

Let her go? How could that ever happen?

But he wasn’t the Ninth Prince. He couldn’t answer on another man’s behalf.

Nor should he. After all, he was one of those responsible for all of this.

Jiu’er suddenly slumped forward onto the table and began to sob softly.

Mu Mu was immediately flustered. She was always so strong and cheerful — yet here she was, weeping like this.

“The Ninth Imperial Uncle won’t want me anymore. It’s all your fault. I had no quarrel with any of you — why did you have to hurt me?”

“Jiu’er…” He truly didn’t know what to say. All he could offer was an apology.

But the harm had already been done. What use was an apology now?

A grown man who feared neither injury nor bloodshed — yet faced with the tears of a young girl, he found, to his own surprise, that there was a genuine fear stirring in his chest.

He wanted to comfort her but had no idea what to say. He could only gently pat her back, offering wordless consolation.

After some time — he didn’t know how long — Feng Jiu’er finally wiped away her tears, raised her head, and let out a long breath.

“Never mind. The truth is, I don’t even know what my relationship with the Ninth Imperial Uncle actually is. It feels like so many things… I just can’t remember anymore.”

Mu Mu still didn’t know what to say. He could only listen in silence.

Was she unable to remember because of the Heartless Gu Poison that Elder Shi had placed in her? He recalled Elder Shi mentioning it before — the Heartless Gu Poison could make her forget her feelings for the Ninth Prince.

But from what he had observed these past two days, Jiu’er’s feelings for the Ninth Prince didn’t seem to have faded at all.

Yet Elder Shi had placed the Gu Poison himself. It shouldn’t have had no effect whatsoever.

“Was I once a pair with the Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er suddenly looked up at him, her beautiful large eyes still carrying a faint mist of tears.

Yet her gaze was truly filled with bewilderment: “To what extent? Did we vow to face even death together?”

“That kind of thing — how could anyone other than you and the Ninth Prince know?” The words vow to face even death together left a faint trace of bitterness in Mu Mu’s chest.

“But I can’t remember anything now. I only know that the Ninth Imperial Uncle matters deeply to me — it’s like a conviction, one you wouldn’t understand.”

She picked up her chopsticks again and continued picking through the food. When she finally managed to eat her fill, she set down the chopsticks and made her way back to the bed on her own.

“Mu Mu, I want to bathe.” It felt like two full days and nights had passed without a proper washing.

“Jiu’er…” The change in Feng Jiu’er this evening left Mu Mu with a nagging sense of unease.

He was glad, of course, that she was once again willing to coexist peacefully with him, even exchanging a few words.

But deep down, he knew — this version of her felt too unreal.

At a time like this, she should have been thinking of ways to escape from them…

“What is it? Afraid I’ll take the chance to run?” Jiu’er glanced at him, her eyes still carrying that dull, listless shadow.

She lay on the bed and fixed her gaze on him: “Come and seal my acupoints. But I really do want to bathe — I can’t stand being filthy.”

“After you seal my acupoints, could you bring some bath water in? Would that be alright?”

“Getting bath water here would be rather inconvenient. There’s a small river not far from here — I could take you there to freshen up.”

The bitterness Mu Mu felt was something only he himself could taste.

Even knowing full well that she was behaving strangely — what did it matter? At least she was still willing to speak with him. Not like before, when there was nothing from her but a gaze full of hatred and wariness.

This way, he could at least pretend it hurt a little less…

The two of them walked out of the thatched cottage. Elder Shi saw that Mu Mu was following along and paid it no mind.

Though Mu Mu had complicated feelings toward Feng Jiu’er, Elder Shi had watched Mu Mu grow up with his own eyes. He trusted Mu Mu’s sense of measure.

With such a heavy burden resting on his shoulders, no matter how deeply Mu Mu cared for Feng Jiu’er, he would never cast aside everyone else for the sake of affection alone.

Mu Mu was not an ordinary man’s son. The weight he carried was something only he himself truly understood.

Mu Mu led Feng Jiu’er out of the courtyard, and sure enough, they found the small river without much trouble.

He chose a secluded spot, stood with his back to the river, and said quietly: “I’ll keep watch right here.”

Jiu’er said nothing. And true to his word, she began undressing behind him.

When he heard the sound of her garments falling to the ground, Mu Mu’s large hand tightened. The memory of the night before — the struggle on the bed — flooded back, and heat surged through him.

And yet — at the very least, Jiu’er was still willing to trust him. Otherwise, she never would have dared to undress beside him.

This was the last thread of trust Jiu’er had left for him. If even that thread were lost, then from this point on, he would mean nothing to her at all.