Hearing Feng Jiu’er’s voice, Long Eleven immediately sheathed his long sword and retreated quickly from the circle of combat.

Turning, he saw that Jiu’er still had several stalks of medicinal herbs in her hand — clearly she had rushed back in a hurry.

“Miss Jiu’er!” Long Eleven stepped forward quickly, his urgency plain: “Where is the Prince?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle is inside — wait a moment!” This Eleven was truly an impatient sort. The Prince had been missing for two days and he was already this anxious.

“Eleven, hold on — Ninth Imperial Uncle… he is channeling his inner energy to save someone. When you go in, don’t be too hurried, and don’t make too much noise.”

Only then did Long Eleven let out a breath of relief. The Prince was the one channeling inner energy to save someone, not the one being saved — that was good.

It was truly because the previous incident, in which the Prince had been gravely injured and nearly lost his life, had cast too dark a shadow over everyone’s hearts. Though the Prince’s martial prowess was unmatched, and though his Gu poison had since healed, everyone was still deeply worried whenever the Prince left to search for Feng Jiu’er.

Everyone knew how much the Prince cared for Feng Jiu’er. If someone were to use Feng Jiu’er’s life as leverage against him, the Prince would be in grave danger as well.

“They…” Long Eleven glanced toward Ye Luosha and Elder Shi.

“She is the Palace Mistress of Yemingong — Ye Luosha.”

At Jiu’er’s introduction, Long Eleven immediately tightened his grip on his long sword, slipping into a defensive stance.

Jiu’er quickly said: “Eleven, for now we must set aside our grievances with Yemingong. They have no intention of harming Ninth Imperial Uncle — at least not at present.”

Long Eleven looked at Ye Luosha and Elder Shi once more. The other side showed no hostility whatsoever.

Moreover, in Ye Luosha’s eyes now, Ninth Prince was all but equivalent to Di Wu Ya — those who were loyal to Ninth Prince were people she regarded with favor.

Long Eleven hesitated a moment, then finally put away his long sword. He turned to look at Feng Jiu’er, his expression grave.

“Miss Jiu’er, there has been a change in the imperial city’s court. I must see the Prince at once.”

“Come with me.” Jiu’er gathered up the medicinal herbs and turned to walk into the cave.

Long Eleven followed immediately.

Seeing Zhan Qingcheng sitting calmly on the ground, Long Eleven finally set down the last of his anxious worry completely.

“This subordinate pays respects to the Prince!” He stepped forward, then caught a clear look at the white-haired man lying on the ground and blinked in surprise: “Mu Mu?”

But he dared not ask. When Zhan Qingcheng opened his eyes and looked at him, Long Eleven spoke in a low voice: “Your Highness, something has happened at the Prince’s manor.”

Someone had informed on Ninth Prince to the Nanmen clan, saying Ninth Prince had colluded with the people of Yemingong and claiming that Feng Jiu’er was one of Yemingong’s key figures.

Nanmen Ye had believed these words and immediately entered the palace, compelling the Emperor to seal Ninth Prince’s manor.

The Emperor sent men to search, but Ninth Prince and Feng Jiu’er were nowhere to be found after a long time. Left with no choice, the Emperor had temporarily sealed off Ninth Prince’s manor.

Now Nanmen Ye had dispatched large numbers of men and horses to investigate Ninth Prince’s whereabouts. The previous night they had even proclaimed that they had personally witnessed Ninth Prince together with Yemingong’s people, resisting the court’s imperial guards.

At present, the entire imperial city was under strict investigation. Nanmen Ye had even declared that anyone who saw Ninth Prince was to kill him on sight.

“That incompetent Emperor — can’t he have a mind of his own? Must he side with Nanmen Ye in everything?”

It was Ye Luosha who spoke first, her dissatisfaction plain. How much targeting and suppression had her Wu Ya endured within the Zhan imperial court all these years?

Those people, one by one, had watched him with hungry eyes, scheming by every means possible to strip the military power from Wu Ya’s hands!

That despicable Nanmen Ye — now he had even gone so far as to openly and brazenly declare that Ninth Prince was to be killed on sight. This insufferable man — he deserved to die!

No one paid her any attention. What use was anger now? What mattered most was that Nanmen Ye was already taking action.

“Last night we were ambushed. Looking at it now, those were almost certainly Nanmen Ye’s people.”

Nanmen Ye had truly grown bold this time — he intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Ninth Imperial Uncle! But given Ninth Imperial Uncle’s current situation, not only could he not leave, but even if he were to step outside, should he encounter Nanmen Ye’s forces first, he would be in danger.

Ninth Imperial Uncle’s main army was not in the imperial city. Outside the imperial city there were still troops loyal to him, but their numbers were far fewer than the imperial city’s garrison and Nanmen Ye’s forces.

What was worse — if even Emperor Qiwen wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate Ninth Imperial Uncle, then this matter would be truly grave.

“Within the imperial city, do the two hundred thousand garrison troops answer only to the Crown Prince, or solely to Emperor Qiwen?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

She had never held much respect for Emperor Qiwen, so referring to him by name in full felt natural to her — and Long Eleven thought nothing of it.

Of course, Ninth Prince doted on Feng Jiu’er and would have even less cause to object.

Long Eleven nodded: “Yes. If anything were to happen to His Highness the Crown Prince, the imperial garrison would certainly answer to the Emperor’s command.”

“What is the Crown Prince’s current situation — has there been any word?” With Ninth Imperial Uncle remaining silent throughout, the one asking questions was always Feng Jiu’er.

Long Eleven answered everything he knew: “The specific details are not yet clear. He suffered serious injuries before, but having rested and recovered for some time now, he may be somewhat better.”

But how much better exactly, Long Eleven could not say.

Feng Jiu’er nodded and turned the matter over in her mind a moment before looking back at Ninth Imperial Uncle sitting on the ground, with some hesitation.

Ninth Imperial Uncle was so proud he would never take Nanmen Ye seriously. But given his current state, having channeled his inner energy continuously for Mu Mu, his own cultivation had already been weakened. Were he to truly encounter Nanmen Ye’s forces, walking away unscathed would not be easy.

And most critically, everyone here was wounded. Ninth Imperial Uncle could not abandon her, and she could not abandon Mu Mu. Everything was truly difficult.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle cannot leave for now. Eleven, go back first. Gather all the brothers who are loyal to Ninth Imperial Uncle. If the imperial city truly becomes untenable, we will head to the border city.”

Regardless of whether Ye Luosha agreed, this time Feng Jiu’er intended to bring Mu Mu along as well — they would follow Ninth Imperial Uncle back to the border city first and take things from there.

Given Ninth Imperial Uncle’s nature, he could never abandon the people of the border city.

And with the Ruhe forces bearing down swiftly, they did not have much time left.

It was only then, after everything had been said, that she remembered she ought to consult Ninth Imperial Uncle’s opinion first. A slight warmth came to Feng Jiu’er’s face — she had not expected to make decisions on her own right in front of him.

She looked at Zhan Qingcheng, a touch of sheepishness in her expression: “That is… Ninth Imperial Uncle, what are your thoughts? Would you… like to return to the border city first?”

Once they returned to the border city and drove back the Ruhe forces, what would there be to fear from Nanmen Ye’s slander and schemes?

By then, with the army still in hand and everyone safe and sound, Emperor Qiwen would likely have to come seeking Ninth Imperial Uncle himself, personally entreating him to return to the imperial city.

But right now, without his forces at his side, they were at the mercy of those who wished them ill.

Zhan Qingcheng glanced at her with indifference: “Your plan is this Prince’s plan.”

A warmth spread through Jiu’er’s heart, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. Those words from Ninth Imperial Uncle were truly enough to set one’s thoughts running in all directions.

“This subordinate understands!” Long Eleven inclined his body toward Ninth Prince, then paid his respects to Feng Jiu’er, before turning and departing at a brisk pace.

Feng Jiu’er fixed her eyes on Ye Luosha: “I have something to say to you.”