“I understand, Ninth Imperial Uncle. I will not… will not do anything improper with anyone.”

Had she not truly seen that the Ninth Imperial Uncle was genuinely angry, Feng Jiu’er would sooner have died than utter such words in public.

Why couldn’t he have said it clearly last night? He had to hold it in until a moment like this — knowing full well that at a farewell, there would always be many eyes watching.

These words from Feng Jiu’er finally allowed Zhan Qingcheng to quietly exhale in relief. He didn’t quite know what had come over him — he had actually been that worried, afraid this girl hadn’t yet made up her own mind about whom she would choose.

He was not going to give her any choice at all. Never. Not even in death.

Pulling Jiu’er toward him, this time Zhan Qingcheng did not embrace her. He only gripped her hand tightly.

His anger receded, and his voice softened slightly. Though still cold, there was at the very least a thread of warmth woven through it.

“This Prince can yield anything else to him — only not you.”

Jiu’er’s face was still flushed red. Yet all the awkwardness and discomfort of a moment ago dissolved in an instant beneath those words, transforming into warmth and sweetness.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle rarely spoke, but when he did, he struck true every time. A simple phrase — “only not you” — was enough to leave a mark on one’s heart for a lifetime.

“Mm.” She nodded, just as sincerely. “Let’s go, Ninth Imperial Uncle. I’ll come find you soon.”

Only then did Zhan Qingcheng release her. He glanced back at Emperor Ji and Ye Luosha, then with a light push of his feet, he leapt up in a flash and was upon the cliff face.

Just like that, he was gone. That snow-white figure vanished without a trace in an instant.

The time he had spent talking with Feng Jiu’er here would have to be made up by traveling day and night to return. It wasn’t that he was unconcerned about the battle at the frontier city — it was simply that time spent on Feng Jiu’er felt worth it to him.

Long Yi and Yu Jingfeng leapt up in a single bound and swiftly followed in pursuit.

“Eleven, aren’t you leaving?” Feng Jiu’er was taken aback, staring at Long Eleven who hadn’t moved at all, her face filled with confusion.

“His Highness commanded me to remain and protect Miss Jiu’er,” Long Eleven said with a faint smile.

“And you? Elder Di, you two…” Why did Emperor Ji show no sign of moving either? How was that possible?

Though Emperor Ji sat in a wheelchair, ascending the cliff face was still within his ability — all he needed were his two hands.

Yet why, now that the Ninth Imperial Uncle had already departed, was he still sitting here without any reaction at all?

The way Leng Yue was looking at Feng Jiu’er right now was like a gaze laced with poison — as venomous and resentful as could be imagined.

She let out a cold snort. “This is all because of you!”

Emperor Ji glanced at her. “Yue’er, do not be rude.”

Whatever the case, Di Wuya’s actions earlier had made things abundantly clear — in time, Feng Jiu’er was bound to become his person. No one could stop that.

Since Wuya had already made his choice, what more was there for him to say?

Setting aside his identity as Wuya’s master, Wuya would in all likelihood become emperor in the future. He would be the sovereign, and he himself the subject — a subject naturally could not go against the will of his sovereign.

Leng Yue turned her face away, her heart full of grievance and resentment, but she at least held her sharp tongue.

Sometimes the wishes of her foster father were also not to be defied. Though her foster father doted on her, he would not go so far as to offend anyone on her behalf.

Besides, making her foster father unhappy served no benefit to her.

The Revered Lord had great ambitions for the future — her foster father had also said that it was impossible for the Revered Lord to have only one woman by his side.

Even with Feng Jiu’er in the picture, that did not mean she had no chance at all. What lay in the future would only become clear in the future.

Who knew — perhaps Feng Jiu’er was simply barren, unable to bear children. The Revered Lord held a position of great nobility; naturally, his line could not be cut off. As long as Feng Jiu’er could not produce a child, she would still have every opportunity.

In any case, the boat would straighten itself when it reached the bridge. The future would always hold its chances.

Emperor Ji paid Leng Yue no further mind. He looked at Feng Jiu’er and said, “Leng Yue and I are still sworn brothers of the Heavenly Venerate Sect. We will escort you to Phoenix City together.”

Naturally, they would also be escorting the Second Prince.

The Second Prince’s status was equally noble. Most importantly, the Second Prince’s current condition was not optimistic — a great many hands were needed for his protection, so that every precaution could be taken.

“But, Ninth Imperial Uncle’s side…”

“The Revered Lord’s martial arts are exceptional. As long as no one is weighing him down, there is simply no one who can harm him.” Leng Yue said coldly.

To that, Jiu’er truly had no rebuttal.

It did seem that the Ninth Imperial Uncle had been implicated because of her both times. She was well aware of this in her own heart.

But Leng Yue was only looking for an opportunity to mock — a person without a kind bone in her body, and one Jiu’er had no need to dignify with attention.

So she merely gave Emperor Ji a nod and turned to leave.

Leng Yue stamped her foot in fury. “Foster Father, look at her attitude! Someone was speaking to her, and she didn’t even spare me a single glance!”

“She’s not even properly with the Revered Lord yet, and she’s already this haughty and dismissive. If she truly ends up with him in the future, will she even acknowledge your existence?”

“That is only because you were rude first. Otherwise, I believe Jiu’er would not treat you with such an attitude.”

Emperor Ji had only lost the use of his legs — he was not blind. Could he not see clearly the open and covert rivalry between the two of them?

Leng Yue was so thoroughly rebuffed that she could not utter a single word. She could only watch Feng Jiu’er’s retreating silhouette and curse her silently a thousand, ten thousand times over.

But such childish actions naturally could not shake Feng Jiu’er in the slightest.

By the time Jiu’er walked over, Ye Luosha and Elder Shi were already making preparations for departure in the distance.

Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao followed along. Xiao Yingtao’s senses, which had been submerged in a daze, finally surfaced. She turned for one last look toward the cliff face, and her eyes instantly bloomed with starry-eyed wonder.

“Good heavens! I saw the Ninth Prince up close and alive for the very first time, and I never imagined — the Ninth Prince is actually such a forthright person! He’s absolutely, hopelessly charming!”

What had she just heard? She had actually heard the Ninth Prince saying sweet words to Jiu’er!

Sweet words! If she told people about this, no one would believe it, would they?

In everyone’s hearts, the Ninth Prince had always been that cold, lofty, untouchable existence — and yet she had heard those tender words from his own lips.

He had even embraced a young woman out in the open… heavens, and that young woman was their very own Jiu’er!

She had always known there was some unspeakable secret between Jiu’er and the Ninth Prince. She just hadn’t expected it to be this thrilling!

“The Ninth Prince is truly amazing, so utterly captivating!” Once Xiao Yingtao’s infatuation was roused, it surged forth like an endless river with no sign of stopping.

Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help giving her a sidelong look. “Is that so? Then comparing the Ninth Imperial Uncle to Mu Mu — which one is more captivating?”

Xiao Yingtao’s face turned red, and in an instant she was all complaint. “The two of them each have their own merits — how can you compare them?”

“I thought you’d say Mu Mu.”

“In my heart… forget it. Anyway, both are very captivating. But the Ninth Prince’s kind of charm — most men simply don’t have it. I’ve also never seen a man who is so pure-hearted yet steadfast to such a degree.”

Oh, in short, he was just hopelessly charming!