That one remark — does that sound amusing to you — made the atmosphere in the room instantly awkward.

Tuoba Keyan, for his part, was at a complete loss for words, frozen on the spot, unsure how to respond.

What the Ninth Young Master said was not wrong in the slightest — an injured person would not only be unable to do anything, but would become a burden to them all.

Yet… if not this, then how was he to prove his loyalty?

“Sometimes I truly do not understand you people of ancient times, with all your needless dramatics.” Feng Jiu’er gave a faint sigh.

You people of ancient times?

This remark left everyone baffled again. What did ancient times mean? Not a Bei Mu person, not a Yurhe person — ancient? Which country did people of ancient times come from?

Everyone exchanged glances. Jiu’er was naturally aware that they could not make sense of her words.

But it was not necessary for them to understand right now. Even if she explained, no one would believe her.

“Do you truly wish to follow me from now on?” She fixed her gaze on Tuoba Keyan, and this time, she was in earnest. “I will not be staying in Yurhe for long. Before too much time has passed, I will return to my own country.”

“I am half a Bei Mu person myself.” Tuoba Keyan met her gaze with equal earnestness. “From this day forward, wherever the Ninth Young Master goes, I will go. Henceforth, I am the Ninth Young Master’s man.”

Xing Zizhou, however, could not hold himself back: “Are you aware that she is not some Ninth Young Master — she is…”

“Whether Ninth Young Master or Ninth Miss, she is my master all the same.” Tuoba Keyan’s expression was resolute. This resolve seemed as though it could not be shaken by anyone.

He had already discussed it with Tuoba Dong, and A’Dong had agreed that he should follow and remain at the Ninth Young Master’s side.

A pity that A’Dong’s health was not strong — otherwise, A’Dong would also have wished to stay at the Ninth Young Master’s side and do something of benefit to both Bei Mu and Yurhe.

Tuoba Keyan believed that their journey to Yurhe was surely for the sake of peace between the two nations.

In the conversations they had shared earlier, Tuoba Keyan had also sensed from Jiu’er’s words her own views on the conflict between the two nations — she was in favor of a peaceful resolution.

And peace, for all the common people, was a dream far beyond reach.

Tuoba Keyan looked at Feng Jiu’er, awaiting her final judgment on him.

Every pair of eyes in the room fell on Jiu’er. In a situation like this, only Jiu’er could make the decision.

Of course, whatever decision she made, they would all support it.

Feng Jiu’er said nothing — because outside, there was clearly movement.

Xue Gu had returned.

The moment Xue Gu entered the room, the first thing her eyes landed on was Tuoba Keyan kneeling on one knee before Feng Jiu’er. Her lips pressed into a tight line. She said nothing, but the look on her face was not altogether pleasant.

Xue Gu never let personal feelings enter into matters of business. In a situation like Tuoba Keyan’s, she would naturally not be quick to trust.

Seeing that Xue Gu was unwilling to speak, Feng Jiu’er had no choice but to ask Tuoba Keyan to step outside first.

Tuoba Keyan showed no displeasure. He went out, stationed himself at the outermost edge of the courtyard, and did not linger to eavesdrop — nor did he have any desire to.

They had known each other for no more than two or three days. It was only natural that the others would not yet trust him. But he would not give up easily — he absolutely could not give up.

Just as A’Dong had said: a fine bird chooses its tree wisely. And the Ninth Young Master was just such a fine tree. He did not wish to remain in the village for the rest of his life, forever a person to be bullied and looked down upon.

He wanted to do something meaningful — something that would benefit the common people!

No one knew how much time had passed before Feng Jiu’er’s door was pushed open, and Xue Gu, Jiu’er, and Xing Zizhou walked out.

Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao followed behind them, though the two quickly returned to their rooms. Clearly, what came next had little to do with them.

“Ninth Young Master.” Tuoba Keyan stepped forward to meet them, his expression full of reverence. “Ninth Young Master, please allow me to remain at your side!”

Jiu’er pressed her lips together before finally saying: “Very well. Come with me to a place.”

They made their way to a secluded spot outside the high walls of the Second Prince’s manor.

Xue Gu said, “The Second Prince is imprisoned in the dungeon within these walls. But the top is entirely manned with guards — short of striking them all down, there is no other way in.”

“It is not yet time to touch them.” The moment they moved against the guards, everyone would know that someone had come to rescue the Second Prince.

But in Feng Jiu’er’s estimation, the Second Prince was still relatively safe inside the manor for the time being, and there was no pressing need to get him out immediately.

What mattered most was first understanding the full circumstances of the matter from beginning to end, settling on a plan to deal with it, and only then making a decision.

“I have a letter here. Can you find a way to deliver it to the Second Prince’s hands without anyone knowing?”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Tuoba Keyan, and held out a small note, rolled into a tight little bundle.

Xing Zizhou produced a letter and also extended it toward Tuoba Keyan. “This is a letter the Second Prince gave me. Beyond this, I have nothing else left.”

In truth, this letter should have been burned long ago. Every letter the Second Prince had ever sent him, he had burned. But this one time, he had not yet managed to destroy it before news reached him of what had befallen the Second Prince. As if guided by some unseen hand, he had kept it.

Tuoba Keyan understood what Feng Jiu’er meant. This was likely a test of him.

The Ninth Young Master had said she had no use for useless people — so now, he had to let everyone see where his usefulness lay.

He accepted the test readily and with great focus, his hands cupped before his lips as he let out a series of low, murmuring calls. Shortly afterward, a small creature came bounding up to his side.

Jiu’er had already braced herself inwardly, yet even so, when she saw the rat, she still felt a creeping sensation along her scalp.

Why on earth did this fellow have such a fondness for such unsettling little creatures?

“My apologies. The Second Prince is in a dungeon, and I thought a rat would be more convenient.” Tuoba Keyan knew she was a young woman, and young women, when they saw rats, could hardly be blamed for feeling some aversion.

“But this rat…” Xing Zizhou fixed his gaze on the rat before him, which showed not the slightest fear of humans, and frowned. “Isn’t it a bit too fat?”

Feng Jiu’er also stared at the rat in front of her. It was indeed too fat — a creature of that size would easily attract the attention of the soldiers guarding the dungeon.

Tuoba Keyan said nothing. He let out two low, murmuring calls toward the rat, and the rat seemed to understand him perfectly: it turned and ran, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Before long, it came back — and brought another rat with it. A smaller, slimmer one.

Apart from Tuoba Keyan, both Xue Gu and Feng Jiu’er, as well as Xing Zizhou, were struck with stunned disbelief, thoroughly astonished.

If it had only been that Tuoba Keyan could summon small animals, that might still have been somewhat acceptable. The world was wide and nothing under it was too strange — if someone could call animals to his side, they could just about accept that.

But what they were witnessing now — what could it even be called? He was not merely summoning animals. He could evidently communicate with them as well. Was this not utterly extraordinary?

Tuoba Keyan paid no mind to the startled looks from the others. He held the small note before the smaller rat, and the rat immediately clamped it between its teeth.

He let out two more low calls. Both rats ran off together and quickly clambered up the high wall across from them, vanishing over the other side in an instant.

The four of them kept their gazes fixed on the space behind that high wall, waiting for a miracle to unfold…