Feng Jiu kept her head lowered, and in truth could not see that sweeping gaze — yet the sensation of it was so vivid and clear.

Without even lifting her head, she could sense the other party’s presence with perfect clarity.

The man narrowed his eyes, then suddenly turned and stepped down from the long corridor’s landing, walking toward the white-robed young man standing in the courtyard.

Qing Yun felt a measure of helplessness in his heart. Was the Ninth Prince, like His Highness the Crown Prince, also enchanted by the name “Feng Jiu”?

Yet Feng Jiu was Feng Jiu — a person entirely unfamiliar to them, and moreover a man.

The man in silver-white armor walked forward step by step toward the young man standing in the courtyard — not especially tall, but of a rather fine build.

Fine drops of perspiration clung to the young man’s temples, yet his expression had become calm and composed — utterly devoid of emotion.

“Feng Jiu pays respects to His Highness the Ninth Prince.” Feng Jiu did not raise her head, only bent slightly in salute toward the man before her, her manner neither particularly deferential nor disrespectful.

For a common jianghu civilian, this form of greeting was not at all improper.

Zhan Qingcheng, however, kept his gaze fixed upon her face, his dark eyes slowly narrowing.

Feng Jiu raised her head this time, openly letting him look his fill — though her pair of clear, water-like bright eyes did not turn to meet his dark gaze.

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing, gave not the slightest reaction — he did not even grant her leave to rise.

And so Feng Jiu had no choice but to remain bent, holding the salute. Though maintaining this posture was not particularly difficult, if held indefinitely, it was truly tiring.

Before long, fine beads of perspiration began to dot Feng Jiu’s temples, then grew into droplets the size of soybeans, sliding down along her face. The exhaustion was real.

No one dared say a word. Cold Moon, standing behind Emperor Ji, desperately wanted to rush forward and get a proper look at this legendary Ghost Doctor Feng Jiu.

But her foster father would not permit it.

Emperor Ji likewise only fixed his gaze intently on Feng Jiu’s slight figure, studying it carefully for a long moment — then quietly let out a sigh of relief.

This face was no disguise, not any kind of human-skin mask. Had it truly been one, looking this closely with such careful scrutiny, he would certainly have detected some flaw.

But it genuinely was not.

Since her face bore no human-skin mask, this face had to be real.

He was not Feng Jiu’er — and besides, the height was entirely inconsistent.

Cold Moon had also studied the young man for a long while. Though she reached the same conclusion as Emperor Ji — that the young man in the courtyard was certainly not Feng Jiu’er — she still felt deeply displeased at the sight of the Prince staring so fixedly at this young man.

Throughout these past six months, the Prince had paid no attention to anyone at all, single-mindedly focused only on finding Feng Jiu’er.

It was only in the past month or so that things had improved even slightly.

She had been thinking that the Prince had given up — yet now, all of a sudden, there appeared a man who inexplicably shared a somewhat similar air with Feng Jiu’er, even bearing the same name — Feng Jiu. What in the world!

“Your Highness, might I ask your instructions?” The other party had still not granted her leave to rise, and Feng Jiu truly could not stand back up — doing so without leave would be against all propriety.

The present Feng Jiu was a proper and principled person — not some eccentric and unpredictable young woman. And so matters of etiquette still had to be observed.

Yet remaining bent at the waist like this was genuinely exhausting. Before long, the fine drops at her temples had grown into full beads of perspiration, rolling down along the contours of her face.

After what seemed an unknowable stretch of time, Zhan Qingcheng finally turned away: “Escort the Crown Prince back to the palace.”

And then — he left. Just like that, he left.

Feng Jiu could not quite describe what she felt at this moment — the extreme swings of emotion were truly not easy to bear.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle had presumably not seen through her disguise. Otherwise, knowing the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s temperament, if he had recognized her identity, he would certainly have taken her away on the spot and given her a thorough scolding.

He had left — which meant he truly had not recognized her, had he?

Whatever the case, the Ninth Prince had gone, and everyone truly let out a full and complete breath of relief.

Though they had done nothing improper and had no reason to offend such a lofty and exalted figure, the Ninth Prince’s presence was simply too overwhelming.

Each and every one of the page boys had been frightened out of their wits — wanting to get a proper look at the Ninth Prince’s distinguished face, yet not daring to.

In sum, while the Ninth Prince was present, every last trace of the surrounding air seemed to freeze solid, as though even exhaling had become something of a difficulty.

When the Ninth Prince finally departed, the great invisible net that had gripped everyone’s hearts loosened all at once — and at last they could draw in a proper, full breath.

The God of War and Ninth Prince — truly a figure beyond reach, beyond approach. Not a man, but rather a deity. One could only gaze at him from a distance, look upon him from afar — and had better not truly draw close.

Draw too close, and it was very easy to have the breath squeezed right out of you from sheer tension.

“Young Master!” Only after the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince and their entire entourage had departed did Qiao Mu come hurrying over from the rear courtyard.

In truth she, like the Young Master, had long since assumed a different face — yet when she had learned that the Crown Prince needed to be treated, she had still not dared to show herself.

Back in the Military Council back then, she had encountered the Crown Prince in person — and it was not just her. Xing Zizhu and Xiao Yingtao and the others had met him as well.

So such people, if she could avoid meeting them, she would — lest it invite unnecessary complications.

“What happened? I heard the Ninth Prince came just now — did he… did he see you?” Qiao Mu was still a little worried.

Though the Young Master had assumed a different face and now looked entirely unlike her former self, the Ninth Prince’s eyes were notoriously penetrating, and he was such an astute and sharp-minded man — could he be… deceived?

“He saw me.” Feng Jiu exhaled, raised her hand, and passed it across her temples — only then realizing that her temples were drenched entirely in sweat.

“Young Master…” Qiao Mu also noticed. Just now the Young Master must have been quite frightened — otherwise her complexion would not be so pale, and her face would not be covered in this much perspiration.

This state of her… had the Ninth Prince also witnessed it? But now the Ninth Prince had already left, and clearly no commotion had arisen here. The Young Master should be all right now, surely?

“Nothing happened?” Feng Jiu could see her worry plainly. She smiled: “He did not recognize me. He only looked for a while, then left.”

Looked for a while… Strange — why was it that saying those four words aloud produced such a heavy weight in her own chest?

Why would he have “looked for a while” — was that meaning something was the matter, or nothing was?

Qiao Mu was naturally uneasy as well — but since the Ninth Prince had already left, it should be fine, yes?

“Young Master, knowing the Ninth Prince’s temperament, if he had truly glimpsed something, he would certainly not have given up so easily.”

So this must surely mean he had not noticed anything.

But — the Ninth Prince had come, and had not recognized her. One wondered if the Young Master was also a little disappointed.

Such things were truly enough to make a person’s thoughts knot together in anguish. Recognized — fear. Unrecognized — there would always be a lingering disappointment. Ah, what could one do.

“Never mind, it is over now. Go and tidy up the establishment’s affairs, and let word spread that the Crown Prince came here seeking treatment.”

“Let it spread?” Qiao Mu genuinely could not understand. Had the Young Master not always kept a low profile, never wishing to associate with high-ranking officials and powerful nobles?

Once this news was out, powerful and influential figures would certainly flock here from all directions!

“We are in the business of opening our doors to see patients. Of course we hope to earn more money.”

Since — a certain person had already returned. And since he had not recognized her — then what did she have left to be cautious about?