“Your Highness, it’s not that I intend to conceal my identity, but I have too many enemies in this imperial city. If my identity were exposed, it would surely bring about a fatal disaster.”

Feng Jiu did not expect the masked Madam to understand, but she also did not want to deceive her. So making up some random identity was something she disdained to do.

Moreover, in front of this Madam, she believed any fabricated story would not go undetected anyway.

The masked Madam said nothing, only stared at her. Feng Jiu didn’t speak either, but couldn’t help a cold sweat sliding down her temple.

She, who could remain calm and composed in front of anyone else, had previously thought only the Ninth Imperial Uncle could make her feel this kind of pressure. Now, unexpectedly, there was one more person—and it was her.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before the masked Madam calmly said, “You are Feng Jiu’er.”

Feng Jiu’s fingers clenched tightly. After a moment of stunned surprise, she calmed down.

“It seems Your Highness knows someone from the Feng family.” She stared into the masked Madam’s eyes, but the woman leaned against the headboard with her eyes closed, as if resting.

They say the eyes are the windows to one’s soul, and now that window was shut. Combined with the veil over her face, it was utterly impossible to guess her thoughts from her expression.

Feng Jiu didn’t know what she was thinking, but this woman—paralyzed for years and likely confined here for a long time—was still completely aware of matters outside. The power behind her was not to be underestimated.

“I have no ill intentions toward you.” The masked Madam finally opened her eyes again, still staring at her—but this time, not at her face, but at her eyes.

Feng Jiu met her scrutinizing gaze openly, allowing her to study her without the slightest intention to avoid it.

“Heh, little girl… not bad.” In the end, the Madam only tossed out this one line.

By the time Feng Jiu came out, midnight had long passed. Judging by the sky, there were at most two more hours until dawn.

She had been severely sleep-deprived lately, practically living like an iron warrior.

“Please wait a moment, sir.” Senior maid Qing Ye went in and quickly came back out, saying to Emperor Qiwen under the pavilion, “Your Majesty, my mistress wishes to see you.”

Emperor Qiwen’s heart jolted; he nearly slipped off the stone bench.

“She… she’s willing to see me?” He seemed unable to believe it, so excited that even his fingertips trembled.

A sovereign ruler of a nation who had seen countless beauties in his lifetime, yet utterly infatuated with one woman to this degree—Feng Jiu had every reason to believe it couldn’t possibly be because of her looks alone.

After all, for an emperor, beautiful women were simply too plentiful.

Watching Emperor Qiwen and Qing Ye enter the door together from afar, Feng Jiu stood beneath the pavilion, gazing into the distance, the wind blowing against her, her figure graceful.

The Chief Eunuch actually thought to himself that this divine physician Feng Jiu’s silhouette truly resembled someone he’d crossed paths with a few times before. However, this person was a man, and his height and face were indeed extraordinary.

Fearing he might grow impatient from waiting too long, the Chief Eunuch said, “Sir, since the Madam asked you to wait a moment, she must have more to say to you later. Please forgive the inconvenience.”

Feng Jiu turned and smiled at him. “It’s fine, it’s my honor.”

The Chief Eunuch didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing more.

Not long after, Emperor Qiwen came out from the room. The Chief Eunuch and Feng Jiu immediately went to meet him. “Your Majesty…”

“Back to the bedchamber.” Emperor Qiwen paused, then glanced at Feng Jiu again. “You come along too, sir.”

Feng Jiu sighed silently. Following along like this, she probably wouldn’t be able to leave the palace before dawn.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Qiwen stopped outside Yuxiao Hall and dismissed everyone, keeping only the Chief Eunuch by his side.

He asked, “The Nanmeng clan—if the Duke falls, do you think I could directly take over the Nanmeng clan’s military authority?”

Feng Jiu was slightly taken aback inwardly, not expecting Emperor Qiwen to ask her such a question that “overstepped” her station, of all places.

However, judging by the hour, the Emperor himself was probably exhausted and anxious, unable to wait until returning to the palace—he wanted the matter resolved quickly so he could go rest.

An emperor was, after all, only human. Any flesh-and-blood person would eventually grow tired.

Moreover, Emperor Qiwen was not young anymore.

Feng Jiu collected her thoughts somewhat and stopped beating around the bush, saying directly, “In my opinion, the military forces of Beimu are not directly under Your Majesty’s control. Under the current circumstances, if Your Majesty wishes to single-handedly seize the Nanmeng clan’s military power, I’m afraid many would not allow it.”

Emperor Qiwen’s eyes narrowed. There were things he wanted to ask, but in the end he visibly suppressed the questions.

Feng Jiu had thought she would need to give many reasons to convince him, but unexpectedly, he didn’t need any at all.

Could it be that the masked Madam from before had told him something?

Although that Madam seemed gentle, she appeared cold-hearted and unfeeling. Her willingness to see Emperor Qiwen at this hour was certainly not for romance.

A moment later, Emperor Qiwen asked again, “Then if I want the Nanmeng clan’s military power, what should I do?”

That he would even ask her this kind of question—Feng Jiu absolutely refused to believe the masked Madam hadn’t said something to him.

Could it be that the masked Madam had recommended her to him? This was indeed an opportunity.

Feng Jiu lowered her eyes as if pondering something. After a good while, she finally said, “Your Majesty, why not find someone among the younger generation of Nanmeng sons who is easy to control? On the surface, a Nanmeng person would still hold power, but in fact, the military authority would quietly fall into Your Majesty’s hands.”

“What if that person doesn’t truly defect in good faith?”

“Then Your Majesty must judge for yourself which young master, while being a direct descendant of the Nanmeng clan, does not hold deep affection for the clan’s elders.”

Feng Jiu smiled slightly. Of course there were many things that couldn’t be said outright, but she believed Emperor Qiwen would soon reach his own conclusion.

“Right now, the matter concerning Consort Rong has only just begun, and word may not have reached the Nanmeng manor yet. But once the Crown Prince knows, the Nanmeng family is bound to find out as well.”

In short, the matter couldn’t be hidden for long. Many things needed to happen quickly—Emperor Qiwen surely understood this reasoning.

“Let me think about it more.” Emperor Qiwen waved his hand, and the Chief Eunuch immediately said, “Someone, escort the gentleman out.”

“Yes.” A young eunuch hurried over, and together with two guards, escorted Feng Jiu away from in front of Yuxiao Hall, heading toward the palace gates.

The Chief Eunuch waved his hand, and the young eunuchs hurried back to escort Emperor Qiwen back to his bedchamber together.

Tonight it was the Chief Eunuch himself who personally attended to Emperor Qiwen’s change of clothes; the maids and eunuchs had all been dismissed.

Emperor Qiwen seemed weighed down with worry, and the Chief Eunuch couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, are you thinking about the matter of the Nanmeng clan’s younger generation?”

Emperor Qiwen said nothing. The Chief Eunuch continued, “Speaking of the younger generation of the Nanmeng clan, there is actually one person this servant has noticed before.”

Emperor Qiwen raised an eyebrow and looked at him. The Chief Eunuch immediately said, “General Nanmeng’s sixth son, Nanmeng Xu.”