Early in the morning, Feng Jiu’er already felt a terrible headache.

She couldn’t quite remember the details of last night, but she knew clearly that she must have been drinking.

Drinking was a serious taboo in military life. Although they weren’t technically on a march right now, this journey to the Feng clan was, in truth, no different from one.

“Have some porridge first. I’ll pack you some pastries in a bit, for you to eat slowly along the way.”

Yanu set the food down, then brought her a basin of warm water and a towel.

Jiu’er got out of bed, her head still feeling a bit dizzy. After rinsing her mouth and washing her face, she took the warm water Yanu handed her and drank it all in one go.

She drank two large cups in a row before her throat finally felt a little better.

“What time is it now?” She squinted toward the window — basically, just from the sunlight, she could already guess the hour.

But before Yanu could speak, Feng Jiu’er suddenly froze, abruptly raising her head to look at him.

“Yanu, you…” His voice!

The person who’d just spoken to her was Yanu! Such a pleasant voice!

No longer hoarse, no longer struggling to speak, but so smooth, deep, and magnetic!

This must be Yanu’s original voice — it was simply too pleasant to listen to!

Yanu smiled and nodded: “My throat has fully healed. You’ve had so much going on these past two days, I haven’t had the chance to tell you.”

After the initial surprise and delight, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help letting out a small sigh.

“You’ve suffered so much following me.”

“If I weren’t following you, it would actually be…” Never mind, some things didn’t need saying. Yanu said instead, “Everyone is preparing to set off. Jiu’er, how is your foot today?”

“It’s already healed.” Feng Jiu’er finished her porridge, drank a cup of plain tea, then stood up: “Let’s get ready too, and go.”

The moment she stepped outside, she saw Jiuqing standing in a corner of the courtyard, right beside the horses.

Feng Jiu’er focused her eyes, and suddenly, her face lit up as she rushed over.

“Zhuifeng! It’s Zhuifeng!” That glossy black mane, that domineering bearing reminiscent of the Ninth Imperial Uncle himself — who else could it be but Zhuifeng?

“Zhuifeng actually came back!” Then, where was Zhuiyue?

A snow-white horse stepped out from behind the large tree beside Zhuifeng, snorting at her.

“Zhuiyue!” Feng Jiu’er immediately threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around the horse’s mane.

For the first time, she realized that the bond between animals and humans really could run this deep.

Zhuifeng and Zhuiyue’s return felt like old friends coming back from the dead — in this moment, tears nearly spilled out, she was so deeply moved.

Feng Jiu’er’s voice grew choked with emotion. She patted Zhuiyue’s head and said, “From now on, I won’t ever leave you behind again.”

“If danger comes, it will still choose to protect you.” Mu Mu walked over and handed her the riding whip: “Want to try riding it again?”

A fine horse was hard to come by, and one truly matched to one’s own fate even more so.

If Jiu’er still couldn’t manage to ride Zhuiyue, then setting it free wouldn’t be anything to regret.

But Jiu’er shook her head: “If Zhuiyue is willing to follow me, this whip won’t be needed at all.”

She gently stroked Zhuiyue’s mane, saying softly, “I’m going to get on now. If you’re unhappy about it, just run as hard as you can and stay away from me from now on.”

She was actually a bit nervous; she truly liked Zhuiyue.

But if Zhuiyue truly didn’t want to stay by her side, then she would let it go free.

Just as she was about to mount, she suddenly glanced back at Zhuifeng, then looked at Jiuqing.

Jiuqing said nothing, watching them with a cool gaze.

Feng Jiu’er said, “Don’t you go meddling, you hear?”

Then she looked at Zhuiyue again and snorted: “This time, if you dare scare it again, I’ll… beat up your master.”

As for beating Zhuifeng — she probably didn’t have the ability for that; one kick from Zhuifeng would be more than enough to do her in.

But beating Zhuifeng’s master…

Jiu’er stole a glance at Jiuqing, unable to stop herself from sighing inwardly.

This master seemed even more terrifying than Zhuifeng itself — definitely not someone to mess with!

She glared at Zhuifeng: “Anyway, you’re not allowed to scare Zhuiyue. If it doesn’t want to, no one is allowed to force it.”

Zhuiyue was afraid of Zhuifeng — anyone who wasn’t blind could see that.

Feng Jiu’er grasped the reins, stroking Zhuiyue’s mane once more: “I’m getting on now. Take it easy — even if you don’t like it, don’t throw a fit. If you want to leave, at least let me get down safely first, otherwise…”

She didn’t want to scare Zhuiyue either, but she still had to think of her own safety.

“Otherwise, Zhuifeng will kick you.”

There was no telling whether Zhuiyue could understand this, but in any case, her own little life mattered too.

Zhuiyue gave no reaction at all; there was no telling whether it had truly understood her message.

Having learned from last time, Mu Mu felt somewhat tense as well, staying close by Jiu’er’s side, ready at any moment to rescue her.

But this time, once Jiu’er mounted, Zhuiyue once again showed no reaction whatsoever.

She sat on the horse’s back, holding the reins, and even leaned down to rub Zhuiyue’s mane.

The horse still showed no reaction at all, and Jiu’er beamed: “Well, look at that — it’s finally willing to be with me.”

Mu Mu let out a breath of relief, turning to look at Long Shiyi in the distance: “Tell everyone to…”

But before he could finish, a sudden gust of wind tore past from behind.

All that could be heard was Feng Jiu’er’s soft cry as Zhuiyue suddenly charged forward, vanishing around the street corner in an instant.

Mu Mu reacted at top speed, grabbing his own horse, ready to leap on.

But what was going on with Jiuqing? He still stood leisurely beside Zhuifeng, seeming utterly unconcerned.

Although many people were present and certain reactions had to be kept in check, being this relaxed was simply baffling.

Mu Mu leapt onto his horse, just about to chase after her.

Then, from a corner of the area, a commotion suddenly arose again.

Before long, a rider and horse came gracefully into view. Despite moving at great speed, there was such an elegant quality to it that no one could look away.

They came galloping in swiftly, fast as the wind, but came to an abrupt halt the moment they entered the courtyard.

A swirl of dust rose up; the woman in flowing white sat atop the snow-white horse, her long hair caught and lifted by the wind before drifting gently back down.

Her radiant features, eyes brimming with a smile, so playful and lovely, left the men nearby momentarily dazed, nearly losing themselves.

Mu Mu’s gaze fixed on her face, her fair little face full of a soft, wind-like smile, looking under the bright sun like a pure, sacred orchid.

She truly was beautiful.

Feng Jiu’er patted Zhuiyue’s mane, then looked at Mu Mu and smiled: “It’s willing to be with me now.”

Her small, snow-white hand pulled the reins; without looking at Mu Mu again, she turned toward Xue Gu and Qiao Mu ahead, grinning: “Let’s set off!”

Her mood was like the bright sun — radiant, with a hint of boldness.

After her earlier dejection, today the sunshine had finally turned bright and clear again, just as it always was.

Yesterday had already passed; today was a new journey. All that sorrow and grief now belonged to the past.

She gave the reins a tug and called out clearly, “Move out!”