“That’s not what I meant!” Jiu’er hurried to explain. “I’m not doubting it—I just… just can’t remember anything.”
Father was so gentle and cultured, every bit like a being from the heavens, and so handsome besides—who could bear to make him sad?
Jiu’er truly did love her father; though she had hardly any memories of him, she simply loved him all the same.
So she would never do anything that might break her father’s heart.
“It’s understandable that Jiu’er can’t remember, given that her injury hasn’t fully healed.”
Feng Yan rarely showed a serious side in front of Feng Jiu’er, but right now, he was being extremely earnest.
“But from now on, you must never again say you’re not the princess—you absolutely must not break Father’s heart, do you understand?”
Jiu’er’s lips moved as though to say something, but in the end, she simply nodded without arguing.
“I understand, Second Brother. I won’t talk nonsense again and worry everyone.”
Though Jiu’er said this, there were still things in her heart she couldn’t quite untangle.
As long as it remained unresolved, her heart would never settle.
Seeing her give in, Feng Yan finally dropped his serious expression and curved his lips into a smile.
Suddenly, he produced something from behind his back and spread it open before Jiu’er.
“Cherries?” Goodness! She could actually find cherries in this era? This was something she couldn’t have dreamed of!
“Cherries?” Feng Yan glanced at Yanu.
Yanu shook his head—he had never seen such a thing before.
Feng Yan’s brow furrowed slightly as he said gently, “Jiu’er, these are snow-red fruits.”
“Snow-red fruits?” Jiu’er, who had already taken one and popped it into her mouth, blinked, as though there was something she wanted to say.
But in the end, she only nodded, took the snow-red fruits to a seat nearby, and ate quietly.
On the surface, the girl seemed absorbed in her food, but Yanu knew that her mind was turning over something inside that head of hers.
Feng Jiu’er was indeed thinking about something.
Why had she recognized this thing as a cherry at first glance? And why had such a strange phrase as “this era” come to mind?
What did “this era” even mean? She was naturally a person of this era—she shouldn’t be having such thoughts at all.
“Jiu’er, what are you thinking about? I have more good things here.”
Feng Yan waved his hand, and two young maids immediately came forward, each carrying a tray of brightly colored fruits, presenting them one by one to Feng Jiu’er.
Many of them she had never seen before.
Strange shapes, but all looked beautiful, the kind that made one’s mouth water.
There were also countless pastries, not only delicious but lovely to look at as well.
But their little princess, though she kept eating, seemed somewhat distracted.
Feng Yan looked at Yanu, and Yanu, after thinking it over, walked up to Jiu’er and said with a smile, “Princess, shall I take you around the palace grounds later?”
“You haven’t been to the rear palace either, have you? Want to go have a look?”
If he could distract her attention so she wouldn’t keep trying to recall certain things, perhaps things would gradually improve.
Jiu’er pouted, looking utterly uninterested.
“The rear palace? That place full of scheming and backstabbing like on TV? No thanks.”
TV?
Everyone froze in stunned silence.
Jiu’er, however, didn’t seem to notice anything wrong with what she’d said, her mood still soured by those vague, blurred images in her mind.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the back garden, and someone came hurrying past.
He turned his head, seemingly spotting something interesting, stopped, and turned to walk over.
“Well, isn’t this our Princess Jiu’er? Recovered enough to be out and about?”
“Third Brother!” Feng Yan glared at him, a warning lurking in his eyes.
“Jiu’er has only just woken—she still needs to rest and recuperate. If you have nothing important, don’t disturb her.”
Feng Jiang grinned and, with no hesitation at all, walked right up to Feng Jiu’er, pulled over a chair, and sat down, grabbing a handful of snow-red fruits and tossing them into his mouth.
Feng Yan remained displeased, saying unhappily, “Third Brother, as an imperial prince, you should know that every word and action you take reflects the dignity of the royal family. How can you be so coarse and reckless?”
“Oh come on, Second Brother, Father’s not even here. Don’t go lecturing me—I’ll be heading out of the palace soon anyway, won’t be staying around to bother you for long.”
Feng Jiang turned back and grinned at him; with that carefree, easygoing manner, he really didn’t seem like a dignified prince at all.
And yet, Jiu’er found herself inexplicably fond of this way of carrying himself.
Second Brother, though gentle as jade and a genuinely good person without much of a temper, was simply too uptight.
“Third Brother?” Thinking back, she realized she had only met this Third Brother once before, shortly after she’d first woken up.
Jiu’er blinked at him: “You’re heading out later? Where to? Can you take Jiu’er with you?”
“You want to go out?” Feng Jiang looked down at her fair, delicate little face, and suddenly broke into a wicked grin.
“It’s very dangerous out there. There are thugs, bad people, who specifically capture pretty young girls and take them back to be forced into marriage. If you’re not careful and get caught, you’ll never come back.”
“Those people will bully you every day, beat you, set snakes on you to bite you, and they’ll even…”
“Third Brother, are you trying to scare a child?” Jiu’er rolled her eyes. “Can’t you come up with something fresher? That’s not scary at all.”
Feng Jiang was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected this seemingly delicate little princess to be utterly unfazed.
She even rolled her eyes at him and gave him a look of disdain—was this really how a royal princess was supposed to behave?
Ha! What had become of all that teaching from Second Brother and Father? Why wasn’t this princess elegant and refined at all?
“So, do you really want to go out?” He leaned in closer to Jiu’er, lowering his voice coldly: “There really will be thugs…”
“Do I know any martial arts?” Feng Jiu’er suddenly asked.
Feng Jiang looked a bit surprised, frowning: “How would I know whether you know martial arts or not? Don’t you know that yourself?”
Jiu’er glared at him: “Don’t you know I damaged my head? How would I know?”
“How could I…”
“Jiu’er, your Third Brother still has to go out—don’t hold him up.”
Feng Yan walked over and gave Feng Jiang a light push: “If you’re going, then go. Stop talking so much nonsense.”
“Hey! Second Brother, your manners aren’t very good today! This isn’t like you at all!”
Pulled to his feet by Feng Yan, Feng Jiang had no chance to linger even if he wanted to.
But as he left, he couldn’t help glancing back once at Jiu’er.
There was a hint of anxiety in Jiu’er’s eyes—she really did want to go out, but she knew full well Second Brother wouldn’t allow it.
Third Brother, save me!
Her eyes were full of pleading.
Feng Jiang caught the signal at once, suddenly perking up as if he’d been injected with adrenaline, and quickly winked at her.
Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get you out of here!
Wow! The royal family had produced a second rule-breaker—how absolutely delightful!