“Imperial… Father…”

Feng Jiu’er’s throat went dry. The young maid’s wailing continued to drift from the secluded corner of the courtyard. Her heart clenched, and she rushed in at once, falling to her knees before Feng Qiongcang with a resounding thud.

“Imperial Father, it has nothing to do with her — I was the one who chose to go out. It was because I…”

“Where did you go?” Feng Qiongcang held a cup in his hand, savoring the fragrant tea within with leisurely sips.

The tone in which he addressed her sounded especially gentle — no different from any other time, carrying not the slightest hint of reproach.

Yet at this very moment, with the young maid’s cries outside gradually growing fainter, the gentler Imperial Father’s voice became, the more dread rose within Feng Jiu’er.

“Who went out with you? Such remarkable lightness technique — even the shadow guards of the palace could not catch up. Is he a friend of yours?”

Not the faintest trace of displeasure showed in Feng Qiongcang’s expression.

Feng Jiu’er dug her nails into her palm, and within her heart, she quietly exhaled.

If the shadow guards had failed to catch up, then they did not know where the group had gone or what they had done.

At the very least, the guards would not be able to find Xue Gu and the others. The fact of their lodging in the Night Prince’s manor — Imperial Father did not yet know.

“You are afraid Imperial Father will find him?” The way she let out that breath of relief had not escaped Feng Qiongcang’s notice.

He set down his cup and looked at her. “What are you doing kneeling on the floor? I am not angry.”

“Imperial Father…” Outside, the young maid’s cries had grown so faint they could barely be heard.

Jiu’er’s heart was frantic. She shuffled forward on her knees two steps and raised her face to him: “Imperial Father, it truly had nothing to do with her. I had her stand guard outside — she did not even know I had gone.”

“Imperial Father, please spare her. It was not her fault!”

Yet Feng Qiongcang continued to look at her with the same gentle expression. “Jiu’er, you have still not answered my question. Who is he?”

Jiu’er understood: if she could not give him an answer, he would not let the palace maid go.

She bit her lip, lowered her head, and concealed whatever lay in the depths of her eyes. In a quiet voice she said, “He… says he knows me. He says I am not the princess of this place. He says… I am his sweetheart.”

“His sweetheart?” That answer was rather unexpected to Feng Qiongcang.

Could it be that the one she cared for was not the Ninth Prince after all?

“I don’t know whether it is true or not, but that man… he is…” Feng Jiu’er’s face colored slightly, and in a low voice she finished: “He is not only highly skilled in martial arts and masterful in his lightness technique — most importantly, he is… exceedingly handsome.”

Skilled in martial arts and handsome…

Feng Qiongcang’s gaze deepened, his thoughts unreadable.

Feng Jiu’er’s heart was in agony. The young maid’s cries outside had gone silent. She did not know whether the girl had fainted or…

She dared not think further. She only hoped she could put Imperial Father at ease as quickly as possible.

She spoke again: “Imperial Father, even though I no longer remember that man… I feel he would not deceive me. Could it be that I truly knew him before?”

“Where is he now?” Feng Qiongcang asked.

Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “He said Imperial Father’s people were hunting him. He is currently hiding wherever he can. Imperial Father, why are you hunting him?”

Feng Qiongcang smiled serenely, his voice softening: “Imperial Father is only concerned that those outside may not have good intentions toward you.”

“But he treats me very well.” Jiu’er kept her head lowered, still bearing that faintly shy look.

Feng Qiongcang’s thoughts turned over. “And yet you do not know where he is staying.”

“He said he would come to find me tomorrow night. Imperial Father, can you promise not to harm him? He truly means me no ill.”

Feng Jiu’er seemed genuinely afraid that Feng Qiongcang would move against the man. When she looked at him, her face was taut with anxiety.

Feng Qiongcang considered for quite some time before speaking: “Since he is coming to find you tomorrow, then let him come and meet Imperial Father.”

“Imperial Father!” Jiu’er was alarmed. She hurried to say: “Imperial Father, you won’t… you wouldn’t…”

“As long as he means no harm to you or to me, Imperial Father will naturally not hurt him.”

“Imperial Father, please do not worry — how could he possibly mean you any harm?” Jiu’er stood, stretching her arms above her head with a leisurely air.

Only then did Feng Qiongcang smile: “It seems you are tired as well. Rest early, then.”

“Yes — I respectfully take my leave of Imperial Father!” Feng Jiu’er immediately bent into a bow.

Feng Qiongcang rose, and a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs quickly fell into step behind him.

Surrounded by the whole entourage, Feng Qiongcang finally departed the Princess’s hall.

Not until they had gone far into the distance did Feng Jiu’er let the carefree smile drop from her face in an instant. She flew like the wind toward a corner of the courtyard.

In the corner, the palace maid lay face-down on the ground, blood soaking her clothes.

Her eyes were closed. It was evident she had drawn her last breath.

Feng Jiu’er’s legs buckled, and she dropped to the ground with a thud, her eyes blank and empty.

She was still too late.

Beside her, several young palace maids had tears at the corners of their eyes, yet dared not weep — afraid that one wrong expression might displease the Princess and make them the next.

Yet as Feng Jiu’er crumpled to the ground, no one thought to come and help her up.

No one knew how much time passed. At last, one palace maid wiped her tears dry and came to help her.

“Your Highness, the ground is cold — please rise.”

Feng Jiu’er stared at the body of the maid lying on the ground and, in a daze, climbed to her feet.

She had not been here long and had not grown close to any of the maids or eunuchs — she did not know their circumstances.

The other maids and eunuchs came to their senses as well, and quickly fetched white cloth to cover the body, preparing to have it taken away.

Feng Jiu’er asked in a hoarse voice: “Where will she be taken?”

“Your Highness, when a eunuch or palace maid dies within the palace, they are always taken outside. Those found guilty are sent to the common grave pit, while those without fault are returned to their families.”

“And she…?”

“She failed to attend to the Princess properly — she carries a charge against her. She must be… sent to the common grave pit.”

The young eunuch’s voice broke at those words. Afraid that weeping would anger the Princess, he could only force himself to hold it back.

“It is my fault…” Jiu’er suddenly fell to her knees.

The maids and eunuchs around her scrambled in alarm to kneel as well: “Your Highness!”

“It is all my fault — I didn’t know…” She had not known Imperial Father would be so ruthless. No — she had not known that the imperial palace was truly, inherently, this brutal and blood-soaked.

Had she not read many stories like this before?

Even if she did not know where those stories had come from, the impression had always been there — that such things were meant to happen. The imperial palace was the most cold and merciless place in existence.

“Forgive me — I am sorry. I am so sorry to you.”

She bent forward and kowtowed.

A young eunuch lunged forward, and at the moment before Jiu’er’s forehead would have struck the ground, he thrust his hand out and placed it between her forehead and the floor.

Jiu’er’s forehead struck the back of the young eunuch’s hand.

The young eunuch winced, having assumed that someone as pampered as a princess, even if kowtowing, would only be going through the motions.

He had never expected the Princess to bow down with such genuine force.

With that much force — had he not intervened, her forehead would certainly have split open.

The young eunuch was both shaken and relieved.

Looking at Feng Jiu’er, he said urgently: “Your Highness, please — do not hurt yourself. If you did… if you did, we would all have to accompany you to our deaths. Your Highness, please — I beg of you!”