Sometimes Jiu’er felt that Yanu — or rather, Wuyou — was truly quite foolish, for he genuinely believed that a life free from sorrow and worry could exist in this world.

Just as he believed that as long as one became a princess, the most beloved daughter of the Emperor, one’s days could be lived without care or burden.

Perhaps that too was a beautiful kind of hope.

And so Jiu’er felt that Wuyou — this name truly suited him very well.

Yanu stared at her in a daze, unable to come back to himself for a long while.

Feng Jiu’er smiled and said: “Yanu — no, Wuyou. Do you know how to read? Shall I teach you how to write the characters for ‘Wuyou’?”

“Wuyou as in ‘carefree and without worry’ — do you understand?”

“I know how to write it,” he said. He was simply overcome with emotion that he could actually have a name of his own.

Feng Jiu’er smiled: “Good. From this day forward, you are called Wuyou — no longer a person without a name.”

“From now on, you are my companion attendant. You are not an ordinary servant — do not let people bully you anymore. Your standing is different from that of an ordinary palace maid or eunuch.”

Yanu — no, from this day forward, he was Wuyou.

Wuyou’s face flushed with warmth. He understood that Jiu’er very likely did not truly know what the title of “companion attendant” meant in full.

What she was focused on was the “companion” part — in truth, it was little more than a designation, meant simply to tell everyone that his standing was different.

But in the Feng clan’s context, the title she had given him carried a meaning he understood clearly: he was her person.

Jiu’er did not understand this — but Wuyou did.

A companion attendant… from this day forward, he was actually Jiu’er’s companion attendant.

Even though she had no idea, he, in his own heart, would consider himself her true companion attendant in every sense.

“Mm.” He nodded, and across that face of unparalleled beauty bloomed two patches of red that spread like clouds across his cheeks.

But when Jiu’er looked at him in that moment, she happened to be momentarily spellbound by the luminous glow flickering in the depths of his eyes, and lost her focus entirely.

And so his unusual state went completely unnoticed by Jiu’er.

Beauty is a double-edged blade!

She hurriedly pulled her gaze away — she absolutely must not allow herself to go around admiring handsome young men. There was always this feeling that doing so would make someone displeased.

She even had the peculiar sense that her head might be wrung off at any moment by someone.

But who could possibly be so audacious as to wring her head off — she still could not remember.

“Alright then, Wuyou, go and rest for a while. Remember what I said — the friends I knew in the past, whatever can be left unspoken, try to keep it that way. Consider it a favor to me.”

She was also feeling a bit tired, and let out a yawn, her eyelids drooping steadily.

“As for what I intend to do going forward, I have not yet decided. But at the very least, unless it becomes absolutely necessary, I have no intention of opposing the Emperor — so there is no need to worry.”

She truly left then. Watching her retreating figure, one could see an inexplicable weariness in her form.

He had thought that once she became a princess, she would be able to live in great comfort and ease. But looking at her now, it seemed not even remotely easier than it had once been when she was at the Hall of Celestial Secrets.

Why did it always seem as though this person was carrying an ever-present weariness?

Wuyou stood and followed behind her, stepping out of the side parlor. He watched her walk into her bedchamber, but he remained standing on the covered corridor, gazing at that firmly shut door, his mind drifting away.

Whether or not she could remember what had happened in the past, she was still that same Jiu’er — she had never changed.

Regarding the people she had once known — things that should not be spoken of, he would not speak of them too freely.

She had only phrased it as a request, not a command — because she knew that even if it were a command, he might not necessarily obey.

If only he could obey her completely — how good that would be.

Yet from the very beginning, he had chosen loyalty to the Emperor, and had done many things on the Emperor’s behalf.

Now that he had returned to her side — could she truly trust him?

Wuyou leaned against the wooden pillar, gazing up at the sky above.

It was not that he was unwilling to follow her entirely. Rather, he understood clearly that if he harbored any disloyal intent toward the Emperor, the one who would ultimately bear the consequences would still be her.

What path lay ahead — how was he to choose?

Beyond the palace’s high walls, beneath the shadow of an ancient tree, a tall and slender figure was swallowed by the darkness as night fell.

In truth, even before dawn had broken that day, Jian Yi had already been lingering in the vicinity — he had simply not dared to draw close.

Once the sun had fully set and the bright moon had risen, he immediately came to this agreed-upon meeting place, listening carefully to every movement in the surroundings, terrified of missing even the faintest trace that Jiu’er might send his way.

He had already been waiting for at least the better part of an hour.

By the time footsteps sounded from the other side of the high wall, Jian Yi — gallant hero that he was — had already fed several mosquitoes with his handsome face.

The footsteps drew closer to the wall, then stopped. Whoever was inside — he could not tell who it was, nor what they were doing. Jian Yi did not dare move rashly, afraid that the person who had come might not be Jiu’er.

Through the thick palace walls, it was impossible to make out the breathing or internal energy of the person inside, so not even Jian Yi dared make a hasty judgment.

After a moment, there was finally movement.

With a sharp crack, a small pebble was tossed out from within.

Jian Yi’s eyes lit up instantly. With a light tap of his foot, he vaulted up to the top of the wall in one bound.

It was indeed Jiu’er!

A surge of excitement rushed through him, and he landed before her as lightly as a feather: “Let’s go!”

He clasped her hand and made to take her away with him.

But Jiu’er quickly said: “Wait.”

Jian Yi paused, lowering his eyes to look at her: “What is it?”

“We are not going out tonight. Stay in the palace with me.”

“Why?”

Jian Yi was about to ask further, but Jiu’er had already taken his hand and was walking out from the shadows.

“Nothing in particular. My Imperial Father wishes to see you.”

“Jiu’er?” This was entirely beyond Jian Yi’s expectations — she was actually taking him to meet the emperor of the Feng clan?

Did she not know that the moment they entered the city, they had been intercepted by elite Feng clan fighters? Her Fourth Imperial Uncle had gone to pursue and ambush them, and that must certainly have been done on her Imperial Father’s orders.

But Jiu’er was leading him forward by the hand, and his two legs simply followed along without a moment’s hesitation.

Jiu’er’s heart warmed slightly. She glanced back at him, and suddenly felt like laughing: “Such a silly one.”

Jian Yi had absolutely no idea what this girl meant by that — why was she calling him silly?

“I told you I was taking you to see the Emperor, and you actually just followed me along — you are not afraid it is a trap?”

Had the Emperor not been sending people to pursue and kill them all this time?

She was a princess of the Feng clan, leading him — a wanted man — to meet the Feng clan’s emperor, and he had actually dared come along without hesitation.

“You would not harm me.” That truly was how Jian Yi felt — it had never once crossed his mind that Jiu’er might harm him.

So when Jiu’er told him to walk, he had no choice but to follow.

Whatever decisions Jiu’er made, there was always a reason behind them.

Feng Jiu’er’s heart trembled. To say she was not moved would be a lie.

In this moment, looking at this foolish and earnest person before her, she fully believed what they had told her.

She and they must have known each other before — they must have been friends who had faced life and death together.

“I will not let the Emperor harm you.” She tightened her grip on Jian Yi’s large hand. “Unless I die first!”

This was how she treated her friends.

He was willing to entrust his life to her — then she would use her own life to protect his!

And not just him — but also the others she had sent to the Night Prince’s manor!