“Third Imperial Brother, what are you doing! Why are you running?”

Feng Jiu’er finally caught up to Feng Jiang and grabbed hold of his sleeve.

“What exactly did Father Emperor say to you? Did he scold you? Does it have something to do with Fourth Imperial Uncle?”

Then again, thinking it over, Jiu’er felt it was unlikely to have anything to do with Fourth Imperial Uncle.

If Father Emperor were displeased about Fourth Imperial Uncle’s presence here, he would surely go directly to Fourth Imperial Uncle himself.

Knowing Father Emperor’s temperament, he’d most likely just have Fourth Imperial Uncle brought straight to his own sleeping quarters.

As for how Fourth Imperial Uncle would be settled afterward, that would be Father Emperor’s own business.

Since no one had come for Fourth Imperial Uncle, this matter surely had nothing to do with him.

“Third Imperial Brother, what exactly is going on? Can you just say it clearly?”

Running up to them and making such a face—clearly this had something to do with the two of them!

If it wasn’t Fourth Imperial Uncle, then… “Does this have to do with me? Did I drag you into trouble again?”

Feng Jiu’er truly couldn’t guess what was on Father Emperor’s mind.

He appeared gentle and easygoing, but in truth, Jiu’er knew very well—he would never tolerate anyone defying him.

“Third Imperial Brother, don’t be such a stubborn mute. If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

Feng Jiu’er walked up to Feng Jiang and blocked his path.

She lifted her head to meet his gaze, her expression turning cool.

“Whatever’s on your mind, you can’t keep it bottled up. You don’t want to say it now only because you’re still in a bad mood. But Third Imperial Brother, if you don’t say it now, I might not be interested in listening later.”

Feng Jiang glanced at her, ignored her, and turned to leave.

Feng Jiu’er didn’t stop him, only said indifferently, “Fourth Imperial Uncle certainly won’t be interested in your little troubles.”

“Which means the only person you can possibly talk to is me. If you don’t say it now, you won’t even have anyone to listen!”

Feng Jiang clenched his fists, staring at her, clearly on the verge of speaking yet holding back.

She knew it—this fellow couldn’t keep things bottled up; he’d definitely want to tell someone.

But this time, after a moment of inner struggle, Feng Jiang simply swept his sleeve and walked off.

He left Feng Jiu’er standing alone at the gate of his own quarters, watching his retreating figure, still unable to make sense of it.

What was going on? He clearly wanted to say something, yet in the end held it back—what was he thinking?

Her mood had never sunk this low—not since she’d entered the palace and come to know this Third Imperial Brother.

He was usually so optimistic, never taking anything too seriously.

Whatever grievance he had, he’d vent it and then feel better.

What on earth had happened? Did it really have something to do with her?

Feng Jiang walked further and further away, his tall, vigorous figure finally vanishing entirely from her sight.

Jiu’er let out a breath. Unable to figure it out, she could only wait until he was ready to explain himself.

She was about to turn and head back into Feng Jiang’s quarters when, turning around, she instead spotted another tall, slender figure standing with a palace maid beneath a distant willow tree.

“Second Imperial Brother?” If it were simply Second Imperial Brother standing with a maid, that would be nothing unusual—but this maid looked as though she were crying.

This maid… Jiu’er thought for a moment, and an image of a figure in plain white flashed through her mind.

That maid had once hidden beneath a tree, staring at her the whole time.

Back then, Feng Jiang had mentioned she was a maid from Second Imperial Brother’s quarters.

But why was this maid crying in front of Second Imperial Brother?

Other people’s affairs were none of Jiu’er’s business—she’d only happened to see this by accident, certainly not out of any wish to meddle.

But before she could turn away, the two of them had already noticed her.

Feng Yan’s expression darkened. With a sweep of his sleeve, he shook off the maid’s clinging hand.

The little maid seemed startled as well, hastily withdrawing her hand and turning her face away, as if wiping away the tear-stains on her cheeks.

Jiu’er felt rather awkward. She had originally meant to slip quietly back to her quarters and pretend she’d seen nothing.

But now that their eyes had met, pretending not to have seen would be far too obvious, wouldn’t it?

She felt a little helpless, but had no choice but to walk over.

When one encountered an imperial brother in the palace, one had to greet him properly.

When the maid saw Jiu’er approaching, she panicked, nearly collapsing where she stood.

Feng Yan said coldly, with a darkened face, “Go and pay your respects to the Princess.”

“Y-yes, yes!” The maid scrambled forward in a fluster and bowed deeply to Jiu’er. “Greetings… greetings, Princess.”

Feng Yan walked up behind her and came to stand before Jiu’er. “Little Imperial Sister.”

“Second Imperial Brother.” Jiu’er gave him a smile.

Perhaps because the moment had been a bit awkward, she couldn’t immediately think of anything to say.

So she simply looked at the little maid and said with a smile, “Second Imperial Brother, is this a maid from your quarters? She’s quite pretty.”

To her surprise, the maid let out a gasp and dropped to her knees before Jiu’er the instant she heard this.

“Forgive me, Princess! Spare me, Princess!”

A flash of surprise passed through Jiu’er’s eyes—wasn’t this a bit overly cautious?

She’d only said the girl was pretty—did that make her some kind of vicious princess who couldn’t bear to see another woman look good?

“This… it’s nothing like that,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’m not that terrifying, really. Get up.”

The little maid didn’t dare rise, only lifted her head to steal a glance at Feng Yan.

Feng Yan said flatly, his face expressionless, “The Princess told you to get up. What are you still kneeling for?”

Only then did the maid rise, lowering her head as she stood off to the side.

“Still not going back to your duties?” Feng Yan said coldly.

Frightened by his icy tone, the maid trembled, bowed, and stumbled away.

Feng Jiu’er watched her retreating figure, feeling that her fright had been a bit excessive.

Was she really that frightening? She’d always thought herself, if not universally adored, at least pleasant enough to look at.

“Second Imperial Brother, did you make her cry by scolding her?” Jiu’er asked, somewhat at a loss for conversation, while inwardly hoping to hurry back and see how far Fourth Imperial Uncle and Jian Yi’s discussion on swordsmanship had progressed.

She didn’t understand martial arts, but she always felt that one day she too would become a master of the martial world.

So she was, in fact, quite interested in martial arts.

“I didn’t scold her.” Feng Yan stared at her, his expression serious.

He kept staring at her, and there was something strange in his gaze.

It wasn’t the doting look of an elder brother toward a younger sister, nor the ardent look of a man toward a woman—it was something very intent, very focused, and yet it left her feeling utterly undoted upon.

Jiu’er had no idea what this meant. Second Imperial Brother had never looked at her this way before.

What was wrong with both Second Imperial Brother and Third Imperial Brother today—acting so strangely?

“Little Imperial Sister, have you grown used to living in the palace these days?” Feng Yan suddenly asked.

“Uh,” Jiu’er blinked, then said quickly, “It’s all right, pretty good actually. Imperial Brother needn’t worry.”

“That’s good, then.” Though he said it was good, his expression remained flat, as if he felt nothing at all.

“Imperial Brother’s quarters—Jiu’er hasn’t been to see them yet. Why don’t we go sit there for a while?”