In Jiu’er’s mind, that tall, imposing yet ethereal figure couldn’t help but surface again.

An immortal-like bearing, light as a drifting cloud, cold, proud, and indifferent.

She always felt that these two ideas should never have been able to coexist.

But now, concentrated in him, though clearly contradictory, they blended together in the most surprising way.

But these six characters in front of her — “the harem must not meddle in government affairs”… ugh, why did the more she looked at them, the more adorable they seemed?

Yes, just so adorable?

Why was he so adorable?

The more Feng Jiu’er looked, the more she liked it, especially these six characters — clearly written in a careless, casual manner, yet the brushwork was forceful and vigorous, like a soaring dragon.

Mm, no matter how she looked at it, she liked it. What was she supposed to do?

“Father, can I have this exam sheet?” She held it and didn’t want to let go.

Looking at these characters felt just like having Zhan Qingcheng standing right in front of her.

Ah! She really, really liked it!

Feng Qiongcang had no objection, and Feng Jiu’er immediately took Zhan Qingcheng’s exam sheet, carefully putting it away as if it were a treasure.

“Father, then… then does this exam sheet count as passing?”

“You like this man that much?” Feng Qiongcang didn’t give a direct answer.

Jiu’er blushed slightly, seeming a bit hesitant.

In the end, she nodded. “I’ve never seen such a handsome man before…”

An’bao let out a small laugh.

This Princess Jiu’er really was candid.

Indeed, just as she said, this man named Zhan Qingcheng really was extraordinarily good-looking.

Not to mention the princess being utterly captivated — even he himself felt as though peach blossoms had suddenly bloomed all over the palace.

But, being so devastatingly handsome, could he… actually become a calamity to the nation, like some bewitching consort of legend?

Er, that is — a demon monarch?

“Father, does he pass or not?” Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help pressing him. Why wouldn’t her father just give her a clear answer?

“This matter, your father needs to think it over carefully.” Feng Qiongcang still gave no direct response.

“Father!” Jiu’er grew anxious. Did this mean her father was unwilling to select Zhan Qingcheng?

“Father, didn’t you say that as long as I liked someone, it would be alright?”

Jian Yi had been allowed to live in her princess residence simply because she liked him.

So why couldn’t it be the same for Zhan Qingcheng?

“This man is somewhat different from the others. Your father must meet him in person before deciding.”

An’bao immediately said, “Your Majesty, then this servant will go fetch him at once.”

Feng Qiongcang waved his hand, and An’bao immediately went out to fetch the man himself.

Jiu’er felt a little uneasy, but Feng Qiongcang said, “Go back for now. Whether he stays or not, there’s no need for you to see him again today.”

“Father…”

“Go on.” Feng Qiongcang waved his hand again, not impatient at all — in fact, there was even a trace of a smile at the corner of his lips.

This expression of his made it truly impossible to tell what he was actually thinking.

Jiu’er hesitated several times, but she knew that once her father had decided something, she couldn’t change it.

After hesitating a moment longer, she finally turned and left.

The moment she stepped out through the side hall’s main door, the anxiety in her eyes vanished.

Today’s arrival of Bei Mu Kingdom’s Ninth Prince had truly been beyond her expectations.

Her moment of distraction in front of the hall had also been completely genuine, without the slightest pretense.

Of course, the performance she had just put on in her father’s side hall had been, at least in part, an act.

But because her genuine loss of composure outside had come first, the pretense she put on inside the hall gained a lot more credibility.

In short, in front of her father, being entirely truthful wouldn’t work, and being entirely false couldn’t fool him either.

Half-truth, half-pretense — that was the best approach.

She really was a little worried that her father wanted to meet Zhan Qingcheng.

In Zhan Qingcheng’s current condition, he absolutely could not engage in combat — if he did, he would inevitably injure himself severely.

She had no idea what her father would say to him, and more importantly, she knew full well that that man would never compromise.

Yet her father was someone within the Feng Clan whom no one could defy.

If two equally proud men came face to face, would they end up fighting?

Jiu’er really was worried.

“How did it go?” Jian Yi had been waiting outside the whole time, and the moment he saw Jiu’er come out, he hurried over to meet her.

He, too, badly wanted to know whether Zhan Qingcheng had passed the test or not.

No one knew exactly what Zhan Qingcheng had written on the exam sheet, but everyone could clearly see that the man had written only a few characters!

How could just a few characters be enough to pass?

No matter how Jian Yi racked his brain, he couldn’t guess what the Ninth Prince could possibly have written.

Surely he hadn’t simply written, “I refuse to answer”?

If that were really the case, then that would truly be… outrageous.

Jiu’er gave him a slightly irritated glance. “That man wrote, ‘The harem must not meddle in government affairs,’ and so he refused to answer.”

“…”

What was the difference between that and simply saying “I don’t know”?

As far as Jian Yi was concerned, it really did amount to the same thing.

It seemed the Ninth Prince only knew how to fight wars and had no literary talent whatsoever.

“So what now? Can you just tell the emperor that you like this guy and have him move into the princess residence too?”

After all, hadn’t he himself moved into the princess residence in exactly that way?

Right now he was the only one living in the palace, with no idea at all what was happening outside, and living here did make him a little anxious.

“There’s a martial test this afternoon too. I’d guess he probably won’t be able to come.”

Jian Yi also had to take part in the afternoon’s martial test, so Jiu’er tugged at his sleeve.

“Let’s hurry back and eat well. Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t have the strength to beat those people in this afternoon’s test.”

Some people had to take part in both the literary and martial exams — doing so not only increased their chances of being selected but also let them make more of an impression in front of the princess.

Of course, any woman would naturally favor a man accomplished in both letters and martial arts.

But Zhan Qingcheng had suffered such serious internal injuries and currently couldn’t channel his energy at all, so naturally he couldn’t come.

Jian Yi didn’t care about this at all. “Worst case, I just get thrown out of the palace.”

That way he could at least go back and see how everyone else was doing.

Jiu’er glared at him and huffed. “You’re someone who came from my princess residence. If you lose and get thrown out, how embarrassing would that be for me?”

Jian Yi’s lips moved, about to say — what did her losing face have to do with him?

But on second thought, they had come from Bei Mu Kingdom together after all, and besides, Feng Jiu’er could practically be considered his boss.

If the boss lost face, then he too would probably… lose face as well.

“Don’t worry. I won’t lose in this afternoon’s match.”

Jiu’er poked the muscle on his arm and laughed. “I have a feeling you won’t either!”

Still, since her father wouldn’t let her watch his meeting with Zhan Qingcheng, there was no use in her staying here.

“Forget it, let’s go. Let’s go eat something good.”

She started walking forward, but the instant she took her first step, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Eunuch An’bao was leading a man in flowing white robes, walking in from outside the hall.

He walked through the gentle breeze, his robes fluttering lightly with each step.

That deep, cold, and stern face carried the same unparalleled dignity no matter where he walked.

Even though he was about to meet the Son of Heaven of the Feng Clan, the cold pride about him did not diminish in the slightest.

Standing on the steps, Jiu’er, with just that one glance, slipped underfoot and nearly tumbled down the stairs.