“They are all this Princess’s Imperial Brothers — how can there be any talk of attending consorts?”

Feng Jiu’er cast one more glance at the palace maid, her brow furrowing.

“If you act so recklessly again, what right will you have to stand by my Second Imperial Brother’s side in the future?”

With those words left behind, Feng Jiu’er turned and yanked Jian Yi by the arm, striding away.

If they lingered any longer, this man might very well start cutting people down.

Jian Yi’s thick brows drew together; he turned and followed, afraid of suffering even the slightest further mishap.

“You are simply letting her go like that?”

“What else — was I to kill her?”

Feng Jiu’er did not even turn her head. “She is with child. Could you truly bring yourself to do it?”

“But she injured you. Such a crime cannot be forgiven.”

Jian Yi’s low, even voice carried a firm weight.

“I cannot raise my hand against my Second Imperial Brother’s child.”

Feng Jiu’er kept her eyes fixed ahead, her expression somewhat grave.

The palace maid’s words continued to revolve in her mind, leaving her unsettled and distracted.

Even when Jian Yi rebuked her for being “soft-hearted,” she offered no retort.

It was not until she walked through the entrance of Feng Jiang’s quarters that her mood lifted somewhat.

It was as though no matter what troubles arose, so long as she saw her Fourth Imperial Uncle, every worry could be cast to the back of her mind.

“This servant greets the Princess.”

Two palace maids came forward and curtsied.

“Rise. Where is my Fourth Imperial Uncle?”

Feng Jiu’er asked gently.

“Prince Ye is in the rear courtyard.”

One maid straightened and bowed to escort her. “Princess, this way, please.”

“I will go myself. Go and prepare morning refreshments for Jian Yi and me.”

With that, Feng Jiu’er set off at once in the direction of the rear courtyard.

Jian Yi glanced at her injured arm and fell into step behind her.

“Your wound — have it seen to.”

This girl — frantic with worry over another’s injury, yet the moment she herself was hurt, she wrapped it loosely and thought nothing more of it.

Feng Jiu’er had no intention of heeding the man behind her and pressed on.

Later she still needed to return and administer acupuncture to her Ninth Imperial Uncle. Right now she simply wanted to share a proper morning meal with her Fourth Imperial Uncle.

In the rear courtyard, a tall, imposing figure sat within the pavilion, his back turned to all who approached.

Looking upon Feng Li’s solitary silhouette, Feng Jiu’er felt a quiet ache in her chest.

Her Fourth Imperial Uncle was always so alone. She wondered where his child had gone — why could he not return and keep him company?

Feng Jiang had mentioned that her Fourth Imperial Uncle had a child. She wondered whether that child was even still in this world.

Blinking softly, Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and continued forward.

“Feng Jiu’er.”

Just as she was drawing near to stand behind Feng Li, Jian Yi called out to her in a low voice.

Feng Jiu’er pouted, turned, and shot him a glance.

This fellow — did he not know she still wanted to give her Fourth Imperial Uncle a surprise?

He had to announce her so loudly.

Though Feng Jiu’er also understood well enough: once she came close, her Fourth Imperial Uncle could not possibly be unaware of her presence. He simply had not turned around yet, and she had wanted to slip up behind him and surprise him all the same.

“What is it?”

She gave Jian Yi a sideways look, and only then remembered something rather important.

Before she had a chance to stop him, Jian Yi’s voice carried over to her again.

“See to that wound. Right now.”

Feng Jiu’er’s brow creased sharply. She could have berated Jian Yi a thousand times over. It was such a small injury — she had never intended to let her Fourth Imperial Uncle know.

And yet here he was, making it known as though he feared no one else would find out. He truly deserved a good scolding.

She shot Jian Yi another glare, then turned to meet Feng Li’s gaze directly, knowing there was no longer any concealing it.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle.”

She pressed her lips together and called out softly.

“What happened?”

Feng Li’s thick brows drew into a frown as he crossed the distance to Feng Jiu’er in just a few long strides.

“I am fine.”

Feng Jiu’er shook her head, glancing around briefly.

Seeing no one else present, she took hold of Feng Li’s arm and walked with him back toward the pavilion.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, is Third Imperial Brother not here?”

She had rather hoped he would be — she had questions she wanted answered.

“He came to pay his respects early this morning and then went out.”

Feng Li held Feng Jiu’er’s hand in return, his eyes moving over her, the furrow between his brows refusing to ease.

At the sight of his anxious expression, Feng Jiu’er gripped his arm and pressed her lips together.

“It is nothing, Fourth Imperial Uncle. Sit down — let me have a look at it myself. It really is a minor injury. There is no need to worry.”

She sighed quietly, and could not help glancing sidelong to shoot Jian Yi another glare.

He already knew very well that the Fourth Imperial Uncle had suffered serious internal injuries and ought not to be agitated — yet this fellow, Jian Yi—

Jian Yi raised an eyebrow, utterly unmoved by her resentment.

As Feng Li settled into his seat, Feng Jiu’er sat down as well. She extended her arm, rolled up her sleeve, and gently lifted the handkerchief away.

Though the wound was not deep, the cut was long, and the blood that had seeped from it looked rather gruesome.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, please do not fret — whatever you wish to say, wait until after I have attended to this.”

Feng Jiu’er looked up at Feng Li and reminded him softly.

Her Fourth Imperial Uncle truly cared deeply for her. Even the smallest of injuries sent him into visible agitation.

Feng Jiu’er could even be certain that had her Fourth Imperial Uncle been present earlier, the palace maid would not have had the chance to utter a single word.

Not wishing to see Feng Li worry, Feng Jiu’er quickly tended to her own wound.

“It is all right now. The cut is shallow — in three days there will likely not even be a scar left. It is all Jian Yi’s fault for making such a fuss.”

The bleeding had already stopped long before. She had cleaned it, applied a small amount of ointment, and now only a faint, shallow mark remained.

Feng Li examined Feng Jiu’er’s small arm carefully for a moment before setting it gently down.

“What exactly happened? With you there, how did the Princess still come to be injured?”

Feng Li harbored no particular feelings against Jian Yi in general — but if he could not even protect the Princess, then such an attending consort was better off not existing.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, this was not Jian Yi’s fault.”

Feng Jiu’er, who moments ago had been quietly fuming at Jian Yi, now grew anxious on his behalf.

Noticing that a palace maid was making her way toward them, Feng Jiu’er glanced at Jian Yi and waved her hand in dismissal.

“Go — bring the morning refreshments over. Are you not famished? Go, quickly.”

Jian Yi stood there without budging.

Feng Jiu’er turned to look at him again and seemed to grasp something at last.

“Do not worry. Of all the people in this world who might wish me harm, my Fourth Imperial Uncle is not one of them.”

“Nor am I.”

Jian Yi held Feng Jiu’er’s gaze for a moment, then turned and left.

“Did you always feel this way?”

Feng Jiu’er gave a dismissive little scoff.

“From now on, never again.”

With that parting remark, Jian Yi’s stride carried a note of urgency.

Leaving her behind unsettled him, no matter what.

“Tell me — what happened?”

Feng Li’s voice had shed much of its earlier coldness.

The little girl’s simple declaration of trust in him had stirred greater ripples within him than he would ever let on.

Feng Jiu’er knew there was no possibility of slipping past him undetected, and so she obediently turned her gaze to Feng Li.

“She did not mean it.”

She pressed her lips together.

“Who is this person?”

Feng Li looked once more at Feng Jiu’er’s arm, his hand tightening into a fist.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, I said I am fine. You must not let yourself grow agitated.”

Feng Jiu’er kept her eyes fixed on Feng Li, urgency brimming in her expression.

“Your internal injuries have not yet healed. If you sustain them further, I will be heartbroken.”

Feng Jiu’er intentionally kept her voice low. As long as she and her Fourth Imperial Uncle did not make too much physical contact, whatever others might witness here was of no consequence.

Meeting the little girl’s concerned gaze, Feng Li’s breathing gradually steadied.

“Jiu’er, do not try to hide things from me.”