“Miss Jiu’er, are you in there?” A brother’s voice came from outside.

“Come in.” Feng Jiu’er looked up and said.

The brother lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.

“Miss Jiu’er, the woman and her child have been rescued. We’ve also captured seven men.”

“Good. Bring them all here — I want to question them thoroughly.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

“As for the physician’s wife and child, arrange a separate tent for them so they can be reunited.”

“Yes, Miss Jiu’er.” The brother nodded and turned to leave.

“Jiu’er, it looks like the Crown Prince really does mean to use Crow Wood City as his way in — what should we prepare for?” Qiao Mu’s voice rose.

“Whatever’s coming will come. Feng Qingyin wants a show — we’ll have to put on a proper one too.”

Feng Jiu’er’s brows furrowed faintly, and she turned, lifting the tent flap and walking outside.

…

The war that had only just managed to stop flared up again, bringing suffering not only to the soldiers but also to the common people of Crow Wood City.

In just two short days, the people had been fleeing in all directions, with most said to have escaped south.

At the southernmost point of Ding City, less than twenty li from Crow Wood City, an army unit had taken up position.

That night, inside a lavish tent within the camp, Zhan Yuheng sat at his desk in silver military armor, poring over military texts.

A woman, dressed in fine and elegant clothing yet looking somewhat frail, arrived outside the tent escorted by palace maids.

Seeing who had come, Qing Yun, standing guard outside, didn’t look pleased, but still reluctantly stepped aside to make way.

“Greetings, Noble Consort Qing!”

Feng Qingyin shot Qing Yun a glare, her expression darkening at once.

“I’ve told you before — don’t call me Noble Consort Qing anymore!”

She had said this many times. The soldiers who traveled with her had all changed how they addressed her, yet Qing Yun alone kept doing things his own way.

Feng Qingyin was now the Crown Prince’s woman, and in the future would be Crown Princess — how could she tolerate still being addressed as Noble Consort?

But true as that might be, Qing Yun had never once treated Feng Qingyin as the Crown Princess.

“The Crown Prince is preparing to retire for the night. I wonder what business Noble Consort Qing has with him?” Qing Yun ignored her words and asked quietly.

Feng Qingyin shot Qing Yun a glance laced with menace, then let her gaze settle on the heavy tent flap.

“I want to see Crown Prince Brother. The Emperor told me to assist Crown Prince Brother on this campaign — traveling like this, in wind and dust, is it easy for me?”

Feng Qingyin used the word “I,” not the formal “this consort.”

Even when addressing the Crown Prince, she still spoke as she always had — one moment “Crown Prince Brother,” the next “Crown Prince Brother” again.

It seemed she wanted nothing more than to erase her status as Noble Consort entirely.

Watching her push out her belly, Qing Yun’s expression darkened further, yet there was nothing he could do about it.

Before Qing Yun could even report her presence to Zhan Yuheng, Feng Qingyin suddenly clutched her swollen belly. “Crown Prince Brother, my stomach hurts a little, mm, it’s uncomfortable!”

“Come in.” Zhan Yuheng’s deep voice came from inside the tent.

Feng Qingyin shot Qing Yun a smug glance and let her gaze fall on the tent flap.

Holding back his frustration, Qing Yun reached out and lifted the flap open.

Looking at the tall, striking man inside, Feng Qingyin had no mind left to spare for anyone else.

Once she took her seat as Crown Princess, the first person she intended to have killed was that irritating Qing Yun.

“Crown Prince Brother.” The moment she stepped into the tent, Feng Qingyin waved a hand.

Behind her, her personal maid Linglong moved to block the entrance, reaching out to stop Qing Yun, who was still holding the flap open.

Qing Yun let the flap fall, turned, and stood guard off to the side with a stern face.

“Crown Prince Brother, why haven’t you rested yet?” Feng Qingyin, cradling her swollen belly, walked boldly over to Zhan Yuheng and sat down right beside him.

“Mm, he’s being mischievous again.” Rubbing her belly, Feng Qingyin looked up at Zhan Yuheng with a smile.

“Crown Prince Brother, feel this — he’s so naughty!”

Outside the tent, aside from Feng Qingyin’s personal maid Linglong, there was only Qing Yun — she wasn’t the least bit worried about her words being overheard by anyone.

“Ouch! It hurts… Crown Prince Brother, he’s… being naughty! I… it hurts!” Seeing no response from Zhan Yuheng, Feng Qingyin’s voice pitched higher.

“Crown Prince Brother, you said he’ll look like…”

Zhan Yuheng finally closed his book, turning his head to glance over, his deep voice cutting through her words. “If you’re feeling unwell, shall I have the imperial physician take a look?”

“No need!” Feng Qingyin put on an ingratiating smile and reached out to embrace Zhan Yuheng.

Zhan Yuheng turned his face away, his body shifting to dodge her touch.

“It’s getting late. You should head back and rest.”

The man’s voice was deep, carrying a trace of distaste, but the person beside him paid it no mind at all.

“Crown Prince Brother, tonight, I want you to stay with me.” Feng Qingyin pressed her lips together and leaned in, successfully hooking her arm through Zhan Yuheng’s.

“Our child needs his father — I’m scared being alone!”

“You…” Zhan Yuheng turned his head to look at Feng Qingyin, his breathing growing heavier.

“It’s fine.” Feng Qingyin tilted her head up to meet his gaze, smiling as she shook her head. “Linglong and Qing Yun are guarding outside — no one would dare come near.”

“Crown Prince Brother, when will you tell the Emperor clearly about us? I don’t want to be called Noble Consort anymore — I want to be Crown Princess.”

“We even have a child together now, don’t we?” Feng Qingyin lowered her head again to stroke her belly. “Our child is sure to grow up just as handsome as you.”

Zhan Yuheng let out a cold snort and shook Feng Qingyin off, standing up.

Because of the child in her belly, he had tried countless times in the past to convince himself to accept this woman — but even now, he still found himself unable to do it.

Suddenly pushed away, Feng Qingyin fell onto the soft blanket and burst into tears.

“Waah… Crown Prince Brother, you don’t love Qing’er anymore, you don’t love our child anymore.”

“Crown Prince Brother, you don’t want Qing’er, you don’t want our child, is that it? Waah… it hurts, my stomach hurts…”

“Crown Prince Brother, how can you be so heartless? It’s just that our child missed you, I didn’t mean to come and disturb you, waah… our child, he misses his father.”

Zhan Yuheng glanced back and called out in a low voice, “Qing Yun.”

Qing Yun immediately lifted the tent flap and appeared inside.

“Your Highness, what are your orders?”

“I don’t want the physician summoned. I just want to stay here.” Before Zhan Yuheng could speak, Feng Qingyin’s voice rose again.

“Crown Prince Brother, don’t treat Qing’er this way, please?”

“I’ll behave from now on, I won’t make you angry, waah…”

“Crown Prince Brother, I just don’t want our child to be born only to call another man father — is that so wrong of me?”

Linglong hurried in and helped the fallen Feng Qingyin up off the blanket.

Feng Qingyin took a step toward Zhan Yuheng, then quickly stopped.

She took a deep breath, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped at the corners of her eyes.

“Crown Prince Brother, don’t be angry! My stomach doesn’t hurt anymore. Crown Prince Brother, please don’t be angry with Qing’er anymore, all right?”