“And if I said I never have, what would you do?”

Zhan Yuheng’s words remained icy, and he still didn’t spare Feng Jiu’er another glance.

Watching his arrogant attitude, Feng Jiu’er truly felt at a loss for a moment.

Each served their own master—if not for the Emperor’s personal command, perhaps the Crown Prince wouldn’t have led troops to attack the Ninth Imperial Uncle either.

But so many things could still be discussed, couldn’t they?

Why did it have to come to fighting and killing?

“If that’s the case, it’s not too late for Your Highness to reconsider now.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and said softly.

“What did you call me?”

Zhan Yuheng’s deep voice rang out.

Feng Jiu’er looked at him, coughed lightly, and asked flatly, “What do you want to hear?”

Zhan Yuheng said nothing, looking as though he were angry.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and let out a soft sigh.

“In the past I was foolish and offended Your Highness. If it’s because of me that you don’t wish to make peace, I can step asi—” “There’s no one I want to see except you.”

Zhan Yuheng cut off Feng Jiu’er’s words with a cold voice.

Turning another page of the military treatise, his voice continued: “Call me Heng-gege.”

“The Crown Prince I know would never disregard the people’s lives and deaths for his own selfish desires.”

Feng Jiu’er said in a deep voice.

“I’m no saint.”

Zhan Yuheng finally raised his eyes, meeting Feng Jiu’er’s gaze.

“Even my own life isn’t going the way I want—why should I bother considering others?”

“No.”

Feng Jiu’er refuted him. “Your Highness is kind-hearted and benevolent—you’ve been a good person since childhood.” “If that’s so, then why didn’t you choose me, and chose the Ninth Imperial Uncle instead?”

Zhan Yuheng’s voice grew even colder.

Looking at the man before her, Feng Jiu’er felt him growing more and more unfamiliar.

In her memories, his figure still remained, but that dust-covered memory had grown so blurred she could barely make it out clearly anymore.

Feng Jiu’er shook her head and gave a cold smile.

“Shouldn’t that question be one Heng-gege asks himself? It was you who abandoned Jiu’er first and left her to fend for herself—am I wrong to say so?”

“When I could barely take another step, when I couldn’t even guarantee my own life, who was it that reached out to support me, who shielded me behind him?”

Letting out a soft sigh, Feng Jiu’er shook her head.

“Heng-gege, Jiu’er has grown up, and has let go. Shouldn’t you learn to let go too?”

“If, because of me, more brothers must be sacrificed, and the people made to keep suffering displacement, that would be my sin to bear.”

“Tell me what it would take for you to agree to peace—perhaps I can grant it.”

Zhan Yuheng, seated before the desk, stared at Feng Jiu’er without blinking—and in the very next instant, he suddenly appeared right in front of her.

His speed was extremely fast; Feng Jiu’er seemed unable to react in time.

Just as Zhan Yuheng reached out to grab her, Feng Jiu’er stepped back, dodging his touch.

“Jiu’er.”

Zhan Yuheng moved forward again, gripping Feng Jiu’er’s shoulders firmly.

Their eyes met, and this time Feng Jiu’er did not dodge away.

“Jiu’er, I was wrong. Come back to my side, won’t you? I truly know I was wrong.”

Zhan Yuheng swept his long arm out, wanting to pull Feng Jiu’er into his embrace.

But Feng Jiu’er raised both hands, pressing them against his chest.

“We can’t go back.”

She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, shaking her head. “Heng-gege, neither of us can go back anymore.”

“Whether or not I end up with the Ninth Imperial Uncle in the future, it makes no difference—we still can’t go back.”

“Heng-gege, wake up. Take a good look at the situation as it is now. I don’t want there to be any bad impression when I think of you in the future.”

Zhan Yuheng kept exerting force, but Feng Jiu’er would not let him succeed.

After a standoff that lasted some time, Zhan Yuheng finally let her go.

“If you won’t stay, then what use is there in still thinking of me?”

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at Zhan Yuheng, blinking.

“Heng-gege, between people, it doesn’t always have to be romantic love.”

“Many of my friends would risk everything for my sake, and I’m the same—I would bleed and sweat for them too.”

“Heng-gege, the road ahead for both of us is still long. There will be hardship, but there will also be pleasant surprises. Don’t keep living in the past, standing still.”

“Without you, there will be no surprises.”

Zhan Yuheng’s voice was so heavy it carried a sense of sorrow.

Hidden not far outside the tent, Feng Qingyin heard Zhan Yuheng’s words, clenched her teeth tightly, and turned to leave.

“Have him come see me.”

“Yes.”

Linglong nodded and turned to walk off in another direction.

In another tent, Jian Yi lifted the curtain and stepped inside.

Feng Qingyin stood in the middle of the tent, turning to look at the one who had entered.

“Jian Yi, it’s been a long time.”

“Speak. What do you want from me?”

Jian Yi looked at Feng Qingyin and asked flatly.

“So you still remember who it was that saved you back then.”

Feng Qingyin curved her lips slightly.

Within that seemingly gentle smile of hers lurked traces of malice, the kind that sent a chill down one’s spine.

Jian Yi withdrew his gaze and no longer looked at her.

“I owe you my life, and I will never forget it for as long as I live. Speak. As long as it’s within my power, I will do everything I can to accomplish it.”

“Kill Feng Jiu’er, and you’ll no longer owe me anything.”

Feng Qingyin flicked her sleeve and said coldly.

“I’m sorry—there’s no way I would ever do anything to harm Jiu’er.”

Jian Yi replied softly.

Feng Qingyin stepped toward Jian Yi. Jian Yi kept his head lowered, still not looking at her.

Coming right up to Jian Yi, Feng Qingyin reached out and toyed with his long hair.

“Jian Yi, why did you break your promise? Didn’t you say you’d take me away from the palace? Why did you just leave, abandoning me to fend for myself?”

“Tell me. What I owe you, I will absolutely not go back on.”

Jian Yi stood motionless, his voice flat and heavy.

“Take me away, won’t you?”

Suddenly, Feng Qingyin threw her arms around Jian Yi, leaning into his embrace.

“To save my life, I went through endless hardship to attach myself to the Crown Prince, but he’s never been good to me at all—he’s never once been willing to let me close to him.”

“Jian Yi, I’m living such a wretched life. I don’t want to go on like this. Take me away, won’t you?”

Feng Qingyin gently stroked Jian Yi’s firm chest, and where he couldn’t see, the corner of her mouth curved up slightly.

That Feng Jiu’er had brought Jian Yi along even to such a dangerous place showed that his standing at her side was no small thing.

Since that was the case, she was all the less likely to let such a good opportunity slip by.

“Jian Yi, Jiu’er’s power is so strong now—as long as she’s around, she won’t spare me either. Help me kill her, won’t you?”

“As soon as you kill her, we can leave right now, together.”

“During the time you were gone, I finally realized that in this lifetime, aside from you, no one has ever truly treated me well. I don’t want wealth or glory.”

Raising her eyes to look up at Jian Yi again, Feng Qingyin’s eyes were brimming with tears.

“Jian Yi, all I want is you. Just you. I don’t want anything else.”

Jian Yi glanced down briefly, gently pushed Feng Qingyin’s hand away, and stepped back half a pace.

“Jiu’er is my boss. I work for her now, and I will absolutely not do anything to harm her. You—” “Jian Yi.”

Feng Qingyin raised a slender finger and pressed it against Jian Yi’s lips. “You’ve fallen for Feng Jiu’er, haven’t you?”