Zhao Xiaoxiao and Madam Zhao had just left when a brother came running in.
“Young Master, a letter has arrived — it is addressed to Miss Jiu’er.”
“A letter for me?” Upon hearing this, Feng Jiu’er immediately walked over.
The brother bent slightly at the waist and offered the letter with both hands.
Feng Jiu’er took the letter, returned to her seat, and only then opened it.
Zhao Yusheng waved his hand; the brother turned and left, closing the door behind him for those inside.
“Jiu’er, who is the letter from?” Xiao Yingtao leaned over and asked.
Feng Jiu’er skimmed through the contents of the letter, let out a soft sigh, and her expression grew somewhat heavy.
“What is it?” Jian Yi asked in a quiet voice.
“Jiu’er, what exactly is going on? Is it a letter from the Ninth Prince?” Zhao Yusheng also came to stand behind Feng Jiu’er, his face taut with urgency.
“It is from Yu Jingfeng.” Feng Jiu’er closed the letter and held it in her palm.
“He says he is escorting my father here. He already knows I am at Zhao Family Stronghold and asks me to give your people a heads-up.”
“Yu Jingfeng is escorting Lord Night Prince here — why?” Zhao Yusheng furrowed his brow slightly.
Feng Jiu’er stood and turned to look at Zhao Yusheng.
“Setting out from the Black Abyss to the northwest of Zhao Family Stronghold — is it possible to reach a country called Qiangu Prefecture?”
“Qiangu Prefecture?” Meeting Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, Zhao Yusheng composed himself, then nodded. “I have indeed heard of that country.”
“I have heard it is a small nation surrounded on all sides by the Black Abyss. Because it is so far from other countries, no one has ever had designs on it.”
“It is said that Qiangu Prefecture is a land of peace and prosperity, where the people live freely and without restraint — quite a fine place.”
“You have only heard of it?” Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow lightly. “You have never been?”
Zhao Yusheng shook his head. “Never.”
“According to written records, travelling from the Black Abyss to Qiangu Prefecture is more than twice the distance of reaching the Feng Clan’s territory. It is far too remote — I have never attempted the journey.”
“Does Yu Jingfeng intend to take Lord Night Prince to Qiangu Prefecture?”
Feng Jiu’er let out a soft sigh, turned, and sat down once more.
“It must be my father’s own wish. Though the war has been temporarily quelled, there is no telling when it might break out again.”
“I am afraid Father does not wish to be a burden to me, and so he has decided to leave.”
Feng Jiu’er felt somewhat regretful for having entrusted her father to another person’s care — even if that person was the Ninth Imperial Uncle.
Not that she thought the Ninth Imperial Uncle would treat her father poorly, but by doing so, she had effectively abandoned her own flesh and blood.
“Lord Night Prince wishing to leave may not be a bad thing.” As though sensing Feng Jiu’er’s thoughts, Jian Yi spoke softly.
“One day, when your power is strong enough, you can go and bring Lord Night Prince back — and he will surely be glad to return.”
Turning to meet Jian Yi’s gaze, Feng Jiu’er drew a deep breath and nodded.
“Since this is the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s arrangement, my father will certainly arrive at Qiangu Prefecture safely. When the day comes that I have the ability, I will go and bring him home.”
She had initially intended to go out personally to meet Feng Li, but Feng Jiu’er changed her mind in the end.
“Since we are leaving tomorrow, tonight’s treatment must not be skipped. Come — let me treat you.”
With those words, Feng Jiu’er rose to her feet and left.
Jian Yi watched her small retreating figure, furrowed his brow slightly, and also stood.
“Brother Zhao, I leave the rest to you.”
“No trouble at all — I will see to it.” Zhao Yusheng gave an inclination of his head.
As soon as the sky brightened the next morning, Feng Jiu’er rode Zhuiyue out to meet Feng Li, with Zhao Yusheng and Xiao Yingtao on horseback close behind.
They crested two great mountains and passed through a stone forest — and then, at last, the face she had yearned for throughout the entire night appeared before her.
“Father.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, called out softly, and urged Zhuiyue forward.
Meeting again felt as though half a century had passed.
At this moment, Feng Jiu’er was like a child who had ventured out, endured countless hardships, and was at last able to come home and take a look.
While still some distance from Feng Li, Feng Jiu’er leapt lightly from her saddle, soared through the air, and landed on the back of the horse behind him.
“Father.” She wrapped her arms tightly around Feng Li and buried her head against his back. “Why must you leave? Jiu’er will miss you terribly.”
Only in Feng Li’s presence could Feng Jiu’er act like a child — throwing a little temper, being a little spoiled.
After today’s parting, Feng Jiu’er had no idea when she and her father would see each other again.
For now, all she could do was hold him well — hold him a little while longer.
Feng Jiu’er’s speed had been so swift that Feng Li had barely made out the little girl’s face before she had already settled behind him.
The tall, handsome man sat on horseback, momentarily stunned, then released the reins and took hold of the pair of small hands wrapped around him.
Sensing a change in Feng Li’s breathing, Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and lifted her gaze to the back of his head.
“Father, I want to ride the same horse as you — I still have so much to say to you.”
With those words, Feng Jiu’er buried her head against Feng Li’s back once more.
Her reluctance to part would only make him more distressed — and she had no intention of watching her own father suffer.
Feng Li freed one hand from hers, then gave it a gentle pat on the back.
“What is wrong with that? My daughter is not heavy.”
“Of course I am not heavy — I have a perfectly standard figure, thank you very much.” Feng Jiu’er rolled her eyes and muttered softly.
Seeing that the mood had lightened, Yu Jingfeng rode up alongside Feng Li and Feng Jiu’er.
“Miss Jiu’er, I trust you have been well!”
Feng Jiu’er cast him a sideways glance. “Of course I have been well. The only question is how you have all been tormenting my father.”
“Tormenting him?” Yu Jingfeng looked at her, frowning slightly. “How could we ever torment Lord Night Prince? Miss Jiu’er, please look into this clearly!”
“How is one supposed to look into it clearly?” Feng Jiu’er arched her elegant brows, then withdrew her gaze. “My father is benevolent and kind-hearted — even if he were wronged, he would never say a word.”
“It must be because you all treated him poorly that he wants to leave. When has anyone who is well-fed and well-housed ever gone about crying out to leave? You must have treated him badly!”
Feng Jiu’er’s accusations left not only Yu Jingfeng but even all the other brothers so frightened their faces went pale.
All this time, these brothers had been the ones looking after Feng Li.
Now that Miss Jiu’er was saying Lord Night Prince’s departure was the result of mistreatment — how could the brothers not be afraid?
Never mind that they would never dream of doing such a thing; when it came to Miss Jiu’er’s own father, they would not even dare let the thought cross their minds.
Who did not know how doted upon Miss Jiu’er was by His Highness? If Lord Night Prince were to suffer even the slightest grievance, they might very well be offering up their heads in apology.
“Miss Jiu’er, we truly did not!”
“That is right, Miss Jiu’er — we never wronged Lord Night Prince. Please, look into this carefully!”
These brothers who never so much as furrowed a brow before ten thousand soldiers were now so anxious their features seemed all crammed together.
One by one, these iron-blooded men on horseback shifted their gazes almost simultaneously and looked at Feng Li with expressions of utter misery.
Had it not been for Feng Jiu’er’s earlier words — “My father is benevolent and kind-hearted; even if he were wronged, he would never say a word” — they might well have already opened their mouths to beg Feng Li’s help.
But as it was, they did not dare.