“Then let’s go back at once.” Zhao Xiaoxiao was more anxious than anyone.

She grabbed the hem of Feng Jiu’er’s sleeve and said again, “Jiu’er, let’s go back quickly. I’ll go call a carriage — wait here, I’ll go call a carriage.”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, Zhao Xiaoxiao let go of Feng Jiu’er and ran off.

Feng Jiu’er looked at Jian Yi, lightly knitting her brow. “Is it very serious? If it comes to it, we can step into an inn and take a look there.”

“It’s nothing. We can discuss it when we get back to the manor.” Jian Yi released her small hand and turned away.

Jian Yi rarely complained of pain himself, so Feng Jiu’er dared not take it lightly.

She pushed his wheelchair and quickened her pace.

“Jiu’er, is Jian Yi alright?” Xiao Yingtao hurried to catch up.

“He’ll be fine. Jiu’er staying with me is enough.” Jian Yi said calmly.

Qiao Mu turned back as well, and together with Feng Jiu’er she helped push Jian Yi toward the exit.

Before long, Zhao Xiaoxiao had summoned a carriage and met up with them.

“Jiu’er, the carriage is here.”

Just as Zhao Xiaoxiao drew close to Jian Yi, Jian Yi stood up on his own.

“Jiu’er, you come back with me. I don’t need anyone else’s help.”

He dropped those words and stepped forward, boarding the carriage.

Zhao Xiaoxiao had wanted to follow, but Jian Yi’s final words made her stop in her tracks.

He had never needed anyone’s help — except for Jiu’er. How could she not know that?

“Jiu’er.” Zhao Xiaoxiao looked at Feng Jiu’er as she passed by, her expression still troubled. “Jian Yi — he’ll really be alright?”

“I won’t let anything happen to him. You all go have a good time. There are many things to see tonight, and it’s a rare occasion to be out. Don’t miss it.”

Feng Jiu’er gave Zhao Xiaoxiao’s shoulder a gentle pat, offered her a reassuring look, then turned and pulled back the curtain of the carriage and climbed in.

She settled in beside Jian Yi, picked up his palm, and pressed her long fingers to his pulse.

After a moment’s examination, Feng Jiu’er tilted her head to look at the person beside her, lightly furrowing her brow. “Where does it hurt? Does it truly hurt?”

Jian Yi’s lips curved faintly upward. He once again picked up her hand and pressed it over his heart.

“It hurts terribly here. My wife is going to marry someone else — my heart aches so much I could die.”

“Who is your wife!” Feng Jiu’er shot him a glare and shifted a little further away.

“Jian Yi, what exactly are you playing at? Do you have any idea how worried everyone was just now?”

Especially Zhao Xiaoxiao — that poor girl had practically been on the verge of tears, yet this fellow didn’t care in the least.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?” Jian Yi looked at Feng Jiu’er and raised a brow. “Since you didn’t want to stay, coming back to keep me company — isn’t that good?”

Feng Jiu’er gave him another look, then withdrew her gaze. A trace of despondency crossed her expression.

“What exactly happened?” Jian Yi’s voice dropped lower. “One moment you were so happy you could barely contain yourself, and now you’re wearing that face?”

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at him and let out a quiet sigh.

“You know of the current Dowager Consort Ning.”

“Mm.” Jian Yi nodded.

He had, after all, spent some time navigating the palace.

“Dowager Consort Ning is Ninth Imperial Uncle’s adoptive mother. Her kindness and care toward him have been immeasurable, and he has always regarded her as a birth mother.”

Before Feng Jiu’er had finished speaking, Jian Yi’s voice broke in.

“You’re worried that Emperor Qiwen, upon learning of the imperial edict, will move against Dowager Consort Ning?”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Emperor Qiwen knows the imperial edict is in Dowager Consort Ning’s hands. To hold onto the throne, he will certainly move against her.”

“I believe that what Emperor Ji revealed today was something Ninth Imperial Uncle couldn’t have known about beforehand. No matter what, he would never knowingly place Dowager Consort Ning in danger.”

“There’s nothing you can do about any of this. Going back won’t accomplish anything.” Jian Yi looked at her, his handsome brows drawing together slightly.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and looked away.

“Of course I know it won’t help. It’s just that Ninth Imperial Uncle is in a poor mood — I want to go back and check on him.”

“I could tell just now that he was very angry.”

“You’re not even married yet.” Jian Yi gave Feng Jiu’er a sidelong look. “Since he isn’t your husband yet, why must you worry over everything that weighs on him?”

Feng Jiu’er lifted her gaze to meet Jian Yi’s, pressed her lips together, and couldn’t be bothered to reply.

Jian Yi looked at her and continued, “What’s more, those two — Emperor Ji and Ye Luosha — don’t necessarily truly want the Ninth Prince to marry you.”

“That they can tolerate your presence at all is already something. Let alone accepting you as Crown Princess.”

“Jian Yi, what do you mean by that?” Feng Jiu’er frowned and asked.

“The matter of them conspiring to harm you — I still haven’t settled that score with them. What do you think I mean?” Jian Yi raised a brow, his gaze shifting to rest on the curtain of the carriage.

Feng Jiu’er let the tension ease from her brow and withdrew her gaze from Jian Yi, leaning back against the cushion.

“Who told you?”

“No one needed to tell me. I have my own ways of knowing.” Jian Yi let out a quiet sigh as well. “I only hope that man truly has the ability to protect you and keep you safe.”

Feng Jiu’er turned to look at Jian Yi’s profile, at a loss for words for a moment…

…

At the Ninth Prince’s manor — soon to become the Crown Prince’s residence.

In the main hall of the central chamber, the moment Di Wu Ya stepped through the door, a thunderous impact rang out. Not only was a chair reduced to splinters, but the entire hall shuddered with the force.

“My lord — no, Your Highness the Crown Prince, please calm your fury!” Cold Moon rushed forward in a flurry.

Yet she had no chance to reach Di Wu Ya. Before she could get close, his icy aura drove her back.

Yu Jingfeng, who had followed Di Wu Ya in, saw this and immediately pulled the doors shut to those remaining inside.

Seeing Yu Jingfeng act with such caution, the people nearby all turned of their own accord and quietly departed.

Inside the hall, Emperor Ji sat in the seat of honor, leisurely drinking tea.

He raised his eyes for a glance, then set down his teacup and said quietly, “Wu Ya, what exactly are you doing?”

“What do you think I’m doing?” Di Wu Ya’s expression was grave, his voice lethally cold. “Why did you publicly reveal the matter of the imperial edict?”

“Letting the common folk know that Zhan Bufan left behind an imperial edict — what harm is there in that?” Emperor Ji lightly knitted his brow and asked.

Compared to Di Wu Ya’s boiling fury, Emperor Ji was considerably more composed.

“You know perfectly well what I mean. Why speak in circles?” Di Wu Ya’s eyes stayed fixed unblinkingly on Emperor Ji.

“Wu Ya.” Ye Luosha stood up from where she had been sitting to one side. “Everything your adoptive father has done, he has done for your sake. Why must you make such a fuss?”

Di Wu Ya let out a cold snort and paid Ye Luosha’s words no mind.

“You harmed her once — and now you intend to harm her a second time?”

Those words left his lips, and he drew a sharp breath, but still could not settle his emotions.

“All of this is what you want. It is not what I want!”

“Wu Ya, you must not be rude to your adoptive father.” Ye Luosha’s voice rang out again. “Dowager Consort Ning raised and nurtured you — but has your adoptive father not done the same?”

“If you’re so worried about Dowager Consort Ning’s safety, you can head north right now and rescue her yourself.”

“So this was your ultimate purpose all along, wasn’t it?” Di Wu Ya turned and swept Ye Luosha with a cold glare.

“From now on, my affairs require no concern from either of you!”

He flung down those words and left, his fury still raging, not once looking back.