“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng turned to pull the doors shut behind him, and did not dare to cast another glance inside even as he left.

The Ninth Prince adorable? Then surely there was not a single person in this world who was not adorable.

Though truth be told, the former chief was also going too far — wagering the Empress Dowager’s life like that. No wonder the Ninth Prince was furious.

“Come here.” Di Wu Ya looked at the young woman approaching, and the corner of his lips curved faintly.

Feng Jiu’er did not slow her pace. She walked straight to his side and sat down.

“Are you alright?” She pressed her lips together and gently smoothed a strand of hair away from his temple.

Di Wu Ya reached out with one long arm and pulled Feng Jiu’er into his embrace.

“With you here, everything is well.”

Feng Jiu’er drew a slow breath and naturally settled against his chest.

“Since you have no troubles, I certainly do.” She lifted her gaze to look at him and pressed her lips together.

When the man lowered his gaze to look at her, Feng Jiu’er shot him a look.

“When did I ever agree to marry you? And there you were, making a decision for the both of us entirely on your own.”

“So then — does that mean you agreed?” Di Wu Ya asked with a faint smile.

“You…” Feng Jiu’er glared at him. Were it not for the fact that she couldn’t bear to, she would most certainly have pushed him away.

“You mean to say — you used the whole of Phoenix City’s common folk to force me into submission? You’ve already announced our wedding to the entire crowd. Could I possibly say no?”

This fellow — and here he only now thought to ask her opinion!

“This Prince only wants your agreement. The means matter not.” Di Wu Ya rested his chin on the top of Feng Jiu’er’s head and pulled her into his arms once more.

Feng Jiu’er let out a cold huff and pushed hard against him.

The man’s arms tightened, and her resistance crumbled entirely.

Knowing this fellow had something weighing on his mind, Feng Jiu’er had no wish to struggle further. Besides, she was secretly very pleased by this surprise.

The hall fell quiet, and the two of them heard nothing but each other’s breathing.

After a while, Feng Jiu’er said in a low voice, “Ninth Imperial Uncle, what if we postpone our wedding?”

Di Wu Ya loosened his hold a little and lowered his gaze to the woman in his arms.

Released from his grip, Feng Jiu’er lifted her eyes to meet his, her expression having grown considerably more serious.

“I mean it. We can postpone the wedding.”

“In any case, you’ve already said it in front of so many people. If you don’t marry me, there probably won’t be any man willing to take me afterward. So you…”

“Why?” Di Wu Ya asked in a low, slightly hoarse voice, cutting off Feng Jiu’er’s words.

Seeing the faint threads of red in his eyes, Feng Jiu’er reached out and gently brushed a finger across the corner of his eye.

“You’re exhausted. I don’t want us to rush into marriage like this.”

He had been overdue for a proper rest for some time.

Di Wu Ya gave a light cough, and his voice cleared itself.

“Little one.” He tousled her hair and dipped his head closer. “Are you doubting your man’s capabilities?”

The words had barely left his lips when he leaned down to press a kiss.

Feng Jiu’er quickly ducked her head, and Di Wu Ya’s kiss landed only on her forehead.

“That’s not what I meant. You’ve already dispatched Feilong Shi’er Qi back to the imperial capital to guard Dowager Consort Ning, haven’t you?”

“Unless you bring Dowager Consort Ning to Phoenix City, your mind won’t be at ease. That’s why I’d like to postpone the wedding.”

Di Wu Ya gently cupped Feng Jiu’er’s face and tilted it up so their eyes met.

“Our wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. How can we go back on our word? Trust me — I can manage everything.”

Meeting his sincere gaze, Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and gave a nod.

“Are you planning to go to the imperial capital yourself in three days?”

“Mm.” Di Wu Ya lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the top of Feng Jiu’er’s head. “The Empress Dowager’s kindness to me has been immeasurable. I will absolutely ensure she is kept safe.”

“You stay in Phoenix City. I’ll go and come back quickly.”

“The wedding can proceed as planned. But whether or not to remain in Phoenix City is my decision to make. You had best not be away too long.”

This fellow — as long as he was well, the wedding itself was no great urgency. But seeing how insistent he was, Feng Jiu’er had no heart to dampen his spirits.

This man had truly not had it easy in this life.

After the wedding, once Phoenix City had settled into stability, she should also go and search for her mother.

“By the way, are you planning to march north with an army, or to go yourself and bring Dowager Consort Ning back?” Composing herself, Feng Jiu’er asked quietly.

“To march north with an army at this moment would inevitably trigger war. Is that what you hope for?” Di Wu Ya gathered Feng Jiu’er into his arms and closed his eyes.

Feng Jiu’er shook her head, then nodded, then shook her head again.

“I respect your decision. I only ask that once you’ve made it, you let me know first.”

She did not wish for war — but it was plain that Emperor Ji and Ye Luosha did not share that view.

So it was better for her not to add her own opinions to Ninth Imperial Uncle’s decisions.

“Things are different now than before. This Prince has a wife. How could I go on living a life of endless battles and bloodshed?”

Di Wu Ya’s lips curved faintly, and the tension in his expression eased considerably.

Feng Jiu’er slanted her gaze up at that firm jaw of the man in question and let the corner of her own mouth lift just slightly.

How could he not know that if Emperor Ji or Ye Luosha heard what he just said, she would be done for very quickly?

But then again, Ninth Imperial Uncle doted on her so deeply — what did it matter if she were done for?

“That said, our Di Family is not so easily bullied. What belongs to us must never be encroached upon again.” Feng Jiu’er raised a brow and said.

“Our Di Family?” Di Wu Ya opened his eyes again and glanced down at her.

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze and gave a nod. “Is that not so? Is Ninth Imperial Uncle going back on his word?”

The words had barely left her lips when Feng Jiu’er stood up.

She reached out her small hand, intending to do to him what that man had once done to tease her — tilt up his chin.

Alas, given the difference in their heights, she could only press against his chin at best. Tilting it up was entirely beyond her.

“The wedding is something you declared yourself. Now I’m going to tell you the conditions for marrying a Feng woman. How does that sound?” She held her gaze level with the man before her, her brow lightly furrowed.

She looked, in that moment, very much like a domineering man herself.

Yet it seemed that whatever side of her she showed, it was all equally appreciated by Di Wu Ya.

“Mm.” The man gave a nod, listening attentively.

“Then hear me out.” The corner of Feng Jiu’er’s mouth curved into a faint, slightly sly arc.

“First — to marry me, you must devote yourself to me and me alone for the rest of your life. Secondary wives, concubines, all that nonsense — put it out of your mind entirely.”

“Second — from now on, what is mine is mine, and what is yours is also mine. So all the Di Family’s holdings in your hands belong to me. No going back on that.”

“Third…” Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze and narrowed her eyes in thought. “Let me think.”

After a moment, she looked at Di Wu Ya again and said, “You must treat me well for the rest of your life, treat my father well, and treat my mother well.”

“My affairs are your affairs. Don’t even think about standing idly on the sidelines.”

“Anything else, I’ll add when I think of it. I haven’t come up with anything more just now.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and added, “I’ll save the last one to add later.”

“Don’t say I’m the one running things — I’ve only put forward four conditions. It’s a fair deal to marry me, isn’t it?”

“Oh, one more thing — if the problem lies with me and I can’t have children, you may set me aside and take another wife. But you absolutely cannot have any improper dealings while I’m still here!”