Feng Jiu’er met Long Buqu’s gaze, her eyes brimming, and the tears nearly spilled over once again.

She raised her hand and wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then stepped back from Long Buqu’s embrace.

“My reason for coming this time is to find a certain medicine. Di Wu Ya was gravely wounded and can barely hold on—there is only one medicinal ingredient missing.”

“I was the one who injured him; the poison was administered by Ye Xue Ning. She knew this was the critical medicinal ingredient and sent people ahead of time to sweep away every last bit of it from inside and outside the imperial capital.”

“Our people still have not found it to this day. This medicine is of the utmost importance—I had no choice but to take the risk and come find you.”

“What medicine is it?” Long Buqu asked quietly.

Feng Jiu’er lifted her eyes to look at him again: “You also agree with me saving him, do you not?”

She did not dare call him her maternal uncle, nor did she dare address the elder in the rear courtyard as her maternal grandfather.

Feng Jiu’er knew that by coming here on this risky venture, she might bring trouble upon them—but with no other option, this was the choice she had to make.

What had happened on the city wall that day, Feng Jiu’er did not know how much her uncle had learned.

By all reasoning, the people Ye Xue Ning had brought that day must all have been her sworn loyalists—otherwise she would not have acted with such bold recklessness.

If that were so, her uncle would not know much about what happened that day, would he?

“You have your reasons.” Long Buqu took a step forward and took hold of Feng Jiu’er’s small hand. “I am not afraid of being implicated by you.”

“But if you are determined to leave, it would be best not to linger here too long.”

Long Buqu led Feng Jiu’er to the door of the wing room, then drew open his robe and concealed Feng Jiu’er’s petite figure beneath it.

With his free hand, he ruffled the small head tucked against his arm, then pushed open the door to the wing room.

His face, his voice, his inner breath—all of it allowed Feng Jiu’er to confirm completely and without doubt that this man was indeed her maternal uncle.

And so when he shielded her as they left, she raised no objection.

Indeed, being sheltered within Long Buqu’s embrace felt to Feng Jiu’er like a kind of happiness.

In the darkness of night, Long Buqu used his wide robe to conceal someone as he departed—to any onlooker, he appeared to be leaving alone, as though no one else was tucked within his arms.

Long Buqu led Feng Jiu’er into the medicine storeroom before releasing her.

“My quarters are temporarily still safe. Whatever medicine you need, take it yourself.” He looked down at the young woman and said softly.

Feng Jiu’er looked up and met his gaze, her rosy lips moving slightly, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

“Do you know who our family’s enemy is?”

Long Buqu gave a slight nod: “Lady Xue sent a letter. What is your plan?”

“Lady Xue sent you a letter?” Feng Jiu’er could hardly believe it and furrowed her brow. “But why did she not send me any word?”

“I do not know.” Long Buqu gazed at the moonlight filtering through the nearby window and shook his head. “She only said that everything was done by Empress Dowager Ning. And also…”

“I was unable to reach Lady Xue, nor could I retrieve the remains.”

Long Buqu’s breath was heavy with grief—yet he was still able to adjust his composure with swift resolution, withdrew his gaze, and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, this was her choice. Do not grieve too deeply.”

“Did Lady Xue mention her in the letter?” Feng Jiu’er met Long Buqu’s gaze, a thousand feelings surging within her.

All along she had been waiting, with no word from Ye Xue Ning threatening her with her mother’s remains—and that single fact had kept one small flicker of hope alive in her heart.

Given the circumstances that day, her mother could not possibly have escaped. Even if Lady Xue had rushed over with reinforcements, it would have been too late.

Lady Xue’s letter might extinguish the last remaining hope Feng Jiu’er clung to—but she still needed to know.

“Yes.” Long Buqu reached out and ruffled Feng Jiu’er’s head. “Jiu’er, everyone must keep moving forward.”

“Since Ye Xue Ning is in the imperial capital, I have no intention of leaving. What is your opinion?”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and accepted what she had to accept.

“Good. Hold your position for now and await my people’s arrival—once they come, we will make our plans together.”

“The battle outside the city between Zhan Yuheng and Di Wu Ya has grown ever more intense. I can only focus on saving Di Wu Ya first.”

“Our enemies and the Di family’s enemies are one and the same right now. In this battle, I also hope the Di family wins.”

“Understood.” Long Buqu gave a nod. “Go see what you need—and take a little extra to keep close.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, then turned and walked into the medicine storeroom.

Long Buqu followed her in and lit the oil lamp.

Drawing on her memory from her last visit, Feng Jiu’er quickly located the medicine she needed.

She picked up the medicinal herb, brought it to her nose, and at last let out a breath of relief.

Feng Jiu’er wrapped the medicine in a bundle and tucked it against her chest, and her previously flat belly instantly bulged outward.

She turned and exchanged a glance with Long Buqu, offering a faint smile.

“Take some of the other herbs as well—whatever you might need. Once you have enough, hurry back.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, swept her gaze around, and pulled open another drawer.

If she were not alone, Feng Jiu’er would have liked to take even more.

But with limited carrying capacity, she dared not swagger out clutching an entire pack. She took only what was urgently needed.

“Do you have enough?” Long Buqu looked at the little girl’s rounded belly and asked softly.

“Enough.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Then I will head out now—take care of yourself.”

Long Buqu lightly patted Feng Jiu’er’s small shoulder and said softly: “Take care of yourself, too. Do not worry—it is still safe here for now.”

“Should something change, I can take him and withdraw with our lives intact.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and gave another nod.

Her uncle had been based in the imperial capital for a long time. Whatever he said, Feng Jiu’er had no reason to doubt.

She stepped forward and gave Long Buqu a brief embrace, then let go of him and said quietly: “I really must go now.”

“Mm.” As reluctant as Long Buqu was, he could not keep her. “Leave by the western side.”

“All right.” Feng Jiu’er gave a nod, then turned and left the medicine storeroom.

In an instant, her petite silhouette was swallowed by the darkness of night.

……

The Longwu Army had retreated to Yicheng, with the military camp settled in a town near the city gates.

The fighting had temporarily come to a lull. That night, everyone in Di Wu Ya’s wing room was gripped with anxiety.

Qiao Mu’s anxiety was naturally for the young woman who had gone out into the dark.

As for whether the others were anxious for Feng Jiu’er or for Di Wu Ya, only they themselves knew.

Besides the men Yu Jingfeng had dispatched, Ye Luosha had also sent a good number of people out in search of the medicinal herb.

The imperial capital was beyond reach, but not a single corner of Yicheng was being overlooked—they had even sent people to places farther still.

Unfortunately, as time grew ever more pressing, not a shred of good news had returned.

By the time Feng Jiu’er came back, the eastern sky had already begun to pale with the first light of dawn.

The four Feng Yandong brothers, unwilling to be at ease, had kept watch in ambush at the city gate all through the night.

Fortunately, at last they waited for the person they had been waiting for.

As Feng Jiu’er walked into the courtyard, the four Feng Yandong brothers followed close on her heels.

Qiao Mu looked up, recognized the figure walking in, and lit up with joy like a child—she flew forward at full sprint, reached Feng Jiu’er, and hoisted her clean off the ground.

“Jiu’er, you finally came back! I thought you would never make it back—who knew your life really is so tenacious! You’ve actually come back at last!”