Qingyun glanced inside, then turned and closed the door.

“Grand Eunuch, these past days, the Prince has been like this every day. If the Emperor truly means to take his life, I’m afraid…”

The Grand Eunuch met Qingyun’s gaze, lowering his voice as much as possible. “Qingyun, do you trust me?”

Qingyun looked at him and nodded.

“Good.” The Grand Eunuch nodded, took a deep breath, and turned to walk toward Zhan Yuheng.

He came to sit beside Zhan Yuheng, reaching out to grab the wine jug in his hand.

Zhan Yuheng perhaps didn’t notice, but Qingyun saw clearly that the Grand Eunuch had just slipped a pill into the wine jug.

“Your Highness, it’s me.” The Grand Eunuch stopped Zhan Yuheng from continuing to drink, looking at him and speaking softly.

Zhan Yuheng’s eyes were bloodshot, a sight that stirred pity in anyone who saw it.

“You’ve come.” He looked at the Grand Eunuch, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. “You’re not in the palace? Why did you come out?”

In the span of a single year, Zhan Yuheng had been through more than he had in over twenty years before.

“I couldn’t stay in the palace any longer.” The Grand Eunuch smiled, releasing the wine jug from his hand. “This humble servant can only come out to seek some amusement, heh heh heh…”

He looked at the wine jar open on the table, casually picked up a cup, lifted the jar with both hands, and filled the cup.

The Grand Eunuch raised his wine cup, looking at Zhan Yuheng.

“Your Highness, come, let’s have a drink together!”

“Alright.” Zhan Yuheng smiled, lifting the wine jug to his mouth once more.

Both the Grand Eunuch and Qingyun watched him without blinking.

Finally, after Zhan Yuheng had drained every last drop in the wine jug into his stomach, he set it down.

Just as he set down the jug, the Grand Eunuch also gulped down a large mouthful of the wine in his own cup.

Zhan Yuheng, seeming quite casual, tucked the small golden chrysanthemums he’d been hiding in his palm into his robes, and gave the Grand Eunuch a faint smile.

“You also know that the person in the palace right now isn’t Di Wu Ya, don’t you?”

“The real Di Wu Ya is the Ninth Imperial Uncle, not the Eighth Imperial Uncle. It’s definitely not the Eighth Imperial Uncle.”

Zhan Yuheng shook his head, reaching out as if to take the wine jar, when his body suddenly tipped forward, collapsing onto the table.

“Your Highness.” Qingyun strode forward.

The Grand Eunuch raised his eyes to look at him, then pulled out a map from inside his robes.

He spread the map flat on the table and waved a hand. “Qingyun, come here.”

Qingyun came to the low table, sat down on the rug, and looked at the Grand Eunuch. “Grand Eunuch, what drug did you give the Prince?”

“Don’t worry! He’ll wake up in three days. But within these three days, you must bring him here.”

The Grand Eunuch raised his eyes to glance at Qingyun, then lowered his head, pointing at a spot on the map.

“As long as you can safely reach this place, my people will arrange to take you both out of the Bei Mu Kingdom.”

“The Prince is gentle and kind by nature; he isn’t suited to stay here. Take him away—let him become a carefree prince elsewhere. Staying here, sooner or later, will cost him his life.”

The Grand Eunuch looked at Qingyun and let out a soft sigh.

“Leave right now. I’ve already prepared the carriage—it’s at the back gate of the mansion.”

“However, it’s a cart for transporting hay. For now, the Prince will just have to make do with the discomfort.”

“Qingyun, the Prince has treated you with the utmost kindness. Even if it costs your life, you must escort him out safely.”

“When the Prince wakes up, tell him it was Feng Jiu’er’s idea.”

“Feng Jiu’er didn’t want to see him throw his life away, so she arranged all of this. Tell him not to disappoint her intentions, no matter what.”

“Qingyun, remember—you absolutely must not look back, and you cannot stop. Follow the route I’ve arranged exactly, and keep this firmly in mind!”

The Grand Eunuch pulled a small bottle from inside his robes and pressed it into Qingyun’s hand.

“There’s more medicine here. If the Prince has doubts and wants to turn back, give him another pill, until he no longer wants to turn back.”

“The Ninth Prince will soon be marching in. As long as the Prince doesn’t return, the Emperor won’t have the time to deal with him for a while.”

“This is the best time to leave. Qingyun, go prepare. I don’t know exactly when the Emperor will make his move—leave now, there’s no more room for hesitation.”

Qingyun put away the medicine bottle and map, and asked in a low voice, “Grand Eunuch, won’t you come with us?”

“My days are numbered. Where could I possibly run to? This happened suddenly, and I still have matters to arrange. Go, the two of you—don’t worry about me.”

The Grand Eunuch waved a hand and stood up.

“Emperor Qiwen showed me great kindness, and the Prince has also treated me well. I hope to preserve some of Emperor Qiwen’s bloodline.”

“As for the military authority in the Seventh Prince’s hands, the Emperor can’t find an excuse to take it back. I actually hope the Ninth Prince truly is Di Wu Ya.”

“Given the Ninth Prince’s friendship with the Seventh Prince, he won’t harm him. As long as we can get His Highness—no, our Prince—safely away, that will be enough.”

“Qingyun, go quickly and prepare. Set out immediately.”

“Yes.” Qingyun nodded, turned, and strode out.

Before half an hour had passed, at the back gate of the Prince Shezheng’s mansion, a man dressed as a coachman drove a cart loaded with hay along the main road.

…

In the camp inside Yi City, after Feng Jiu’er checked Di Feimu’s wound, she helped pull his clothes back up.

Sitting not far away, a man who appeared to be reading a book but had been scowling the whole time, closed the book.

“You can get out of here.” He glanced at Di Feimu, his tone flat.

Di Feimu stood, meeting his gaze, straightening his clothes.

“Jiu’er, come to my place tomorrow night. I don’t want to be running back and forth between the two of us every day.”

“Di Feimu.” Di Wu Ya stared at Di Feimu, his thick brows knitting together.

“Here.” Di Feimu glanced at him, tugging at the hem of his robe. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, what are your orders?”

“She’s your sister-in-law,” Di Wu Ya reminded him in a deep voice.

Di Feimu, however, curved his lips, turning back to look at Feng Jiu’er. “Jiu’er, are you married yet?”

“This young lady is single.” Feng Jiu’er tossed the bandage she’d removed from Di Feimu into the wooden bucket, glancing sideways at Di Wu Ya. “Next!”

Di Wu Ya felt unsettled but didn’t dare delay, striding forward on his long legs toward Feng Jiu’er.

Inside his tent, a screen had been set up, and behind the screen was a specially made low bed.

These days, whether treating Di Wu Ya or Di Feimu, whenever clothing needed to be loosened, they would always come to this special treatment room.

Only, with no one else around, this screen usually didn’t need to be drawn.

To be precise, it was when Feng Jiu’er treated Di Feimu that Di Wu Ya wouldn’t allow the screen to be touched.

He couldn’t bear the thought of his own woman being alone with another man, even if he himself was only two zhang away.

As Di Wu Ya approached, he glanced at Di Feimu once more. “Get out!”

Di Feimu, instead of leaving, followed right behind him.

Di Wu Ya came to stand behind the screen, frowning slightly, and turned to pull it shut.

But unexpectedly, Di Feimu pushed against the screen, meeting his gaze, and said softly, “Sorry! I’m not at ease leaving the two of you alone.”