“Grandfather, what are you talking about?” Feng Jiu’er shot Long Di a glance, then looked away elsewhere.

In the distance, Long Buqu and Qiao Mu were approaching together; though the two weren’t speaking, they both seemed to be in good spirits.

“Grandfather, look over there.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand. “There’s something more interesting to look at than fish.”

“Oh, is that so?” Long Di smiled and followed Feng Jiu’er’s gaze toward where Long Buqu and Qiao Mu were coming from.

The pair approaching made quite the sight—the man tall, handsome, and graceful; the woman statuesque, beautiful, with a perfect balance of strength and softness.

“Grandfather, what do you think of Qiao Mu? She’s a good person, beautiful, kindhearted—she’d suit Uncle well, don’t you think?”

“She’s quite something!” Long Di nodded with a smile. “But it’s a shame your uncle is so single-minded—getting him paired up with an aunt won’t be easy.”

Di Wu Ya had not yet ascended the throne, but he was already making preparations to restore the Long family’s good name.

During this time, Long Buqu had been frequently entering the palace—not only assisting the Crown Prince with affairs, but also running about for the matter of clearing the family name.

Qiao Mu had entered the palace today on Feng Jiu’er’s orders.

A certain someone, wanting to spend time with Grandfather, had dumped every task onto her, leaving Qiao Mu with no choice but to handle everything herself.

Feng Jiu’er watched the two of them for a moment longer, then looked away.

Her uncle had just turned thirty—after all these years, he had remained single the whole time.

Qiao Mu was twenty-three this year; the age gap between them wasn’t especially large.

But Feng Jiu’er had tried matchmaking a few times before without success, so this time she didn’t dare meddle recklessly.

The idea of finding him an aunt would just have to remain a passing thought.

“Father.” Long Buqu arrived at the lakeside, glanced at Long Di, then turned his gaze to Feng Jiu’er. “Jiu’er.”

“Old Manor Master.” Qiao Mu looked at Long Di and gave a slight nod.

“Why are the two of you together?” Feng Jiu’er turned to look at them and asked softly.

“We ran into each other in the palace, so we came back together.” Qiao Mu answered casually, came over to sit beside Feng Jiu’er, and with a flick of her sleeve, plopped straight down onto the grass.

Nearby servants, seeing the two arrive, immediately brought over chairs.

“Manor Master, please.” A servant came to Long Buqu’s side, gesturing toward the seat.

Long Buqu casually picked up the chair himself, set it down between Long Di and Feng Jiu’er, and sat.

A servant brought another chair and set it behind Qiao Mu.

“Miss Qiao, please.”

“Just leave it.” Qiao Mu waved a hand. “Sitting like this is fine too.”

The servant nodded, stepped back a few paces, and returned to standing watch in his previous spot.

“Jiu’er, why do you look so unhappy?” Long Buqu asked gently, looking at Feng Jiu’er.

“Grandfather caught all the fish—I haven’t gotten a single one.” Feng Jiu’er looked back at him, pouting her lips in complaint.

“Grandfather caught all the fish?” Long Buqu’s brow furrowed, and he turned to glare at Long Yan, who was approaching.

“Didn’t I tell you to stock more fish? You know perfectly well the Old Manor Master isn’t skilled at fishing, yet he loves to do it.”

“Manor Master, I did stock more.” Long Yan set down the flower tea he’d brought. “There are at least a thousand large fish in the lake right now, so this—”

“Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Long Buqu, pouting her pink lips even more.

Long Buqu turned his gaze back to her, his eyes brimming with doting affection.

Feng Jiu’er asked flatly, “You say Grandfather’s fishing skills are bad—then what does that make me? He’s already caught six, and I haven’t caught a single one.”

“You don’t even know how to fish, and you’re still trying?” Qiao Mu glanced sideways at Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er shot her a glare in return, then lowered her head.

“Jiu’er, that’s not what Uncle meant. Not catching anything must be the fish’s fault, not our Jiu’er’s fault.” Long Buqu said with a smile.

“No.” Long Di shook his head. “That’s the girl’s own problem—she’s clearly thinking of someone else, yet refuses to go into the palace.”

“Once lovesickness sets in, nothing one does turns out well, ha ha ha…”

“Are you missing him?” Qiao Mu tugged at Feng Jiu’er’s sleeve. “You should have just said so. Isn’t he summoning you every day? It’s you who refuses to go into the palace.”

“I thought I’d finally get to rest for a few days, but instead I have to run to the palace every single day—it’s worn me out completely.”

“Jiu’er.” Long Buqu pulled his chair closer and sat right beside her. “Do you really miss him?”

Feng Jiu’er stared at her fishing rod and shook her head. “How could that be?”

Not missing him—that was what was truly impossible.

But why should she be the one to go in and see him? Couldn’t he come out and find her instead?

Long Buqu seemed to read what was on Feng Jiu’er’s mind, and he reached out a large hand to ruffle her hair.

“He is the Crown Prince, soon to be the sovereign. Right now, the entire Kingdom of Bei Mu needs him—he can no longer do as he pleases the way he once could.”

“Jiu’er.” Long Buqu ruffled her hair again, sighing silently.

“Back then, before your mother ever entered the palace, an accident befell her. Now that you too must enter the palace, your uncle can’t help but feel a little worried.”

Feng Jiu’er turned to look at Long Buqu, blinking. “Uncle, I never said I absolutely had to enter the palace.”

“Plenty of men are pursuing me—why should I have to enter the palace at all?”

“If you don’t enter the palace, will His Highness the Crown Prince allow it?” Qiao Mu looked at Feng Jiu’er, raising a crescent brow.

“I’m afraid when the time comes, he’ll turn the entire First Manor Under Heaven upside down just to find you.”

“Once you enter the palace gates, it’s deep as the sea—haven’t you heard that saying? I have no interest in this palace at all.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow.

Perhaps what truly frightened Feng Jiu’er wasn’t the palace itself, but the emperor.

Now that he was truly about to become emperor, she suddenly found she couldn’t feel happy about it.

Of all the strife within the palace, the rear palace’s situation was the most severe.

Besides, having lived for ten years in a country with monogamy, how could she possibly tolerate polygamy—let alone an entire harem of consorts?

Thinking that such a day was bound to come sooner or later, Feng Jiu’er decided she might as well make a clean break beforehand, leaving herself with nothing but a beautiful memory.

Feng Jiu’er composed herself, took a deep breath, and stood up.

“Grandfather, Uncle, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to find my father, and I’m going to bring him back here to live a good life.”

“Uncle, you must keep a courtyard for me at home—no, this place is so big, keep at least two courtyards.”

“That way, my father and I can each have our own. Father likes peace and quiet, and so do I. Uncle, you need to arrange it properly, understand?”

Without waiting for Long Buqu to respond, Feng Jiu’er turned and headed toward a table not far away.

“Long Yan, didn’t you prepare flower tea for me? I’m thirsty.”

“Young Miss.” Long Yan looked at Feng Jiu’er, a smile on his lips. “Everything is ready—there’s what you like, and what the Old Manor Master likes too.”

Feng Jiu’er went and sat down by the low table, looking at the three people by the lake.

“Grandfather, Uncle, Qiao Mu, come have some tea. Grandfather and I picked these camellia flowers ourselves—this tea is wonderfully fragrant. Come try it.”

“Coming.” Qiao Mu rose from the grass and walked over.

Long Buqu supported Long Di, turned, and headed back as well.

“Long Yan.” Feng Jiu’er looked up at Long Yan. “Go prepare some lunch refreshments—I’m hungry.”

“Right away.” Long Yan nodded, turned, and hurried off once more.