“Of course.” Di Wu Ya’s lips curved slightly upward as he stretched out his long arm and pulled Feng Jiu’er into his embrace.

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to meet his gaze, arched her brow again, and pushed him away, slipping out of his arms.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” She stretched out her arm, finally managing to rest it on Di Wu Ya’s shoulder. “Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like… a meat pie?”

Di Wu Ya furrowed his brow slightly. “A meat pie?”

“Mm-hm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded earnestly. “Yes, exactly a meat pie.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle is the meat pie that fell from the sky just for me, and to this day I still don’t know whether I’m allowed to eat it.”

Di Wu Ya scooped her up with one large hand, pressing Feng Jiu’er back into his embrace once more.

“You can eat it. Anytime you like.”

The doting affection Di Wu Ya showed toward Feng Jiu’er was truly beyond what an ordinary person could match.

Had it been anyone else who dared compare him to a meat pie, that person likely wouldn’t have lived to see tomorrow’s sun.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the handsome man and licked her lips.

“Something so delicious—I don’t want to miss out. I’ll find a chance, find a chance to taste it fresh.”

The words had barely left her mouth when Feng Jiu’er, like a little cat, slipped easily out from under Di Wu Ya’s large hand and fled.

If she didn’t leave now, there was no telling what Ninth Imperial Uncle might do.

Still, the fact that he hadn’t gotten angry at being compared to a meat pie genuinely surprised Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er strode away without even looking back.

Soon, she returned to the carriage.

The captain led them onward, heading toward the Wu family estate.

Before Feng Jiu’er had a chance to ask anything more, the carriage came to a stop.

To keep Di Wu Ya from touching her, Feng Jiu’er hid in a corner of the carriage.

The moment the carriage stopped, she immediately stood up and went to lift the carriage curtain.

“We’re here?” Feng Jiu’er asked softly.

“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng, who was driving the carriage, glanced back at Feng Jiu’er before stepping down.

Without waiting for Yu Jingfeng to say anything more, Feng Jiu’er lifted the curtain and climbed out of the carriage.

She hadn’t expected the Wu family estate to be so close to her father’s manor.

Feng Jiu’er glanced back, growing even more certain that the two matters were connected.

“Miss Jiu’er.” The captain dismounted and came before Feng Jiu’er.

At that moment, Di Wu Ya had also gotten out of the carriage and stood guard beside Feng Jiu’er.

“Miss Jiu’er, Your Highness, this is the Wu family estate.” The captain gestured with his hand.

“Their back courtyard has a private dock. The dock is very close to the Night Prince’s manor—about half a quarter-hour’s ride on horseback.”

“Good, let’s go in and take a look.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

The captain nodded and waved his hand. “Your Highness, Miss Jiu’er, this way please!”

Two of the brothers stood guard at the entrance of the Wu estate. Having heard that distinguished guests were coming, the elderly patriarch of the Wu family had already been waiting at his own gate.

When Old Master Wu saw Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er approaching, he hurried out to greet them.

Ever since Feng Li had arrived, he had bought up such a vast estate.

Even though he rarely went out, and very few people had ever seen his true face, plenty of people were still curious about him.

Many locals were saying that Feng Li was a carefree, unattached prince from the state of Li, but as for what the truth actually was, no one really knew.

Old Master Wu walked out of his house and came before Yu Jingfeng.

“May I ask who this distinguished sir is?” he asked with a friendly expression.

“My master would like to look into a few matters. Might we come in and speak?” Yu Jingfeng asked in a deep voice.

Old Master Wu glanced once more at Di Wu Ya, then nodded vigorously. “Of course, please, come in!”

The old man turned to a servant and said quietly, “Quickly, go prepare the finest tea, and tell the madam that distinguished guests have arrived.”

“Yes.” The servant nodded, turned, and trotted off.

Under Old Master Wu’s personal guidance, the group entered the Wu family’s grand residence together.

The moment they stepped through the gate, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help but think to herself—were there really this many wealthy local magnates in Guzhou City?

Compared to her father’s manor, this Wu estate seemed even more extravagant.

Still, when it came to this kind of nouveau-riche flamboyance, Feng Jiu’er still preferred her father’s manor—its colors felt more natural.

Feng Jiu’er was in no mood to admire the place; all she wanted to know was whether her father’s disappearance had anything to do with this Wu family.

The group walked together into the main hall, with Old Master Wu still leading the way, smiling broadly.

When they reached a particular seat, he stopped.

“Distinguished sir, please—” Old Master Wu began, but upon meeting Di Wu Ya’s gaze, he immediately changed his mind, turned to look at the main seat, and waved his hand.

“Distinguished sir, please! Please take the seat of honor! Please!”

Old Master Wu’s behavior left Feng Jiu’er silently marveling.

Her man really was no ordinary person—even out here, far from home, others didn’t dare let him sit anywhere but the seat of honor.

Di Wu Ya, as if he hadn’t even noticed Old Master Wu, walked straight toward the main seat.

Feng Jiu’er followed close behind him, looking no different from a little attendant.

Old Master Wu’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; he remained all smiles.

Only after the guests had taken their seats did he sit down in the position closest to the main seat on the right.

Servants and maids were busy preparing wine and refreshments, and there were quite a few people in the hall.

After Di Wu Ya settled into his seat, he turned his head to glance at his woman.

Feng Jiu’er gave a light cough and obediently sat down beside him.

“I wonder what brings the distinguished sir to my humble home in person?” Old Master Wu looked at Di Wu Ya, his face full of smiles.

He had met Feng Li before and knew the newcomer was no ordinary figure. Now, seeing Di Wu Ya’s air of imperial majesty, he didn’t dare show the slightest negligence.

Yu Jingfeng, standing guard beside Di Wu Ya, gave a light cough, and Old Master Wu immediately shifted his gaze toward him.

Meeting Old Master Wu’s eyes, Yu Jingfeng said in a deep voice, “My master wishes to know about the matter of you secretly selling spices to officials of the Feng Clan.”

“Distinguished sir, I—” Hearing the matter brought up again, Old Master Wu’s expression grew somewhat grave.

He glanced toward the door, waved his hand, then stood up and walked to the center of the hall.

Before Madam Wu even had the chance to enter, she had already led the household’s servants and maids away.

In the blink of an eye, many of the idle onlookers in the hall had disappeared.

Standing in the center of the hall, Old Master Wu looked at the man in the seat of honor and cupped his hands in respect. “May I ask the esteemed sir’s honorable name?”

Yu Jingfeng glanced at Di Wu Ya, then said in a low voice, “My master is a prince of the state of Beimu. He wishes to know the details of your dealings with the Feng Clan official.”

“The—the Prince of Beimu?” Old Master Wu was stunned, nearly losing his footing.

Although Qiangu Prefecture was far from the state of Beimu, a great power like Beimu was nonetheless well known even to many people in Qiangu Prefecture.

No one could have imagined that a prince of Beimu would actually come to such a small place as Qiangu Prefecture.

Old Master Wu took a deep breath, steadied himself, and immediately knelt down. “This humble one pays respects to Your Highness.”

“Speak. What exactly is the matter of you privately selling spices to the Feng Clan official?” Yu Jingfeng’s tone grew somewhat sterner.

“What is the name of the official who came from the Feng Clan? Tell us everything you know, one thing at a time.”