“All right.” Long Shiyi nodded, turned, and walked a few steps toward the door, though he couldn’t help glancing back.

“Miss Jiu’er, sit tight for a bit, dinner will be ready soon.”

Long Shiyi didn’t even dare step outside the door, instead calling over one of the brothers.

“Go prepare dinner for five.”

With that, he hurriedly turned, glancing first at Jian Yi before shifting his gaze to Feng Jiu’er.

Both Xiao Yingtao and Qiao Mu took note of Long Shiyi’s behavior.

Xiao Yingtao looked at him, brow furrowing. “Long Shiyi, the Prince sent you here, didn’t he? He doesn’t want Jian Yi alone with Jiu’er in one room?”

“No surprise there — the moment Jiu’er got back, Jian Yi whisked her away. It’s only natural the Prince would be upset.”

“Jian Yi, you took Jiu’er away? Right under the Prince’s nose?” Xiao Yingtao looked at Jian Yi, unable to hide her admiration.

Jian Yi paid her no mind, stood up, picked up his chair, and moved closer to Feng Jiu’er.

Long Shiyi, quick on his feet, grabbed a chair of his own and set it down beside Feng Jiu’er before Jian Yi could, taking the seat for himself.

Unbothered, Jian Yi simply shifted his target and sat down on Feng Jiu’er’s other side.

Long Shiyi grew anxious and abruptly stood up.

“Um, Miss Jiu’er, I…” He took a deep breath and tugged at her chair.

In the end, Long Shiyi swallowed his pride and wedged his own chair right between Feng Jiu’er’s and Jian Yi’s.

“Miss Jiu’er, I really do think this seat suits me better. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Long Shiyi had a headache over this — he was genuinely worried that if the Prince walked in and saw Jian Yi sitting right next to Miss Jiu’er, he’d be skipping meals himself for the next several days.

“I don’t mind either way.” Feng Jiu’er didn’t bother arguing with Long Shiyi’s lack of manners, simply shifting her own chair over a bit before sitting down.

“Qiao Mu, Xiao Yingtao, you two sit as well.”

Xiao Yingtao glanced at the three seated at the table, then walked over with a smile.

“Jian Yi is just so good-looking, it’s only natural the Prince would worry.”

With that, she pulled out a chair and sat down as well.

But no sooner had Xiao Yingtao settled into her seat than she felt a wave of cold air sweep in from behind her.

When she turned around, she saw Di Wu Ya, whom she hadn’t seen in quite a while, and immediately jumped to her feet in fright.

Xiao Yingtao gulped audibly, lowering her head and murmuring softly, “Your… Highness.”

“Your Highness.” Qiao Mu, taken aback by Di Wu Ya’s extraordinary presence, couldn’t help calling out softly as well.

Qiao Mu, recalling that she had criticized this lofty prince earlier that day, felt a chill run down her spine.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived just in time, we’re about to have our meal. Have you eaten yet?” Seeing Di Wu Ya, Long Shiyi let out a deep sigh of relief.

Di Wu Ya waved a hand and walked over toward Feng Jiu’er.

Outside, Yu Jingfeng led two brothers in.

The two brothers came over to the table and set down the food they were carrying.

Both of them stepped back two paces and bowed their heads. “Your Highness, Miss Jiu’er, please enjoy your meal.”

Feng Jiu’er stood up and waved a hand at the brothers. “You all go attend to your own duties, no need to wait on us here.”

“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng nodded, turning to glance at the two brothers.

The two brothers nodded and turned to leave together.

Long Shiyi’s gaze swept over the food, then he looked at Di Wu Ya and cupped his hands together. “Your Highness, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

After a moment, having received no response from Di Wu Ya, Long Shiyi cupped his hands again and made his way out.

“Your Highness, I’ll take my leave too.” Yu Jingfeng cupped his hands as well, turning to head outside.

Feng Jiu’er looked up at Di Wu Ya. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

“Qiao Mu, Xiao Yingtao, come on over, the food won’t taste good once it’s cold.”

“Oh, all right.” Xiao Yingtao glanced at Qiao Mu, then pulled her chair over and sat down again.

Qiao Mu, brow furrowing slightly, pulled out a chair and sat down as well.

Feng Jiu’er picked up a bowl and began serving food for Di Wu Ya.

“Everyone, please don’t stand on ceremony. Our Ninth Imperial Uncle has a good temper and is quite easygoing.”

As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help looking up at Di Wu Ya with a touch of pride.

“You’re all my family, and the Ninth Imperial Uncle is my family too. From now on, we’re all one family.”

“Don’t be polite, just treat this as a meal among family. Xiao Yingtao, here, have some — there’s fish, your favorite.”

“Though, we’ve had quite a bit of fish lately. Do you still like it?”

Feng Jiu’er filled a bowl with food and, holding it with both hands, offered it to Di Wu Ya.

Di Wu Ya lowered his eyes to look at the woman before him, said nothing, and took the bowl from her hands.

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze, the corner of her mouth curving up slightly.

It was a relief — her Ninth Imperial Uncle was still as easy to coax as ever, very easy to coax indeed.

“I do like it.” Xiao Yingtao picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of fish. “The fish from the Black Pool taste different from what we usually eat — I haven’t grown tired of it yet.”

She looked up and watched Di Wu Ya take a bite of rice before finally putting the piece of fish she’d picked up into her own mouth.

She wasn’t sure whether the Prince, walking in earlier, had overheard her comment about Jian Yi being good-looking — the thought made Xiao Yingtao’s heart race with unease.

Fortunately, the Prince seemed to be in a good mood, and she gradually began to relax.

Jian Yi said nothing, simply picking up a bowl of rice and bringing it to his mouth.

Qiao Mu picked up her chopsticks and remained silent the whole time.

Opportunities to dine with the Prince were rare, but with Feng Jiu’er there, things should be fine.

Seeing everyone eating with such relish, Feng Jiu’er picked up her own rice bowl and chopsticks.

She picked up a piece of fish, tasted it, then picked up another piece and brought it to Di Wu Ya.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, the cook they brought along is quite skilled — this sea fish is delicious. Try it.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Feng Jiu’er placed the piece of fish directly into Di Wu Ya’s mouth.

“How is it? Good?” Feng Jiu’er asked, looking at the prince before her, now behaving so obediently, her mood inexplicably lifted.

Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao were both women, so there wasn’t much issue there.

But getting the Ninth Imperial Uncle to accept the rest of her family — Jian Yi, Zhao Yusheng, Xing Zizhou, and Yi Nan — would likely not be easy.

For now, the Ninth Imperial Uncle was being fairly well-behaved, but his domineering nature ran deep, and no one could change that.

What Feng Jiu’er could do was praise her man a little more often.

Perhaps, before too long, the Ninth Imperial Uncle would come to truly accept her entire family.

“Not bad.” Di Wu Ya nodded, picked up a piece of food, and brought it to Feng Jiu’er’s mouth.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at the others at the table, then turned her attention back to Di Wu Ya, parting her lips slightly.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle, feeding her while she ate — was the sun about to rise in the west?

The sun did not rise in the west; Di Wu Ya really had fed Feng Jiu’er a bite of food.

“Was it good?” the devastatingly handsome man asked, his voice deep enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

Feng Jiu’er wasn’t even sure if she’d properly chewed the food, swallowing it down with a gulp.

“It was good, very good.”