A soldier stepped forward and came to stand beside the family members, speaking in a steady voice. “Would you tell me exactly what happened here?”

“One person from each of your two families, please come with me. Whatever needs to be said can be made clear to our superior.”

The elderly man’s son exhaled with relief and turned to the soldier. “Very well. I’ll go with you.”

“I’ll come too.” One of the elderly woman’s sons also turned to face the soldier.

The soldier departed with the two men, and several of the Longying brothers carried out a few chairs, placing them in the courtyard.

Those family members who were exhausted took a seat. Some still stood, but their gazes remained fixed on the screen, and not one of them dared to speak too loudly.

Feng Jiu’er finished seeing to matters in the main hall, then went with Qiaomu to the side chamber.

In the side chamber, Di Wu Ya was seated at the head of the room, with Yu Jingfeng standing guard to one side.

Jian Yi sat alone at a table in the room, quietly drinking tea.

Yue Jianfei and his wife Tang Xiaohua, who had not been seen for many days, were seated to the side — the two of them utterly absorbed in each other.

Yue Jianfei picked up a piece of pastry with his chopsticks and offered it to Tang Xiaohua. “Xiaohua, try this — it took some effort to bring it back.”

“I’m sure you’ll like it. I’ve tasted it myself — give it a try.”

Yue Jianfei was thick-skinned about such things, but Tang Xiaohua was clearly somewhat more easily embarrassed.

One way or another, there were quite a few people here, and every single one of them was remarkably handsome — it was only natural that Tang Xiaohua felt a little self-conscious.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at the two who couldn’t keep their hands off each other, then at the two rather displeased-looking handsome men across the room, gave a small cough, and stepped inside.

Tang Xiaohua didn’t pay attention to Yue Jianfei as he moved to stand up — but before she could stop him, he had already taken her hand in his.

“Xiaohua,” he called to her in a gentle voice.

Tang Xiaohua had no choice. She looked at the piece of pastry she was now obliged to eat and opened her mouth.

Yue Jianfei placed the pastry in Tang Xiaohua’s mouth, smiling as he asked, “Well? Is it good?”

Seeing that things had already come this far, Tang Xiaohua simply resigned herself to it. She chewed lightly a couple of times.

“Mm.” She gave a small nod, and some of the awkwardness between them faded. “It’s quite nice.”

Feng Jiu’er walked straight over to Di Wu Ya’s side and poured him a cup of tea with her own hands.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle,” she said, sitting down beside him and tilting her head to look into his eyes.

She didn’t even need to ask — Feng Jiu’er already knew that her man had been having a hard time of it lately. Sleeping rough, going without proper rest, and all manner of hardships. That much was plain to see.

Di Wu Ya took the cup from her hands, and his bearing softened slightly.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you’ve grown thin.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, reached out her hand, and with a look of tender concern, smoothed the few stray strands of Di Wu Ya’s hair back into place.

Di Wu Ya looked at her for a moment, then raised the teacup and took a sip.

Feng Jiu’er studied him carefully — from his brow down to his eyes, his nose, his lips, his chin, and his neck — and the more she looked, the more her heart ached.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you…”

Before Feng Jiu’er could finish her words, Di Wu Ya — who had just set down his teacup — reached out and wrapped his hand around her small one where it rested on his clothing.

Their eyes met. No words were exchanged. There was only an endless, wordless longing.

Qiaomu sat down beside Jian Yi. She had barely recovered from being blinded by the dazzling display of the couple across the way when, from the head of the room, yet another brilliant flash of white came flooding in.

Her gaze followed the light.

Qiaomu looked at the two people at the head seat — eyes locked, hearts entwined — and nearly suppressed herself into internal injury.

With a clang, she set down her cup, and the sound jolted both besotted couples back to their senses.

Tang Xiaohua gave a deliberate cough and said in a composed voice, “We can finish the pastry later. Didn’t you say you had something to discuss with Jiu’er?”

Yue Jianfei gave a nod and set down the chopsticks in his hand.

Feng Jiu’er tried to slip her hand free from Di Wu Ya’s hold — but before she could react, her body lightened as the man beside her drew her onto his lap.

She bit her lip, tried to wriggle free, and found it was no easy task.

If it were only Master Yue and Sister Hua here, it would be one thing — if Ninth Imperial Uncle wanted to hold her, she could hardly object, and at worst, Master Yue and Sister Hua could embrace each other in kind.

But regardless — there were still two people here who were unattached. No — three, Feng Jiu’er realized, nearly having forgotten Yu Jingfeng entirely.

Was it really all right to sit here embracing and cuddling in front of people who were still single?

Feng Jiu’er tried to pull away again, but the arms holding her only tightened.

He seemed to be making a point of saying — there was nothing wrong with this at all.

Feng Jiu’er turned her head and glanced up, catching only a glimpse of Di Wu Ya’s firm, resolute jaw.

It seemed she wasn’t going to be able to slip away anytime soon, and she had no choice but to steel herself and sit properly.

“Master Yue.” Feng Jiu’er gave a small cough, set aside some of her discomfort, and looked toward Yue Jianfei.

“Is there any progress on that matter?”

Yue Jianfei stretched out one arm and draped it over Tang Xiaohua’s shoulders, then looked toward the head of the room.

“My apologies, Miss Long — we have yet to locate the Night Prince, but it is quite certain that he was seen in the city of Li more than ten days ago.”

“Li City?” Qiaomu heard this and frowned slightly.

Seeing other people so happy in each other’s company while she remained alone — she had told herself she would get used to it, but she still hadn’t managed to.

At least when real matters came up for discussion, she could put those minor irritations out of her mind.

Qiaomu looked at Feng Jiu’er, her eyes darkening slightly. “Jiu’er, isn’t Li City the place where we entered to break the formation and buy grain?”

Feng Jiu’er’s brow furrowed as she gave a nod. “Master Yue, when you say more than ten days — do you have a specific date?”

“Approximately fifteen or sixteen days ago.” Yue Jianfei met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze. “We can say with near certainty that it was the Night Prince himself.”

“There was also a woman with him, though her exact appearance is difficult to describe — from what our people were able to investigate, she was wearing a human-skin mask.”

“They stayed at an inn for three days before leaving. No one could determine their identities or where they had gone.”

“My apologies, Miss Long — once my people informed me that there had been trouble at the household, I came back at once.”

“But since Xiaohua has already made you a promise, the search for the Night Prince — that we will continue.”

Tang Xiaohua shot a sidelong glare at her husband. “Did I not say that this matter was not to reach your ears?”

“It is a minor affair that I can handle on my own. Why did you come back?”

“Who tipped you off? What use is someone who doesn’t follow my orders — why would we keep such a person around?”

Yue Jianfei gave Tang Xiaohua’s shoulder a gentle pat and leaned in, bringing his face close to hers.

“It was Ah Wei — he was the one who tipped me off. Since he chose not to follow my wife’s instructions, I’ll have him pack his things and leave today. How does that sound?”

Master Yue wore an expression that said plainly — as long as my wife is happy, what does it matter to sacrifice one Ah Wei? — and Feng Jiu’er and Qiaomu could not help but silently mourn for this person called Ah Wei.

“Just letting him go like that would be getting off too lightly.” Tang Xiaohua considered for a moment. “Let him be dealt with according to house rules. I have never had patience for people who make mountains out of molehills.”

“All right, all right — house rules it is.” Yue Jianfei smiled and nodded. “Of course, I have my own fault in this as well — I shouldn’t have come back without a word of warning.”

“Xiaohua, tonight — I am entirely at your disposal.”