The eye-catching display from that couple in the chamber was impossible to guard against.

Before Feng Jiu’er could react, someone gave her waist a light pinch.

She flinched and looked back sharply.

Di Wu Ya was looking down at the girl in his arms, and his expression bore a striking resemblance to Yue Jianfei’s from just a moment ago — the look that said: tonight, I am entirely at your disposal.

Feng Jiu’er shot him a glare and turned back to face the others in the room.

Jian Yi’s face had long since gone thoroughly dark. Whether his wound was still causing him pain, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t say — she would need to tend to it again properly before long.

Qiaomu was pouring herself a cup of tea, wearing a look that said plainly: I am not here, I do not wish to speak.

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze returned to the affectionate couple — Tang Xiaohua was in the middle of scolding Yue Jianfei.

Feng Jiu’er gave a small smile and said softly, “No matter what, Master Yue has had quite a journey of it this time.”

“Sister Hua, why don’t you take Master Yue back to rest first? We still have a few things to sort out here.”

“Besides, our residences are not far apart — if there is anything, I’ll come by in person.”

Tang Xiaohua gave Yue Jianfei a push and looked up to meet Feng Jiu’er’s gaze. “Don’t worry — hand this to the authorities, and the truth will come to light soon enough.”

“And I also have a faint feeling that…”

Before Tang Xiaohua could finish, a voice drifted in from outside.

Yu Jingfeng glanced back, then stepped out.

He personally opened the door of the side chamber and walked in leading a man whom Long Shi Yi had passed over to him.

The man knelt on the ground, glanced up at Di Wu Ya at the head of the room, then shifted to kneel sideways toward Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua.

“Master Yue, Madam Yue — the official has sent me to inform you that the mastermind behind today’s incident has been found.”

“Who is it?” Tang Xiaohua looked at the man kneeling before her, her brow furrowing slightly.

“It is…” The man glanced up briefly, then lowered his head again. “The wife of the Second Young Master of the Yue family — Madam Lan.”

“The official has already taken her into custody. As this matter involves the Yue family, he felt it best to inform Master Yue beforehand.”

“My informant told me that Master Yue was at the Longying Medicine Hall, so I came here to find you.”

“Master Yue — how do you intend to handle this?”

“Yue family matters, I will handle myself. As for Madam Lan — she has committed a crime, and the punishment she has earned, she will receive.” Yue Jianfei waved his hand.

“Go. Take my words back to the official.”

“Yes.” The man clasped his fists, rose, and took his leave.

Yu Jingfeng escorted him out and closed the door once more behind him.

Tang Xiaohua exhaled a quiet breath — the outcome did not seem to surprise her particularly.

She pressed her lips together and stood. “Jiu’er, it looks as though I’ve brought trouble to your door. My apologies.”

“Sister Hua, please don’t say such things. What storm have we not weathered? No one is going to give a trifle like this a second thought.” Qiaomu said gently.

“Since this is a family matter, you’d best go take care of it first. We’ll still have to trouble the Yue household hall for the matter of the Night Prince.”

Tang Xiaohua looked at Qiaomu with a slight smile.

“You really haven’t a shred of modesty in you. The lot of you — still so young, and yet you speak as though you’ve weathered countless storms.”

Tang Xiaohua knew full well that every one of the young people present was far from ordinary, and that what Qiaomu had said was no empty boast — but she couldn’t resist a little teasing all the same.

After all, opportunities like this might not come around again so easily.

Qiaomu gave a small smile, then withdrew her gaze and lifted her teacup.

Tang Xiaohua’s eyes shifted to Feng Jiu’er. “When are you thinking of leaving?”

The Night Prince was not in Yue City — she knew these people wouldn’t be staying much longer.

“Perhaps within the next day or two.” Feng Jiu’er replied softly.

Every reunion was short-lived, but she still had her own affairs to attend to. Leaving was inevitable.

“All right.” Tang Xiaohua gave a nod. “Then we’ll head back for now. Don’t let today’s events trouble you — before you go, let’s all get together once more.”

With that, she turned and headed out, her stride carrying a certain ease and confidence.

But not only Feng Jiu’er — even Qiaomu could see the reluctance in her.

Who wasn’t reluctant? Even Qiaomu felt a pang of it, let alone Feng Jiu’er.

After Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua left, Qiaomu said nothing. She stood, and looked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go take a look outside.”

“Go ahead.” Feng Jiu’er gave a nod, and stepped down from Di Wu Ya.

Qiaomu dipped her chin, turned, and walked out.

Feng Jiu’er stood, glanced at Yu Jingfeng, then brought her gaze back to Di Wu Ya.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, if you have matters to attend to, please go ahead. I’ll come back in a little while.”

When she had been tending to Jian Yi’s wound just now, she had been too hasty about it. Seeing that Jian Yi’s color still wasn’t good, Feng Jiu’er was worried.

She left those words for Di Wu Ya, then turned and went to Jian Yi.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t feel Di Wu Ya’s gaze on her — but she couldn’t simply ignore Jian Yi, who had been wounded on her behalf.

So the matter between herself and Di Wu Ya could wait until later.

Jian Yi had never been fond of Di Wu Ya, and seeing him holding their Jiu’er, how could his mood possibly be good?

Watching Feng Jiu’er walk toward him now, Jian Yi finally drew back the hostile gaze he had been fixing on Di Wu Ya.

“Jiu’er.” He looked at her, and his expression softened instantly.

“Come — let me have another look at your wound.” Feng Jiu’er said gently.

Just now, with lives on the line, she hadn’t been able to take her time. But Jian Yi’s injury was for her sake, and now that she had a moment to breathe, she had to give him the best medicine and the most thorough care she could manage.

“All right.” Jian Yi gave a nod, rose from his seat, and followed Feng Jiu’er out.

He was always this way — in front of others, he would not spare so much as a single extra word, but in front of Feng Jiu’er, whatever needed to be said, not one word was left out.

Feng Jiu’er led Jian Yi to a small room. Inside were a medicine box and some spare supplies.

“Sit down. Let me have another look at how the wound is doing.”

Whatever Feng Jiu’er asked of him, Jian Yi almost always complied — of course, with certain exceptions, like requests that he stay or that he leave. Generally speaking, as long as it didn’t mean being separated from Feng Jiu’er, Jian Yi would go along with just about anything.

Jian Yi obediently went over and sat down in the chair before her.

Feng Jiu’er leaned forward, reached around his body, and undid the ties of his garment with both hands.

It wasn’t as though she made a habit of undoing men’s clothes so readily.

The only reason she was doing so now was that a certain man had claimed just earlier that his arm wouldn’t move, and he couldn’t even undo the ties himself.

As Jian Yi turned his head slightly to the side, the tip of his nose came within a breath of grazing Feng Jiu’er’s cheek.

Her warmth, her scent — he felt it all with startling clarity.

All of it made his breathing grow heavier, and even his face was brushed with a faint flush of color.

Jian Yi made no attempt to conceal it. The corners of his mouth curved upward in a quiet, contented smile.

When Feng Jiu’er undid the last of the ties and straightened up, her gaze happened to sweep across the smile playing at the corner of Jian Yi’s lips.

Her eyes settled on his face, and she gave her brow a slight furrow.

“What’s got you smiling like that? Jian Yi, that smile of yours is not simple — are you thinking about some girl?”