“Jiu’er, what are you planning to do now?” Qiao Mu looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“I’m going to find him.” Feng Jiu’er steadied her composure. “Now that the location is confirmed, no matter how far it is, I will find him.”

“What do you plan to do about matters here?” Qiao Mu’s crescent brows creased slightly.

“With A’Jiu here, I am at ease.” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes and glanced at Qiao Mu.

“I’m worried he won’t allow you to go.” Qiao Mu let out a soft sigh. “It’s better to go see what he says first.”

“Jiu’er.” Tang Xiaohua looked steadily at Feng Jiu’er without blinking.

Feng Jiu’er shifted her gaze and met Tang Xiaohua’s eyes, pressing her lips lightly together.

She rose and looked down briefly at Tang Xiaohua.

“Sister Hua, come inside with me. I have something to tell you.”

“All right.” Tang Xiaohua rose and followed.

After the two entered the inner chamber, Feng Jiu’er closed the door, turned back, took Tang Xiaohua by the hand, and led her to the bed at the far end of the room.

“Sister Hua, my surname is not Long. Long is my mother’s surname. I am Feng Jiu’er — Feng Li is my birth father.”

“My father is the true Feng Son, and I am a true-born Feng Daughter.”

“I heard earlier that a Fourth Princess had appeared in the palace. Was that you?” Tang Xiaohua looked at Feng Jiu’er and raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er did not want to conceal it any longer.

With just one word from her, Sister Hua had come with her husband, leading the Yue Family Army to offer support.

When someone bares their heart to you so completely, concealing the truth from them was simply something she could not bring herself to keep doing.

Moreover, this matter would come to light sooner or later. She did not want to see the look of disappointment in Sister Hua’s eyes.

“Before I turned sixteen, I lived in the Bei Mu Kingdom. To protect me, my father was exploited by Feng Qiongcang the entire time.” Feng Jiu’er continued.

“Later, my mother sent me here to find my father. In the end, I was captured by Feng Qiongcang.”

“He wanted me to serve as his puppet — after all, I am the true-born Feng Daughter.”

“I refused, and I escaped. I barely survived his attempt to kill me.”

“In the end, we brought my father away from the Feng Clan and returned to Bei Mu Kingdom.”

“Before the war broke out in Bei Mu Kingdom, A’Jiu sent my father to the Thousand Islands Prefecture — but then, unexpectedly, he was captured and taken back to the Feng Clan.”

“This journey we have made was primarily to find my father.”

“Of course, if my father wishes for anything else, we will help him fight for it without a moment’s hesitation.”

Feng Jiu’er’s final words were not stated plainly, but Tang Xiaohua would understand.

In the Feng Clan, it had always been the Feng Son or the Feng Daughter who ruled as king.

Since Feng Qiongcang was an impostor, his hold on the throne was not secure.

“So the legend is true after all.” Tang Xiaohua gazed at the windowsill and let out a soft sigh.

“Among the common people, there has long been a saying that Night Prince is the true sovereign — and indeed it is so.”

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er took Tang Xiaohua’s hand and looked at her.

“This matter is of great importance. Forgive me for not being forthright before.”

“Also — for now, I do not wish too many people to know of this. You and Elder Brother Yue knowing is enough. Qinchun is still young; I do not wish her to be drawn into this too deeply.”

“I understand.” Tang Xiaohua turned to look at Feng Jiu’er and pressed her lips gently together.

She looked at Feng Jiu’er with great seriousness for a moment, then reached out and gently patted the top of Feng Jiu’er’s head.

“As expected — only Night Prince’s child could be this perfect.”

“Oh, right, Jiu’er — where is your mother? Where is she now?”

Feng Jiu’er’s expression dimmed noticeably. She lowered her head and looked away.

“She died. She lived for over a decade consumed by hatred, and in the end, she still died.”

Feng Jiu’er let out a soft sigh and lifted her eyes to meet Tang Xiaohua’s gaze.

“My mother’s story is complicated. Let’s save it for when we have more time to talk.”

“But are you truly that interested in your own rival?”

“What rival?” Tang Xiaohua gave Feng Jiu’er a little poke on the head. “A woman worthy of Night Prince could only be a celestial being.”

“How could I possibly be jealous of a celestial being?”

“Still.” Tang Xiaohua cupped Feng Jiu’er’s small face and clicked her tongue with a sigh.

“I have never had the chance to touch Night Prince’s face. Now I can at least touch his daughter — and even give her a good squeeze…”

This Sister Hua — she truly did squeeze, and knead, and rub as well.

“Quite satisfying!”

Tang Xiaohua was still going at it when Feng Jiu’er pushed her away.

“You’ve practically reshaped my face. And you still haven’t had enough?”

“Not yet.” Tang Xiaohua shook her head and reached out again.

Feng Jiu’er’s small frame was nimble, and she dodged sideways in an instant.

“Jiu’er, won’t you let me have just one more touch?” Tang Xiaohua lunged forward.

“A hug would do as well — or you could hug me, and I can properly sense your father’s warmth.”

“Don’t!” The closer Tang Xiaohua came, the faster Feng Jiu’er darted away.

“Jiu’er, don’t run! Please, I’m begging you.”

“Hey! Come to your senses! I am not my father!”

“I don’t care! I want a hug — just one hug, for a little while. Come on, just a little while.”

Feng Jiu’er, “unable to endure this torment” any longer, pushed the door open and ran.

“Help! Tang Xiaohua has gone mad — help!”

“Jiu’er, come back — a hug! Just a hug, for a little while.”

Feng Jiu’er had barely made it outside when Tang Xiaohua came rushing out after her.

The three people still in the side chamber saw the commotion and each rose to their feet.

“What’s happening?” Qiao Mu was the first to reach Feng Jiu’er.

“Qiao Mu.” Feng Jiu’er ducked behind Qiao Mu. “Quick, hold her back — she’s gone mad!”

Qiao Mu glanced at Tang Xiaohua and, recognizing the two were simply playing around, shook her head in resignation. “I couldn’t hold her back even if I tried!”

“Jiu’er, come here — a hug! Just one little hug.” Tang Xiaohua spread her arms open, like a child.

“I’m not a man — stop this nonsense!” Feng Jiu’er peered out from behind Qiao Mu and pulled a face at Tang Xiaohua.

“What on earth did you two get up to inside the room?” Xiao Yingtao looked left and right with a puzzled expression.

“Jiu’er, a hug.” Tang Xiaohua puckered her lips beseechingly. “Just one little hug.”

“No!” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “I’m going — I’m going to find my A’Jiu.”

“Jiu’er.” Tang Xiaohua hurried after her.

Yue Qinchun had no idea what had happened, but seeing her mother in such high spirits and being so playful, she could not help but smile from ear to ear as well.

Before Feng Jiu’er could reach the entrance, a knock sounded at the door from outside.

“Jiu’er.” Xing Zizhou’s voice came through the door. “The Gate Master and his party have arrived.”

With a clatter, Feng Jiu’er pulled open the door — which was not particularly large.

Standing right in the center of the doorway was the very person she had just been wanting to go find.

“A’Jiu.” Feng Jiu’er took Di Wuya’s hand in hers, then shifted her gaze to Yue Jianfei. “Elder Brother Yue, good evening!”

Yue Jianfei’s lips carried a trace of a smile as he gave a nod.

“Jiu’er, a hug.” Tang Xiaohua had not taken her eyes off Feng Jiu’er even for a moment.

“Elder Brother Yue, please keep your wife in line.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head, took Di Wuya by the hand, circled around Tang Xiaohua, and walked inside.

“Jiu’er.” Tang Xiaohua watched the girl pass by with a wistful gaze.

Yue Jianfei stepped over, reached out with one arm, and gathered Tang Xiaohua into his side as he guided her inside.

“What is it?”

“I’m in a bad mood!” Tang Xiaohua’s voice of complaint rang out across the small hall with some force.

“What is there to be unhappy about?” Yue Jianfei asked again, his voice gentle.

“Jiu’er.” Tang Xiaohua lifted her eyes to look at Feng Jiu’er. “She — she won’t let me hug her!”