Jian Yi wasn’t affected at all. He continued leaning down, drawing closer to that perfect little face.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind swept in, stirring up countless withered branches and fallen leaves all around.

Yu Jingfeng stopped in his tracks, following the wind with his gaze, and faintly made out a figure.

Bad news! This was going to be a real problem.

He only paused for a moment before rushing forward at the fastest speed of his life.

Just as Jian Yi’s thin lips touched Feng Jiu’er’s face, the fierce wind struck—and by then, the woman’s figure was already gone from the pool.

Feng Jiu’er felt her body grow light, and her whole self landed in another warm place. She slowly opened her eyes.

Beneath the pavilion, a tall figure held the woman wrapped in his embrace.

The prince, who had arrived with overwhelming force, swept a glance at the bare-shouldered man still in the pool, then instantly withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes to meet the woman’s.

Feng Jiu’er’s eyes fluttered open slightly, then her heavy eyelids closed again.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, it’s so nice to dream of you!” The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, her face full of a deep smile.

Di Wu Ya’s cold aura instantly melted into warm pool water beneath Feng Jiu’er’s smile.

“Girl, I’m back.” He stroked her fair little face with a look of tender affection.

“Jian Yi, what did you do?” Yu Jingfeng ran over anxiously, shouting.

Feng Jiu’er was startled awake, her eyelids stirring as she opened her eyes again.

When she turned her head, Jian Yi brushed aside the spring water and leapt out of the pool.

The man who leapt out casually picked up a set of blue robes not far away, draped them over himself, turned around, and stood steadily by the pool’s edge.

Feng Jiu’er stared unblinkingly at the man, handsome and captivating like a banished immortal, and found herself somewhat entranced.

Hero Jian Yi is so handsome! Mm, he really is very handsome!

The air around them suddenly turned icy. Feng Jiu’er snapped back to her senses, withdrew her gaze, and looked up at the man holding her tightly.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” She was so sorry! It was all because Jian Yi had looked too handsome just now!

Di Wu Ya looked at the woman in his arms, and with a pull of his long arm—smack—his large hand landed a rather heavy slap on her bottom.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er immediately frowned, her pink lips pouting, reaching a hand back to cover her bottom.

“It hurts!” she squeezed out the word, looking utterly wronged.

Knowing her man was petty about such things, Feng Jiu’er didn’t dare bring it up again, and didn’t even dare think about how handsome Jian Yi was.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Enduring the pain in her bottom, she withdrew her hand and wrapped her arms around the man’s lean, strong waist.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you’re back. I missed you so much.”

Jian Yi glanced back once, flicked his sleeves, and walked off.

Yu Jingfeng looked at Jian Yi, then at the two embracing each other, hesitating—unsure whether to leave or stay.

Feng Jiu’er leaned forward and gave the man a light push, only to find she couldn’t budge him at all.

Ninth Imperial Uncle, are you still angry? She had only glanced at Jian Yi a little longer, that was all.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” The woman looked up at the man, her pink lips pouting slightly.

Food and beauty are human nature—everyone wants to look at something beautiful. But surely Ninth Imperial Uncle was still the most handsome of all? Didn’t he have that much confidence?

Feng Jiu’er stared unblinkingly at Di Wu Ya, but her man’s aura was still cold, his body still stiff.

It was just one look—was there really a need to be this angry?

Yu Jingfeng mustered his courage and said in a startled voice, “Miss Jiu’er, Jian Yi just stole a kiss from you.”

“Miss Jiu’er, I know this wasn’t what you wanted. I’ll go get justice for you right now!”

Yu Jingfeng tossed out these words, feigning anger, and turned to leave.

Leaving was really just an act of pretending to go make trouble for Jian Yi. If he didn’t leave, was he going to wait around for the prince to start cutting people down?

Knowing full well that Jian Yi was a dangerous person, he had still left Miss Jiu’er here alone.

Your Highness, he was wrong! Could he please be spared his worthless life?

Yu Jingfeng, his steps heavy, still ran off like the wind.

Feng Jiu’er’s large, lively eyes flickered. She stared steadily at Di Wu Ya for a moment, then her body went soft as she nestled into his arms.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I missed you so much!”

That fellow Jian Yi—what was wrong with him this time? Why kiss her? Was he mistaking her for his own wife again?

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, it’s all my fault. I knew full well that Jian Yi was controlled by his inner demons and couldn’t help his actions, yet I still fell asleep.”

Feng Jiu’er worried that if she didn’t explain, her man would go and cut someone down.

Hero Jian Yi was innocent—the one who truly deserved death was Chen Hong!

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, please don’t be angry anymore, okay?” Feng Jiu’er looked up at Di Wu Ya, her small pink lips muttering.

“I fight battles all day, and at night I still have to think of you. Do you think that’s easy for me?”

It really wasn’t easy for her! If she hadn’t been so exhausted, how could she possibly have fallen asleep in the pool?

The bloodshot lines in Feng Jiu’er’s eyes stung Di Wu Ya’s eyes once again.

The hand holding her waist tightened, and he lowered his head, kissing her.

As the man’s cool, thin lips pressed close, Feng Jiu’er held him tightly, gripping his sleeves.

He was really back.

She wasn’t dreaming.

She had missed him so much, so much!

Yu Jingfeng ran and ran, though in truth he hadn’t gone far at all.

He stood watch somewhere nearby, looking back at the two of them embracing, and felt a good deal more at ease.

The temperature under the pavilion kept rising. As Feng Jiu’er kept pinching a certain man’s lean waist, he finally loosened his hold on her.

Freed at last, Feng Jiu’er turned her head to the side and gulped in mouthfuls of air.

Her once somewhat pale little face was now flushed a rosy pink.

Besides the blush of embarrassment, there was also the flush from holding her breath.

After Feng Jiu’er had properly caught her breath, she looked up to meet the man’s gaze.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, how did your kissing skills improve even more?”

Di Wu Ya rubbed her small head and, with a look of tender affection, lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

Before Feng Jiu’er could say anything more, her body grew light—the man had picked her up.

She made no fuss about it either, wrapping both arms around his neck and burying herself deep into his embrace.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you’re back—so what about my father? Is there any news of him?”

“We just drove Feng Jin out of the city. What happens next is still uncertain.”

She was very tired, her eyes closing, her voice growing a bit softer.

“Your Longwu Army is still fighting Mao Zhongcai. I plan to lead troops there in a couple of days, once things are stabilized on this end.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, tomorrow Qiao Mu is marrying my third imperial brother, and the day after is Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao’s wedding.”

“So when will our wedding be held?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I really want to marry you soon too, to bear your children. Ninth Imperial Uncle, I truly miss you so much, do you know that?”

Di Wu Ya seemed unable to quite believe his own ears, and he stopped in his tracks.

He gazed steadily at the girl in his arms, only to find that her soft little hands had slipped down limply like flowing water.

Girl.

Di Wu Ya didn’t call the word out loud—she was truly too exhausted, and he couldn’t bear to disturb her.

He gazed at her soft, lovely face for a moment longer, then opened his robe, wrapping her tightly within it, and strode forward…