“Jiu’er.”

Feng Jiang turned his head to look at Feng Jiu’er. “Tonight, the two of us are breaking into the palace under cover of night. Are you ready?”

“Mm.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.

With Feng Jiang’s approval, there was no way Feng Jiu’er would lack the courage.

After all this time, she wanted more than anyone to see the Night Prince again.

Though worried, Qiao Mu looked at the two of them and said nothing.

In the dead of night, in the woods outside the palace, two shadowy figures quickly vanished into the trees.

The two of them entered a secret passage, moving forward by the faint light of a torch.

In the wider stretches of the tunnel they could walk upright; in the narrower stretches they had to crawl on their bellies.

The whole journey was arduous, but Feng Jiu’er did not feel tired in the least.

The passage was rough, unfinished work, but at least the ventilation was decent — the torch in their hands showed no sign of going out the entire way.

At last, after nearly an hour, the two of them reached the cellar of the imperial kitchen and made it out successfully.

In the deep middle of the night, the imperial kitchen was empty, and the two dark figures quickly vanished beneath the night sky.

This route — Feng Jiang had walked it more times than he could count.

The two of them managed to slip past every guard and made their way into the back courtyard of Cining Palace.

The path from Cining Palace to Jianglai Residence was even harder to traverse, and the air in the tunnel there was worse.

Fortunately, the two of them managed to push through.

They lifted away the layers of wooden boards sealing the passage above, and fresh air rushed in at once, letting their breathing gradually settle.

Climbing out from beneath the boards, they found themselves at Feng Jiang’s bed in Jianglai Residence.

Without a sound, the two of them set the bed boards back in place.

Just as Feng Jiu’er was about to lift the curtain, she sensed something.

Her hand, reaching for the curtain, was suddenly caught by Feng Jiang.

The two exchanged a glance in the darkness, neither saying a word.

Suddenly, a light cough sounded from outside.

Feng Jiu’er’s eyes lit up instantly.

With her other hand, she lifted the curtain aside.

Beyond the curtain, by the windowsill, in the faint lamplight, sat a figure.

Feng Jiu’er climbed off the bed, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the figure by the windowsill.

After a long moment, she rushed toward him and threw herself down beside him.

Father — it really was Father. They had actually kept Father confined in Third Imperial Brother’s bedchamber.

Feng Li gently stroked Feng Jiu’er’s hair, over and over, saying nothing.

Feng Jiang stood off to the side watching the two of them, taking the occasional deep breath, careful not to disturb them in the least.

After a good while, when Feng Jiu’er finally looked up, tears glimmered in her eyes.

“Father, have they done anything to you?”

She asked, forcing her voice to stay steady.

Feng Li shook his head, his long finger brushing past the corner of her eye. “Don’t cry!”

He took her small hand and rose to his feet together with her.

Feng Li looked up at Feng Jiang, his breath growing heavier.

He reached out his long arm and pulled Feng Jiu’er into his embrace.

Feng Li gently patted Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder, pressed something into her hand, and then let her go.

“I’ve discovered the secret beneath your bed as well.”

He looked at Feng Jiang again. “If I could discover it, do you think Feng Qiongcang can’t?”

“You two need to leave now.”

Feng Li gently pushed Feng Jiu’er. “Head toward the main palace gate.”

Feng Jiu’er, unsteady on her feet, stumbled into Feng Jiang’s arms.

The two of them looked at Feng Li together, overwhelmed with emotion, unable to speak.

“Little Jiang.”

Feng Li let out a soft sigh. “Fourth Imperial Uncle has entrusted his daughter to you — you must protect her well…”

“Father.” Feng Jiu’er cut him off. “At midnight on the fourteenth of July, we’ll be waiting for you at the Imperial Mausoleum.”

“No matter what, you must come. If we can’t find you, we won’t leave.”

“Father, please trust us — we’re capable of keeping you safe.”

Feng Jiu’er bit her lip, but her tears fell anyway.

“Good.”

Feng Li came closer and touched her cheek. “Preserve your lives — Father will be waiting for you.”

“Don’t worry! I have a plan.”

Feng Jiu’er threw herself against Feng Li and held him tightly.

“Third Imperial Brother and I will surely leave safely. Father, your unfilial daughter must ask you to endure another half a month of hardship.”

“Your daughter is leaving now — please take care of yourself!”

Feng Jiu’er let go of Feng Li, went over, and opened the window.

She and Feng Jiang climbed out through the window one after the other and left.

In less time than it takes an incense stick to burn, the Imperial Guards had surrounded Jianglai Residence in tight formation.

At almost the same moment, a large army also appeared in the woods outside the palace.

While Feng Yan led troops to search Jianglai Residence, Feng Jiu’er and Feng Jiang had already made their way out of the Feng Luan Hall area.

The two of them did not leave the palace right away — though heading for the palace gate might have been the relatively safer route, Feng Jiu’er was unwilling to take the risk.

Drawing on her experience these past nights of wandering the palace, she led Feng Jiang back through the rear palace grounds to the small house by the stables behind Yaxiang Palace.

That night, the palace was subjected to a sweeping, exhaustive search.

At Yaxiang Palace, in the dead of night, a whole troop of soldiers poured in, throwing everyone into a panic.

The old matron, the eunuchs, and the palace maids were all roused and made to submit to inspection.

The Imperial Guards spared no bedchamber — even Consort Ya’s quarters were searched thoroughly.

A dozen or so armed soldiers entered the back courtyard of Yaxiang Palace and split up to search.

Several soldiers, after checking the stables, turned their gaze to the small house nearby.

“What is this place?” one soldier asked.

The old matron stepped forward. “Reporting, officer — this is where Consort Ya’s zither musician lives. She’s been in the palace for several days now.”

Had it not been for the faint candlelight within, the old matron might have thought no one was there at all.

“A zither musician?” The soldier frowned. “Doesn’t the palace already have zither musicians? Why would the Consort need to hire one from outside?”

“The palace musicians never change their style. Consort Ya took a liking to one from outside — surely that’s no great matter to bring her in.” The old matron said.

“Search it if you want — you won’t find anything anyway.”

The old matron shook her head and approached the thatched house.

“Miss Little Feng, are you in there? The palace is searching for a fugitive — please cooperate!”

“Miss Little Feng, are you in there? Miss Little Feng.”

“Matron Chen, what is it?”

Feng Jiu’er’s voice came from inside the small house.

“Miss Little Feng, the palace is searching for a fugitive. They’re about to come in.” the old matron replied.

No sooner had the old matron finished speaking than the door of the small house was kicked open by the soldiers outside.

Candlelight flared to life in both rooms — in one, a woman sat on the bed; in the other, a man stood beside it.

Feng Jiu’er still looked exactly as she had when she’d entered the palace, and Feng Jiang’s attire matched Jian Yi’s down to the last detail.

By now, both of them had already changed their clothes.

“That’s them — they’ve been in the palace for several days. Go ahead and search.”

The old matron went in and confirmed their identities.

“Even the Empress’s own palace wasn’t spared — why would a lowborn zither musician be any different?”

One soldier tossed out the remark with contempt.

Several men turned the inside and outside of the house completely upside down.

Once they were certain there was nothing to find, the troop finally left.

“Miss Little Feng, apologies for the disturbance! I’m so sorry!”

The old matron soothed Feng Jiu’er even as she took her leave.

“Please, keep resting — no one will disturb you again.”