Feng Li said nothing. Feng Jiu’er continued, “Father, do you still refuse to believe it even now?”

“This is your so-called good elder brother—he killed his own closest kin, took the throne, used your daughter as leverage, and exploited you to the fullest.”

“Father, I…”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you.” Feng Li let out a soft sigh, the hand resting on the table clenching into a fist.

“I just keep thinking, if I hadn’t left back then, Father might not have…”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and reached out to touch Feng Li’s face.

“Father.” She wrapped her arms around his arm and leaned in close.

“It’s been nearly twenty years now. Being upset about it won’t help anything at this point.”

“Since Feng Qiongcang has no intention of letting us—father and daughter—live in peace, we won’t let him have peace either.”

“Once we’ve gotten away safely this time, we’ll settle both old and new scores with him properly.”

Feng Li’s fist slowly loosened, and his large hand came to rest on Feng Jiu’er’s head.

Feng Jiu’er basked in her father’s affection for a while before finally sitting up straight.

“I’ll leave the books here—Father can look at them if he wants, or if not, he can find Jian Yi…”

“I’ll go with you.” Jian Yi set down his teacup and stood.

“Go get ready.”

Jian Yi dropped that one line and turned to leave.

Only then did Feng Jiu’er remember that she herself had originally planned to enter the palace together with Jian Yi.

Still, wasn’t this guy overreacting just a little?

Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze from Jian Yi with a smile and looked at Feng Li.

“Father, you always bully him—soon no one will want to play chess with you.”

Feng Li smiled faintly. “Every single time, it’s him who challenges me first.”

“For a young man to refuse to accept defeat is a good thing.”

“I don’t believe it.” Qiao Mu curled her lip, glancing toward the now-empty doorway. “So it turns out Great Hero Jian Yi asked for it himself.”

“Jiu’er, isn’t this what you’d call asking to be tortured?” Xiao Yingtao asked with a smile.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er stood up, laughing. “You should all go about whatever you need to do. Xing Zichou, come out with me for a moment.”

“Alright.” Xing Zichou nodded.

The people in the stone chamber left one after another.

Feng Jiu’er gave Xing Zichou some instructions before heading to the palace together with Jian Yi.

This was a special period, and no matter the hour, precautions had to be made.

Feng Jiu’er couldn’t guarantee what might happen once she entered the palace, so she wanted to make arrangements as thoroughly as possible before leaving.

This was the first time since Feng Jiu’er and Feng Li had been reunited that she had received an invitation from the Empress.

Two days ago, her visit to the palace had been at Consort Ya’s orders.

The disappearance of Prince Ye had stirred up the entire capital, yet Consort Ya seemed entirely unaffected.

Besides having Feng Jiu’er come give her a beauty treatment, Consort Ya had also requested quite a number of incense sachets.

She had even specifically asked for several purple ones.

Purple incense was used for matters of the bedchamber—Consort Ya’s intentions were rather obvious!

Feng Jiu’er just didn’t understand why, after three days, the Empress still hadn’t made a move.

Consort Ya’s days remained as comfortable as ever.

After parting ways with Jian Yi, Feng Jiu’er was brought into the Empress’s chamber.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Empress, may fortune be with you!” She curtsied to the person inside.

The Empress glanced up and said, “Nanny Chen, go outside and keep watch.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The old nanny curtsied and turned to leave.

Once the door was closed, the Empress stood, put her hands on her hips, and rolled her neck.

“Little Feng, do you think my blood circulation has improved? Your medicine, combined with that aerobics routine you taught me, seems to be working quite well.”

Feng Jiu’er stepped forward and walked over.

“Your Highness, surely you didn’t summon this humble one into the palace so late at night just to check on your circulation?”

The Empress sat back down at the table and placed her hands on its surface.

“That’s one reason.”

Feng Jiu’er took her hand and began checking her pulse.

“Your pulse is much better than three days ago too. Your complexion really has improved.”

Feng Jiu’er released the Empress’s hand and stood up.

“Your Highness, how are you feeling right now?”

“Very good.” The Empress glanced at the chair beside her. “Sit, have some tea. It’s not time yet.”

Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow, sat down, picked up the teapot, and poured two cups.

The Empress lifted a cup and took a light sip.

“This is a specialty tea from our own Fengxi Kingdom, from the peak of the snow mountains. Little Feng should try it too.”

Feng Jiu’er picked up her cup, brought it close to her nose, sniffed it, then raised her head slightly and took a sip.

“The aroma is fresh and clean. This humble one thinks it’s quite good too.”

“Stop calling yourself ‘this humble one’ all the time.” The Empress finished her tea and set the cup down.

“Pour me another full cup.”

Feng Jiu’er also knew that, many days ago, the way the Empress referred to herself in front of her had already shifted from the formal “this palace” to the simple “I.”

This was a form of respect the Empress showed her, and Feng Jiu’er thought nothing more of it, simply finding it pleasant.

“Mm.” She picked up the teapot and filled the Empress’s cup.

“Your Highness, drinking tea so late—aren’t you worried about not being able to sleep?”

“I’m in a good mood, it’s fine!” The Empress shook her head.

Feng Jiu’er watched her, the corner of her mouth curving slightly upward.

“I was wondering what could make Your Highness so happy. Does it have to do with the third prince?”

“Mm.” The Empress smelled the tea without drinking it again.

“Just smell it, don’t drink too much more, or you really won’t be able to sleep.”

“Has the third prince returned to the palace?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“No.” The Empress shook her head. “Jin’er came back. He brought me good news.”

The Empress met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, deliberately raising an eyebrow, feigning mystery.

“He said… they didn’t find Jiang’er. As long as he isn’t found, Jiang’er still has a chance.”

“In truth, I don’t want the Emperor to find Jiang’er at all. I’d prefer he never be found.”

“I know the Emperor’s temperament well—once he decides something, it’s very hard to change. If Jiang’er returns to the palace, he won’t escape disaster.”

What’s more, Jiang’er wasn’t even his biological son—that last part, the Empress didn’t say aloud.

Back then, when she had married Feng Qiongcang, he had still only been an imperial prince.

Later, after Feng Qiongcang ascended the throne, he made her Empress, and the two of them held a new wedding ceremony.

In everyone’s eyes, the Emperor doted on the Empress dearly—only the Empress herself knew this was merely surface appearance.

Back then, Feng Qiongcang had been unable to get any of his wives or concubines pregnant, and in the end he and the Empress had worked out a major plan together.

That was for the Empress to fake a pregnancy, and when the time came, Feng Qiongcang would find a suitable child to bring back to the palace.

None of her three sons had actually been born from her—she was merely a tool Feng Qiongcang used to conceal the truth.

Of everyone who knew about this matter, not a single other person besides the Empress had been left alive.

For the sake of her country, and for her own sake, the Empress had no choice but to let this secret rot in her stomach for the rest of her life.

“I only hope Jiang’er goes as far away as possible and never comes back.” The Empress sighed softly and lifted her teacup again.

This time, she still didn’t drink.

The Empress inhaled the fragrance of the tea for a while, her mood gradually lifting, a faint smile appearing on her face.