The man holding Feng Jiu’er wasn’t content with just an embrace — he leaned down, drawing close to the woman in his arms.

Even though his other long arm blocked the view of many onlookers, everyone could still imagine — imagine exactly what the man was doing to Feng Jiu’er.

“Whoa! He kissed Jiu’er first!”

“Could it be Jian Yi? Who else but Jian Yi would have such nerve?”

“This man’s build really does look a bit like Jian Yi.”

“It’s the Prince, I’d bet on it — it can’t be anyone else!”

“The Prince came too? Since when?”

The whispers quieted considerably once someone mentioned “the Prince.”

The two people hidden behind the man’s sleeve stood very close together.

“The moment I’m not around, you go and act recklessly?” Di Wu Ya’s low voice carried a thick note of possessiveness.

“So the Prince came after all.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and reached out to touch the side of Di Wu Ya’s face.

“And here I thought you’d already gone to sleep.”

“Girl.” The arm Di Wu Ya had wrapped around Feng Jiu’er’s waist tightened.

“Would you really go and hug another man?”

Unhurried, Feng Jiu’er lowered her hand and took hold of the arm circling her.

She rose onto her toes, closing the last bit of distance to the man.

“What does the Prince think?” Feng Jiu’er wound her arms around Di Wu Ya’s neck, her breath brushing against his chest.

“You know my scent, don’t you?”

The words had barely left her mouth when Feng Jiu’er lifted her gaze, straightened her back, and took a bite at Di Wu Ya’s chin.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, are you questioning my ability? Or your own charm?”

“We were together just a moment ago — how could I not have known you’d arrived?”

“Fine, sit down. Don’t let such a fun game come to an end just because you showed up.”

Feng Jiu’er grabbed the arm Di Wu Ya had draped over her shoulder and gave it a light push.

As she swept her sleeve around and turned, her small hand happened to be cupping Di Wu Ya’s firm chin.

“Good thing someone was willing to cooperate — everyone, look, the bite mark, do you see it?”

She released the aloof man, gave him a mischievous glance, and turned to walk away.

“I didn’t break any rules — the game continues.”

“Ahhh… Jiu’er’s so cool!”

“Jiu’er, who’s that handsome guy? It’s really not the Prince, is it?”

“Could it be the great hero Jian Yi? Jiu’er, you’re bold — not even worried about the Prince getting jealous?”

“Can the brother across the way tell us who he really is?”

“Who’s this lucky guy, favored by Jiu’er of all people, hahaha…”

Feng Jiu’er returned to her seat with a smile, lifting her gaze to look at the person across from her.

“The game continues — I want revenge!”

“All right.” The one who’d asked went over and spun the stump.

The game went on, but Feng Jiu’er never got her chance at revenge.

Instead, after a few more rounds, the stump’s point landed on that tall man who resembled the Prince.

The women, as if they’d been waiting forever for this moment, immediately started stirring things up.

“Jiu’er’s mock sweetheart, it’s your turn!” Xiao Yingtao jumped up cheerfully, pointing at Di Wu Ya.

“Jiu’er’s mock sweetheart, hahaha…” everyone laughed along.

Whatever — whether he was the Prince or not, it was a game, and if they were going to play, they’d play it through.

Feng Jiu’er looked at that familiar figure, the corner of her mouth lifting.

Di Wu Ya’s gaze also settled on her small frame; he took a long stride and stood up.

In the dim light, Feng Jiu’er could still see the man clearly.

Even with the mask covering his face, it couldn’t hide that peerlessly handsome face from her heart.

“Truth, or dare?” Across the way, the one asking was a man.

“Truth,” a low voice answered.

Everyone had assumed that the moment the man spoke, he’d give his identity away instantly.

No one expected that this rather striking man would resort to ventriloquism.

That way, no one could easily determine who he was.

Di Wu Ya coming to a masquerade party didn’t seem like a spur-of-the-moment thing — even the outfit he wore was one Feng Jiu’er had never seen before.

He hadn’t made a single unnecessary movement, hadn’t said a word — few in the crowd knew his true identity.

“Truth, all right.” The man gave a slightly stiff wave.

“Do you have a woman you’re fond of? Is she here right now? Do you dare shout her name out loud?”

Di Wu Ya hadn’t chosen this position at random.

The man directly across from him was Long Yi, and the questions Long Yi asked seemed premeditated.

“I do,” Di Wu Ya replied, still using ventriloquism. “She’s right here.”

“Ahhh… who is it? It’s not Jiu’er, is it?”

“I’d bet you’re the Prince — who else would have such nerve?”

“The Prince! The Prince! The Prince!”

Amid the crowd’s cheering, Di Wu Ya took a step and walked toward Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and glanced at Long Yi not far off, a different thought forming in her mind.

The one who’d asked the questions was indeed Long Yi, and he’d clearly seemed a bit uneasy while asking.

Which meant Long Yi knew that man was the Prince.

And those three questions of his didn’t seem like something he’d have come up with on his own — could it be that he’d been given an order?

The tall figure blocked out Feng Jiu’er’s light; she looked away and lifted her gaze to the man approaching.

“It’s the Prince, I recognize him!” Finally, someone was able to shout it out with certainty.

The whole venue erupted into commotion once more.

“So the one Jiu’er hugged earlier was the Prince — did Jiu’er know all along?”

“Never thought the Prince would come to our game — was it for Jiu’er?”

“Obviously — who else would it be for!”

Feng Jiu’er tilted her head up to look at the man, blinking.

Suddenly, Di Wu Ya dropped to one knee.

“Ahhhh… is this a proposal?”

“The Prince is proposing to Jiu’er at a time like this, how romantic!”

“Ahhh… Jiu’er’s going to be happy to death!”

“I’m so envious!”

Di Wu Ya’s sudden kneel caught even Feng Jiu’er off guard.

What surprised her even more was that in the box he raised in his hand, there was something glittering.

“A diamond ring?” Feng Jiu’er’s eyes widened as she stood up.

She reached out to take the box, pulled the ring free, and lifted it up.

In the firelight, the diamond sparkled again and again, nearly blinding Feng Jiu’er’s eyes.

How could she have imagined receiving a diamond ring in an era like this?

It was a genuine diamond. The craftsmanship was different from what she’d seen before, somewhat unusual, but the stone itself was real, no doubt about it.

Feng Jiu’er studied it for a good while before finally lifting her eyes to Di Wu Ya.

“Where in the world did you find this?”

“Put it on, and you’ll know the answer you want,” Di Wu Ya said, taking hold of Feng Jiu’er’s small hand.

“Put it on, and you become this prince’s consort — no changing your mind.”

Feng Jiu’er blinked, suddenly coming to her senses. “You want to use this to tie me down for a lifetime? Isn’t that a bit much?”

“No.” Di Wu Ya took the ring back and slid it onto Feng Jiu’er’s ring finger.

“Not a lifetime — lifetime after lifetime.”