“Jiu’er, I have an idea.” Gong Xinyue looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“Go on.” Feng Jiu’er set down her cup and raised her eyes.

“Drawing Noble Consort Ya over here relieves the pressure on the Prince’s eastern front, but it also adds to our own burden.” Gong Xinyue explained softly.

“The Second Prince’s army will arrive soon, and Noble Consort Ya’s forces aren’t far off either. We can’t break through both at once, so—”

“You want to drive a wedge between the Second Prince and Noble Consort Ya?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“Mm.” Gong Xinyue’s expression turned somewhat serious. “Noble Consort Ya is set on supporting the First Prince, so she’s bound to look down on the Second Prince.”

“If we let the Second Prince learn of the relationship between Noble Consort Ya and the First Prince, he might start seeing her differently.”

“If our enemies are at odds with each other, it can only help us, never hurt us.”

“I’ve thought of that too.” Feng Jiu’er frowned slightly. “But Second Imperial Brother isn’t someone driven by rivalry.”

“More importantly, we have no proof at all of the relationship between First Imperial Brother and Noble Consort Ya.”

“Then we could start with Noble Consort Ya herself.” Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together. “That woman has an extremely strong competitive streak.”

“That could work too.” Gong Xinyue nodded. “As long as it stirs up their internal conflict, that’s enough.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded without speaking. Everyone looked at her, and the room fell quiet.

After a moment, Feng Jiu’er poured herself a cup of warm water.

“Drawing Noble Consort Ya over here might put us in danger.”

“But to our west lies the Kingdom of Feng Xi. If things truly go badly, we can retreat there for the time being.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle and the others are near Black Pool in the east — there’s nowhere left for them to flee to.”

“Jiu’er, we understand your plan, and we support it.” Xiao Yingtao patted Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder gently.

“If we all work together, we won’t necessarily lose. Don’t start blaming yourself in advance.”

Feng Jiu’er gave Xiao Yingtao a faint smile and shook her head.

“Of course, we won’t necessarily lose. But we must have a way out prepared regardless.”

“We still have friends in the Kingdom of Feng Xi, don’t we?”

“Jiu’er means Her Majesty the Empress?” Gong Xinyue asked softly.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “My letter should already be in the Empress’s hands by now. Perhaps—”

Knock, knock, knock… Someone rapped on the door of the inner chamber from outside.

“Jiu’er, I heard Xinyue and Xing’er are back. I came to see them.”

Before the words had even faded, Qiao Mu pushed the door open and walked in.

Feng Jiu’er looked up at the woman whose belly had begun to swell slightly, yet who still walked with a brisk, wind-swift stride, and said with a smile, “Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.”

“What were you saying about me?” Qiao Mu’s brows knitted.

Gong Xing’er stood and pulled over a chair for Qiao Mu.

“Sister Qiao Mu, sit.”

Qiao Mu sat down, her gaze fixed on Feng Jiu’er. “Out with it!”

“It’s nothing.” Feng Jiu’er looked at her, the corner of her mouth curving up despite herself.

“I simply had someone send word to the Empress, telling her I’ve brought her daughter-in-law here, along with the grandchild soon to be born.”

“Feng Jiu’er, did you really say that?” Qiao Mu frowned.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved slightly. “I asked the Empress to bring tens of thousands of troops over, so her daughter-in-law wouldn’t be frightened.”

“You—” Qiao Mu’s face flushed red with anger.

Xiao Yingtao rushed over at once to rub her back.

“Qiao Mu, don’t be angry! I think Jiu’er’s right — you’re in danger, how could we not let your mother-in-law know?”

“And if the Empress really does bring tens of thousands of troops to protect you, get her to protect the rest of us a little too, while she’s at it.”

Everyone in the chamber was set laughing by Xiao Yingtao’s remark.

Only Qiao Mu kept staring at Feng Jiu’er, saying nothing more.