“I believe my father must still be alive.”

And so Jiu’er’s final decision was to keep searching the ends of the earth for her father.

As for the Feng Clan, Jiu’er wasn’t very worried now.

Feng Jiang was a benevolent ruler, and under his leadership, the Feng Clan was sure to enjoy peace and prosperity.

Entrusting the clan to him put Jiu’er’s mind at ease.

Especially with Qiaomu at Feng Jiang’s side — together they were sure to lead the people of the Feng Clan toward a better life.

As for her and her Ninth Imperial Uncle…

Her Ninth Imperial Uncle always seemed to look the same no matter what he went through — still carrying that same cold, noble bearing.

Even now, with his robes dirtied, his hair somewhat disheveled, and traces of blood still on him.

But no matter how disheveled or worn he looked, it did nothing to diminish his naturally flawless features.

Jian Yi was nearly ready to lose his temper. “Could you stop staring at him so much? Does looking at him fill your stomach or something?”

He was practically starving!

Did she have any idea that over the past month or so, in his search for them, he hadn’t had a proper meal in a single day?

He hadn’t bathed in who knew how many days, and he reeked all over! It was unbearable!

And looking at all of them now, who among them wasn’t in a wretched state?

Even her Ninth Imperial Uncle was filthy.

And at a time like this, she’s still swooning like a lovestruck fool! This girl really deserves a beating.

“Fine, fine, I was just thinking about what to do next. Why are you glaring at me?”

Jiu’er glanced at him, her face full of disdain. “Oh, and another thing — don’t get too close to me. Who knows how many days it’s been since you bathed, you smell terrible!”

Jian Yi immediately turned up his nose right back. “Look who’s talking. How many days has it been since you bathed? You think you don’t stink either?”

Hearing this, Jiu’er quickly lowered her head and sniffed herself.

Sure enough — she reeked so badly even she was disgusted with herself!

This damned Feng Qiongcang, dragging everyone into such a sorry state.

This time, I hope he’s really, truly dead. Let’s not have another corpse come back to life.

How terrifying that would be!

“My Ninth Imperial Uncle and I are going to go find my father—”

“Say that again and see what happens!” Jian Yi looked ready to tear her apart.

Feng Jiu’er rolled her eyes at him. “Fine, fine, I’ll bring you along to eat and drink your fill, happy now?”

Only then did Jian Yi settle down and stop fussing.

In truth, he knew his presence was rather unnecessary, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to leave Feng Jiu’er.

Away from her, it felt as though he had no soul left to live for.

Like now — seeing her, knowing she was still alive, bickering and squabbling with her now and then — only then did his life finally hold even the tiniest sliver of meaning.

“Mu Mu, what about you?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Mu Mu, who had been silent the whole time.

Mu Mu, like her Ninth Imperial Uncle, was covered in grime, yet it did nothing to diminish his elegant bearing.

Mu Mu looked at him and said flatly, “Back then, you and Elder Brother just left and dumped the whole mess on me. I’d already grown tired of being emperor, and I don’t want to go back and suffer through it again.”

Before he’d left, he had already chosen a crown prince to succeed him.

If he didn’t go back, he’d simply consider himself already dead out here.

The state affairs were well arranged, there were plenty of capable people under him, and the realm was stable — truly, they didn’t need him anymore.

Di Wu Ya glanced at him.

Mu Mu said flatly, “If you handed the throne to someone else, would you really be at peace with that?”

Di Wu Ya looked away and said nothing more.

Mu Mu let out a breath of relief.

In truth, he cared a great deal about what his elder brother thought.

If his elder brother truly wanted him to go back and continue as emperor, he would still obey.

Fortunately, his elder brother felt the same way he did.

As long as the emperor was a good one, it truly didn’t matter whether he belonged to the Di imperial bloodline or not.

What mattered most was that the common people could live good lives.

Who became emperor — what did it really matter?

“So, is everyone hitting the road together, then?”

Feng Jiu’er walked up beside Di Wu Ya and tugged at his sleeve. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, you’re the eldest — you have to be generous and not stoop to the level of these little troublemakers, alright?”

“Alright.”

The breeze drifted gently, the mountains and rivers were beautiful.

Free and unhindered, at ease and unburdened.

After fighting for so many years, being able to now set everything down with a clear mind — wasn’t that rather nice, too?

“Let’s go. Find your father, bring him along, and wander the ends of the earth together.”

Di Wu Ya started down the mountain.

Jiu’er, smiling brightly, followed behind him.

Jian Yi hurried to catch up too, but noticed Mu Mu still standing there, staring blankly at the retreating figures of Jiu’er and Di Wu Ya.

Jian Yi gave him a shove. “Honestly, romance is so boring. If you ever get lonely later, I’ll practice swordsmanship with you, play chess with you.”

Only then did Mu Mu snap out of it, looking at Jian Yi. “You can’t beat me.”

“Want to try?”

Who’s afraid of who?

Let’s see about that!

If he got hurt or crippled in the process, there was still Jiu’er to take care of him — what was there to worry about?

Mu Mu suddenly felt that living out the rest of his life like this, carefree and unbothered, wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Wasn’t it far more free and easy than being emperor?

He wondered how Feng Qiongcang had ever managed to hold onto that grudge for so long.

Being emperor — what was so great about it, anyway?

“Come on, let’s go fill our stomachs first. Afterward, we’ll go work on our swordsmanship.”

“Exactly what I was thinking!”

With stomachs growling from hunger, sword practice suddenly didn’t seem all that important anymore.

Eating and drinking — now that was the true meaning of life.

“Jiu’er, on my way here, I saw a roast meat shop. The smell was absolutely irresistible.”

“Take me there now!”

“I don’t have any money on me.”

“Don’t worry. My Ninth Imperial Uncle’s money — we couldn’t spend it all in several lifetimes.”

The wind blew strong.

But the laughter was louder still.

Along the road ahead — with you, with me — it truly was good.

Wherever such laughter could be heard, that was home.

(THE END)