Feng Jiu’er, just like an infant, bit by bit, slowly rolled her body back over.

And yet, after struggling for what felt like an eternity, she had only managed to turn herself halfway.

She had no idea how much time passed. Just as she was drenched in sweat and on the verge of giving up, a pair of large hands settled upon her.

“No—” The startled cry hadn’t even escaped her lips before Zhan Qingcheng gathered her entire person in his arms.

The man lay down, placing her in his embrace and letting her rest her head on his arm.

The feeling was strangely, uncannily familiar!

Feng Jiu’er’s heart sounded a sharp alarm. So alike — truly, so very alike!

In both cases she had been afflicted with Gu Poison. In both cases her blood was needed to heal his wounds. In both cases… after healing was complete, he held her as he slept!

It was as though her presence and scent helped him steady his mind and settle his energy.

How could such a coincidence exist in this world?

Could it be that the Ninth Prince was actually that figure dreaded and despised by the imperial authorities — the supreme lord of the Heavenly Sovereign Sect, Di Wu Ya?

But he was a prince of the realm, one whose power shook the very heavens. How could he possibly be Di Wu Ya? And how could he do things that ran entirely contrary to his own position and interests?

If the Ninth Prince were truly the Supreme Lord Di Wu Ya, then this earth-shattering revelation would be enough to set off a tremendous earthquake throughout the entire court!

Was it really him or not?

“Not sleepy?” The man’s low, resonant voice sounded from above her head.

Feng Jiu’er’s palm tightened. She forced herself to appear calm, not letting him detect anything unusual.

If he truly was Di Wu Ya — and if he discovered she had figured out their shared identity — she had no idea whether he would want to silence her permanently.

A medicinal catalyst could always be found again. But once a secret of this magnitude was exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Feng Jiu’er immediately shut her eyes and willed herself to fall asleep.

She would simply pretend she knew nothing. Perhaps it was all just a misunderstanding.

The affairs of great and powerful figures had nothing to do with her. She only wanted to uncover the truth behind her wet nurse’s death by fire, and to ensure that the people who cared about her lived well.

Everything else — none of it had anything to do with her!

……

Early the next morning, a commotion broke out in the courtyard outside.

The sound of Yu Jingfeng’s approaching footsteps drew nearer, and by the time he knocked on the door, Zhan Qingcheng had already sat up from the bed.

Yu Jingfeng had heard him stir as well, and spoke directly: “Your Highness, the Empress has arrived.”

“Reason.”

“She says that Miss Jiu’er injured her people, and she has come to take Miss Jiu’er back to face punishment.”

Zhan Qingcheng glanced down at the little maid still sleeping soundly at his side. He knew that last night she had absorbed his true energy, and that her eight extraordinary meridians were now flowing with that energy — she would not wake so easily.

He swept out a large hand, pulled the blanket over to cover her, then turned and rose from the bed.

The motion was, inexplicably, gentle — not the slightest disturbance.

The Ninth Prince had never liked being waited on by maidservants, so whether rising in the morning or retiring at night, he had long grown accustomed to managing entirely on his own.

Even so, Yu Jingfeng, listening from outside, noticed that His Highness’s movements were entirely unhurried. He said softly, “Your Highness, regarding the Empress…”

“If she cannot wait, kindly see her back to the palace first.”

Yu Jingfeng had no choice but to accept the order and withdraw.

……

After rising each morning, the Ninth Prince had the habit of practicing sword forms, followed by bathing, changing his robes, and then taking his morning meal.

By the time he walked into the main reception hall, a full hour had passed.

As it was, the Ninth Prince had risen at least half an hour later than usual today, so Empress Rong had been kept waiting even longer than that.

When she caught sight of that cool, handsome figure approaching from beyond the hall, Empress Rong could not help but rise and take two steps toward him. “A’Jiu, it has been quite a while — are you well?”