Zhan Yuheng had truly gone. Feng Jiu’er composed herself and, before long, Feng Manor came into view.

Yanu was as he always was. Wherever she went, whatever she did, Yanu never asked. Not because he was unable to speak — but because he respected her.

That kind of respect and trust warmed the heart deeply.

After she returned that night, Yanu had prepared a full table of delicacies for her, knowing that first thing the next morning, her young lady would be going to report to the Imperial Academy.

“Once I finish my studies and become a great official, I will make sure you want for nothing — well-fed, well-clothed, and waited upon your whole life.”

Feng Jiu’er gnawed on a chicken leg and said with a grin, her manner utterly unbothered.

Yanu only watched her, saying nothing, as though simply looking at her was enough to make him thoroughly content.

“Yanu, don’t worry. Though historically the chances of a woman holding office have been slim, I believe that in my case, I will certainly change the course of history!”

At the Imperial Academy, women who entered generally did so to find themselves a good marriage. But Feng Jiu’er was different.

She intended to enter officialdom, to become a general, and to use her own abilities to protect all those she wished to protect.

Her grandfather had been a renowned general of illustrious achievements — she could be too!

Yanu poured her a cup of tea and sat nearby watching her, his eyes holding a quiet, glimmering warmth of amusement.

Through his silence and his gentle gaze, he conveyed to her: whatever decision the young lady made, Yanu would support her without reservation.

The next morning early, people came from the Academy to escort the young ladies of the Feng family, along with several of the young masters under Second Lord and Third Lord.

It was not as though the Feng family had no male line at all — only that the male members did not fall under Feng Junzhuo’s branch. So whether Feng Junzhuo’s standing within the Feng family could be maintained in the future was, in truth, difficult to say.

Unless he could still produce a son!

Feng Jiu’er was not close to any of them, and after boarding the carriage, she barely exchanged a word with anyone.

The others, too, kept their distance from Feng Jiu’er. Something about her seemed to arouse a visceral aversion in people, and they steered well clear of her, one and all.

After some time had passed, the carriage came to a stop before the main gates of the Imperial Academy.

The place was already lively. Sons and daughters of the various imperial clansmen and nobility were gathered outside waiting.

In ordinary times, these individuals were arrogant to a fault, utterly convinced of their own superiority, never going anywhere without a retinue of guards and servants, even requiring attendants to sweep the road ahead before they would deign to walk on it.

Yet now, they were actually willing to line up and wait outside the gates — a testament to just how revered the Imperial Academy was in everyone’s esteem.

No sooner had Feng Jiu’er stepped down from the carriage than voices began to chatter all around her — almost all of them laden with contempt, mockery, and ridicule.

“I heard earlier that the Ninth Prince’s residence had given special dispensation, permitting the younger generation of the Feng family to enroll at the Imperial Academy. Now it seems the matter is actually true.”

“So it was the Ninth Prince’s special dispensation — no wonder! I had been wondering how the Feng family’s juniors could possibly qualify for admission, given their family’s official rank.”

“They say it was Feng Jiu’er who performed some meritorious deed… Ha. Look at that idiotic expression of hers — a meritorious deed? Do you believe it?”

“Nothing but hearsay. I received word, though, that it is because Eighth Miss Feng, Feng Qingyin, and the Crown Prince are drawing close to a formal match — and so the Feng family has earned this honor.”

“Ah, so that’s how it is…”

All manner of voices surrounded her. It was not that Feng Jiu’er couldn’t hear them — she simply had no interest in dignifying them with attention.

Standing among the crowd, she held herself perfectly upright. Perhaps it was precisely because no one was willing to draw near her that she cut such a singularly distinctive figure.

Solitary, austere, composed — there was to her an air, almost, of a celestial plum blossom immortal descended into the mortal world. Suddenly, from beyond the crowd, a clear and bright woman’s voice rang out: “Crown Prince Brother, I can go in by myself from here — please, you need go no further.”