“Every year, without fail. Such things cannot be entirely prevented — every nation does it.”

Seeing that the relationship between Feng Jiu’er and His Highness seemed to grow warmer by the day, Yu Jingfeng chose not to conceal what could be said.

Naturally, what could not be said remained unspoken — though matters of this nature were too obvious, and everyone already understood them implicitly.

“In other words, even the people around me could be among them?”

“Anyone could be. That is precisely why, even after entering Longwu Academy, everyone must pass through successive layers of screening and evaluation before being permitted to take part in core operations.”

Yu Jingfeng shook his head at her, signaling that the topic should end here.

His Highness had managed to fall asleep with such difficulty — Yu Jingfeng could only hope he would sleep a little longer.

Feng Jiu’er understood his meaning and nodded. She was about to leave when a thought suddenly struck her. “Master Yu, tonight’s assassins — we wounded them.”

“Tell me where they were wounded.” Yu Jingfeng found this of particular interest.

Feng Jiu’er lowered her voice. “The left arm was struck by Xiao Yingtao’s concealed weapon, and the chest was slashed by Mu Mu’s short blade.”

“Understood. I will have the entire Zhenjun Courtyard thoroughly searched. Many thanks!”

Feng Jiu’er nodded, then couldn’t help glancing back once more at Ninth Imperial Uncle’s chamber door before turning to leave.

But Yu Jingfeng caught up with her in a few quick steps, lowering his voice. “Miss Jiu’er, His Highness seems… seems to sleep particularly soundly when Miss Jiu’er is present. If you could…”

He paused, appearing somewhat conflicted. After all, for a young lady, such a request was indeed improper.

In truth, Miss Jiu’er’s reputation had already been thoroughly ruined by His Highness — though the two of them didn’t seem to particularly care about such things.

“Miss Jiu’er, if you could come every day to coax His Highness to sleep, then…”

“Ahem, I still have things to attend to. I’ll be going first — goodbye!” Feng Jiu’er fled as though her feet had wings, as if some venomous serpent or ferocious beast were chasing her from behind.

Yu Jingfeng shook his head helplessly. He understood the request was a great imposition — but did Miss Jiu’er really need to run that fast? Their master was, after all, a man of exceptional looks!

If it were any other young lady, she might have thrown herself at him already. And yet Miss Jiu’er seemed repelled by the idea. Ah, what a shame…

What Feng Jiu’er felt was not repulsion — rather, recalling how she had coaxed Ninth Imperial Uncle to sleep tonight, her face felt ready to burst into flames.

Repulsion? That didn’t exist. But panic? Absolutely.

If this happened every single night, what would she do if she couldn’t help herself one day and just pounced on Ninth Imperial Uncle and swallowed him whole? Oh heavens, how mortifying!

“But Miss Jiu’er, His Highness’s Gu Poison flare-up this time is also not unrelated to you.”

Yu Jingfeng still refused to give up and caught up with her again.

His Highness rarely managed to sleep this soundly. They had been talking outside for so long, and yet His Highness still had not stirred — a testament to how deeply he slept. As a subordinate loyal to His Highness above all else, he naturally wished for His Highness to eat well and sleep well every day.

“Me?” Feng Jiu’er stopped in her tracks, turned around, and pointed at herself. “Don’t slander me — I’m no spy.”

“No, that is not what I meant. I mean that last time, His Highness exerted his true energy to save you, allowing the Gu Poison to invade more easily and making flare-ups more likely.”

Yu Jingfeng truly did not wish to put a young girl in a difficult position — but for His Highness’s sake, he would rather let down all the world.

“This is all Miss Jiu’er’s doing. Surely Miss Jiu’er feels she ought to repay him in some way?”

Feng Jiu’er was at a loss for words, but when she thought about it — Ninth Imperial Uncle’s current condition, and the Gu Poison growing ever more severe — it was true. Last time he had used his true energy to save her, further damaging his heart meridians. When put that way, it really did all seem to be her fault. She let out a breath. “As it happens, I am already working on a way to remove the Gu Poison from his body. I just haven’t found the right catalytic ingredient yet. Don’t try to provoke me with your words — at the very least, I am not someone who forgets a kindness.”