Feng Jiu’er made her way to the Martial Arts Building, and even on that short journey, she already felt the full force of the rampant gossip.

The looks people gave her were strange and pointed — yet such looks were nothing new to her. After transmigrating into this body, she had seen plenty of them back in Feng Manor.

Both Feng Zhenhai and Feng Junzhuo were waiting in the main hall of the Martial Arts Building, along with the Academy Councillor and Captain Huo Yan.

The gathering was so solemn and formal that even without knowing what had happened, Feng Jiu’er felt a vague and creeping sense of foreboding.

“Jiu’er, where did you go last night?” Feng Junzhuo’s expression darkened the moment he laid eyes on his daughter.

With the Crown Prince having broken off the engagement, there was nothing left to pin one’s hopes on for this girl.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling to give her a kind look — but with one scandal after another, time and again without end, how could any father show a daughter like this an amiable face?

Even Grand Elder Feng Zhenhai’s expression had turned rather unsightly.

He had only ever heard about it before — yet now, he was actually seeing it with his own eyes: Jiu’er had spent the night in some unknown place.

The Feng Family was, after all, a family of standing. Their reputation could not be allowed to be ruined like this.

Feng Jiu’er understood — this time, even her grandfather found it hard to keep face.

As a person from the twenty-first century, she naturally saw nothing wrong with staying somewhere overnight. But this was ancient times, where the rules governing women were absolute. If a woman did not return home at night, could gossip and criticism really be avoided?

“Grandfather, Father.” She walked forward, greeted her family, then turned to the others and inclined her head. “Councillor, Captain.”

The Councillor and the Captain said nothing. Their concern was with the students’ training — as long as nothing endangered the Dragon Martial Academy, a student’s reputation was not their business.

Where a student went on their day off was of little importance; what mattered was that the person was safe.

Xiao Yingtao had been kept outside the Martial Arts Building, so in the main hall, only the five of them remained.

After a stretch of silence, Feng Junzhuo spoke. “Jiu’er, last night your grandfather and I entered the palace and consulted with His Majesty. Your marriage has been decided.”

“Marriage?” Feng Jiu’er was taken aback. This was something she had not anticipated at all.

Could it be that Zhan Yuheng had gone to His Majesty and reinstated their engagement?

But the engagement had only been broken off less than half a month ago — to now be betrothing her again, wasn’t that far too fickle?

More importantly, she had never intended to marry Zhan Yuheng. If Ninth Imperial Uncle were to find out, it would be enough to make him spit blood in fury.

In Ninth Imperial Uncle’s eyes right now, she was his own little pet — someone no one else was allowed to touch!

“Grandfather, what is going on? Jiu’er is still young. I have no desire to think about marriage at this time!”

Feng Jiu’er met Feng Zhenhai’s gaze. That she was still young and ought to focus on her studies first — hadn’t that been stated clearly in the imperial edict His Majesty had issued before?

Yet in the blink of an eye, another marriage arrangement had appeared?

Furthermore, she had only just entered the Dragon Martial Academy and hadn’t even passed the formal student selection yet. Arranging a marriage at a time like this — wouldn’t it obstruct her future prospects entirely?

She still had to go to the front lines to save people, to devote herself to the nation… ahem, though she had no particular wish to give her life — who would want to die?

But she truly was going to the front lines. What need was there for some absurd marriage arrangement at a time like this?

“Grandfather…”

“This is not merely an arrangement — it is a marriage. Your father and I entered the palace in person to have an audience with His Majesty, and everything has already been settled.”

Feng Zhenhai fixed his eyes on her face, a flash of displeasure crossing his features at her resistant gaze.

“Jiu’er, you have already passed the age of betrothal. It is time for you to consider marriage. The imperial edict has been issued — you will wed at the beginning of next month!”