In the end, Feng Zhenhai was persuaded by Fang Zheng.

As for Feng Junzhuo — with Feng Zhenhai present, his opinion had never truly been an opinion at all.

After Fang Zheng and Huo Yan departed, Feng Zhenhai exchanged a few words with Jiu’er — nothing more than urging her to get along well with Young Lord Xu.

As for how to get along, naturally it was to follow the husband upon marriage. Though the two had not yet wed, if they happened to meet in the coming days, she was to defer to Young Lord Xu in all things.

Had she not known that her grandfather genuinely meant well, Feng Jiu’er would not have had the patience to listen to a word of it.

As for what Feng Junzhuo had to say — naturally, it was that Feng Qingyin was also enrolled in this Academy, that Qingyin was her elder sister, and that she was to heed her sister in all things.

Feng Jiu’er had no patience to hear him out, and found an excuse to leave.

Xiao Yingtao had been waiting just outside the Martial Training Building. Seeing Jiu’er emerge, she hurried over to meet her.

“How did it go, Jiu’er? Did they scold you?”

Spending a night away from the manor — if the family found out, one would most likely receive a severe tongue-lashing.

But seeing Jiu’er emerge looking perfectly fine, Xiao Yingtao was relieved: “As long as you weren’t beaten, that’s all that matters.”

Feng Jiu’er gave a small nod but said nothing. The matter of the Emperor’s marriage decree was something she did not yet wish to share with anyone.

An imperial decree of marriage — in this day and age, the Emperor’s word was law. If he decreed you married, you were to be married, and you were not permitted to let out so much as a murmur of protest.

The great matter of an entire lifetime had been decided so carelessly, just like that.

A marriage arranged by the Empress… This Young Lord Xu was most likely not only unsightly in appearance, but also a profligate wastrel — and most importantly, undoubtedly one who was dismissed and disregarded even within his own family.

Though they were both overlooked by others, and she did feel a flicker of sympathy for this Young Lord Xu, the moment she remembered he was connected to the Empress’s faction, that sympathy vanished entirely.

“Jiu’er, what is it? Are you still in low spirits? Did the people at the manor say something particularly unpleasant?”

Xiao Yingtao took her hand and gave it a gentle shake, smiling as she said, “Never mind — I get scolded all the time too. But getting scolded is just getting scolded. In one ear and out the other, and it’s done. No need to bother yourself with it!”

“I am afraid this is not the sort of thing that can simply go in one ear and out the other. It is, rather, a matter of my entire life.”

A melodious, coquettish laugh drifted over from not far away.

Both of them looked up to see a young woman in a pale yellow flowing fringe dress, beautifully adorned, walking slowly toward them — none other than Feng Qingyin.

“What matter of your entire life?” Xiao Yingtao glanced at Feng Qingyin, then looked back at Jiu’er.

Suddenly, a thread of unease rose in her heart: “Jiu’er…”

“It is nothing. Merely a trivial matter.” Feng Jiu’er behaved as though she had not taken the matter to heart at all.

Feng Qingyin had already walked up to them. The smile at the corner of her lips appeared gentle, yet it carried unmistakably the bearing of a victor.

“A trivial matter, of course — after all, your future husband, Young Lord Xu, is nothing but an unwelcome presence within the Nanmen clan.”

“I hear he is not only of illegitimate birth, but that at the moment he came into the world he caused his own mother’s death, and that when he was only a few years old, he brought about the death of his own elder brother.”

The smile on Feng Qingyin’s face was quite beautiful — she was in fine spirits, and her smile naturally reflected that.

“Does Jiu’er not know? Young Lord Xu has another name they call him — ‘Young Lord Jinx.’ Not a single soul in the entire clan is willing to go near him.”

Just imagining Feng Jiu’er married off to a jinx, destined to spend her life in miserable suffering, made Feng Qingyin so elated she could almost float away. “Does Jiu’er fancy this marriage arrangement? Oh, right — I nearly forgot to tell you. This Young Lord Xu was selected last night by me and Her Majesty the Empress together.”