“As far as I know, the Old Master almost never leaves his quarters, sees no one, and does not handle matters within the sect.”
The three words “Tianzun Sect” were always a sensitive subject, so Yu Jingfeng avoided mentioning them whenever he could.
As long as Feng Jiu’er could understand what he meant, there was no need to spell it out too plainly.
“Even the brothers within the sect don’t necessarily know about the Old Master’s true identity. He rarely involves himself in sect matters — nearly all decisions are made by the Prince.”
Feng Jiu’er said nothing, only narrowed her eyes deep in thought.
If this identity wasn’t widely known, and Emperor Ji didn’t involve himself in sect affairs, then he was probably only responsible for teaching the Ninth Imperial Uncle martial arts and the like.
After all, Emperor Ji’s martial skill was truly unfathomable.
If not for his mobility being impaired, judging by his level of cultivation, even the Ninth Imperial Uncle might not necessarily be his match.
What a pity that his legs were not sound, which naturally hindered his cultivation in many ways. The Ninth Imperial Uncle, on the other hand, had achieved so much at such a young age — his future was boundless!
If it wasn’t fear of his identity as the Old Venerable Master of the Tianzun Sect being exposed, then there had to be some other reason.
Could it be that Emperor Ji had yet another identity?
“I’ll go check on Lengyue. Have someone watch over the Ninth Imperial Uncle.” With doubts still lingering in her mind, Feng Jiu’er turned and walked off.
Yu Jingfeng ordered the men of the Twelve Riders to guard the Prince’s tent, then followed behind Feng Jiu’er, heading to Emperor Ji’s tent not far away.
If Emperor Ji weren’t in his tent, having stepped out for some reason, then what had just happened might still be explained away.
But Emperor Ji was clearly inside his tent, his expression now quite poor, mostly etched with worry.
Seeing Feng Jiu’er and Yu Jingfeng, his lips moved slightly, clearly anxious.
But in the end, he held back his words and did not ask what was on his mind.
“The Ninth Imperial Uncle is fine, he’s already asleep. I’ll go back to watch over him shortly.”
Emperor Ji’s concern for the Ninth Imperial Uncle was genuine — this much Feng Jiu’er could clearly see.
Her gaze fell on Lengyue. “We had previously learned that someone within our group was in contact with outsiders, intending to leak our location.”
“Tonight, the plan was to catch that traitor — but who would have thought, the person caught in the forest turned out to be Lengyue.”
“I was just out for a walk. What business is it of yours?” Lengyue glared at Feng Jiu’er.
With her foster father here now, Lengyue wasn’t afraid of her at all — whatever happened, her foster father would naturally stand up for her.
That damned Feng Jiu’er — did she really think she could act however she pleased here?
Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly. “That spot — I had Long Shi’er deliberately alter the note on a messenger pigeon, so that whoever was supposed to make contact would go there tonight.”
“That place isn’t close to the camp, and there’s nothing scenic about it nearby — but it is quite secluded. I wonder, what exactly was Miss Lengyue planning to do, going alone to such a hidden spot so late at night instead of sleeping?”
“I—” Lengyue was clearly hiding something, but in the end she merely stood beside Emperor Ji’s wheelchair, glancing sidelong at Feng Jiu’er.
“What I do is none of your business. What right do you have to interrogate me?”
“Very well. Since you refuse to explain, then I have no choice but to enforce the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s military rules.”
Feng Jiu’er suddenly raised her hand, and a golden token appeared before everyone’s eyes!
“Yu Jingfeng, hear my command! This general suspects Lengyue of colluding with outside enemies and plotting treachery. Drag her out now and give her fifty strokes of the rod, then interrogate her afterward!”
“Yes!” To see the token was to see the Ninth Prince himself — this token carried the same authority as the Prince in person, equally impossible to defy!
Yu Jingfeng barked the order: “Men! Drag Lengyue out and give her fifty strokes!”
Lengyue was so furious that true energy gathered in her palm, and she nearly wished she could strike Feng Jiu’er down with a single blow.
“Feng Jiu’er, don’t push your luck! Don’t think I really wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on you!”
Feng Jiu’er said nothing, her expressionless face carrying, surprisingly, a touch of the Ninth Prince’s own commanding authority.
“You—”
Long Jiu and Long Shi burst in. These men, all dressed in tight combat attire, each with an expressionless face — even now Feng Jiu’er still found it hard to tell them apart.
Still, as long as someone got the job done, that was enough!
Long Jiu and Long Shi closed the distance in a single bound, one on each side, moving to seize Lengyue by the shoulders.
Lengyue twisted aside to dodge Long Jiu’s grasping hand and tried to counterattack, but Long Shi’s broad palm had already come down.
Lengyue spun to strike back, but Long Jiu seized her arm in a firm grip.
Lengyue, skilled as she was, was subdued by Long Jiu and Long Shi in no more than three moves — these two men’s grappling skills were truly formidable!
“Foster Father, they’re bullying me!” Unable to break free from the two men’s hold, Lengyue turned to look at Emperor Ji, her face crumpling. “Foster Father, say something!”
In truth, Feng Jiu’er too was waiting for Emperor Ji to speak. If he said nothing, Lengyue’s fifty strokes would absolutely not be spared.
In military matters, there was no jesting!
Emperor Ji, of course, knew that Feng Jiu’er was pressing him to speak.
With Wuya’s condition as it was now, Feng Jiu’er was being extremely cautious in everything she did — to the point of even suspecting him and Lengyue.
And yet, she still retained a measure of trust in him — which was why she had given him this chance to explain.
At last, Emperor Ji waved a hand and said evenly, “General Feng, this matter, I will speak of only to you alone.”
“Take Lengyue outside.” Feng Jiu’er did not hesitate in the slightest, and only after giving the order did she put the token away.
Held by Long Jiu and Long Shi, Lengyue shot Feng Jiu’er one last venomous glare before being escorted out.
Yu Jingfeng also left the tent, clearing everyone from the area, and personally kept watch from a distance.
Yu Jingfeng trusted Feng Jiu’er, and of course trusted the Old Venerable Master as well — but this matter, in the end, was something the two of them had to resolve between themselves.
He had no need to inquire further, only hoping that things could be explained satisfactorily, and that no further trouble would arise.
After all, the Empress’s arrival tonight had already left everyone rather exhausted.
Inside the tent, Feng Jiu’er looked at Emperor Ji, her eyes holding no hostility, only seriousness.
She intended to get to the bottom of everything — after all, these matters concerned the Ninth Imperial Uncle.
So even if it meant offending Emperor Ji, there was nothing to be done about it.
Emperor Ji looked at her, likewise without the slightest hostility, only a measure of helplessness.
With this girl by Wuya’s side, he found himself gradually feeling at ease. Although she was so young, looking no more than fifteen or sixteen, she handled matters more steadily and carefully than most men.
Her devotion to protecting Wuya ran just as deep — deep enough to put one’s mind at rest.
Only, tonight’s affair…
“It was I who sent Lengyue to go check things out, because—” he paused for a moment before continuing, “I had received word that Nanmeng Rong was on her way here.”
“Yu Jingfeng told me you never involve yourself in sect matters, so it shouldn’t be fear of the Empress recognizing your identity within the sect.”
Time was pressing — she still needed to hurry back to be with the Ninth Imperial Uncle, or else once he woke and found her gone, he would grow upset again.
So whatever needed to be said, it was better to lay it all out plainly. The one thing she needed to confirm was this: if the Empress were to see Emperor Ji, would it bring any harm to the Ninth Imperial Uncle?