“A’Jiu, you’ve made too many enemies in this imperial city. Now that you’ve returned, there are plenty of people who want your life.”

Emperor Ji couldn’t help but stare at the cup in Zhan Qingcheng’s hand as well. The cup was perfectly ordinary — why did A’Jiu keep staring at it in a daze?

Emperor Ji composed himself, and his gaze fell once more on Zhan Qingcheng’s face.

“It’s Emperor Qiwen. Right now he’s wary of the military strength of the Nanmen Clan and others, so he doesn’t yet dare to act against you. But these past two days, I’ve heard that the Nanmen Clan has been experiencing some unrest.”

He looked rather worried. This was the imperial city, not A’Jiu’s own territory, nor where his power base lay. A’Jiu being here meant no small amount of danger.

“If one day Emperor Qiwen manages to seize full control of the Nanmen Clan’s military strength, and if Zhan Yuheng is willing to align himself with him, then when that time comes, you will be the first person Emperor Qiwen moves against.”

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing, still staring at the cup, his gaze deep and unreadable — no one could tell what he was thinking.

“I know you came back for the Empress Dowager’s sake, but truly, if you want to take her away with you, we still have ways to do it.”

Although A’Jiu was not the Empress Dowager’s birth child, the care she had given him over the years had led him to respect her as his own mother.

A birth mother’s bond cannot surpass that of a mother who raised you — there was nothing wrong with A’Jiu caring for the Empress Dowager. But couldn’t they simply take her along with them?

“Emperor Qiwen is using the Empress Dowager to threaten you. Yet you still have ways to bring her back to Phoenix City with you — why insist on staying in such a dangerous place?”

“The Empress Dowager does not wish to leave the imperial city.”

Zhan Qingcheng set down his cup and met Emperor Ji’s gaze. His composed face showed no expression at all, though between his brows he seemed somewhat gentler than he had been these past six months — no longer as cold as the peak of an eternal glacier.

These past few days, he had indeed improved compared to the previous six months — at least he was now willing to speak and negotiate with others.

Emperor Ji would never forget the six months after Feng Jiu’er’s death — the deathly stillness in A’Jiu’s eyes during that time.

Every time he saw A’Jiu’s lonely, cold figure from behind, Emperor Ji’s heart filled with guilt. Occasionally, he even regretted whether he had been too harsh on Feng Jiu’er back then.

If it was only for the sake of the Di family’s reign, condemning A’Jiu to permanent loneliness, unwilling to grow close to anyone ever again — then the price was simply too great.

Now, A’Jiu was finally willing to speak again. Though he still didn’t say much, at least it wasn’t like before.

A’Jiu seemed quite willing to seek out that man called Feng Jiu… Honestly, Emperor Ji’s feelings on the matter were complicated. Sometimes he truly hoped that Feng Jiu was Feng Jiu’er.

But after all these days, no matter from what angle he examined it, Feng Jiu was undoubtedly a man — that flat-chested body could never belong to a woman.

If Feng Jiu could lift A’Jiu’s spirits even a little, Emperor Ji had no objection to A’Jiu growing closer to the young man.

People always need friends — even just one would be better than always being alone and lonely.

“The Empress Dowager probably hasn’t yet seen the current situation clearly.” In his heart, Emperor Ji actually held some resentment toward the Empress Dowager’s stubbornness.

It truly was dangerous for A’Jiu to remain in the imperial city. Although the Empress Dowager had always stayed out of court affairs, after so many years in the inner palace, surely she understood this much?

A’Jiu had previously used Phoenix City as his base, occupying nearly half of the Bei Mu Kingdom’s territory. Now, the soldiers stationed in those lands were all his own.

A’Jiu and Emperor Qiwen had long been at odds with each other. Emperor Qiwen’s current restraint was only because he had not yet gathered sufficient strength.

Summoning A’Jiu back to the imperial city was also meant to prevent him from continuing to expand his territory within Bei Mu — Emperor Qiwen genuinely feared that A’Jiu might one day divide the realm with him.

Now that A’Jiu had returned to the imperial city, at least with him here, he lacked the means to continue expanding his territory, even if he wished to. Only this way could his continued conquest of more of Bei Mu’s lands be stopped.

But with various factions entrenched throughout the imperial city, Emperor Qiwen didn’t dare act against him openly. Yet who could guarantee there would be no covert moves?

And who could say for certain that the people who had been lurking in the shadows trying to assassinate A’Jiu these past days hadn’t been sent by Emperor Qiwen himself?

“A’Jiu, the Empress Dowager happens to be staying at the manor these past two days. If it’s not convenient for you to bring it up, then perhaps I could…”

“There’s no need for Foster Father to worry about matters concerning the Empress Dowager.” Zhan Qingcheng seemed to have no interest in discussing this further, and picked up a book nearby, about to leaf through it.

Suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside. Soon, a guard knocked twice on the door, his anxious voice calling out: “Your Highness, someone has broken into Tianji Hall. Lord Yu requests that you go there personally.”

Someone from Tianji Hall had come?

Emperor Ji was startled for a moment. The instant he turned around, he saw Zhan Qingcheng set down the book and stand up, striding toward the door.

Emperor Ji immediately pushed his wheelchair forward, following close behind him.

Among the people of Tianji Hall, the only one who had any connection to the Ninth Prince was Feng Jiu.

Since Yu Jingfeng knew someone had come — and had even forced their way in — yet did not stop them himself, instead requiring the Ninth Prince to come in person, it could only mean that whoever had come held a status so distinguished that even Yu Jingfeng dared not obstruct them.

Throughout all of Tianji Hall, Feng Jiu was likely the only one Yu Jingfeng would not dare to stop.

In the rear courtyard, a young palace maid and two guards stood protectively before the Empress Dowager. Not far in front of them, Feng Jiu struck Leng Yue down to the ground with a single palm strike.

“Yu Jingfeng, you mustn’t… you mustn’t let him act so recklessly!” Seeing Leng Yue cough up blood, the Empress Dowager’s face instantly drained of color, and she could barely catch her breath.

Yu Jingfeng also hurried forward to block Feng Jiu.

“Feng… young master, no matter what, let’s… let’s wait for the Prince to arrive and deal with this then, all right?”

Everyone found it utterly puzzling that Yu Jingfeng showed such respect toward this young intruder — even the Empress Dowager couldn’t understand it.

But the Empress Dowager was still gasping for breath, clearly badly frightened, which left Yu Jingfeng in a difficult position.

Judging by Feng Jiu’s expression, he clearly intended to take Leng Yue’s life. Naturally, Yu Jingfeng could not allow Feng Jiu to actually kill her. Yet, given how much favor the Prince showed Feng Jiu, he also dared not harm so much as a hair on Feng Jiu’s body.

Feng Jiu’s eyes were bloodshot red. Blocked by Yu Jingfeng, she said angrily, “Qiao, get him out of the way.”

Without a word, Qiao Mu struck out at Yu Jingfeng with a palm strike.

This strike carried the full force of his internal energy, holding nothing back — it was clear that even this Steward Qiao had grown angry.

Yu Jingfeng instinctively met the strike with one of his own, but in doing so, he was no longer able to keep blocking Feng Jiu.

Feng Jiu narrowed her eyes and swung a palm strike at Leng Yue, who had just managed to stand up.

This strike carried at least eighty percent of her true energy — so formidable, so solid!

Though she hadn’t used all her strength, given Leng Yue’s already injured body, this single strike would certainly be enough to take her life!

“Feng Jiu, show mercy!”

Yu Jingfeng was startled. A moment’s carelessness, and Qiao Mu’s palm force drove him back several steps, nearly causing him to lose his footing.

But Leng Yue’s life — he truly could not save it now!