The veiled lady within the palace — Xue Gu surely knew her, but Feng Jiu had no intention of pressing further.

If Xue Gu was unwilling to speak, it was certainly because she could not. To keep pressing would only yield a fabricated story. Xue Gu did not wish to deceive her, and she did not wish to put Xue Gu in a difficult position — so why press at all?

“Trust me — she will not harm you.” This was the one promise Xue Gu could make her. “I swear upon my life. She will absolutely not harm you.”

“You need not feel grateful toward her, but the Phoenix Nirvana truly is an opportunity for you to be reborn — and furthermore,” Xue Gu held Feng Jiu’s hand for a long moment before finally saying, “you no longer have any choice.”

……

That night, Feng Jiu’er dreamed a very long dream. In it, she was struck by the veiled lady’s palm and gravely wounded — yet for reasons she could not fathom, the veiled lady then went mad trying to save her.

Afterward, she seemed to fall from somewhere, plunging into a bottomless abyss. Then someone leapt down after her, drawing near.

But she could feel no warmth. The cold, icy abyss swallowed her whole.

She was truly so cold — cold enough that her entire body trembled, cold enough that even her blood felt as though it had frozen solid.

Just who was that woman? Why had she wounded her, only to save her? Why did Xue Gu trust her so completely? Why would even Xue Gu be willing to help her?

And yet, Feng Jiu’er seemed to sense, dimly, that someone Xue Gu trusted was someone she could trust as well.

But what was the basis for that trust?

Perhaps it was Xue Gu’s words — the oath sworn upon her own life?

Feng Jiu’er did not know, and could not reason it out. She only knew that her body was still trembling — until a pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around her and pulled her close.

Warmth gathered, little by little. Her body seemed to grow less cold, and gradually, she began to warm.

She opened her eyes, and at last could make out clearly the face of the one holding her.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle…”

“That fellow will accompany you to the Desolate Ruins. You depart tonight.” His voice could never learn softness, yet it carried warmth — only…

“The Desolate Ruins?” How would Ninth Imperial Uncle know about this?

Feng Jiu’er was so startled she jolted fully awake. She sat upright in his arms: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, who…”

No — besides Xue Gu, who else could it be?

But why had Xue Gu told Ninth Imperial Uncle?

“If Xue Gu hadn’t spoken, were you planning never to tell me?” Zhan Qingcheng let out a low grunt, and Feng Jiu’er immediately fell silent.

This matter had always been intended for Ninth Imperial Uncle to know — once he learned of it, he would certainly act accordingly.

“Does Ninth Imperial Uncle also believe I should go to that Desolate Ruins?” Such a dangerous place, yet he had agreed to let her go — that was truly somewhat astonishing.

Something wasn’t right. Ninth Imperial Uncle was always so proud of himself; he would never allow her to do anything even slightly risky. Yet today he was so forthcoming, even insisting she leave tonight?

Feng Jiu’er thought it over, and alarm bells immediately began ringing in her heart!

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you can’t be thinking of going with me, can you? From here to the Feng Clan’s lands is a long journey, and you are a prince of this kingdom — how could you possibly…”

“This prince is not going.” The words fell cold as ice.

Feng Jiu’er genuinely felt a wave of relief — and yet, genuinely felt her heart grow faintly sore, a small, uncomfortable ache.

Of course she could not let Ninth Imperial Uncle go. But when he spoke those words himself, she felt such a sense of loss.

Ah — women truly were a strange species. Whether one’s words contradicted one’s heart, or one’s heart contradicted one’s words, she herself could not sort it out.

But however one looked at it, the Ninth Prince ought not to leave the imperial capital.

Every faction was now gathered in the capital, each still biding their time. Even Emperor Qiwen was privately pulling allies to his side. Once the Ninth Prince left, no one could say what might unfold within these walls.

At this moment, the Ninth Prince absolutely could not leave — so there was nothing to feel sore about.

She gave a small nod, but still felt a little lost. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, have you ever been to the Feng Clan’s territory?”

She had always had a feeling — the Feng Clan’s land was very, very far away. No matter whose mouth the words came from, it sounded like a realm utterly beyond reach.

“I have not been there. However, the Feng Clan’s territory is not as far as you imagine. It is simply that the people of that region have always had little contact with outsiders, so everyone has come to see the Feng Clan as shrouded in mystery.”

Zhan Qingcheng settled onto the bed and pulled her into his arms in one motion, setting her upon his lap.

The posture was hardly proper. Feng Jiu’er made to climb down — but his next words drew her in completely.

“You carry the Phoenix Mark of the Feng Clan’s Phoenix Maiden upon your body. Why not seize this chance to visit the Feng Clan? You may discover secrets even you would never dare believe.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, what do you mean by that?” What sort of secret would be too unbelievable to accept? What secret?

“You mean — a treasure map?”

“A mere treasure holds no interest to me.” To him, even a treasure vast enough to overturn an empire was nothing but a dead object — something to be picked up and used whenever needed.

But her secret — that might truly be a priceless thing.

“You are nothing more than an ordinary woman of Bei Mu. Your mother was also from Bei Mu. Then why do you carry the Phoenix Mark of a Phoenix Maiden upon your body?”

Feng Jiu’er paused, suddenly recalling what the veiled lady had said.

Long Feiyan was not a Phoenix Maiden — which meant the Phoenix Mark she bore had not been passed down through Long Feiyan.

As for the Feng Family — that was even less possible. She could not explain exactly why, yet she felt certain: something as mysterious as the Phoenix Mark simply would not have come down through the Feng Family’s line.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, what do you actually know?”

“Nothing.”

“Hmph!” Could this fellow not simply speak plainly? Saying a little, then nothing at all — trying to piece it together was exhausting!

“I simply feel that someone as common as Feng Junzhuo could not have produced a daughter with your kind of spirit.”

His voice fell from somewhere above her head — perpetually calm and composed, carrying that cold quality born into it — and yet, was this tone not just a little too indulgent?

Feng Jiu’er felt her heart turn to mush. A man who did not know how to speak sweet words — even the slightest tenderness from him was enough to leave one utterly enchanted.

Especially when Ninth Imperial Uncle was so extraordinarily beautiful — more beautiful than the immortals themselves…

“It seems you have no intention whatsoever of puzzling out the meaning behind those words.”

A ripple of delight passed through the depths of Zhan Qingcheng’s eyes. The little girl in his arms was completely intoxicated, melting against him, soft and yielding.

Her pliant form, her dreamy eyes, the gentle parting of her lips — every detail breathed temptation, like a silent invitation.

His long fingers grazed across her lips. His large hand slid to the small of her back, and he suddenly lifted.

Feng Jiu’er felt her body press flush against Ninth Imperial Uncle’s in an instant. She blinked, not yet fully surfaced from that sweetness — and then Ninth Imperial Uncle’s face filled her vision, growing infinitely close…