“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Sensing someone draw near, Feng Jiu’er’s eyelashes fluttered, though she could not quite open her eyes.

Jian Yi’s lips curved ever so slightly. The hand he had just reached out was caught and held by the half-asleep girl.

Feng Jiu’er clasped Jian Yi’s hand and pressed it against her heart.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, don’t go!” She pouted her lips, her face full of grievance. “Don’t go! I miss you.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I miss you so much. Jiu’er misses you terribly. Are you… doing well right now?”

Through all these days of wandering and hardship, the news Feng Jiu’er had been able to receive from Phoenix City was almost nothing — yet she knew with absolute certainty that the battle there was fierce beyond measure.

She missed him. She missed him terribly. And yet, what could she do? She was bound to Mo City and Yamu City, with no chance to break away, even for a moment.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, what are you doing right now? Do you think of me?”

She pouted again, and at the corners of Feng Jiu’er’s eyes, tears glimmered like dewdrops.

“You must take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself get hurt. Remember to eat on time. Don’t forget to rest…”

Feng Jiu’er tightened her grip on Jian Yi’s large hand, her soft lips murmuring quietly.

“I’m all right. Jian Yi and I are both fine.”

“But the brothers can’t hold the line much longer. Ninth Imperial Uncle, the truth is I’m frightened too. I really am.”

“Frightened of failing you — of failing the brothers who trust me, and the soldiers and civilians of Yamu City.”

“They believe in me so completely. If I can’t drive the Crown Prince’s forces away, if I let them fall back into misery and suffering — what then?”

“No. I can’t allow it. They have pledged their loyalty to me, which makes them my people. How could I let them suffer?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, can you hear me speaking to you? I so badly want to hear your voice — even just one word would be enough.”

“Little one.” Jian Yi reached out his other hand and ruffled Feng Jiu’er’s hair gently.

The tenderness in his eyes was deeper than it had ever been.

Over all this time, Jian Yi had always admired Feng Jiu’er.

He admired her medical skill, which far surpassed that of ordinary people. He admired her capacity to embrace and accept others. He admired her courage.

As they spent more and more time together, he had come to realize that none of this was what she truly wanted. Perhaps all she had ever wished for was an ordinary life.

And yet, in this age of war and upheaval, such a life simply did not exist.

In order to survive this turbulent world, she had no choice but to arm herself and fight for a place to stand.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er gripped Jian Yi’s hand with all her strength, clinging tight, unwilling to let go even a little.

She thought she had heard the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s voice. Had he — had he truly come?

Just to hear his voice, just to feel his warmth — even that was enough to fill Feng Jiu’er’s heart with contentment.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, did you really come?” She smiled softly and asked.

Jian Yi’s lips curved slightly again, and he gave her little head another gentle ruffle.

“Mm, I’m here.”

Jian Yi’s voice was low and restrained, yet pleasing to the ear — and carried a rich, resonant warmth.

In Feng Jiu’er’s own words, his voice, like Zhan Qingcheng’s, was the kind that could make a person’s heart flutter just from listening.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er clasped Jian Yi’s large hand and curled onto her side, drawing her whole body inward, tucking it close against herself like a small animal seeking warmth.

“I miss you so much. Truly, so very much. Don’t leave. Please?”

“Jiu’er misses you so terribly. Don’t leave anymore. Never leave again.”

“Mm.” Jian Yi’s large hand came to rest once more on the girl’s head with a gentle pat, and even his voice softened until it was extraordinarily tender. “I’m not going anywhere. Rest now.”

Feng Jiu’er, still clasping the man’s hand, gave a small nod, then turned over and sank back into sleep.

This sleep was deep and sweet.

In the dream, he had returned.

With him at her side, Feng Jiu’er felt a peace settle over her unlike any other — so much so that she was almost reluctant to wake.

In the end, it was her own internal sense of time that roused her.

Before the third watch of the night, she stirred, and slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Jian Yi’s handsome face. Feng Jiu’er blinked, then abruptly released his hand.

“Jian Yi, why are you…”

She looked at the distance between the two of them, and it seemed to dawn on her why she had felt as though the Ninth Imperial Uncle had come back to her.

Could it be that she had mistaken Jian Yi for the Ninth Imperial Uncle in her sleep and spent the entire night clinging to his hand and calling him “Ninth Imperial Uncle”?

“Jiu’er, it’s nearly time. The brothers need to get ready to move out.” Before Feng Jiu’er could say anything more, Huo Baixue’s voice came in from outside.

Feng Jiu’er sat up and glanced toward the tent entrance.

“All right. Let them come in.”

With that single remark, she took hold of Jian Yi’s arm and helped him back to his proper seat.

“Jian Yi, I’m sorry. I lost track of time and kept you over here — you must be…”

“My legs have gone rather numb.” Jian Yi’s lips quirked faintly, and he glanced down at his own legs.

There was no need for Jian Yi to say anything more. Feng Jiu’er had already guessed most of it.

“You fool! If I was holding on to you, you could have just let go and moved away on your own.”

With a sideways look at Jian Yi, Feng Jiu’er crouched down and began checking the condition of his legs.

When Huo Baixue lifted the tent flap and stepped inside first, Feng Jiu’er was crouched behind the writing desk — only the back of her head visible above it.

Jian Yi sat on the long couch behind the desk, his gaze lowered toward the young woman in front of him.

Huo Baixue, not yet understanding the situation, glanced inside, then turned sideways and held out an arm to stop the brothers who were filing in behind her.

“Miss, what’s going on?” one of the brothers who had entered asked softly.

Hearing the voices from outside, Feng Jiu’er said lightly, “You can start packing up. Jian Yi’s legs are a little numb — I’m just giving them a rub.”

“That’s not necessary.” Jian Yi enclosed Feng Jiu’er’s hands in his and drew her gently to her feet.

He had only meant to sit still for a while and had not expected that even something so minor would have her tending to him.

For all this time she had been the one taking care of him — had she forgotten that she was supposed to be the one giving the orders?

“Are you sure it’s not needed?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the man before her and pressed her lips together.

She genuinely didn’t know how long she had kept his hand and made him stay in that position — giving him a rub was hardly anything at all.

“Truly not needed.” Jian Yi shook his head.

He gave Feng Jiu’er’s head one more ruffle, then stood.

Feng Jiu’er gave a small “oh,” then turned to look at the two figures hovering at the tent entrance, heads turned to the side.

“Baixue, the brothers can come in and pack up now.”

Looking at the two of them and their postures — they couldn’t possibly think they had witnessed something they shouldn’t have, could they?

Between her and Jian Yi, how could there possibly be anything of that sort?

Feng Jiu’er shook her head, put the thought aside, and turned to gather her own belongings.

Huo Baixue gave a light cough, and by the time she turned back, Jian Yi had already returned to the bedside.

“Jiu’er, do you need any help?” She coughed once more and walked over.

“Not really. There wasn’t much to begin with.” Feng Jiu’er replied softly.

“I’ve come up with some new strategies. Why don’t you ride in the carriage with me later and we can talk them over together — how does that sound?”

When Feng Jiu’er looked up, she caught Huo Baixue glancing once at Jian Yi before letting her gaze settle back on her — something flickering in her eyes.

“What is it?” she asked, puzzled.

“Nothing.” Huo Baixue met her gaze and shook her head. “If it’s no trouble, we can ride in the same carriage then.”