“This prince already has a place selected.” Zhan Yuheng cast only a single glance at Feng Jiu’er before returning his gaze to the road ahead.

Seeing this, Feng Jiu’er had no choice but to ride alongside him in silence without asking further.

But a full quarter of an hour passed, the procession still moving forward, and the man beside her showed no sign of stopping.

Had this not been her own territory — had the lives of so many residents not depended on their protection — perhaps Feng Jiu’er would have left them to their own devices.

As it was, clearly, she could not simply walk away now.

She glanced sideways at Zhan Yuheng and asked quietly, “Might I ask where Your Highness has in mind? That is… is it far?”

Zhan Yuheng curved his lips faintly, yet he didn’t even look at Feng Jiu’er.

“General Feng — are you in a hurry?”

Feng Jiu’er looked at that profile and knitted her brow.

“Yes, I’m very busy.”

Was this not asking the obvious? He had agreed to seven days, and on the very first day he brought people into the city — of course she was busy.

“Qing Yun told me that General Feng would certainly grant me this courtesy, so I came.” Zhan Yuheng said in a light tone.

A chill ran down Qing Yun’s spine up ahead. He gave a soft cough and could only pretend he hadn’t heard.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and nodded. “Of course. Your Highness was willing to give my army seven days — I couldn’t very well deny you this courtesy.”

“I simply worry that things may not be as straightforward as they appear, and that someone may end up breaking their word again before long.”

When Zhan Yuheng glanced sideways, Feng Jiu’er had already looked away from him and fixed her gaze ahead.

“You have so little faith in me?”

With that, Zhan Yuheng’s “this prince” had finally given way to “I.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and shook her head.

“It isn’t a matter of faith, Your Highness. Don’t you feel that bringing people into the city to recuperate at this particular moment is… rather inappropriate?”

“We are about to go to battle, and yet here we are, strolling leisurely down the streets as if we were old friends.”

“Furthermore, you are placing someone so important in my territory — I would then have to find people to protect her. Where would I find the time for that?”

No sooner had she finished than Feng Jiu’er shook her head again.

“In any case, whichever way I look at it, this doesn’t seem as simple as a recuperation visit.”

“If I say it really is only a recuperation visit, you still don’t believe me?” Zhan Yuheng looked at Feng Jiu’er and asked softly.

“I believe you.” Feng Jiu’er met his gaze and nodded earnestly. “But I’m not at ease.”

“If something were to happen to your person while she is here with me, and you grew angry and immediately led troops in — how would I explain myself?”

“How about this, Your Highness — why don’t you see if you can stay behind to personally care for your own person? I’m worried that even without me lifting a finger, she might still end up getting hurt.”

It was not worry — it was certainty. Feng Qingyin would absolutely pull tricks.

“Feng Jiu’er — what is the meaning of that?” Suddenly, Feng Qingyin’s voice rang out.

Feng Jiu’er glanced back, raised an eyebrow, and could not be bothered to engage — she looked away again.

By the sound of her voice, strong and full, did she seem ill? Perhaps only her man would be taken in by it.

“Feng Jiu’er, even now you still love to speak ill of others behind their backs?”

Ignoring Lingling’s attempts to stop her, Feng Qingyin stepped out of the carriage.

“Miss, the wind is strong out here — please go back inside.” Lingling stood behind her and draped a robe over her shoulders.

Looking at the man and woman before her, Feng Qingyin stamped her foot and retreated to a wooden chair set to the side and sat down.

“Lingling, lift the curtains.” She drew a deep breath and murmured.

The carriage had been some distance behind them at the start — Feng Jiu’er hadn’t even noticed when it had caught up.

She wasn’t speaking ill of anyone behind their back — she was saying it right to their face. Was that not perfectly fine? Still, she felt just a little guilty.

She stole a sideways glance at the man beside her and kept her voice as low as she could manage. “I wonder, Your Highness, what are your thoughts?”

“If you were to personally stay behind and look after your own person, I would be most grateful.”

Either way, there were truly seven days — and her current troop strength had already fallen behind his by a considerable margin. Without reinforcements, the consequences would be dire.

“So you mean to say, during these days — you would personally keep me company?”

Zhan Yuheng’s words made Feng Jiu’er’s eyes widen involuntarily.

But before she could respond, Feng Qingyin’s voice rang out again.

“Crown Prince brother, I don’t want her keeping you company! Crown Prince brother, I don’t want that!”

That voice was shrill — though not exactly unpleasant to the ear. Still, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t bring herself to like it.

“Your Highness, surely you’re joking. If I were there, your person certainly wouldn’t be able to recuperate in peace.” Feng Jiu’er shrugged, a helpless look on her face.

“Still, I do hope you’ll remain. I can only provide lodgings — I cannot guarantee anything beyond that.”

Feng Jiu’er couldn’t be bothered to squabble with Feng Qingyin, so she kept her voice low.

But the carriage was forced to follow close behind them, and Feng Qingyin still heard her words clearly.

“Feng Jiu’er, do you think I actually want to come here? If not for my Crown Prince brother insisting, I would never set foot in your wretched place.”

Feng Qingyin peered out, her disdain evident.

“I am your elder sister, after all. I am nearly losing this child, and you are still slandering me — do you truly hope to see me die in front of your eyes before you’ll be at ease?”

“Miss, don’t get agitated.” Lingling’s anxious voice drifted out. “Please go back and lie down.”

“Yes, Miss, please don’t get angry.” The maid’s voice also carried over.

But Feng Qingyin went on talking regardless, and no one could stop her.

Feng Jiu’er stared ahead and did her best to shut the noise out.

After a while, she finally saw Qing Yun up ahead turn onto another road. She spurred her horse and caught up.

“Qing Yun, where exactly have you chosen?”

“Biyun Mountain Water Pavilion.” Qing Yun looked at Feng Jiu’er and replied quietly.

“Biyun Mountain Water Pavilion?” Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow. “Is it… far?”

It was her first time in Mo City. How was she to know her way around?

“Not far.” Qing Yun shook his head. “Straight ahead from here. At our current pace, roughly two more quarter-hours.”

“Another two quarter-hours?” Feng Jiu’er’s brow drew tighter. “That’s so far — and you call it not far?”

Qing Yun glanced sideways at her again.

“It’s actually not that far. If we rode at full gallop, we could reach the city gates in one quarter-hour.”

Feng Jiu’er composed herself and nodded.

Half an hour of riding already, and another half hour to go — though at a full gallop, it was considerably faster.

Her furrowed brow gradually eased. She glanced back for just a moment, then returned her gaze to Qing Yun.

“Qing Yun, may I ask you something?”

“Miss Jiu’er, please speak.” Qing Yun bowed with cupped fists.

Feng Jiu’er rode closer to him and kept her voice as low as possible. “Qing Yun, do you know whether His Highness intends to stay?”

Qing Yun met her gaze and shook his head.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and exhaled softly, raising her eyes to look at the dark clouds gathering overhead.

Can it truly not be avoided?