“But who exactly were those assassins? You said they weren’t skilled, meaning their martial arts were far inferior to yours — yet you still suffered a Gu Poison flare-up…”

Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help but bite her own finger. These questions — she still couldn’t work them out.

“Could it be that those assassins are connected to the Gu Poison in your body?”

The man resting in her arms gave no response. His breathing was long and even — it seemed he had already fallen asleep.

Surely not. Half a minute ago he had still been talking to her. How could half a minute have passed and he was already asleep?

“Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er called out softly. Still not a single reaction from him.

She gave him a gentle nudge, and with great effort, managed to push him off her lap.

She lowered her head for a glance — and Jiu’er’s face flushed a vivid red in an instant, crimson all the way to the tips of her ears.

He had no clothes on, and yet just now he had been sleeping in her arms the entire time — just like a son of hers.

Such a tall, handsome, and devastatingly charming son. How utterly shameful…

She finally got him settled back onto the jade pillow. Feng Jiu’er immediately scrambled to dress herself in a flurry, putting on every layer until she was covered head to toe.

Only then did she let out a breath of relief, turning her head to look at the man sleeping so soundly.

He really was extraordinarily handsome. She had never seen a man this strikingly good-looking — whether it was the lines of his face, the contours of his brows, or his features as a whole, there was simply not a single flaw anywhere.

Feng Jiu’er had never believed perfection was a real thing — yet on Ninth Imperial Uncle’s person, she found herself believing in it.

She climbed off the bed with the lightest of steps, then pulled the quilt over Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Ninth Imperial Uncle’s sleeping expression was serene and content, and watching him, she had the strange sense of a man fully satisfied — he truly looked like a child.

Feng Jiu’er’s maternal instincts nearly overflowed. Fortunately, just as she was on the verge of flinging herself at him, she forced herself to hold back.

No wonder Empress Rong had harbored improper intentions toward Ninth Imperial Uncle for so many years. A Ninth Imperial Uncle like this — what woman could withstand his charm?

She wondered what sort of uniquely exceptional young woman, one in ten thousand, could ever be worthy of her most perfect and incomparably beautiful Ninth Imperial Uncle.

She walked out of the room. Yu Jingfeng was keeping watch in the courtyard, and upon seeing her, he came forward at once.

“Miss Jiu’er, how is His Highness?”

“His pulse has steadied somewhat. He’s already asleep, though he looks very exhausted.”

Yu Jingfeng clenched his jaw, his large hand balling into a fist. “It’s all that wretched Gu Poison!”

“Master Yu,” Feng Jiu’er glanced around.

Yu Jingfeng immediately said, “There is no one nearby. Miss Jiu’er, speak freely.”

“Were the assassins from tonight caught? Including the two we encountered on the back mountain?”

“That…” Yu Jingfeng seemed somewhat hesitant. After all, this was the kind of matter that could only be discussed with His Highness — she was just a young girl.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle said that tonight’s assassins were not particularly skilled. So why was he driven to a Gu Poison flare-up?”

Yu Jingfeng paused, momentarily taken aback. Considering that His Highness had been willing to share these matters with Miss Jiu’er, it seemed he had no intention of concealing them from her.

He said in a low voice, “The assassins may not have been highly skilled in martial arts, but they are well-versed in the poisons of the Southern Tribes. Tonight, His Highness’s Gu Poison was triggered by the assassins’ poison scorpions.”

“They infiltrated Longwu Academy?” Feng Jiu’er’s palm tightened. “Or are you saying — Longwu Academy has their spies?”

“Shh.” Yu Jingfeng made a silencing gesture and said quietly, “This imperial academy has, in truth, always harbored spies from enemy nations — and from more than one.”

“We have been eliminating them, investigating them. Miss Jiu’er need not worry, and please, do not startle the snake by disturbing the grass.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, looking at him. “Does this mean that every year, spies slip in among the new students?”