“Xiao Yingtao, are you really alright?” Huo Baixue also tugged at Xiao Yingtao’s sleeve and asked.

Ever since they’d learned that morning that Feng Jiu’er would be attending the banquet tonight, Huo Baixue’s heart hadn’t settled down once.

She never expected that, before the meal had even begun, something nearly went wrong.

When Linglong had suddenly turned with her sword drawn earlier, Huo Baixue had tried to pull Xiao Yingtao back, but had grasped only empty air.

Watching as the long sword was about to pierce through Xiao Yingtao’s body, she’d had no way to stop it.

Fortunately, Jiu’er had arrived in time.

At this moment, Huo Baixue’s heart had finally settled somewhat.

With Jiu’er present, no one here could match her—she could finally feel at ease.

“I’m fine.” Xiao Yingtao shook her head. “It was my own carelessness that worried everyone—I’m sorry!”

“It’s not your fault, it’s…” Huo Baixue turned her head to glance at the figure still hanging in the tree not far away.

“It’s that woman who’s too cunning—just like her mistress.”

“If it weren’t for your worry that woman might hurt Jiu’er, and you rushing in too hastily, she might not have found such an opening.”

“Jiu’er is right, we won’t be coming to this kind of banquet trap again.” Glancing once more at the figure in the tree, Huo Baixue snorted coldly.

With Jiu’er around, what did it matter if he was the Crown Prince? What did it matter who was the Crown Princess, or whatever messy nonsense involving that Consort?

Xiao Yingtao also glanced at that tree, and as she turned back, a proud, teasing smile spread across her face.

“It’s a good thing our Jiu’er is so formidable—one kick sent her flying that far.” Looking at Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao gave a thumbs up.

“Jiu’er, you’re truly amazing! No wonder you’re our leader.”

“And now you’re flattering me too. We’ve been busy all day and haven’t eaten a thing—we need to go have a proper feast and reward ourselves.”

“Right, we absolutely need a proper feast.” Huo Baixue replied with a smile.

“Jiu’er, I want some duck blood porridge. I got a bit of a fright just now, my blood feels a little low,” Xiao Yingtao said softly, rubbing her forehead.

“How about I give you some lingzhi? It nourishes the blood and is good for the complexion.” Seeing Xiao Yingtao still able to joke around, Feng Jiu’er also felt reassured.

“That sounds good, but for now let’s get the duck blood porridge first—I’m hungry.” Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Duck blood porridge it is, then.”

The three women chatted and laughed together, entirely ignoring the people and events behind them.

“Crown Prince Brother.” Feng Qingyin “struggled” to her feet and walked toward Zhan Yuheng. “Crown Prince Brother, Feng Jiu’er slandered me, she threatened me.”

“Crown Prince Brother, Feng Jiu’er…”

Before Feng Qingyin could finish speaking, Zhan Yuheng, his gaze fixed entirely on Feng Jiu’er and his mood clearly good, strode forward.

“Jiu’er.”

Hearing his cheerful, low call, Feng Qingyin’s outstretched hand froze in midair, unable to draw back for a long while.

Was he really going to be this heartless?

“Jiu’er, can you take me along with you? I’d like to try the authentic local cuisine here too,” Zhan Yuheng asked, stopping not far behind Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er, having just stopped at the sound of his voice, turned to look at Zhan Yuheng.

Catching sight from the corner of her eye of Feng Qingyin’s expression—as if she’d swallowed a dead fly—the resentment in Feng Jiu’er’s heart finally eased.

She had never wanted to compete with Feng Qingyin in the first place—it was Feng Qingyin who kept fixating on her relentlessly. She couldn’t be blamed for not holding back any longer.

“What’s the problem with that? You’re the Crown Prince, you make the call.”

Dropping that line, Feng Jiu’er turned and continued forward with her two good sisters.

Watching the man’s brisk, light footsteps move further away from her, and listening to those wretched girls’ mocking laughter, Feng Qingyin took deep breath after deep breath.

In the end, the anger surged so violently through her that she truly couldn’t keep her footing, and she collapsed.

“Miss Qingyin.”

“Miss Qingyin.”

In the courtyard, the anxious voices of the Imperial Physician and maids rang out, but Zhan Yuheng still didn’t look back.

Linglong, having finally regained some of her senses, tried to sit up in the tree.

A branch let out a “crack,” followed by a “thud” as something heavy fell to the ground.

The three women, just about to leave through the courtyard gate, turned back at the same moment to look, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Feng Qingyin’s fury burned, yet she was too angry to even faint properly.

She watched, eyes wide, as Zhan Yuheng followed Feng Jiu’er out of the courtyard.

“The Crown Prince has been led away by that enchantress, and you’re still not going after him?”

“Qingyun, hurry! Bring the Crown Prince back, or none of our brothers will be able to survive this.”

“Feng Jiu’er is an enchantress, Feng Jiu’er is an enchantress, it’s she who has bewitched the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince is going to be ruined!”

Watching Zhan Yuheng’s abnormal behavior, Qingyun stood stunned for a moment before reacting.

What exactly was wrong with the Crown Prince? Was Feng Jiu’er really an enchantress? Otherwise, how else could one explain the Crown Prince’s strange conduct?

Qingyun was well aware of Zhan Yuheng’s feelings for Feng Jiu’er—if he hadn’t longed for her so desperately, he wouldn’t have fallen for Feng Qingyin’s scheme in the first place.

Qingyun ached for his master, but he was even more worried about his future.

If the Crown Prince continued down this obsessive path, not only would he harm their brothers, he might also lose his own life because of it.

“Qingyun, come here!” Suddenly, Feng Qingyin’s voice rang out again.

Qingyun stopped in his tracks, glancing back, torn between two choices.

“Come here! For the sake of our brothers, for the sake of the Crown Prince, come here.”

Feng Qingyin’s weakness at this moment was genuinely not feigned—Feng Jiu’er hadn’t needed to do anything at all, and Zhan Yuheng had still followed her away. How could she not be furious?

Qingyun hesitated for a moment, then turned and went back.

Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, and Huo Baixue mounted their horses and left, with Zhan Yuheng also mounting a horse and following behind them.

The person behind her said nothing, and Feng Jiu’er had no wish to acknowledge him either.

Angering Feng Qingyin was exactly what she’d wanted—she just hadn’t expected Zhan Yuheng would actually leave with them.

With one more person added to the group, she now had no idea whether she’d even have time tonight to properly eat, let alone handle her usual work.

After leaving the water pavilion and returning to the main street, Feng Jiu’er never once looked back, though she was well aware the person behind was still following.

By the time they reached the area where their army camp was, Zhan Yuheng was still naturally trailing behind Feng Jiu’er and the others.

Seeing the Crown Prince, many were astonished, but since Feng Jiu’er was also present, no one dared ask too many questions.

Back at the inn, Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, and Huo Baixue dismounted, and several guards came forward to greet them.

“Miss Jiu’er.” One guard called out softly, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the figure behind Feng Jiu’er.

“It’s fine.” Patting the horse lightly, Feng Jiu’er handed the reins over to the guard.

At this moment, aside from Qiao Mu, who was still recuperating, everyone else had gone out to attend to matters.

After handing over their horses, Xiao Yingtao and Huo Baixue walked into the inn together.

Left behind, Feng Jiu’er turned to look at Zhan Yuheng, who was leading his horse.

“Do you know how many people here want your life?” she asked, meeting his gaze, frowning.

Zhan Yuheng stared at her without blinking, shook his head, then nodded.

“Jiu’er, how are the meal preparations going? I’m hungry.”