“You mean to say that we…” Ye Luosha looked at Emperor Ji, her brow knitting together.

Ye Luosha had never been fond of Feng Jiu’er to begin with. After her Mu’er recovered his memories, he appeared to feel nothing in particular toward Feng Jiu’er on the surface.

But she had raised him for so many years — she could not be completely without some idea of what he was truly thinking.

Now it was no longer simply a matter between two brothers and one woman. Feng Jiu’er had even begun to influence A’Jiu’s decisions. This was unforgivable.

“Be silent!” Emperor Ji cut Ye Luosha off with a firm, low voice.

He swept a glance around at their surroundings, let out a soft sigh, and then let his gaze return to Ye Luosha.

“Have you forgotten A’Jiu’s warning? How can you be so careless?”

“Adoptive Father, are you saying Feng Jiu’er has truly become formidable now? How can that be possible?” Leng Yue’s brow was furrowed so deeply it could have pinched a fly to death.

“Can she truly have mastered some peerless divine skill?”

“Feng Jiu’er’s martial arts are indeed very powerful right now, but…”

“Silence!” Emperor Ji struck the armrest of his wheelchair and cut Ye Luosha off a second time. “Go — have the brother who delivered the letter just now come in.”

“Yes, Adoptive Father.” Though deeply unwilling in her heart, Leng Yue had no choice but to give a nod, turn, and walk out.

Feng Jiu’er had truly mastered a peerless divine skill? With her level of talent, how was that even possible?

And yet even Adoptive Father and Senior Ye said so — which meant that, in all likelihood, it was the truth.

How could Feng Jiu’er’s fortunes be so good? They had exhausted every means at their disposal and still could not kill her!

Now she had gone and mastered a divine skill on top of everything else. Did that mean the position of the Lord’s wife was truly destined to belong to none other than Feng Jiu’er?

Leng Yue was sick to her very core. Even when she returned with the brother in tow, her head remained bowed, as though she were calculating something.

“Old Lord.” The brother who entered was a member of Tianzun Sect.

“Who delivered the letter just now?” Emperor Ji asked in a low, measured voice.

“It was a bird — it appeared to be the bird Miss Jiu’er had given to the Lord.” The brother replied softly.

The moment the two characters “Jiu’er” reached his ears, Emperor Ji’s expression grew even darker.

“Old Lord, is there anything you require?” The brother clasped his fists and asked.

“Nothing. You are dismissed.” Emperor Ji suppressed the fury on his face and waved his hand.

“Yes, Old Lord.” The brother gave a nod, turned, and left.

“So it really was…”

“See me to my chambers to rest.” Emperor Ji cut off Leng Yue’s words with a flat, indifferent voice.

Leng Yue furrowed her brow and glanced toward the door.

The others had already left — why would Adoptive Father not let her continue?

Without waiting for Leng Yue to ask further, Emperor Ji’s voice sounded again: “Did A’Jiu not just bring up the matter of New Year celebrations? I am not in good health — follow up on that matter for me.”

Emperor Ji looked toward Ye Luosha; Ye Luosha met his gaze, furrowed her brow slightly, and gave a nod.

“Mm — you rest well.”

With that, Ye Luosha and Elder Shi turned and left.

Leng Yue glanced at the two departing figures, then turned her head back, her gaze settling on Emperor Ji.

“Adoptive Father, that Feng Jiu’er clearly deserves to die — why did you not let me finish?”

“Whether Feng Jiu’er deserves to die or not is not for you to decide! From this day forward, this matter is not to be raised again.” Emperor Ji fixed Leng Yue with a stern look of warning.

“Come — see me to my chambers to rest.”

No matter who the matter involved, Emperor Ji had long since been disappointed in Leng Yue.

At this point, even if he truly had some plan in mind, he would never allow Leng Yue to be part of it — lest she ruin the entire affair.

Sensing Emperor Ji’s disappointment, Leng Yue immediately reined in her temper.

“Adoptive Father, I am sorry. Yue’er knows what she should do and what she should not — from now on, she will not step out of line again.”

“Please do not give up on Yue’er. Yue’er will become the Yue’er you hope her to be.”

Leng Yue pressed her lips together lightly, stepped behind Emperor Ji, and pushed him out the door.

All of this — every last bit of it — was because of Feng Jiu’er. Every time she was brought up, Leng Yue found she could not even keep control of herself.

As much as Leng Yue loved Zhan Qingcheng, she hated Feng Jiu’er by exactly the same measure. She wished every moment she could rid the world of Feng Jiu’er.

Seeing Adoptive Father and Senior Ye’s displeasure with Feng Jiu’er, she ought to have felt happy.

Stepping out of the great hall, Leng Yue lifted her gaze to the sunlight overhead, and a wicked smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

As for why Zhan Qingcheng had left so abruptly — it was just as everyone had suspected.

Not far from Phoenix City’s gate, a horse-drawn carriage and several horses were drawing steadily closer.

“Brother, we are nearly at Phoenix City, are we not?” Zhao Xiaoxiao looked at the vast expanse of farmland ahead, barely able to contain her excitement.

“Mm.” Zhao Yusheng slowed his pace, glanced sideways at Zhao Xiaoxiao, and nodded.

“This is Phoenix City’s territory. Pass through this stretch of farmland and you will reach the city gate. Xiaoxiao, remember what you promised your brother — you must absolutely…”

“Wonderful! I can hardly wait to go in and take a look!”

Zhao Xiaoxiao gave a pull on her reins and urged her horse into a faster gait, thoroughly ignoring everything her brother had just said.

“Xiaoxiao.” Zhao Yusheng called out lightly.

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoxiao paid him no mind whatsoever, he could only shake his head and look back at the brothers who had come along.

“Go and keep watch over your young mistress. When we enter the city, make sure to go in together.”

“Yes.” Two brothers gave a simultaneous nod and urged their horses to catch up with Zhao Xiaoxiao.

Zhao Yusheng turned back and came alongside the carriage.

“Jiu’er, how is Jian Yi doing? We are almost at the city.”

“Almost there?” Feng Jiu’er lifted the curtain and poked her head out. “Jian Yi has me keeping an eye on him — he is doing wonderfully.”

“Let us pick up the pace a little — I am absolutely starving. When we get back to the city, I simply must have a proper meal.”

“Same here.” Xiao Yingtao also popped her head out of the carriage and looked at Zhao Yusheng. “I am starving too.”

“If Jian Yi’s condition allows for it, then let us pick up the pace.” Zhao Yusheng gave a nod and shifted his gaze to the brother serving as coachman.

The brother glanced over at Zhao Yusheng and gave a nod. “Understood, Young Master.”

Feng Jiu’er stood up, stretched leisurely, and looked around left and right, her gaze coming to rest on the rear right.

“Zhuiyue.”

A white horse from alongside the carriage let out a neigh and came bounding over.

“Jian Yi, rest on your own for a while — I am going to spend some time with my Zhuiyue.”

With those words barely out of her mouth, Feng Jiu’er leapt into the air, and in the blink of an eye she had landed on Zhuiyue’s back.

Her speed, and her utterly captivating poise, left more than a few onlookers in a daze.

Zhao Yusheng looked at the young woman now beside him and curved his lips in a faint smile.

“Jiu’er’s lightness skill seems to have improved quite a bit.”

“Only quite a bit?” Feng Jiu’er shot Zhao Yusheng a sideways look and furrowed her brow slightly. “It has been progress at a breathtaking pace.”

“I already feel a little like one of our birds — fly when I want to fly, stop when I want to stop. It will not be long before I am more agile than even a swallow.”

Feng Jiu’er looked back toward the carriage, her cheerful voice continuing: “Xiao Yingtao, I am leaving Jian Yi in your care.”

“I am already so eager to get into the city. I…”

Before Feng Jiu’er could finish, she seemed to sense something, and her gaze snapped up to look far ahead.

Not only her — even Zhuiyue became instantly animated with excitement.

“Zhuiyue — go.”

Feng Jiu’er gave a tug on the reins, and Zhuiyue broke into a light, swift gait, speeding forward.