Hearing the Ninth Prince’s cheerful words, the brothers stopped worrying.

Spurred on by Long Shiyi, everyone shouted in unison: “We wish the Prince and Princess Consort an early child and a long life together, growing old side by side!”

“We wish the Prince and Princess Consort an early child and a long life together, growing old side by side!”

Zhao Xiaoxiao, who had only just managed to recover from being dazzled by Zhan Qingcheng’s beauty, sat on her horse watching the departing figures and shook her head.

“No wonder Jiu’er isn’t your woman, Eldest Brother. So it turns out her man is the Ninth Prince.”

“Losing to the Ninth Prince — surely you can accept it gracefully, Eldest Brother? The man is gorgeous and has accomplished so much, whereas you, on the other hand…”

Just as Zhao Xiaoxiao turned her head, she met Zhao Yusheng’s gaze and immediately fell silent.

She gave a light cough and said in a low voice, “I… was just stating facts, Eldest Brother…”

“Who exactly is your eldest brother?” Zhao Yusheng glanced at her, brows knitting slightly.

“You, of course,” Zhao Xiaoxiao said without hesitation. “But…”

“As long as you know I’m your eldest brother, that’s enough. Don’t talk too much nonsense, or I might consider sending you back right now!”

Tossing out that one line, Zhao Yusheng pulled his horse’s reins and caught up with the carriage that had just passed.

Watching his retreating back, Zhao Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow lightly.

“Stingy! Won’t even let someone else speak the truth.”

She gave a cold huff, then obediently followed after him.

Zhan Qingcheng and Feng Jiu’er moved forward amid everyone’s congratulations, their pace neither rushed nor slow, walking at the very front.

Once the people behind them quieted down, Feng Jiu’er finally gave the long arm wrapped around her waist a shove.

“Who’s your princess consort? Don’t you go letting the brothers say whatever they please!”

“You, Feng Jiu’er, are my princess consort — this prince’s only consort.” Zhan Qingcheng’s arm tightened slightly around Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er, who had been full of indignation just a moment ago, found all her anger melting away the instant he said the word “only.”

She wanted so badly to marry him — wanted to right now. But was marriage really such a simple thing?

“I never said I’d marry you,” said the woman held tight in the man’s arms, her words at odds with her true feelings.

She bit her lip, seeming to recall something, and turned to glare up at the man behind her.

“Why did you send my father away? I haven’t settled accounts with you for that yet, and now that I’m back, you still want to take advantage of me?”

“Girl.” Zhan Qingcheng lowered his eyes to look at the woman in his arms, the corner of his mouth curling into an unreadable smile. “This prince has wanted to take advantage of you for quite some time.”

Meeting the man’s gaze, Feng Jiu’er’s eyes went wide.

She took a deep breath before she came to her senses, reached out, and thumped his broad chest.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you take advantage of me, you… what nonsense are you spouting?”

Zhan Qingcheng caught her small hand and pressed it against his own heart.

He curved his lips slightly and said nothing more.

Meeting his rather suggestive gaze, Feng Jiu’er frowned, her pink lips pursed up high.

She yanked her hand free from his grip with effort, gave him a shove, and turned to walk forward.

But her body was once again held captive.

In his warm embrace, her anger always seemed to dissolve on its own.

And besides, aside from the matter of her father, she didn’t really have much else to be angry about.

Recalling the man’s words from before, Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, her small face flushing slightly.

This fellow — actually spouting nonsense with such a straight face. It was infuriating, but wasn’t it also rather adorable?

“Why did you send my father away?” After a moment of silence, Feng Jiu’er asked flatly.

“He insisted on leaving. This prince tried to persuade him to stay, but failed,” Zhan Qingcheng’s gentle voice fell over the top of Feng Jiu’er’s head.

Ninth Imperial Uncle was being far too unusual today. She had clearly been deliberately questioning him, and yet he still patiently explained himself — most unusual!

Feng Jiu’er gave a light cough and turned to meet his gaze, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re not hiding something from me, are you?”

What had started as a mere suspicion turned into a furrowed brow once she got a clear look at Ninth Imperial Uncle’s expression.

“Zhan Qingcheng, you wouldn’t really be hiding something from me, would you?”

“What did you just call this prince?” The man lowered his eyes to the woman in his arms, his thick brows furrowing slightly.

Sensing that his mood had turned somewhat heavy, Feng Jiu’er glanced at him, then looked away, turning her gaze forward.

“Girl, what did you call this prince?” Zhan Qingcheng’s deep voice rang out again.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle,” Feng Jiu’er muttered, her voice barely audible.

Who knew what he might do if she kept ignoring him — there were so many people around, and while she cared about that, he never seemed to.

Taking a deep breath, Feng Jiu’er asked in a low voice, “What exactly are you hiding from me?”

“Could it be my father wasn’t actually sent to Qiangu Prefecture? Or have you done something to wrong me?”

Wanting to turn around yet not wanting to, wanting to leave yet unable to — at this moment Feng Jiu’er felt like a kitten held captive yet unwilling to admit defeat, somewhat driven to distraction.

Unfortunately, the one holding her captive was a lion, and what could one little kitten possibly accomplish?

“Stop guessing. You’ll find out soon enough,” Zhan Qingcheng replied softly.

Feng Jiu’er grabbed at his powerful arm and pushed against it, then gave up again.

Pushing hard might not be entirely without a chance of success, but with someone holding her on the journey, the feeling wasn’t bad — she couldn’t quite bring herself to push him away.

“What exactly is it? Tell me now! Don’t leave a person itching with curiosity.”

She no longer resisted, and instead actively wrapped her arms around his arm, just like riding a roller coaster as a child, gripping tightly onto the bar in front of her.

Feng Jiu’er knew that this arm of his was surely far sturdier and more reliable than that iron bar on the roller coaster.

Zhan Qingcheng reached out with his other large hand and rubbed the small head of the woman in his arms.

The scene looked just like a master petting an obedient little kitten in his arms.

Even Feng Jiu’er felt that way herself, but right now she had no mind to dwell on such things.

This unusual Ninth Imperial Uncle was making her more and more curious about what exactly he was hiding from her.

Ninth Imperial Uncle liked obedience — she could simply be a bit more obedient. It wouldn’t cost her anything, and she might even gain a bit more of his indulgence besides.

More importantly, seeing an obedient Jiu’er, wouldn’t Ninth Imperial Uncle be more inclined to tell her what exactly he was hiding?

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, just tell me, won’t you? I really want to know.”

Pretending to be obedient — this trick had never failed before.

After saying a couple of lines that even she found sickeningly sweet, Feng Jiu’er felt the man behind her grow noticeably gentler.

Just as she thought Ninth Imperial Uncle was about to reveal everything, he still kept his mouth shut tight.

“Tomorrow, you’ll have your answer.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er turned around, blinking her large watery eyes, looking up at Zhan Qingcheng with a face full of feigned obedience.

“Good girl.” Zhan Qingcheng rubbed her head again, his voice gentle. “No rush! Even if you’re impatient, it’s only another dozen or so hours.”

Meeting the man’s gaze, Feng Jiu’er pouted and turned her head away, looking utterly dejected.

She hadn’t expected that even after pulling out her best move, he still refused to tell her — but she really wanted to know. What was she to do?