“Wu Ya.” Emperor Ji struck the table with force. “Without your little aunt, how would you and Mu’er ever have recognized each other as brothers?”

“On other matters I can defer to you — but heading north, restoring the Di Family’s rule and order: that is something that must be done.”

“Can it be that everything your little aunt and I have sacrificed was only so we could live out our days in comfort and ease?” As he spoke those final words, Emperor Ji could not help but break into a light cough.

Di Wu Ya paused before leaving the hall.

“Never again use any excuse to harm those I hold dear. I ask that you both remember that!”

He furrowed his brow and, with a sweep of his large hand, pushed open the main hall doors from a distance without touching them. In an instant, he vanished without a trace.

“My lord.” Cold Moon had waited a long while after Di Wu Ya’s departure before taking a few steps outward and calling out softly.

“Get out!” Emperor Ji flicked his hand dismissively, his expression far from pleasant.

Cold Moon pressed her lips together, bowed her head, and nodded.

“Yes.” She clasped her hands in a salute and withdrew, pulling the doors shut behind her for those still inside.

Ye Luosha let out a quiet sigh and settled back into her seat.

“What is your view on this matter?”

“If anything happens to Dowager Consort Ning, he will certainly head north. But I’m not sure…” Emperor Ji shook his head, his voice trailing off.

“If he goes north on his own simply to rescue Dowager Consort Ning, won’t all our efforts have been for nothing?” Ye Luosha clenched her fist tightly.

“Apart from Dowager Consort Ning, the person Wu Ya holds most dear must certainly also include Feng Jiu’er.”

“Who could have imagined that Wu Ya would not even consult your opinion before announcing his wedding to that wretched girl outright.”

“Enough, say no more.” Emperor Ji waved a hand. “Go back for now. I’d like a moment of quiet.”

Ye Luosha had more to say, yet seeing Emperor Ji in this state, she had no choice but to swallow her words back down.

She looked back once more, then without another word, rose, turned, and left.

In the main hall of another courtyard, Di Wu Ya sat in the seat of honor with Yu Jingfeng standing guard at his side.

Feilong Shi’er Qi — twelve tall, powerfully built men — stood in the hall awaiting his command.

“Your Highness, you’ve summoned us brothers so urgently — is there a mission?” Long Yi stepped forward with a clasped-hands salute.

“His Highness commands you to set out for the north immediately, and to enter the palace to covertly protect Dowager Consort Ning.” Yu Jingfeng said quietly.

“Mm.” Di Wu Ya gave a nod of confirmation. “Before this Prince arrives, make absolutely certain the Empress Dowager is kept safe.”

“Your Highness, if the twelve of us depart together, your own safety…” Long Yi furrowed his brow, a look of unease crossing his face.

“It’s of no matter. Whatever the circumstances, Dowager Consort Ning must be protected before I enter the capital. No mistakes.” Di Wu Ya waved a hand. “Set out immediately. There must be no delay!”

The same command from His Highness, spoken twice — every man understood the gravity of the matter.

“Yes.” Long Yi gave a nod to accept the order.

He clasped his hands in salute, turned, and led his brothers away.

His Highness was about to be wed, yet they were having to leave — Long Eleven was reluctant, but still turned and departed with his brothers.

Feilong Shi’er Qi, every man powerfully built and highly skilled in martial arts, departed together, their combined presence formidable and impossible to ignore.

Wherever they went, they drew attention without fail.

The twelve men had just left through the courtyard gate when Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi’s carriage happened to stop at the main entrance.

Long Eleven spotted the person stepping down from the carriage and strode forward in large strides.

“Miss Jiu’er.”

“Long Eleven?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Long Eleven, then glanced at the men departing behind him, a flicker of puzzlement in her eyes. “Where are you all off to?”

Quite a procession — they must have a very important mission to carry out.

“Miss Jiu’er, may you and His Highness have a joyous wedding.” Long Eleven looked at Feng Jiu’er and smiled faintly.

“By the way, His Highness seems to be in a rather foul mood tonight. You should offer him some comfort!”

“I’m afraid we won’t have the chance to attend your wedding. When the opportunity comes later, I’ll make it up to you with a gift. Farewell!”

Long Eleven waved his hand and stepped back a few paces.

“Miss Jiu’er, remember to offer His Highness comfort.”

He dropped that final word and turned to leave.

Watching their retreating figures hurrying away, Feng Jiu’er asked no further questions.

She looked back toward the interior of the courtyard for a moment, then pressed her lips together, turned to look at Jian Yi, and said, “Go in on your own. I need to find him.”

Jian Yi raised a brow with a faint air of nonchalance and headed off in another direction. “Don’t wander around aimlessly.”

“I know, I know. Go rest at ease.” Feng Jiu’er gave a nod, turned, and walked into Di Wu Ya’s separate courtyard.

The courtyard was very quiet. Even though it was separated from her own courtyard by only a single wall, the atmosphere on the two sides was completely different.

Feng Jiu’er could well imagine that while things on her side were lively and bustling, over here it was cold and desolate.

She looked around in all directions, saw no one, and headed straight for the brightly lit main hall.

Not far from the main hall, two guards were posted at their station.

Catching sight of Feng Jiu’er, one of them hurried forward to meet her.

“Miss Jiu’er.” He clasped his hands and called out with great respect.

“Is His Highness occupied?” Feng Jiu’er looked toward the main hall and asked.

“Mm.” The guard nodded. “At the moment only Lord Yu is inside, and His Highness has given instructions that Miss Jiu’er is welcome to come in and disturb him at any time.”

“Disturb him?” Feng Jiu’er met the guard’s gaze, and her lovely crescent brows drew together slightly.

“Mm.” The guard nodded again, the corners of his mouth curling up just a fraction. “Those are His Highness’s exact words.”

“Very well, then I shall go in and disturb him.” Feng Jiu’er raised a brow and stepped forward.

“Have the bathwater prepared and brought in. Await further command.”

“Yes, Miss Jiu’er.” The guard turned in the direction Feng Jiu’er had gone and clasped his hands in a respectful salute.

Just as Feng Jiu’er reached the outer door of the main hall, Yu Jingfeng pushed the door open and stepped out.

The two of them exchanged a glance, and Feng Jiu’er asked softly, “Are you finished talking?”

“Yes, Miss Jiu’er, please go right in!” Yu Jingfeng bowed and gestured with a sweep of his hand.

Having heard Miss Jiu’er’s voice just now from inside, Yu Jingfeng had been on the verge of tears of gratitude.

He had even begun to feel that if Miss Jiu’er did not arrive soon, he might not survive the ordeal.

His Highness right now was truly — truly frightening!

Feng Jiu’er fixed her eyes on the man bowing and nodding, and half-narrowed her gaze. “Is Ninth Imperial Uncle really that frightening?”

Yu Jingfeng’s eyes went wide as he stared at Feng Jiu’er and shook his head vigorously. “His Highness, frightening? How could that be?”

“I didn’t — that is, I never said His Highness was frightening! Truly… I did not!”

Yu Jingfeng, who had barely survived without being frightened to death inside, now nearly got frightened to death by a single sentence from Feng Jiu’er.

Yu Jingfeng was now firmly convinced that His Highness and Miss Jiu’er were absolutely a perfectly matched couple — without question. They both had an uncanny ability to give a person a fright with a single word.

“If not, then why are you so scared?” Feng Jiu’er shot Yu Jingfeng a look, pushed the door open, and walked in.

“He doesn’t know how adorable he is. You people just don’t know how to appreciate him.”

“Go prepare the bathwater and bring it in. My most adorable Ninth Imperial Uncle is going to bathe and change clothes.”

Feng Jiu’er raised a brow and stepped further inside.

She had had only one Ninth Imperial Uncle her entire life, from childhood all the way to now — so he was, without argument, her most adorable Ninth Imperial Uncle.

The young woman, having convinced herself she had said nothing untrue, let the corner of her mouth curve upward and drew closer to her most adorable Ninth Imperial Uncle.