The original Feng Jiu’er must have loved the handsome Crown Prince before her deeply — so very deeply.

Because even now, when this present Feng Jiu’er laid eyes on Zhan Yuheng, her heart could not help but ache quietly.

It was the obsession the original had left behind within her heart — and without warning, it stirred her own emotions.

The moment she saw Zhan Yuheng, Feng Jiu’er was seized by that inexplicable stirring from the deepest depths of her heart and lost herself for a moment.

Yet it was precisely this moment of absent-mindedness that made it all the more believable — that she truly was Feng Jiu’er.

For the fool Ninth Miss of the Feng Family adored the Crown Prince exactly like this.

“This Crown Prince has words to say to Jiu’er in private. Might Lord Feng be so good as to step away?” Zhan Yuheng’s voice was low and pleasing to the ear — truly wonderful to listen to.

He was handsome, and his voice this lovely — no wonder the original Feng Jiu’er had loved him so desperately, as if willing to die for it.

What a pity that the Feng Jiu’er standing here now was no longer the one she once was.

Once Feng Junzhuo and all the attendants had withdrawn, only Feng Jiu’er and Zhan Yuheng remained in the side hall.

“Crown Prince elder brother!” Feng Jiu’er immediately plastered on a besotted, lovestruck smile and looked at him.

She took note that at first, Zhan Yuheng’s gaze toward her carried no particular loathing — at most it was simply devoid of feeling.

But the moment she called out to him in that infatuated way, his brow furrowed slightly, betraying a clear flicker of distaste.

Ha. So His Highness the Crown Prince truly felt not the slightest thing for this Ninth Miss Feng. All those years she had loved him — what a waste!

“Crown Prince elder brother, you came looking for me — did you want to play with me?”

“……” Zhan Yuheng was visibly a little impatient, yet still he reined himself in and asked, “Last night, you assisted the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s men in catching a thief. Was he caught?”

“Catching a thief?” Feng Jiu’er shook her head and thought about it seriously, then suddenly gave a shake. “I don’t know. I… what did I do last night?”

“You’ve forgotten the events of last night?” Zhan Yuheng narrowed his eyes. A cold gleam flashed through their depths.

Feng Jiu’er’s heart jolted. This Crown Prince was anything but simple!

She smiled and said, “It seems like I forgot, but it also seems like I remember a little. Oh, that’s right — they said I went to catch a thief last night. I think I really did go to catch a thief!”

“You think?” Zhan Yuheng was clearly unsatisfied with this answer.

Feng Jiu’er knocked on her own head, as though confused even to herself. “I think…”

She knocked again — still muddled. “Crown Prince elder brother, I’ve forgotten.”

He was scrutinizing her; she tilted her little face upward to meet his judging gaze.

When their eyes collided, Feng Jiu’er’s heart ached again — aching for the real Jiu’er.

This was the man Jiu’er had loved for all these years, and now he was looking at her with suspicion.

If only he could give her just a little more tenderness — could the faint soul of Jiu’er, who had already died, not then find peace?

That was right. Now that she had come, the real Jiu’er must certainly be gone.

She was gone — and could she not even win half a shred of tender sympathy from Zhan Yuheng?

So now, could he not offer her just a little compassion, so that the real Jiu’er might close her eyes in peace?

Feng Jiu’er did not know what she was thinking. Only that without any conscious thought, her feet had already carried her to stand before Zhan Yuheng.

The look in her eyes was no longer the playful pretense of a fool — it was something genuine.

The hand she reached out toward him was tentative and careful, as though she truly were the real Feng Jiu’er in this moment.

This was the real Feng Jiu’er’s deepest wish — the one thing she would not forget even in death.