Feng Jiu’er pursed her lips and turned to look at everyone present.
“From here on, Xiao Yingtao will take my place and appear before everyone. Except for the brothers who have gone out on campaign, no one will know that I have left Black Gorge.”
“I have done so much here in Black Gorge — Ye Luosha and the others must know that very well. At a time like this, I simply cannot disappear without a trace.”
“If there are any important decisions to be made, Qiao Mu and Zhao Zhuosheng will be in charge — but they must always consult Elder Zhao’s opinion.”
“Jiu’er, don’t worry. My sworn brother is most skilled at defensive work,” Zhao Yusheng’s voice rang out. “He will certainly follow your advice and lead the brothers in building the defensive walls. With Qiao Mu and Xing Zizhou as well, there won’t be any problems.”
“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er looked at him and nodded.
“Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t be leaving at this time — but the grievance against the Long family must be avenged. I can only ask everyone to bear with this hardship.”
“I promise you all — if we cannot win, we will flee. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. My only wish is that when I return, I will not have brought calamity upon any of you.”
“Feng Jiu’er, what nonsense are you talking?” Qiao Mu fixed her gaze on Feng Jiu’er, her voice low and heavy.
Feng Jiu’er met her eyes and still smiled faintly.
“No matter what happens, you must come rolling yourself back here.” Qiao Mu shot Feng Jiu’er a glance of exasperation, then looked away and picked up the teapot.
“In another year or so, I’ll just randomly find someone to marry. Once you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken — where would I find the time to keep lingering around here?”
“Right, right — once you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken. There really isn’t so much free time.” As Feng Jiu’er said those words about marrying a chicken and following the chicken, her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Zhao Zhuosheng.
Zhao Zhuosheng smiled faintly, his face flushing slightly.
Qiao Mu lifted the cup of tea she had just poured for herself and took a delicate sip.
She glanced up at Feng Jiu’er and said coolly: “Don’t think we’re joking. Even Xiao Yingtao can’t wait to get married, and yet you’re just going to up and leave like that.”
“Qiao Mu, I haven’t.” Xiao Yingtao quietly wiped her tears and raised her eyes to look at Qiao Mu.
“Whether you have or haven’t, you know yourself. In any case, I’m not young anymore — if I wait any longer, no one will want to marry me.” Qiao Mu gave a soft sigh and took another small sip of tea.
“If no one else will marry you, marrying back into your own family is just as good.” Feng Jiu’er said with a smile. “Those who can’t wait can go ahead and get themselves married first — coming home to help look after the little ones when I return wouldn’t be bad either.”
Xiao Yingtao turned her head and met Feng Jiu’er’s eyes, shaking her head vigorously: “Jiu’er, it’s not me — Qiao Mu is talking about herself. I haven’t… I’m not in a rush.”
“She may not be in a rush, but I am.” Xing Zizhou’s voice rang out through the hall, carrying a note of cheerfulness.
Xiao Yingtao stared at Xing Zizhou, her brow creasing into a frown.
Xing Zizhou looked at her, his eyes full of tender affection.
The tension from earlier had finally eased a little.
Feng Jiu’er looked at Xing Zizhou, then at Zhao Zhuosheng, the corners of her mouth curving upward slightly.
With them looking after her two dear sisters, she could truly set her heart at ease for this journey.
“Xing Zizhou, if there’s nothing else, take Xiao Yingtao back to rest. Getting to bed early is good for a girl’s complexion,” Feng Jiu’er said, waving her hand.
“Alright.” Xing Zizhou rose to his feet and stepped forward.
“I’m not leaving. I still have many things I want to say to Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao looked at Xing Zizhou and shook her head.
Xing Zizhou came to Xiao Yingtao’s side, took her small hand in his, drew her to her feet, and pulled her into his arms.
“Jiu’er, I know you’re worried about Xiao Yingtao and Qiao Mu. Don’t worry — I will take good care of Xiao Yingtao. We’ll all wait for you to come home.”
“As for the task you’ve left me, I guarantee I’ll see it through. Whatever news you want to know, just send word to the brothers stationed nearby.”
“Good. Take good care of her — don’t let me down.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand again. “Go on, then.”
“Mm.” Xing Zizhou took Xiao Yingtao’s hand and turned to leave.
Xiao Yingtao could not hold out against Xing Zizhou and in the end had no choice but to turn and follow his footsteps.
“Jiu’er, when are you leaving? Before you go, you must tell me — don’t slip away in secret.”
Feng Jiu’er did not respond to Xiao Yingtao’s words. She simply watched the girl’s retreating figure with a faint smile.
Once Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao had moved out of earshot, Zhao Zhuosheng suddenly stood up: “Jiu’er, I will take good care of Qiao Mu.”
Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze, looked at him, and smiled even more warmly: “Good, Zhao Zhuosheng. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“Take her for some drinks — she hasn’t had much to drink this evening.”
“Alright.” Zhao Zhuosheng nodded, then turned to Qiao Mu’s side: “Come on, let’s go have a drink.”
Qiao Mu set down her cup, glanced up at Zhao Zhuosheng, shrugged her shoulders, and stood.
She stepped toward the door, and in the end left without a single word.
Feng Jiu’er watched her retreating figure, and the smile at the corners of her mouth gradually took on a faint trace of bitterness.
With Xing Zizhou there, Xiao Yingtao might feel unfamiliar at first, but she would slowly grow accustomed to it — yet that girl Qiao Mu… without her around, would she truly adapt?
Even Feng Jiu’er herself wasn’t certain whether she could adapt to a life without Qiao Mu.
“Jiu’er.” Zhao Yusheng stepped over, pulled a chair close, and sat down beside Feng Jiu’er. “On this journey, you must protect yourself well.”
“Whatever you’ve entrusted to me, I will do my utmost to see it done. You…”
“Zhao Yusheng.” Feng Jiu’er turned her head and looked at the young man beside her, gently pursing her lips. “Don’t wait for me!”
“If you cannot save me, you must still preserve your own life.”
“The Elder has only you as his son. If it were not absolutely necessary, I would not want you to lead troops and come with me.”
“You must remember — your life is precious. It is bound up with the entire legacy of the Zhao Yu lineage, so for your own sake, staying alive matters most.”
“No matter where I may be, this place is your home, and you must come back to it. When you return, find a good girl and treat her well. Is that understood?”
Zhao Yusheng met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, paused in a momentary daze, then nodded lightly.
“Good. I promise you all of that — but you must also promise me that no matter what happens, you will keep yourself safe.”
“Agreed — it’s a deal!” Feng Jiu’er nodded and extended her palm.
Zhao Yusheng also extended his palm and gave Feng Jiu’er’s a firm slap: “It’s a deal!”
No sooner had they drawn back their hands than he suddenly lurched forward and pulled Feng Jiu’er into an embrace.
Zhao Yusheng held her in his arms, and the strength of his hold grew tighter and tighter.
His eyes, shimmering with the threat of tears, looked somehow hollow and empty — a sight that tugged painfully at the heart.
Just as Feng Jiu’er was about to speak, Zhao Yusheng released her, stood up, and said: “Jiu’er, don’t forget our promise.”
The words had barely left his lips when Zhao Yusheng turned and walked away without looking back — he did not want Feng Jiu’er to see the tears welling in his eyes.
Only when Zhao Yusheng’s figure had disappeared from the hall did Feng Jiu’er withdraw her gaze and glance at Jian Yi.
“You go rest. I…”
Her words were not yet finished when Jian Yi, moving at a speed most people could not follow, closed the distance between them in an instant.
Feng Jiu’er felt a gust of cold air rush toward her; she immediately rose to her feet and stepped back.
Jian Yi had not yet reached her when she successfully evaded him.
“Jian Yi, what do you think you’re doing?”