Feng Jiu’er looked at Qiaomu and blinked. “Do you think now is the time to talk about this?”

Qiaomu raised an eyebrow, withdrawing her gaze from her.

“It was the Ninth Prince who brought it up first. Don’t you think that when you weren’t around, the Ninth Prince would rather not say a single extra word? He clearly said that on purpose, meaning for you to hear it.”

“No one knows how long this battle will go on. Life can’t be too dull all the time, can it?”

“If you were willing, I think the Ninth Prince would even be happy to marry you today. Feng Jiu’er, this is the Ninth Prince we’re talking about—how many women have set their sights on him?”

Feng Jiu’er rolled her eyes at Qiaomu, smiling faintly.

“Still daydreaming, even now?”

“The Ninth Prince is a god. Dreaming about him for a lifetime still wouldn’t be enough.” Qiaomu raised an eyebrow in response.

Feng Jiu’er looked at her profile, the smile fading completely from her face. “Yesterday, did you go yourself?”

Qiaomu turned to meet her gaze, nodded, then shifted her eyes, looking at the horizon.

“Yu Jingfeng said they found the bloodstained clothes, but not the person, so I wanted to go take a look.”

“The bottom of the cliff is a vast wild forest, with quite a few fierce beasts. No wonder they couldn’t find him.”

“Maybe it’s better this way—at least it leaves room for hope, doesn’t it?” Qiaomu looked at the horizon, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

Feng Jiu’er didn’t want to say anything discouraging; Qiaomu herself already understood Yanu’s situation perfectly well.

But just as she’d said, not finding him was better than finding him—even if it meant deceiving herself for the rest of her life, that was fine too.

“Qiaomu.” She composed herself and called out softly.

Qiaomu took a deep breath and turned to look at her again.

“Don’t say anything about apologizing. This isn’t your fault, nor General Long’s fault. It was all caused by Ye Xuening.”

“Only once she’s dead will those who died wrongfully because of her be able to rest in peace. For now, let’s not think about anything else—let’s focus wholeheartedly on cutting Ye Xuening down.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er met Qiaomu’s gaze and nodded slightly.

The two exchanged a smile, raising their eyes to look up at the sky.

The sun emerged from a dark cloud, its light illuminating the entire grassland.

…

Zhan Yuheng had been forced to relinquish the throne, becoming a Prince Shezheng with no real power at all.

He moved out of the palace he had lived in for over twenty years, taking up residence in the Prince Shezheng’s mansion outside the palace.

Everything had already been decided. On the day Zhan Lingtian ascended the throne, Zhan Yuheng handed over his military authority.

Just as Zhan Lingtian had predicted, with Zhan Yuheng uncooperative, the troops that had long followed Zhan Yuheng couldn’t be commanded smoothly either.

After Zhan Lingtian’s ascension, the Grand Eunuch’s position was taken over by his sole disciple—it was only then that the Grand Eunuch realized his disciple had long since stopped being his man.

On this day, the Grand Eunuch’s disciple found his way to the rundown courtyard where the Grand Eunuch had been settled, walking in with a touch of panic.

In the courtyard, watering flowers, the Grand Eunuch sensed someone approaching and turned to look.

He saw his disciple, dressed in a servant’s clothes, walking in.

“Master.” The young eunuch called out in a low voice.

The Grand Eunuch glanced at him, then looked away. “What are you here for?”

The young eunuch walked in, bent his knees, kowtowed, and stood up.

“Master, since I’ve chosen this path, I won’t regret it. I’ve come this time to tell you—the Prince is in danger.”

“They might make their move within the next day or two. The late Emperor treated you well, Master, and I, your disciple, hope to repay some of that kindness.”

“Master, please leave. Leave the palace, take the Prince with you. They won’t tolerate the two of you.”

The young eunuch knelt again, knocking his head against the ground three times, then stood. “Master, I’m leaving now. Take care of yourself!”

With those words left behind, the young eunuch stepped back several paces, turned, lowered his head, and hurried away, disappearing into the abandoned courtyard.

The Grand Eunuch watched the direction he’d gone, took a deep breath, and turned to walk into the side chamber.

Seizing the right moment, the Grand Eunuch disguised himself as a servant who hauled horse manure and left the palace.

He moved about outside for a while, and as night fell, arrived outside the Prince Shezheng’s mansion.

In front of the mansion stood two guards.

The Grand Eunuch smoothed the false beard glued to the corners of his mouth and stepped closer.

“Who goes there?” The two guards drew their swords together, blocking the Grand Eunuch’s path.

The Grand Eunuch coughed lightly and said softly, “I’m an old acquaintance of General Qingyun. I happened to be passing through the imperial city and heard he was here, so I wanted to come in and see him.”

After leaving the palace, the Grand Eunuch had changed into commoner’s clothes, darkened his skin, and glued on a beard.

Unless someone was especially familiar with him, it wouldn’t be easy to recognize him now.

The two guards at the gate sized up the Grand Eunuch for a moment.

One nodded and said, “Wait here. I’ll go report this.”

“Good.” The Grand Eunuch raised the corners of his mouth slightly, nodding. “Good, many thanks, brother soldiers.”

The guard turned, pushed open the mansion’s gate, and strode inside.

The Grand Eunuch stood on his toes, peering inward.

He was somewhat worried that Qingyun wouldn’t understand his intent—now was a critical moment, and anyone, at any time, could lose their head.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the guard returned, bringing Qingyun out with him.

Qingyun looked the Grand Eunuch over carefully, then strode forward with a smile on his lips.

“Why have you come? Come, let’s go inside and talk.”

Qingyun led the Grand Eunuch inside, and the mansion’s gate closed again.

“Grand Eunuch, what’s the matter? For now, the mansion is still fairly safe. Everyone brought here is the Prince’s trusted confidant.”

“I heard that within the next two days the Emperor intends to move against the Prince. Where is the Prince right now?” the Grand Eunuch asked in a low voice.

“The Emperor intends to move against the Prince?” Qingyun’s brow furrowed. “Why would he do that? Could it be, as the Prince said, that the Emperor isn’t really Di Wu Ya?”

The Grand Eunuch looked at Qingyun and frowned. “Even within the mansion, words like that mustn’t be spoken.”

Qingyun understood, nodding lightly.

“The Prince has shut himself in his chamber. I’ve already brought in wine for him three times now. Grand Eunuch, what do you think we should do?”

The Grand Eunuch let out a soft sigh, raising his eyes to look at Qingyun. “I’ve already arranged an escape route, but I’m afraid the Prince won’t be willing to leave.”

“By the way, how much wine did you say the Prince has had?”

“Quite a lot. These past days, the Prince has been drinking almost constantly,” Qingyun replied softly.

The Grand Eunuch glanced toward the side chamber, shook his head. “Let’s go see the Prince, then decide what to do.”

“Alright.” Qingyun nodded and continued forward.

The Grand Eunuch hurried to follow.

When Qingyun pushed open the door to the side chamber, a wave of wine fumes hit them.

Zhan Yuheng, seated in the middle of the room, glanced up, then picked up the wine jug again, pouring it into his mouth.

He held the wine jug in one hand, while in the other he clutched a bundle of small golden chrysanthemums, long since withered.

Zhan Yuheng took a fierce swig of wine, his gaze falling on the small golden chrysanthemums in his hand, his eyes filled with longing.

“Jiu’er, I’ve waited ten years for you. Why haven’t you come back yet?”