The moment Feng Jiu’er saw the Rong Empress, she knew the Ninth Imperial Uncle must have something urgent to attend to and was not in the Longqi Academy.

If the Ninth Imperial Uncle were present, how would the Empress have the mind to provoke her? Surely she would be hovering around the Ninth Imperial Uncle instead!

The Ninth Imperial Uncle had left… She did not know why, but at this thought, she felt a faint disappointment.

“Feng Jiu’er, truly, after three days apart, this Palace must regard you with new eyes!”

Without such a noble status, how could one come and go from the Longqi Army as one pleased?

When Huo Yan mentioned a noble guest, Feng Jiu’er had guessed it was half Zhan Yuheng, half this Rong Empress.

Indeed, she had guessed half correctly.

Collecting her thoughts, Feng Jiu’er smiled at her: “Empress, you have come! Jiu’er has missed you so.”

“Is that so? Then, would you like that wooden box again? Shall this Palace have someone bring it over and let you play with it?”

The Rong Empress’s lips held a coquettish smile, yet that smile was laced with poison: “Would the child want it, you say?”

Feng Jiu’er laughed cheerfully: “Of course, of course! Empress, bring the wooden box, and Jiu’er will play with it too.”

She looked at Qin Mama standing behind the Rong Empress, smiling with curved eyes: “Mama, would you like to play as well?”

Anyone bitten by a snake usually develops a lingering dread of the thing. Indeed, upon hearing this, Qin Mama’s face turned deathly pale.

“Empress…”

The Rong Empress, however, glared at Feng Jiu’er, her smile vanishing from her lips: “Feng Jiu’er, cease this feigned madness before this Palace. This Palace has seen through your hypocritical facade!”

She slammed the table. Qin Mama instinctively shrank back. Yet Feng Jiu’er merely gazed at her with clear, transparent eyes, utterly unafraid.

“Rumor has it you defeated a maid beside Luo Ri with a single move. This Palace has witnessed that maid’s martial skill; it was quite good.”

The Rong Empress held her cup, leaning back in her chair, regarding her askance: “Still wish to feign before this Palace? Know that with merely a single imperial decree from this Palace, your Feng Family will cease to be a family?”

“Then this Palace does not know what the Empress wishes Jiu’er to do?” Feng Jiu’er’s smile faded, asking lightly.

“General Feng of your family rendered great service to the nation. If not for unavoidable circumstances, this Palace would not wish to move against him. But if someone displeases this Palace, that is another matter entirely.”

Such stakes—should not she, Feng Jiu’er, see them clearly?

“The Empress has already had her heart’s desire fulfilled, with the Crown Prince breaking the engagement. Yet this Palace does not know what displeasures remain for the Empress?”

“Rumor has it you spent the night with the Ninth Prince yesterday?” The Empress’s hand, gripping the cup, tightened continuously. Her gaze suddenly turned fierce! “Feng Jiu’er, are you seeking death?”

“The Ninth Imperial Uncle merely wished to personally care for that maiden who harmed herself. The Ninth Imperial Uncle is merciful and loving. Yet how has this become Jiu’er seeking death?”

Feng Jiu’er smiled calmly, yet her mind was calculating—if the Empress made trouble for the Feng Family, did she have a countermeasure?

Drawing the Ninth Imperial Uncle into this court matter seemed equally unwise.

Unless the Feng Family immediately took sides with the Emperor himself. Perhaps then they could ward off the Empress’s predatory intentions.

Yet this was not something achievable in a day or two. Some time needed to be bought.

“Empress, though Jiu’er did spend the night with the Ninth Prince, does the Empress truly think Jiu’er is more beautiful than the Empress herself?”

“How dare you! To compare yourself with this Palace!”

“Jiu’er would not presume. Jiu’er merely has self-awareness, knowing herself to be plain-faced and unable to attract men’s attention.”

The Empress regarded her. Was this girl now submitting to her? She pondered for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh: “If you truly believe yourself unworthy of the Ninth Prince, then do one thing for this Palace. Let this Palace see whether you are truly willing to keep to your station.”