“Ouch!” Before Feng Jiu’er could say anything more, Xiao Yingtao let out a soft cry.

Feng Jiu’er frowned, turning to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Yingtao pouted, replying, “It’s so heavy.”

“It’s not that bad!” Qiao Mu stepped over and hoisted the sack onto one shoulder with a single hand.

It did seem to take a bit of effort, though.

Feng Jiu’er watched the two of them walk off with a faint smile and turned back to look at Jian Yi.

“Let’s go. I won’t break my word, and you’d better not either—wherever you go from now on, say something, so no one worries.”

This handsome man was so easy to fool, yet it made one reluctant to deceive him at all.

Jian Yi really was good, truly good. Feng Jiu’er only hoped he would find his other half soon.

Feng Jiu’er gave Jian Yi a smile in return, then turned to follow the footsteps of the two ahead of her.

She looked at the sack on Qiao Mu’s shoulder, the smile on her lips growing wider.

People might think Great Hero Jian Yi was simple and carefree, but whoever became his wife would surely be very fortunate.

Qiao Mu carried the heavy sack into the cabin, and Xiao Yingtao followed in with an excited expression.

By the time Feng Jiu’er entered the cabin, the two of them were already pulling box after box out of the sack.

“So much fruit, all things I like.” Xiao Yingtao was delighted, practically drooling.

“Qiao Mu, there are pastries too. Heavens, how long has it been since I’ve had pastries?”

“Is this osmanthus cake? Or red date cake, crispy sesame pastries—these are all things I love to eat.”

“Are they all things Jiu’er likes? Is there anything you don’t like?” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow, opening one of the boxes.

She sat down in a chair and popped a washed grape from the box into her mouth.

Feng Jiu’er came in and sat down by the table as well.

Jian Yi said nothing, sitting down beside her.

Xiao Yingtao kept pulling out box after box from the sack, along with small cloth pouches and some fruits too large to fit in boxes.

She wasn’t about to let go of any of these things she hadn’t seen in so, so long.

It wasn’t until everything had been taken out of the large sack and placed on the table that Xiao Yingtao finally set the empty sack down on the floor, satisfied.

“Jian Yi, how did you manage to carry all of this back? Didn’t Yu Jingfeng say there are plenty of enemies guarding the place?”

Though Xiao Yingtao was asking Jian Yi a question, her gaze never left the food.

Jian Yi paid Xiao Yingtao no mind, picking up a box of grapes and opening it to hand to Feng Jiu’er.

The so-called boxes were really just small bamboo baskets, each holding washed fruit, along with a pastry.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at Jian Yi and accepted the small basket without hesitation.

She pulled out a bunch of grapes and handed it to Jian Yi. “Eat.”

Jian Yi took the grapes and tossed one into his mouth.

“Have you eaten today?” Feng Jiu’er asked, plucking a grape and looking at Jian Yi.

“No.” Jian Yi replied softly, eating another grape.

Feng Jiu’er shook her head, stood up, and turned to walk outside.

“Jiu’er.” Jian Yi set down the grapes, stood, and followed her. “Where are you going?”

“To get you some rice. You can’t go a whole day without eating.” Feng Jiu’er kept walking forward without turning back.

She had just stepped out of the cabin when Long Yi came hurrying over, as if he’d received some news.

“Miss Jiu’er, what would you like me to do?” Feng Jiu’er stopped and looked at Long Yi. “Long Yi, prepare a meal for me.”

“Yes, right away.” Long Yi glanced at Jian Yi, a little uneasy, before leaving.

Soon, Long Yi brought back a meal. Since he knew the meal wasn’t for Feng Jiu’er herself, he hadn’t bothered to prepare anything elaborate.

When Long Yi entered, he discovered that the cabin had somehow filled with all sorts of delicious food.

He set the meal down between Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi, casually grabbed a piece of fruit, and put it in his mouth, savoring it.

“Where did this fruit come from? It’s so fresh and delicious.” Long Yi asked with a smile.

“Jian Yi went into the city to get it for Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao said, still chewing on something.

“Jian Yi is so good to Jiu’er, risking his life to go into the city just to bring her something good to eat—even we get to benefit from it.”

“Jian Yi, eat first.” Feng Jiu’er pushed the meal in front of her toward Jian Yi.

Though it was plain fare, this wasn’t the time to demand delicacies.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the unappetizing meal and felt a pang of guilt.

Because of her, everyone was suffering hardship.

Jian Yi picked up the bowl of rice and his chopsticks, and even though he was eating the simplest of grains, he ate as though it were a feast of the finest delicacies.

Long Yi, knowing this fruit had been gathered by Jian Yi for Feng Jiu’er, felt a twinge of guilt as he ate.

But that twinge of guilt wasn’t enough to make him put the fruit down—he even grabbed two more pieces in his hand.

Qiao Mu watched Jian Yi eating and felt her own mood lift a little.

Feng Jiu’er might not fully understand the depth of Jian Yi’s feelings for her, but Qiao Mu had always seen it clearly.

She knew well that as long as Jiu’er was around, Jian Yi could eat sweet potatoes and taste them like bear’s paw—a delicacy fit for royalty. But if Jiu’er weren’t there, even bear’s paw itself would taste like chewing wax to him.

Jian Yi ate somewhat hurriedly, perhaps not because he was truly that hungry, but simply because this was a meal Jiu’er had told him to eat.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the man beside her, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly. “Jian Yi, don’t rush. We’ve all already eaten, no one’s going to fight you for it.”

“Besides, we have the fruit and pastries you brought back—we really have no interest in your rice.”

The words had barely left her mouth before Jiu’er set down the small bamboo basket in her hand and picked up a peach.

Autumn truly was wonderful! There was every kind of fruit to be had.

After eating so much that wasn’t fresh aboard the ship, now any fresh fruit at all was incredibly appealing.

“Long Yi.” Feng Jiu’er took a bite of the fruit and looked up at Long Yi.

“Miss Jiu’er.” Long Yi lowered his head, meeting her gaze.

“Where’s Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“My lord isn’t on this ship. He’s at—”

“Take some fruit over to him.” Before Long Yi could finish speaking, Feng Jiu’er’s voice continued.

“Understood.” Long Yi nodded with a smile.

Feng Jiu’er picked out three or four small baskets and placed them in Long Yi’s hands.

“My lord has matters to attend to—go help him quickly. I’m on the ship, what trouble could possibly find me here?”

Long Yi took the baskets, only just then remembering he had a task of his own to attend to.

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze and waved her hand. “Go on, I don’t need you watching over me.”

“Besides, you’re not even a match for me. If the enemy were too strong, I’d have to be the one protecting you, wouldn’t I?”

Feng Jiu’er waved her hand once more, withdrawing her gaze.

Long Yi, biting into a piece of fruit, one hand holding four bamboo baskets, the other cradling a melon, found himself unable to get a word in.

In the end, he glanced once more at Jian Yi, looked up at Qiao Mu, and turned to leave, somewhat helplessly.

“Long Yi.” Qiao Mu watched Long Yi’s tall figure retreating and called out softly. “Don’t worry. Jian Yi isn’t necessarily a match for Jiu’er either.”