“What?” The color drained from Zhan Yuheng’s face in an instant.

Both Feng Qingyin and Feng Junzhuo were terrified and were just about to explain themselves, when Feng Jiu’er cut in ahead of them. “Elder sister said it wasn’t safe for me to go, so I should give my spot to her instead.”

The way Feng Jiu’er carried herself right now was indistinguishable from an innocent child.

Cold sweat broke out on Feng Qingyin, and she looked at Zhan Yuheng. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I…”

“Within the Imperial Academy, in addition to the children of high-ranking officials and nobles, there are also the younger members of Our Imperial Family. This Crown Prince himself was once a student of the Academy.”

Zhan Yuheng’s expression was cold as still water, carrying a cool and forbidding air that made people dare not approach.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I… I didn’t mean it like that, I was only…”

“Only trying to trick the spot away from Jiu’er?”

Zhan Yuheng gave a cold snort and swept back his long sleeve. “If this Crown Prince ever learns that you have bullied Jiu’er again, he will not let you off lightly!”

He left, taking his fury with him.

Feng Junzhuo and Feng Qingyin were so frightened their hearts nearly stopped, trembling as they bowed to see the Crown Prince off, their legs so weak they could barely hold themselves upright.

Only when the Crown Prince’s carriage had long since vanished from sight did Feng Qingyin turn back to look at Feng Jiu’er, and suddenly raised her hand and lunged toward her.

“Feng Jiu’er, you did this on purpose! How dare you harm me like this!”

But this slap of hers was intercepted by Feng Junzhuo.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Feng Junzhuo’s face was dark with fury.

Feng Qingyin gritted her teeth. “Father, she did it on purpose — she’s been pretending to be a fool this entire time!”

Feng Junzhuo looked at Feng Jiu’er. Feng Jiu’er simply opened her wide, dewy eyes and met his gaze head-on.

Wasn’t she still that foolish girl Feng Jiu’er? Where did this business of pretending come from?

“Father, why does elder sister want to hit me?” Feng Jiu’er pursed her lips. “I don’t want to play with you all anymore. I’m going to find Yanu.”

She turned and walked away, her steps light and quick.

“Father, she really is pretending!” Tears finally spilled from Feng Qingyin’s eyes. “The whole day today, she’s been acting!”

Feng Junzhuo had no interest in dealing with her and turned to leave as well.

Feng Qingyin forced herself to calm down and hurried after him.

She pushed aside the fury from moments before and wept pitifully. “Father, I was wrong — I shouldn’t have been so rash. Father, please forgive me.”

Feng Junzhuo said nothing, still simmering with anger.

Feng Qingyin pressed on. “Father, I haven’t lost all my chances yet — there is still hope for me!”

“Feng Jiu’er is so unsightly — the Imperial Family would never accept such a disfigured Crown Princess. Father, don’t you agree?”

Feng Junzhuo’s steps slowed to a stop. On this point, Feng Qingyin was not wrong.

Jiu’er’s face had been ruined. How could the Imperial Family possibly accept a Crown Princess with a destroyed appearance?

“Father, have you forgotten that I once saved Empress Rong’s life? The Crown Prince is a filial son. As long as I go to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress, Her Majesty will certainly speak favorably of me to the Crown Prince.”

Feng Junzhuo fell into thought for a moment, and at last was persuaded.

Feng Jiu’er’s looks were unsightly — it was impossible for her to become Crown Princess.

But the Empress was so fond of Qingyin, and Qingyin still had a chance of becoming Crown Princess.

After turning it over in his mind, he finally gave a single nod. “However, for the next few days you must not provoke Jiu’er again — we cannot afford to anger those from the Ninth Prince’s manor.”

“Father, in truth, the Ninth Prince sending gifts was nothing more than his subordinates handling things on his behalf. As for Jiu’er — I expect the Ninth Prince will have forgotten all about her in the blink of an eye.”

Feng Qingyin hooked her arm through Feng Junzhuo’s and gave it a playful, coaxing little shake.

“Father, have you forgotten that the fortune teller once read my fate and said that I carry the noble aura of the Imperial Family?”

Feng Junzhuo’s displeasure finally eased. He ruffled her head. “Father knows your fortune is good. I’ll think this over and arrange for you to enter the palace to pay your respects to Empress Rong.”