People in love tend to lose some of their intelligence. Feng Jiu’er had said as much long ago.

Like, for instance, Miss Qiao right now.

Qiao Mu pressed her lips together and finally nodded. “Forget it, I won’t bother arguing with her!”

“But don’t let me catch you hiding anything from me again in the future, or else…”

Qiao Mu stared at Feng Jiang, brows furrowed.

“Alright.” Feng Jiang held her hand and kissed it. “I promise.”

“Like you have a choice anyway.” Qiao Mu withdrew her hand and wrapped it around the man’s waist instead.

“If there’s a next time, I won’t want you anymore!”

“Tell me, what exactly are you two planning?”

“It was Jiu’er’s idea. She wants to use her beauty to get close to Lei Shenbao.” Feng Jiang had no intention of hiding it.

Having someone to share this journey with, as things stood now, felt like a kind of happiness to him.

“She had someone deliberately leak some of her affairs in Yue City to Lei Shenbao, so he could see her true appearance.”

“Lei Shenbao is a lecher. With how beautiful Jiu’er is, it’s no surprise he’d take a liking to her.”

“That girl actually dares to do this?” Qiao Mu’s moon-shaped brows knitted together. “If her man finds out, she’s undoubtedly courting death!”

“Jiu’er hopes to stir up a war between Lei Shenbao and the Duan family of Yongshan City before Di Wu Ya returns.” Feng Jiang once again smoothed out the crease on Qiao Mu’s forehead.

“So she wants to sit back and reap the rewards while the two sides fight it out?” Qiao Mu blinked and said.

“Mm.” Feng Jiang nodded. “With Fourth Imperial Uncle’s whereabouts unknown, Jiu’er doesn’t want to waste too much time here, so this was the only option left.”

“It’s a decent plan, but she really didn’t need to hide it from me and Jian Yi — look at Jian Yi, he was ready to start cutting people down today.”

Qiao Mu rolled her eyes.

“Right, that’s my fault, I didn’t think it through properly.” Feng Jiang gently stroked Qiao Mu’s cheek.

“Little Qiao, will you sleep with me for a while? With you here, I can finally rest easy.”

“Mm.” Qiao Mu nodded, turned, and pressed herself as close into the man’s embrace as she could.

“Sleep then, I’m tired too.”

She closed her eyes, and before long, her breathing evened out.

The man holding her bent down, kissed the top of her head, and closed his own eyes.

Having traveled through the night, the few who had just returned slept clear through until past noon.

It was Xiao Yingtao, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, who personally prepared lunch together with the maids of the Bao residence.

“Wake up, time to eat.”

“Wake up, time to eat.”

Xiao Yingtao went around knocking on nearly every room in the east wing.

Lunch was nearly cold — how could these people sleep this long?

“Wake up, it’s almost evening, and you still won’t get up?”

Getting no response, Xiao Yingtao turned and walked back, continuing to knock on every door she could see.

“Wake up, wake up.”

Xiao Yingtao pushed open Qiao Mu’s door, only to find the room completely empty.

She went next to Feng Jiu’er’s room.

Feng Jiu’er had just woken up, washed, and was getting dressed.

She glanced back at the person who had come in, then lowered her head to tie the string of her clothes.

“The moment you arrive, you’re already making a racket. Don’t forget, this isn’t your territory.”

“It’s our territory now. I brought over a dozen brothers, and the steward didn’t say a word about it.” Xiao Yingtao waved her hand.

“Our brothers are stationed right outside. So far, no one’s dared come bother us.”

“By the way, Jiu’er, where’s Qiao Mu? She’s not back yet?” Xiao Yingtao asked, puzzled.

“If Qiao Mu’s not in her own room, she’s definitely with Little Bao.” Feng Jiu’er sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on her boots.

“Little Bao? Which Little Bao?” Xiao Yingtao stepped closer.

“Bao Lei. Master Bao.” Feng Jiu’er finished putting on her boots and stood.

“Bao… Lei? Little Bao?” Xiao Yingtao’s round eyes went wide, something flickering in them.

“Who else could it be.” Feng Jiu’er tied the cloth strip holding her silver needles around her wrist and walked off.

“Wasn’t lunch supposed to be ready? Did Jian Yi wake up? I’m starving.”

After a full sleep, it really was time to eat.

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao stood stunned for a good while before finally catching up.

“Explain yourself properly — what exactly do you mean? Why is Qiao Mu with Master Bao? What’s going on between the two of them?”

“A man and a woman alone together, sparks flying — what do you think happened?” Feng Jiu’er didn’t even turn around.

“You’re saying they’ve… done it?” Xiao Yingtao truly regretted not tagging along on this trip.

She felt now like she’d missed out on ten thousand taels of silver — what a heartache!

“How far things went, I don’t know. Why don’t you go gossip about it yourself.” Feng Jiu’er pushed the door open and stretched.

The sky was clear and fine, and her mood was good too.

“Fine, I’ll go right now.” Xiao Yingtao, beside herself with impatience, turned and left.

Unfortunately, she stopped in her tracks just before reaching the main room.

Xiao Yingtao halted her outstretched hand and looked back at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, can I really go in?” After all, Qiao Mu wasn’t the only one inside!

“How would I know if you can or not?” Feng Jiu’er arched an eyebrow lightly.

The two of them were gossiping like a pair of newlyweds.

It had been so long for Xiao Yingtao and Xing Zizhou, and now Qiao Mu had found her other half too.

It had been ages since there was any happy occasion — shouldn’t this happy occasion be arranged sooner rather than later?

Maybe a wedding would bring good fortune along with it.

“But I…” Xiao Yingtao swallowed.

She really wanted to go in, but — wouldn’t that be inappropriate?

While Xiao Yingtao hesitated, the door of the room was pulled open from inside.

Qiao Mu emerged first, with no one behind her.

Seeing the person still standing there with her hand raised as if about to knock, Qiao Mu immediately turned and shut the door behind her.

“Xiao Yingtao, were you looking for me?” Qiao Mu closed the door and turned to face her.

Xiao Yingtao looked back at her, blinked, and nodded.

“Mm, it’s time to eat.”

“Alright, got it.” Qiao Mu nodded seriously, turned, and walked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Qiao Mu.” Xiao Yingtao stood dazed for another moment before chasing after her.

“Qiao Mu, are you and Master Bao together now? Are you really together? Qiao Mu, answer me.”

Qiao Mu ignored Xiao Yingtao, looking thoroughly pleased with herself as she came up beside Feng Jiu’er.

“Slept well?”

“Not bad.” Feng Jiu’er answered softly.

The two exchanged a glance, then both turned to look at Xiao Yingtao as she approached.

“Xiao Yingtao, is lunch ready?” Qiao Mu asked.

“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded, then shook her head.

She pulled Qiao Mu forward, her big eyes blinking. “Tell me, did you really do it with him?”

How nerve-wracking! How could it happen so fast?

“Who?” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow smugly.

“Who else could it be?” Feng Jiu’er glanced over at Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu met Xiao Yingtao’s longing gaze, looking even more pleased with herself.

“It happened. When the time’s right, I’ll treat you all to drinks.”

Qiao Mu now was not the Qiao Mu of before.

Indeed, someone nourished by love looked lovelier no matter how you looked at her.

Even if her smile seemed a little smug enough to invite a smack, you still wanted to give her your warmest blessing.