Feng Jiu’er did not go out right away. Instead, she went to find Yue Qinchun.

“Qinchun.” She called out once at the entrance to Yue Qinchun’s chamber, then pushed the door open.

“Oh? Feng Yinan — what are you doing here?”

“Jiu’er.” Feng Yinan turned to look at Feng Jiu’er and rose from behind the table.

“I’m teaching Qinchun a language.”

“What? Learning what language?” By the time Feng Jiu’er came in, Yue Qinchun had also risen to her feet.

“Jiu’er, it’s the language of small animals.” She walked toward Feng Jiu’er with a smile. “But I’m slow-witted — I haven’t managed to learn it yet.”

“That can actually be taught?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Feng Yinan and raised an eyebrow lightly.

“Yinan, it’s deep into the night. You’re a grown man in a young woman’s private chambers. Doesn’t that seem a bit improper?”

“I’m sorry!” Feng Yinan’s brow immediately furrowed.

“Jiu’er, I’m truly sorry. I have absolutely no improper intentions toward Miss Yue. I have always regarded her as a younger sister.”

“Of course, she is a great young lady, and given my background, I would certainly not be worthy of being called her elder brother. I…”

“Elder Brother Feng.” Yue Qinchun turned and looked at Feng Yinan. “I don’t care about your background — you are family to all of us.”

“But…”

Yue Qinchun pressed her lips together and lowered her head.

“You don’t have to keep seeing me as a younger sister. I’m not that young anymore.”

“As long as Qinchun doesn’t mind, that’s all that matters.” Feng Yinan gave her a warm and pleasant look, then shifted his gaze back to Feng Jiu’er.

It was perfectly evident that he had not caught Yue Qinchun’s hidden meaning at all.

“Jiu’er, it’s so late — is there some task at hand?”

“No.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the pair, man and woman, and shook her head.

“Qinchun’s family has arrived. I came to let her know.”

“Really?” Yue Qinchun, who had been feeling a little deflated just a moment before, was instantly overcome with excitement.

She took hold of Feng Jiu’er’s arm and asked eagerly, “My father and mother have truly come? Where are they right now?”

“The brothers reported seeing an approaching column. I’m nine parts certain it’s them.” Feng Jiu’er replied, then took Yue Qinchun by the arm and turned to head out.

The three armies had joined at one place, and the distances between them were not great. That they would come over was something Feng Jiu’er had long anticipated.

“Yinan, if you’re not busy, come along as well.” After taking a couple of steps outward, Feng Jiu’er’s voice continued.

“You’ve been looking after Qinchun all this time. Now that Qinchun’s parents have come, you ought to meet them too.”

When it came to matters of romance, whether the meeting with the family happened sooner or later, it would happen eventually.

Feng Jiu’er had known of Yue Qinchun’s feelings long since. As for Feng Yinan’s — those she genuinely could not determine.

Still, spending the middle of the night in another woman’s private chamber, teaching her the language of small animals — that would be a first for Feng Yinan.

It was enough, at the very least, to say that Yinan did not resist or avoid Qinchun. That was enough.

“Jiu’er, Qinchun — this is all something I should be doing. There’s no need to be polite.” Feng Yinan said softly.

“Elder Brother Feng.” Yue Qinchun turned back to look at the man behind her. “Come along — I want to introduce my parents to you too.”

“Maybe my elder brother came as well.”

“Elder Brother Feng, come on.” Seeing no response from Feng Yinan, Yue Qinchun added another word.

“All right.” Feng Yinan pressed his lips together, gave a nod, and said, “I’m coming.”

The column that had arrived was indeed Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua, accompanied by ten members of the Yue Family Army who had followed them.

Feng Jiu’er personally mounted her horse and rode out with Yue Qinchun and Feng Yinan to welcome them.

Behind them, Yu Jingfeng, Jian Yi, and Qiao Mu — who had heard the news and come to join them — all followed along.

Feng Jiu’er led the group away from where the soldiers were standing guard and rode a short distance further, where they met Tang Xiaohua’s party.

“Mother.” Yue Qinchun was overcome with excitement in an instant. She urged her horse forward. “Father.”

“Father, Mother, I’m here — I’ve missed you both so much.”

Leaving home for a man’s sake was the most reckless thing Yue Qinchun had ever done in her life.

She had not even expected herself to see her own feelings change so quickly.

Now she no longer yearned for Elder Brother Jian Yi — it was Elder Brother Feng who occupied her thoughts.

Yue Qinchun came up alongside Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua and pressed her lips tightly together. Tears swelled in her eyes.

“Father, Mother.” When she spoke again, her voice had taken on a slight hoarseness.

“So you do still remember you have a father and mother?” Tang Xiaohua let out a soft sigh and continued forward.

“Mother.” Yue Qinchun turned her horse around and fell into step beside her.

“How could I ever forget you both? You will always be my family.”

“Oh, right.” She turned to glance back. “Where is elder brother? Why hasn’t he come?”

“Your elder brother — where would he find the time? Now that your father and I have left, someone has to keep an eye on the Yue Family Hall, doesn’t there?”

“Has elder brother actually begun taking charge of the Yue Family Hall’s affairs?” Yue Qinchun looked at her mother — not too thin, not too heavy, her complexion rosy and bright — and felt her heart ease.

“He always loved slacking off before.”

“People grow up eventually.” Tang Xiaohua let the remark fall and looked at the figures ahead.

“Have they been giving you any trouble? What about Jian Yi — has he given you any trouble?”

“No.” Yue Qinchun shook her head and urged her horse to quicken its pace, coming alongside Tang Xiaohua and turning to face her.

“Mother, please stop bringing up Elder Brother Jian Yi from now on. There is nothing between us — truly, nothing anymore.”

Tang Xiaohua looked into her eyes and drew her horse to a stop.

“What happened? Did Jian Yi truly do something to upset you?”

“No.” Yue Qinchun knitted her brows and shook her head vigorously.

“Truly nothing?” Tang Xiaohua looked unconvinced.

“No one has dared to give your precious daughter any trouble yet.” Feng Jiu’er, walking ahead of the group, could hear every word of the mother-daughter exchange clearly.

When Yue Qinchun turned back, she caught sight of Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu approaching.

She pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and urged her horse back to Tang Xiaohua’s side.

“Then what is going on?” Tang Xiaohua looked at Feng Jiu’er and furrowed her brow.

“You can ask Qinchun about this once we’re inside — there’s no rush. Your own daughter’s face is flushed red like that, and you’re still peppering her with questions!” Feng Jiu’er shook her head.

Tang Xiaohua let out a soft sigh and turned to look at her daughter beside her.

“What mischief have you gotten yourself into, just a short while since I last saw you?”

“Mother.” Yue Qinchun looked up briefly, her expression utterly flustered with shyness.

“Let’s talk inside — there are too many people here.”

Tang Xiaohua looked up and around and rolled her eyes.

Where were there too many people here?

“Come on, you’ve been riding all day and yet you still have so much to say!” Feng Jiu’er came alongside Tang Xiaohua.

“Tell me — what have you all brought to eat?”

“A handsome young man — would you like one?” Qiao Mu curved her lips slightly.

“That depends on the quality of the goods.” Tang Xiaohua smiled and met Qiao Mu’s gaze.

“What’s this? What a fine complexion! Aren’t you supposed to be at war? Who goes to war and comes out with skin like yours?”

Feng Jiu’er turned her horse and raised an eyebrow.

“Let’s go — we can talk as we ride.”

“All right.” Tang Xiaohua withdrew her gaze. “What’s going on with Qiao Mu?”

“She’s genuinely become more beautiful — and I’m not exaggerating one bit! Did you pick up some treasure?”