The small fishing boat slowly began to move, and everyone grew even more anxious.

“Night Prince, are we really not going to wait for Jiu’er?” Xiao Yingtao couldn’t help herself, stepping forward to ask.

By now, all the lanterns on the boat had been extinguished. Feng Li sat on the deck, gazing into the distance.

“Night Prince, Jiu’er, she…”

“They’re back.” Qiaomu’s voice cut off Xiao Yingtao’s words.

Sure enough, along the riverbank, in the woods, two figures appeared—one tall, one short. The two of them leapt onto the treetops and bounded toward the fishing boat.

Fishing boats were a common sight on the river—even at this hour, they were never entirely absent from the waters of Songjiang. This was exactly why Shan Zhengyang had chosen a fishing boat: small, but safer for it.

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao rushed forward as she watched Feng Jiu’er land steadily on the deck.

Feng Jiu’er knocked lightly on her head. “Do you have to be so loud? Afraid people won’t know I’m back?”

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao hugged her tightly. “I was really afraid you wouldn’t come back—waaah… why did it take you so long?”

“Only Jiu’er and Jian Yi could manage that kind of speed,” Gong Xinyue said, bringing over a water pouch and handing it to Feng Jiu’er. “Anyone else wouldn’t have been able to keep up.”

“Thanks.” Feng Jiu’er took the pouch and gulped down several mouthfuls. “Where’s General Shan? Is he doing alright?”

“He looks decent enough,” Qiaomu said, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly.

Feng Jiang took her hand and coughed lightly. “He’s old enough to be your father.”

“Brother Jiang’s jealous,” Yue Qinchun laughed.

“General Shan and Zhao Yusheng are inside,” Xing Zizhou said quietly.

Feng Jiu’er went over to Feng Li and sat down on the deck, legs bent. “Father, we’re about to meet Ninth Imperial Uncle.” She looped her arm through Feng Li’s and leaned against his shoulder, gazing up at the scattered stars in the sky.

“Everyone come inside—there’s sweet potatoes and buns,” Long Shiyi’s voice called out. Beside him, Gong Xing’er was munching on a bun.

“Oh?” She spotted Jian Yi first, then quickly noticed Feng Jiu’er. “Sister Jiu’er, Brother Jian Yi, you’re back. I was just worried you two wouldn’t make it back—everyone was so unhappy.” She blinked, then stuffed the entire bun into her mouth.

The way she looked, she didn’t seem all that worried at all. But her eyes were so genuine and adorable that no one could bring themselves to doubt her.

“Go on inside, everyone. I’ll stay out here with Father for a while,” Feng Jiu’er said, smiling at the group. “Sorry for making everyone worry! Get some good sleep—I’ll take the night watch.”

“Everyone go inside and rest,” Xing Zizhou said, waving a hand. “Jiu’er, I’ll rest for an hour, then come out to relieve you.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er nodded lightly.

Everyone gradually filed into the cabin. Long Shiyi and Gong Xing’er brought buns and sweet potatoes out for Jian Yi, Feng Jiu’er, and Feng Li, then disappeared as well.

Day gradually broke, and more and more boats began passing by. Feng Yinan and Long Shiyi, dressed as fishermen, went in and out from time to time, while everyone else stayed inside the cabin.

“Our allies will meet us at this spot,” Xing Zizhou said inside the cabin, pointing at a location on the map. “If all goes smoothly, there’s not much to worry about regarding landing.”

“About how long until we reach this place?” Qiaomu asked.

“I just calculated it—probably another two hours or so,” Zhao Yusheng replied.

“These next two hours are also critical,” Shan Zhengyang said, walking in from inside. “My man just passed by and said there are six search boats ahead—half again as many as yesterday.”

Everyone turned to look at Shan Zhengyang as he came to a stop before them.

“Did General Shan…” Xiao Yingtao frowned slightly. “Meet with someone?”

“No need to meet,” Shan Zhengyang replied. “They only need to leave a mark on the sail.”

“I see,” Xiao Yingtao nodded. “With at least six search boats ahead, we can’t count on being lucky enough to avoid all of them. What if, before we even reach our allies, we…”

A messenger bird landed on the windowsill, catching both Feng Jiu’er and Zhao Yusheng’s attention.

“I’ll get it,” Zhao Yusheng said, standing.

That drew everyone’s attention to the bird as well. Zhao Yusheng picked up the bird, untied the tube from its leg, and pulled out the letter. Without opening it, he turned and handed it to Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er tore it open, and a moment later, the corner of her mouth curled up slightly. “Sister Hua and Brother Yue have come too. She said before that I should send word to her before leaving the city—I really didn’t expect her to be right here on the Songjiang River.”

“She says Feng Qiongcang’s people have been watching them closely. She left Yongshan City and is heading east.”

“Sister Hua’s complaining that because of us, she and her husband, wanting to go sightseeing, keep getting harassed.”

“My father and mother are here?” Yue Qinchun’s face lit up with delight.

“Mm,” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “We can slow down and follow Sister Hua’s boat when the time comes.”

“You can recognize their boat?” Qiaomu raised an eyebrow.

“She said it has the Yue Family Hall banner—how could I not recognize it?” Feng Jiu’er looked up, the corner of her mouth curling again. Their Sister Hua really was anything but low-key when it counted. So what if she wasn’t? Just as adorable either way!

“Could Jiu’er be speaking of the Yue Family Hall of Yuecheng?” Shan Zhengyang asked.

“Yes,” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Feng Qiongcang must know about our connection with the Yue Family Hall—that’s why he’s been chasing Brother Yue and Sister Hua’s boat so relentlessly. If we can really catch up with their boat, we might be able to slip through in the chaos.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Shan Zhengyang nodded.

“It’s a good plan, but we still need a backup,” Feng Jiu’er said, glancing around at everyone. “These are all brand-new human-skin masks—everyone put one on.”

Two quarters of an hour later, everyone on the boat had a completely different appearance.

“Jiu’er.” Feng Yinan came in from outside. “It’s the Yue Family Hall’s banner.”

Feng Jiu’er followed him out of the cabin through the back door. Sure enough, she saw the three large characters “Yue Family Hall” clearly displayed.

Feng Jiu’er coughed lightly, holding back a smile, and hung the two pieces of cloth—one red, one white—that she’d just cut, from the stern of the boat.

Soon, on the large boat drawing closer, the two people who had been chatting and laughing heard word from their subordinates and went up to the second floor of the cabin. The husband and wife stood by the railing outside and saw the pitifully small fishing boat.

“This boat’s really falling apart, isn’t it?” Tang Xiaohua shook her head, looking rather disdainful.

Yue Jianfei wrapped an arm around her, the corner of his mouth lifting. “They’ve finally made it out—now you can relax, right?”

“My daughter’s in their hands—how could I not worry?” Tang Xiaohua frowned. “She’s your daughter too, you know.”

“Mm.” Yue Jianfei nodded lightly. “It’s been several months—I wonder if the little thing has grown any taller.”

“And here I thought you weren’t worried at all.” Tang Xiaohua’s gaze fell once more on the small, shabby fishing boat ahead. Compared to their own boat, the one Feng Jiu’er and the others had been on truly was quite pitiful.

Yue Jianfei gently rubbed her back. “How could that be?”