“Consort Chu is doing well. If the princess were to return, she would surely be even better.”

Elder Wei replied softly.

“Mm.”

Xiao Yingtao let out a light sigh. “Elder Wei, you should head back first.”

“Once the Feng Clan’s civil war has settled, I’ll go back to see my mother.”

“Princess, you are the princess of our Ximu Kingdom, how could you possibly—” Elder Wei’s brow furrowed.

“I have my own plans.”

Xiao Yingtao stood up.

She glanced at Feng Jiu’er, then turned around.

“Please take Elder Wei back first. Thank you all for your help this time.”

With that, Xiao Yingtao walked off without looking back.

“Elder Wei, all I can promise you is that I will do everything in my power to keep her safe.”

“We’ll be leaving soon. Please keep everything that’s happened during this time confidential. Thank you!”

Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands and left, following after Xiao Yingtao.

Elder Wei took a few steps after them, but in the end, he stopped.

Feng Jiu’er caught up with Xiao Yingtao and they returned to her chamber.

Xiao Yingtao was lying on the bed. Only when Feng Jiu’er entered did she poke her head up.

“Jiu’er, am I really the princess?”

Feng Jiu’er came to the bedside, bent down to line up the boots that had been kicked off haphazardly, and sat down.

“The birthmark is real, and you resemble the Consort Chu they described about eighty percent. I think it’s true.”

Xiao Yingtao suddenly sat up and threw her arms around Feng Jiu’er’s arm.

“What should I do? I still can’t believe it, and my heart’s in a mess right now.”

“I want to go back and see my mother, but I don’t want to be separated from all of you. And Xing Zizhou, he—”

“Xiao Yingtao, I’m coming in.”

Xing Zizhou knocked on the door, pushed it open, and walked in.

Seeing the two of them embracing on the bed, he strode closer and asked, “So?”

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to meet his gaze. “You’ve seen the painting. The birthmark matches too.”

“Is Xiao Yingtao leaving with them?”

Xing Zizhou stared at Xiao Yingtao without blinking.

Xiao Yingtao shook her head. “Of course not. I could never bear to part with Jiu’er, and… everyone else.”

“I don’t care about being a princess. I just want to go back and see Father and Mother.”

Xiao Yingtao pouted, lowered her head, and rested it against Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder.

“We already agreed—someday we’ll build a big house and live together, and all our children will grow up together. How could I bear to leave?”

Xing Zizhou let out a light sigh and reached out to cup Xiao Yingtao’s head.

Feng Jiu’er gave up her spot and stood.

“You two talk. But whatever you decide, I’ll respect it.”

Xing Zizhou sat down and pulled Xiao Yingtao into his arms.

“Jiu’er.”

Xiao Yingtao blinked at Feng Jiu’er.

“I’m not leaving yet—Xing Zizhou’s staring at me so hard he’s about to burn holes right through me.”

Feng Jiu’er waved a hand.

“Once you’ve decided, just let me know.”

Feng Jiu’er left, closing the door behind her for the two inside.

In the room, before Xiao Yingtao could even lift her head to speak, her lips had already been captured.

“Mm…” Xiao Yingtao struggled to pull away.

Xing Zizhou held her fast in his arms, his body leaning down over her.

The bed curtains were drawn shut, and the candlelight in the room flickered gently in the passing breeze…

Having parted ways with Elder Wei, Feng Jiu’er led her brothers to begin crossing the great mountain range.

With the route provided by Old General Yuan, five days later, over ten thousand men finally arrived safely at Huaibei City.

The Yongdong Three Cities consisted of Jiangbei City to the south, Huaibei City in the middle, and Dongbei City to the north.

Between Liaodu City and Huaibei City lay an unbroken stretch of extremely dangerous mountains.

Without the route map, passing through would have been all but impossible.