His Jiu’er had chosen Ninth Imperial Uncle…

The man standing in the wind, the depths of his eyes flickering with a shade of desperate darkness.

Why? Why would Jiu’er walk alongside Ninth Imperial Uncle?

That Ninth Imperial Uncle who was always so refined and icily distant, who never drew close to young women — why would he strike against him for Jiu’er’s sake?

The two of them, uncle and nephew, had always been on harmonious terms. For Ninth Imperial Uncle to raise his hand against him — this was the first time in his entire life.

Why were they together? What was their relationship, exactly?

Zhan Yuheng suddenly recalled that night he had gone to Feng Manor to speak of the marriage proposal.

They had said Jiu’er had been meeting secretly with a man — yet when he arrived at Jiu’er’s room, the person seated on her bed had been Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Yu Jingfeng had said they were apprehending a fugitive and had requisitioned Jiu’er’s bedchamber for certain reasons.

At the time, his only thought had been why Ninth Imperial Uncle would appear there, and who exactly this so-called fugitive might be.

An ordinary criminal would not be worth Ninth Imperial Uncle’s personal involvement.

Back then, it had never occurred to him that Ninth Imperial Uncle and Jiu’er could have any kind of hidden connection — not given Ninth Imperial Uncle’s aloofness, not given his indifference to women.

But tonight… the fury Ninth Imperial Uncle had shown just now, the killing intent that had radiated so naturally from him…

Ninth Imperial Uncle and Jiu’er… Was there anyone who could tell him what this was all about?

…

Feng Jiu’er ran after him the whole way, and finally, just outside the main gate of Yuyang Hall, caught up with Ninth Imperial Uncle’s carriage.

“Senior Yu, let me on!” Running up to the carriage, she spread her arms wide and blocked Yu Jingfeng, who was driving it forward.

Yu Jingfeng, fearing the horses would hurt her, hurriedly brought the carriage to a stop.

“Miss Jiu’er, this…”

Feng Jiu’er ignored him entirely. She leaped onto the carriage and swept aside the curtain.

Inside, Zhan Qingcheng sat cross-legged in meditation, his eyes closed. The trace of blood at the corner of his lips had been wiped away, yet his complexion was ashen beyond words.

Jiu’er moved quickly toward him and reached for his wrist, intending to take his pulse.

Yet Ninth Imperial Uncle — who had never once refused her — pushed her away.

It was only a casual push, but he had no idea just how much strength that amounted to for Feng Jiu’er.

With a thud, Jiu’er was sent into the wall of the carriage, and her head knocked sharply against the hard wooden panel.

“Ow!” Feng Jiu’er clutched her head, brow furrowed tightly.

The man sitting cross-legged in his breathing exercises barely lifted his eyelids — but in the end, he kept his eyes closed and paid her no mind.

Ninth Imperial Uncle was truly angry. Was it because he was furious that she had been rolling about in the flower field with Zhan Yuheng, her clothing nearly stripped away?

Though it had only been her outer robe that was pulled open, and she still wore her undergarment beneath — but by the standards of this ancient era, that was already a wildly improper situation.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I don’t know how to explain this. My mind had drifted away earlier, and by the time I came back to my senses, I was already with the Crown Prince…”

Feeling the aura around him turn even colder in an instant, Jiu’er let out a breath and said helplessly, “I wasn’t willing. Truly, I wasn’t.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, do you trust me?”

But the other party gave absolutely no reaction. Even that brief chill, with the weakening of his energy, faded away.

His injuries were severe. At this point, even channeling his energy to heal himself was beginning to exceed his strength.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, will you let me have a look at you?”

Feng Jiu’er lunged toward him again, this time gripping his hand with all her might, refusing under any circumstances to let go.

Zhan Qingcheng raised his hand, intending to push her away — yet for reasons unknown, in the end he only gave the gentlest of nudges.

Ninth Imperial Uncle couldn’t bring himself to hurt her again! Feng Jiu’er’s eyes lit up. Her fingertips settled immediately on the pulse point at his wrist.