“Thirty percent.”

Di Wu Ya tucked a stray lock of dark hair behind Feng Jiu’er’s ear, answering softly.

Feng Jiu’er swallowed hard, forcing herself to steady her emotions.

“Thirty percent? I seem to recall… by that point, the sky had already started turning pale.”

The last time she’d opened her eyes, dawn had nearly broken.

Feng Jiu’er didn’t remember much of last night — nothing but pain, and more pain.

In the end, she’d lost count of how many times she’d drifted in and out of consciousness.

It was only when the sky was nearly light that he had finally let her go.

“Only once.”

Di Wu Ya’s lips descended again, his voice growing hoarse.

Feng Jiu’er stared at the handsome face looming closer, her eyes going even wider.

“You’re telling me — nearly an entire night, and it was only… once?”

Heavens! She’d let her guard down.

Last night they’d gone to bed fairly late, but this had gone on until nearly dawn — at least two-plus hours by the old reckoning. How was that possible?

Feng Jiu’er looked into those eyes tinged faintly red and didn’t dare voice her doubts.

She was certain — if she questioned his prowess, she might escape last night, but she would never escape tonight.

“Ninth… Imperial Uncle, you’re amazing! Let’s just wait until I’ve grown up a bit more, all right?”

“Also, I really do have matters to attend to — go on, hurry!”

“The plan can’t be thrown off. We’re bound to win — and there will be plenty of days ahead.”

Feng Jiu’er wriggled free of the man’s embrace, and in the blink of an eye, she had vanished from sight.

Ninth Imperial Uncle was poison! Last night she felt as if she’d been skinned alive, and she’d thought he’d finally been satisfied.

She never imagined that had only been thirty percent of his strength — terrifying! Feng Jiu’er hurried off without once looking back.

She didn’t go anywhere else, but walked once more into the west wing courtyard.

“Jiu’er, did you find anything?”

Zhao Yusheng saw her and came forward to greet her.

“Nothing.”

Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “Has Jian Yi woken up yet?”

Zhao Yusheng glanced toward Jian Yi’s room and shook his head. “Haven’t seen him.”

With what had happened to Feng Jiang, nearly everyone staying in the west wing had gotten up — Jian Yi was the only one who hadn’t been seen.

Feng Jiu’er followed the direction of Zhao Yusheng’s gaze and walked straight toward the room on the west side.

She came to Jian Yi’s door and knocked lightly. “Jian Yi, it’s Jiu’er. Are you in there?”

“Come in.”

Jian Yi’s voice came from inside.

Feng Jiu’er gave the door a light push, and it opened.

“What’s wrong?”

Jian Yi set down the book in his hands and stood.

“Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

Feng Jiu’er showed no particular emotion, looking at Jian Yi just as she always did.

“Mm.”

Jian Yi nodded.

“Someone poisoned my Third Brother this morning. We still don’t know how the enemy got in.”

Feng Jiu’er came to his side, sat down, casually picked up the book on the table, glanced at it, and set it back down.

“By the way — did you notice anything unusual last night?”

Jian Yi shook his head, saying quietly, “I heard about what happened.”

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

Yet Feng Jiu’er kept her eyes fixed on him without blinking.

Jian Yi met her gaze, his handsome sword-brows arching slightly. “Have you noticed that I’m better-looking than that fellow?”

Feng Jiu’er let out a short laugh and stood up.

“Everyone said you’d be upset that I got married, but it doesn’t look like it bothers you at all.”

“Glad you’re all right! I’m going to go check on the situation. Come to the rear hall in half an hour — there’s something to discuss.”

As Feng Jiu’er turned, the smile on her lips vanished abruptly.

Jian Yi seemed perfectly normal, and yet she had caught something off in his eyes.

There was another important thing — the place where Ninth Imperial Uncle lived was crawling with highly skilled members of the Longwu Army.

For someone to slip past everyone’s watch and poison a person in broad daylight — whoever it was, they were no ordinary opponent.

Would things turn out the way she suspected?

A dull ache settled in Feng Jiu’er’s chest.