To make him answer for himself, she had to become his Crown Princess.

Only once she was known throughout the realm as his Crown Princess would Feng Jin no longer dare act recklessly, and only then would the Gao family have a chance of surviving.

“I’ve already said we’re the same kind of person. Once you’ve thought it through, come find me at the Dragon Leap Inn.”

Concubine Ya left those words behind and walked off without looking back.

…

A full day and night passed without the slightest movement, until Gao Lingzhi could no longer hold back and went to lift the curtain of Chen Hong’s tent.

He never imagined that while he himself was as anxious as ants on a hot pan, she would actually be in the mood to look in a mirror.

“Chen Hong!” Gao Lingzhi didn’t even want to look at her face any longer. “Don’t think that just because you hold the Crown Prince’s token, you can do whatever you please!”

“If we can’t kill Feng Jiu’er, then what was the point of this whole journey west?”

Chen Hong went on applying powder to her face, not even sparing a glance at the man who’d entered.

Gao Lingzhi gave a cold snort, dropped the curtain, and turned to walk toward the woods.

“Deputy General, what are your orders?” A guard ran up to greet him.

“Leave me alone!” Gao Lingzhi flicked his sleeve and strode forward.

He wanted to see for himself just what Feng Jiu’er was up to. That woman was sly and cunning — how could she possibly be staying put willingly?

What Feng Jiu’er and the others were doing turned out to be completely beyond his expectations.

“Lucky you caught fish today — I’m sick to death of roast chicken.” Feng Jiu’er tore off a piece of fish and put it in her mouth.

“Have some vegetable soup.” Zhao Yusheng handed her a bowl.

Feng Jiu’er took the bowl and looked at the man approaching: “So handsome — who’s this?”

The two Gao family soldiers sitting with them roasting fish had just looked up and nearly choked on their food in fright.

“Deputy General.” Both of them set down their roasted fish at once and stood.

“What are you doing?” Gao Lingzhi was about ready to explode with rage.

These two had actually gotten this friendly and chatty with Feng Jiu’er?

“Reporting to the Deputy General, this subordinate was just… a bit hungry.” The soldier didn’t even dare raise his head.

He hadn’t wanted this either, but the food the enemy made was simply too tempting.

The other soldier turned around and brought over his own roasted fish. “Deputy General, this one hasn’t been touched — would you like to try it?”

“Have you all gone mad?” Gao Lingzhi’s brow furrowed tightly.

The two men standing before him were no ordinary soldiers; they each commanded several hundred men. How could they be so foolish?

The captain set down his roasted fish and came over to Gao Lingzhi’s side.

“Deputy General, this subordinate just heard some news, not sure how reliable it is.”

Gao Lingzhi looked at Feng Jiu’er, who was holding her bowl with both hands and drinking her soup, and frowned. “What is it?”

“This subordinate heard that something’s happened to the Gao family — Concubine Ya nearly died in the palace and is now missing, and Master Gao has fled somewhere with the family, no one knows where.”

“The Deputy General also knows that ever since we left, Master Gao took the last sixty thousand troops of the Gao family army and departed as well.”

“If the Emperor intends to wipe out the Gao family, I’m afraid…”

“Who’s talking nonsense here?” Gao Lingzhi glared at the captain.

Another captain walked over as well and said in a low voice, “Deputy General, we only just heard Feng Jiu’er’s people discussing this.”

“Just in case, it might be best for you to send someone to find out more.”

Gao Lingzhi composed himself and strode toward Feng Jiu’er.

With a ring of steel, he drew his sword and leveled it at Feng Jiu’er’s throat.

Zhao Yusheng and Feng Yinan both rose at once, shielding Feng Jiu’er behind them.

“No need. He’s no match for me.” Feng Jiu’er licked her lips and held out her bowl. “Another bowl, please.”

“Everyone, sit down. Shouting about killing each other during a meal — is that fair to the fish that died for it?”