Zhen Jiu’er looked down at her wrist.

In an instant, her whole body went rigid!

The Tongxin Key!

It was the very pendant she had always worn—the paired key that symbolized a bonded heart!

It was the one Ninth Imperial Uncle had given her!

Why? Why was the Tongxin Key on her wrist now?

Last night—no, in the early hours of this morning—what exactly had happened?

Back in the cave, when they’d spotted the snake, Lu Beicheng had picked her up.

After the assassins left, she’d wanted to get down, but he never let go.

Jiu’er understood it was because he didn’t know if there were other venomous insects or snakes in the cave, and that Lu Beicheng hadn’t put her down in order to protect her.

At first she’d felt quite uncomfortable and had tried several times to struggle free.

But Lu Beicheng’s strength was simply too great, and she never got the chance to break loose.

In the end, exhausted and overwhelmingly sleepy, she had finally given in.

Bored out of her mind, she’d realized her eyelids could barely stay open, and not long after—perhaps not even two minutes—she had fallen into a deep sleep.

As for how she had actually gotten back, or who had put the bracelet on her wrist, she truly had no memory of it at all.

Ninth Imperial Uncle’s Tongxin Key had somehow returned to her wrist!

The last person she’d seen before falling asleep was Lu Beicheng!

Jiu’er got up at once, rushing out without even bothering to change her clothes.

The sky was already bright, and everyone had begun bustling about with their tasks.

But the weather today didn’t look good—the whole sky hung low and gray, as if it could start raining any moment.

So everyone was searching for a new campsite, hoping to move their camp into the great temple within the imperial mausoleum.

Qin Fei had already led a few people to clear out the great temple, and everyone was gradually moving their things over.

Master Nine’s tent remained utterly still.

Zhen Jiu’er tried to go in, but Ah Ke blocked her at the entrance.

“I need to see Master Nine,” Zhen Jiu’er said, looking at Ah Ke.

Although Ah Ke was a robot, his intelligence was close to that of a normal person—sometimes even sharper.

Ah Ke shook his head. “Master Nine and Yan Qiu are discussing something very important. Jiu’er, you can’t go in right now.”

“But I…”

“Jiu’er, you haven’t brushed your teeth yet!” Ah Ke reminded her.

Zhen Jiu’er’s face flushed, and she shot him a glare before lowering her eyes to the bracelet on her wrist again.

The appearance of the Tongxin Key had thrown all of her thoughts into complete disarray.

She hadn’t found Ninth Imperial Uncle, and yet his Tongxin Key had appeared on her!

Was it really him—was it Master Nine?

“Jiu’er, why don’t you go wash up and brush your teeth first, and grab some breakfast?” Ah Ke’s voice was so gentle it eased the chaos in Zhen Jiu’er’s heart just a little.

Still, she couldn’t fully calm down.

She accepted Ah Ke’s kindness, took the disposable toiletries he handed her, and stepped aside to wash up.

Ah Ke immediately prepared breakfast for her and set it down not far away.

Still, it was some distance from Lu Beicheng’s tent.

Jiu’er understood—Ah Ke didn’t want her overhearing the conversation between Lu Beicheng and Yan Qiu.

She had no idea what they were discussing, but it was likely something important as well.

Jiu’er finally settled her patience, sat down on a small stool, and began eating breakfast absentmindedly.

Inside the nearby tent, Yan Qiu took one last look at Zhen Jiu’er eating breakfast in the distance before lowering the tent flap and returning to Lu Beicheng’s side.

“Master Nine, this… isn’t good!”