Back when the Longqi Army’s new recruits were being selected, neither Mu Mu nor Feng Jiu’er had been chosen.

Jiu’er had returned injured, and it was Mu Mu who had brought her back — so the two of them should have been together throughout.

Whatever the nature of the relationship between Feng Jiu’er and the Ninth Prince, no one knew for certain, but Xiao Yingtao had always believed that Jiu’er was working on the Ninth Prince’s behalf.

And indeed, Jiu’er had produced the Ninth Prince’s command token and taken overall command of this outbound procession.

But then — what of Mu Mu? Mu Mu had personally escorted the injured Jiu’er back. So why was it that on this journey, Mu Mu alone had been left out?

“Xiao Yingtao, this mission belongs to the Longqi Army’s new recruits. Mu Mu is not one of them — is it not perfectly natural that he did not come along?”

“With Mu Mu’s abilities, being selected into the Longqi Army would have been effortless.”

Now that Xiao Yingtao had already spoken her mind, she saw no point in holding anything back.

She bit her lip and fixed her gaze on Jiu’er, displeased. “Jiu’er, you don’t consider me a true friend.”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing. She knew what Xiao Yingtao was referring to and understood that her suspicions had been aroused.

It was not that she did not trust Xiao Yingtao. It was simply that the fewer people who knew of this matter, the better.

Now, however, it seemed rather difficult to keep it concealed.

She poured herself another cup of tea, and as before, tested it for poison before drinking.

“Very well — what exactly is it you wish to say? Since we’ve come this far, you may as well say it all plainly.”

“I suspect… that the Ninth Prince next door is Mu Mu.”

“Must you say it quite so loudly?” Feng Jiu’er gave a helpless look.

Xiao Yingtao seemed to catch herself, immediately biting her lip and dropping her voice to barely a whisper, audible only to the two of them.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. But today — today, when the ‘Prince’ stepped down from the carriage, I looked very clearly. That silhouette… that silhouette was unmistakably…”

Xiao Yingtao left the rest unspoken, but Jiu’er understood perfectly well what she had been about to say, did she not?

“I have no other intentions, and of course I would not speak carelessly of this. Jiu’er, you must believe me.”

Feng Jiu’er still did not speak. Had she not trusted her, she would have restrained her the moment those words left her lips.

Xiao Yingtao understood this well enough and placed full confidence in Jiu’er on that count.

“I simply want a definite answer from you. I want to know whether he is truly who I think he is.”

She looked at Feng Jiu’er — a little anxious, a little eager.

“It seems you very much hope that it truly is him.”

This girl was so taken with Mu Mu — did she even know what Mu Mu had said to her in private?

As a friend, Feng Jiu’er had no wish to deceive Xiao Yingtao. But matters of Mu Mu’s heart — affairs of love and affection — were truly the last thing on her mind right now.

She had never paid much attention to matters of love — and so, whether it was Mu Mu’s engagement or that of Nanmeng Xu, she had never given it much thought.

As for Xiao Yingtao and Mu Mu — whatever became of them in the future was not something she had any standing to weigh in on.

“Since you already believe it to be him, go and report to Huo Yan. Tell him I’ve assigned you to attend closely to the Ninth Prince.”

Having Huo Yan, a grown man, see to those tasks was always inconvenient, and both he and she still had a great many matters to attend to.

Having a young girl take over was the ideal arrangement.

Xiao Yingtao was momentarily stunned. Then, her cheeks flushed red, and she gave a vigorous nod. “Mm.”

She turned and walked straight out the door to find Huo Yan.

This girl… was truly too guileless. When she liked someone, she simply liked them, and made not the slightest effort to hide it.

Feng Jiu’er was just about to take out the map Huo Yan had given her and study it further. The map had barely been unfolded when she suddenly clutched her chest, and the color drained from her face…