“Foster Father, you said…”

“I trust Jingfeng’s judgment. That Feng Jiu’er — she should not be a wicked person.”

Emperor Ji waved a hand. The weariness about him had grown heavier still; it was evident that just now, he had expended considerable inner energy to treat the Ninth Prince’s injuries.

Yu Jingfeng cupped his hands toward him in a respectful bow: “Elder Master, I will go at once and prepare your evening meal and everything you need to rest.”

Emperor Ji nodded, and only then did Yu Jingfeng turn and leave.

The moment the door closed behind him, Leng Yue’s expression remained as troubled as before.

She looked at Emperor Ji, biting her lip, her tone one of aggrieved complaint: “Foster Father, the Young Lord was wounded this gravely because of Feng Jiu’er. Are you truly not distressed?”

“Am I not distressed?” Emperor Ji glanced at her, a trace of helplessness in his gaze. “What is done is done. What use is there in demanding who is to blame?”

“What matters most is that he chose to save her of his own free will. You know his temperament well — if it is something he is unwilling to do, you could press a blade to his throat, and he still would not lift a single finger.”

“Foster Father…”

“Foster Father understands what is in your heart. But the matter between Feng Jiu’er and him — it is their own affair. Yue’er, it is not your place to involve yourself, nor should you.”

Emperor Ji closed his eyes and began to channel his inner energy to heal, as though he had no further wish to continue this topic with her.

Leng Yue truly felt aggrieved. She only cared for the Venerable Lord — was even that a fault?

It was clearly all Feng Jiu’er’s fault, and yet no one blamed her! She had brought the Venerable Lord to the very edge of death — was she not supposed to pay any price for that?

Why did everyone take that woman’s side?

“Yue’er, if you truly care for Wuya, then rather than standing here, go out and stand guard alongside Yu Jingfeng’s men, protecting this place.”

“Foster Father…”

“Wuya’s whereabouts could be exposed at any moment. Once exposed, it will draw many enemies upon him. Do you understand?”

Leng Yue still wanted to say something more, but seeing that Emperor Ji had truly lost all desire to speak with her, she had no choice but to leave.

Not long after, Yu Jingfeng carried food inside. Emperor Ji said: “So then — leading the Longqi new army to march under the Prince’s banner toward Phoenix City, pretending to be the Prince — was that truly her own idea?”

“It should have been.” Yu Jingfeng set the food on the table and turned to look at him.

“Just before the Young Lord lost consciousness, he handed the command token to Miss Jiu’er. He didn’t actually tell her what to do with it — only told her to protect herself well.”

“It seems that boy has genuinely set his heart on Feng Jiu’er.”

Yu Jingfeng hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded: “Indeed, he truly has set his heart on her. As for Miss Jiu’er heading now toward the border city — I suspect she knows we intend to go to the Southern Wilderness to save the Prince. Fearing the Prince might be in danger along the way, she used this method to draw eyes away from him.”

“In doing so, the dangers on the Prince’s side are greatly reduced — though it means Miss Jiu’er herself faces no small number of difficulties ahead.”

With news spreading so wildly out there, had he not been personally escorting the Prince, he might well have believed the Prince was on Feng Jiu’er’s side himself.

He still wasn’t sure exactly how Feng Jiu’er had managed it — but the fact was, everyone’s attention had now been drawn toward that direction.

Emperor Ji was silent for a moment, then gave a slow nod: “That girl — she actually has something of a great commander’s bearing. Leading the army to Phoenix City is likely not only meant to shield Wuya on his journey.”

Yu Jingfeng was startled, a flicker of puzzlement crossing his face: “Elder Master’s meaning is…”

“If they truly march to the border city and use the Ninth Prince’s name and authority to rally the army against the enemy — who would know that the Ninth Prince is not at the border city at all, but has instead gone to the Southern Wilderness?” Yu Jingfeng was struck speechless. He truly had not thought of it — so this had been Miss Jiu’er’s true purpose all along!