The Empress actually quieted down, simply because of Feng Jiu’er’s one line: if you truly love him.

How could she not love A’Jiu? Seeing A’Jiu cough up blood had pained her too — her concern for A’Jiu was not the least bit less than Feng Jiu’er’s.

“This palace knows the news of A’Jiu’s injury must be true. If I did not truly care for him, would I have come rushing here myself to protect him, even at the risk of being condemned?”

Nanmeng Rong was filled with grievance — why did Yu Jingfeng and the others have to treat her with such hostility?

In truth, all she wanted was to bring people to protect A’Jiu!

“A’Jiu is going to the Southern Savage Lands, isn’t he? The divine doctor Mo Bai by his side already went to the Southern Savage Lands months ago — this palace is well aware.”

“But do you know how dangerous the road to the Southern Savage Lands will be this time? Your group is only a little over a hundred people — even with the Twelve Flying Dragon Riders, who can guarantee your safety along the way?”

At this moment, Nanmeng Rong was truly nothing more than a woman devoted heart and soul to protecting her A’Jiu.

Whatever pride, whatever dignity, whatever the title of Empress meant — for the sake of her A’Jiu, she could cast it all aside.

No one could see what she had given up; everyone assumed she harbored ill intentions.

Just now, she had simply been angry that Feng Jiu’er could stay by A’Jiu’s side while she could not, that was all!

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze finally regained a touch of warmth.

In truth, she could plainly see that the Empress’s concern for the Ninth Imperial Uncle was genuine, no falsehood in it.

This time the Empress had come out, she had truly fallen out with His Majesty — even if it hadn’t come to an open breach, this rift between them would likely be hard to mend.

Although their relationship hadn’t been particularly good before either, at least on the surface they were still husband and wife.

After this, they likely wouldn’t even manage to remain that.

“Your Highness, Jiu’er knows you mean well, but if you bring people to escort the Ninth Imperial Uncle, this matter will eventually reach His Majesty’s ears.”

Feng Jiu’er met her gaze, pressing her lips together, and said calmly, “When the Ninth Imperial Uncle returns to the palace one day, how do you expect him to face his own elder brother?”

“This palace cannot be bothered with such things!” Right now, with A’Jiu injured so badly, she didn’t even know if going to the Southern Savage Lands would truly yield a cure.

Although she didn’t know exactly what injury A’Jiu had suffered, the most likely explanation for any connection to the Southern Savage Lands was that someone had placed a gu curse on him.

Her poor A’Jiu, cursed with gu poison — even going to the Southern Savage Lands might not guarantee it could be undone.

Now was the very moment A’Jiu most needed someone to care for him; if she weren’t by his side now, she would regret it for the rest of her life!

Feng Jiu’er had no intention of continuing to reason with her. It wasn’t that she had failed to guard the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s reputation, but this matter still needed an explanation.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle himself might not care, but she, Feng Jiu’er, did. That the Empress could be reckless enough not to care either — Jiu’er couldn’t tell if it was because she loved too deeply, or loved too selfishly.

In any case, Jiu’er absolutely cared about the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s reputation.

Once they returned to the imperial capital, this matter would need to be explained somehow — she had no intention of letting the Ninth Imperial Uncle carry the accusation of having an illicit affair with the Empress.

In the hearts of the common people, the Ninth Imperial Uncle was a legend, the God of War of the Beimu Kingdom!

This, she would not allow to be tarnished in the slightest!

The Empress was settled down. Although she could not personally stay by A’Jiu’s side, at least Feng Jiu’er agreed to let her follow along for the time being.

Strangely enough, everyone here actually listened to Feng Jiu’er — even Yu Jingfeng and the Twelve Flying Dragon Riders were no exception!

The Empress truly had no choice in the matter — she couldn’t keep causing a scene and disturb A’Jiu’s rest.

Tonight, A’Jiu’s complexion looked truly poor; if the commotion continued and provoked him into anger and action again, it would only worsen his injuries.

She had come to protect him, not to harm him!

Long Yi was put in charge of receiving the Empress; when there was no fighting going on, Long Yi was reasonably courteous toward her.

However, tonight there was one strange thing that even Feng Jiu’er noticed.

Where was Emperor Ji? With the Empress’s arrival causing such an uproar — to the point that even the Ninth Imperial Uncle had been provoked into fighting and gotten hurt — why had Emperor Ji not shown his face even once, from start to finish?

This was truly suspicious.

“Where is Lengyue?” Feng Jiu’er asked, once the Empress and her people had gone off to set up camp and rest.

Yu Jingfeng lowered his voice and said quietly, “When she came back and saw the Empress’s people here, I had Long Shi’er escort her back to the Old Master, and afterward Long Shi’er also came here to keep watch.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced back at the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s tent — she had promised to go back and stay with him once everything was settled.

But there were still matters left unresolved — such as tonight’s incident with Lengyue, and the relationship between Emperor Ji and the Empress.

Why was Emperor Ji so unwilling to show himself? The only possibility was that among the people the Empress had brought tonight, there was very likely someone who knew Emperor Ji.

But the people the Empress had brought — Feng Jiu’er had taken a look just now — apart from the Empress herself, were almost all young.

Nanmeng Rong truly was someone who loved beauty — even those who served at her side, men and women alike, were all young and good-looking.

Even the men standing behind her looked to be only in their twenties, each of them at least above average in build and appearance.

So young… Feng Jiu’er fell silent for a moment, and a thought began to take shape in her mind.

There was only one possibility for someone Emperor Ji knew — and that was… Empress Nanmeng Rong herself!

Emperor Ji was the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s foster father, yet he knew the current Empress. And for some reason, he would rather watch helplessly as his beloved foster son was so enraged he coughed up blood, than face the Empress.

Why couldn’t he see her? Was the reason for avoiding her so important that it outweighed even rushing to check on his beloved son after he’d coughed up blood?

“Yu Jingfeng.” Feng Jiu’er glanced at him sideways, then turned and walked off into the distance.

Yu Jingfeng had Long Shi’er keep watch over everything here, and immediately followed after Feng Jiu’er. “Miss Jiu’er, what are your orders?”

This spot was far enough from the tents and away from the crowd, with no patrolling brothers nearby, making it safe enough to talk.

Feng Jiu’er turned to look at him, and after a moment, said, “Old Master Di Ji… is a member of the Tianzun Sect.”

Yu Jingfeng was startled, hastily lowering his voice. “Miss Jiu’er…”

“Is it true or not?” Feng Jiu’er’s voice wasn’t loud — she had already checked their surroundings, and these words would not be overheard by anyone.

Yu Jingfeng took a deep breath, and after a long while, slowly exhaled and nodded. “Yes. He is our… Old Venerable Master.”

This matter, it seemed, couldn’t be hidden from Miss Jiu’er — better that he tell her himself than have her go ask the Ninth Prince later.

“Why is he afraid to see the Empress? Has he met her before, given his identity?”

As head of the inner palace, the Empress ought to remain within its walls at all times.

But this Empress had never been one to stay put — just as now, she had openly left the palace with a group of people.

With so many people involved, talk would spread — even if no one knew where the Empress had gone right now, eventually word would surely break out that she had secretly left the palace to meet the Ninth Prince. This woman really was a magnet for trouble!