Just as Zhan Qingcheng was about to reach Feng Jiu’er, the sudden sound of galloping hooves echoed from beyond the mountain ravine.

The hoof beats grew closer and closer, and soon the riders came into view.

“It’s Yu Dada who’s arrived!” Feng Jiu’er could hardly contain her excitement. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, I’ll go tell Yu Dada we’re here!”

She spun around and dashed out of the mountain ravine, her figure light and joyful as she moved.

Because she could escape from him, she was this happy…

Zhan Qingcheng’s gaze remained fixed on her retreating figure. Watching her smile so sweetly at Yu Jingfeng, a sudden impulse surged through him — the urge to chop Yu Jingfeng to pieces and roast him over a fire.

Yu Jingfeng had just dismounted when he immediately felt a bone-chilling, suffocating pressure descend entirely upon his shoulders.

“Miss Jiu’er.” After exchanging greetings with Feng Jiu’er, Yu Jingfeng quickened his pace toward Zhan Qingcheng. “Your Highness! Your subordinate arrived late. Please forgive this subordinate’s offense!”

Word had reached them earlier that Miss Jiu’er had very likely come to this place. Upon learning of it, His Highness had ridden hard and fast to get here — none of them had been able to keep up with him.

Now, seeing that Feng Jiu’er’s clothing was torn and slashed, it was plain enough that a fierce struggle had taken place not long ago.

And yet His Highness remained as immaculate and composed as ever — not the slightest sign that he had fought anyone.

But then again, His Highness was His Highness. Even if he had fought, he would still look this clean, radiant, and dashingly refined under ordinary circumstances.

Feng Jiu’er was just about to go greet the brothers of the Twelve Riders when a cold gust swept in from behind her. She barely had time to turn her head before a robe came swishing down and landed squarely over her.

The robe swallowed her up — head and all — and came down so fast that she had no chance to dodge.

Everyone watched with wide eyes as Feng Jiu’er was covered by the Ninth Prince’s outer robe, completely buried under it. When she finally wriggled her way out, looking like a little creature tunneling free, they all suddenly felt… well, they had to admit — that was rather adorable.

Feng Jiu’er at last successfully crawled her way free from the robe, which was enormously oversized for her. Only then did it occur to her that her own clothes were torn.

She glanced toward the Ninth Prince. He had already stepped into his carriage and even let the curtain fall.

There were times when Feng Jiu’er was genuinely filled with admiration for Yu Jingfeng. In a situation like this, he could still attend to the Ninth Prince’s needs with such thorough and meticulous care.

In the middle of a mountain ravine like this, he had even managed to bring a carriage — truly remarkable.

Not only speed, but comfort as well… It really was no easy thing to be the personal aide of a great figure. You had to be capable of what ordinary people simply could not manage.

She slipped the outer robe on. It nearly dragged along the ground. Feng Jiu’er was puzzling over how to shorten it a little when Yu Jingfeng’s voice reached her: “Miss Jiu’er, please board the carriage.”

“Me?” Feng Jiu’er pointed at herself, a little incredulous.

There was only one carriage here. Was he saying she should board the Ninth Prince’s carriage? Surely not — what did she do to deserve that?

Yu Jingfeng gave her a confirming nod, then lifted the curtain. “Please.”

Feng Jiu’er truly did not want to board. Because somewhere in her memory, she had the vague impression that… the Ninth Prince’s carriage had only one seat — and that seat was the Ninth Prince’s exclusive chaise. Whether he wished to recline or sit, the chaise was amply large, but the critical point was that it was not something any ordinary person could sit on.

Seeing that Feng Jiu’er had not budged in the slightest, Yu Jingfeng was beginning to feel a slight headache coming on. He quickly shot her a meaningful look. “Miss Jiu’er, please.”

Feng Jiu’er drew a deep breath. The way things stood, not boarding was simply not an option.

But the key was — she genuinely did not want to board.

Walking over to the carriage, she could not help glancing back, and saw that Qiao Mu was still standing not far away.

Yu Jingfeng immediately said, “No need to worry. We will take good care of Miss Qiao. And if Miss Jiu’er would like Miss Qiao enrolled in the academy, I can arrange it as well.”

“Really?”

“Certainly.” Yu Jingfeng gave her a sideways glance and reminded her once more, “So long as Miss Jiu’er attends properly to His Highness…”

“I’ll go attend to him right now!” Feng Jiu’er, without a moment’s further hesitation, swung her long legs up and climbed aboard.

The curtain fell behind her. The moment she was aboard, the carriage lurched into motion. Caught off balance, Feng Jiu’er nearly tumbled to the floor.

But then she caught sight of the Ninth Prince reclining at an angle on the chaise, and she began to regret boarding all over again.

She should have just left Qiao Mu to stay outside — why had she been so generous, agreeing to come and attend to the Ninth Prince just to help her get into the academy?

This Ninth Prince was not someone just anyone could attend to. Serving him would undoubtedly be an exhausting trial for both body and mind.

Feng Jiu’er immediately raised a bright smile. “Ninth Imperial Uncle.”

“Come here.” He was making himself very comfortable — he had only just settled into his reclining position, and yet a military strategy text had already appeared in his hand.

A man who loved to read — that impression seemed to have been branded deeply into her mind quite a long time ago.

She hesitated a moment before bending slightly and walking over to him. But she had no idea where she was supposed to sit.

She had always known the Ninth Prince’s carriage was thoroughly his domain. Aside from him enjoying it in perfect comfort, anyone else who boarded had nowhere to sit.

Apart from the chaise, there was only the carriage floor. Where else was there to sit?

It seemed she would simply have to sit on the wooden floor.

Jiu’er was still hesitating over where to sit when she suddenly saw him straighten upright — and quite a bit of space opened up on the chaise.

“Um, Ninth Imperial Uncle, you… you stay lying down. You don’t need to make room for me.”

Feng Jiu’er felt a little awkward. His presence was so overpowering — how could she possibly dare sit beside him?

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I’ll just sit on the floor.”

“Mm.” Zhan Qingcheng nodded, and those extraordinarily long legs of his bent slightly. It had to be said — the gesture was truly striking, in a way that left one completely speechless.

Those legs really were extraordinarily long. Long enough to make you question reality.

Long and beautifully formed. No wonder women who laid eyes on him so easily fell into a daze.

With considerable effort, Feng Jiu’er tore her gaze away and hastily gathered her thoughts.

She was wholly devoted to higher pursuits… well, to put it plainly, she was wholly committed to accomplishing great things for the realm and its people. This was not the time for personal romantic entanglements, so how could she allow herself to be dazzled by any man?

Besides, Mu Mu had been so good to her. If the day ever truly came when she had to think about matters of the heart, she ought to think of Mu Mu first. How could she allow herself to develop feelings for any other man?

In any case, she had absolutely no desire to pursue romance right now. So whether it was the Ninth Prince or Mu Mu, fine-looking men like these were simply to be admired from a distance. No need to think beyond that.

She was about to quietly sit down to one side when she heard the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s voice drift over, unhurried and light: “Come here.”

“Hm?” Feng Jiu’er instinctively glanced at his chaise again, then shook her head. “No, Ninth Imperial Uncle, I’ll sit on the floor.”

“This Prince did not say you could not sit on the floor.” His expression was utterly unreadable. “Come sit here.”

What did that mean? He had said she could sit on the floor, yet now he was asking her to come over — men’s hearts were as deep and inscrutable as the ocean. How was there no way to figure them out at all?