Empress Dowager Ning said nothing. She simply stared at Feng Jiu’er’s face for a long moment, unable to come back to herself.

This morning, she had heard that A’Jiu had brought a young woman home. She had only wanted to come and take a look. She had not expected to find the girl sleeping directly in A’Jiu’s own bed.

This was something that had never happened in all these years — at least, something she had never personally witnessed.

A’Jiu had always disliked being close to young women. A woman could not so much as brush against the sleeve of his robe. Even she, his own Imperial Mother, had found it impossible to be overly intimate with him once he had grown up and understood the ways of the world.

She would not claim certainty about everything, but on a matter like this — if any young lady had slept in A’Jiu’s bed, he would have had the bed, the bedding, and quite possibly the entire room replaced.

And yet Yu Jingfeng, upon seeing this young lady, had shown not the slightest expression of surprise. Yu Jingfeng had always remained at A’Jiu’s side, and by the look of things, this seemed as ordinary as anything.

Could it be that this young woman often slept in A’Jiu’s bed?

The old woman could not quite work it out in her mind, and she had not yet told the still-bowing Feng Jiu’er to rise. Yu Jingfeng hesitated briefly before reminding her, “Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager, Miss Jiu’er is paying her respects to you.”

Empress Dowager Ning blinked, and then recovered herself. She gave a small nod. “Rise.”

Feng Jiu’er breathed a quiet sigh of relief and stood upright.

“Raise your head and let me have a proper look.” The Empress Dowager’s voice still carried a trace of agitation, though it held none of the commanding arrogance one might expect.

Whether in the overall impression she gave or in her manner of speaking, she seemed like a genuinely gentle person — entirely impossible to dislike.

Feng Jiu’er raised her head and met her gaze.

“What a beautiful child.” The Empress Dowager could not help but let out a quiet sigh. This girl had a beauty that surpassed that of a lotus rising from water — truly a rare, clean, and luminous loveliness, seldom seen.

But A’Jiu was not a man driven by a love of beauty. Over the years, nations from every direction had sent him beautiful women — countless of them, every manner of beauty imaginable. If A’Jiu cared only for beautiful faces, he would not still be unmarried to this day.

Empress Dowager Ning studied Feng Jiu’er carefully for a good while longer before turning back to look at Yu Jingfeng.

Before she could even open her mouth, Yu Jingfeng immediately said, “In reply to Your Ladyship — the Emperor summoned His Highness urgently into the palace this morning. Long Yi accompanied His Highness out, and it is not known when they will return.”

The Emperor’s urgent summons naturally meant something important had arisen. When exactly His Highness would return was naturally not something they could know.

The Empress Dowager nodded. She did not press further, and instead turned back to Feng Jiu’er with a gentle tone. “Go wash and freshen up, then come keep us company for the morning meal.”

Feng Jiu’er actually wanted to return to the Academy, but the Empress Dowager had spoken, and it simply was not appropriate to refuse.

She could only bow her head and say, “Yes.”

By the time Feng Jiu’er had tidied herself and stepped out, the Empress Dowager was already waiting beneath the pavilion in the rear courtyard.

From the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s chambers, it was a bit of a walk to reach the rear courtyard pavilion. Along the way, it was Yu Jingfeng who accompanied her.

“Why did you not follow the Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er asked. Hadn’t he always been inseparable from him?

“Miss Jiu’er is staying in the manor. His Highness instructed me to attend to Miss Jiu’er, so I remained behind.”

Yu Jingfeng replied evenly. He had grown accustomed to it — whenever Miss Jiu’er was present, his role would naturally shift to become her personal attendant.

Jiu’er glanced at him again, feeling all the more that the treatment she received at the Ninth Prince’s manor was truly extraordinary. Not only did the guards open the gates for her at any time, but even the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s most trusted right-hand man had been left behind to attend to her.

Calling it “attending” was perhaps an exaggeration — it was more accurately accompanying her. But he was the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s closest subordinate.

The fact that the Ninth Imperial Uncle had left him here for her own sake spoke volumes about just how excessively he doted on her.

“Well then — Lord Yu…”

Yu Jingfeng gave a small start and quickly looked down at her. “Miss Jiu’er, you remember me?”

Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow, not understanding. “What do you mean? Is there some reason I should not remember you?”

It wasn’t as though her mind had broken.

Yu Jingfeng parted his lips, wanting to say something, yet not knowing how to say it.

Hadn’t she forgotten His Highness the Prince? But she actually knew to call him “Lord Yu.” Did that mean she had only forgotten His Highness the Prince, and nothing else?

This sort of condition was truly peculiar beyond measure.

Feng Jiu’er rubbed her temples. She knew her mind was indeed not quite right. Judging by Yu Jingfeng’s expression just now, the Ninth Imperial Uncle also knew she had a problem — didn’t he?

And yet the Ninth Imperial Uncle still doted on her so — even though she had already forgotten so many things from the past…

“Never mind. There are things I genuinely cannot recall right now. The Empress Dowager must be waiting — we should not keep her.”

Once she had kept the Empress Dowager company through the morning meal, she ought to take her leave. The Academy had daily training exercises — she had to get back.

Yu Jingfeng was reminded by her words and suddenly remembered that Empress Dowager Ning was still waiting in the rear courtyard. He quickly said, “Yes, right away — let me take you there.”

Beside the Empress Dowager stood a small palace maid. By the look of things, the two of them seemed to be on very good terms — they could chat and even laugh together, and the Empress Dowager had not a shred of airs about her.

Feng Jiu’er walked into the pavilion and gave a bow. “Jiu’er pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. The initial shock had passed, and she was now thoroughly composed. “There is no need to be anxious. Come, sit down and join me for the morning meal.”

“Yes, Empress Dowager.” Feng Jiu’er took a seat across from her.

The stone table was not large, yet it was laden with all manner of pastries and refreshments.

The Empress Dowager waved a hand, and Yu Jingfeng promptly withdrew. Her own small palace maid remained where she was, standing to one side. Even when the Empress Dowager spoke, she seemed not to mind the maid’s presence at all.

By the looks of it, the maid had truly been at the Empress Dowager’s side for many years.

Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze. Because this was the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s own Imperial Mother, she was on her best behavior in the woman’s presence — as gentle as a lamb.

If others treated her with one measure of respect, she would return ten. That had always been Feng Jiu’er’s guiding principle.

The Empress Dowager could not help but look Feng Jiu’er over several more times. This clean, clear, and translucent appearance — the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw.

“Eat more.”

“Yes, Empress Dowager.” Feng Jiu’er was not at all reserved, and ate far more pastries than the Empress Dowager.

She had training drills to go to later, and the workload over a full day was absolutely immense. She would need to eat well to ensure she had enough stamina.

As it turned out, the Empress Dowager seemed to find her unpretentious manner all the more agreeable with every passing moment.

“No wonder A’Jiu is fond of you.” She said suddenly.

“Pardon?” Feng Jiu’er blinked, swallowed the last bite of pastry, took two sips of clear tea to rinse her mouth, and then said, “Jiu’er did not quite catch what the Empress Dowager said just now. My apologies.”

“It was nothing.” Empress Dowager Ning smiled, her expression serene and benevolent. “Since you and A’Jiu have already…”

Some words were still a little difficult to say aloud, even at her age — she was, after all, a woman.

The Empress Dowager changed her approach and said directly, “Given the situation between you and A’Jiu, you ought to choose an auspicious time and let A’Jiu take you in.”

Take her in? What did that mean?

Feng Jiu’er looked at her. She thought about it. She thought harder. And then, in a rush — both her bright, clear eyes went wide.

Take her in — did that mean taking her into the manor as his woman?