That fright was no small thing. It nearly caused Feng Jiu’er to keel over from dizziness on the spot.

“Your Ladyship, the Ninth Imperial Uncle and I — we… that is… we are not that kind of relationship.”

But who would believe it! Had she not woken up in the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s own bed?

Nothing had actually happened between them the previous night. She did not even know how she had ended up in the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s chambers, let alone how she had come to sleep in his bed.

And yet, today, the Empress Dowager had seen with her very own eyes that she had risen from the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s bed.

By the standards of women in ancient times, this already amounted to a loss of chastity — she was now considered the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s woman.

But she and the Ninth Imperial Uncle truly were not in that kind of relationship!

The one named Lian’er, standing behind the Empress Dowager, was also startled. Her large, glistening eyes went wide as she looked at the Empress Dowager, her expression thoroughly shaken.

“Your Ladyship, perhaps this matter ought to wait until His Highness the Prince returns to the manor before it is discussed at greater length?”

An ordinary palace maid interjecting when the Empress Dowager was speaking — how could she?

And yet when this maid spoke out of turn, the Empress Dowager showed not the slightest objection. It seemed entirely ordinary, as though it had long been customary.

Which made it plain just how elevated this maid’s standing was at the Empress Dowager’s side.

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together, glanced back at her, and shook her head. “A’Jiu’s temperament is what it is — this is not the sort of thing he would concern himself with. If even I, his own Imperial Mother, do not handle it for him, would we truly wait until there is a child before I step in to clean up the matter?”

“Your Ladyship, the Ninth Imperial Uncle and I—”

“There is no need to be anxious. This matter — I will take charge of it for you.” Empress Dowager Ning cut her off, though she appeared to harbor some reservations. “However, the question of a child…”

Before Jiu’er could say anything further, the Empress Dowager spoke again first. “Jiu’er — may I call you that?”

“Of — of course.” Feng Jiu’er was slightly taken aback. Had they not just been on the subject of her and the Ninth Imperial Uncle? Why had she suddenly shifted to a different matter entirely?

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together, a note of helplessness in her expression. “Jiu’er, I am not opposed to you being at A’Jiu’s side — but there are certain things even I cannot decide.”

Empress Dowager Ning was clearly a deeply traditional person. She said, “A’Jiu’s marriage will inevitably require the Emperor to bestow the match. The selection gathering that is soon to be held on A’Jiu’s behalf — although it is true that A’Jiu’s agreement on the chosen candidate is required before proceedings may continue, in the end, the Emperor must still issue an imperial decree to formalize the marriage.”

“A selection gathering for the Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er’s gaze dimmed slightly. This — how had she never heard anyone mention it before?

“Did A’Jiu not tell you?” The Empress Dowager was quietly turning something over in her mind.

Since A’Jiu had not even brought it up with her, it was likely he had not considered giving her the position of principal consort. In that case, there was no need to speak of it.

She let out a quiet sigh and said resignedly, “Jiu’er, do not be anxious. Since you are already A’Jiu’s woman, I cannot allow A’Jiu to treat you poorly.”

“Even if A’Jiu selects a principal consort in the future, I will do my utmost to ensure you remain in the manor — at the very least as a secondary consort. Only…”

Without noticing the way Feng Jiu’er’s expression had subtly turned grim, Empress Dowager Ning continued, “Only — with proper order of seniority to uphold, you must not conceive A’Jiu’s child before the time is right.”

“Although the firstborn son need not necessarily be borne by the principal consort, A’Jiu’s first child should still be reserved for the principal consort to bear.”

She reached out and took Feng Jiu’er’s slightly cold hand in her own, speaking with genuine sincerity, “I do not mean to make things difficult for you. But if you were to conceive A’Jiu’s child before the principal consort, I fear that both you and that child would not have an easy life going forward.”

The power struggles of the imperial family — Feng Jiu’er, being the young girl she was at the moment, naturally would not understand them.

But having lived within the deep palace for so many years, she understood it all too well. If a child were conceived before the principal consort, the principal consort would surely find a way to eliminate that child once she arrived.

She was not suggesting that the principal consort A’Jiu would choose in the future would necessarily be a wicked person — but matters of this kind were entangled with far too many forces and too many layers of complexity.

Even if the future principal consort herself did not act with such cruelty, the faction of power she represented would certainly not let Feng Jiu’er go.

“If you wish to keep yourself and your child safe and live peacefully from that day forward, then you must not vie or compete, must not quarrel or contend. As long as you are genuinely well-behaved and stay within your place, I believe your days in the Prince’s manor will not be difficult.”

By now, Feng Jiu’er’s expression had already returned to its usual calm. She withdrew her hand from the Empress Dowager’s grasp and said evenly, “Jiu’er understands Your Ladyship’s kind concern. However, Your Ladyship has truly misunderstood — the Ninth Imperial Uncle and Jiu’er are not—”

“Her Ladyship the Empress has arrived.” From outside came the announcement of a guard.

Feng Jiu’er’s brow furrowed slightly. That Empress — truly relentless, turning up everywhere like an ill omen that refused to leave.

The Empress had come, and Yu Jingfeng was standing guard outside the pavilion, intending to turn her away.

But with Empress Dowager Ning here today, and the Prince not present — it was better to leave it be. After all, the court had been somewhat turbulent lately, and there was no need to invite unnecessary complications.

The Empress paid Yu Jingfeng no heed whatsoever. She walked forward with the elegant, imperious bearing of her station, heading directly for the pavilion.

What she had not expected was that beneath the pavilion, alongside the Empress Dowager Ning, sat a young woman keeping company with her at the very same table.

Feng Jiu’er.

“What are you doing here?” The moment the Empress caught sight of Feng Jiu’er, her fine brows drew together in an instant, her eyes filled with undisguised displeasure.

Feng Jiu’er turned to look at her. Because the Empress Dowager was present and she did not want to cause the Empress Dowager any awkwardness, she could only stand and give the Empress a slight inclination of her head. “Jiu’er pays respects to Her Ladyship the Empress.”

“Hmph! This consort is asking you — why are you here?” The Empress had always been willful and overbearing. Even with the Empress Dowager present, she showed Feng Jiu’er not an ounce of consideration.

“In reply to Her Ladyship — Miss Jiu’er is here at the Prince’s invitation.” Yu Jingfeng, who had followed behind the Empress Rong into the pavilion, answered.

He had followed her in because he was on his guard against Nanmen Rong. After all, with Miss Jiu’er here, no one could say whether Nanmen Rong might suddenly move against her.

Being made difficult was one thing. As long as Miss Jiu’er was not truly harmed, that would suffice — but seeing the Empress genuinely show not even the smallest measure of respect, Yu Jingfeng could no longer hold back.

“Was it your place to interrupt when this consort is speaking to someone else?” The Empress turned around and glared at him.

She had originally intended to have her people step in, but inside and out, this place was entirely filled with their people. Her orders would likely only be carried out by the guards she herself had brought.

She had not come here today to quarrel. So the affront Yu Jingfeng had given her — she would endure it for now.

Her gaze swept to Feng Jiu’er. She could endure Yu Jingfeng. She absolutely could not endure Feng Jiu’er.

“A mere person of low birth dares to sit as an equal alongside Her Ladyship the Empress Dowager? Whoever gave you such monumental audacity?”

Empress Dowager Ning’s expression darkened, and she was about to say something in Jiu’er’s defense — when, unexpectedly, Feng Jiu’er herself replied first.

“Your Ladyship, Jiu’er’s grandfather was the former Great General who Protected the Nation. While Jiu’er’s mother was alive, she rendered outstanding service for this nation and its people. Jiu’er is absolutely not of low birth!”