Zhan Qingcheng had arrived in haste. He had come ahead of the others — it was quite some time before Long Yi and the rest of his guards came rushing up behind him.
The bows of the assembled crowd, and even the Empress’s call — Zhan Qingcheng appeared to have heard none of it.
He simply walked directly to Mu Mu and said, brow slightly furrowed, “What is the situation?”
With so many people present — and he spoke only to Mu Mu.
This Mu Mu was nothing more than a new student at the Academy. Word was that he had rendered merit following the Ninth Prince on the last campaign, though no one knew exactly what he had done to earn it.
Yet the Ninth Prince had ignored every single person here — even the Empress — and was willing to speak to him alone.
The future this young man would have was likely beyond measure.
Mu Mu paid no mind to the astonished looks of those around him. Facing the Ninth Prince, there was no sign of deference or apprehension in him — he simply gave a composed, slight bow and said, “Jiu’er is currently in the midst of rescuing His Highness. The bleeding has been stopped for now, but the full extent of his condition remains unclear.”
Zhan Qingcheng moved to step past him and enter — and Mu Mu took a step back to stand directly in his path.
“Your Highness — Jiu’er’s orders were that no one is to disturb her.”
He was actually blocking the Ninth Prince.
When Mu Mu had blocked the Empress earlier, the crowd had not been particularly shocked, in truth. The Empress, though of high station, was simply not on the level of the Ninth Prince.
To these palace guards and attendants, women of the inner palace ought to stay in the inner palace — and for an Empress who was always seen outside, and who had given rise to so many rumors in times past, there was genuinely no way to hold her in any real reverence.
But the Ninth Prince was different. The Ninth Prince was the pride of the entire Bei Mu nation, the ardent ideal and aspiration of every hot-blooded young man among them.
And now, Mu Mu was actually blocking their idol.
Mu Mu stood his ground before Zhan Qingcheng, without any retreat. “Your Highness, this subordinate asks your pardon.”
Everyone looked to the Ninth Prince, waiting for his fury to break.
His Highness always acted as he pleased — who did not know that? For Mu Mu to dare block him was nothing short of daring to touch the reverse scale of a dragon.
Yet to everyone’s disbelief, Zhan Qingcheng looked at him for a moment — and then drew back his step. He even retreated two full paces.
He simply stood outside the curtained area, listening intently to what was happening within. There was not even the faintest indication that he intended to push his way inside.
He had actually been stopped by Mu Mu — and willingly at that.
But the Empress could not stand by and watch her A’Jiu be treated this way. A’Jiu had always been so unbridled and untamed — what right did some insignificant new student at the Academy have to stop him?
“You tell him to—”
“Whoever dares approach — cut them down without mercy.” Zhan Qingcheng said, his face utterly expressionless.
The moment his words fell, Long Yi immediately led the guards in sealing off every angle around the curtained area — joining the same line as Mu Mu.
The Empress’s five fingers, hidden within her sleeve, kept squeezing tighter and tighter. She told herself: do not lose your temper, do not make a scene. A’Jiu liked quiet women. He did not like those who threw themselves at him.
She had such formidable military forces at her command — she was more qualified than any other woman to stand at his side.
It was only because she had been too eager in the past that A’Jiu had looked down on her.
From that day onward, she had already decided — from now on, she would take a different path, and make A’Jiu see her in a new light.
Before long, Feng Jiu’er’s voice drifted out from within.
Qing Yun went straight inside. “Miss Jiu’er, what are your instructions?”
“Is the carriage ready?” Feng Jiu’er’s voice sounded as steady and composed as ever.
The girl was uninjured.
Zhan Qingcheng waved a hand. Long Yi stepped forward at once and, speaking through the curtain, said, “His Highness’s carriage is nearby, Miss Jiu’er. Would you like to use it?”
Hearing that it was the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s carriage, Feng Jiu’er’s eyes lit up at once. “Good — use the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s carriage. Qing Yun, lay a couple of extra thick blankets inside and bring it around.”
She had ridden in the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s carriage more than once. It was clear that the Ninth Imperial Uncle himself had no particular requirements — but those who served under him would never permit the slightest discomfort on his behalf.
So the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s carriage was genuinely the most comfortable of any carriage she had ever been in.
And right now, what she needed was exactly that — a carriage that was as comfortable as possible.
“Yes!”
Qing Yun received the order and immediately went out.
Outside, with the Ninth Prince standing watch, not a single person dared push past into the enclosure.
Shortly after, Long Yi personally drove the carriage around. Feng Jiu’er and Qing Yun carefully lifted Zhan Yuheng inside, taking every precaution not to disturb his wound and risk another bleeding episode.
Then Feng Jiu’er herself climbed in, let the curtain fall, and said in a steady voice, “Take him back to the palace quickly.”
As for the people outside — from start to finish, she had not glanced at a single one of them.
The carriage set off on its way back to the palace. Feng Jiu’er kept watch at Zhan Yuheng’s side the entire way, on guard against any sudden bleeding from the wound.
The Empress, seeing that her son was still conscious, finally let out a breath of relief.
Much as she despised the idea of Feng Jiu’er remaining at her son’s side, she found herself suddenly thinking that perhaps it was not the worst thing after all.
At the very least, with Feng Jiu’er attending to Zhan Yuheng, she would have no time to cling to A’Jiu.
Watching Feng Jiu’er treat A’Jiu with such cool indifference, the Empress was about to say something more — when Zhan Qingcheng had already vaulted onto his horse and was moving, close on the heels of the carriage.
Long Yi led his horse over to Mu Mu and said in an even tone, “This friend — Miss Jiu’er is likely to be occupied for some time. We would trouble you to inform Master Huo Yan and ask him to excuse Miss Jiu’er’s absence.”
Mu Mu said nothing. His gaze was fixed on the procession ahead, and the fingers of one hand slowly tightened.
Then, from up ahead, the Ninth Prince’s low voice carried back through the air: “I personally guarantee her safety.”
The Ninth Prince had actually taken it upon himself to say this — to reassure this young man. Those traveling with him could not help but look at Mu Mu once more, utterly unable to grasp what it was about a mere new student that made the Prince treat him with such singular regard.
Regardless — the Ninth Prince’s words finally let the grip ease from Mu Mu’s clenched palm.
He bowed toward the procession ahead. “This subordinate thanks Your Highness.”
Then he leapt onto the horse Long Yi had brought, spurred it forward, and rode in the direction of the Imperial Academy.
The Empress watched the procession simply leave — heading back in the direction of the palace. One by one, every face around her was taut with anxiety, and not a single person so much as acknowledged her before going.
“Your Highness, we still do not know the Crown Prince’s condition. Perhaps it is best to return to the palace first.” A palace maid at her side offered the reminder.
She herself could not understand the Empress — when news had arrived at the Ninth Prince’s Manor that the Crown Prince had been ambushed, she had been frantic, as if consumed by fire. Yet the moment she laid eyes on the Ninth Prince here, it was as if she had lost her very soul. No matter how captivating the Ninth Prince might be, could he possibly matter more than her own son’s life?
The Empress finally remembered: she had been rather neglecting Zhan Yuheng.
She glanced sidelong at the palace maid, visibly displeased. “I know — my son is what matters.”
And she was not about to let that enchantress Feng Jiu’er remain at her son’s side.
“Return to the palace!”