Jiu’er did not understand why Feng Zhenhai said this — but from the look of things, even Grandfather already knew about the ill will between herself and the Empress.

“When the Empress previously sought to have you beheaded, Grandfather went to the palace to plead for mercy, but His Majesty refused to grant an audience.”

There was guilt in Feng Zhenhai’s eyes. His own child had met with disaster, and he had been powerless to do anything about it — he had failed utterly as a grandfather.

“Grandfather then sent someone to make inquiries at the Bureau of Sky Observation. They said you had been rescued by someone. Grandfather was worried that His Majesty might extend the blame to the Feng family and was about to go seek the Empress Dowager’s intercession — when, unexpectedly, the Ninth Prince returned.”

The details of it all were truly difficult to put into words.

“Afterward, hearing that you were at the Ninth Prince’s manor, Grandfather reasoned you should be safe enough. And then there was His Majesty’s secret edict… there are some things Grandfather cannot say, but Grandfather does know that Noble Consort Rong dislikes you.”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing. Some of these things, it seemed, had already circulated throughout the palace and the court.

But then, how could any power in the imperial city be without its own channels of intelligence? Those who had none at all would likely find it very difficult to maintain a foothold there.

So it was no great surprise that Grandfather knew these things.

Feng Zhenhai continued: “Regarding that old matter, Grandfather did once suspect that it might have been the Empress at the time who had struck from the shadows — but thinking it over further, Grandfather came to feel that the Empress was unlikely to have been the one.”

“Since your relationship with Nanmeng Rong is what it is, Grandfather need not be afraid to tell you: the one who pulled the strings behind the scenes to have the Long family banished to the frontier was Nanmeng Rong.”

“In those years, Nanmeng Rong was very active in the early period, doing many things in secret that could never be traced. You need not ask Grandfather how he learned of this — by the time Grandfather knew, the Long family had already departed.”

“After the Long family was banished to the frontier, Nanmeng Rong fell ill with a strange sickness and spent more than an entire month confined to bed… She is absolutely not the sort of person to hide away and feign weakness…”

“That much, Jiu’er knows.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, still listening attentively.

Nanmeng Rong might truly be ruthless and calculating, but she acted boldly and openly — she would never cower in fear.

Feng Zhenhai nodded and continued, “At that time, Nanmeng Rong was genuinely ill — even the Imperial Physicians were at a loss. It was during the period when she was bedridden that the Long family met with this accident while making their way to the frontier.”

“Everyone knew that someone had arranged all of this behind the scenes, but Grandfather did not know who it was, and neither did anyone else. As for Nanmeng Rong — that great illness very nearly claimed her life. It is said she had been poisoned with a strange and unusual toxin.”

“But she was fortunate enough to survive. After being unconscious for nearly a month, she ultimately recovered.”

Feng Jiu’er’s mood was complicated. Listening to Grandfather speak, it seemed he held considerable grievances against Nanmeng Rong and the Nanmeng clan as well — not a trace of respect was evident.

Of course — toward Nanmeng Rong, that scourge of the court, what red-blooded man could look upon her with favor?

Poisoned by a strange toxin and left unconscious for an entire month — in that case, the annihilation of the Long family back then may indeed not have been Nanmeng Rong’s doing.

But if not Nanmeng Rong, then who? The Long family had been a household of loyal subjects, devoted entirely to the nation — who else could have harbored such deep hatred for them?

…When she walked out of the main chamber, Feng Jiu’er’s mind was still somewhat dazed.

Grandfather had been more than candid enough with her. A different person might not have been willing to tell her so much.

For this kindness and care from Grandfather, Feng Jiu’er held it deeply in her heart.

If the Feng family had not had a grandfather who treated her so well, this home would have held no meaning for her whatsoever.

Stepping into the rear courtyard and looking upon the familiar yet also strangely unfamiliar grounds, Feng Jiu’er’s mood was tangled.

Though she had lived here for over a decade, her real memories of this place spanned only those few short years.

The memories formed after that great fire were like rote-memorized lessons forcibly crammed into her head — hazy, distant, and even when they did surface, they carried no feeling behind them.

The most vivid memories she had were all from before she was six years old, even though she had been nothing but a child who understood very little of the world.

This Feng Manor where she had lived for so many years felt so utterly cold and empty…

“Jiu’er, Jiu’er!” On the small path leading to her courtyard, someone suddenly rushed up behind her, voice hoarse.

Feng Jiu’er paused her steps and turned to look at the woman who had run up to her — she did not speak.

Yu Niang had originally been nothing more than a maidservant of the Feng household. But she had been favored by the master of the Feng family, Feng Junzhuo, and after bearing him a daughter, had risen dramatically in station.

Even now her position was not something that could be openly acknowledged — Feng Junzhuo had never made her his proper wife — but she had long since ceased to be an ordinary servant, existing instead as a woman with no formal title.

Indeed, the woman standing before her was the birth mother of Eighth Miss Feng — Feng Qingyin.

“Jiu’er, I have finally managed to catch you returning.” Yu Niang’s eyes were red and swollen, as though she had been weeping for a very long time.

She reached out, meaning to take Jiu’er’s hand. Jiu’er drew her own hand back, stepped away, and put some distance between them.

She had no particular feelings toward Yu Niang — the only feeling she had was that Yu Niang had often joined Feng Qingyin in mocking her former self with cold sneers and cutting remarks.

Yu Niang was born of servant stock and did not dare lay hands on her the way Feng Qingyin did, but her tongue had always been merciless, and her words had always been unpleasant to hear.

She did not feel any sort of bond with Yu Niang — so naturally, the idea of holding her hand and speaking with her seemed quite out of place.

Yu Niang likely realized her own forwardness, but she was too anxious in her heart right now to think about much else.

“Jiu’er, did you come out of the palace earlier? Did you happen to see our Qingyin?”

Yu Niang looked at her, tears concealed in the corners of her eyes, her brow full of an expression that was nearly desperate.

“Feng Qingyin?” Had she seen her recently? Feng Jiu’er could not recall — this person did not seem to have appeared in her life of late.

“Yes, yes — Qingyin. Jiu’er, did you ever see her while you were in the palace? She entered the palace three days ago.”

Feng Jiu’er shook her head, showing no interest in matters concerning Feng Qingyin, and turned to leave.

Yu Niang immediately hurried after her, tears finally sliding down her face. “Qingyin has disappeared. After she entered the palace, she has not come back, and there has not been a single word of news.”

“Does she not particularly enjoy staying at Noble Consort Rong’s Xuanhua Hall? What is so strange about her not coming home?”

This Yu Niang was now blocking her way — Feng Jiu’er felt thoroughly irritated and had no desire at all to deal with her.

“If you want to know about her, just send someone to make a few inquiries with money — would that not do?”

“I have already paid to make inquiries — but our Qingyin is simply not at Xuanhua Hall. She is not at the Empress’s side…”

“There is currently no Empress in His Majesty’s rear palace. If you go around using that title carelessly, are you not afraid of bringing calamity down on yourself?” Feng Jiu’er said coldly.

Yu Niang immediately realized her slip of the tongue. The fact that Feng Jiu’er and Nanmeng Rong were at odds was well known, so this sort of reaction from her was no great surprise.

But Yu Niang was already so frantic that she felt she could hardly go on.

“Jiu’er, please help me — help me find Qingyin. She is not at Xuanhua Hall, and she is not at the academy either! My Qingyin… she has disappeared.”