Mu Mu had met with the Ruhe people?

This was something Ye Luosha had known nothing about whatsoever.

Meeting Feng Jiu’er’s deep, steady gaze, Ye Luosha furrowed her brows: “Mu’er has never mentioned this matter to me. It was not my idea, and I had no knowledge of it.”

Even Ye Luosha had not known — at the very least, Feng Jiu’er could be certain that Ye Luosha had not deceived her in this matter.

Then why had Mu Mu chosen to meet the Ruhe people at such a time? Even Ye Luosha did not know. What exactly had he been planning in secret?

Long Yi returned with food. Jiu’er did not dare dwell on it further. She took the food and water and entered the cave, with Long Yi following behind.

Zhan Qingcheng was still channeling his inner energy into Mu Mu. Only when Zhan Qingcheng channeled energy for him would the results be twice as effective with half the effort — so if Zhan Qingcheng could keep going, it was the best possible outcome for everyone.

Yet no matter how formidable one was, continuing like this indefinitely, there would eventually come a day when one could no longer endure.

Jiu’er sat beside them and personally fed Ninth Imperial Uncle water and food.

In truth, his other hand was free to use, but he had grown accustomed to Jiu’er attending to him and was simply too lazy to move it himself.

Sometimes Ninth Imperial Uncle’s laziness could truly reach a degree that would exasperate both gods and men alike.

But seeing the fine beads of sweat that would sometimes seep from his temples, the pallor of exhaustion tinged across his face, and the weariness gathered between his brows — every time Feng Jiu’er looked at his face, she felt a weight pressing down inside her.

Yet she dared not look too long. The more she looked, the more she thought; the more she thought, the sooner that headache would come again.

“Your Highness, when I came back just now, I ran into Long Eleven. He said…”

“The situation in the imperial city — Eleven has already told Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Jiu’er looked at Long Yi, and in truth, at this moment she was carrying a quiet worry of her own.

She had her own considerations, but until things were fully confirmed, it was not yet the right time to speak of them to anyone.

“Long Yi, let Ninth Imperial Uncle rest a moment.”

A flicker of puzzlement passed through Long Yi’s heart. But after glancing once more at Mu Mu, still unconscious on the ground, whatever doubts Long Yi might have held, it was not his place to continue speaking.

He understood clearly that Miss Jiu’er was worried about Mu Mu.

Mu Mu’s current state was tied in no small part to Miss Jiu’er. Indeed, the sword strike had originally been aimed at Ninth Prince, and it was Mu Mu who had taken it.

In a way, Mu Mu had saved Ninth Prince’s life.

Yet all of this had been arranged by the people of Yemingong — so Long Yi did not feel the Prince owed them anything.

There was much he wished to say, but with Miss Jiu’er present, it was not the moment to speak. He could only sit to one side and quietly keep watch over the Prince.

After attending to Ninth Imperial Uncle and seeing him finish his food, Jiu’er sat to one side as well, her gaze drifting unconsciously to her own ankle.

Lifting the hem of her skirt slightly and pulling back the soft boot and stocking, the chain came into view.

The chain that Ye Luosha had always wanted to see. In truth, to say there was no suspicion in Jiu’er’s heart — that was impossible.

She let her long fingers rest on the chain, her fingertips idly turning the small, exquisitely crafted key that hung from it, her gaze deep and still.

At this moment, Ninth Imperial Uncle and Mu Mu were still on opposing sides. They were only bound together now because Mu Mu had been gravely wounded.

Once Mu Mu recovered, would the two of them become enemies again?

There were things she had to clarify quickly. She needed to go and prove it.

Otherwise, she feared that both Mu Mu and Ninth Imperial Uncle might one day carry an unresolved regret to the end of their lives.

She did not know how long she sat there before a faint disturbance stirred outside. Long Yi immediately got to his feet and walked out of the cave.

Feng Jiu’er also wanted to rise, but Zhan Qingcheng spoke quietly: “Stay here, and keep this Prince company.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, they are all wounded.”

Jiu’er understood what he meant — staying at his side was the safest place for her.

She even knew that if things truly came to a crisis, Ninth Imperial Uncle would abandon Mu Mu to save her.

But that was not what she wished to see. She had said it — she did not want either of them to be left carrying a lifelong regret.

“Let me just go and see what’s happening, alright?”

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing, only set his face into a serious expression. Jiu’er felt a touch helpless — when Ninth Imperial Uncle turned domineering, he truly was relentless.

If she dared step outside right now, any slight stirring in the wind or the grass, and Ninth Imperial Uncle would very likely throw Mu Mu aside and come chasing after her.

That was a risk Feng Jiu’er did not dare take.

Outside, someone had clearly arrived. When Long Yi stepped out, neither Elder Shi nor Ye Luosha was present at the cave entrance.

The movement was drawing closer, and the number of people seemed considerable. Gradually, the sounds of fighting could be heard.

Long Yi stayed posted at the cave entrance, not daring to stray far. For him, protecting Ninth Prince inside the cave was the utmost priority.

Jiu’er found it harder and harder to hold herself still: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, those might well be your people — if we don’t go out there, the fighting will only grow fiercer.”

Still Zhan Qingcheng said nothing. Feng Jiu’er moved to him and gave his arm a gentle tug: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, please don’t be unreasonable. I’ll stay right outside the cave — I only want to let Long Yi go and take a look.”

At that, Zhan Qingcheng finally opened his eyes and gave her a faint, sidelong glance.

Though still not a word was spoken, Jiu’er had read that look clearly enough — Ninth Imperial Uncle had finally agreed to let her go outside.

She stood at once and walked quickly to the cave entrance.

Outside, Long Yi was still keeping watch nearby, not having ventured far, his gaze fixed on the direction of the sounds, clearly turning something over in his mind.

“I’m afraid it’s Ninth Imperial Uncle’s people who have gotten into a fight with Ye Luosha and the others.”

“This subordinate had the same concern.” Long Yi nodded immediately.

“Go and see. I’ll stay here and keep watch for Ninth Imperial Uncle.”

“Understood.” Long Yi had been thinking the same thing. He immediately lifted his foot, took his stride, and vanished into the darkness in an instant.

Just as Feng Jiu’er had expected — not long after Long Yi left, the sounds of fighting from that direction gradually subsided. They truly were Ninth Imperial Uncle’s people.

Yet the fighting sounds had been so dense and close-packed that it had not seemed like Ye Luosha and Elder Shi fighting off a large group alone. It had seemed more like two separate groups clashing with each other.

Could it be that, besides Ninth Imperial Uncle’s people, someone else had arrived as well?

Footsteps gradually drew nearer — those people were coming back. In a moment, two familiar figures came into Feng Jiu’er’s sight.

The one seated in the wheelchair was Ninth Imperial Uncle’s adoptive father, Emperor Ji.

Pushing Emperor Ji was the young woman who had always harbored a degree of hostility toward Feng Jiu’er — Emperor Ji’s adoptive daughter, Lengyue.

Both of them were moving in haste, the worry on their faces impossible to conceal.

And behind them, two separate groups of people followed. Some Jiu’er did not recognize, but there were a few faces she did.

Members of the Feilong Shi’er Qi, and a detachment of Longqi Army soldiers that the twelve riders had brought along.

As for the other group — they were now following behind Ye Luosha, each one moving with a steady, nimble step that made it immediately clear they were all well-trained fighters.

Those were Yemingong’s people! Both groups of forces had arrived at the same moment!

Feng Jiu’er went forward to meet them, and before she had even opened her mouth to speak, Lengyue already called out anxiously: “Where is the Prince?”