It was said that there would be no talk of marriage for half a year, but in truth, everyone knew the imperial family was breaking off the engagement.

After half a year, if no one brought the matter up again, the engagement would simply be considered over.

That was exactly what this decree meant.

Suddenly, Feng Jiu’er recalled what Ninth Imperial Uncle had said before: that Jiu’er was still too young, not suited for marriage.

This decree, it seemed, had likely been issued in accordance with Ninth Imperial Uncle’s wishes after all.

Everyone in the world said that Ninth Imperial Uncle stood second only to the Emperor himself, beneath no one else — but now that Jiu’er thought about it, why did it seem like Ninth Imperial Uncle wasn’t even afraid of the Emperor?

“Jiu’er, why haven’t you accepted the decree and given thanks?” Old Master Feng reminded her.

Only then, still somewhat dazed, did Feng Jiu’er kneel and accept the decree. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s generous gifts.”

She said it with a cheerful smile, her words carrying none of the reverence expected of her — had it been anyone else, they might already have been charged with a crime for such impudence.

But since she was known to be a simpleton, who would bother holding it against her?

In any case, the imperial family’s message had been delivered, and the gifts had been brought along. The eunuch exchanged a few words with Old Master Feng, then turned to pay his respects to the Crown Prince before leading his procession away.

That was how the imperial family broke off an engagement — no elaborate reason needed. In the end, the marriage was simply called off.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.” Only now did Old Master Feng have a moment to bow to him.

Feng Junzhuo and the others naturally hurried to pay their respects to the Crown Prince as well.

Only Feng Jiu’er, holding the gold-inlaid jade the Emperor had bestowed on her, examined it with great interest, paying no mind to the Crown Prince whatsoever.

The engagement was off now — surely Zhan Yuheng had gotten exactly what he wanted, hadn’t he?

She didn’t feel sad in the slightest — only, for a brief moment, she felt a touch of sorrow on behalf of the real Feng Jiu’er. Just a brief moment, nothing more.

“Grandfather, I’m going back to my room to count my gifts!” Feng Jiu’er said brightly, calling for the servants to carry the bestowed gifts back to her courtyard.

The servants and maids standing nearby all wanted to laugh, yet none of them dared to.

Feng Jiu’er really was a fool — to have been jilted by the imperial family itself, utterly humiliated, with little hope of ever finding a good match again in her life.

And yet she could still smile like a blooming flower, so carefree and without a single worry. Unless she really was a fool, no one in her position could possibly smile at a time like this.

Especially with the very person who had broken off the engagement standing right in front of her.

Everyone glanced at the Crown Prince, unsure whether they should actually follow Feng Jiu’er’s instructions and carry the gifts away.

Not one of them dared move an inch.

“What’s wrong? I want my things taken back to my room. Hurry up, or else they’ll all get taken away like last time.”

Feng Jiu’er’s words made everyone present mortally embarrassed.

Last time, the gifts from the Ninth Prince’s residence had indeed nearly all disappeared.

“Who would dare touch a gift bestowed by my Imperial Father?” Zhan Yuheng walked over to stand before her.

With these words, the Crown Prince was warning everyone present that if anyone dared lay a hand on Jiu’er’s gifts this time, he would show no mercy.

There was a glimmer of amusement in Feng Jiu’er’s eyes, but when she turned to look at Zhan Yuheng, her face was the picture of innocence. “Oh, Brother Crown Prince is here too?”

“Brother Crown Prince, what did His Majesty’s decree just now mean? Are we supposed to get married after half a year?”

She was doing it on purpose! She simply wanted to see just how cruel this man could be toward Jiu’er.

Jiu’er’s words left everyone stunned for a moment.

Feng Junzhuo was just about to scold her when Zhan Yuheng spoke first. “If, after half a year, my Jiu’er can come back… then we will marry.”

The sudden obsession that surfaced in his eyes startled Feng Jiu’er so badly that her hand trembled, nearly causing the gold-inlaid jade in her grip to fall to the ground.

What did he mean? Why couldn’t she make any sense of what Zhan Yuheng was saying at all?

Come back from where? Wasn’t she standing right here, alive and well? And why did his expression look… so full of deep and unwavering devotion?