Watching Feng Jiu’er on the verge of scaling the inner wall and making it back into the rear courtyard, Cold Moon was so frantic that cold sweat was nearly breaking out across her forehead.

If Mu Mu found out about this, Mu Mu would surely kill her!

Just as the Butterfly Mistress was about to give chase, she heard two distinct rhythms of breathing from within the rear courtyard. In that instant, her steps came to a halt.

Hu Shuang also remained at her side, neither of them charging recklessly inside.

Cold Moon grew all the more desperate. “Mistress! If we don’t give chase now…”

Cold Moon’s words were cut short abruptly — because even she could see it now. Through the rear courtyard gate, she had a clear view of Feng Jiu’er landing right in front of Ye Luosha.

“The Butterfly Mistress has come.” Catching sight of Ye Luosha, Feng Jiu’er felt her emotions grow complicated.

But at this critical juncture, Ye Luosha would at least stand on the same side as herself.

“Mm.” Ye Luosha walked to stand behind Feng Jiu’er.

With Ye Luosha and Elder Shi present, Feng Jiu’er no longer felt as wary of the Butterfly Mistress.

Although the Butterfly Mistress’s martial arts were truly unfathomable, with the two of them here, any attempt she made to act recklessly would inevitably create a tremendous commotion, and the sound of it would certainly rouse everyone in the courtyard.

With only the Butterfly Mistress, Hu Shuang, and Cold Moon, it was absolutely impossible for them to kill her without raising any alarm.

But what Jiu’er could never have anticipated was that just as she stepped out through the rear courtyard gate, a cold, sinister surge of palm force struck from directly behind her.

Her heart lurched. By the time she raised her palm to meet it, it was already too late.

With a thunderous impact, Ye Luosha’s palm landed on her body with tremendous force, and a mouthful of fresh blood burst from her lips. Her slender figure was sent flying by the force of the blow, and she crashed heavily to the ground right in front of the Butterfly Mistress.

That palm of Ye Luosha’s had been unleashed at no less than eighty percent of her full power. With Feng Jiu’er completely unprepared, her heart meridian sustained a severe blow, and she could not even push herself up from the ground.

Hu Shuang helped her up, a brief flash of reluctance crossing her eyes — yet in the end, she sealed her pressure points and escorted her over to the Butterfly Mistress’s side.

“Mistress, we…”

The Butterfly Mistress waved her hand dismissively, her gaze settling on Ye Luosha’s face. She said with a light smile: “My thanks.”

Ye Luosha kept her expression cold and said nothing, clearly having no desire to engage with her. But she did not look at Feng Jiu’er — even though she knew full well that Feng Jiu’er was watching her, she still did not look.

Perhaps she did not have the courage to look.

Feng Jiu’er was indeed watching her. With her pressure points sealed, she could neither move nor speak.

And yet the gaze with which Feng Jiu’er regarded Ye Luosha was remarkably calm — so calm that it seemed to hold not even a trace of resentment.

“If you must blame anyone, blame yourself.” From start to finish, Ye Luosha dared not look at her, for fear of seeing the disappointment in her eyes directed at herself.

She turned and walked back into the courtyard. Elder Shi, however, stood staring at Feng Jiu’er, his five fingers slowly tightening, his steps feeling as though weighted with a thousand pounds, unable to move so much as a single one.

“Let’s go.” The Butterfly Mistress had no desire to linger. A’Jiu was not here, and there was little point in her staying — but bringing this girl back with her would be enough to lift her spirits for some time.

Hu Shuang had no choice but to follow in the Butterfly Mistress’s footsteps, escorting Feng Jiu’er away with her.

“Mistress…” Cold Moon chased after them two steps, but her lightness technique was nowhere near enough to keep pace with them, no matter what she tried.

Turning back, she saw Elder Shi following in Ye Luosha’s wake as well, moving with heavy, plodding steps.

Cold Moon was completely at a loss as to what she should do. Was it even safe for her to go back? But would Ye Luosha expose what she had done?

If Mu Mu found out that it was she who had caused Feng Jiu’er to fall into the Butterfly Mistress’s hands, would Mu Mu spare her?

Yet Ye Luosha herself had also struck Feng Jiu’er with a palm. Had it not been for that blow, the Butterfly Mistress would never have been able to take Feng Jiu’er away so easily.

In any case, was the situation not a little too complicated right now? Could someone please tell her what she was supposed to do?

When Cold Moon returned to the courtyard, she found — to her surprise — that Ye Luosha and Elder Shi were standing right there ahead of her, clearly having waited for her.

Cold Moon’s heart gave a sharp jolt. She felt more than a little fearful. She had slipped out in secret tonight — even Emperor Ji had not known about it.

“Night… Elder.” Cold Moon approached, wariness written plainly in her eyes.

“Tell everyone that you personally witnessed Feng Jiu’er leave on her own accord.” Ye Luosha said in a cold, flat voice.

“Elder Ye, I…”

“If you still want to live, do as I say. Tell them that the direction Feng Jiu’er left in was Phoenix City.”

Cold Moon turned it over in her mind, and finally gave a nod. “I understand.”

Ye Luosha was truly a shrewd and calculating old hand. This affair was now being pushed entirely onto Cold Moon’s shoulders. Saying that Feng Jiu’er had gone to Phoenix City naturally implied she had gone in search of the Ninth Prince.

Whether Mu Mu believed it or not, there was nothing to be done until they reached Phoenix City.

And once they arrived in Phoenix City and no one found Feng Jiu’er — well, perhaps Cold Moon had lied, or perhaps Feng Jiu’er had encountered someone along the way. But either way, it would be Cold Moon’s problem, with nothing whatsoever to do with Ye Luosha.

But she was in Ye Luosha’s hands right now — what other choice did she have?

As for what would happen once they reached Phoenix City, she would deal with that when they got there.

“I know what to do.” Cold Moon drew a long breath, and abruptly turned to walk toward the front courtyard.

“Palace Mistress.” Elder Shi watched Cold Moon disappear into the distance, then turned to look at Ye Luosha, releasing a soundless sigh. “That child…”

He did not continue, but the Palace Mistress would certainly understand what he meant.

Why did the Butterfly Mistress hold such a fixation on Feng Jiu’er? There was surely some deep grievance or entanglement between the two of them. The Butterfly Mistress had, after all, already come close to killing Feng Jiu’er once before.

Now that Feng Jiu’er had fallen into the Butterfly Mistress’s hands, it was unlikely she would make it back alive.

Word had it that the Butterfly Mistress was fond of cultivating Gu. Whether she intended to kill Feng Jiu’er outright, or to use her as a means of training her into a Gu person, he did not know.

But regardless of which it was, such a fine young girl would be thoroughly ruined either way.

People’s hearts were made of flesh, and Elder Shi could truly not bring himself to dislike Feng Jiu’er. If anything, he had grown increasingly to admire the manner in which the girl conducted herself.

But now… there was simply no way to undo what had been done.

“You’re blaming me for being ruthless, aren’t you?” Ye Luosha asked, her expression unreadable.

Elder Shi moved his lips. He seemed about to say something, but in the end released only a quiet sigh. “The Palace Mistress suffers more deeply in her heart than I do. I understand.”

Ye Luosha said nothing more, and turned her back to him.

But in that moment of turning away, beneath the light of the moon, the corner of her eye caught a faint glimmer of moisture.

No one is born willing to be a villain. No one comes into this world wanting to do wicked things. Yet these villainous deeds must be carried out by someone.

Feng Jiu’er — if you truly cannot escape your fate, if you perish out there in the world, then that is simply your destiny.

But if you survive against all odds — come back and take your revenge on me in the future. I will be waiting.

The night wind blew in long, howling gusts. It was late autumn already, with winter no more than a month away. Yet no one could say when this cold winter would finally pass.

Such a night always carried with it a coldness that chilled the heart.

“The Young Palace Master is likely to come looking for someone very soon.” Since things had already come to this point, there was little to be gained from dwelling on it further. Elder Shi could only give a quiet reminder: “Palace Mistress, tonight’s affair has nothing to do with you. Please go back to your room and rest.”

Ye Luosha gave a nod, and stepped away toward her room.