Because Jiu’er’s injuries had not yet fully healed, she could only travel by carriage. Even so, the horses Qiao Mu had somehow procured from somewhere were visibly strong of leg and swift of pace.

Qiao Mu, dressed in men’s clothing, rode on horseback alongside the carriage, peering through the curtain at the handsome young man within.

It had to be said — Feng Jiu’er in this getup was truly a beauty without rival.

If the Ninth Prince could be called striking, then the Feng Jiu’er of this moment was genuinely beautiful. Between her brows there was slightly less of the bold, heroic spirit of a man and slightly more of the gentle softness of a woman — and this made her face all the more dazzling and soul-stirring to behold.

This time, the souls she was stirring were very likely those of young women.

Qiao Mu had not forgotten: in the afternoon, when Jiu’er had stepped down from the carriage and walked a stretch of the road, the young women they passed had been left utterly stunned and speechless at the sight of that face.

Compared to the Ninth Prince, whose city-toppling beauty could only be admired from afar, the dashing appearance Feng Jiu’er cut right now at least gave people the impression she was someone approachable.

Which was why, at this moment, Feng Jiu’er drew the attention of young women even more than the Ninth Prince — because when young women set eyes on the Ninth Prince, they all understood instinctively that there was no conceivable hope of drawing near.

But Jiu’er was different. She was genuinely someone you could approach.

The very first time Xiao Yingtao had seen Feng Jiu’er in men’s clothing, a faint flush had crept unbidden across her face. If she had not known Jiu’er was a woman, if her heart had not already been claimed by Mu Mu — Xiao Yingtao was quite certain she would have fallen for Jiu’er in men’s clothing.

She was simply too breathtakingly handsome, too lovely to behold! In particular, Jiu’er had somehow procured a pair of boots with elevated soles — and after putting them on, she stood a full half a head taller than usual, making her appear even more slender and striking!

As for Qiao Mu, she was already quite tall to begin with, and dressed in men’s clothing she cut a spirited and particularly fine figure.

Xiao Yingtao herself, on the other hand, was not tall enough, and lacked that bold spirit — at most she looked like a fair, delicate-faced young man. Well, at least the complexion was rather fair.

“Jiu’er — just up ahead is Phoenix City. Do we pass through Phoenix City, or go around it to continue on?” Qiao Mu asked.

“Through Phoenix City,” Feng Jiu’er replied without a moment’s hesitation.

Going around Phoenix City would add too much distance to their journey. If they passed through, leaving the city might prove difficult — but at least there were always certain hours of the day when the city gates would be open.

Of course, if the Ruhe army had driven all the way to the very gates, that would be an entirely different matter.

But they had already heard news along the way: the Ninth Prince had gone out to engage the enemy directly, and the fighting had not yet spread to the area outside the city gates.

As for who was holding the city walls — it was currently General Mu. There were perhaps those who had not yet heard of General Mu’s exploits, but Jiu’er knew: General Mu was Mu Mu.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle had gone outside the gates to fight; Mu Mu was holding the city from within — guarding not only against the Ruhe army, but also against the other forces of the Bei Mu nation.

Word was that the Ninth Prince had been stationed outside the city for the past two days. The two sides had exchanged fire twice, and victory had yet to be decided.

The Ruhe army did not dare to press forward rashly, and the Ninth Prince’s forces were likewise only holding their position rather than giving chase. All told, both sides were quiet for the moment.

But with the enemy forces within plain sight — this war could be set ablaze again at any moment.

By the time night had fallen, they entered Phoenix City by an alternate route.

Phoenix City was under strict lockdown now. The outer gates were guarded with extreme vigilance; the inner gates were somewhat more relaxed by comparison. What surprised Jiu’er, however, was that the atmosphere within the city walls felt remarkably tranquil.

They were even able to find an inn where they could eat and take lodging — it was genuinely almost too much to believe.

“You fine travelers must be from out of town, yes? What urgent business brings you to Phoenix City at a time like this?” The server who brought their dishes over could not help asking a few extra questions. After all, these people before him were each one more extraordinarily fine-looking than the last — especially their leader, who was handsome to such a degree that even he, a man, had very nearly felt his heart stir at the sight.

Asking a few more words was only natural.

Xue Gu was forever the most taciturn of the group. She sat at Jiu’er’s side with her head lowered, eating in silence without a single word.

Qiao Mu wore a cool expression. She disliked nothing more than having people pry into private matters at times like this.

Xiao Yingtao always looked approachable by nature, but even she dared not speak carelessly at this moment, for fear of accidentally letting something slip.

It was Jiu’er who spoke, in a composed and unhurried tone: “We have come from out of town, and are hoping to pass through Phoenix City to exit, and head to South Mu Nation to visit relatives.”

“Oh my — traveling to South Mu Nation at a time like this, the risks are considerable!” The server, seeing that this best-looking of all the young gentlemen was actually willing to talk to him, felt an overwhelming urge to pull up a chair and sit down for a proper conversation.

Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow. She pressed her voice lower to make it sound deeper and more masculine, and asked: “Why is that?”

“Has the young master not heard? The Ruhe army has invaded, and the Ninth Prince is right outside the city this very moment meeting them in battle. Outside the gates right now is quite possibly a storm of fire and devastation — if you head out at a time like this and happen to be caught in the crossfire, would that not be terrible?”

“Is the situation outside the city truly that dire?” Feng Jiu’er seemed somewhat skeptical. “And yet I see that everyone here is living in perfect comfort — there is not the slightest air of a city at war.”

At this, the server’s face filled with unmistakable pride: “Young master, do you not know? The one who has gone out to meet the enemy is our incomparably valiant and mighty Ninth Prince!”

“Oh — so as long as the Ninth Prince is there, you are all at ease?” Hearing someone speak of the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s exploits, Jiu’er felt a warmth of shared pride well up within her, and an irresistible sweetness rose in her heart.

“Forgive us — we are people from South Mu Nation, and merchants at that. We are not very familiar with the Ninth Prince’s deeds.”

“The Ninth Prince! He is our Bei Mu Nation’s God of War — the Prince whom all the people of Bei Mu Nation love and revere most deeply!”

Once the topic of the Ninth Prince was raised, the server launched into an effusive and unstoppable stream of praise. In the end, it was Qiao Mu who said in a low, measured tone: “Young Master Jiu, the food has gone cold.”

Only then did the server come back to his senses and immediately gave a bow before taking his leave.

Jiu’er had listened to quite a lot — the reverence and admiration the people held for the Ninth Imperial Uncle. Though the food had gone cold, when she brought it to her lips it tasted sweeter and more savory than anything she could name.

Ninth Imperial Uncle… so in the hearts of the common people, he truly was such a formidable and towering figure. The people of Phoenix City were living in stability and calm today — even with the great battle not ten li beyond the city gates, not a single one of them was afraid.

Because they all believed: as long as the Ninth Prince was there, the people were safe, and Phoenix City was safe.

Even knowing full well how ferocious and ruthless the Ruhe army was, no one worried they might become fodder for the Ruhe forces’ blades.

With the Ninth Prince here — what was there to fear?

“And yet they do not know that this time, the Ninth Prince faces threats pressing in on all sides. It is also a time of great trial for him.”

Qiao Mu was a little weighted with worry. Though the people’s deep devotion to the Ninth Prince made her heart glad to hear it—

The great figure she herself admired had seemed to rise to a new height of grandeur and stature. Witnessing others’ reverence for him with her own eyes had, without her quite noticing, added still more reverence of her own.

And yet right now — how immense was the pressure bearing down on the Ninth Prince? The common people had no idea at all.

He must be… having a very difficult time, right now, mustn’t he?