No matter whether Tuoba Keyan was willing or not, the matter seemed to have already been decided.

The one who arrived was none other than Minister Sang, a first-rank favorite at the side of the Ruhe Great King.

“The Great King commands that all parties be brought to the palace. He will conduct the questioning himself.” Minister Sang came bearing the Great King’s oral decree — who would dare to obstruct it.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the Second Prince. Second Prince Tuoba Ermeng gave a nod.

She smiled faintly. This time, she had gambled right.

All the stalling she had done just now had been in hopes that the Second Prince would truly make some move — giving her an opportunity to appear before the Ruhe Great King and say her piece.

As for the Second Prince — why had he dared to do this? He too had been placing a wager.

Everything that had come before had given him the impression that the person behind Xing Zizhu was sharp-minded and meticulous — a remarkable talent. Since they had dared to have him send troops, they must have already thought through an exit for him.

Otherwise, to so recklessly ask him to send forces to shield them like this would be, from his perspective, a path to certain death.

It had to be said that the stakes the Second Prince had put down were far higher than what Feng Jiu’er had bet.

“First Highness, it appears our wager can be dispensed with.” Feng Jiu’er offered a faint smile and stepped before the Second Prince. “One of my companions is still inside this room. I must trouble the Second Prince to have people stand guard for a few days.”

“Agreed.” The Second Prince did not hesitate — with a wave of his hand, men immediately poured in and established a full defensive perimeter around the entire courtyard.

Xing Zizhu let out a long breath of profound relief. No matter what else, giving Xiao Yingtao two or three days to recover was of vital importance to her condition.

In Xiao Yingtao’s present state, she truly could not be moved carelessly again.

As for what would happen in those two or three days — even he himself did not know.

“Zizhu, you stay here and watch over Xiao Yingtao. For the next two days there is no need to change the dressings — simply have her take two small pills orally, morning and evening.”

Feng Jiu’er took a small bottle from her bag and pressed it into Xing Zizhu’s hand.

Xing Zizhu was taken aback. “Jiu’er — is there nothing I can do to help?”

Although staying to care for Xiao Yingtao was what he wished for, he could not simply leave Jiu’er’s affairs unattended.

Moreover, Jiu’er was about to follow them into the palace. If she had nothing of real substance to say in order to persuade the Ruhe Great King, she herself might not come back out.

Where exactly did she get her confidence? Was there something going on that even he did not know about?

Jiu’er said nothing. There were too many people here and too much she could not say aloud.

“Since that’s decided — everyone into the palace!” Tuoba Keyan gave a contemptuous snort, and with a wave of his hand called out, “Take them back!”

“Wait.” Feng Jiu’er glanced at him mildly. “I am still waiting for one more person.”

The capital was not, in truth, a particularly large place — at least compared to their Bei Mu’s imperial city, it was considerably smaller.

For someone with exceptional lightness skills, going and coming back should not be too difficult an undertaking.

“What scheme are you trying to pull now?” Tuoba Keyan narrowed his eyes, plainly at the end of his patience. “Don’t tell me you’re looking for a chance to escape.”

Ha. Escape at this point — and not think about what would happen to his second royal brother who had thrown in his lot with them?

“The Second Prince is protecting me. No matter what happens, I will not run.” This was a promise to Tuoba Ermeng, and Jiu’er’s expression was calm — but resolute. “Second Prince, I am still waiting for someone of great importance. It won’t be long.”

These words had barely fallen when, not far away, a figure came streaking swiftly through the air — and in the blink of an eye had arrived before everyone present.

A master!

The guards at the sides of both Tuoba Keyan and Tuoba Ermeng immediately went on high alert.

“She is the person I was waiting for — stand down!” Afraid they would come to blows in the confusion, Feng Jiu’er called out loudly at once. “Xue Gu, I’m over here.”

Xue Gu touched down lightly with a few quick, floating bounds, landing softly at her side.

Looking more closely, it was not only Xue Gu alone — she was carrying an infant cradled in her arms.

Tuoba Keyan studied the child for a moment. The baby was at most a few days old, and appeared somewhat underfed.

Then, thinking back on everything, Tuoba Keyan could not help but let out a loud, hearty laugh. “Ha! I thought you had some brilliant final move — it turns out you’ve only brought back our father’s child!”

He laughed. So it was all for this — what a waste of the admiration he had felt for a brief moment. He had thought this girl truly had some remarkable last play, and yet — so it was nothing more than this.

What did it matter that this child was their father’s? At most, it only proved that the Second Prince had indeed been wrongly imprisoned before — but the Second Prince had already been released. Whether he had been wrongly imprisoned mattered not at all to their father at this point.

What mattered now was that the Second Prince had colluded with Bei Mu people and harbored criminal intent within the capital. That charge alone was more than enough to make the Second Prince lose their father’s trust for the rest of his life.

Feng Jiu’er said nothing. In the face of his contemptuous, mocking gaze, she still wore that faint, unhurried smile — neither warm nor agitated.

Still so calm. Whether this woman was to be called sufficiently composed or simply foolish — he honestly could not say.

“Very well. Since you all insist on seeing our father, then go before him and make your case.” Tuoba Keyan pulled at his reins with a cold snort. “Escort them into the palace to be presented!”

Tuoba Ermeng stepped forward, and said quietly, “There is no need to trouble Eldest Royal Brother with this.”

He looked at Feng Jiu’er — that one glance long and deep. But at this point, everything could only be left to trust in them.

He then turned to Minister Sang and said, “Royal Uncle, after you.”

Minister Sang glanced at Feng Jiu’er once more, hesitated only briefly, then nodded. “Then let us proceed to the palace and settle this there.”

……

This was the first time the Ruhe Great King had appeared before outsiders since the assassination attempt.

His complexion looked somewhat pale — but he did not appear to be seriously wounded.

It seemed that the Ninth Imperial Uncle, in wanting to wound him, had intended precisely to wound him and nothing more. The appearance of being nearly at death’s door was just that — an appearance. In truth, no vital spot had been struck.

When the Ninth Imperial Uncle made a move, there were absolutely no accidents. If the Ninth Imperial Uncle willed you to live, you would live. If the Ninth Imperial Uncle willed you to die, there was no surviving a strike from his sword.

Minister Sang personally escorted Feng Jiu’er’s party into the palace, with the First Prince and the Second Prince accompanying them the entire way.

Xue Gu and Qiaomu entered as well. Feng Yinan remained outside.

Before going in, Jiu’er had whispered something to Feng Yinan. With the Second Prince’s men standing watch, Feng Yinan would not run into any trouble out here.

At the very least — before anything happened to Feng Jiu’er herself — he would not be quietly taken into custody by certain parties.

“We pay our respects to the Great King!” Minister Sang, upon seeing the Ruhe Great King, immediately bowed in salute.

Tuoba Keyan and Tuoba Ermeng also bowed. “We pay our respects to our father the Great King.”

Yet Feng Jiu’er stood as before — straight-backed in the center of the hall, with not the slightest indication she had any intention of bowing. She only said mildly, “Greetings, Great King.”

She did not bow. Xue Gu and Qiaomu behind her naturally followed suit, speaking in equally plain, understated tones. “Greetings, Great King.”

“Insolent!” Minister Sang saw their attitude and immediately changed his expression. He said furiously, “Before the Great King, how dare you conduct yourselves with such impropriety! Will you not kneel at once and pay proper respects to the Great King?”