“Jiu’er said she would come back often to visit Maternal Grandfather, and if Maternal Grandfather truly misses Jiu’er, he can always send Steward Long to find her, and Jiu’er will come right over — how does that sound?”

Feng Jiu’s words made Long Yan, who was standing behind the old Manor Lord, frantically shake his head and wave his hands, urging her not to make such sweeping promises.

Feng Jiu had no idea just how willful their old master could be. The moment those words left her mouth, the master would most certainly summon her three times a day to come eat with him.

Of course, Long Yan also understood perfectly well that Feng Jiu ran a Tianji Hall — where would she find so much time?

Lan Yue said nothing. She simply watched the scene of Feng Jiu and the old Manor Lord together, her mood still carrying a few threads of complexity.

This young girl’s age — it was perfectly fitting for her to be the old man’s granddaughter. However, the old man had only one granddaughter, and according to what was said, she had already… departed from this world.

Although the Number One Manor Under Heaven had been a fixture in the jianghu for quite a number of years, he had been plagued by a strange illness, and over all these years had been almost entirely disinclined to venture outside.

What was more, although their largest manor estate was situated right within the imperial capital, because the old master’s health was poor, these past several years had been spent almost entirely in the south.

It was only this year, due to certain opportunities, that they had returned to reside in the imperial capital.

As for the old man’s granddaughter — it was simply fated that they would never meet.

Yet now, looking at Feng Jiu again, Lan Yue found herself sensing a few more traces of an elder sister’s presence about her. Though this face bore not the slightest resemblance, Feng Jiu dressed in men’s clothing — her silhouette from behind was truly so alike…

Feng Jiu’s gentle voice rose once more: “Maternal Grandfather, don’t worry. If Steward Long comes looking for Jiu’er, as long as Jiu’er has time, she will come. Of course, Jiu’er will have to be free first — Jiu’er still has her own matters to attend to, isn’t that right?”

“Why does a young girl like you run around doing business all day long?”

The old Manor Lord looked at her dressed in men’s clothing with evident displeasure. “You are just like Long’er — always fond of wearing clothes like these. If you were to wear red bridal finery, you would surely look just as beautiful as Long’er. Ah…”

It seemed the thought of his daughter stirred something in him, and the old Manor Lord began to grow sorrowful again.

Feng Jiu immediately offered comfort: “Very well — when the opportunity arises, Jiu’er will dress in red finery and let Maternal Grandfather have a look.”

……

When they departed the Number One Manor Under Heaven, the moon hung clear and the stars were sparse. The midnight hour had already passed by more than one full watch.

In two more watches, dawn would be breaking.

Not quite sure what was in her heart, Feng Jiu declined Long Yan’s offer to send a carriage to see them off, and walked through the night alongside the Ninth Imperial Uncle. It was not particularly far in any case — walking at a brisk pace, they could arrive within half a watch.

Of course, if they were to use their lightness skills, it would take no more than the time it takes to burn a single stick of incense.

Yet for now, the two of them simply walked in silence, side by side, seemingly indifferent to the time, with no thought of employing lightness skills whatsoever.

Feng Jiu’s mood was still somewhat complicated even now. If tonight’s patient had been anyone else, perhaps there would have been no issue at all.

But this patient… no, it was not the patient’s problem. It was the matter of all the relationships entangled within.

Maternal Grandfather, maternal uncle… clearly not her own maternal grandfather, not her own maternal uncle — so why did it suddenly feel as though she had gained two of the most beloved family members she could ever have?

Most crucially of all — what exactly did the Ninth Imperial Uncle mean? Why had he casually called her Jiu’er? And why had he casually referred to her as a young girl?

Did he or did he not already know her true identity? Had he truly seen through her?

Yet that time before, the “body” he had seen was clearly male…

Feng Jiu truly felt irritated — a stifling pressure she could not put into words.

If he had truly seen through everything, then he should say so plainly, instead of leaving her perpetually guessing like this. This situation — where she had so much she wanted to say, yet did not know whether she should say it — was genuinely maddening.

She suddenly stopped walking, and turned around. She had not expected the Ninth Imperial Uncle to have been watching her the entire time, and the moment she turned, their gazes instantly met.

Feng Jiu was somewhat flustered, and very nearly looked away. But in the end she steadied herself under the pressure and held his gaze directly.

“Ninth… my lord.” The form of address felt deeply awkward. The three syllables of “Ninth Imperial Uncle” hovered at the tip of her tongue every single time, nearly slipping out.

Zhan Qingcheng raised an eyebrow. Although his hat was still on his head, the black gauze was not particularly thick, and the two of them could still meet each other’s gaze with ease.

Feng Jiu felt her little heart starting to race madly again. Alone in the deep stillness of the night, holding a staring contest with the Ninth Imperial Uncle — it was truly more than a heart could endure.

She had thought she had already grown past the age of going weak-kneed over a handsome face, yet the man before her was simply beyond comparison to any ordinary handsome man.

She gave a light cough, not quite knowing where to begin, and in the end she only said: “Ninth Lord, if you keep walking this road, it leads straight to the Ninth Prince’s Manor — why don’t you…”

“You have been to the Ninth Prince’s Manor?” Zhan Qingcheng stepped forward, lowering his gaze to look at her.

His approach immediately sent a wave of pressure crashing over her.

The aura that belonged to the Ninth Imperial Uncle enveloped her from all directions, and just like that she forgot what she had been meaning to say.

“I have…” those two words, once her senses returned, were immediately swallowed back down.

She shook her head. “I haven’t been. I only heard of it. The Ninth Prince’s reputation is so renowned, and he has won the hearts of the people — we common folk naturally hold him in particular reverence, so it is perfectly understandable to have asked around for where the Ninth Prince’s Manor lies. Ninth Lord, wouldn’t you agree?”

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing. He simply fixed his gaze on her.

Deep in her heart, Feng Jiu was trembling faintly. The Ninth Imperial Uncle simply possessed this kind of power — he only needed to stare at you, saying nothing at all, and you felt as though there was nowhere to hide from him.

He stepped forward. Feng Jiu immediately stepped back two paces. “Ninth Lord, I truly need to go rest — there are things to attend to early tomorrow morning…”

“Very well.” And so he hesitated no further, stepping out in the direction of Tianji Hall.

Looking at his proud and upright silhouette from behind, Feng Jiu felt a wave of quiet melancholy wash over her.

There was nothing she could do about him. From back when she was still Feng Jiu’er, she had never been able to do anything about him at all.

Unless the Ninth Prince himself had something pressing and was thoroughly swamped with affairs, whenever he was at leisure, she would be the one to suffer.

“Ninth Lord, surely someone of your standing ought to be busy every single day — why is it that you still have time to wander about everywhere?”

In the end she still caught up with him, and walked shoulder to shoulder at his side.

“Could it be that all the great figures of our Bei Mu Nation are like you — idling about all day long, muddying the waters?”

She was of course well aware that the Ninth Imperial Uncle could be rather petty at times. If she said things he did not like to hear, perhaps in one moment of displeasure he would simply go back to the Ninth Prince’s Manor on his own.

Yet to her surprise, the Ninth Imperial Uncle actually gave a nod, and with perfect solemnity replied: “Mm.”

Mm? What was that supposed to mean? Was the Ninth Imperial Uncle actually admitting that he idled about all day?

“Er…”

“Knowing how to use talent wisely is the superior strategy. As long as the people under one’s command are capable of handling affairs, why should this Prince be busy running about all day?”

He cast her a glance, and said lightly: “This is not muddying the waters — this is an act of wisdom.”