Those two words — “private feelings” — nearly made Yu Jingfeng’s legs buckle the moment they reached his ears.
“Your Highness, this subordinate… this subordinate absolutely has no private feelings for Miss Jiu’er. This subordinate swears it on his own head.”
Yu Jingfeng was so flustered that sweat beaded across his forehead, and in his desperation to save his own life, he no longer had the presence of mind to choose his words carefully.
“Your Highness, setting aside Miss Jiu’er’s appearance entirely — even if Miss Jiu’er were as beautiful as an immortal descended from heaven, this subordinate would never dare…”
“And what about my Jiu’er’s appearance?” Zhan Qingcheng narrowed his eyes, a sliver of frigid killing intent flickering across their depths.
Yu Jingfeng froze — and then it hit him like a thunderbolt. He nearly dropped to his knees on the spot!
“N-nothing, nothing at all! Miss Jiu’er is as beautiful as an immortal descended from heaven, Miss Jiu’er is the number one beauty in the imperial capital, Miss Jiu’er is…”
“Ninth Imperial Uncle, he’s lying — how could this face of mine possibly be as beautiful as an immortal? He’s mocking me! Ninth Imperial Uncle, you must punish him!”
To make clear that she and Yu Jingfeng truly had no feelings of any kind — Feng Jiu’er, with the air of one righteously severing a personal tie for the greater good — well, bah! Who had any personal tie with Yu Jingfeng?
With a look of solemn righteousness, Feng Jiu’er pointed at Yu Jingfeng: “Brazenly lying before Ninth Imperial Uncle — drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane!”
“M-Miss Jiu’er, last night the two of us were at least…”
“Get lost! When did last night’s events ever involve you in any way with me?!” Feng Jiu’er grabbed hold of Zhan Qingcheng’s sleeve and gave it a shake. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, he’s spreading rumors now — Ninth Imperial Uncle, give him thirty strokes of the board!”
A body as sturdy as his could take thirty strokes without any life-threatening risk.
But if she were suspected of harboring private feelings for him — that truly would be a matter of life and death!
She still needed to keep hold of Ninth Imperial Uncle’s long legs, so right now, she absolutely could not afford to make him angry.
“How has he lied?” Zhan Qingcheng pulled her toward him and gave her head a gentle rub. “You truly are as beautiful as an immortal descended from heaven. He was only telling the truth.”
“Huh — Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Had he lost his mind?
“Get in the carriage.” Zhan Qingcheng’s long legs lifted as he stepped inside, his slender and breathtaking figure vanishing behind the carriage curtain in an instant.
Left behind were two people wearing identically bewildered expressions, staring at each other blankly, unable to make sense of anything for a good while.
As beautiful as an immortal? Her?
“Ahem!” Yu Jingfeng gave a light cough, shot Feng Jiu’er a fierce glare, and said, “Miss Jiu’er, please board the carriage.”
That girl had actually tried to throw him into a pit of fire just to protect herself — it was truly too much!
And to think that just last night they had faced life and death together.
But then, thinking back to that moment last night when she had shoved him out of the way to protect him, his heart softened again.
Well, she was just a young girl in the end. He would not hold a grudge against her.
“Miss Jiu’er, after you!”
Feng Jiu’er stepped up into the carriage as well — but once inside, she discovered that although the carriage was quite spacious, there was no place for her to sit.
There was one wide seat in the carriage, easily large enough for two people — the problem was that Ninth Imperial Uncle sat squarely in the center, and showed absolutely no intention of making room for her.
“Ninth Imperial Uncle…”
The other party glanced pointedly at the floor.
Feng Jiu’er almost rolled her eyes at him. Did they really have to observe rank and hierarchy even when riding a carriage?
Why was it that he got to sit on the seat, while she had to sit on the floor? This was bullying, plain and simple!
Suddenly the carriage lurched into motion — up ahead, Yu Jingfeng had already spurred his horse forward.
Feng Jiu’er, caught off balance, nearly tumbled to the floor.
In the end, the little girl with no rights whatsoever had no choice but to obediently plop herself down on the floor, lips puckered, seething with indignation.
She was genuinely furious! Ancient times and their rigid distinctions of rank — such bullying!
“Come here,” Zhan Qingcheng said mildly.
“I won’t!” She sulked.
Suddenly, a cold current swept through the carriage, drawing her in between his two legs. Feng Jiu’er, caught completely off guard, ended up sprawled face-down across his lap.