Feng Junzhuo’s expression turned strange, and the rage that had been burning in him a moment ago suddenly had nowhere to go.

Feng Jiu’er was also somewhat bewildered by the situation. She had said she was catching a thief — and now, against all expectation, it had turned out to be true!

Of course, the one who had actually caught the thief was not her — but Grandfather said that not a single young lady in the manor had gone out!

“Jiu’er, you truly went to catch the thief last night?” Feng Junzhuo could not help but ask, and even his expression had softened considerably by now.

Of course — because she had now helped someone from the Ninth Prince’s household. The Ninth Prince’s household — what a power that was!

The Ninth Prince — in the capital, what a formidable existence! That was none other than Prince Shezheng himself, before whom even the reigning Emperor had to show deference!

To forge a connection with the Ninth Prince’s household — this was the kind of opportunity one could not find even in one’s dreams!

Feng Jiu’er simply blinked her large, glistening eyes, wearing the look of someone still dazed from a fright and not yet recovered.

In any case, she would neither confirm nor deny it. If it were later discovered that the person who had helped catch the thief was not herself, the blame would not fall on her.

After all, she had never said it was her!

She stayed silent, and everyone simply assumed — naturally, it must have been their manor’s own Ninth Miss.

And so her disheveled state from earlier could now be fully explained.

Whether or not she was dressed improperly no longer mattered — the important thing now was being valued by the Ninth Prince’s household!

The old patriarch added: “For this matter, the Ninth Prince has specifically sent a reward. All the unmarried young women of the Feng family are to be permitted entry into the Imperial Academy to study.”

“Father, is that truly so?” Upon hearing this, Feng Junzhuo was overcome with excitement!

The Imperial Academy — that was the institution of learning reserved exclusively for the younger generations of imperial relatives and nobles.

Those who emerged from it, whether young men or young women, were destined for brilliant futures without exception.

The young men would receive promotions and titles, serving the nation directly; the young women, at the very least, would marry into noble families or the princes of neighboring kingdoms — and those who excelled could even participate in affairs of state!

Heavens — his family’s children were actually going to be admitted to the Imperial Academy. It was almost too much to believe!

Once admitted to the Academy, would the girls still need to worry about failing to marry into imperial and noble families? The Feng Family — they were about to soar to heights they had never known!

And this extraordinary honor — all of it had been brought back by Feng Jiu’er!

But at this moment, Feng Jiu’er herself looked as though she had no idea whatsoever what had just happened — still gazing at Feng Junzhuo with that same miserable, pitiful expression.

“Daddy, I’m really very hungry. Where is Yanu? I want Yanu to make me food.”

……

The rewards from the Ninth Prince’s household were so abundant they made all the young women of Feng Manor green with envy.

Several of her elder sisters came by in turn and took the opportunity to “borrow” a few things on their way out.

Feng Jiu’er played the fool perfectly, looking as though she understood nothing at all.

Had it not been for Feng Junzhuo’s subtle warning that they should not be too brazen about it, Jiu’er’s sisters would likely have emptied both great chests of reward items entirely.

Jiu’er was genuinely unconcerned. What she cared about was Yanu, who had just been released.

“How are you? Did they give you trouble? Did they beat you?”

The moment she saw Yanu carry the food in, Feng Jiu’er immediately shut the door of the room and examined him carefully from head to toe.

Yanu shook his head. Seeing that she was safe and unharmed, relief showed in the depths of his eyes — though he swiftly composed himself again.

Yanu had indeed been beaten by those people. His body was covered in injuries, yet he still wore that same quiet, unruffled manner, wholly devoted to serving her.

Seeing him like this, Feng Jiu’er’s heart ached at once.

“Wet Nurse was killed by them.” She bit her lip, a mist rising in the depths of her eyes.

She gripped Yanu’s hand, her fingers tightening more and more: “I will not let them go unpunished. The ones who killed Wet Nurse — I will find every single one of them, and not a single one will be spared!”