“The Young Patriarch is fine-looking and impressively talented — of course he’s not lacking.”

Jiu’er’s gaze stayed fixed on Zhao Yusheng, as if she really were quite pleased with him.

“But marriage is such a big matter — I’ll need to tell my mother. If she doesn’t agree, I wouldn’t dare consent rashly.”

“Your mother?” The Old Patriarch frowned. Wasn’t this matter for them alone to decide?

“Yes, I need to discuss it with my mother. She’s in the cave too.”

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze, and this time there was no trace of a smile — she was completely serious.

“Although we’ve fallen into your hands now, marriage is too important a matter — it naturally requires a parent’s command and a matchmaker’s word. I alone cannot decide it.”

“If my mother doesn’t agree, then even if you force the Young Patriarch and me into marriage, there will be no happiness to speak of for either of us.”

“But the two of you looked as though you were rushing somewhere on a journey?” Elder Feng stared at her, seeming unconcerned about her wish to go back and consult someone.

Jiu’er met his gaze and nodded.

She had noticed this the moment she walked in — although there was the Old Patriarch here, the Young Patriarch, the lady, and so on.

But the hardest one to deal with was, quite clearly, this man standing here now.

“We really are on a journey. I need to go to the Feng Clan to find my father.”

Saying she’d ended up here for any reason other than traveling on a journey, no one would believe it anyway.

This man looked extremely shrewd and guarded — if everything she said were a lie, he’d surely see through it at once.

“Personally speaking, I do quite like the Young Patriarch. But if we are to marry, could the Young Patriarch first accompany me on a trip to the Feng Clan?”

“Once I find my father and our family of three is reunited, I’ll have no regrets left. After that, I can devote myself wholly to staying at the stronghold.”

The Old Patriarch said nothing, seeming to consider this possibility.

Elder Feng, however, said, “To reach the Feng Clan from here, one must pass through Black Pool. The journey is not only far but extremely perilous — I’m afraid you’d have no chance of arriving at all.”

“Honored elder…”

“He is our Second Patriarch, Elder Feng,” the Old Patriarch introduced at once.

Jiu’er had no real interest in getting to know any Second Patriarch or Elder Feng — but this Elder Feng truly did look like a difficult man to handle.

“But my father might still be in the Feng Clan…”

“The Feng Clan is an extremely dangerous place. If the Young Patriarch goes with you and, by some chance, can’t make it back, what then?”

“That…”

“If you sincerely wish to marry our Young Patriarch, then persuade your mother to stay as well. Once you and the Young Patriarch are married and have a child, and our Old Patriarch has a grandson, he’ll naturally be willing to let the Young Patriarch accompany you to the Feng Clan.”

Feng Jiu’er truly wanted to roll her eyes at him — this sly old fox was simply coaxing her.

Coaxing her into staying, saying that once she had a child, they’d let the Young Patriarch go with her.

In truth, even if she really did have a child, they would never actually let the Young Patriarch accompany her to the Feng Clan.

What this man was really thinking was simply to keep her here — after a year or so of getting used to life at the stronghold, she’d naturally lose the desire to leave.

By then, whatever resolve she had to find her father would naturally have faded.

In short, keep her here for now, and worry about everything else later.

How could Jiu’er not see through his intentions? But for now, she was under their roof, with no way to resist just yet.

Zhao Yusheng snorted coldly. “I’d advise you to give up that idea entirely. They’re just stringing you along — I have no intention of going with you to the Feng Clan to find anyone.”

Her resolve to search for her father was admirable enough, but he had no desire whatsoever to marry her.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at him, then looked back at Elder Feng.

Elder Feng didn’t seem to mind being exposed at all, his calm, faint smile unwavering.

“Little girl, your people are all in our hands now. You’re clever enough to know that if you don’t obediently comply, your people may not even keep their lives.”

Feng Jiu’er glared at him, a flash of anger rising in her eyes.

But she could only clench her fists, furious yet not daring to speak out.

After a long moment, she said coldly, “Even so, please let me go tell my mother about this myself.”

The Old Patriarch said nothing — whenever something came up that he couldn’t decide on his own, he relied on Elder Feng to make the call.

Elder Feng studied Feng Jiu’er. The feigned smile she’d worn earlier was gone from her face now — what showed there was genuine anger.

But this was the expression she ought to have. If she’d kept smiling the whole time, anyone could tell at a glance that she was up to some scheme.

By now she should understand that no matter how many schemes she had in mind, she had absolutely no way to act on them — wasn’t that so?

“Fine, you may go back and inform your family.”

He waved a hand, and two men came over at once to escort Feng Jiu’er back to the cave.

As Jiu’er walked out, she could still hear the Old Patriarch asking, “So, tonight…”

“If the Young Patriarch is to be wed, everyone should naturally celebrate together. Preparing now will mean things are a bit simple, but it shouldn’t end up too shabby.”

Elder Feng then looked at the lady and said with a smile, “Hasn’t Madam already had everything prepared, just waiting for a good daughter-in-law to be chosen so the wedding could be arranged at once?”

The lady’s smile was full of delight. “Of course — I started preparing two years ago already…”

The Young Patriarch was still seething with indignation. “If you want a wedding, go have your fun on your own — I will not marry that girl!”

“Young Patriarch, I’m afraid you don’t really have a choice in this matter. Besides, didn’t you and that girl just get along quite well a moment ago?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Who got along well with that wild girl?”

“Heh, isn’t she very beautiful though? Out of all the girls in the stronghold, not one of them can compare to her.”

“Then go marry her yourself…”

Whatever those people said after that, Feng Jiu’er no longer had the chance to hear — though it was all just bickering anyway, meaningless to listen to.

Still, the fact that the Young Patriarch disliked her wasn’t really all that bad.

Her most pressing task now was to hurry back — otherwise, Ninth Imperial Uncle really would come bursting out.

If Feng Jiu’er didn’t return soon, Jiuqing was about to crush the lock on the iron gate apart. Fortunately, just as he was about to lose his patience, the girl was escorted back.

“Jiu’er, how did it go? What did they want with you?”

Feng Jiu’er returned and sat down in a corner of the cave. Qiaomu asked at once, “Did they give you any trouble?”

“No, they just said they want me to marry their Young Patriarch tonight.”

“What?” Qiaomu was so startled she nearly jumped up.

If she weren’t completely drained of strength right now, she really would have charged out to fight those people — wasn’t this just abducting an innocent girl?

Jiuqing said nothing, but the chill radiating from him was so frightening that no one dared come even half a step closer.

Yanu grew anxious. “Jiu’er, then… what should we do? Are they planning to force you?”

“That Young Patriarch doesn’t like me at all — in fact, he quite dislikes me.”

Yanu said at once, “That’s impossible. Jiu’er is so wonderful, anyone would like you.”