“Everyone said Fourth Imperial Uncle was off on campaign and hadn’t returned, that it would be several more days before…”

Feng Jiang turned his head, originally just wanting to check on Feng Jiu’er’s condition.

But to his shock, the moment he turned, he saw that shadowy black figure approaching.

He sat up abruptly, staring at the man in black who had walked up to Feng Jiu’er, so startled that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

“F-Fourth… Fourth Imperial… Uncle?” How… how could this be? How had Fourth Imperial Uncle just appeared out of nowhere?

Wasn’t he still on his way back to the city, with several more days before his return?

That wasn’t even the most shocking part. What truly stunned him was that Fourth Imperial Uncle—who never went anywhere near women—had actually crouched down beside Feng Jiu’er, staring intently at her.

What was Fourth Imperial Uncle thinking?

Feng Jiang sat bolt upright, staring at Fourth Imperial Uncle, his breathing ragged and uneven. “Fourth Imperial Uncle, you… why are you back so early?”

Feng Li didn’t answer, his eyes still fixed on Feng Jiu’er’s face.

Jiu’er, her eyes hazy with drink, blinked at him, then raised her hand, reaching to touch his half-mask.

“Jiu’er, don’t be rude!” Feng Jiang was scared out of his wits.

How dare this girl just reach out and touch Fourth Imperial Uncle—wasn’t she afraid he might chop her hand off on the spot?

He tried to pull Feng Jiu’er’s hand back, but no sooner had he reached out than a gust of wind blocked him before he could even touch her hand.

Feng Jiang’s eyes went wide—had Fourth Imperial Uncle actually pushed him away?

Still reeling from the shock, Feng Jiu’er, thoroughly drunk, propped herself up, her hand already landing on Fourth Imperial Uncle’s mask.

She giggled, utterly unaware of what was happening, and tugged at his mask, trying to pull it off!

Feng Jiang broke out in a cold sweat. “Fourth Imperial Uncle, don’t hurt her—she doesn’t know what she’s doing!”

But Feng Li had already caught Feng Jiu’er’s hand—yet, looking at his expression, there didn’t seem to be any trace of displeasure.

“So she’s the little princess Feng Qiongcang brought back?” Feng Li’s fingertips trembled slightly.

Feng Jiang had no idea why Fourth Imperial Uncle would take such an interest in his little imperial sister. He nodded instinctively. “That’s… that’s the legendary Phoenix Maiden Princess, the one raised for over a decade in a separate estate.”

But Feng Li suddenly turned Feng Jiu’er over, laying her face-down on the rooftop eaves, and began undoing her clothing.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle!”

“Turn around!” Feng Li said in a low voice.

Feng Jiang pursed his lips. “She’s my own imperial sister—I’ve already seen that phoenix mark of hers!”

Feng Li shot him a chillingly cold glance, and Feng Jiang, startled, quickly turned his face away, not daring to look again.

Jiu’er’s sash was undone, and the phoenix mark at the small of her back was finally laid bare before him.

Feng Li’s fingertips landed on the mark, tracing it slowly, inch by inch, his fingers suddenly trembling violently.

With great care, he straightened her clothing and retied her sash.

Then he suddenly pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

Hearing the commotion, Feng Jiang turned around, only to see Fourth Imperial Uncle—who had never had contact with any woman—holding their little girl tightly in his arms.

He was overcome with emotion, his eyes even reddening!

It was as though he were holding a treasure once lost and now regained—even the most cherished treasure of his entire life!

“Fourth… Imperial Uncle?” How had he never known Fourth Imperial Uncle could be so protective and affectionate toward the younger generation?

Yet there were several imperial nephews, and not once had he ever seen Fourth Imperial Uncle show any of them much warmth.

Why was it only this little imperial sister he doted on like this?

“Mmm…” Feng Jiu’er struggled a little in Feng Li’s arms, growing a bit irritated. “Let go…”

Feng Li snapped back to himself with a start and hurriedly let her go.

Still, he kept her supported in his arms, not letting her lie back down on the eaves.

He suddenly glanced at Feng Jiang, and Feng Jiang felt a chill run down his spine, certain that trouble was about to befall him!

“The wind is strong at night, and you actually let her sleep out in this wild, exposed place, just like some rough fellow like yourself?”

“Th-this is the busy part of town.” It wasn’t really a wild place at all, but… Feng Jiang lowered his head, and after meeting that icy gaze, didn’t dare argue in his own defense.

Feng Jiu’er, however, stirred in Feng Li’s arms, still especially fascinated by the mask on his face.

Her small hand rose, reaching to pull it off again.

Feng Li caught her hand, somewhat helplessly. “Little girl, this isn’t a toy.”

Feng Jiang had originally worried that Jiu’er’s behavior would anger Fourth Imperial Uncle, but to his surprise, Fourth Imperial Uncle merely seemed helpless toward her, without a trace of real anger.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er smiled, wriggling her hand free of his grip, still determined to get at his mask.

Feng Li still wanted to stop her, but couldn’t bring himself to actually do it.

In that moment of hesitation, the mask ended up in Feng Jiu’er’s hand—she really had pulled it off.

The next instant, Jiu’er’s eyes went wide, and Feng Jiang froze completely in the wind, staring at Fourth Imperial Uncle’s face, unable to breathe!

Wasn’t his face supposed to have been disfigured on the battlefield? Wasn’t that why he wore the mask, because he was too hideous to look at?

But how was Fourth Imperial Uncle’s face disfigured at all? This face… heavens! This was without a doubt the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his entire life!

Fourth Imperial Uncle’s face hadn’t been disfigured at all—he was peerlessly beautiful, even more handsome than the man universally acknowledged as the most beautiful man in the Feng Clan, their own father, Feng Qiongcang!

“How… how could this be?” Feng Jiang was so shocked he nearly tumbled right off the rooftop eaves.

Feng Li, however, didn’t even spare him a glance, his eyes fixed only on Feng Jiu’er as he said gently, “Can I have that back now?”

Feng Jiu’er very nearly sobered up on the spot! Sobered up by sheer handsomeness!

He really was handsome—devastatingly, ridiculously handsome!

Without warning, she flung her hand up, and the half-mask went sailing through the air.

“Jiu’er!” Feng Jiang lunged forward, catching Fourth Imperial Uncle’s mask in midair, and respectfully handed it back. “F-Fourth Imperial Uncle, Jiu’er is still young, she doesn’t know any better.”

To his surprise, Fourth Imperial Uncle still wasn’t angry. He took the mask, but lowered his head to look at Feng Jiu’er instead.

His voice, too, was the gentlest and most patient Feng Jiang had ever heard from him in all these years!

“You don’t like me wearing this?” he asked, as though he were genuinely seeking Feng Jiu’er’s opinion.

“Handsome, so handsome!” Jiu’er pointed at his face, grinning like a besotted fool.

“How much did you let her drink?” Feng Li’s gaze at Feng Jiang was so cold it seemed to have been pulled straight out of an icehouse.

Feng Jiang nearly felt jealous—no, he was already jealous!

“Not that much, just about one jar.” Why was Fourth Imperial Uncle being so gentle with Jiu’er? It had nearly made him think Fourth Imperial Uncle’s whole personality had changed.

But when it came to him, Fourth Imperial Uncle was still the same old Fourth Imperial Uncle—not changed one bit, cold and merciless as ever!

Still, Fourth Imperial Uncle’s face… was truly beyond anything he could have imagined.

He leaned in close and said quietly, “Fourth Imperial Uncle, do you keep wearing that mask because you’re afraid of being more handsome than Father, and worried he’d retaliate against you for it?”

Feng Li glanced at him but said nothing.

Then, all at once, he scooped Feng Jiu’er up into his arms and turned to leave.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, where are you taking the little imperial sister?” Feng Jiang scrambled to his feet as well, hurrying after him.

But Feng Li said nothing at all. Carrying Jiu’er, he took a single long stride, and in the blink of an eye vanished into the night sky.