When Feng Jiu’er left Feng Jiang’s bedchamber, it was already midnight.

She did not know why, but tonight her heart felt unsettled, heavy as though something were pressing upon it.

Yet in the moment, she could not figure out what exactly was weighing on her.

She returned to her own bedchamber, bathed and changed, then lay down on the bed — and still, sleep would not come.

That unease in her heart, she did not know where it came from, yet it continued to wrap itself around her.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Then, suddenly, Feng Jiu’er’s eyes flew wide open, as though she had remembered something.

She threw back the blanket and began rummaging through the wardrobe.

She distinctly remembered that not long after she had woken up, her Imperial Father had given her a token that would allow her to move freely within the palace.

Then — could she use it to leave the palace?

If this token could get her out of the palace too, she would not have to trouble Third Imperial Brother every time she wanted to go out.

She did not actually know why she felt such a strong need to go out, but tonight she simply felt wretched, and felt that she absolutely had to get out for a while.

“What is this?” A small pouch — it looked like something that could be carried on one’s person.

Without a second thought, Feng Jiu’er immediately strapped it onto herself.

It fit as though it had been made to measure. The specially crafted pouch took up almost no space; the fabric was light yet tough, the kind that would not tear easily.

The pouch looked as though someone had washed it with great care, and then, ironed it in some special way afterward, leaving not a single crease from washing.

As for what was inside — Jiu’er opened the pouch, and inside were nothing but a collection of exquisitely made medicine vials.

“Excellent medicines!” She opened one of the vials and sniffed. Feng Jiu’er’s eyes immediately lit up.

She opened a few more. Though none of the vials were labeled, the moment she smelled them she knew what each medicine was and what it was used for.

She seemed to have a natural sensitivity to these medicines.

Was there anything else?

She kept searching, and found a small, delicate needle case. She opened it — inside, there were silver needles of all lengths, of various sizes, densely packed. There were nearly a hundred of them!

Were all of these her things?

Feng Jiu’er’s fingertips tightened. She flicked her finger against the needle case, and a row of silver needles instantly settled between her long fingers.

Where on earth had she learned to hold needles like that? It was as though no one needed to teach her — she already knew, and knew it exceedingly well!

Feng Jiu’er felt that she truly adored this pouch. Everything inside it delighted her, and she could not bear to put any of it down.

Such a small size, yet it held a remarkable amount.

She put the pouch away carefully, then searched a little more, and sure enough she found the token that Feng Qiongcang had given her.

The small, delicate token fit neatly inside her pouch.

Jiu’er changed into a simple set of clothes and went out immediately.

“Your Highness!” Two young palace maids guarding the door saw her step out and hurried forward at once.

“It’s nothing. I’m just taking a stroll. None of you need to follow me.” Feng Jiu’er strode out with easy confidence.

The two maids still looked nervous and anxious, so Feng Jiu’er said, “Whoever follows me will get a flogging.”

The two of them startled, and stopped at once.

Feng Jiu’er quickly hastened her steps and left the Princess’s courtyard.

As she made her way out, she could not even get her bearings straight, and she could not very well ask the palace maids and eunuchs she passed where the palace gates were. In the palace, Feng Jiu’er truly had a difficult time of it for quite a while.

After much effort, she finally found her way to the rear gate and used the token to get out.

The moment she stepped out, the guards reported the news to Feng Qiongcang.

Feng Qiongcang considered for a moment, then said, “Have Feng Jiang go and protect the Princess.”

“Your Majesty, shall we not call the Princess back?” Yanu, who stood nearby, looked a little anxious.

“It is fine. Just let Feng Jiang follow along.” If he did not let Feng Li taste some measure of a father-and-daughter bond, how was he to sink any deeper?

Only by letting him sink completely would he be willing to cast aside all else and give his life in service.

And so, Jiu’er encountered not a single obstruction on her way out this time.

After leaving, she walked a long stretch of road before she came across anyone on the street.

She asked around carefully and managed to find out the location of the Night Prince’s Manor — but the problem was, it appeared to be some distance away.

“Move!” From behind, a horse and rider came galloping up urgently. The horse finally drew to a steady halt just behind Feng Jiu’er.

“Third Imperial Brother?” When she saw clearly who was seated on the horse, Feng Jiu’er’s heart lurched, and she immediately said, “What are you doing out here?”

Feng Jiang, however, answered her question with one of his own. “Where are you going?”

“I…” In truth, Jiu’er did not know where she was going either. She had simply wanted to get out of the palace.

Now that she was out, there was nowhere else she could think to go. The only place she knew was the Night Prince’s Manor.

The moment she thought of that tall, solitary figure, she felt uneasy. And so, the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to go to the Night Prince’s Manor to look in on Fourth Imperial Uncle.

But this was something she did not want Feng Jiang to know about at all.

“I have nowhere in particular in mind. I just wanted to come out for a walk. Third Imperial Brother, why don’t you head back first? I’ll return soon.”

“You think I would let you wander around out here on your own?” The capital had been relatively stable over these past two years, but she was a princess of the Feng clan — the future sovereign — and right now she had not a shred of martial arts ability. Wandering around outside on her own — how could that not be dangerous?

“It’s fine. I don’t look anything like a princess, so no one would want to harm me.”

“Even so, for a young woman to be out walking alone this late at night is very dangerous.”

“Third Imperial Brother, are you indirectly admitting that I don’t look the least bit like a princess?” Feng Jiu’er rolled her eyes at him.

Feng Jiang was taken aback, and was instantly rendered speechless.

Could words be interpreted that way? The whole conversation had been talked to death.

“I’m only concerned about you.” He urged his horse forward to walk beside her and stretched out his hand toward her. “Come on up. Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you.”

“There’s no need. I just want some time alone tonight.” Being with him would only bring trouble to him.

“Then go back to the palace. Go back to your own bedchamber, and you can be as quiet as you like for as long as you like.”

Feng Jiang naturally understood what she was thinking. He said, “This time, it was Imperial Father who specifically granted permission for me to look after you.”

“Imperial Father?” How could that be? Could Imperial Father possibly know that she had left the palace?

“Is there any corner of the palace that does not fall under Imperial Father’s eye and ear? You walked out the door with the token as bold as you please — how could Imperial Father not know?”

Feng Jiu’er was momentarily stunned. She thought it over and felt reassured.

“So Imperial Father has no intention of stopping me?” Why was his attitude so different from before?

“He will not stop you.” Feng Jiang stretched his hand out toward her once more. “Come on up. Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you.”

“You’re not tricking me?”

“I would not trick you.”

Feng Jiu’er finally reached out her hand. Feng Jiang gave only the lightest pull, and she rose lightly onto the horse’s back, settling into the circle of his arms.

“Third Imperial Brother, your wound…”

“It is nothing.” A minor wound like that was naturally not worth a second thought.

When he trained under Fourth Imperial Uncle in the past, had the injuries not been far worse than this?

Fourth Imperial Uncle was a man of iron will and unyielding spirit. He admired Fourth Imperial Uncle deeply, and so naturally, he could not bring disgrace to Fourth Imperial Uncle’s name.

“Where do you want to go?” Feng Jiang gathered the reins and glanced down at her.

Jiu’er had no clear destination in her heart. She thought for a moment, then said, “I want to see Fourth Imperial Uncle.”