“No, I don’t like him.” Jiu’er shook her head. In front of her Fourth Imperial Uncle, she didn’t want to lie.

Jian Yi’s face, which had been flushed red a moment ago, instantly turned dark.

If she didn’t like him, fine, she didn’t like him—but did she have to say it so bluntly? Didn’t she worry about wounding someone’s pride?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Feng Jiu’er glanced at him, all but rolling her eyes.

“When I lied, you weren’t satisfied, getting all bashful and uncomfortable every time. Now I’m telling the truth, and you’re still not satisfied. What exactly do you want me to say?”

Jian Yi let out a huff and turned his face away, too irritated to bother with her.

Jiu’er shrugged. “Anyway, you’re just a difficult person to please.”

“I think this young man is quite good. If he becomes your consort one day, he’ll surely treat you well.”

Feng Li admitted he wasn’t especially skilled at reading people, but he had, at least, lived for several decades.

The young man before him showed not the slightest hint of trying to flatter or please Jiu’er, and yet, watching him, Feng Li found him pleasing to the eye—sincere.

Moreover, the young man was a skilled fighter. Having someone of such skill stay by Jiu’er’s side set his mind at ease.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, what are you two talking about? His temper is so bad—how could I possibly let him be my consort?”

A breath caught in Jian Yi’s chest; he nearly lost his temper.

What was wrong with his temper? It had always been Feng Jiu’er telling him what to do, and he simply did it. Had he ever once said no?

Being this obedient, and somehow that counted as a bad temper.

Then in her eyes, what kind of person would actually count as good-tempered?

Wasn’t Mu Mu even worse? Not to mention the Ninth Prince.

This good-for-nothing Feng Jiu’er probably wouldn’t even dare let out so much as a whimper in front of the Ninth Prince!

“What? Feeling like throwing a tantrum?” Feng Jiu’er glared at him and pursed her lips. “Fourth Imperial Uncle, look at him—with a temper like that, if he really came into my princess’s palace, wouldn’t I end up bullied to death?”

Feng Li looked at Jian Yi, feeling both an urge to laugh and a touch of helplessness.

This young man’s temper was plenty good—where was it lacking? Clearly it was his own niece who didn’t want him, and so she was deliberately running him down.

In truth, Feng Li was quite satisfied with Jian Yi.

Although they hadn’t spent much time together, even in that brief time he’d been able to see the kind of person Jian Yi was.

This young man’s character was easy enough to gauge—someone without much guile. Keeping him by Jiu’er’s side really would be good.

Still, since Jiu’er didn’t want to discuss the topic, he let it go.

“By the way, Fourth Imperial Uncle, where’s Third Imperial Brother?”

That fellow Feng Jiang—every time he came by, you’d hear his chattering voice from a mile off.

He especially loved coming to crowd around Fourth Imperial Uncle’s place; the moment the sky brightened, he’d come running to pester him.

So why, after being here so long today, hadn’t even a shadow of him appeared?

“Steward An’bao came early this morning and took him away, saying His Majesty had something to discuss with them. Most likely, your Second Imperial Brother and Eldest Imperial Brother went as well.”

Feng Li never paid much mind to palace affairs.

So whatever business took Feng Jiang to see the Emperor, Feng Li never bothered to ask.

Of course, Feng Jiang was the type who couldn’t keep anything to himself; most of the time he’d come on his own and chatter endlessly in Feng Li’s ear.

So even matters of the court and government that Feng Li had no wish to know, he ended up knowing anyway, whether he liked it or not.

Feng Jiang really was a chatterbox.

Just as he finished speaking, outside, the sound of maids and eunuchs offering greetings suddenly rang out: “Third Prince!”

“Third Imperial Brother is back.”

Feng Jiang really had returned. The moment he stepped through the door, his gaze locked onto Jian Yi.

A skilled fighter!

But seeing the harmonious atmosphere between Fourth Imperial Uncle, Jiu’er, and the man, he knew this wasn’t an outsider.

Feng Jiang said, “And this is…?”

“This is Jian Yi.” Jiu’er studied Feng Jiang’s face. “Third Imperial Brother, what’s wrong with you today? Bad mood? Did Father Emperor scold you?”

Feng Jiang glanced at Jian Yi several extra times, an odd, complicated look in his eyes.

So this was Jian Yi? Fine-featured and good-looking indeed.

On an ordinary day, knowing that Jian Yi was about to become a consort in the princess’s palace, he’d have plenty to say.

Seeing a skilled fighter, he might even have itched to test a few moves against him.

But today, Feng Jiang seemed like a deflated ball—no, more like a withered flower.

All the lively energy had drained completely out of him.

“What happened? Third Imperial Brother, did Father Emperor really scold you? Over what?”

Jiu’er moved to go check on him, but Jian Yi shot her a glare. “Don’t come near me! Don’t touch me!”

He glared at her, his whole expression one of resistance, as though Jiu’er were some venomous snake or fierce beast.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on me?” Feng Jiu’er glanced down at herself and found nothing amiss.

Even Feng Li noticed Jian Yi’s odd behavior.

Normally he wouldn’t interfere, but this fellow had upset Jiu’er.

Feng Li said coolly, “If His Majesty wronged you, why take it out on Jiu’er? Are you a man or not?”

Feng Jiang truly felt wronged. He glanced at Jiu’er, then at Feng Li.

He wanted to speak but didn’t know how.

At last he clenched his fists and said flatly, “Fourth Imperial Uncle, I was wrong.”

Then he stood up and bowed to Jiu’er, with great respect: “Princess Jiu’er, I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

Feng Jiu’er stared in astonishment—what was this about?

The Third Imperial Brother she knew would never be this courteous.

She looked at Feng Li, but he too was at a loss, with no idea what was going through Feng Jiang’s mind.

“Third Imperial Brother, you’re being so strange, it’s making people… uneasy.”

Jiu’er bent forward, trying to get a clear look at his face.

But Feng Jiang suddenly said, “Fourth Imperial Uncle, I’m feeling unwell today. I’ll go back and rest.”

Without waiting for Feng Li’s reply, he looked at Feng Jiu’er and said flatly, “Princess Jiu’er, farewell.”

Feng Jiu’er was still dumbstruck. Honestly, what was wrong with this man—calling her “Princess Jiu’er” over and over? What had gotten into him?

He never acted like this normally!

Feng Jiang turned and walked off, vanishing out the door in an instant.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, what’s… going on with him?” Jiu’er had never seen Feng Jiang act so strangely before.

“Go and see him,” Feng Li said calmly.

Jiu’er thought it over, then nodded. “All right.”

She moved to chase after him, but couldn’t resist glancing back at Jian Yi.

Feng Li said, “Why don’t you stay a while, young man, and discuss swordsmanship with me?”

Jian Yi glanced at Jiu’er. She said, “My Fourth Imperial Uncle likes you—that’s your good fortune. Even Third Imperial Brother, who wants to discuss swordsmanship with him, can’t get in line ahead of you.”

Jian Yi, of course, knew that the man before him was a master of the highest order.

The chance to discuss swordsmanship with a peerless master was something one couldn’t even beg for.

Seeing that Jiu’er had no objection, his eyes lit up and he said quickly, “All right.”

He immediately sat down beside Feng Li and said earnestly, “I wonder, Night Prince, what wisdom you might share?”

Jiu’er paid the two of them no more mind. She pushed open the door and hurried out after Feng Jiang. “Third Imperial Brother, what’s wrong with you? Did Father Emperor say something to you? Wait for me!”