Princess Funing refused to accept defeat and summoned several reinforcements: Fourth Princess Fu Wan, Sixth Princess Fu An, and her own younger brother, the Ninth Prince.
The moment the Ninth Prince saw Jian Ruonan, he pattered over and held out his arms for a hug.
Once picked up, the little boy said in his babyish voice, "Nannan, Little Ninth missed you so much! Why did you take so long to come see me?"
Jian Ruonan pressed her cheek against his, her mood soaring.
Commandery Princess Jiarou declared arrogantly, "Victory without a fight! One enemy soldier captured!"
Fu Ning was exasperated at his failure to live up to her expectations. "Little Ninth, come back here! She's the enemy!"
The Ninth Prince blinked.
What enemy? This was Nannan!
In the four-year-old's eyes, Nannan was the pretty big sister who gave him delicious treats.
Jian Ruonan said, "I'm Princess Funing's frenemie."
The Ninth Prince asked in his soft little voice, "What's a frenemie?"
Jian Ruonan blurted out, "When you get along, you're besties. When you don't, you're frenemies. A frenemie is an enemy with secrets."
Princess Funing: "..."
How had this princess just lost to something like her?!
"Little Ninth, get over here! You're on your big sister's side! How can you puff up someone else's prestige?!"
Jian Ruonan took a piece of chocolate from her pouch and fed it to the Ninth Prince.
It was his first taste of such a fragrant, sweet treat, and his beautiful eyes went perfectly round.
The little boy smacked his lips. "Big Sister Funing, Little Ninth has defected."
"Little Ninth is an enemy little brother now!"
Princess Funing: "..."
Commandery Princess Jiarou burst out laughing with delight.
They continued playing the game of High-Low. Jian Ruonan swept through all opposition, confiscating everything the princesses had collected