“It’s nothing.” The Old Patriarch shook his head. “I’m getting old, and it’s of no use anymore.”

“I’m terribly sorry to have made Master Bao and Physician Long laugh at me!”

“By the way, Master Bao, I heard from Zhicheng that you also took part in the interrogation. I wonder if anything came of it?”

“I’m useless! I can’t even keep my own people in line.”

“There’s been no progress for now.” Feng Jiang took the teacup handed to him by a maid and set it down.

“According to the numbers you gave, there are four hundred guards in total. So aside from the four hundred guards, there are still over a hundred more people, is that right?”

“Yes.” The Old Patriarch nodded in response. “Master Bao, please feel free to say whatever is on your mind.”

“Everyone must have an alibi.” Feng Jiang raised his eyes to look at the Old Patriarch. “Even the Old Patriarch, and your family as well.”

“Master Bao, what exactly do you mean by that?” Standing on the other side of the Old Patriarch, the young master, Zhang Zhicheng, furrowed his brow.

“Don’t tell me Master Bao suspects even us?”

“Master Bao treats everyone equally. I don’t see any problem with that. Young Master, don’t you agree?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Zhang Zhicheng with a faint smile.

“As the saying goes, the innocent need not fear. Master Bao and the few of us who came here can all submit to your interrogation at any time.”

“No, this isn’t called interrogation, it’s merely cooperating with the investigation.”

“Zhicheng.” The Old Patriarch slapped the table.

Zhang Zhicheng withdrew his gaze and looked at him. “Father, I understand. I will cooperate with the investigation too.”

He pressed his lips together and turned back to look at Feng Jiang and Feng Jiu’er.

“Master Bao, ask whatever you wish. I’ll answer honestly.”

“Did you go out last night?” Feng Jiang glanced up and asked softly.

“No.” Zhang Zhicheng shook his head.

“Can anyone vouch for that?” Feng Jiang continued to ask.

Zhang Zhicheng blinked and replied, “Last night, after returning from your place, I discussed some matters with my father.”

“It was around the third quarter of the hai hour [9–11 p.m.] when I returned to my own chamber, washed up, read for a while, and went to bed around the zi hour [11 p.m.–1 a.m.].”

“So you’re saying that after the third quarter of the hai hour, no one can confirm that you remained in your chamber the whole time?” Feng Jiang’s voice rang out again.

Zhang Zhicheng composed himself and replied again, “Xiao Tao, my maid, prepared my bathwater.”

“When did Xiao Tao leave your chamber?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“Before the zi hour.” Zhang Zhicheng replied. “After that, I went to sleep, and no one was with me.”

“The culprit left at some point after the zi hour, so for now the Young Master cannot be ruled out as a suspect either.” Feng Jiu’er said.

“You… what do you mean?” Zhang Zhicheng frowned again.

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Feng Jiu’er said, neither servile nor arrogant.

Her gaze shifted, landing on the Old Patriarch.

“Old Patriarch, since no one can prove the Young Master remained in the stockade after the zi hour, before the matter is fully clarified, I must trouble you to keep the Young Master from leaving.”

“Zhicheng.” Before Zhang Zhicheng could speak, the Old Patriarch called out in a deep voice.

“Follow the arrangement—can’t you simply stay put? The situation is so serious right now, can’t you share your father’s burden?”

“Father.” Zhang Zhicheng looked at the Old Patriarch. “Lingling still hasn’t recovered, I absolutely must go out today.”

“No!” The Old Patriarch snorted coldly.

“I don’t care!” Zhang Zhicheng took a deep breath. “I must go out today. I promised Lingling, I cannot break my word.”

With those words, Zhang Zhicheng strode outside.

“Zhicheng!” Madam Zhang called out loudly.

But Zhang Zhicheng acted as if he hadn’t heard, and ran out.

The Old Patriarch, helpless, shook his head repeatedly. “Go, give the order to have this unfilial son seized.”

“My lord.” Madam Zhang looked troubled. “Don’t you know your own son? How could he possibly dare to steal the poison?”

Madam Zhang respected Lei Shenbao, and she also respected the people Lei Shenbao had sent.

But how could her son possibly have stolen the poison?

Now, her husband had only just woken from his coma, and her son was about to be seized as well—how could her mood not be troubled?

“Since the two of you, husband and wife, both believe it wasn’t him, there’s no need to make such a fuss over it.” Feng Jiu’er said softly.

“We simply hope everyone will cooperate—after all, this concerns His Majesty’s affairs.”

“Physician Long, I—I’ll send someone to follow this unfilial son, I…” Before the Old Patriarch could finish speaking, he began gasping for breath again.

“My lord!” Madam Zhang turned back, reaching out to pat the Old Patriarch’s back.

“My lord, please don’t get angry! It’s all right, my lord! Don’t speak! Don’t speak!”

Sensing something was wrong, Feng Jiu’er stood up.

“Old Patriarch, just let the Young Master go for now. You need to take care of your own health.

As a physician, she knew the Old Patriarch was genuinely in distress.

Without thinking, she strode forward, and Feng Jiu’er came to the main seat, lifting the Old Patriarch’s hand, her slender fingers landing on his pulse.

“Physician Long, please examine my husband. The doctor said he mustn’t get agitated now, otherwise…”

“Physician Long, I beg you, please help my husband.” If Madam Zhang weren’t still patting the Old Patriarch’s back, she would have knelt down.

Feng Jiu’er gave her a reassuring glance, took out her needle pouch, and unrolled it.

She pinched a silver needle between her fingers, inserted it into one of the Old Patriarch’s acupoints, and gently twisted it a few times.

With just that one silver needle, the Old Patriarch’s breathing gradually evened out until it stabilized.

Madam Zhang looked at her husband with some disbelief.

“My lord, are you all right? Is it over, is everything fine now?” As soon as she finished speaking, she looked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Physician Long, is my husband… is he all right now?”

“He’s fine for now.” Feng Jiu’er withdrew the silver needle. “But the Old Patriarch mustn’t get angry again for the time being.”

“I’ll write you a prescription. Take it continuously for seven days and you’ll improve. Remember, you must not get angry during these seven days.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Madam Zhang nodded vigorously. “Thank you, Physician Long. Physician Long really is a miracle doctor. Thank you so much!”

“My lord, remember, you mustn’t get angry these seven days, absolutely must not.”

“I…” The Old Patriarch coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and shook his head. “I’m useless!”

“If the Old Patriarch has earned Master Lei’s appreciation, how could you possibly be a useless person.” Feng Jiu’er put away her needle pouch.

“Since the matter has already come to light, all you can do is make amends through good deeds. Blaming yourself too much serves no purpose at all, doesn’t it?”

“Last night, the two of you elders slept together, didn’t you? You can vouch for one another, so for now we have nothing further to ask.”

“Rest well. Master Bao and I will head over first. If there’s any news, come let us know.”

“Good.” The Old Patriarch nodded. “My dear, see—see Master Bao and Physician Long over.”

“There’s no need.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Madam Zhang and pressed her lips together lightly. “Take good care of the Old Patriarch.”

“All right, Physician Long.” Madam Zhang nodded. “I’ll send someone over later to collect the prescription.”

“That won’t be necessary either.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “Please allow us to go out and find some medicine.”

“I’ll bring back the herbs you need along the way.”