“Why would Physician Long say such a thing? You aren’t people of this stockade—how could I possibly restrict your movements?” The Old Patriarch said softly.

“Besides, when this incident occurred, none of you were even in the stockade, so it surely has nothing to do with you.”

“Physician Long, Master Bao, if you need to go out and attend to matters, please feel free. My people will never stop you.”

“All right then, thank you!” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “I’ll bring the medicine over later. Do rest well.”

“Good.” The Old Patriarch waved his hand. “Physician Long, please be extra careful while you’re out!”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and left.

Feng Jiang said nothing further either, rising and following Feng Jiu’er.

The two of them returned to their lodgings, and Feng Yinan, who had woken up and gone to the breeding farm, walked in through the gate a moment later.

Hearing this, Feng Jiu’er turned to look at the person beside her. “Yinan, what’s the situation?”

Feng Yinan could communicate with small animals, and conveniently, this matter concerned small animals.

“It’s confirmed to be man-made.” Feng Yinan replied softly.

“I went to all three areas, and the information I heard was consistent, so it’s confirmed to be man-made.”

“Mm.” This answer didn’t surprise Feng Jiu’er.

But with Feng Yinan’s confirmation, the matter was now certain beyond doubt.

Feng Jiu’er took out a packet of medicinal powder and handed it to Feng Yinan. “Go and sprinkle this powder on their Young Master’s mount, and keep watch over his every move while you’re at it.”

“If he leaves the stockade, notify me immediately.”

“All right.” Feng Yinan took it and turned to leave.

Feng Jiu’er turned back to look at Feng Jiang. “Let’s go see if your wife has found anything.”

“All right.” Hearing the word “wife,” Feng Jiang’s expression brightened considerably.

Feng Jiu’er knew that over these past few months, her Third Imperial Brother hadn’t been able to do a single thing he enjoyed—it had truly been hard on him.

Fortunately, the person he loved had come to his side; no matter how bitter these days were, there was still a touch of sweetness to them.

There were over five hundred people in the stockade last night, and interrogating them one by one was indeed extremely time-consuming.

Qiao Mu and Yang Sheng had been sitting in the center of the stockade for one or two hours straight.

Yang Sheng was fine, but Qiao Mu had lost count of how many times she’d shifted her sitting position.

By now she was both tired and hungry, having not even eaten lunch yet.

Finally catching sight of a fairly handsome face, she coughed lightly and straightened her back.

The interrogations didn’t require them to question anyone personally; they merely sat and listened in.

“Are you all right?” Feng Jiu’er came to Qiao Mu’s side and asked softly.

“I’m great! What could possibly be wrong.” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow but didn’t look at Feng Jiang.

Feng Jiang pulled a flatcake from inside his robe and held it out. “It’s the flavor you like.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at this half flatcake, her brow furrowing.

When had her Third Imperial Brother prepared this? Hadn’t she been with him all morning? How could even she not know about it?

“I don’t need—”

“Sweet potato flavor.” Before Qiao Mu could finish speaking, Feng Jiang cut her off.

Feng Jiang met her gaze, the corner of his mouth curving up handsomely.

“It’s still warm.” He added.

With a growl, Qiao Mu’s stomach protested again.

Even with all the noise up ahead, Feng Jiang still heard it clearly.

“Eat it. It won’t taste as good once it cools.” He pressed his lips together again, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

“After you eat this, I’ll send someone to prepare lunch right away.”

Qiao Mu glanced at him, reached out to take the flatcake, and took a bite.

“You two go attend to your business. I can handle things here.” Qiao Mu looked at the people before her and waved a hand.

“As for the results, we’ll discuss them once the interrogations are all finished.”

“Jian Yi and I may need to go out for a while. Please look after things here.” Feng Jiu’er gave Qiao Mu a meaningful look.

Qiao Mu seemed to guess at something but didn’t ask further.

“You don’t need me to come with you?” Feng Jiang withdrew his gaze, which had been fixed on Qiao Mu, and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“No need!” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “Let’s split up. I’ll head over first.”

“All right, be careful!” Feng Jiang nodded.

Qiao Mu watched Feng Jiu’er leave and stood up.

“Don’t worry!” Feng Jiang, seeing her concern, patted her shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard these past few days. Once…”

“Ahem…” Qiao Mu stared at the man and gave a fake cough, sitting back down in her seat.

She was worried about what shocking thing he might say next without realizing it.

“I’ll sleep with you,” and the like—could he really just say such things so carelessly?

Qiao Mu still wanted to ask, are you really even Feng Jiang?

But on second thought, this fellow Feng Jiang had always behaved this way before, never being the least bit serious—so she let it go.

“Go attend to your business. Don’t worry about me.” She took another bite of the flatcake, looking away.

“All right, I’ll go check whether lunch is ready.” Feng Jiang nodded, turned, and walked off.

Qiao Mu watched his retreating figure for a moment, then turned her gaze back to the person still being interrogated.

Not long after Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi had gone, Feng Yinan returned.

“Jiu’er, the powder has been sprinkled on Zhang Zhicheng’s mount. On my way back, I heard someone say Zhang Zhicheng was about to leave.”

“All right, I understand.” Feng Jiu’er turned to look at Feng Yinan.

“Stay here and help out, but the most important thing is to take good care of Qinchun. Jian Yi and I will be away for a while.”

“Jiu’er, don’t worry! I’ll take good care of Miss Yue.” Feng Yinan nodded.

Feng Jiu’er glanced sideways at Jian Yi, and the two of them set off together, walking out.

On the other side of the mountain was a small town, and beyond the town lay Yue City.

The place wasn’t large, but as it sat at the border between Li City and Yue City, and was also close to Black Pool, it counted as a fairly prosperous small town.

Two great mountains nearly cut off the two sides from each other.

On this side of the mountain, after it had been requisitioned for raising poisonous creatures, even fewer people entered.

The other side of the mountain was so prosperous that those living within the mountain would sometimes go out for a stroll.

Traveling from the stockade to the town required a full two hours along mountain roads.

Feng Jiu’er did not closely follow Zhang Zhicheng as he left the stockade.

With that kind of powder, as long as it was a path Zhang Zhicheng’s mount had traveled, even one from two hours earlier, she could still identify it.

With less than two hours left before sunset, the main street of the town was bustling with activity.

Feng Jiu’er followed the scent of the powder, walking down the street alongside Jian Yi.

After leaving the stockade, the two of them had changed their appearance somewhat, so that now even if Zhang Zhicheng saw them, he might not necessarily recognize them.

After passing through the bustling street, the two of them turned into a small alley.

Finally, Feng Jiu’er stopped at a crossroads.

She raised her eyes to look down the path; at its end stood only a single household.

In front of the house, a fine horse was grazing.

“That’s the one.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow and continued forward.

Jian Yi followed.

From inside the house came a series of weak coughs.

After the coughing, a man’s voice asked, “Lingling, tell me, do you think your elder brother did this?”

“Why is it that every time your elder brother urgently seeks me out, something happens at the breeding farm?”

“His lordship’s people came. They said it wasn’t wild beasts, but something man-made. What in the world is going on?”