Feng Jiu’er looked up at Gong Xinyue and asked softly, “You mean you want your brothers to go find out what’s really going on?”

“Mm.” Gong Xinyue nodded without hesitation.

“But Mao Linye may have already laid a net everywhere. I worry…” Qiao Mu said, seeming unsurprised by Gong Xinyue’s answer.

“The men of my Panlong Stronghold are all real men,” Gong Xinyue said, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly.

“Besides, you two are our benefactors. I think all our brothers would gladly help without hesitation.”

“Don’t worry.” Gong Xinyue leaned over and patted Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder.

“I’ll have the brothers bring some herbs along, to scout things out first.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

“Remember, no matter what happens, safety comes first.”

“Mm.” Gong Xinyue withdrew her hand and asked, “What do we do next? We can’t just sit around waiting to be caught.”

“We won’t be,” Feng Jiu’er said, shaking her head.

“It’s getting late.” She stood up. “Let’s go cook first.”

“Cook?” Gong Xinyue also stood.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

“If we’re putting on an act, we should commit to the whole thing,” Qiao Mu added, also standing.

“As for cooking, little sister here can stay and handle it. The two of us will go out for a walk and come back by mealtime.”

“Go on, then.” Feng Jiu’er sighed softly.

Why couldn’t she be the older brother instead of the little sister who had to wash rice and cook?

“Whose fault is it that you didn’t grow taller!” Qiao Mu glanced at Feng Jiu’er.

Qiao Mu felt that these days, she only needed one look at Feng Jiu’er to know what she was thinking.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and glared at Qiao Mu.

“Bring some food back — I really don’t feel like cooking much!”

“Got it!” Qiao Mu replied.

Putting on an act didn’t mean they actually needed to cook a big meal.

What Feng Jiu’er really meant was for Qiao Mu to walk around the area more and gather information.

“Jiu’er, what do you want to eat?” Gong Xinyue, however, didn’t quite catch Feng Jiu’er’s meaning.

“Since when do you need so many requirements?” Qiao Mu picked up her long sword and looked at Gong Xinyue.

“Let’s go.”

Gong Xinyue looked at Feng Jiu’er, then at Qiao Mu, and nodded.

The two of them strapped their swords to their backs and left the main hall, heading outside.

“Qiao Mu, actually Jiu’er could have some preferences,” Gong Xinyue said suddenly, turning her head.

“I know what she likes,” Qiao Mu said without looking at her, continuing forward.

“You know?” Gong Xinyue frowned slightly.

“Mm.” Qiao Mu finally slowed her pace and patted Gong Xinyue’s shoulder lightly.

“Jiu’er wants us to move around and gather information — it really isn’t about the food.”

“That girl — you’ll come to understand her slowly. She’s quite a complicated person.”

“But…” Qiao Mu’s lips curved slightly. “She’s definitely a good person. A good leader.”

“Mm.” Gong Xinyue nodded.

She agreed wholeheartedly with Qiao Mu’s last remark — Jiu’er was a good person, worth following for a lifetime.

Gong Xinyue glanced at Qiao Mu’s profile and followed her out through the estate gate.

“I really envy you. No — I envy both of you.”

“No need to envy us,” Qiao Mu said with a faint smile. “It’s all a matter of effort!”

“Let’s go.” Qiao Mu glanced at two figures not far off.

Gong Xinyue didn’t look over right away, just nodded and strode forward.

The moment the two of them left, the two people dressed as commoners whom Qiao Mu had spotted earlier followed after them.

Elsewhere, Du Ling opened the letter, glanced at it, mounted his horse, and left with a few of his men.

After the group of five entered the forest, Du Ling doubled back through another exit.

Feng Jiu’er had guessed correctly — it was all a scheme of Mao Linye’s.

A full day and night passed, and the servants brought back no suspicious information for Mao Linye.

As for Feng Jiu’er, being the “little sister,” she either cooked at home or did needlework.

From time to time, someone skilled in martial arts would slip in to scout, and sometimes people would come under the pretext of delivering things, just to check on those inside.

Feng Jiu’er noticed everything, but said nothing.

Qiao Mu and Gong Xinyue were often out, seemingly just restless and wandering, but in truth gathering information.

The next day, after finishing the midday meal, Feng Jiu’er took a small basket and went to Mao Linye’s estate.

Perhaps because of Mao Linye’s order, she got in without any trouble.

Today, the Mao estate looked very different from the day before.

Since Feng Jiu’er had left the day before, the Mao family had begun preparing for Mao Zhongcai’s funeral.

The place that had once been so magnificent was now draped in white cloth strips and lanterns.

Feng Jiu’er was certain she needed to come — Mao Zhongcai’s sons and daughter were said to be arriving in the afternoon. How could she not be there?

Mao Linye showed a fair amount of respect toward this younger brother of his.

The memorial hall was set up in the main hall. It was said that Mao Zhongcai’s cremation would take place at the third quarter of the Wei hour (roughly early afternoon).

When Feng Jiu’er entered, there were still many mourners in the main hall.

A servant led her through the main hall to the east wing.

Feng Jiu’er and the servant walked into the courtyard of the east wing and arrived before the main hall there.

The servant knocked on the door. “Boss, it’s Miss Xiaoxiao.”

“Miss Xiaoxiao says she made some pastries with her own hands and brought them for you. May she come in?”

“Come in,” came a voice from inside — but it wasn’t Mao Linye’s voice; it was another man’s.

The servant pushed open the door, turned back to Feng Jiu’er, and gestured for her to go ahead.

“Miss Xiaoxiao, please!”

Feng Jiu’er nodded and stepped inside.

Inside the hall, Mao Linye still sat in the seat of honor, with several people seated on either side.

Feng Jiu’er only recognized Song Shiniang; she didn’t know any of the others.

Aside from Mao Linye, everyone else looked at Feng Jiu’er with more or less unfriendly expressions.

At a time like this, their boss was still letting himself be dazzled by a pretty face — no one could look favorably on that.

Only Song Shiniang’s expression was somewhat better than the others’.

Seeing this, Feng Jiu’er felt fairly certain her guess was correct.

She lowered her head and walked to the center of the hall, set the basket down before her with both hands, bent at the waist, and bowed.

“Boss, Xiaoxiao didn’t know you were busy. I… made some pastries. Would you like to try some?”

Having said that, Feng Jiu’er looked up, glancing at Mao Linye carefully.

Mao Linye waved her over, saying in a low voice, “Bring them up. I happen to be hungry.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, lowered her head, and walked up the steps.

She knelt in the spot where she had sat the day before, set down the basket, and took out a plate of pastries, placing it on the table.

“Boss, please enjoy!” She handed him a pair of chopsticks with both hands.

Mao Linye took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of pastry, and put it in his mouth.

The hall was very quiet; everyone silently watched the two people in the seat of honor.

“Boss, how does it taste?” Feng Jiu’er lifted her head and asked softly.

“Not bad.” Mao Linye turned to look at her and nodded.

Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved into a sweet smile.

“As long as boss likes it. Xiaoxiao didn’t know what boss preferred, so I just decided on my own.”

“Oh, right.” She glanced around at the people in the hall and stood up.

“Boss, I’ve delivered the pastries, so I won’t disturb you all while you discuss matters.”

—