Having spent so much time together, Jian Yi would certainly understand Feng Jiu’er’s reminder.

For the moment, no matter how uneasy he felt, he could only give a small nod.

“Miss Jiu’er, General Huo asked me to bring in the evening meal.” A brother’s voice drifted in from outside.

“Come in.” Feng Jiu’er did not pause what she was doing.

The brother entered and set the meal on a nearby table, looking at Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi. “Miss Jiu’er, the meal is all ready — please enjoy!”

“Good, thank you.” From start to finish, Feng Jiu’er never turned her head to look.

There was not much time. She had to press on.

The brother gave Jian Yi a small nod, then turned and left.

“Jian Yi, go and eat. Help me get everything set — I’ll be over shortly.” Feng Jiu’er said softly.

She reached into the box and pulled out another human-skin mask, giving it a slight shake of her head.

“The materials are running low. I must prepare more.”

Jian Yi watched her work with such focus, then rose from his seat and walked over to the other table.

He divided the food and dishes, and the young man — whose complexion looked rather well — wiped his palms on a cloth, then turned to look back.

“All done. Come eat first.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, yet reached for another mask. “Almost done — eat first, just two more and I’m finished.”

Jian Yi said nothing. He rose and returned to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

Only after she had finished the remaining masks did he sit down with her at the table where the meal had been laid.

Taking up her bowl and chopsticks, Feng Jiu’er was not the least bit reserved.

Whenever her bowl ran short of something, he would add more for her.

Before long, Feng Jiu’er was largely satisfied.

Lifting the soup Jian Yi had ladled for her, Feng Jiu’er looked at him and curved the corners of her mouth upward slightly.

“Watching me feast on fish and meat every day while you can only manage plain fare — that must feel pretty awful, right? Never mind, it will all be over soon.”

She finished the bowl of warm soup. Just as Feng Jiu’er was about to rise, Huo Baixue’s voice came in from outside.

“Jiu’er, it is almost time.”

“Good — I will get ready at once.” Feng Jiu’er casually wiped her mouth, set the handkerchief on the table, stood up, and walked toward the inner room.

“Jian Yi, keep watch at the door — I need to change.”

She took up her night-travel garment, moved behind the writing table, and drew shut the makeshift curtain she had rigged to one side.

Jian Yi did not turn his head. He stayed alert to every sound from outside, until the person behind him drew close.

“Jian Yi, take your time eating. Wait for my good news.” Feng Jiu’er tied the black cloth sack at her side, stepped over, and gave Jian Yi’s shoulder a light pat.

“Look — dressed like this, doesn’t it show off my figure even more?” She dipped her head with a smile and asked with an air of great satisfaction.

Black is slimming, the silhouette perfectly defined — Feng Jiu’er was nearly falling in love with herself.

A fine figure it certainly was, but Feng Jiu’er was plainly joking. She only wanted to help a certain anxious fellow relax a little.

She lifted her gaze to meet Jian Yi’s eyes, and the corners of her mouth rose in a pleased smile.

“Don’t be jealous! Once you are well, train more — your figure won’t be anything to complain about either.”

She tossed out that thoroughly dishonest remark, then turned and left.

Who said Jian Yi’s figure was anything to complain about? These past few days, she knew better than anyone.

His build was extraordinary — how could a mere ten days or half a month of weakness change that?

Watching her go, Jian Yi had no wish to burden her with more worry.

“I will be here waiting for you to come back — don’t be too late!”

“I know.” Feng Jiu’er glanced back. “Remember to take a bath after you eat. Don’t stand there like a stone statue waiting for a husband — oh, wait, that’s not right. Waiting for a wife. Hmm.”

Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow and shook her head again.

“Still not right. It would be ‘waiting for an elder sister,’ wouldn’t it? From now on, I am your elder sister — you had better listen well.”

She gave a solemn little cough, turned back, lifted the curtain, and vanished from Jian Yi’s sight.

Darkness descended. All around was black. Feng Jiu’er and Huo Baixue each took four brothers and set out in opposite directions.

During the changing of the guard on the city wall, Feng Jiu’er and her four brothers successfully scaled the wall and slipped inside the city.

Within the city, all was still — none of the former prosperity remained.

Feng Jiu’er did not yet know the extent of the civilian casualties, but now was not the moment for sorrow.

She led her brothers in a quiet circuit along the base of the city wall, gradually pressing toward the center.

The central district blazed with torchlight — one glance was enough to know that was where the enemy’s forces were concentrated.

Feng Jiu’er and her brothers did not move in immediately. They continued to circle the area until they spotted white smoke rising from a building in the distance.

Under the veil of night, a slender silhouette alighted atop a rooftop, gazed at the burning structure, and curved her lips in a faint smile.

Baixue was faster than she had expected. Impressive!

Several brothers came back from different rooftops on either side, converging around Feng Jiu’er.

“General Feng, it seems General Huo has already made her move.” One brother murmured.

“Good. We make ours as well.” Feng Jiu’er gave a small nod and waved her hand.

“Yes.” The brothers dipped their heads, turned, and departed.

Feng Jiu’er cast one more glance at the building where the fire was growing ever fiercer, furrowed her brow, and disappeared into the night.

The building storing the grain supplies suddenly burst into flame. The soldiers stationed nearby fell into disarray, all scrambling in a panic toward the fire to try to put it out.

Not only that — even some of the soldiers guarding the city gate abandoned their posts and rushed over.

When the news reached Lingling, she was still in her bedchamber applying medicine to herself.

“What did you say?” She hastily fastened her robe and stepped out of the room, looking at the person who had come to report.

“Miss Lingling, a fire has broken out at the grain storehouse. Our brothers—”

“Tell our brothers to return to their positions. No one needs to rush there.” Lingling cut the brother short.

“But the grain storehouse—” The brother hesitated.

“This is Feng Jiu’er’s stratagem. They are going to storm the city.” Lingling finished dressing, strode out with wide steps.

“Yes.” The brother dipped his head and hurried after her.

“Didn’t they say the other half of their forces had not yet arrived? How can things have moved so abruptly?” Lingling had barely entered the courtyard before she swung up into the saddle.

The brother dared not linger and immediately mounted as well.

“Miss Lingling, according to the scouts’ reports, their second group should not have arrived yet. I also did not expect the other side to act this quickly.”

“Have all our brothers ready at once. This battle is about to begin.” Lingling’s voice came out cold and sharp.

“Yes.” The brother dipped his head, spurred his horse, and rode off swiftly.

As Lingling pressed toward the other side of the city, a man with the bearing of a general came riding toward her.

“General Cai — where are you heading?” Lingling asked in a low, firm tone.

“There is a fire at the grain storehouse. Haven’t you heard?” General Cai pulled his horse to a halt and asked in a hushed voice.

“That is precisely what I want to ask you. How did your men manage to guard an entire grain storehouse with that many soldiers and still fail to keep it?” Lingling’s voice grew heavier and colder still.

“The priority right now is to save the grain. I will give you an explanation afterward.” General Cai tugged at his reins, ready to leave.

Lingling drew a slow breath, reached to her side, unclasped a command token, and blocked General Cai’s path.