Today was destined to be no ordinary day at Nanman Fortress. In a single stroke, eleven members of one family had died violently, throwing the entire fortress into chaos.

Feng Jiu’er had been in the rear hall the whole time, treating the old fortress master. The fortress master had been rushing back and forth between the front and rear halls, making more trips than anyone could count throughout the day.

Fortunately, before sunset, he received good news — the old fortress master’s life had been pulled back from the brink.

The heavy stone weighing on the fortress master’s heart finally settled, and his spirits lifted somewhat.

Receiving the news while in the front hall, he immediately hurried toward the rear hall.

When the fortress master entered, Feng Jiu’er was seated in the main hall, leisurely drinking tea.

Beside her sat Xiao Yingtao, while Jian Yi, Zhao Yusheng, and Long Feiyan were seated on either side.

“Miss Feng, I heard my father’s condition has stabilized?” The fortress master was overjoyed, and called out loudly the moment he stepped through the door.

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er set down the cup in her hand and lifted her eyes to look at the man who had just entered. “Barring any unforeseen complications, the old fortress master will need seven days of rest before he can make a full recovery.”

“Most of the poison in his body has been expelled, but he is old — it is better for him to stay in bed a few more days.”

“What does that matter? As long as he is all right.” The fortress master’s voice carried unmistakable joy.

“Let me go see my father first.” He gave Feng Jiu’er a respectful bow with clasped hands, then turned and walked into the inner chamber.

The steward, accompanied by a small servant, brought steaming pastries and tea into the main hall for everyone present.

At that moment, looking at these people, all the steward’s face held was respect.

The two best physicians within the fortress had both given up. No one had expected Feng Jiu’er to actually bring someone back from the edge of death.

Watching her work so tirelessly to save a life, everyone had let their guard against her down considerably.

If she were the one who had administered the poison, she could have gone directly to the fortress master and negotiated with the antidote as her bargaining chip — yet she had done no such thing. She had not even raised the subject of terms. The moment she walked through the door, she began treating the patient.

A divine physician with such a magnanimous spirit — no one could see in her any trace of a malicious or sinister person.

“Everyone, please help yourselves to the refreshments.” The steward looked at those gathered and spoke with great deference.

“You did not take your midday meal, and you have scarcely touched the tea — how can this do? And dinner will be ready before long; please wait just a little while.”

Of all the people present, only Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao had come out at some point and had a bit of tea. The others had not touched a single thing here.

The situation on both sides had been so tense earlier — the steward, of course, understood their reservations.

But it was not his place to say much about any of that. All he could do was fulfill his own duties.

“Miss Feng, please take your time. I will step outside now — just call if you need anything.”

The steward turned and left. The fortress master came out of the inner chamber, followed by a woman being supported by a small servant.

“Miss Feng, I am so grateful! So deeply grateful that you saved my father.” For the first time all day, the fortress master smiled from the heart.

The fortress master’s wife, supported by the small servant, made her way to stand before Feng Jiu’er.

She withdrew her hand from the servant’s grasp, dipped into a curtsy — and then sank to her knees. “Many thanks to Miss Feng for saving the old fortress master’s life! My deepest gratitude!”

The fortress master’s wife kowtowed three times to Feng Jiu’er before straightening her back.

The small servant who had knelt alongside her helped her up, and the two rose together.

“If I may ask, this lady is…?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the fortress master’s wife and raised a hand to indicate she need not have done that.

“She is my wife.” The fortress master replied with a warm smile. “Ah, Miss Feng — it is getting late. I wonder if you and your companions would honor us by dining here at the fortress?”

“You saved my father, and I still do not know how to express my gratitude. Ha ha ha… stay and have a simple meal with us — what do you say?”

“There is no rush.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand and rose to her feet. “I would like to go and take a look at the room where the incident occurred today — if the fortress master would permit it?”

The fortress master met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, his thick brows knitting together slightly.

“Did the fortress master not say that, in addition to saving the old fortress master, you also wished me to prove that last night’s matter was not my doing?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“Miss Feng, there is no need for such formality — now that you have saved my father, it is beyond doubt that you had nothing to do with it.”

“Unfortunately, my men have not managed to uncover a single lead so far.” The fortress master looked at Feng Jiu’er and exhaled a faint sigh.

“If it is convenient, I would still like to go and look. Your trust in me does not mean everyone within the fortress shares that trust.” Feng Jiu’er’s voice came again.

“If we can get to the bottom of what truly happened, I will feel much more at ease eating a meal here with you — will I not?”

The fortress master held Feng Jiu’er’s gaze and smiled faintly.

“I apologize, Miss Feng — I should never have suspected you. With a heart as righteous as yours, how could you possibly poison the old, the young, the women and children?”

“Fortress master, I sincerely hope you can set aside your prejudices!” Feng Jiu’er looked at the fortress master and gave a respectful bow with clasped hands.

“If we continue to suspect one another, I fear we will only be doing an outsider’s work for them.”

“An outsider?” The fortress master’s thick brows furrowed slightly. “Miss Feng, have you discovered something?”

Feng Jiu’er narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “As for the poison in the old fortress master’s body, I do not yet have any leads. But it does not appear to be an ordinary toxin.”

“Last night’s incident was not my doing. If it was not an outsider, then could it be someone from within your own fortress?”

The fortress master fell into deep thought at Feng Jiu’er’s words.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Feng Jiu’er continued: “Fortress master, I would like to go and examine the situation — perhaps I can identify what poison was used.”

“Very well.” The fortress master came back to himself, and waved a hand. “Miss Feng, please — lead the way.”

Feng Jiu’er swept her gaze across her own companions, then stepped forward.

Everyone rose and followed behind her.

The group had barely arrived before the cave dwelling where Old Liang’s family resided when a wave of grief washed over them.

Feng Jiu’er glanced around, then stepped inside.

In a large hall, bodies were laid out across the floor, each covered with a white cloth.

Many people knelt on all sides — some simply kneeling in silence, others burning ritual offerings — yet without exception, every face was etched with sorrow.

A number of people noticed Feng Jiu’er and the unfamiliar faces with her, and shifted with unease.

Finally, one man could no longer hold himself back and stood up. “Fortress master, why have you brought these outsiders in here?”

“It was them — they were the ones who killed my family. It was them!” Another man, dressed in mourning clothes of hemp and sackcloth, also rose and cried out.

Old Liang had three sons in total, and two daughters. All three sons had families of their own. The entire household of fourteen people lived in adjacent cave dwellings within the same courtyard, sharing meals and daily life together.

No one could have imagined that last night, save for the three sons who had been on duty, every last one of the others had died violently.

How pitiable — Old Liang’s several young grandchildren, and even the little grandchild who had not yet come into the world, had all perished before reaching the age of understanding.

One man knelt beside a body, his gaze blank and hollow, utterly unmoved even as living people entered the room.

Through the white cloth, one could make out the swollen curve of the deceased’s abdomen.

Besides Old Liang’s three sons, a number of relatives and close acquaintances were gathered in the hall. Without exception, all eyes fell upon Feng Jiu’er.

The arrival of Feng Jiu’er and her companions cast a surge of fury over the hall that was already steeped in grief.