“General Liang, could you please ask the brother who found the jade pendant to come in?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Liang Yi and said softly.

Liang Yi cupped his hands in a salute and turned to glance at the fort master.

After the fort master gave a nod, Liang Yi’s gaze returned to Feng Jiu’er.

“Yes.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “It would be best to call in all the men who were responsible for searching Xiao Nu’s room today.”

“Yes.” Liang Yi nodded and turned to walk out.

Shortly after, he returned leading five men.

“Greetings, Fort Master.” The five men saluted the fort master together with a cupped-hands bow.

Liang Yi turned his head to look at the person beside him and said softly, “Miss Feng, Fort Master, this is the one who found the jade pendant.”

“Yes.” The man glanced at the fort master, then at Feng Jiu’er, and cupped his hands. “The jade pendant was indeed found on this humble one’s part on Xiao Nu’s bed.”

“On the bed — where exactly?” Xiao Yingtao furrowed her brow and asked.

The man glanced at Xiao Yingtao and continued, “It was found when the bedding was lifted.”

“That easily?” Xiao Yingtao’s voice rang out again.

“Yes.” The man nodded. “It was found the moment the bedding was lifted.”

“Did you find it there, or did you bring it in yourself?” Having heard the man’s words, Xiao Yingtao was now even more certain that the jade pendant had been planted there.

The man glanced at Xiao Yingtao, then immediately knelt down and raised his eyes toward the fort master.

“Fort Master, I did not plant it there. I also found it strange — something so easily found, yet why did the brothers before say they found nothing?”

“But this is truly what I found beneath the bedding. Fort Master, I did not place it there, nor do I possess the Fort Mistress’s jade pendant. Please investigate clearly.”

“Fort Master, do you also believe this is a setup?” Chen Xiaoyi could not help but speak up again.

“Why are you so certain it is not?” Xiao Yingtao swept a glance at the person across from her and asked in a firm tone.

“Who are you? I am speaking to the Fort Master — what standing do you have to interject?” Chen Xiaoyi glared at Xiao Yingtao with undisguised contempt.

“She is my person and may speak on my behalf.” Feng Jiu’er met Chen Xiaoyi’s gaze, her own eyes equally unfriendly.

Chen Xiaoyi pouted her lips, stood up, and walked over toward the fort master.

“Fort Master, you told us not to treat Miss Feng with any disrespect — yet I never expected that even a servant would dare speak this way. I feel so wronged!”

The woman came to the fort master’s side, took hold of his arm, and tugged at it lightly.

Now that only outsiders remained, she had begun to act without restraint again.

“Miss Chen, please speak with some respect. Xiao Yingtao is not a servant. And moreover, how did I come to hear that the fort master has no concubines — only one wife?”

Chen Xiaoyi looked at Feng Jiu’er, and tears streamed down her face.

“Fort Master, look, just look at this — it is not that I disrespect Miss Feng, it is her, she… why must her words always… Sob, sob…”

As she spoke, Chen Xiaoyi’s hand fell to her abdomen, yet her weeping did not stop.

“Xiaoyi, what is the matter?” The fort master stood up, supported the woman, and helped her sit in his own chair.

Turning back to look at Feng Jiu’er, the fort master managed a somewhat forced smile.

“Miss Feng, Miss Xiao Yingtao — the little girl does not know any better. Please do not take it to heart. I also find this matter suspicious.”

The fort master gave a light cough, and his gaze swept briefly across the man who had spoken earlier.

“Liang Yi, the search today — was it arranged by you?”

“In reply to the Fort Master.” Liang Yi cupped his hands. “The brothers’ tasks are rotated. There is no fixed rule as to who must enter a room to conduct a search.”

“So to say, you five form a group, and today happened to be your rotation?” the fort master asked in a low and firm voice.

“Yes, Fort Master.” The other five men nodded in unison.

“In reply to the Fort Master, once we entered, we began a thorough search.” One of the brothers continued, “Until Xiao Bin discovered the jade pendant.”

“Fort Master, I did not plant it there. I truly did not.” The man called Xiao Bin shook his head in protest.

“The jade pendant was found beneath the bedding. I genuinely had no prior knowledge of this.”

The fort master felt helpless. At this point, everyone’s account was one-sided, and there was nothing more to be gained from further questioning. He gave a shallow sigh and waved his hand.

“Liang Yi, take them all away. Find out the specifics and come back to report.”

“Yes, Fort Master.”

Liang Yi nodded and led the several people in the hall, Xiao Nu included, out of the great hall.

“It was not me — I have been wronged! It truly was not me. Miss Feng, save me — I truly know nothing!”

As Xiao Nu was dragged away, she kept crying out her grievances.

“Fort Master.” Chen Xiaoyi worked her lips and stood up.

“What are you doing? Are you feeling unwell? Sit down quickly.” The fort master supported her, visibly anxious.

“I feel so awful!” Chen Xiaoyi pressed her lips together, her eyes reddening again. The moment she opened her mouth, her voice came out hoarse. “Fort Master, I… Sob, sob…”

“Every time I think of the Liang family’s youngest sister, I feel such anguish. Why… why did she have to meet such an unfortunate fate?”

“Xiaoyi, do not dwell on it too much. I will certainly root out the killer and bring justice to those who have died.” The fort master’s gentle voice rose.

Not wishing to linger any longer, Feng Jiu’er stood up. “Fort Master, we shall take our leave first.”

Hearing this, the fort master immediately turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er gave him a cupped-hands salute and stepped out from behind the table.

“If the fort master does not mind, I will have my people come in to search for the mountain range I am looking for. Our time is also precious — I ask for your understanding.”

“However, during this time, should the fort master require it, I will also do what is within my means to assist in solving the case. I wonder what the fort master thinks?”

“Old sister Feng, why have you suddenly grown so formal with me?” The fort master left his favored consort and walked toward Feng Jiu’er and her party.

Feng Jiu’er gave a faint smile but offered no reply.

The fort master came to her side, unhooked a token from his waist, and extended it toward her.

“Here — take my command token. Wherever you wish to search within the fort, there will be no issue.”

“Should our Stone Forest Formation prove any obstacle, Old Sister Feng may directly produce the token and have someone lift the seal.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the token, then reached out and took it.

“Good, then many thanks to the fort master.” She looked at the fort master, nodded, and gave a slight smile.

“Fort Master, I feel so awful.” The favored consort’s voice drifted over once more.

Feng Jiu’er gave the fort master a cupped-hands salute. “Then we shall not disturb the fort master any further. With Captain Nanmen Rong here, I am also at ease.”

Leaving those words behind, Feng Jiu’er led her people away and paid no further attention to whatever unfolded behind her.

As they stepped out, the few of them could still hear the favored consort’s soft, wheedling voice trailing after them.

“Fort Master, my stomach feels unwell — could it be… Sob sob… I don’t understand.”

“Never mind, I’ll have the physician come and take a look.” The fort master’s voice carried out. “Xiaoyi, from now on, just rest and take care of yourself. No matter what happens, I am here.”

The group left the great hall together. Xiao Yingtao turned her head to look at Feng Jiu’er at her side.

“Jiu’er, what kind of man do you think the fort master is? He clearly respects his wife deeply, yet he dotes so heavily on this favored consort. I can’t figure it out.”