Feng Jiu’er gave a faint smile, raised her eyes to look at Captain Nanmen Rong standing guard not far off, and gave a light wave.
“I couldn’t figure it out before either, but now, it seems I can.”
Seeing this, Captain Nanmen Rong took long strides over.
Feng Jiu’er continued walking outward. Xiao Yingtao furrowed her brow and followed.
Once Captain Nanmen Rong had reached her side, Feng Jiu’er asked in a low voice, “Nanmen, I ask you — does the fort master have any heirs?”
Her voice was very low, and she knew full well that such matters could not be asked too openly.
Captain Nanmen Rong glanced around at his surroundings, then brought his gaze back, gave a light cough, and replied, “In reply to Miss Feng’s inquiry — he does not.”
Feng Jiu’er said nothing, as though waiting for something more.
Captain Nanmen Rong fell quiet for a moment, then continued in a low voice, “For reasons unknown, the fort master has had no children whatsoever over these years.”
“Later, a master gave the fort master guidance, saying that as long as he found a woman whose birth characters matched his own, she would be able to give him offspring.”
“The fort master’s current favored consort, Miss Chen, happened to match these birth characters, and so the fort master took her in.”
“Therefore, one very important reason the fort master dotes so heavily on Miss Chen is his hope that she will bear him a child.”
Such a preposterous belief was one only someone without medical knowledge could accept — yet in ancient times, such things were perfectly commonplace.
Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow slightly and asked in a mild tone, “And has Miss Chen conceived?”
Captain Nanmen Rong shook his head. “That, I do not know. There has been no word of it so far.”
“However, Miss Chen has been saying from time to time lately that she feels unwell. Perhaps she really has conceived — who can say?”
“How long has the fort master been married? Has he always kept favored consorts?” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to glance at Captain Nanmen Rong and asked in a low voice.
“Many years now.” Captain Nanmen Rong looked at the path ahead, appearing to think very hard about Feng Jiu’er’s question.
“About ten years, I believe.” Captain Nanmen Rong steadied his thoughts and replied softly. “As for favored consorts — well, the first two years after he wed, it seems he did not.”
“He has had them continuously in recent years, and quite a few have come and gone. However, these women are not formally named as the fort master’s concubines.”
“The fort master has never given them official standing. It is simply what everyone calls them, and the fort master has never objected.”
“It is not merely a matter of what people call them, is it?” Xiao Yingtao shot Captain Nanmen Rong a look.
“Could it be that with so many women, not a single one has been able to conceive? Are their birth characters simply incompatible?”
Feng Jiu’er gave a light smile and looked at Xiao Yingtao.
“Let us go. There are more pressing matters at hand.” She gave a small wave and quickened her pace.
Xiao Yingtao, Qiao Mu, Jian Yi, and Xing Zizhou all followed Feng Jiu’er’s footsteps, leaving Captain Nanmen Rong standing there in a slight daze.
Captain Nanmen Rong paused, then caught up. “Miss Feng, is there anything you need help with?”
Feng Jiu’er took the command token from her waist and held it up before Captain Nanmen Rong.
“This is the command token your fort master gave me. Starting today, my people will come in to search for the mountain range.”
“Go and inform the other hall masters, so as to avoid any misunderstandings later on.”
“The fort master also said that seals on the Stone Forest Formations may be lifted to make it easier for my people to move in and out.”
Pressing matters came first. As for the massacre case within the fort, she would do what she could.
Feng Jiu’er had no intention of abandoning that task. She simply wished to get her own affairs in order first, so that she could attend to other things with no lingering worries.
“Good, I understand.” Captain Nanmen Rong nodded.
“By the way, Miss Feng, your people coming and going should also be aware — the Stone Forest at the main gate has already been unsealed, yes?”
“With this command token, you may act with full confidence within the fort. Miss Feng, you may not know this, but this token represents the fort master himself.”
Feng Jiu’er lowered her eyes to look at the token in her hand, her shapely brows furrowing slightly.
“So this token carries such weight. I had thought it was merely an ordinary token.”
“Not at all — to hold the token is to stand in the fort master’s stead.” Captain Nanmen Rong added.
“Good.” Feng Jiu’er gave a very satisfied nod. “Inform those below. I need to go out once.”
“Yes.” Captain Nanmen Rong cupped his hands and turned to leave.
Feng Jiu’er held the token, her mood quite cheerful. “The fort master has finally done something that satisfies me.”
“Indeed.” Xiao Yingtao’s gaze also lingered on the token. “Jiu’er, we have worked so hard for so long — now we can finally do as we please.”
Feng Jiu’er nodded, then turned her head to look at Qiao Mu beside her.
“Qiao Mu, in a moment, keep a small number of our brothers stationed here. Have the rest come in to search.”
“Those who come in — divide into five teams: east, west, south, north, and center. One team for each direction. Let us strive to sweep through this entire place within three days.”
“If the Stone Forest Formations pose no obstacle, there should be no problem.” Qiao Mu nodded in reply.
“We have the command token. Who would dare obstruct us?” Xiao Yingtao said with a touch of smugness.
Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“That may be said, but even with the fort master’s orders, some people will not follow them fully and completely — just as that East Hall Mistress earlier.”
“True.” Xiao Yingtao nodded. “They would not resist openly, but small obstructions behind the scenes could still hinder our work.”
Feng Jiu’er gave a shallow sigh. “Xiao Yingtao and I will remain in the Central Hall to continue helping investigate the case. As long as this matter goes unresolved, things will not be quiet.”
“Understood.” Xiao Yingtao nodded in acceptance of the order.
“I will go make the arrangements immediately.” Qiao Mu also accepted the order.
“Have my mother and Miss Xue stay behind. You, Zhao Yusheng, Keyan, and Xing Zizhou — each of you take charge of one direction. Any objections?” Feng Jiu’er asked softly.
“Understood.” Qiao Mu nodded again. “I will see to the arrangements.”
Feng Jiu’er went out personally with Qiao Mu to settle everything, and after leading the brothers into Nanman Fort, the five teams took their positions and set off in different directions. By the time they had all departed, it was already midday.
The blazing sun shone high overhead, dispelling most of the chill lingering in the mountain gorge.
In a densely wooded grove, a masked man stood beneath a tree, looking down from above at the person kneeling on the ground.
“What is the situation? Speak!” The man’s low, heavy voice rang out.
The kneeling figure raised his eyes for a glance and cupped his hands.
“First Prince, Feng Jiu’er saved the old fort master, and the fort master trusts her deeply. Forcing a confrontation now — it would be extremely difficult.”
The thick brows beneath the man’s mask knitted tightly. He gripped his fist hard, his aura growing even more oppressive.
“To think that even with people dead, their progress was not delayed — instead, it gave them a legitimate reason to be here.”
“First Prince, this humble one did not anticipate it either. How was anyone to know that the old fort master would suddenly go to the Liang family’s manor for tea?” The man gave a shallow sigh.
“Had the old fort master not also been poisoned, Feng Jiu’er would not have had this opening.”
“First Prince, should we move directly against Feng Jiu’er? Remove her, and they will be a dragon without a head. As for our search for the treasure…”
The man’s words were not yet finished when, without warning, a palm strike swept through the air, sending him crashing to the ground.
“She — no one may touch her!”