“This material is waterproof — it’s hard to find. Be careful not to tear it.”

Qiao Mu said flatly.

“Handling poisonous things bare-handed — how many lives do you have to spare?

And besides, it’s disgusting!”

Qiao Mu glanced at the crate holding the snakes and made a gagging motion.

“Thank you!”

Beneath his mask, Feng Jiang’s thin lips curved slightly.

Had he known, he wouldn’t have put this thing on himself — he’d have let his woman put it on for him instead.

Earlier, watching everyone else put theirs on, he had naturally followed suit and put one on his own face.

No need to ask — something he’d never seen before like this had to be one of Jiu’er’s creations.

“Hurry up and check for problems, I’m about to throw up.”

Qiao Mu rolled her eyes.

If there hadn’t been work to do, Feng Jiu’er would really have liked to tease Qiao Mu a little, who was rarely this much of a fussing, complaining woman.

The power of love truly was extraordinary.

Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved up slightly; she shook her head and pulled a third dead scorpion from the crate.

Before taking out a dead snake, Feng Jiang’s long arm reached out, landing behind Qiao Mu, and he stroked the back of her head.

“Go rest first. We can handle this.”

“My knowledge of poisons is greater than yours.”

Qiao Mu shot him a look and raised an eyebrow.

She had no intention of touching this foul-smelling thing — after all, plenty of people would love to.

Perhaps, had it been a different man, Miss Qiao would already have picked up a dead snake to study it herself.

But Qiao Mu didn’t realize just how much she had changed because of the man beside her.

“Fine. Once I’ve finished dealing with this, I’ll keep you company and sleep with you.”

Feng Jiu’er said with a smile, and put her gloved hand into the crate.

“Who’s going to sleep with you?”

Qiao Mu glared at the man who had just spoken.

She looked at him again, and realized she was actually imagining the scene of sleeping beside him.

Her mouth a little dry, Qiao Mu swallowed and thought she must have gone mad.

Had she gone crazy wanting a man this badly?

No! Tonight she absolutely had to ask Jiu’er just what was going on with her.

Was it some kind of illness?

Could it be cured?

Qiao Mu glared at Feng Jiang once more, then set her gaze on the corpse he had placed on the table in a large basin.

“This color — you can tell at a glance it’s poisoning.”

Focus on the case! Stop thinking about men.

“The scorpions were poisoned too.”

Feng Jiu’er said quietly.

She set down the corpse held in her tweezers and stepped closer to Feng Jiang.

“Are there any mutilated remains?”

“There are.”

Feng Jiang nodded and pulled out a snake that was only half intact.

Feng Jiu’er studied what was in his hand for a moment, her brow furrowing.

“Take a look at the wound — does anything seem off?

Are you sure this was caused by biting?”

Feng Jiang held the snake’s body up vertically, exposing the severed end.

He studied it for a moment, his thick brows knitting slightly. “Jiu’er, what you mean is…” “What I mean is, could this have been done by human hands?”

Feng Jiu’er said in a low voice.

“By human hands?”

Qiao Mu scratched her head, somewhat confused.

“Mm.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded.

She returned to her seat and picked out a few scorpion fragments, laying them out on the table.

“The Old Patriarch said that many of the creatures left no corpses at all — that made me suspect the creatures might have been stolen.”

“Think about it — creatures like scorpions and venomous snakes are valuable to begin with, especially ones the imperial family had specially bred.”

As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er assembled a complete scorpion from several broken fragments.

“Look.”

She raised her eyes and looked at the three others at the table.

“Suppose there really is some flying venomous beast. Something as large as a snake — for it to bite through, its size shouldn’t be small.”

“If that’s the case, it would likely be able to eat several scorpions in one mouthful, leaving nothing — there’s no way this many fragments would be left.”

“Thinking about it this way, I noticed a problem — this, right here.”

Feng Jiu’er looked down at the scorpion she had pieced together.

“It’s possible these were scattered in the same place and swept together — this is clearly the same scorpion’s various parts.”

“Jiu’er, you mean someone stole the creatures to sell, then killed some of them to create a false impression?”

Qiao Mu frowned.

“If that’s really the case, this person has guts — these things belong to Feng Qiongcang.”

“Money can move even ghosts and gods. Jiu’er’s guess isn’t impossible.”

Feng Jiang set down the broken snake in his hand and picked up another piece.

“It looks like these breaks weren’t made by some fierce beast.”

“Mm.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded, her gaze settling on the corpse in his hand.

“It’s hard to tell with the scorpions, but the snake’s wounds are large enough — not hard to distinguish.”

“Though the cut isn’t even, it doesn’t look like the work of a wild animal either.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Feng Jiang and continued, “I’ll try to analyze the composition of this poison first. As for the rest, what are you planning to do?”

“Could it be the Old Patriarch?”

Qiao Mu frowned. “We haven’t been inside the breeding grounds, but it’s clear not just anyone could get in.”

“To steal the creatures right under the Old Patriarch’s nose — that wouldn’t be easy.”

“It’s not impossible, but for now, we shouldn’t startle the snake by beating the grass.”

Feng Jiang put the thing in his hand back into the crate.

“This stinks too much — let’s take it outside.”

“Tonight, you all rest well. I’m going to take a look at the breeding grounds.”

“You should stay and keep your woman company in bed instead.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Feng Jiang and raised an eyebrow. “You already agreed to it yourself just now.”

“I’m in good spirits — let me scout this place out first.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Jian Yi closed the crate.

“All right.”

Feng Jiu’er gave him a faint smile.

“Sleep with who? What’s that about?

Jiu’er, what are you saying?”

Qiao Mu frowned.

“I’m sleeping with you.”

Feng Jiang glanced at Qiao Mu, then closed his crate as well.

“No need to be shy — it’s just us here.”

Feng Jiang, ever one to value his own life, dropped that line and walked off, carrying the two crates.

“Sleep with you, my foot! What did you just say?”

Qiao Mu glared at him and chased after.

Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly, took off her mask, and turned to leave.

“Jian Yi, rest a bit first before you head out.”

“All right.”

Jian Yi nodded, also taking off his mask, and left.

“Jiu’er, I’ll keep you company tonight.”

As Feng Jiu’er was entering her room, Jian Yi tossed out that line.

Feng Jiu’er stopped in her tracks and glanced back at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ll give you two choices: either let Miss Yue come over and I’ll guard your room, or you come stay in my room, and I’ll watch over you.”

Jian Yi turned and pushed open the door to the room across the hall.

“I’m not at ease about your safety.”

Feng Jiu’er watched his retreating back and sighed softly.

Knight Jian Yi, couldn’t you spare just a little of that concern of yours for the other girls?

After Zhao Xiaoxiao, now there was little sister Qinchun — and a pity it was, since she didn’t even pay him any mind anymore. As your surrogate mother, I really do worry for you, you know that?

After sighing, Feng Jiu’er walked into her room and shut the door.

She knew Jian Yi’s temperament well enough — if she didn’t go to him tonight, he would surely come to her.

Even if Qiao Mu wasn’t there, Qinchun was still in her room — that wouldn’t be appropriate.

It seemed that tonight, she wouldn’t have to share a bed with anyone after all.