Feng Jiu’er understood that even though Feng Qingyin currently had the upper hand over her, it would not be long before she climbed back up again. After all, Feng Junzhuo simply adored that daughter of his. As for herself — her own birth father had never liked her.

Walking through the darkness of night, Feng Jiu’er’s mind lingered on the matter of her wet nurse being burned to death.

At the time, she had still been the simple, foolish Feng Jiu’er, and she had not paid attention to many of the details. But now, looking back, that fire had come suddenly, and strangely.

At the time, there had clearly been an unusual fragrance drifting around the site of the blaze. Others would not have known it, but the more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. It had been a scent close to that of datura — yet richer and more concentrated than any datura blossom.

A fragrance like that had no place in Feng Manor. That fire had not been an accident. It was without question the work of someone’s hand. Moreover, it was connected to someone from outside. She simply did not know whether or not Feng Qingyin was also involved.

There was a sharp snap underfoot. Feng Jiu’er did not know what she had stepped on. As she lowered her head to look, a bone-chilling wave of killing intent surged at her from behind without warning.

An assassin!

Feng Jiu’er deliberately let her foot slip, rolling swiftly to the ground. The hidden projectile behind her struck a tree trunk nearby with a dull thud — yet the matter was far from over. With two sharp whistling sounds, two black-clad figures cut off her path ahead.

“Help—” The cry for help had not yet left her lips when, all of a sudden, a wave of fragrance came rushing straight at her.

That fragrance!

Feng Jiu’er’s heart lurched, and she frowned deeply.

This fragrance — it was unmistakably the same fragrance she had detected at the site of the fire that burned her wet nurse to death!

These people were connected to that fire!

As for the hidden projectile just now — it had clearly not been aimed to kill. If she had guessed correctly, these people wanted only to capture her; they did not want her life.

Feng Jiu’er paused to consider for only a moment, then swayed her body and collapsed to the ground, feigning unconsciousness. Having spent years in close dealings with medicines, a mere trace of fragrance had absolutely no effect on her whatsoever.

The two black-clad figures strode over quickly. One of them gave her a kick, then a second kick.

Sure enough — no reaction.

The other black-clad figure grabbed her and hauled her up, slinging her over his shoulder. The two of them pushed off with their feet and swiftly vanished into the night.

And so Feng Jiu’er was carried along on their shoulders, traveling she knew not how long over uneven, rugged roads. At last, she was thrown down.

Listening to the echo of her own landing, she could tell clearly she was inside a mountain cave.

She dared not open her eyes. She kept her ears pricked sharply, remaining alert to every movement around her.

At last, someone came.

“Is she the ugly ninth miss of the Feng Family?” It was a voice aged and raspy — yet clearly suppressed on purpose. Based on Feng Jiu’er’s assessment, the one who had spoken was certainly a young man in his twenties.

Well. Ninth Miss was fine enough a title, but why add the word “ugly” in front of it? Were they so afraid that others might not already know she was unattractive?

“Yes.” The black-clad figure who had brought her answered immediately. “We have delivered the person. The silver—”

There came a swift whooshing sound, as something flew across. It could only have been the silver they wanted.

Sure enough, after the two black-clad figures caught the payment, they turned and left without a second glance.

After that, Feng Jiu’er was once again seized and hoisted up, moving swiftly through the mountain ravines. This time, she opened her eyes and took in everything around her clearly.

It was the stretch of mountain forest behind Feng Manor — the very same path she had been forced through just the night before, in the clutches of the Ninth Prince. Who on earth was this person? Whom were they bringing her to see?

This time, the man’s lightness skill was far superior to those of the ones before him. In the blink of an eye, several mountain ridges had already been traversed. What was most alarming was that he showed absolutely no sign of slowing down.

Where in the world was he taking her?

Had she not been determined to uncover the mastermind behind everything, she never would have endured being kicked twice and gone on feigning unconsciousness until now.

Yet just as she was quietly gathering her strength in her palms, all of a sudden, a dark shadow drifted lightly down in their path ahead, blocking both their way.