“It’s fine, this place is open and the air is fresh,” one of the brothers replied with a smile.

“Physician Xing said as long as we don’t stay in the tents too long, there won’t be a problem.”

“Right,” another brother nodded, smiling. “Miss Xiao Yingtao even sends us tea every day, and we drink every drop of it.”

Once Feng Jiu’er finished washing her hands, Xiao Yingtao came over.

“That’s tea Xue Piao and I brewed ourselves, it’s good for your health, and it also helps clear heat and detoxify,” Xiao Yingtao said.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded with a smile, then spotted the brothers pushing in a wooden cart.

“The pastries and sweet soup are here. Everyone take a break, we’re not in such a rush even though it looks like the work will finish today.”

“Jiu’er’s right, since we’ll finish ahead of schedule today, everyone go get something to eat.” Zhao Yusheng waved a hand.

“Sounds good.”

“Thank you, Miss Jiu’er.”

“Thanks!”

Brothers from every direction clapped their hands and headed toward the makeshift rest tents, smiling.

The brothers up on the roof jumped down as well.

These past days, they had eaten, drunk, and slept right here, working hard for quite a long stretch.

Finally able to stop and catch their breath, and even get to eat the pastries and sweet soup Miss Jiu’er had prepared for them, the smiles on everyone’s faces grew wider still.

“Don’t thank me, I didn’t make it,” Feng Jiu’er said, following everyone toward the rest area.

“Make sure you finish everything — don’t let the effort of the cook and the brothers who brought it go to waste.”

“Absolutely!”

“We’ll definitely finish it all!”

“We’ll eat well, for sure!” the brothers cheered again.

Seeing everyone’s faces lit up so brightly, Feng Jiu’er finally felt at ease.

“Everyone eat slowly, I’m going to go take a look inside.”

“Miss Jiu’er, be careful!” one brother said, patting down his clothes and preparing to sit.

“No worries, Zhao Yusheng’s with me.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded slightly and turned toward the cave.

Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao followed along — they had already eaten their fill, so they weren’t hungry now.

Jian Yi and Zhao Yusheng said nothing and simply followed.

The cave wasn’t naturally formed; its mouth was quite wide.

Zhao Yusheng said nothing further, so Feng Jiu’er walked in with peace of mind.

All around her were solid, sturdy boulders, so she wasn’t too worried.

Going in was only to check whether there was anything the brothers might have missed.

Feng Jiu’er knew one shouldn’t be too greedy, but she needed to know the full picture in her heart.

The group walked around inside for a while before coming back out, and after Feng Jiu’er took another look at the log cabin, she bid farewell to the brothers and left.

By the time they got back to the carriage, the sky had already darkened.

As planned, they were drinking tonight, so the carriage headed straight for the tavern that Yang Sheng and Shen Rong’er had found.

By the time Feng Jiu’er walked through the tavern’s front door, the brothers had already arrived and taken their seats.

Everyone stood up at once, greeting Feng Jiu’er, every face lit with a smile.

As Feng Jiu’er and the others made their way over, Yue Qinchun and Duan Liuyang came forward to meet them.

“Jiu’er, the seat of honor is toward the back, everyone’s been waiting for you,” Yue Qinchun said with a smile.

Today was truly a good day, happier even than New Year’s! Of course it was — during the New Year they’d still been at war, how could that have been happy?

The tavern had been rented out entirely by Dragon Shadow — both floors, inside and out, were packed with people.

Feng Jiu’er’s mood was good too; it had been a long time since things had felt this lively.

Even though she still didn’t know where her father was, and didn’t know whether the Ninth Imperial Uncle and Third Imperial Brother had gotten enough to eat, she still felt it necessary to reward the brothers.

“Everyone, don’t stand on ceremony! Eat as much as you like, and once you’re done, you can still—” Feng Jiu’er, never one for many words, said a few sentences amid the brothers’ warm reception, then made her way to the largest table inside.

Xing Zizhou stood up, went over and took his young lady’s hand, and looked toward the shopkeeper waiting nearby.

“Shopkeeper, bring out the food.”

“Right away,” the shopkeeper nodded happily and hurried off.

Today was also a good day for their shop — not only could they host the city lord, they’d still get to charge normal prices, how could they not be happy?

At first the shopkeeper had said the price could be discussed, that he didn’t want to profit off the city lord. But the city lord’s people had insisted it made no difference, and that he should just cook properly.

Today’s earnings would be considerable! As the owner, the shopkeeper was surely the happiest man there.

Feng Jiu’er sat down, and everyone else took their seats as well.

Everyone chatted quietly amongst themselves, the atmosphere lively and warm.

Before long, the shopkeeper, along with the entire staff, began bringing food out to the guests.

The tavern’s tables had never been this many — most had been added just for today.

With so many people now, things felt a bit crowded, but no one minded in the least.

A single tavern couldn’t possibly seat everyone, so Xing Zizhou had split the brothers into five groups, to come in shifts.

Yang Sheng had said that as long as the brothers enjoyed themselves today, the tavern would belong to Dragon Shadow for the next two days as well.

Quite a few brothers had stayed behind; the five groups were mostly those with stronger abilities and some rank.

As for the rest who hadn’t been arranged a seat, Xing Zizhou gave them all extra rewards — everything had to be fair.

Once all the dishes had been served, Xing Zizhou stood up.

“Brothers.” His voice rang out loud and clear — even the brothers on the second floor could hear it plainly.

“You’ve all worked hard these past days! Today, eat well! If there’s not enough food, or not enough wine, just ask for more! There will be plenty, guaranteed!”

“Yes!” Nearly two hundred brothers, upstairs and down, answered together in one voice.

The sound rang out, loud and long. “Yes!”

Xing Zizhou raised his cup. “Let’s start with a light toast, shall we?”

“Jiu’er doesn’t drink, so I’ll drink this cup in her place!”

Feng Jiu’er looked at her capable aide and smiled.

Xing Zizhou really had turned out well — over this whole journey, he’d grown steadier and steadier.

Truthfully, they should thank the girl at his side too — with this little one around, Xing Zizhou was bound to become even more outstanding, and happier too.

Xing Zizhou said a few more words to the brothers, drank his cup dry, and sat back down.

Everyone began eating, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere warm and lively.

It was a rare joyful day. Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, Xiao Yingtao, Yue Qinchun, and several other women all had some wine.

Unfortunately, apart from Qiao Mu, everyone else’s tolerance for alcohol was fairly average.

On the way back, the women walked ahead with their arms around each other’s shoulders, followed behind by their respective flower-guarding escorts.

That night, Feng Jiu’er had a dream — she dreamed of her father, and of her mother too.

In the dream, she was a little girl spoiled rotten by her parents.

Feng Jiu’er felt herself so fortunate that when she woke, tears of happiness still clung to her cheeks.

“Father.” Feng Jiu’er sat up abruptly.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but she could still hear it clearly herself.

Feng Jiu’er reached up with both hands and wiped away her tears, her hollow gaze gradually coming back into focus.

“Father, where exactly are you?”

After that faint, powerless voice, the door was pushed open from outside.

A pair of long legs came into Feng Jiu’er’s view, followed immediately by that tall, straight-standing frame.

“Jiu’er, what’s wrong?” Jian Yi strode in.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the man walking in and pulled her blanket tight.

“Jian Yi, you barged into my chamber again?”