Jian Yi stopped roughly a zhang away from her.
“I heard you cry out, that’s why I broke through the door.”
The moment he finished speaking, he turned to head back out.
“Jiu’er, wait a moment, I’ll go get you some water ready.”
“No need.” Feng Jiu’er let go of the blanket, straightened her clothes, and got out of bed.
“There are people for that sort of thing, you don’t need to fuss over it.”
“You’ve just recovered from a serious illness, you should rest well, or go practice your skills more — don’t hover over me all the time, it’s a waste of your talent.”
“Also, I had a dream, is it not normal to call out for my father and mother? From now on, you have to knock before entering my room — what if I wasn’t dressed?”
Jian Yi’s lips curved slightly as he looked back at the woman putting on her outer robe.
“First, I slept very well last night!”
“Second, I finished my training early this morning — have you even looked at what time it is now?”
“Third, I like worrying about your affairs, and I’m willing to keep doing it.”
“Fourth, even if I’d charged in and you weren’t dressed, you’d have lost nothing — you’ve already seen my body, so there’s no harm in me seeing yours.”
Feng Jiu’er turned back, grabbed the robe still hanging up, balled it, and flung it hard at him.
“Who said you could look!” She let out a cold snort and stepped forward.
“It’s this late already, and didn’t Xiao Yingtao say she’d wake me up? That troublemaker.”
Today was the first public recruitment event held by Dragon Shadow within the Feng Clan, and she wanted to go see it for herself.
There were still two days left before the first batch of antidote would be ready anyway — she’d have to wait another two or three days before setting out.
At the very least, she needed to confirm whether the antidote truly worked.
With the lives of tens of thousands of people at stake, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t afford to be careless — she had to personally witness the first group of brothers taking the medicine before she’d feel at ease.
Even the Ninth Imperial Uncle and Third Imperial Brother had gone over there — holding Yongshan City wasn’t going to be difficult.
If Mao Zhongcai refused to submit, they would push into Pingyuan City and keep fighting until he yielded, or the war would only be quietly simmering, never truly settled.
Since her father wasn’t in Feng Qiongcang’s hands, they would sweep across the entire Heitan Territory, until every corner of it belonged to their people.
That way, Han Ying would have nowhere left to hide, and would be forced to hand her father over.
Whether it was this woman, or Feng Qiongcang, she wasn’t going to let either of them go.
After all, they were the ones who’d refused to show mercy first.
“Xiao Yingtao and the others already went out. She said you’d had some wine and wanted you to rest a while longer.” Jian Yi turned and followed along.
Feng Jiu’er pushed the door open and stepped outside.
She came out to the hall, and glanced out beyond it.
“Rest a while longer — but is this really the right hour?” Feng Jiu’er sighed softly.
It was nearly noon already — how had she managed to sleep this long?
“Miss Jiu’er, I’ll go prepare your washing water right away, and I’ll have someone bring breakfast over too.” The maid standing guard at the door bowed slightly.
“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand.
The maid nodded and turned to leave.
“It’s this late already, how could I possibly settle down to eat breakfast?” Feng Jiu’er glanced sideways at the side chamber.
“Everyone had wine last night, why would I be this delicate about it?”
Just as Feng Jiu’er was about to step forward, Jian Yi took hold of her small hand.
She turned back, staring at the man pulling her back inside.
“Jian Yi, what are you doing?”
“Eat first, then go out. Xiao Yingtao and the others already left — there’s a lot to prepare for the first day, why are you in such a hurry?” Jian Yi explained with great patience.
He pulled Feng Jiu’er straight to the table, gently pressed down on her shoulder, and had her sit.
“Did they really already go out to prepare?”
“Absolutely true!” Jian Yi picked up the teapot and poured her a cup.
In no time, the maid had already brought in a basin of water.
Feng Jiu’er stood, washed up briefly, then sat back down.
The maid took the used water and left, while another maid brought in the food.
Feng Jiu’er didn’t ask too many questions — partly because her stomach was hungry and she needed to eat, and partly because she’d already found her excuse for sleeping in.
Jian Yi said nothing, quietly keeping her company as she ate.
Feng Jiu’er ate quickly, and soon enough her stomach was full.
By the time she’d changed into a fresh set of clothes and come back out, Jian Yi was standing outside the door, and the table in the hall had already been cleared.
“Let’s go.” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Jian Yi.
The two of them walked out together, through the side chamber, the courtyard, the main yard, and out through the estate’s front gate.
In front of the estate, a long table had been set up. Today, the person seated in the center, the star of the occasion, was Shen Rong’er.
Seated on either side of her were Qiao Mu, Xiao Yingtao, along with Leng Xuepiao, Qingqing, and Xiaotian.
Yue Qinchun and Duan Liuyang, holding stacks of paper, along with a few other women and men, were handing them out along the street.
All around, quite a few townsfolk had gathered. In front of the long table, people sat and stood everywhere.
The long table was the interview area, where several seated women were interviewing the applicants who’d come by, with a few tall, sturdy soldiers standing guard on either side.
“Look, the city lord’s here too,” one townsperson remarked.
Everyone turned and looked up; some who had been seated even rose to their feet.
“Greetings, City Lord!” Dozens of people bowed together toward Feng Jiu’er.
Feng Jiu’er raised one arm, waving to the crowd in greeting.
“Please, carry on,” she said, coming to stand behind Shen Rong’er and waving a hand.
“Yes.” After the townsfolk rose and responded, those consulting resumed their questions, and those answering sat back down to continue.
“Work is four shichen a day. Report at the fourth quarter of the Chen hour, you may go home by the fourth quarter of the Wu hour, come back at the fourth quarter of the Wei hour, and head home again at the fourth quarter of the You hour.”
“During farming season, hours can be reduced accordingly.”
“There’s a fixed wage, with a seven-day trial period. After that, pay is based on the quality and quantity of work done.”
“Wages are settled once a month — Dragon Shadow will absolutely never withhold pay.”
“Pay can be calculated by the hour or by the month, and if you come more than twenty days a month, there’s an additional bonus.”
As Yue Qinchun, Duan Liuyang, and the others handed out the papers, they also explained the work details, including hours and roughly how wages would be paid.
Once people understood the terms, those interested would line up in front of the long table for an interview.
Feng Jiu’er watched as more and more townsfolk gathered, and her mood lifted as well.
It seemed that being city lord did make certain things easier — in other places, she could hardly have imagined being this well received.
“City Lord.” Suddenly, a man called out loudly.
A man and a woman, leading a small boy by the hand, walked toward the center, followed by a pair of elderly people behind them.
“City Lord, it’s me.” The man stopped, looking at Feng Jiu’er with growing excitement.
The two elders also stepped forward, followed shortly after by two women who looked to be about the same age.
Feng Jiu’er turned and looked at the family.
“City Lord, it’s me — that day my son was taken by the female demon lord.” The man spoke again, gesturing emphatically. “Do you still remember?”
The corner of Feng Jiu’er’s mouth lifted slightly, and she nodded. “So it’s you all. Is the child doing well?”
“I’m sorry! I haven’t had the chance to come check on you all these past days.”
Feng Jiu’er took two steps forward and bent down to look at the little boy the man was holding by the hand.
“Little one, are you feeling better now?”