Feng Jiu’er was truly delighted — these herbs should be enough to make sufficient antidote.

Thinking of those sincere brothers, who could truly be freed from danger, how could she not be happy.

What’s more, there were tens of thousands of them; even if it were only to save people, Feng Jiu’er would already be happy — not to mention that these were now her own people.

Once the poison in their bodies was fully cleared, everyone could join together to deal with Mao Zhongcai, or others like him.

“There’s plenty of herbs here that can be cut. Let me pick some first, to bring along together.” After a while, Feng Jiu’er said.

“Good.” Gong Xinyue turned her head to look at Feng Jiu’er, beaming.

Gong Xinyue led Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu on a walk through the field, with the three men following at a distance.

Feng Jiu’er selected some herbs, and also told Gong Xinyue quite a bit of knowledge about growing herbs.

The three got into the carriage again, and after traveling some distance further, they finally entered the stronghold.

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, please!” Gong Xinyue got off the carriage and lifted the curtain for those inside.

The moment Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu got out, what met their eyes was a large courtyard.

While still on the carriage, they had already heard the noisy chatter.

“Sister, you’re back?”

“Sister, who are they? They’re both so pretty!”

“Sister, did you go into the city? Did you bring us candy?”

“Sister, I want candy.”

“Sister, did you bring back my pastries?”

“The two sisters are so pretty! So pretty!”

Jian Yi, Zhao Yusheng, and Feng Yinan had gotten off the carriage outside and did not come in.

Gong Xinyue had been the one driving the carriage into the courtyard.

The moment the three women got off, they were surrounded by a group of children of various heights.

There were boys and girls; even the tallest wasn’t very tall, probably around seven or eight years old, and the smallest looked as if they had only just learned to walk.

Before Gong Xinyue could speak, two women hurried over.

Both had cloth wrapped around the front of them, clearly showing they had just been in the middle of some work.

“All of you spread out, spread out!” said the woman in dark red clothes.

“Don’t crowd her!” said the woman in gray clothes, also growing anxious. “Sister’s brought guests back, spread out quickly!”

“It’s fine.” Gong Xinyue glanced over the children, turned, and stepped up onto the carriage.

Soon, when she came back down, she carried two cloth sacks in her hands.

“Auntie Zhang the Elder, Auntie Zhang the Second, here’s some candy and pastries, share it among the children.”

“Yay! We get candy.”

“Thank you, sister!”

“There must be my favorite pastry!”

“Long live sister!”

“I want to eat, I want to eat.”

“Don’t fight! Whoever wants to eat, follow me.” Auntie Zhang the Elder took the cloth sack and said.

“Okay.”

“Eat, eat, eat.”

“I want to eat.”

“Thank you, sister, sister’s the best.”

“…”

The younger children only had eyes for the food; the older ones still remembered to say thank you.

Once the food was carried off, the children were drawn away with it.

“Xinyue, are these all your younger siblings?” Qiao Mu asked teasingly.

As for Gong Xinyue’s situation, she herself had already made it clear — she was an only child, so where would siblings come from?

“They’re all orphans.” Gong Xinyue waved a hand. “Some are our own clanspeople, whose parents sacrificed themselves for everyone.”

“Some are our clanspeople’s children brought back from a few cities — pitiful orphans.”

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, let’s go in and talk. There’s still a lot to prepare, and time isn’t very abundant.”

“Alright.”

“Mm.”

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu nodded at the same time, following Gong Xinyue into a side room.

A rather young woman went in to pour tea for them, then withdrew.

Gong Xinyue took out a map of the terrain around Panlong Stronghold and told Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu quite a lot about the situation there.

Before nightfall, the three had traced out most of the route the thirty-thousand-strong army would take, before finally stopping.

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu.” Gong Xinyue, on horseback, drew her gaze back from the vast grassland.

“This spot is meant for the soldiers to camp. Do you think it’s suitable?”

“This place isn’t far from the gates of Pingyuan City, so we can attack at any time.”

“Besides, by the time this many of your people arrive, whatever Mao Zhongcai does, it’ll all be too late.”

Feng Jiu’er set down the map in her hand and nodded with satisfaction. “It really is quite good.”

“Our people are already waiting inside the city too. When the time comes, we can strike from inside and outside together, catching Mao Zhongcai off guard.”

Feng Jiu’er had always been cautious. If everything relied entirely on Panlong Stronghold, and something unexpected happened, it would leave the brothers stuck in dire straits.

So although Gong Xinyue said she had people inside the city, Feng Jiu’er had no intention of using them.

Of course, to show her trust in Gong Xinyue, she would also tell her the truth about matters as they stood.

“Mm.” Gong Xinyue didn’t think anything of it.

Right now, toward Feng Jiu’er, apart from endless admiration, she also felt trust and fondness.

At first, when she’d heard from Qiao Mu that Qiao Mu herself had also once been a stronghold chief, but later followed Feng Jiu’er, Gong Xinyue hadn’t disbelieved it — she’d just found it a bit strange.

After spending half a day with Feng Jiu’er, Gong Xinyue understood why Qiao Mu had made such a choice.

She too was glad to be able to follow Feng Jiu’er — of course, on the condition that her clanspeople could live a good life.

“Jiu’er.” Gong Xinyue suddenly called out softly.

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes and met her gaze. “What is it?”

“If possible, after this battle is over, could you take over Panlong Stronghold too?”

“Xinyue, you haven’t been dazed by Jiu’er’s charms, have you?” Qiao Mu shook her head, taking the water pouch off her saddle.

Qiao Mu sighed and twisted open the pouch’s cap.

“Only half a day, and you’re already handing over everything you have — how are you even more foolish than me.”

“I don’t think so.” The corner of Gong Xinyue’s mouth curved up slightly.

“Jiu’er is the youngest, most decisive, most formidable woman I’ve ever met.”

Gong Xinyue turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er, looking just like a besotted little fan.

“And also, the most, most, most beautiful.”

Qiao Mu took a swig of water, raising her eyes to Feng Jiu’er. “I’m telling you, this woman is a menace — she eats up men and women alike!”

“Seems like even water can’t stop your mouth.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow. “Want me to give you a jug of wine instead?”

“Sure, just don’t have me on duty for tasks tomorrow — tonight I won’t stop until I’m drunk.”

“You wish it were that easy. Tomorrow’s such an important day, how could there be nothing for you to do?” Feng Jiu’er let out a soft laugh, looking quite pleased.

“If you want to drink, wait until we take Mao Zhongcai’s head!”

“As for Xinyue’s proposal, as long as your clanspeople aren’t a bunch of lazy people, I’ll consider it.”

“Great!” Gong Xinyue nodded, her face full of gratitude.

She had confidence in her own clanspeople, and she understood what Jiu’er meant.

No one wanted to keep useless people around, let alone someone like Jiu’er, who handled great matters.

—