“Don’t say such disgusting things while eating, all right?” Qiao Mu glared at the person across from her.

“When you and that madam were exchanging meaningful glances, did you ever consider our feelings?” Feng Jiu’er retorted, unceremoniously.

“I sacrificed a lot, you know?” Qiao Mu, recalling what had just happened, couldn’t help but frown.

“So you’re saying, Qiao Mu, you deliberately seduced that thing?” Gong Xinyue looked at Qiao Mu, her brow furrowing slightly.

“Pfft!” Feng Jiu’er nearly choked with laughter at Gong Xinyue’s “that thing.”

Gong Xinyue leaned over and patted Feng Jiu’er on the back.

“Jiu’er, is it really that funny?”

Feng Jiu’er coughed lightly a few times, finally managing to steady her breathing.

“Of course.” She looked at Gong Xinyue. “‘That thing’—that’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Tch!” Gong Xinyue shrugged. “What I can’t stand most is women degrading themselves like that.”

“Doesn’t everyone have hands and feet? Why can’t they support themselves?”

“Not everyone thinks like you do,” Qiao Mu said, picking up her chopsticks and continuing to eat.

Suddenly, Feng Jiu’er coughed heavily and looked up toward the window.

Qiao Mu and Gong Xinyue both immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Feng Jiu’er’s gaze outside.

After a moment, Feng Jiu’er said softly, “Hungry? Come in.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the window was pushed open, a breeze drifted in, and a tall, slender figure appeared before the three women.

“Great Hero, why have you come?” Qiao Mu asked, raising an eyebrow.

But the moment she said it, she felt it was pointless.

If Jiu’er was here, could Jian Yi be far behind?

Jian Yi didn’t respond to Qiao Mu’s words, walking straight toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Is your body all right?” Feng Jiu’er scooted over, making room for Jian Yi.

Jian Yi sat down beside her, and Feng Jiu’er’s soup was already extended to him.

“I’m fine.” Jian Yi took the soup and took a light sip.

Feng Jiu’er reached out and placed her hand on his forehead.

Jian Yi continued drinking the soup, not refusing Feng Jiu’er’s touch.

Feng Jiu’er saw nothing unusual about Jian Yi, and so felt at ease.

Jian Yi finished the bowl of soup in one go and set the bowl down.

“These past few days, I’ve been guarding you all.” He turned his head to look at Feng Jiu’er.

“Good!” Feng Jiu’er piled a large chunk of stewed meat onto his bowl, along with two pieces of vegetables.

Jian Yi looked down at the bowl, picked it up, and began eating.

“With Jian Yi here, we can sleep soundly at night too,” Gong Xinyue said, welcoming Jian Yi’s arrival warmly.

“Eat up, and rest early after you’re done. Don’t I still have to soak in that miraculous potion later?” As she finished speaking, Feng Jiu’er glanced at Qiao Mu.

“I still don’t know how those people believe that you, Miss Qiao, have such a miraculous secret recipe.”

“A formula that can turn someone from pitch black to pale in one night must be worth a fortune.”

“Isn’t this just to save time?” Qiao Mu picked up a piece of meat and shook her head.

“I’m selling my skills, not my body, you know—you’d better use every trick you have to win that person over quickly, or my reputation will be ruined!”

Qiao Mu ate a piece of meat and continued, “When the time comes, put on some makeup or something, so you won’t be recognized.”

“I know what to do.” Feng Jiu’er gave Qiao Mu a reassuring look.

Jian Yi, however, stopped eating and turned his head to look at Feng Jiu’er.

Sensing his gaze, Feng Jiu’er puffed out her cheeks and turned to look back at him.

She merely blinked and slowly continued chewing the food in her mouth.

“Will there be danger?” Jian Yi’s voice, like heavenly music, rang out.

“Aren’t you here with me?” Feng Jiu’er said, her words slurred with food in her mouth.

But she still tilted her head slightly, feigning playfulness.

Jian Yi stared at her intently, his eyes full of worry.

After swallowing the food in her mouth, Feng Jiu’er gently patted his shoulder.

“It’s fine. If anything happens to us, A’Jiu and my third brother will surely charge in—what could possibly happen?”

Though she said this, Feng Jiu’er had never intended for their situation to affect the pace of the advancing forces.

This whole matter was her own willful decision, but she had confidence in herself.

At the very least, she needed to find out what this covert drug was, locate where these covert drugs were being stored, and ideally destroy them outright.

“Jian Yi, you really don’t need to worry so much—Jiu’er’s skill has long surpassed yours,” Qiao Mu said, raising an eyebrow.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at Qiao Mu, then put a bit more food on Jian Yi’s plate.

“Eat up. You haven’t eaten all day, have you? Tonight you still have to guard the three of us beautiful young ladies, so eat more.”

Jian Yi withdrew his gaze from Feng Jiu’er’s face, lowered his head, and picked up the food in his bowl.

After dinner, Qiao Mu had people prepare a rather hot bath—since they’d claimed to be soaking in some secret recipe, things had to be done properly.

On the first night, for safety’s sake, the three of them didn’t leave the room again.

Early the next morning, a servant boy brought in breakfast and left.

Jian Yi came in as well during the meal.

After finishing breakfast, Jian Yi went to Feng Jiu’er’s room to rest.

Fortunately, that madam didn’t disappoint them—she arrived at the hour of Si (9–11 a.m.).

Today, the madam’s attire was considerably more refined than yesterday’s—she’d changed into a set of blue-green robes, no longer the cold glamour of the day before.

The madam entered, followed by the same woman who’d worn pink yesterday, except today she wore goose yellow.

Both women had removed their heavy makeup, though there was still no shortage of powder on their faces—at least it looked much more pleasant now.

When the door to the private room opened, Feng Jiu’er was sitting by the low table, a small fan in one hand and a needle and thread in the other.

Qiao Mu sat not far off, sipping tea, while Gong Xinyue gripped her longsword, looking as if she were about to head out.

“Second Young Master, are you heading out?” the madam asked Gong Xinyue gently.

Before Gong Xinyue could respond, her gaze, as if by chance yet deliberately, landed on Qiao Mu.

Today, Qiao Mu was dressed in military attire.

She sat in her chair, her long legs placed casually, one in front of the other, exuding a wild, untamed charm.

“Elder Brother.” The madam gazed steadily at Qiao Mu for a moment, her eyes brimming with romantic interest.

“Did you sleep well last night?” As soon as the madam spoke, she’d already arrived at Qiao Mu’s side.

Qiao Mu casually set down the cup in her hand, and the head that had been slightly lowered lifted a fraction, glancing at the madam.

“Not bad.” Her low voice carried a hint of languid charm.

“Is the town chief coming?”

Qiao Mu raised her eyelids, the madam’s reflection appearing in her eyes.

The madam stared unblinkingly at the “man” she was infatuated with, her cheeks flushing a rare shade of red.

“I—I’ve already notified the town chief. He said he’d come today.”

Not far off, Gong Xinyue, hearing the woman’s words, walked back to stand in front of Feng Jiu’er’s room, set down her longsword, and sat in the chair closest to the door.

Jian Yi was still resting inside; with her covering for him, there generally shouldn’t be any problems.