“As for…” Mao Linye leaned back against the chair, gently rubbing his fingers together.

“If this really was Cai Junyao’s doing, then this person cannot be allowed to live.”

“But, Boss, this person belongs to the imperial family.” The burly man stood and stepped forward a few paces.

“Boss, this matter must be handled properly. Right now, whether we’re wiping out the enemy or not, we still need to rely on the imperial family.”

“General Cai also said that as long as we’re willing to submit, the imperial family’s soldiers will be ready at any time…”

“Have you found out how many imperial troops are stationed across from Songjiang?” Mao Linye cut the burly man off coldly.

“No definite word yet,” Song Shiniang replied, cupping her hands.

Mao Linye rubbed his temples and waved a hand. “Go take care of it.”

“Since the medicine factory in Song Family Village has been discovered, send the remaining medicine to Chiling Temple. Handle things properly this time — there can be no more mistakes.”

“Yes.” The three people in the hall bowed together toward Mao Linye.

Mao Linye let out a light sigh, stood, and walked toward the door.

“Boss, should I send my girl to keep you company tonight?” Song Shiniang asked as he passed by her.

“No need. Just handle things well. Know that I’ve had high hopes for the three of you all along — don’t disappoint me!”

“Yes!” The three bowed once more.

Mao Linye swept his sleeve and strode out.

The two men standing guard outside heard the sound and immediately pulled the door open.

As Mao Linye stepped out, the woman who had just poisoned Feng Jiu’er’s food hurried over.

“Boss, are we heading back tonight?” she asked, practically pressing her whole body against his arm.

Mao Linye glanced at her, then caught sight from the corner of his eye of the small figure lying collapsed not far away. Suddenly, he pushed the woman aside.

“Hubiao,” Mao Linye called out coldly.

“Boss.” The bearded, burly man who had just been in the meeting inside strode out. “Anything else you need?”

“From now on, Jiaojiao belongs to you,” Mao Linye said, tossing a pill into Feng Jiu’er’s mouth and lifting her up from the ground.

“What?” The woman named Jiaojiao stared in disbelief at Mao Linye as he walked away.

“Yes.” Hubiao bowed to Mao Linye again. “Thank you, Boss, for your generosity!”

Jiaojiao looked at the coarse, bearded, muscular man turning back toward her and immediately frowned.

“Boss, no!” She dashed after him. “Boss, you can’t give up on Jiaojiao.”

“Jiaojiao didn’t mean it. Everyone the boss brought back before had to try our medicine first. Boss…”

Before Jiaojiao could catch up, Hubiao grabbed her hand.

Hubiao yanked hard, pulling Jiaojiao into his embrace.

“That’s enough! The boss will be upset. From now on, just be good and stay with me!”

Everything that had happened here, Feng Jiu’er was fully aware of. It turned out Mao Linye had never ordered her to be poisoned — it was all because a jealous woman had caused trouble.

As Mao Linye carried Feng Jiu’er out, Qiao Mu was still waiting outside.

Not far from her, two men had been standing guard the entire time — clearly there to watch her, not to guard the door.

Qiao Mu was anxious inside but didn’t let it show.

Yet, unexpectedly, after waiting for over half an hour, she saw Feng Jiu’er being carried out from inside.

“Xiaoxiao.” Qiao Mu’s expression changed, and she rushed forward.

“She’s fine.” Mao Linye, carrying Feng Jiu’er, walked past Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu’s lowered hands clenched tightly.

It was good that Jiu’er really was fine — otherwise, she would have torn Mao Linye limb from limb.

Qiao Mu suppressed her killing intent and stepped forward to follow.

Mao Linye laid Feng Jiu’er into the carriage, and a man lifted the curtain and climbed in.

Soon, another man mounted a horse and drove the carriage away.

Qiao Mu and another man went to fetch their respective horses and followed along.

Feng Jiu’er woke amid the jostling of the carriage. She suddenly opened her eyes, staring blankly ahead.

Mao Linye gently stroked Feng Jiu’er’s small face and asked in a low voice, “Still feeling unwell?”

Feng Jiu’er’s brow furrowed, and her eyes seemed to finally regain focus. “You…”

She braced herself and sat up, retreating backward.

Caught off guard, she retreated too quickly and bumped her head against the pillar behind her.

Her head throbbed with pain, and her frown deepened.

She reached up a small hand to rub the back of her head and finally called out weakly, “Boss…”

“Are you all right?” Mao Linye’s palm reached toward her.

Feng Jiu’er looked terrified and shrank back further.

Finding no way to retreat any further, she could only curl up her legs and hug them, trying to bury herself behind them as much as possible.

“Boss, please, don’t!” she said, head lowered, not even daring to look at him.

Mao Linye frowned and withdrew his hand. “Are you that afraid of me?”

Before, hadn’t she sought shelter from him, unafraid?

Feng Jiu’er’s breathing was heavy, her body trembling with each breath, looking every bit like an injured little rabbit.

“She said I would die. They poisoned me. She said Boss belongs to her. Am I… dead?”

Feng Jiu’er seemed to remember something and stealthily raised her head to glance at him.

“Boss, am I… not dead yet?” Her tear-filled eyes blinked, and she reached up to pinch her own cheek.

“Ow…” Her cheek stung with pain. Feng Jiu’er covered her face with one hand, while the other pale hand still clutched her legs tightly.

“Pfft!” Mao Linye burst out laughing but didn’t reach out to interfere.

“You’re not dead. With me around, you won’t die.”

Feng Jiu’er bit her lip and stared at Mao Linye for a good while before finally poking her head out from behind her knees.

Her tear-dampened lashes fluttered up and down several times as she watched Mao Linye without blinking.

“Boss, am I really not going to die? But… they were so fierce. I… can I go back? I… that’s right…”

She turned her head to look toward the curtain.

“Is my big brother still here? Hasn’t my big brother left yet? Boss.”

Feng Jiu’er turned back again. “My big brother is still here, isn’t he?”

“He said he’d stay to keep company at the brothel… no, protect me… no, no…”

Flustered, Feng Jiu’er waved her pale, soft hands about restlessly.

“My big brother and second brother are both part of the brothel now too, right? They’ll always be there, they won’t leave, right?”

“Mm.” Mao Linye nodded, saying nothing more.

After all, that wasn’t something for him to worry about.

Feng Jiu’er let out a soft breath, hugging her legs, and rubbed her small face against her knees to wipe away the tears.

After a moment, she cautiously looked up again and found Mao Linye watching her.

“Boss, is… something wrong?”

“Nothing,” Mao Linye said, shaking his head, withdrawing his gaze to look toward the curtain. “To the establishment.”

“Got it!” the man outside responded.

Feng Jiu’er didn’t know what “the establishment” referred to. If it meant the brothel, that would be fine — she had no intention of going back to Mao Linye’s residence with him.

She still had a great deal to do, and staying at the brothel was convenient.