The next morning, the He residence received word that someone would come to inspect the premises that day.

If it wasn’t Feng Jin or Feng Qiongcang himself coming, Feng Jiu’er wasn’t worried.

Right now, the biggest problem was how to get away from this place — they couldn’t stay here forever.

Before the noon meal, troops really did arrive.

Feng Li, disguised as a servant, stood off to one side sweeping fallen leaves.

Wearing a human-skin mask as Steward He, he lay reclined on the seat of honor in the hall while Duan Liuyang gave him a massage.

The soldiers had been let in by the guards outside — guards who were Zhao Yusheng’s own men, having kept watch there for some time already.

“Officers, what would you like to inspect? Go ahead and look as you please,” the honest, simple-looking guard said, turning back and waving a hand.

“However, I’d ask you gentlemen to keep your voices down a bit — our master…”

The guard pointed at his own head, and everyone understood at once.

Steward He had some renown in Wutong Town — word was that after falling into the water and being rescued, his mind had broken.

“Fine.” The lead officer waved his hand impatiently. “How many of you are there? Bring them all out here!”

“An order came down from the capital, closing the gates of every city — I imagine you’ve heard the news too?”

“Cooperate properly! Understood?”

“Yes.” The guard nodded, raised his eyes, and waved his hand again. “This is our master, and this is Physician Duan.”

“Officer, please take a look!”

“No need, no need.” The officer shook his head and turned. “Who else is there? Bring them out.”

The guard glanced around, then turned back to the lead officer and pulled out an ingot of silver.

“Sir, could we step outside to talk?”

“It’s not that we’re unwilling to cooperate — it’s just that our master… once his madness flares up, he’ll take a knife to anyone.”

“These past two days we’ve barely managed to keep things calm, and I’m worried…”

“Sir, could you step this way?” The guard produced a second ingot of silver.

As he pressed the two ingots into the lead officer’s hand, he tugged him along at the same time.

“Sir, let’s talk outside.”

The lead officer pocketed the silver before the others noticed.

“Inside is Steward He, and his physician. Do you want to go in and take a look?”

“Is that everyone?” another officer asked.

Clearly, none of them wanted to risk the bad luck of getting near a madman inside.

“There is one more.” The guard pointed toward someone sweeping leaves not far off.

“That’s the other one, and inside there’s a young maid preparing a medicinal bath for the master, plus one more in the kitchen.”

“Sir, should we…”

“Bring those two maids out!” The lead officer’s gaze lifted from the man sweeping.

“Yes.” The guard turned and left.

Soon, Feng Jiu’er, disguised as a maid, and Xiao Yingtao, likewise disguised, knelt on the ground.

Two officers held up portraits, comparing them to the women’s faces one by one. The people in the portraits resembled Feng Jiu’er’s original appearance by about sixty or seventy percent.

But now, with the human-skin mask on, Feng Jiu’er looked nothing like it at all.

As for Xiao Yingtao, there was no need to even mention it — she hadn’t looked much like the portrait to begin with, and still didn’t.

“Brother, it’s not her.” One officer turned back, looking at the lead officer.

“Let’s go!” The lead officer waved his hand.

The six or seven officers all turned and followed behind the lead officer.

As they left, they didn’t even glance at Feng Li, hunched over, sweeping fallen leaves.

Just as Feng Jiu’er had guessed, this kind of inspection was little more than a formality.

The Feng Clan’s territory was simply too vast — a thorough search of every single place was impossible!

Once the gate was shut, everyone inside gathered together for the noon meal.

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao wore matching maid’s uniforms; Qiao Mu and Jian Yi didn’t mind either way — if someone came, they’d simply leave.

Feng Li still wore servant’s clothing, his face and hands lined with fine wrinkles, though it didn’t affect his daily life in the slightest.

Zhao Yusheng no longer combed his hair, letting it fall loose over his shoulders; his complexion was rather pale, ready to play the madman at any moment.

Duan Liuyang had her long hair pinned up, neat and tidy.

“Zhao Yusheng, have you thought of a way to leave?” Xiao Yingtao glanced at Zhao Yusheng.

Zhao Yusheng shook his head and took a sip of soup.

“Let’s wait a bit longer and see what Xing Zizhou has to say when he gets back tonight.”

“Could we use a sedative?” Qiao Mu suggested.

“I’ve thought about that too.” Feng Jiu’er nodded lightly.

She placed a piece of meat in Feng Li’s bowl, then looked toward Qiao Mu. “After the noon meal, shall we go out for a look?”

“Sure.” Qiao Mu nodded. “The southern gate closest to us is only about half a mile away.”

“If it really doesn’t work, we’ll use the sedative and slip out in the middle of the night.”

“That can only be a last resort,” Zhao Yusheng said quietly in agreement.

“Once something like that gets exposed, it’s as good as telling Feng Qiongcang exactly where we’re headed.”

“I have another idea.” Xiao Yingtao raised her hand. “We could notify the brothers in a few different cities, pick a date, and have everyone slip out of their cities using the same method at the same time.”

“That way, not only would it split their attention, but it would also show Feng Qiongcang that we’re not so easy to trifle with.”

Xiao Yingtao glanced at Feng Li, then at Qiao Mu, stuck out her tongue, and fell silent.

“Once you wake up from our sedative, you forget everything anyway — if we plan it out well, it might not be as troublesome as it sounds,” Qiao Mu said.

“I’m not really in favor of having brothers in several cities move all at once,” Zhao Yusheng said, shaking his head.

“Our brothers have finally put down roots in each of these cities — until the very last moment, it’s best not to disturb that.”

“No need for everyone to feel so discouraged. We managed to get out of the capital, of all places, didn’t we?” Feng Jiu’er said, picking up a rib.

“Things will work out when the time comes. Just like every time before, I’m sure we’ll turn this danger into good fortune again this time too.”

Gradually, everyone’s spirits lifted a little.

After the noon meal, Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu changed their appearances once more and went out.

Qiao Mu, looking at the woman beside her who bore not a trace of Feng Jiu’er’s usual look, couldn’t help but marvel.

“Your skill with these human-skin masks is really something else!”

“Want me to teach you? You never want to learn.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow.

“Too much trouble!” Qiao Mu shook her head, looking away.

“Lazy!” Feng Jiu’er looked at her, the corner of her mouth curling slightly. “What do you think — if my Third Brother saw you right now, would he even recognize you?”

The moment Feng Jiu’er finished her teasing remark, the corner of her eye caught a striking name.

“Fenglan Inn?”

The Empress’s inn — is this a coincidence? No time to worry about that now.

Feng Jiu’er touched the small token tied at her waist and tugged at the corner of Qiao Mu’s sleeve.

“Come on, let’s go see what’s good to eat.”

Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow, frowning. “Seriously? Didn’t you just eat your fill?”

“Come on, let’s go look.” Feng Jiu’er waved her over.

The two of them walked together toward the spacious inn.

As they approached, a young man who looked like an attendant came forward to greet them.

“Are you two here to dine, or to stay the night?”

“To dine.” Feng Jiu’er answered softly.

It was just past noon, not quite the usual time for the midday meal, but there would still be people coming to eat at this hour.

“Right this way, please!” The attendant waved them in.

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu stepped inside this inn, which was impressive both in scale and in decor.