The tall boy picked up the girl in his arms.

“Father, Mother, you still haven’t answered my question. Is the Emperor going to execute the Wang family to the ninth degree?”

“What have we done wrong? Why would the Emperor issue such an order?”

“Big Brother, what does ‘execute to the ninth degree’ mean?” The Second Young Master looked at the Eldest Young Master, frowning.

“Big Brother, Little Sister wants to go paint.” The Third Miss tilted her small head up at her elder brother.

Her innocence pierced the eyes of everyone present.

Wang Yutang pulled his mind back, closed his eyes, and slowly opened them again.

“Xi’er, Chun’er, take Little Sister to go paint.”

“Yes.” The Wang family’s Eldest Young Master picked up the Third Miss. “Chun’er, let’s go.”

The three children left the main hall.

“Master.” The steward, at the hall entrance, withdrew his gaze. “Tell me, what should we do about this?”

“All of you go pack your things and leave.” Wang Yutang waved his hand.

“Master.” The steward froze, stepped back, and knelt down.

“This old servant won’t leave. Wherever the Master goes, this old servant will stay by his side.”

“If the Master doesn’t leave, this old servant won’t leave either.”

In the hall, the older maidservant also knelt down.

The two younger maidservants stood off to the side, heads lowered, not daring to speak.

“All of you, go.” Madam Wang shook her head and let out a heavy sigh.

As if — she had accepted her fate!

“This old servant won’t leave.” The steward repeated firmly.

“This old servant won’t leave either.” The kneeling maidservant shook her head.

“Go — have everyone pack up and leave. Whatever wages are owed must not be shorted.”

Wang Yutang looked at the steward.

The steward stood and cupped his hands. “Yes.”

The steward left, taking the three maidservants in the hall with him.

Two elderly people hurried in.

“Yutang, what’s going on?” The old man, leaning on his cane, walked in a great hurry.

“Is what Xi’er said really true?”

Madam Wang stood, went over, and supported the old man.

“Father, let’s sit and talk.” She turned to look at the old woman. “Mother, sit down and speak calmly — don’t let this upset your health.”

“We’re about to be wiped out as a family, and you’re worried about getting upset?”

The old woman went over and sat down beside the old man.

“What exactly is going on?” The seated old man struck his cane heavily against the floor.

“Father, please don’t be angry!” Madam Wang patted the back of the old man’s hand and turned back toward the main seat.

“Isn’t the Master already trying to find a way? I think…”

“This is an imperial decree — what way could there possibly be?” Wang Yutang closed his eyes, leaning back against the chair.

His words shattered the last of Madam Wang’s hope.

“Master.” Madam Wang dropped to her knees with a thud.

“It doesn’t matter if I die, but Xi’er, Chun’er, and little Mei — how old are they?”

“Are you willing to let them lie forever beneath the earth in the prime of their youth?”

The hall fell silent for a good while.

Madam Wang continued, “Master, can you first see to it that they and our parents are settled somewhere safe? I’ll go with you to the afterlife together — would that work?”

“Madam.” The steward hurried in from outside.

He came to Madam Wang’s side and knelt down as well.

“Madam, please rise. The Master has no way out either. You’ve seen the Emperor’s order yourself, haven’t you?”

“Please, get up? Don’t make things harder for the Master!”

“Our Wang family absolutely cannot be wiped out!” The old man struck the floor hard again.

“If Feng Qiongcang shows no mercy, don’t blame us for showing none in return!”

“The Night Prince is the true son of the Feng line. We’re on the Night Prince’s territory now — whether we live or die should be for the Night Prince to decide.”

“Let’s go!” The old man stood up. “Let’s go find the Night Prince right now and ask him whether he’ll let me stay.”

“Father.” Madam Wang stood and turned.

Wang Yutang also stood up.

“Father.” He called out loudly, stepping down from the main seat.

“Feng Qiongcang has shown kindness to our Wang family over the years — don’t you understand that better than I do?”

“Whatever kindness there was has long since been repaid, hasn’t it?”

The old man turned back to look at his son.

“Son, your wife is right. We don’t mind dying, but are you going to let three young children be buried alongside us?”

“What kindness did they ever receive from Feng Qiongcang, that they should have to lie beneath the earth so young?”

“I’m going to find the Night Prince right now. If you won’t go, I’ll go myself.”

“Father.” Madam Wang followed after him. “Father, I’ll go with you.”

Feng Li’s princely estate was located in Pingyuan City, near a bustling town by Songjiang.

Pingyuan City, after two or three months of transformation, now looked entirely renewed.

At this time, Pingyuan City’s city lord was Xing Zizhou.

The city lord’s home was right beside the Night Prince’s estate, and nearby was also the headquarters of Longying.

Longying’s medicine shops had branches in every one of the nine cities across the entire Black Pond vein, except Peach Blossom Island.

The Twelve Riders of the Flying Dragon were spread across the various cities, responsible for recruiting soldiers and gathering horses, and Longying’s ranks kept growing.

Feng Jiu’er, together with a group of the womenfolk, was staying at the Night Prince’s estate.

“Jiu’er, come take a look — does this ratio work?”

Xiao Yingtao and Leng Xuepiao walked over from the back courtyard.

Feng Jiu’er and the others were sitting in the central courtyard discussing matters.

“I think it’ll work.” She handed the design sheet in her hand to Zhao Yusheng.

“Go ahead and produce it according to your plan. For this project, tell me in advance how much gunpowder you’ll need.”

“All right.” Zhao Yusheng stood and took the design sheet.

“This time we also owe a lot to Duan Liuyang for the new concept. Liuyang, let’s go.”

“Mm.” Duan Liuyang stood up and picked up the box on the table.

“Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, Xue Piao, Brother Zhao and I will head over first.”

“All right.” Xiao Yingtao waved her hand.

Zhao Yusheng took the box from Duan Liuyang’s hands, turned, and left together with her.

Xiao Yingtao sat down beside the table and handed Feng Jiu’er a piece of paper.

“Jiu’er, this is the medicine powder ratio Xue Piao and I settled on. Take a look.”

Feng Jiu’er took the paper and read it closely.

Xiao Yingtao pulled Leng Xuepiao over, picked up a bamboo skewer from the table, and speared a piece of pastry.

“Mm, thought about it all morning, I’m starving.”

“Wife, are you hungry?”

Xing Zizhou walked over carrying a basket.

Xiao Yingtao swallowed the pastry, set down the skewer, and stood to go greet him.

“What good things do you have? I’m hungry!”

“It’s chicken soup Shen Rong’er just made. I tried it — it’s good.”

Xing Zizhou took Xiao Yingtao’s hand and led her back.

The two came to the table, and Xing Zizhou set down the basket in his hand.

“I’ll go get bowls.”

Leng Xuepiao stood, turned, and walked inside.

She soon came back holding four bowls and a spoon.

Soon, she brought over four bowls in her arms, along with a spoon.

Xing Zizhou took the bowls and spoon from her and set them down.

“I’ve already had some. You three should drink more.”

He ladled out three bowls of chicken soup and placed them in front of the three women.

Xiao Yingtao eagerly reached for the soup, but her small hand was caught by Xing Zizhou.

“It’s hot! Don’t rush.”

He sat down beside her.

Xiao Yingtao, too lazy to move, turned to the side and leaned closer, reaching with her other hand toward the bowl Xing Zizhou was holding.

“It smells so good! What kind of herbal medicine is that scent from?”

“I didn’t ask either.”

Xing Zizhou held the small spoon, scooped up some soup, lowered his head, and blew on it.

“Here, try it. I think you’ll like this flavor.”