After a single scream, one person collapsed into a pool of blood.

A moment later, the short blade in her hand clattered to the ground with a clang, landing not far away.

The fallen woman had a small blade lodged in her arm, a throwing dart buried in her forehead, and worst of all, a wound at her throat — a single sword stroke had sealed it shut.

Everything had happened too fast; she died with her eyes wide open, refusing to close them even in death.

The manner of her death was brutal. The comrade who had believed the ruse of using herself as bait would guarantee success was so terrified by the sudden turn of events that she stumbled and fell to the ground.

In an instant, four or five long swords were leveled at her throat.

Not only that — everyone who had taken part in stirring up the chaos moments earlier had already been restrained.

Feng Jiu’er pushed aside the long arm of Jian Yi, who was shielding her, and looked coldly down at the woman who had fallen to the ground.

“Jiu’er, are you all right?”

Xiao Yingtao, still uneasy, hurried over and grabbed at Feng Jiu’er’s sleeve.

A moment ago she had been some distance from Feng Jiu’er; her dart had flown first, and she herself had arrived right after.

The small blade had been thrown by another brother assigned specifically to secretly protect Feng Jiu’er.

The throat wound — the most fatal of all — had been delivered by Jian Yi.

As long as Jian Yi was present, he would never let anyone who tried to harm Feng Jiu’er get away.

“I’m fine.”

Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “Distribute the antidote to all the poisoned villagers. Do it now.”

“Does Jiu’er already know what poison they used?” Xiao Yingtao’s crescent brows furrowed slightly.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand. “Our antidote will work.”

“All right.” Xiao Yingtao nodded and turned to see to it.

Feng Jiu’er seemed to sense something; with a flick of her long finger, something unseen shot from her hand.

With a pa, the small object struck the neck of the woman who had collapsed on the ground.

The woman frowned, her expression turning even more unpleasant.

“Thought dying would be that easy?” Feng Jiu’er’s brows drew together slightly.

“Come now, tell me — who are you? Did you bring the poison in? And how many more of your kind are there?”

The woman pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow and waved her hand.

“Playing games with poison against me — you’re not even qualified. If she doesn’t want to talk, I don’t particularly want to listen right now either.”

“Take her away. If she’s not dead in three days, bring her back out for me to see.”

“Yes.”

The brothers flanking the woman answered in unison.

The woman didn’t even understand what state she was in; the moment she lifted her gaze, her head spun even more violently.

“No!” The woman looked hazily up at Feng Jiu’er. “I’ll tell you everything, please, stop tormenting me.”

A moment ago, she had merely been struck on an acupoint by some small object, and already her mind was growing clouded.

Only then did the woman realize this princess was no ordinary adversary.

“She… is my own younger sister.” The woman lowered her eyes to look at the one lying dead on the ground, eyes still open. “We serve under General Feng Rui.”

“General Feng Rui had us slip in here — partly to stir up the common people’s resentment toward the Night Prince, and partly to kill the leader of this expedition beyond the city.”

The woman raised her eyes again, meeting Feng Jiu’er’s gaze.

“There are seven more of us besides. But they aren’t soldiers — they’re just civilians from West Central City who were coerced into this.”

“You all…” The woman’s gaze shifted elsewhere. “Come out.”

“General.”

“General.”

Seven people lowered their heads one after another, calling out to her.

These seven had, in fact, already been among the crowd restrained by the brothers.

“Your Highness, they were coerced. Give them a way to live.”

The woman drooped her head listlessly.

Feng Jiu’er swept her gaze across the surroundings once more and waved a hand. “Saving lives comes first!”

“Take everyone under suspicion back with us, lock them up, and interrogate them thoroughly!”