After the brothers answered in unison, they began escorting the prisoners away.

Aside from the woman still kneeling on the ground, everyone else had lost their composure.

“This has nothing to do with me — she already said it was only seven people.”

“That’s right, we’re innocent, why are you arresting us?”

“Your Highness, we were coerced, please give us a way to live.”

“Your Highness, forgive us this once! We really didn’t do anything.”

“…”

Those being escorted away were not just the seven — there were at least twenty or thirty people.

These were all people who had stirred up trouble earlier, claiming the princess, the Third Prince, or even the Night Prince were in the wrong.

“You claim to be innocent just by saying so? The common people are suffering, and now they’ve been poisoned too — aren’t they innocent?” Xiao Yingtao glared coldly at them.

“Her Highness hasn’t rested day or night. The moment she heard the news she rushed here in person, simply because she can’t bear to see anyone bully her own people.”

“Whether you’re guilty or innocent — is that for someone who disregards the lives of the common people to decide?”

“Keep running your mouths and see if I don’t have you starved for three days and three nights before your next interrogation.”

Xiao Yingtao’s temper had already been simmering, and hearing such shameless words sent her anger flaring.

They had only just managed to pull everyone back from the brink of death, and now this had happened on top of it.

Their antidote was likely genuine and effective, but some of the people were already so weak that whether they could pull through remained uncertain.

These same people, when there had been food to eat, had eaten more than anyone — and the moment something went wrong, all they could do was shout and cause a scene. It was thoroughly unbearable to watch.

Scolded like this, those being led away settled down at once.

Even those still crying injustice only dared to mutter under their breath.

No sooner had one wave of trouble subsided than another rose, but fortunately, the brothers who had come to reinforce them arrived in time.

Before nightfall on New Year’s Day, the crowd inside the city gates finally dispersed.

Those whose condition allowed it and whose homes were not far were arranged to return home.

Those whose homes were farther, or whose health made a long journey unwise, stayed at a nearby inn.

All expenses for the day were covered by Feng Jiu’er, and the farmwives who had come out to help, along with the soldiers who had taken part in the fighting, were each given a corresponding share of grain.

On the whole, this New Year had not turned out nearly as difficult as the people of the northwestern city had expected.

The troops spent three more days regrouping, and on the fifth day of the new year, the northern city gates opened once again.

Feng Jiang and Feng Jiu’er intended to press their advantage and continue marching north.

During those three days, Feng Jiang led the brothers in setting up defenses outside the eastern city gate, where the northwestern city bordered Chengchuan City.

Their own city still needed to be properly guarded.

The second battle raged on for ten straight days, until Feng Jiang’s side received a letter from Feng Rui proposing a ceasefire, and the fighting paused.

“So, what does it say? What’s in the letter?” In the command tent, Xiao Yingtao asked, cradling a sweet potato in her arms.

Feng Jiu’er, seated behind her desk, glanced up.

“Didn’t you just finish eating? You can still eat more?”

“I can.” Xiao Yingtao walked straight over and settled down at the low table not far from Feng Jiu’er.

“So what’s the verdict? What have you two decided?”

She broke the sweet potato into two halves, lowered her head to blow on it, and didn’t look up at Feng Jiu’er again.

“We finally get a break — if I don’t eat well now, how could I make up for everything I’ve been through these past days?”

Feng Jiu’er only glanced at her once before continuing to confer with Feng Jiang.

By the time Xiao Yingtao realized no one was paying her any attention, she had already eaten half the sweet potato.

“Hey.” Xiao Yingtao looked up and raised an eyebrow.

“What exactly is going on? Feng Rui wants to sue for peace — how could that be? Come on, tell me. What is he really trying to do?”