“You…” The man finally managed to steady himself, glaring at the leader who had emerged from the house.

“You really don’t know that this young master is…”

With a metallic ring, the leader drew his sword and pressed it against the man’s neck.

The man’s body went rigid at once, his face turning pale with fright.

“Don’t — don’t do anything rash! Let’s talk this through.”

“We serve under General Feng. Tell us — why are you in the back courtyard?” the leader said, the blade’s edge pressing into the man’s skin.

“No! Help!” The man stared fixedly at the leader, not daring to move. “I don’t even know why I ended up here myself. I — I might have had too much to drink.”

“Master Xiong!”

“Master!”

Not far off, a woman in thin blue robes and a man dressed as a young attendant came running over.

“Master, so you’re here.” The attendant, taking in the scene, stopped in his tracks, not daring to come closer.

“What… what’s going on here?”

“Master Xiong, what exactly happened?” the woman also stopped, asking. “Just now you said you were going out to relieve yourself — how did this happen…?”

Only then did the man with the sword at his throat come to his senses. He tapped his own head and looked at the leader.

“I was just going out to relieve myself, and I never expected I’d stumble into General Feng Rui’s off-limits area. Sorry! I’m truly sorry!”

“Gentlemen, my master truly meant no offense. Please, let him go,” the attendant said, dropping to his knees.

Seeing this, the woman knelt as well. “Master Xiong has been with me this whole time. I can vouch that he meant no offense.”

The leader frowned slightly and withdrew his sword. “Go! Don’t let it happen again!”

“Never, never again.” The man surnamed Xiong waved his hands, backing away. “I guarantee it won’t happen again.”

The two who had knelt stood immediately and went to help their master up.

“Thank you, Brother Xie,” the attendant said with a bow, and together with the woman, helped their master away.

This poor Master Xiong never did realize, to the very end, that the moment he’d stepped out of his room, he’d been snatched up by Jian Yi and brought to the back courtyard.

Back at the neighboring inn, Xing Zizhou returned with a portrait of Old General Yuan and his grandson.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the portrait in her hands and nodded. “It’s him. He’s being held in the back courtyard of the Yuelai Inn.”

“So what do we do next?” Xiao Yingtao asked, her face full of delight.

Now that they’d confirmed Old General Yuan’s grandson was unharmed and knew exactly where he was, things were finally coming together.

“Before I left, I faintly heard the little boy calling for his grandfather, which means Old General Yuan hasn’t come looking for him yet.”

Feng Jiu’er handed the portrait to Xiao Yingtao and raised her eyes to look at Xing Zizhou.

“Have the brothers pulled back and keep as many as possible stationed near the Yuelai Inn. Keep a constant watch on everyone coming and going.”

“Understood.” Xing Zizhou nodded and accepted the order.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and looked out the window.

“By my reckoning, Old General Yuan should be arriving soon too. From here, we wait and see, then plan our next move.”

“Understood.” Xing Zizhou clasped his fists. “Jiu’er, I’ll head out first then.”

“Go on.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand. “Be careful out there!”

“Mm.” Xing Zizhou clasped his fists once more, glanced at Xiao Yingtao, then turned and left.

Xiao Yingtao, seated by the table, was still studying the portrait in her hands.

It wasn’t until Xing Zizhou, pushing the door open to leave, shook his head fondly and closed the door behind him that she finally reacted.

“Did Xing Zizhou already leave?” Xiao Yingtao looked up, brow furrowing slightly.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at her and stood. “He left. Go get some rest.”

“Oh.” Xiao Yingtao rolled up the portrait, muttering, “He didn’t even say anything before leaving.”

The corner of Feng Jiu’er’s mouth curved up. Without another word, she turned and walked into the inner room.