Not long after Xing Zizhou left, he returned to the second floor of the inn.

His people had been keeping watch nearby, so finding out what Feng Jiu’er wanted to know hadn’t been difficult.

“Old General Yuan brought three thousand soldiers with him this time, but he didn’t bring them into the town,” Xing Zizhou said shortly after sitting down.

“Where did he take them?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“Qingpo Town, to a place called Chen Family Village,” Xing Zizhou answered in a low voice.

“There’s a highly respected elder in Chen Family Village, surnamed Chen. Everyone calls him Elder Chen.”

“Old General Yuan went to find him and had the soldiers stationed there in Chen Family Village.”

“Chen Family Village sits right on the border between Qingpo Town and Lai’en Town, only a few miles from here. Unfortunately, we still don’t know what Old General Yuan is planning.”

“Perhaps he’s hoping that after his own death, Elder Chen will be able to protect Young Master Yuan,” Feng Jiu’er said, glancing down, her eyes full of regret.

Having eaten her fill, Xiao Yingtao didn’t dare say anything out of turn. While keeping an eye on their surroundings, she also glanced down at Old General Yuan on the first floor.

Feng Jiu’er said nothing more, and Xing Zizhou didn’t continue either.

The three of them kept their eyes fixed on the stage below, seemingly nothing out of the ordinary.

A little while later, the woman who had left earlier came back carrying a teapot.

“Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, the chrysanthemums have been selected. This humble one has brewed a pot — would you like to try it?”

“Do you still have a superior room available?” Feng Jiu’er looked up and asked.

“We do.” The woman set down the tray and knelt. “Second Young Master, shall this humble one go prepare it now?”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing. With one hand she lifted the lid of the teapot, and with the other she gently waved the rising steam toward her face.

“Mm, not bad!” She nodded in satisfaction, her gaze returning to the woman.

“Go ahead and prepare a room for two of us now. As for this pot of chrysanthemum tea…” Feng Jiu’er’s gaze shifted, turning toward the first floor.

“I wonder if you could help deliver it to Old General Yuan. I noticed his complexion doesn’t look too good.”

“He still has a battle to take charge of soon — at his age, he really ought to take better care of his health.”

While the woman’s attention was turned elsewhere, Feng Jiu’er slipped a bit of powder into the teapot.

The woman quickly composed herself and nodded at once. “Of course, Second Young Master.”

“This humble one will personally deliver the tea down to Old General Yuan. I’ll also have someone prepare your room right away.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, then glanced at Xiao Yingtao, who was practically drooling.

“You stay behind and pack up all the food to take back with you — it’s all yours.”

“Thank you, Second Young Master.” Xiao Yingtao jumped up excitedly. “Quick, quick, get me a basket.”

“Yes.” The woman rose and bowed slightly.

She lifted the tray holding the chrysanthemum tea and bowed once more. “This humble one will go prepare things now — please wait a moment.”

After the woman left, a young servant soon came to collect Feng Jiu’er and Xing Zizhou.

At the main table on the first floor, once Old General Yuan received the chrysanthemum tea, he raised his eyes and looked up in the direction the woman had indicated.

Feng Rui’s smile faded from his face, and his gaze followed the direction of Old General Yuan’s glance.

There, at the private booth on the second floor the woman had pointed to, sat only a small maidservant, greedily stuffing food into a basket.

Xiao Yingtao played her hunger for food to the fullest.

But in truth, she knew perfectly well that Jiu’er had left her behind for one reason only — to confirm whether Old General Yuan actually drank the chrysanthemum tea.

“Reporting to General Feng, and to Old General Yuan — those two young masters just now have returned to their room. This is their maidservant,” the woman said, pressing her lips together and lowering her voice.

“The young master didn’t say much, only that chrysanthemum tea is good for the health, and hoped Old General Yuan would try some too.”