“General, what’s happened?” An elegant young gentleman walked in.

Feng Rui turned and said in a low voice, “Old Jiang, come take a look.”

Old Jiang was Feng Rui’s personal fierce general—not only accomplished in martial arts, but also more skilled in medicine than the average army physician.

Pity that no matter how good his medicine was, he was still no match for Feng Jiu’er—otherwise he would not have failed today to notice that something had been added to the chrysanthemum tea.

“Yes, General.” Old Jiang cupped his hands and strode over.

He picked up the vials on the table, uncapped them one by one, held them to his nose, and finally shook his head.

“Reporting, General—these are all detoxifying pills.”

“Old General Yuan hasn’t swallowed a single one!” The guard shot Feng Rui a cold glance and turned to the bedside.

He bent down, picked up two pills that had fallen to the floor, and flung them down hard.

“Old General Yuan has shown us great kindness—how could we possibly wish him harm?”

“Save him!” Feng Rui commanded in a low voice.

“Yes.” Old Jiang cupped his hands, accepting the order.

Seeing Old Jiang approach, the army physician immediately made way.

“Master Jiang, I truly don’t understand this situation. Old General Yuan’s whole body is burning up, and his pulse is utterly chaotic. It looks like…”

Old Jiang had just sat down at the bedside when Feng Rui, his face clouded with gloom, came up behind him.

“Well?” he asked in a low voice.

Old Jiang let go of Old General Yuan’s pale hand, stood, turned, and shook his head slightly. “Reporting, General—the situation is dire. I’m afraid…”

“Afraid of what?” Feng Rui’s brow furrowed.

Old Jiang cupped his hands again and said quietly, “Beyond saving.”

“What?” Feng Rui clenched his fists tightly, staring unblinking at Old General Yuan’s ashen face.

A moment later, he swept his sleeves and turned.

“Use the best medicine there is. No matter what, wake him—even if it’s only for a moment. This General must have that tally!”

“You people have gone too far!” The Yuan family guard abruptly stood.

Feng Rui shoved him aside with one hand and strode outside.

“You’d best hope he wakes up. Otherwise, none of you will live to see tomorrow’s sun!”

“Report!” Before Feng Rui could leave the chamber, a guard came running in.

Seeing Feng Rui, he dropped to his knees at once. “General, the enemy forces are stirring—they may attack the city soon.”

Hearing this, Feng Rui stopped in his tracks, turned back, and frowned.

“Old Yuan, keep playing dead, then. I’m going to Chen Family Village right now to get the tally from that brat.”

“Rest assured—this time, I won’t show mercy again.”

Feng Rui gave a cold snort and turned again to leave, only for yet another guard to come running up.

“General, the manor is on fire,” the guard said, kneeling.

“General.” Into the chamber ran yet another unfamiliar face. “There’s been… an explosion at the camp. I hear it was… the grain stores that burned.”

Inside and outside the chamber, all was chaos.

Not far off, in another inn, the scene was entirely different.

When Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao came out after changing their clothes, Jian Yi was already eating alone.

“Jian Yi, why didn’t you wait for us?” Xiao Yingtao pouted and went over to sit down.

Jian Yi paid her no mind. He set down his chopsticks, stood, and pulled out a chair for Feng Jiu’er.

“Thank you,” Feng Jiu’er said with a faint smile.

Ignored, Xiao Yingtao watched with wide eyes as Jian Yi ladled soup, served rice, and picked out dishes for Feng Jiu’er—while in front of her, there wasn’t even an empty bowl.

A knock came at the door, and Xing Zizhou pushed it open, stepping inside.

Xiao Yingtao sensed a familiar presence and turned to look at him with a wronged expression.

Xing Zizhou came up behind her and gently rubbed her head. “Don’t mind them. I’m here.”