Under Xing Zizhou’s care, Xiao Yingtao finally set down her chopsticks, satisfied.

She looked up, gazing at Feng Jiu’er with a pleased expression. “Jiu’er, can we really wait here until the hour of Hai?”

By now, only Feng Jiu’er, Xing Zizhou, and Xiao Yingtao remained in the room—Jian Yi, having eaten his fill, had already left ahead of them.

“Set your mind at ease,” Feng Jiu’er said, giving Xiao Yingtao a look.

Xiao Yingtao seemed to sense something as well. She stood and began clearing the table.

“Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, I just heard there’s going to be fighting here soon. Are we really not leaving?”

“With General Feng and Old General Yuan here, what do we have to fear?” Feng Jiu’er picked up her teacup and took a light sip.

Knock, knock, knock—someone rapped at the door from outside.

Xiao Yingtao set down her bowl and chopsticks, turned, and called out, “Who is it?”

“I’m the innkeeper. Please open the door,” a woman’s voice came from outside.

“Coming.” Xiao Yingtao pulled the door open and stared, wide-eyed, at the group standing before her.

“Sister Feng, what’s… happened?” she stammered.

“Nothing serious.” Sister Feng smiled and waved a hand. “A guest at the inn has lost something. Would it be convenient if we searched around a bit?”

Before Sister Feng’s polite words were even finished, two soldiers pushed past on either side and walked straight in.

“What are you…doing?” Xiao Yingtao spun around at once and followed after them.

“It’s fine.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head and walked a few steps outward.

Hearing her, Xiao Yingtao stopped, stamped her foot, but still couldn’t help following in, uneasy.

“Don’t go too far! We’re guests here!”

Xing Zizhou sat with his arms crossed in his original seat, not moving, as though the whole matter had nothing to do with him.

“My apologies! It’s just that these are Old General Yuan’s belongings, so we must be careful,” Sister Feng said, cupping her hands toward Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow. “So Old General Yuan has lost something. What was it? Would you like our help?”

Sister Feng waved a hand lightly, smiling. “You’re too kind! Sorry for the disturbance.”

“It’s nothing,” Feng Jiu’er said, her face also carrying a touch of respectful courtesy.

Soon, the soldiers came filing out one by one.

“Well?” the leader asked.

“Nothing suspicious found,” one soldier answered.

“Nothing inside either,” another said, shaking his head.

The rest all shook their heads in turn.

“Let’s go.” The leader waved a hand and left without a backward glance.

“Sorry for the trouble!” Sister Feng said softly, then turned to leave.

The group had come on with a great show of force, yet vanished just as quickly, without a trace.

The item that shouldn’t have been there had already been taken away by Jian Yi—there was no way they could have found anything.

Once the soldiers had gone, Xiao Yingtao summoned a servant boy to clear away the leftover dishes and refresh the tea.

After the boy left, Xiao Yingtao went and personally shut the door.

“Sure enough, the most dangerous place is often the safest,” she muttered, returning to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

“Jiu’er, what’s the situation now? Do we need to move things up?”

“Just proceed as planned,” Feng Jiu’er replied softly.

“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded. “As things stand now, Feng Rui probably doesn’t have much attention left to spare on the Yuan family’s young master.”

“As long as we succeed in getting Old General Yuan out, everything else will fall into place.”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing more and turned to walk into the inner room.

She shut the window, gently pulled off her outer garments, and was left wearing only a set of night clothes.

Even having watched her change, Xiao Yingtao still found it hard to believe.

“Tsk, tsk… what skill!”