“Yes.” The captain cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

He had wanted to do this for a long time already. Whatever the consequences, so be it.

The captain left, leaving only Feng Jiu’er and Gao Lingzhi in the tent.

“What’s the plan?” Gao Lingzhi tore off the broken hemp rope still on his body.

“The secret tunnel has been blasted open. We’re leaving.” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands toward him. “Until fate brings us together again.”

“Feng Jiu’er, what do you mean by this?” Gao Lingzhi’s brow furrowed, his breathing growing heavier.

Feng Jiu’er withdrew her hands and blinked. “Wasn’t Deputy General Gao going to help us leave?”

“The secret tunnel has already been blasted open. Master Gao the Elder should be on his way back to the capital by now. Find a way to hold him off, and we should have no trouble leaving.”

“You drugged me just so I’d help you all escape?” Gao Lingzhi didn’t know why, but something felt suddenly stuck in his chest.

He had thought she would share her cooperative plan with him—perhaps even bring him along to overthrow Feng Qiongcang’s rule.

If Prince Ye were truly the son of the Feng Clan, and Feng Jiu’er the true daughter of the Feng Clan, then why would he still support Feng Qiongcang?

Feng Jiu’er spread her hands and laughed. “What I gave you to eat was candy, not medicine. Did you swallow it without even tasting it?”

The furrow in Gao Lingzhi’s brow deepened enough to crush a fly.

He’d been told it was poison—was he supposed to have carefully savored the taste to check?

He found himself increasingly unable to read this woman. Something as important as their cooperation, and she’d fooled him with nothing but a piece of candy!

Feng Jiu’er pointed at her own forehead and shook her head. “Don’t get angry over every little thing! You’re still young—smile more, it’ll keep you young forever.”

“Then it’s settled.” She patted Gao Lingzhi’s shoulder. “If you can help us get away, once my army wins, I’ll be sure to reward you well.”

“If I lose, don’t you dare say you know me. Too many people have already died for my sake—I don’t need more.”

Feng Jiu’er gave Gao Lingzhi a faint smile, turned, lifted the curtain, and left.

Whether Chen Hong would manage to escape, Feng Jiu’er didn’t know.

At the very least, she herself had gotten out, leading the sixty thousand stranded brothers out of the valley.

Unfortunately, no matter how carefully she’d planned, Feng Jiu’er had still missed one thing.

Lu Dashan had led his Guoguo Army west a day early, blocking them at the final checkpoint.

On the third day without food, Xiao Yingtao lay slumped over the stone table, hungry and listless.

“Lu Dashan is truly ruthless! Not only did he burn our grain and steal our food, he even poisoned the water sources.”

“There’s not even a hill nearby, let alone meat—the wild grass is nearly all dug up, and the drinking water keeps running out. Are we going to starve to death right here in the city?”

Xiao Yingtao could go hungry for one meal and already feel faint. What food remained could barely last one more day; the other two days were nothing but wild grass soup. She felt like she was about to die.

This was the spot Lu Dashan had painstakingly chosen—no mountains, no water, no wild forest, no grassland. Even eating grass was difficult here!

Feng Jiu’er sat across from her, sorting through letters, paying no attention to Xiao Yingtao.

Besides the current crisis, she was also worried about Feng Jiang.

A full day had passed since the agreed time, and she still hadn’t received any news of him. It weighed on her heart.

Xiao Yingtao lifted her eyelids, glanced at her, then slumped back down.

“I miss my chicken drumstick so much. Where are you, my chicken drumstick?”

When Xing Zichou entered and heard Xiao Yingtao’s complaint, his heart ached for her too.

He strode forward and pulled a freshly roasted sweet potato from his bag. “Fill your stomach with this first.”

Catching the scent of the sweet potato, Xiao Yingtao’s back straightened instantly. “Where did you find a sweet potato?”

“Don’t rush!” Xing Zichou patted her shoulder gently. “Eat slowly, there’s more.”