Once Feng Jiu’er announced she was open for consultation, she genuinely spent an entire day treating everyone.

From the moment she was locked away to deep into that night — hour after hour — save for meals and visits to the latrine, she spent all remaining time treating the jailers.

Word spread quickly that a remarkable healer had arrived in the imperial prison. Before long, even the presiding official, Chief Zhang Jianhong, came to hear of it.

His reason was simple: his son had contracted a cold illness. They had visited every physician’s hall in the imperial city, sought out every available doctor, and even pulled strings to request an imperial physician from the palace itself. Nothing had shown the slightest improvement.

“A cold illness of this kind — if it is congenital, treating it after the fact is considerably difficult. It cannot be resolved in one or two sessions.”

Feng Jiu’er had no particular goodwill toward this Chief Zhang. The last time they had met, he had very nearly been the death of her. Nevertheless, a healer’s heart holds compassion like a parent’s — his child, at least, was innocent.

“Here is what I’ll do: I’ll teach you an acupuncture method. Have someone bring me paper and brush, and when you return home, follow my instructions and needle him once every other night.”

“Paper and brush?” Zhang Jianhong glanced back, and immediately a jailer produced the items.

These were the papers ordinarily used for prisoners to sign their confessions. When her own interrogation came, she would no doubt be forced to press her own fingerprint on something very much like this.

Feng Jiu’er exhaled softly, picked up the brush, and set to writing without pause.

Her calligraphy with a brush was nothing remarkable, but as long as it could be read, it would do.

“As for these acupoints — if you are uncertain of their locations, find a medical text and consult it alongside this.”

To draw diagrams now would be far too difficult and time-consuming. “In addition to needling these points, apply moxa heat to the navel, for roughly the time it takes two incense sticks to burn.”

The navel being, as it was commonly known, the belly button.

She returned the paper and brush to Zhang Jianhong, and immediately announced: “Next.”

Zhang Jianhong’s expression shifted unfavourably. That was it? Just a few brief instructions, and then it was someone else’s turn? Was this not a blatant disregard for his authority?

Naturally, no one dared step forward — the Chief was still present. Who would be so bold?

“Feng Jiu’er, is that truly all?” Zhang Jianhong’s brow creased with dissatisfaction.

“What more did you expect? Your child isn’t here, so I have no opportunity to needle him myself. Take this home and apply it carefully. It won’t heal completely right away, but I guarantee his condition will ease considerably within a month, and he will make a full recovery within three.”

Her expression was so unhesitatingly confident that it was difficult to doubt her — young as she undeniably was.

In the end, Zhang Jianhong left. The next jailer who came to be seen leaned in and said quietly, “Miss Jiu’er, you really should have used that moment to win Chief Zhang’s favour. He might have been able to help with your situation here.”

Such a fine opportunity, and she hadn’t thought to seize it. One hardly knew whether to call this girl bold or simply too upright for her own good.

“All patients are equal to me. I see no distinction of high or low, rich or poor. I had already finished treating him — what more was there to say?”

Feng Jiu’er set her long fingers against the jailer’s wrist and began feeling his pulse in earnest, unwilling to discuss what had just happened any further.

This was the Ninth Miss of the Feng Family — noble of spirit, a healer of such integrity that it moved the very heavens. One could not help but hold her in the deepest admiration.

Qing Yun had been sitting quietly in the neighbouring cell all along, watching in silence as Feng Jiu’er treated the jailers one by one, without a word from beginning to end.

At first, he had assumed Feng Jiu’er was simply trying to win people over, to curry favour. But gradually, he found himself thinking otherwise.

This Ninth Miss of the Feng Family was genuinely treating them. When she concentrated on her needlework and pulse-reading, her face was beautiful beyond all ordinary description — like an immortal stepped out of legend.

No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince was so taken with her. A young woman like this — anyone would be.

He glanced out at what little sky remained visible beyond the window. The night was growing ever deeper.

When would His Highness the Crown Prince wake? If he did not wake soon, Miss Jiu’er’s ordeal in this place would only grow worse…

Even as the thought crossed his mind, a group of guards came bursting in from outside. By their bearing, they were all from within the palace.

The jailers immediately filed out of Feng Jiu’er’s cell and returned to their posts. One by one, they looked back at Feng Jiu’er, their eyes full of worry.

Feng Jiu’er, by contrast, wore the most relaxed smile of anyone present. “I’ve been planning to open a physician’s hall in the imperial city. If I’m fortunate enough to walk out of here alive, I’ll have it open by the start of next month. When that time comes, do remember to spread the word for me!”

Nearly everyone almost fainted on the spot!

Of all the moments to choose — she was actually advertising a physician’s hall that hadn’t even opened yet… But wait — advertising? What on earth did that word mean? How had she come up with a strange expression like that all of a sudden?

The guards stormed in and seized Feng Jiu’er roughly, their manner beyond crude.

Qing Yun rose to his feet at once from the neighbouring cell. “Has His Highness the Crown Prince not yet awakened? Where are you taking Miss Jiu’er?”

“None of your business!” The guard’s face was cold. These were clearly not the same guards who had brought them here, and they showed Qing Yun not the slightest regard.

“Is this an interrogation?” Qing Yun pressed, genuine worry for Feng Jiu’er’s safety breaking through. “I am also connected to this matter — the medicinal ingredients were delivered by me. If there is to be an interrogation, take me along as well.”

What a show of loyalty!

The surrounding jailers each gave Qing Yun a secret thumbs-up in their hearts.

Miss Jiu’er was so delicate and lovely as a flower. To use punishment on her would be too cruel.

If punishment was to be used, it should be on someone like Lord Qing Yun — a grown and able man!

Beat Lord Qing Yun if you must, but please don’t give Miss Jiu’er a hard time!

But the guards showed not a shred of mercy. They dragged Jiu’er away without looking back.

Even the guards had been this rough — what awaited Miss Jiu’er could easily be imagined.

In the ordinary course of interrogations, jailers would be present throughout. This time, not even a jailer was needed. Clearly, the matter was very serious.

No one could say which high-ranking official intended to conduct the interrogation personally. Everyone was deeply troubled, but utterly helpless.

Feng Jiu’er was brought to a hidden chamber. The room looked surprisingly clean and orderly; there were no instruments of torture in sight, and it hardly resembled a place for interrogation at all.

But Jiu’er had understood one thing from childhood: the calmer the surface, the more treacherous what lay beneath!

“Kneel!” someone commanded, voice carrying a distinctly strange, sharp quality.

Feng Jiu’er received a kick from the guard behind her, and dropped at once to both knees with a resounding thud.

She raised her eyes. Sure enough — Emperor Qiwen and the Empress had come to conduct the interrogation in person.

The Empress would not rest easy until she had watched her die. Still, that even the Emperor himself had come was somewhat unexpected.

“Criminal Feng Jiu’er — in the presence of His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress, you have yet to pay your respects?” called the head eunuch in his sharp, thin voice.

With little choice, Jiu’er bowed her head in a proper salute. “This commoner greets His Majesty.”

Everyone waited for her to then address the Empress. But after paying her respects to the Emperor, Feng Jiu’er simply knelt upright, perfectly still, with not another movement.

“Outrageous!” The head matron attendant beside the Empress could bear it no longer. She stepped forward in a fury, driving a kick straight at Jiu’er…