Those three words — Ninth Prince’s Manor — made Zhang Jianhong’s complexion shift immediately.

But he quickly composed himself, sneering coldly. “You actually dare drag the Ninth Prince’s Manor into this…”

“I am speaking the truth. As for the particulars, I act under the Ninth Prince’s orders and dare not disclose them. If Commander Zhang wishes to verify whether my words are true or false, he is welcome to seek confirmation from the Ninth Prince himself.”

“Insolent!” Feng Jiu’er’s words sent Zhang Jianhong into an instant rage of humiliation and fury.

Seek confirmation from the Ninth Prince? How was that any different from walking to his own death?

This girl — just to clear her own name, she actually dared to spout such reckless nonsense!

“I see you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. This Commander will personally administer your punishment!”

A’Biao and A’Yang, for reasons unknown, had been slow to act, and Zhang Jianhong’s fury reached its peak. He truly stepped forward himself, reaching out to tear Feng Jiu’er’s clothes from her body.

A’Biao and A’Yang, though somewhat reluctant — after all, this girl had genuinely cured them of their long-standing ailments — could do nothing now. The Commander himself was taking action. Who would dare stand in his way?

One by one, they each turned their faces away, unwilling to witness Feng Jiu’er’s humiliation.

What no one expected was this: the girl who had just been lying limp and half-dead on the torture rack suddenly let her gaze sink, a flash of icy light crossing the depths of her eyes.

Just as Zhang Jianhong’s hand was about to close around her clothes, she drove her palm down against the surface of the torture rack, used the momentum to propel herself, and leapt to her feet.

Zhang Jianhong had not anticipated this at all — that this girl could still muster the strength to rise.

A single moment of carelessness, and he felt a sudden chill at his neck. Something was already pressing against it.

Feng Jiu’er tightened her wrist, and Zhang Jianhong immediately felt a sharp sting at his throat. His expression changed at once.

“You… Feng Jiu’er, are you staging a rebellion? Are you not afraid that your entire Hua Family will be implicated?”

Though he was terrified of the sharp implement she pressed against his neck, he was, after all, the high and mighty Commander. How could he show weakness before his subordinates?

Feng Jiu’er was not without fear — only, at this moment, she had no other path.

“The one who rescued me that night was indeed someone from the Ninth Prince’s Manor. I seek only to confront the Ninth Prince directly, and harbor no rebellious intent whatsoever.”

The silver needle in her hand remained pressed firmly against Zhang Jianhong’s neck, yet her eyes turned toward A’Yang: “If you do not wish harm to come to your Commander, then please be so kind as to send word to the Ninth Prince’s Manor. Tell them that I, Feng Jiu’er, wish to confront the Ninth Prince.”

“Ninth Miss, this… this…” A’Yang wore an expression full of difficulty. The Ninth Prince — was he truly someone one could simply declare a desire to see and then actually see?

What if the Ninth Prince had no regard for this Feng Jiu’er at all? Then wouldn’t going there and rambling on just earn him a beating?

“Go — now!” Feng Jiu’er was merely making a gamble. A gamble on whether her blood truly mattered that much to the Ninth Imperial Uncle.

If she won the gamble, all the better. But if she lost, she would simply have to think of another way.

She could hardly allow this scoundrel to actually strip her and subject her to the heavy torture.

“Feng Jiu’er, you… mm, mm —” Zhang Jianhong’s words had not yet finished when suddenly a sharp sting erupted at his neck, and he found he could not utter another syllable.

“Commander!” The men below were nearly frightened out of their wits.

Feng Jiu’er narrowed her eyes and said in a cold voice: “If you do not go at once, then prepare to collect his corpse.”

“Alright, alright! We… we will go right now…”

“Mm, mm, mm…” Zhang Jianhong was so agitated that the veins in his neck bulged.

If this matter were to alarm the Ninth Prince, it would mean he had handled the business poorly, and he would have a very hard time explaining himself.

But that wretched Feng Jiu’er — he did not know what acupoint she had sealed on him, yet not only could he not speak, he could feel no strength in his body whatsoever.

Where had she learned such a formidable technique? Just as A’Yang and A’Biao were about to head out, from outside came the deferential voice of a prison guard: “We pay our respects to Lord Yu.”