Jiu’er badly wanted to turn around and check whether Yanu was still among the crowd.

That girl had said her men had already taken him away. If she could just get one look, she’d know for certain whether it was really Yanu being spoken of.

The white-robed young master… among their whole group, the only one who truly wore pure white was Yanu.

Out on the road, everyone wore dark, muted colors, afraid that light-colored clothing would get dirty too easily on the journey.

Her own clothes had been prepared by Yanu — he thought white suited her, and had arranged for her an entire wardrobe of flowing white garments.

Yanu’s own clothes, by contrast, had mostly been custom-made by her own orders.

At first, she hadn’t even thought of bringing him along on this journey. She’d simply felt that Yanu’s bearing suited white, even after his face had been disfigured.

So the two of them had ended up dressed in flowing white from head to toe, the entire time.

Had that girl really taken Yanu away? To her own room?

Yanu was so striking and handsome, yet utterly without the strength to fight back — if no one came to save him tonight, what if he were violated?

When Qiao Mu got back, she would surely hate Jiu’er to death for failing to even protect Yanu.

Feng Jiu’er’s mind was a tangle of thoughts. Before she knew it, the two old women had brought her into the main hall, before the Old Patriarch and the others.

Her fingertips tensed slightly, though she kept her expression unreadable, as she was pushed to stand beside Zhao Yusheng.

“The auspicious hour has come — let the bride and groom bow to heaven and earth!” the old woman announced with a smile.

The ceremony was simple, but as long as everyone was happy and the mood lively, that was enough.

Madam and the Old Patriarch wore smiles, and Madam waved her hand to urge things along.

The old woman quickly supported Feng Jiu’er and Zhao Yusheng. “Come, bow to heaven and earth!”

Zhao Yusheng, reluctant in every fiber of his being, was about to kneel down.

But just as he bent forward, the woman beside him suddenly flung back her veil, her long fingers landing on Zhao Yusheng’s neck.

Between her fingertips gleamed a silver needle, aimed precisely at the artery in his throat.

That was a fatal point on the human body! If that major artery were pierced, not even the gods could save him!

No one had expected such a sudden turn of events.

Zhao Yusheng had been completely unguarded against her — after all, a woman with no martial skill posed no threat to him.

Now, this silver needle from Feng Jiu’er genuinely caught him off guard, and somehow… he found it rather amusing!

He went along with it readily, standing up at once, letting Feng Jiu’er hold him hostage at needlepoint.

He even spread his hands wide to show he had no intention of attacking her.

“You all see this — it’s this girl who doesn’t want to marry me. I’m not the one causing trouble.”

If the marriage fell through, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for him.

He wasn’t willing either, and she clearly wasn’t willing, so why force it?

“No one comes any closer!” Feng Jiu’er held Zhao Yusheng hostage, sweeping a glance over Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan. “You two, come here.”

Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan rose from their chairs at once and moved to her side.

“Jiu’er.” Xue Gu’s steps were unsteady, even more labored than Tuoba Keyan’s.

Tuoba Keyan caught her, not understanding why his godmother seemed to be in worse shape than even he was.

“Little girl, what exactly are you trying to do?” Madam also rose to her feet, wanting to move closer but not daring to, afraid of her harming her son.

“I don’t want to marry your son. I only want to leave with my people,” Feng Jiu’er said coldly.

Outside, there seemed to be some commotion.

Someone had tried to break into the stronghold recklessly and had been captured — it was Jiuqing and Qiao Mu!

Hearing the report that the two had tried to escape and been caught, Feng Jiu’er felt a wave of relief.

If Jiuqing and Qiao Mu had handled it this way, they certainly hadn’t let her down.

With their level of skill, there was no way they’d have been discovered or caught by accident.

Being caught now must mean they had found the herbs she needed, and had deliberately returned to rejoin the group.

Jiu’er glared at the Old Patriarch. “If you don’t want anything to happen to your son, then…”

“The auspicious hour has come, miss. You’d best go through with the wedding properly, so as not to put your mother in a difficult position.” Elder Feng, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up with a smile, his gaze shifting from Feng Jiu’er and Zhao Yusheng over to Xue Gu.

Jiu’er frowned, her gaze following his toward Xue Gu.

Just then, Xue Gu, who had already looked weak and fragile, suddenly changed expression — and with a choked sound, spat out a mouthful of black blood!

“Xue Gu!”

“Godmother!”

Jiu’er and Tuoba Keyan’s faces changed at once. Jiu’er released Zhao Yusheng immediately, her long fingers landing on Xue Gu’s wrist pulse.

“Damn it! You’ve poisoned her!”

This Elder Feng had somehow noticed what she’d been planning.

She called her mother “Xue Gu” — clearly, then, this wasn’t her real mother at all.

The whole story about going to find her father at the Feng Clan was probably fabricated too.

Still, none of that mattered — what mattered was that Jiu’er clearly cared deeply for this Xue Gu, and that was enough.

Zhao Yusheng stared at Elder Feng, also angry now. “I’ll go through with the bowing ceremony with her — just give the antidote first!”

Though the girl wasn’t young, her body was so weak that without the antidote soon, there could be lasting damage.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at Zhao Yusheng, surprised — she hadn’t expected this fellow to actually have a conscience.

“I’ll go through with the ceremony with him. Give Xue Gu the antidote first.”

“I’m afraid that’s not yours to decide,” Elder Feng said, showing no sign of yielding. “Once you’ve finished the ceremony, I’ll give her the antidote.”

Feng Jiu’er’s chest heaved with fury — but right now, there was nothing she could do!

She suddenly grabbed Zhao Yusheng’s wrist and pulled him down to his knees.

“I, Bai Jiu’er, bow to heaven and earth with you today — I hope your people will keep their word!”

So her name was Bai Jiu’er — this was the first time Zhao Yusheng had ever heard her name.

But once this bow was made…

Jiu’er gave him no time to react. After bowing once toward the outside, she immediately bowed toward him as well.

“I, Bai Jiu’er, bow to the elders with you today!”

Zhao Yusheng was still catching up when the wedding attendant quickly pressed him down, making him bow once toward the outside, then together with Jiu’er toward the elders.

After that, the bow between husband and wife!

The three bows complete, Jiu’er leapt up at once, glaring at Elder Feng. “Now give her the antidote!”

She had already checked Xue Gu’s pulse — the poison in her was severe.

The longer it stayed in her body, the more dangerous it would become!

If they didn’t administer the antidote soon, it might be too late!

Only then was Elder Feng satisfied. He handed the antidote to a subordinate, who walked over and gave it to Feng Jiu’er.

Jiu’er quickly had Xue Gu drink it, and after a moment, she took her wrist again, her fingers settling on the pulse point.

A moment later, Feng Jiu’er let out a long breath of relief — it really was the antidote. Most of the poison had been cleared from her body.

She wiped her brow with a hand, finding it covered in cold sweat.

Before she could even stand up, she heard Elder Feng say, “Send them to the bridal chamber!”