Hearing this, the seven middle-aged men looked to Feng Jiu. She'd been summoned by the palace. Would she go?
Feng Jiu grinned, ever so slightly, and looked to the gatekeeper, saying, "Is he still out there?"
"No, Young Miss. He left after he had given his message," said the gatekeeper with utmost deference.
"Mm, good. Back to work, then!" she said with a nod, gesturing for him to go.
"Yes, Young Miss," said the gatekeeper as he backed out of the courtyard and left.
"Does that mean you're going, Young Miss?" asked one of the men with a pained expression, worried that this evening would be her own Feast at Hong Gate, that the banquet was planned with the sole purpose of having her murdered.
