Although Ji Fengyao hadn't been there long, she had developed a strong liking for her seemingly gentle but actually fierce and magnanimous mother, Su Rujing. The blood ties between mother and daughter made her reluctant to part with this mother who genuinely loved and cared for her.

Su Rujing lovingly took Ji Fengyao's hand and said softly, "Yao'er, your father, your brother, and I have discussed it. We'll have them take some people with them to the capital first to see what the court's attitude is towards our Vulture Village. Your two younger brothers and I will stay in the village for now. Once your father and brother are settled in the capital, and all the brothers in the village are settled, then we'll go to the capital."

Ji Fengyao knew in her heart that if she hadn't insisted on marrying the Ninth Prince, and if she hadn't said she wanted to go to the capital to collect life-saving medicinal herbs, Ji Chenhai, who was used to a carefree life, might not have been willing to go to the capital to accept the amnesty.

Even if she was the Empress Dowager's savior, the Emperor and Empress Dowager might not truly care for her. They were merely using this as a pretext to deflate the Ninth Prince's arrogance and incidentally eliminate the bandit threat. Otherwise, under the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's pressure, who would dare kill the host right under the Ninth Prince's nose?

Yes, the host didn't die accidentally from a fall. Instead, he was first struck in the back of the knee, causing him to fall, and then hit in a fatal pressure point on his head by a stone. Ji Fengyao knew this as soon as she woke up, which was the fundamental reason why she insisted on seeking the cooperation and protection of the Ninth Prince.

As for suspecting the Ninth Prince?

He wouldn't be that stupid, and neither would she.

"Mother, thank you for being so good to me." Ji Fengyao hugged Su Rujing, her eyes a little moist. "Actually, I could have gone to the capital by myself. I'm all grown up now, I don't need Father and my older brother to accompany me. I will come back to see you often."

Su Rujing gently patted Ji Fengyao's head and chuckled affectionately: "Silly child, you are our family's most precious daughter. If we don't treat you well, who else can we treat well? Besides, the court is offering amnesty to the Vulture Village, and it is your father and your brother who will be granted titles. What kind of situation is it for you to go to the capital alone?"

"Mother..." Ji Fengyao called softly, her voice sweet and gentle.

Seeing this, Ji Fengming looked on in surprise: "Father, it feels like Feng Yao has become a different person these past two days."

Ji Chenhai chuckled: "Is your mother gentle and refined now?"

"Of course, Mother is the woman with the best temper in the world!"

“When your mother was young, her temper was ten times more fiery than your sister’s,” Ji Chenhai said, looking at his wife and daughter not far away with a tender and affectionate gaze. “Women are all gentle when they are in love, but strong when they become mothers. You will understand when you have a wife and children in the future. I’m just worried that the capital is a den of dragons and tigers, and the Prince’s mansion is a den of wickedness. The Ninth Prince doesn’t care about your sister, so Feng Yao is afraid she will suffer.

"Father, don't worry, anyone who dares to wrong Fengyao, I will make them suffer." Ji Fengming's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.

Ji Chenhai smiled and nodded, then took out a list full of officials' names from his pocket and casually handed it to Ji Fengming: "These are officials who handle the medicinal herb business in private. You can learn more about them after you get to the capital. First, move the medicinal herbs from their warehouses to the Prince's Mansion for your sister."

“Father, you and I have the same idea. I’ve also made a list.” Ji Fengming took out his list and compared it with Ji Chenhai’s. The names on the list were indeed very similar.

The father and son looked at each other and burst into laughter.

As soon as the servants of Vulture Stronghold withdrew, Wu Zhong and Wu Shang, their faces bruised and swollen, appeared, kneeling dejectedly before Shang Xiye. "Your Highness, please punish us. We have failed in our duty and have harmed you!"