The young man did not even turn around; he continued fanning the bowl of medicine.

“I didn’t dare act rashly, but I was worried about him — so I came to find you.”

The “him” the young man spoke of was, of course, the Ninth Prince.

As for that elder who seemed rather difficult to get along with, that was naturally Emperor Ji, the Old Sovereign.

She did not know his identity. She had only watched from a distance and could already tell he was genuinely difficult to approach.

At a moment like this, she naturally did not dare to act rashly — yet the worry gnawing at her was simply too great, and so she had come to the kitchen to look for Yu Jingfeng.

Yu Jingfeng was truly stunned beyond measure. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would encounter her here, of all places.

“But… but the scars on your face… your injuries…”

Yu Jingfeng was still somewhat incoherent — whether from the shock of encountering her here, or because of her flawlessly perfect face, or perhaps…

In any case, everything before him, every single detail, left him so thunderstruck he could barely string words together.

“This is my true appearance. The scars from before were deliberately applied — I was afraid of being framed and wanted to protect myself.”

“But His Highness, he…”

“He likely doesn’t know either.”

“Then you… how did you come here? Are you not… traveling with the new Longqi Army brothers toward Phoenix City?”

“I rode here on horseback, of course — the finest steed available. I rode for a full day and night without drinking a single drop of water.”

Yu Jingfeng immediately unhooked the water pouch from his waist and held it out to her with both hands.

She shook her head: “You’ve drunk from it — wouldn’t drinking after you be like an indirect kiss?”

“…” An indirect kiss. What a novel expression. But Yu Jingfeng had no mind to dwell on it; he obtained a cup of tea from somewhere or other.

She stopped being picky — she genuinely had been thirsty for a long while.

She drank two full cups in one breath before finally saying: “There is a brother of mine outside — no, a sister — please have someone bring her two bowls of water and two steamed buns. She is the same as me: she has gone a full day and night without eating or drinking.”

Yu Jingfeng didn’t stop to think; he immediately gathered several steamed buns, poured some water, and strode out quickly.

Stepping out the door, he discovered that the two Longqi Army brothers who had been standing guard had already been knocked flat on the ground.

No wonder she had been able to get inside. Although, the men of his Longqi Army weren’t so weak that they should have been taken down this easily.

He had been too occupied arguing with the physician just now to have noticed any of it.

Not far outside, beneath a tree, a slender silhouette sat on the ground. Before he had even drawn close, he could feel the vast, surging protective energy emanating from the figure.

A true master.

Feng Jiu’er had actually enlisted someone of this caliber to safeguard herself on the journey. Truly remarkable!

Yu Jingfeng delivered the steamed buns and water without exchanging a word, then turned and hurried straight back to the kitchen.

His Highness was still waiting for the medicine — he could not afford to delay.

What Yu Jingfeng had not anticipated, however, was that upon entering, he would find the person inside holding a blade and drawing it forcefully across her own forearm.

“Miss Jiu’er!” Yu Jingfeng was horrified, lurching forward to stop her.

But after seeing clearly what she intended to do, he came to an abrupt halt.

How had he forgotten? Miss Jiu’er’s blood could indeed suppress the Gu Poison in His Highness’s body.

Yet seeing Miss Jiu’er wound herself like this to take her blood for His Highness to consume — Yu Jingfeng’s heart clenched violently, despite everything.

“Do not tell Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er watched her own blood fall, drop by drop, into the medicine bowl.

She let out a shallow breath — exhausted to the bone, desperately craving sleep, yet unwilling to let her guard down.

She had come this far, surmounting obstacle after obstacle to reach Ninth Imperial Uncle’s side at last.

Her heart had been racing with emotion this entire time; no matter how worn she was, she refused to collapse.

“If Ninth Imperial Uncle knew, I fear he would refuse to drink this medicine.”

“I’ve mixed the blood in with the medicine — the taste will likely be a little strange, but it won’t be entirely like drinking fresh blood.”

“Should Ninth Imperial Uncle ask about it later, simply tell him a new medicinal catalyst was added — one that fortifies the foundation and cultivates vitality.”

“I… understood.” He glanced at her once more. This girl’s color was genuinely dreadful — she had gone this pale, yet her gaze remained unwavering.

As though for the Ninth Prince, she would not mind if every last drop of blood were drained from her body.

He found he could not bear to keep looking; he withdrew from the room and unsealed the acupoints of the two brothers.

The two men immediately sprang up from the ground, bodies tensed and every sense alert — only to find themselves face-to-face with Yu Jingfeng himself.

“This brother and the young physician inside are people of His Highness’s — do not offend them.”

He gestured toward the silhouette under the tree. The two men still harbored a faint flicker of indignation, but knowing they were His Highness’s people, they raised no objection.

Yu Jingfeng added: “They were secretly arranged to come here by His Highness. Do not alert anyone for the time being — guard and protect them well, and see to their every need.”

“Yes, my lord!” Both men bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

“Lord Yu, the medicine is ready.” From inside came Feng Jiu’er’s deliberately suppressed, low voice.

“Good.” Yu Jingfeng went back in and found her holding a strip of bandage, in the process of wrapping her wound.

That long, fair, slender forearm bearing a gash this deep — it truly was a sight that wrenched the heart.

“Jiu’er…”

“Go quickly — once the medicine cools, the smell of blood will grow stronger. Ninth Imperial Uncle will grow suspicious.”

“All right, I’ll bring it over now. You must…” He cast one last glance at her arm, and said softly, “Take care of yourself.”

“Stop dawdling — go!”

Watching him leave, Feng Jiu’er’s gaze settled on the closed kitchen door, and for a long moment, she could not bear to look away.

How she longed to follow him in — to see what Ninth Imperial Uncle looked like right now, to see whether he was still all right.

But there was that highly skilled elder on that side keeping watch. Even Qiao Mu had said it would be unwise to approach, so she truly had no way of getting even half a step closer.

Qiao Mu, now fed and watered, came inside — this time, openly.

Seeing Feng Jiu’er in the middle of bandaging her wound, she frowned, and a flash of killing intent surfaced in her eyes. “That man hurt you?”

“How could that be? He would never harm me.” Jiu’er shook her head. “I did it myself.”

Qiao Mu studied her for another moment, finally swallowing her question — but another question immediately rose to take its place.

“Feng Jiu’er, were we not supposed to be rushing to the border city to save the nation and its people? You tricked me into coming to a place like this — what on earth are you trying to do?”

“Who is in that room over there? Is it someone of great importance?”

“Also, that young man who just brought me water — why does he seem so familiar? Who is he? Where have I seen him before?”

Feng Jiu’er cast her a languid sidelong look. “Where you’ve seen him before — that’s the sort of thing only you would know. Why are you asking me?”

Qiao Mu seemed to realize, too, that her question was indeed rather foolish.

Yet the feeling that she had seen him before was unmistakable — the impression wasn’t particularly vivid, but it was certainly there.

“He…” Suddenly, Qiao Mu’s almond-shaped eyes flew wide open. “Him! He is… the lord who serves beside the Ninth Prince — Lord Yu!”

She had finally remembered. Back then, all of her attention had been fixed on the Ninth Prince, and while she had seen Yu Jingfeng, the impression had not gone very deep. Had she not seen him again, she certainly would never have recalled it.

“Then the person in that room… Feng Jiu’er! How many more things are you hiding from me?”