She called out several times. The man beside her showed not the slightest movement.

At last, Feng Jiu’er could no longer hold back and gave him a light push.

This time, with effortless ease, she pushed Ninth Imperial Uncle off of her.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle!” Feng Jiu’er was startled, and scrambled upright in a hurry.

His expression was serene and peaceful — his features, though bearing clear signs of grave illness and frailty, seemed to harbor a trace of quiet ease.

His slightly cool large hand still held one of her small hands, and even as he had slipped into sleep, his grip remained firm.

So he had already been this exhausted. Back when Yu Jingfeng had gone to find her, she had still hesitated for quite a while before deciding to come over.

Ninth Imperial Uncle was truly weary. It had been evident from the moment she arrived — the sickness and exhaustion written between his brows.

Yet for the sake of seeing her, he had held on until just now. He had even held her — lifting her from the floor and into the bed, into his arms. And the entire time, he had been as depleted as this.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle…” Feng Jiu’er’s long fingers couldn’t help but fall upon the proud, high bridge of his nose, gently tracing over it.

Zhan Qingcheng, as though sensing her presence, unconsciously leaned closer toward her.

Worried about tiring him, Feng Jiu’er immediately stretched out her legs to let him rest his head on them.

Pillowed against her legs, he was like a person who had finally found the most comfortable harbor — he kept nestling closer and closer toward her.

At last, his head rested on her two legs, his face buried against her lower abdomen, like a cherished child sheltered and cradled in her gentle care.

Feng Jiu’er leaned against the headboard, letting Ninth Imperial Uncle use her legs as his pillow, watching his peaceful slumber, and the anxiety and unease she had carried for so many days finally, truly, eased.

Though Ninth Imperial Uncle’s body was still afflicted by the Gu Poison, though his heart meridians had already suffered serious damage, though she herself didn’t know whether she could truly cure him —

Still, in this moment, Ninth Imperial Uncle was sleeping in her arms, and that was enough.

She looked down at his handsome, flawless profile, that one strand of fallen hair lending him a hazy, gentle beauty.

Feng Jiu’er gazed at him for a long while, lost and entranced, and only with great effort came back to herself. She reached up a finger and brushed aside that strand of hair from his face.

After settling his head against her legs, Ninth Imperial Uncle had released her hand and instead wrapped his arms around her waist.

It seemed as though only when she was there could he sleep in true peace — even when noise broke out beyond the door, his brow never furrowed once.

But Feng Jiu’er’s eyes grew alert, and her vigilance snapped into place immediately.

Outside the door, Yu Jingfeng stood blocking the entrance, his expression troubled. “My lord — there is someone inside —”

“Who is in there?” A woman?

Even without entering, Emperor Ji could sense the presence of the person within.

A long, even breath — undeniably a woman. A woman was inside Wu Ya’s room!

A moment later, Emperor Ji frowned. “Is it Physician Feng?”

Yu Jingfeng did not know how to respond. He hesitated briefly, then nodded.

Emperor Ji’s two graying brows furrowed even deeper. “Why won’t you let us enter?”

Although the medicine from Physician Feng had genuinely stabilized Wu Ya’s condition, the thought of leaving Wu Ya alone with an unfamiliar woman still unsettled him.

Their Wu Ya was far too strikingly handsome — what if that woman, upon seeing his face, harbored improper thoughts…?

“Leng Yue — wheel me inside.”

“Yes!” This time, Leng Yue paid no heed to Yu Jingfeng. It was Adoptive Father who had commanded her to enter — Yu Jingfeng had no power to stop her.

Yu Jingfeng was shoved aside forcefully, but he didn’t obstruct them. He could only yield with a tilt of his body and push the door open himself.

Leng Yue wheeled Emperor Ji inside, with Yu Jingfeng following behind them. The moment all three entered and looked up, both of them — save for Yu Jingfeng — were struck utterly dumbfounded.

“She —!” How had this happened? How was there a woman sitting on Wu Ya’s bed?

And Wu Ya — what was the matter with Wu Ya? Why was Wu Ya sleeping with his head on this woman’s legs?

“Outrage! You —”

“Shh —” Feng Jiu’er pressed one finger to her lips in a gesture of silence toward them, saying softly, “Ninth Imperial Uncle just fell asleep.”

“You —” Leng Yue was so agitated her entire body trembled. She didn’t even spare a thought for Emperor Ji, and was already striding forward to pull the young woman off the lord’s bed.

The lord’s noble bed — it absolutely could not be sullied by a girl like her! It was absolutely unacceptable!

“Leng Yue — don’t act rashly!” Yu Jingfeng’s large hand fell upon Leng Yue’s shoulder, forcibly stopping her in her tracks.

“Yu Jingfeng, let go! You traitor!” Leng Yue was consumed with fury, and swung a palm toward Yu Jingfeng.

This wretch — he had known there was this kind of woman in the lord’s chambers, hadn’t he? That was why he had kept blocking their entry the whole time, to cover up their filthy doings!

Despicable Yu Jingfeng — she had thought he was truly loyal to the lord. How unexpected that he had conspired with someone, plotting against the lord!

“Leng Yue, calm yourself!” Yu Jingfeng was at his wit’s end with this woman — she flew into a rage without the slightest provocation. Where had this explosive temper come from?

He dodged the first palm. Leng Yue came in with a second.

He dared not strike back at her, only defend himself. The room was this small, and he couldn’t risk making a commotion that would wake the Prince — so scuffling like this was putting him at a disadvantage.

Leng Yue’s second palm was already closing in on Yu Jingfeng’s shoulder.

Suddenly, someone casually lifted a hand, and that powerful gust of force instantly dissolved Leng Yue’s palm strength entirely.

Leng Yue turned to look at Emperor Ji, astonishment written on her face. “Adoptive Father, they —”

“Must you continue making a scene? Ninth Imperial Uncle has only just fallen into such a sound sleep.”

Feng Jiu’er’s voice remained soft and gentle, drifting from the far side of the bed, yet carrying clearly into every ear.

“You —” The flames of Leng Yue’s fury instantly shifted onto her.

“Yue’er — do not be insolent!” Emperor Ji’s expression darkened, and his voice turned unmistakably cool.

Leng Yue bit her lip. She knew that if she continued the scene, Adoptive Father would truly become angry.

However unwilling she was, she fell silent.

Suddenly, a faint, slight movement came from the direction of the bed.

The sleeping Zhan Qingcheng shifted slightly, his brow creasing — as if on the verge of waking.

All of their hearts sank, gripped with dread.

He absolutely could not wake up. The best outcome was for him to sleep through until morning. If he woke, there was every risk he would cough up blood again at any moment.

He had coughed up blood multiple times last night, and each episode had come after a restless sleep — waking brought the blood. Emperor Ji’s profound inner strength was formidable, yet even he could not endlessly channel true energy into him.

Tonight had truly been a relief — if Wu Ya were to wake now and resume coughing blood, the old man’s own life would likely not hold out much longer either.

He absolutely must not, must not wake.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I am right here. Sleep a while longer. Be good.”

On the bed, the young woman reached out and rested her hand atop his head, gently massaging.

Her slender fingers brushed aside the strands of hair near his ear, sweeping them gently back, her voice as soft as the night breeze drifting past.

“When you have seen through every landscape the world has to offer, perhaps you will still accompany me to watch the gentle waters flow on…”

The breathtakingly beautiful man nestled against her, nuzzling closer — and then buried his face against her abdomen, his breathing gradually deepening and evening out, and he… once again sank into a deep, deep sleep.