“Stop teasing me.” Zhao Yusheng’s lips curved slightly upward. “I’ll go get some congee for Jian Yi now, and bring more bird’s nest for you two while I’m at it.”

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao both nodded at Zhao Yusheng together.

Zhao Yusheng lowered his eyes to glance at what remained of the meal on the table and asked quietly, “As for the rest — do you still want it?”

“No, thank you.” Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao shook their heads lightly, their movements perfectly in sync.

Zhao Yusheng looked at each of them in turn and began to tidy up.

Xiao Yingtao smiled and got to her feet.

Feng Jiu’er stood as well, stretched her back, shook out her hands and legs, then turned and headed toward the folding screen.

Two urgent knocks came at the door, and Zhao Xiaoxiao pushed it open and hurried inside without waiting.

“Miss, please slow down.” A maidservant followed close behind Zhao Xiaoxiao, who was carrying a tray.

“Brother, I heard Jian Yi has woken up — has he really?” As Zhao Xiaoxiao craned her neck to look around the room, she found the bed empty.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught Feng Jiu’er walking behind the folding screen, and she abruptly set her tray down on the table.

“You can’t!”

Zhao Xiaoxiao had moved too quickly — nearly half of the medicine on the tray spilled out as she set it down.

As she rushed forward to stop her, Zhao Yusheng stepped in front of her, while Feng Jiu’er had already vanished from her line of sight.

“Brother.” Zhao Xiaoxiao clutched Zhao Yusheng’s arms, growing more agitated by the second. “Jian Yi is in the bath, isn’t he?”

“You said Jian Yi is not Feng Jiu’er’s man — so why can she go in there? He’s bathing! She can’t go in!”

“Xiaoxiao.” Zhao Yusheng grasped Zhao Xiaoxiao’s arm. “A physician has no distinction between male and female patients — don’t you know that?”

“It’s the same reason Feng Jiu’er administered acupuncture on Jian Yi last night. I don’t understand why you’re so worked up.”

Caught under Zhao Yusheng’s stern look, Zhao Xiaoxiao finally came to her senses.

But even if Jian Yi was not hers, she could not allow another woman to damage his reputation.

Glancing back at the bowl of medicine she had rushed in to deliver, Zhao Xiaoxiao pulled her hand free from Zhao Yusheng’s grip.

“I’m going to bring Jian Yi his medicine.” She turned to reach for the bowl.

Xiao Yingtao was a step faster, and picked it up.

“What a pity — nearly half is gone. Who knows if there’s enough left to be effective?”

Without so much as a glance at Zhao Xiaoxiao, she carried the medicine around the other side of the table and headed toward the folding screen.

“Oh, and Young Master — Feng Jiu’er says Jian Yi can take some thin congee. Do remember to have some prepared.”

It seemed this Miss Zhao cared a great deal about Jian Yi. Xiao Yingtao truly did not dare to look back.

“Of course.” Zhao Yusheng appeared to have been reminded of something, and took hold of Zhao Xiaoxiao’s arm again.

“Xiaoxiao, is there more of that medicine? If the dosage is insufficient, it won’t help Jian Yi’s recovery.”

“If there is, could you go and prepare some thin congee? I’m the only man here — I have to stay.”

“There are certain things a man must handle that a woman cannot. You understand, don’t you?”

Without waiting for the young woman looking up at him to respond, Zhao Yusheng continued, “I’m sure you understand. Go on — I’ll look after Jian Yi well.”

Zhao Xiaoxiao furrowed her brow and asked in a voice she believed only she and her brother could hear, “Was it you who helped him undress earlier?”

“It wasn’t those two women, was it? All this talk of ‘physicians have no distinction between male and female’ — I don’t believe it for a moment. I won’t have Jian Yi put at a disadvantage.”

“Of course it was me.” Zhao Yusheng nodded. “Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao only went in to treat Jian Yi. Once he finishes bathing, I’ll be the one to help him.”

Zhao Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, pushed Zhao Yusheng’s arm aside, and glanced toward the folding screen.

She pulled her gaze back and looked up at Zhao Yusheng again.

“Take good care of him. I’m leaving him in your hands.”

Having spilled the medicine she had labored over in her haste just now, Zhao Xiaoxiao felt wretched about it.

Knowing she would only be in the way if she stayed, she could only go and do what little she actually could.

“I will.” Zhao Yusheng gave her a steady, earnest look.

Zhao Xiaoxiao drew a deep breath, waved her hand, and left.

Her maidservant came forward and addressed Zhao Yusheng quietly, “Young Master, allow me to tidy up.”

“Please do.” Zhao Yusheng nodded, then turned and walked toward the folding screen. “Have someone stand guard outside. Without my or Miss’s permission, no one is to enter freely.”

Zhao Xiaoxiao had not yet left — Zhao Yusheng did not dare let his attention slip from her.

“Yes.” The maidservant watched his departing figure and acknowledged the order respectfully.

When Zhao Yusheng stepped behind the screen, Feng Jiu’er was personally feeding Jian Yi his medicine.

She looked up briefly at the man who had entered and curved her lips slightly. “Pass my thanks to your sister — she helped bring Jian Yi back.”

“Think nothing of it!” Zhao Yusheng glanced at Jian Yi, and a look of genuine pleasure spread across his face.

“Feng Jiu’er, when will Jian Yi make a full recovery?”

“A full recovery won’t happen that quickly — but this fellow has a strong constitution. He’s recovering much faster than I imagined.”

Jian Yi drained every last drop of medicine in the bowl, and Feng Jiu’er took a square of cloth and dabbed his lips.

“The Ninth Imperial Uncle arrived in time — the Crown Prince has already been driven out of Mo City and Yamu City. The brothers are waiting for us to come back and celebrate the victory. Get well soon.”

“Yes.” Jian Yi looked at Feng Jiu’er and gave a quiet nod.

Seeing that he looked as though he wanted to say something but held back, Feng Jiu’er turned, pulled a chair over, and sat down beside him.

“There’s no need to say anything by way of thanks. All you need to think about is how you’re going to repay Miss Zhao.”

Feng Jiu’er settled into the chair beside Jian Yi and took out her needle case.

“Indeed.” Xiao Yingtao sprinkled some medicinal powder into the bath water, stirred it, then looked up at Jian Yi.

“It looks like Miss Zhao is quite fond of you. Why not offer yourself to her, Jian Yi? I’m sure she’d be more than happy.”

What Zhao Xiaoxiao had said earlier had been heard not only by Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi, but by Xiao Yingtao as well.

Jian Yi looked at Xiao Yingtao, his brow furrowing, then turned back to Feng Jiu’er.

“I don’t want to stay behind. Feng Jiu’er, I want to go back with you.”

Jian Yi had left under circumstances that gave him no choice at the time. Now that his body had improved somewhat and there was no longer any fighting to be done, he was naturally willing to return.

“Whatever you wish, you certainly can’t stay here for the time being.” Feng Jiu’er picked up a silver needle between her fingers and stood.

“Why not?” Zhao Yusheng asked quietly.

Feng Jiu’er moved to stand behind Jian Yi and cradled his head in her hands, her gaze not falling on Zhao Yusheng.

“Jian Yi’s recovery requires me, so even if he wanted to stay, this is not the time for that — at least three months from now.”

The words had barely settled when she placed a needle precisely into an acupuncture point at the top of Jian Yi’s head.

She looked up at Zhao Yusheng and raised an eyebrow. “You’re not planning on keeping Jian Yi here as a son-in-law who moves into your stronghold, are you?”

“That said — if Jian Yi is willing, it’s not my place to object. It is, after all, his own lifelong matter.”

She picked another silver needle from the case on the chair and stood behind Jian Yi once more.

“Once his condition is stable, I must go back. Jian Yi will come back with me and make his own decision three months from now.”