“In this lifetime, unless I die, I will never leave your side again.” No sooner had Feng Jiu’er finished speaking than Jian Yi’s low voice followed.

Jian Yi’s words froze every other person in the room.

Xiao Yingtao stared at him for a moment, then blinked.

“Jian Yi, you’re not confessing your feelings to Feng Jiu’er, are you? She already has the Ninth Prince.”

“Confessing feelings?” Jian Yi glanced at Xiao Yingtao, then turned his head to meet Feng Jiu’er’s eyes.

Seeing her brows draw together slightly, he immediately explained, “Feng Jiu’er, I don’t know what ‘confessing feelings’ means. I also have no intention of competing with the Ninth Prince for you.”

“Because you know you can’t win?” Xiao Yingtao couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Seeing that Feng Jiu’er’s expression remained completely serious, she pressed her lips together and decided against making any more jokes.

Jian Yi paid Xiao Yingtao no attention and kept his gaze on Feng Jiu’er.

Composing himself, his slightly hoarse voice came again. “Feng Jiu’er, I don’t know how to speak well — but there are things I’m afraid I may never get another chance to say.”

“You have saved my life many times over. From now on, my life belongs to you. Even if you drive me away, I will not leave.”

“So the meaning is gratitude — not affection, is that right?” Feng Jiu’er’s brow furrowed faintly as she asked.

Jian Yi had given her quite a fright — she hadn’t even had time to place the silver needle she was holding.

Jian Yi could not read Feng Jiu’er’s expression, only feeling that his words had put her in an awkward position.

After a moment, he gave a small nod. “Yes. Only to repay a debt.”

Jian Yi held himself very tensely, unsure whether what he had said was what Feng Jiu’er wanted to hear.

Only when he saw her exhale with relief did he feel at ease.

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and held his head steady. “Relax a little — the acupuncture points on the head are not easy to locate.”

Jian Yi relaxed his head and let Feng Jiu’er do as she wished.

Xiao Yingtao glanced at the two across from her and said with a smile, “Jian Yi, you gave Feng Jiu’er quite a scare just now.”

“You really don’t know how to express yourself. The kind of words you said just now are normally what a man says to a woman to declare his feelings — no wonder Feng Jiu’er got so tense hearing it.”

“She’s actually a bit wary of Zhao Yusheng, you know.” Xiao Yingtao shot a sideways glance at Zhao Yusheng, pursed her lips, and looked away.

“Feng Jiu’er is wary of me?” Zhao Yusheng’s brow creased slightly. His gaze shifted to Feng Jiu’er. “Feng Jiu’er, why would you be wary of me?”

“With you always calling her ‘darling wife’ and such, how could she not be?” Xiao Yingtao raised an eyebrow.

“I had thought for a moment that Jian Yi had fallen for Feng Jiu’er. If that were truly the case, it would be quite the problem.”

“As it stands, there’s already one Zhao Yusheng making Feng Jiu’er’s life complicated. If a Jian Yi were added to that, the Ninth Prince would probably never let Feng Jiu’er out of his sight again.”

“Feng Jiu’er is wonderful, of course — but there is only one Feng Jiu’er. How could she handle so many people vying for her attention?”

Jian Yi closed his eyes, and no one could tell what he was thinking.

Having been lectured by Xiao Yingtao, Zhao Yusheng’s expression was somewhat uncomfortable.

Noticing his awkward look, Xiao Yingtao gave a light cough.

“Young Master, where is your family’s medicine store? I’d like to go and sort through the medicinal ingredients myself. Jian Yi will still need quite a few over the coming days.”

“If you don’t have what’s needed, I’ll have to find another way.”

“Of course.” Zhao Yusheng nodded at Xiao Yingtao. “I’ll take you there.”

He blinked and turned to look at Feng Jiu’er.

“Feng Jiu’er, I hold only admiration for you — nothing more. You need not feel uncomfortable.”

“I know.” Feng Jiu’er gave him a glance and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even like me. You only escorted me away at the start because of the wedding ceremony.”

“Don’t listen to Xiao Yingtao — how could I possibly be wary of you? You’re no match for me at all. Why would I be afraid?”

“Just stop calling me ‘darling wife’ this and ‘darling wife’ that in the future. I am still an unmarried young woman.”

“Agreed — I promise!” Zhao Yusheng gave a sincere nod.

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand and went back to searching for acupuncture points on Jian Yi’s head. “Off you go — and remember to bring me more bird’s nest on your way back.”

“After all this time, we absolutely must replenish ourselves. The four of us owe Zhao Family Stronghold quite a debt these past days — you front it for now.”

“Your own share, the Old Master won’t accept payment from you, so pay that on our behalf as well. Are we clear?”

Zhao Yusheng looked at Feng Jiu’er and nodded with a smile.

At least she had said “the four of us” and not “the three of us” — that was enough to make him feel content.

In his heart, he had long since placed himself alongside the rest of them.

“You look after Jian Yi. I’ll take care of everything else.”

With those words, Zhao Yusheng turned and fell in step behind Xiao Yingtao.

With two of them gone, the room grew considerably quieter.

“How did you end up here? If you were heading to the Southern Wilds, this isn’t a necessary route.” Feng Jiu’er lifted her hands away from Jian Yi’s head and lay down on his left side.

She had thought it would not be so easy to find him. She had even wondered — if she could not find him, what would she do?

After all that searching, she had finally found him, and the sight of his completely lifeless face last night — Feng Jiu’er could only describe what she had felt as heart-stopping terror.

Fortunately, he had pulled through.

Jian Yi opened his eyes and met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze. Those long lashes, as delicate as a doll’s, fluttered once.

“I ran into bandits, took a wrong turn into a stone forest, and someone brought me back here.”

“I see.” Feng Jiu’er studied Jian Yi for a good while and stood up, satisfied.

She turned back to the needle case and picked up a silver needle, then leaned in gently to place it at Jian Yi’s shoulder.

Jian Yi composed himself and leaned back against the rim of the bathing tub again, closing his eyes.

“Feng Jiu’er, in this lifetime of mine…”

“Didn’t you just say you don’t know how to talk? If you can’t say it well, say less. Besides, you keep repeating the same sentence — I could recite it in my sleep by now.” Feng Jiu’er cut him off.

Jian Yi curved his lips faintly and let out a soft sigh.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the handsome face before her and smiled quietly in return.

“No wonder people say that those who have cheated death may find even their temperament has changed.”

“You were never one of few words before — but at least you didn’t used to repeat the same line over and over. It’s terribly fussy, do you know that?”

“Perhaps I feared there would be no more chances to say it, so…” Jian Yi raised his brows very slightly without opening his eyes.

“I have said before — I don’t do losing transactions. I still need you to do things for me in the future. How could I possibly let you die so easily?”

She turned away, then turned back, another fresh silver needle in hand.

“To walk off like that without a word — you really are irresponsible.” A flash of irritation ran through her, and even as she placed the needle, she couldn’t help pressing a little harder than usual.

Not a trace of pain crossed Jian Yi’s face — whether because Feng Jiu’er’s skill was that precise, or because a little pain meant something entirely different to him.

“I’d say it’s time to find you a wife. Once you have a wife and children, let’s see if you still dare to just get up and go!”

Feng Jiu’er did not deny that everything Jian Yi did, he did for her sake — but she still could not accept the fact of him simply disappearing.

“That would be fine.” Jian Yi smiled faintly and replied in a soft voice, “However — I don’t like Miss Zhao.”