“Understood.” Xing Zizhou inclined his head. When he glanced back, he saw that Xiao Yingtao was still staring, unblinking, at the person on the bed.

He pressed his lips lightly together and extended his large palm to stroke her upper back: “Jiu’er said there’s nothing to worry about — be at ease.”

Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together, gave a small nod, and gave the hem of Xing Zizhou’s robe a light tug.

Xing Zizhou looked down at the small hand clutching his robe, and his expression softened ever so slightly.

Taking her by the hand, Xing Zizhou led Xiao Yingtao out.

A little over a quarter of an hour later, both Qiao Mu and Xue Gu appeared in Di Fei Mu’s side chamber.

Ye Luosha and Emperor Ji had their minds fixed entirely on Di Fei Mu — neither of them said a word, and both left all arrangements to Feng Jiu’er.

The remaining people continued to take turns channeling true energy to treat Di Fei Mu’s injuries, and Feng Jiu’er was no exception.

In the blink of an eye, most of the day had passed, and dusk descended once more.

Reassuringly, Di Fei Mu’s complexion had indeed improved considerably.

As the hour of Hai drew near, Feng Jiu’er had just completed an acupuncture treatment for Di Fei Mu and was putting away her silver needles.

Emperor Ji went over and took Di Wu Ya’s place.

Di Wu Ya rose and came to stand behind Feng Jiu’er, taking hold of her hands — which had grown rather cold.

“Come eat dinner first.” There was a faint note of heaviness in his voice.

A full day and a night had passed. Everyone had taken turns resting — Feng Jiu’er alone had been occupied without a break. Apart from stepping out for breakfast before the midday meal, she had barely touched food or water for the rest of the time.

“There’s no rush — let me check on Mu Mu’s wound first.” Feng Jiu’er withdrew her hands from Di Wu Ya’s grasp.

Seeing Di Fei Mu’s improvement, she was happier than anyone — yet how could she spare a thought for the pallor of her own face, the dried bloodstains long since set upon it?

“Let me tend to his wound.” Qiao Mu came over and said gently.

“You…”

“Let Qiao Mu handle it — go and eat now.” Xue Gu, too, could bear it no longer and cut Feng Jiu’er off.

No matter how much Jiu’er had done for these two brothers, there was no certainty that Emperor Ji and Ye Luosha would ever accept her. Xue Gu felt a heaviness in her chest, yet she did not know how to express it.

A young girl with this sort of temperament — the very image of her mother — was hardly someone she herself could talk out of anything.

“That won’t do — Qiao Mu is too rough. I’ll finish tending to him, and then I’ll go straight out to eat.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Di Fei Mu and gave the faintest smile.

Di Wu Ya had been watching Feng Jiu’er the whole time — naturally, he was able to catch that fleeting smile of hers as it passed.

“Girl, he…” Di Wu Ya’s voice sounded softly in Feng Jiu’er’s ear.

“Unless he gives up of his own accord, there won’t be any problem.” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at Di Wu Ya and kept her voice very low.

“Have the others go and rest — there’s no need to worry. Go and rest.”

In less than ten hours, Di Fei Mu’s condition had improved enormously. The heart Feng Jiu’er had held clenched for a day and a night could at last, truly, be set down.

Feng Jiu’er’s voice, soft as it was, still reached Emperor Ji and Ye Luosha.

“Now that Mu Mu is no longer in mortal danger, finish tending to his wound and then go and rest.” Emperor Ji said in a measured voice.

“Yes — the two of us will keep watch over Mu Mu. All of you may withdraw.” Ye Luosha issued her own dismissal.

“In that case, Xue Gu — let’s head over first.” Qiao Mu gave a light cough, her manner equally perfunctory.

For people who did not know how to be grateful, Qiao Mu had no intention of going out of her way to ingratiate herself. She was not Jiu’er — her part in helping to save him had been partly for Di Fei Mu’s own sake, and partly because she had followed Jiu’er’s orders. It was certainly not because she wished to draw closer to the two people behind her.

Seeing that Xue Gu was still looking at Feng Jiu’er, her eyes carrying an uneasy gleam, Qiao Mu turned and came to stand before her.

“Don’t worry — with the Ninth Prince here, he will see Jiu’er safely back.”

Xue Gu withdrew her gaze, looked at her, and gave a nod.

“Let’s go — it’s not early any longer.” With that, Xue Gu turned and left.

Qiao Mu glanced back at Di Wu Ya, then at Feng Jiu’er — and in the end said nothing at all. She turned and followed in Xue Gu’s footsteps.

Feng Jiu’er paid them no mind and carefully unwound the cotton strips bound around Di Fei Mu.

She examined his wound, disinfected it, applied the medicine, and wrapped it once more. Every movement was meticulous, and she entrusted not a single step to anyone else.

Even when Di Wu Ya, standing beside her, tried to help, he was deemed a hindrance and found no way to be of use.

By the time the wound had been dressed, another half hour had passed.

Feng Jiu’er had just finished tidying everything and washed her hands when Ye Luosha wheeled Emperor Ji’s chair toward her.

“Wu Ya — take Jiu’er back to rest. We are here with your Adoptive Father — there is no need to worry.”

Di Wu Ya did not respond, his gaze remaining fixed on Feng Jiu’er the whole while.

Feng Jiu’er dried her hands and went to sit beside Di Fei Mu.

She gave him a brief final examination before she was satisfied and stood.

“How is he?” Di Wu Ya asked softly.

“He’s alright.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

Not wishing to have any clash with Emperor Ji or Ye Luosha here, Feng Jiu’er went and packed away her needle case.

She shouldered her small medicine chest and looked back at Di Wu Ya.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle — Mu Mu’s condition is for now considered stable, but we must not be careless going forward.”

“If there is any fever tonight, it would be best to send someone to find me. His life is at stake — do not let pride get in the way.”

With those somewhat brash words of instruction, Feng Jiu’er picked up her medicine chest and turned to leave.

Having worked so hard to bring Mu Mu back from the brink, she genuinely feared that death might come for him again.

If she had to do it over, Feng Jiu’er was not certain she would have the same willpower.

There was no denying it — Mu Mu’s survival this time was truly a miracle.

Di Wu Ya did not respond, only glanced back at Emperor Ji.

Emperor Ji inclined his head and waved his hand.

Di Wu Ya caught up to Feng Jiu’er in a few long strides and took the medicine chest from her hand.

Feng Jiu’er had anticipated her man would follow — which was precisely why she had given her instructions before leaving.

She glanced at Di Wu Ya and said nothing, continuing forward.

The two of them departed the main hall and walked along the path lined on both sides with hanging lanterns.

Yu Jingfeng led the brothers and followed at the rear. So as not to disturb them, they did not dare draw too close.

A gentle spring breeze laden with moisture washed over them — faintly, piercingly cold.

Yet Feng Jiu’er raised her face into the cold wind and pressed forward. The pallor of her face slowly gave way to returning color.

Di Wu Ya stepped forward and gathered her slight frame into his arms.

Feng Jiu’er drew a deep breath of the biting cold air and turned her head to meet the man’s gaze.

“You didn’t suspect me for even a moment? The incense that night was rather potent — when you came around, you must have felt rather awful yourself, yes?”

Di Wu Ya gave no response to such a trivial question. He took Feng Jiu’er’s hands in his and rubbed them gently.

Then, all at once, he swept her up horizontally into his arms and tucked her entire body as deeply into the folds of his robe as he could manage.

“Girl — thank you.”

Feng Jiu’er, cradled in the man’s strong arms, let herself relax and raised her eyes to look at him.

“Thank you for what?”

“For saving him. For never once minding their rudeness toward you.” Di Wu Ya’s voice came through, low and soft.

Feng Jiu’er nestled in his arms and did not feel the cold at all.

Di Wu Ya’s lips curved slightly. He lowered his eyes and looked down at her.

“From this day forward, you may mind it as much as you like — your husband will seek justice for you.”