Qiao Mu’s actions had been entirely beyond Feng Jiu’er’s expectation—by the time she registered what had happened, all that filled her field of vision was the stone-paved path below.

“What are you doing?” Feng Jiu’er knit her brows and stepped down from Qiao Mu’s shoulder, landing steadily back on the ground.

Qiao Mu had barely released her before wrapping her arms around her again: “Jiu’er, I was worried about you—it’s nothing.”

She patted Feng Jiu’er lightly on the back, then finally let go with satisfaction.

“I said there would be nothing—what was there to worry about?” Feng Jiu’er shot Qiao Mu a look. “Right, is breakfast ready? I am starving!”

Qiao Mu blinked and shook her head: “Haven’t given the order yet—going now.”

Dropping those few words, Qiao Mu glanced around and caught the eye of a nearby brother, giving him a wave.

Feng Jiu’er lifted her gaze briefly, then continued walking forward.

“Miss Jiu’er.” Yu Jingfeng came up to meet her, his face filled with relief.

“Found the medicine.” Feng Jiu’er reached into her bundle and pulled out a packet, pressing it into Yu Jingfeng’s hands.

“Not this one.” She shook her head and pulled out another packet.

In no time, Yu Jingfeng’s hands held five or six packets of medicine.

“This is the one—the rest are herbs for his recovery afterward. Do not lose them; I obtained all of these at the cost of my life.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed the last packet into Yu Jingfeng’s arms, only then realizing just how much medicine she had brought back.

She had not been exaggerating one bit. She was safe now, returned in one piece—though she still did not know whether last night’s venture had brought any trouble upon her uncle.

“Hurry and prepare—it is time to change the bathing medicine.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand and lifted her gaze to the rising sun.

No matter how dark the night, when the sun rose, the world was bathed in light once more.

Her mother certainly would not have wanted to see her in low spirits. Once the Ninth Prince stabilized, they could begin to fight back.

Ye Xue Ning—everything you owe the Di family and the Long family, the time has come for you to repay it all.

Looking at the dawn, Feng Jiu’er felt warmth fill her heart. In that moment, she felt as though she could see Long Feiyan watching over her from the sky above.

Mother, rest easy. She would be fine. Ye Xue Ning’s days of arrogance would not last much longer.

A young girl smiled softly as she faced the morning light. Though her complexion was somewhat pallid, her bright and spirited eyes carried with them an endless wellspring of hope.

Feng Jiu’er closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, then withdrew her gaze and stepped forward.

She had only taken a few steps before she came to a stop.

“Jiu’er.” Qiao Mu, having finished giving her instructions, came to her side and likewise stopped.

“Miss Jiu’er, for everything that happened in the past—the fault was entirely mine. I hope you will not blame Wu Ya.” Emperor Ji, who had somehow knelt down without her noticing, said softly.

“These past days, we owe it all to you.”

Ye Luosha had not knelt—she stood at Emperor Ji’s side, her gaze also resting on Feng Jiu’er.

“Whatever Wu Ya’s condition may be, now that you have brought back the medicine, all grievances between the Di family and the Long family are hereby written off.”

“As for what the two of us owe you—name it, and we are willing to comply.”

“What I want now is to kill Ye Xue Ning.” Feng Jiu’er composed herself and continued walking forward.

She came to a stop before Emperor Ji and paused: “You are the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s and Mu Mu’s own uncle—and my elder by family. Please rise.”

“I have said before: your legs are not beyond treatment. But I have no time for that now. Let us kill Ye Xue Ning together first, and we can speak of it afterward.”

“As for His Highness the Crown Prince—I will keep watch here. The fighting will likely resume very soon—do not waste time standing around here.”

“Please rise.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and reminded once more.

Di Fei Mu went forward and helped Emperor Ji to his feet.

Feng Jiu’er said nothing more, stepped forward, and walked into the wing room.

……

Within less than three days, the city gates were broken through by enemy forces, and the Longwu Army was once again forced to withdraw.

Di Wu Ya’s condition improved a little with each passing day, yet showed no sign of him waking.

Just as the Longwu Army was preparing for its third evacuation, Feng Jiu’er received letters from Zhao Yusheng and Jian Yi almost simultaneously.

That evening, Feng Jiu’er returned to Di Wu Ya’s wing room and sat down beside him.

She clasped his hand and pressed it over her own heart: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, can you hear me?”

“If you do not wake soon, I am going to set out on campaign. When that time comes, if you wish to see me, it will not be so easy.”

But the person lying in the bed kept his eyes firmly shut, as though her words could not reach him at all.

Suddenly, a knock came from outside the wing room door.

Di Fei Mu pushed it open and walked in.

Feng Jiu’er turned to look, then stood up, her crescent brows knitting together: “You are injured?”

Di Fei Mu made no reply. He drew out a chair and sat down not far from the bedside.

Feng Jiu’er did not press him further. She went and retrieved the medicine chest, then came to Di Fei Mu’s side.

She took up her scissors and cut open the fabric along Di Fei Mu’s arm.

Di Fei Mu’s sword wound was revealed before Feng Jiu’er.

“The wound is deep—hold still.” Feng Jiu’er quickly tended to it.

Disinfect, apply medicine, bind with bandages.

When Feng Jiu’er set down what was in her hands and turned back, she noticed that Di Fei Mu’s complexion had grown increasingly ashen.

“Mu Mu, you…” Feng Jiu’er looked at him, her face taut with worry. “Where else are you injured?”

Di Fei Mu held Feng Jiu’er’s gaze for a moment, then suddenly reached out both arms and pulled her into his embrace.

From his breathing alone, Feng Jiu’er could tell that Di Fei Mu’s injuries were not confined to his arm.

She carefully pushed at his shoulder and said quietly: “Where are you injured? Let me take a look.”

Di Fei Mu made no reply, and the arms holding Feng Jiu’er only tightened.

“Mu Mu, you are injured—let me take a look, all right?” Feng Jiu’er grew more and more anxious.

Still Di Fei Mu did not respond, and continued to hold her.

Feng Jiu’er drew a deep breath, her tone dropping considerably lower: “Di Fei Mu, if you collapse at a time like this, who will lead the brothers into battle?”

Di Fei Mu suddenly let out a low cough, his breathing immediately growing more erratic.

He averted his gaze from Feng Jiu’er and pressed his head against her neck.

“You are coughing up blood?” Feng Jiu’er placed her hands on his shoulders and carefully tried to push him away.

But Di Fei Mu’s grip was firm. Without using force, Feng Jiu’er could not free herself.

“Mu Mu, if you keep this up…”

“Jiu’er, let me hold you for a moment.” Di Fei Mu’s somewhat hoarse voice cut off Feng Jiu’er’s words.

Feng Jiu’er turned her head to look at him, and her heart ached a little.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle had been his pillar of support. Now even the Ninth Imperial Uncle had fallen, and he was shouldering everything alone—he must be utterly exhausted.

Mu Mu and the Ninth Imperial Uncle were different. The Ninth Imperial Uncle had already been a commander ten years ago; Mu Mu’s experience leading troops into battle was far less seasoned.

And besides—it seemed that all this time, Feng Jiu’er had been neglecting Mu Mu’s feelings.

She had lost her mother; but had Mu Mu not lost the same?

His mother was gone, his third brother was gone, and his only elder brother had been unconscious this entire time—the burden of the Di family had come crashing down onto Mu Mu’s shoulders all at once.

One emperor alone was already difficult enough to contend with. Now there was also a Prince of unfathomable depth, and Ye Xue Ning who had been scheming for so many years.

For Mu Mu’s strength alone to bear all of this—how could that possibly be easy?