“Good.”

Di Wu Ya took the medicinal ointment and tucked it into his sleeve.

“Jiu’er, go back and rest early. Don’t stay here, it isn’t safe.”

Di Wu Ya gave Feng Jiu’er a faint smile, then turned and walked out.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at the man leaving, the corner of her mouth curling up again without her noticing.

These two brothers — even the things they said were exactly the same.

Just now, Ninth Imperial Uncle’s line “I don’t understand” — surely he hadn’t learned that from Mu Mu?

Feng Jiu’er hadn’t forgotten that about a quarter of an hour earlier, she had told Mu Mu to take the ointment and apply it himself when he got back.

Mu Mu had responded the exact same way.

Fortunately, one of them had finally caught on, which saved her quite a bit of trouble.

“I don’t understand.”

Just as Feng Jiu’er turned back, Di Wu Ya said it again.

Feng Jiu’er shot the man on the bed a look, sat down, and began tending to his wound.

“You don’t understand, and you can’t teach yourself? I’m not your shadow, I can’t stay by your side forever.”

“Then become my shadow. Done.”

Di Wu Ya’s lips curved up slightly.

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze happened to land on the man’s bewitching smile, and for a moment she couldn’t bear to look away.

How could he be so good-looking?

The more she looked, the better-looking he became — flawless from every angle, no matter how she looked she never tired of it.

Thinking again of what the man had just said, she felt she loved him even more.

If she could, she’d love nothing more than to bring this handsome man home and look after him carefully.

Too bad — not only was he handsome, he was also the Crown Prince.

In this world, was there even a woman who could afford to keep His Highness?

So handsome, such a feast for the eyes, she almost wanted to… gobble him up in one bite.

The handsome face in her sight gradually grew larger, and Feng Jiu’er suddenly snapped back to her senses, sitting up abruptly.

“Cough… I was just examining you, don’t get the wrong idea!”

Di Wu Ya suddenly raised his large hand and covered his lips.

“Girl, my mouth is hurt.”

Feng Jiu’er stared at the back of the hand covering his lips, frowned slightly, took hold of his wrist, and pulled his hand away.

Di Wu Ya pressed his lips together, watching her, looking as if something were genuinely wrong.

“It was fine, how did it get hurt?”

Feng Jiu’er stared at his lips and asked in a low voice.

“I got nervous just now and accidentally bit through the skin.”

Di Wu Ya replied with a perfectly straight face.

Feng Jiu’er glared at the man in front of her, having the urge to hit him.

Nervous? Nervous about what?

Was he hinting at the fact that she’d almost kissed him just now?

Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow slightly, decided not to dwell on it, and focused on treating his wound.

Di Wu Ya watched the girl before his eyes, his expression full of delight.

Feng Jiu’er, however, because of her own slip just now, didn’t dare look at him, let alone think about it.

With practiced movements, she quickly finished tending to the man’s wound.

Feng Jiu’er casually tugged his clothing straight, stood up, and turned to put away the medicine box.

Di Wu Ya stood behind her and, aside from watching her, made no further moves.

Feng Jiu’er packed up the medicine box, found a bottle of ointment inside it, and set it on the table.

“Apply this ointment twice a day, after bathing — make sure you do.”

With that, she picked up the medicine box and started to leave.

But just as Feng Jiu’er took her first step, the hand holding the medicine box was caught by someone.

Di Wu Ya gripped Feng Jiu’er’s slender arm with one hand, and with the other took the medicine box from her grasp.

He set the box back on the table, pulled Feng Jiu’er around to face him.

“Girl, don’t leave tonight.”

“No!”

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze and gave him the same answer she’d given every day lately.

Ever since the day she’d woken up in his arms, Feng Jiu’er had stopped lingering here.

In fact, many times she chose to come during the daytime to treat him.

Today, if Yu Jingfeng hadn’t said the Crown Prince would only be free in the evening, she wouldn’t have come this late at all.

But Di Wu Ya ignored her objection, pulled her along, and brought her to the large bed not far away.

“I don’t want to stay.”

As she was pulled close to the edge of the bed, Feng Jiu’er pushed at Di Wu Ya’s arm.

But his arm was like iron — she simply couldn’t push it away.

And so, Di Wu Ya wrapped his arms around Feng Jiu’er and lay down on the bed with her, just as he had the day he first woke up, holding her captive within his embrace.

Di Wu Ya lowered his eyes to look at the small head in his arms, and asked softly, “Only in my arms can you sleep peacefully — why won’t you stay?”

Unable to break free, Feng Jiu’er turned over in his arms, her back to him.

“Can’t you at least consider my reputation? You always just do as you please!”

“This king wants everyone to know clearly that you are my, Di Wu Ya’s, woman — no other man stands a chance!”

Di Wu Ya looked at the back of Feng Jiu’er’s head and raised an eyebrow.

Not wanting to argue with him, Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath and said flatly, “I’ll stay just a little while, and leave once you’re sound asleep. Is that all right?”

“Tonight, you may not leave!”

Di Wu Ya tightened his hold on her, lowering his chin to rest atop her head.

He breathed in the scent that soothed his body and mind, and closed his eyes.

The tent fell quiet for a while, then Feng Jiu’er asked in a low voice, “What’s your plan for this battle?”

“Zhan Lingtian has been on the throne for some time now. If we don’t act soon, he’s bound to make a move of his own.”

“It’s a pity that your condition…”

“It’s fine!”

Di Wu Ya cut her off.

“With you taking care of me, I’ve long since recovered.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, not knowing what to say.

His condition truly had improved, but the enemy was strong too — how could she not worry?

And the longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for their side.

Zhan Lingtian had only just taken the throne and needed time to unify all the troops under his command.

After this last battle, their own brothers also needed time to recover.

But all things considered, the longer this went on, the more disadvantaged they would be.

“Your Highness, I have a proposal.”

Feng Jiu’er composed herself and spoke.

“What did you just call this king?”

Di Wu Ya frowned and asked.

Feng Jiu’er pursed her lips, sighed lightly, then said in a lowered voice, “Ninth Imperial Uncle.”

“Good girl.”

Di Wu Ya said with a smile, freeing one hand to gently stroke Feng Jiu’er’s dark hair.

“I have a proposal — do you want to hear it or not?”

Feng Jiu’er, dropping the gentleness from before, asked in a low voice.

“Speak. I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

Di Wu Ya rubbed her head, then tightened both arms again, burying her firmly against his chest.

The man’s grip was a bit too strong, and Feng Jiu’er frowned without meaning to.

“Then let go of me first!”

“This…”

Di Wu Ya coughed lightly.

“I can’t hear you.”

Feng Jiu’er rolled her eyes, too tired to argue with him over it.

“These past two days, I’ve been thinking — is there any way we could avoid this battle altogether?”

“Bei Mu is the Di family’s realm. All the common people, all the soldiers, are subjects of your Di family. With all this constant killing and fighting, when will it ever end?”

“As we followed your army north, all we saw was desolation everywhere.”

“Inside the imperial city, there are still tens upon tens of thousands of common people. Once the war breaks out, they’ll suffer terribly.”

Thinking of this, Feng Jiu’er’s heart grew heavy.