“Qiao Mu.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Qiao Mu, her brow still creased and unable to relax.

Qiao Mu shot Feng Jiu’er a look, drew a deep breath, and said, “I only said a few words about your man — is that really so hard to accept?”

“Have you even thought about what Jian Yi has been through this whole time? You really have no conscience at all.”

Qiao Mu didn’t even know whether her act of speaking up for Jian Yi would bring disaster down on herself — the person she had just scolded was Di Wu Ya, not just anybody.

But Jian Yi had, after all, saved her once, so she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Having said her piece, Qiao Mu turned away and reached up to press a hand against her chest.

“Qiao Mu.” Feng Jiu’er released Di Wu Ya and looked up at him. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, I’m going to check on Qiao Mu — she’s injured. Please help with the rescue efforts.”

Just as Feng Jiu’er expected Di Wu Ya to be too angry to speak, he suddenly answered, “All right.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at him, let out a soft breath of relief, and hurried after Qiao Mu. “Qiao Mu, where are you going?”

Both Zhao Yusheng and Qiao Mu had been injured by the dragons, and Feng Jiu’er brought them both back to the cabin.

“Lie down, both of you.”

Zhao Yusheng looked at Feng Jiu’er and obediently lay down on the bed beside him.

Qiao Mu paid no attention, instead sitting down by the table and pouring herself a cup of water.

“Zhao Yusheng’s injuries are more severe — check on him first.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced back, then turned and took hold of Zhao Yusheng’s hand, her slender fingers pressing against his pulse.

After a moment, she released his hand and said quietly, “Take off your clothes.”

Zhao Yusheng didn’t refuse. He sat up, undid his robe with a touch of awkwardness, and lay back down.

Feng Jiu’er took out a needle case from within her robes and set it aside.

“The two of you have plenty of nerve, charging in even knowing you couldn’t break through.”

“Jiu’er, don’t punish Qiao Mu — this was my idea,” Zhao Yusheng said.

Feng Jiu’er pinched a silver needle between her fingers and glared at Zhao Yusheng.

“So you’re saying my orders mean nothing?”

“No, Jiu’er.” Zhao Yusheng, worried that Feng Jiu’er was angry, nearly tried to sit up.

Feng Jiu’er pressed down on his arm. “Don’t move! Your internal injuries aren’t light — I’m going to apply acupuncture and massage now.”

“If we hadn’t known you were inside, who would have wanted to risk it?” Qiao Mu’s gaze, too, remained fixed on Feng Jiu’er.

There was no denying it — seeing her again brought genuine joy to her heart.

Qiao Mu’s words made Feng Jiu’er’s hand pause for a moment as she prepared to insert the needle.

She pressed her lips together before finally inserting the first silver needle into Zhao Yusheng.

“Jiu’er, don’t be upset! Everything’s fine now, isn’t it?” Zhao Yusheng said, trying to comfort her.

“When I came in just now, I heard that most of the brothers were unharmed. I believe everyone who fell into the water will be brought back safely.”

“It was my own overconfidence — otherwise no one else would have gotten hurt. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Forget it.” Feng Jiu’er let out a soft sigh and picked up a second needle. “I understand how much you all care.”

“But from now on, an order is an order, and no one should disobey it.”

“I won’t pursue the matter any further today, but I hope there won’t be a next time.”

The brothers had bled and sweated for her sake, and Feng Jiu’er already felt deeply guilty about it.

If so many people lost their lives over her personal affairs, she would never be able to live with herself.

“All right, Jiu’er, I understand.” Zhao Yusheng nodded, his face full of contentment.

Feng Jiu’er knew Qiao Mu’s temperament well enough.

Qiao Mu said nothing more, and for the moment there was nothing Feng Jiu’er could do about it, so she focused wholeheartedly on treating Zhao Yusheng.

The brothers from the rear ships arrived as scheduled, more than twenty vessels surrounding their ship in a tight formation.

The moment the ships docked, Xiao Yingtao boarded a small boat along with some brothers and climbed onto the large central ship.

When Xiao Yingtao ran into the cabin, Feng Jiu’er was still giving Zhao Yusheng his massage.

She looked at the figure by the bedside and walked in, her face full of delight.

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao came up beside Feng Jiu’er and called out softly.

Feng Jiu’er was well aware someone had entered, but since the newcomer carried no hostility, she paid it no mind.

When she turned around, she finally noticed that Qiao Mu had already lain down on the bed across the room, her eyes closed.

Xiao Yingtao tugged at Feng Jiu’er’s sleeve and turned with her to look at Qiao Mu.

“Jiu’er, what happened to Qiao Mu? Is she hurt too?”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and stood up. “She and Zhao Yusheng are both injured. What’s the situation outside?”

“Everyone’s gathered, I don’t know the details either. I heard you’d arrived, so I came to find you,” Xiao Yingtao said softly, standing up.

“Jiu’er, go check on Qiao Mu first.”

“She’s all right.” Feng Jiu’er glanced over. “Go fetch some water, fresh water, not too much.”

“Got it.” Xiao Yingtao nodded and turned to leave.

Feng Jiu’er walked a few steps closer to Qiao Mu, who suddenly opened her eyes.

She glanced sideways, then sat up on the bed.

“Lie back down, let me check on you,” Feng Jiu’er said with a soft sigh.

Feng Jiu’er was certain that Qiao Mu had actually been asleep just now. Lately, her sleep had grown even lighter than before — hadn’t it?

Qiao Mu acted as though she hadn’t heard Feng Jiu’er at all, hands resting on her legs, looking at no one.

Zhao Yusheng stood up and quickly straightened his robes.

“Jiu’er, I’ll head out now.”

“Be careful, and don’t get worked up for the next couple of days,” Feng Jiu’er reminded him gently.

“All right.” Zhao Yusheng nodded, glanced once more at Feng Jiu’er, then turned and left.

Just as he was leaving, Xiao Yingtao happened to come back in.

By the time Zhao Yusheng had gone, Xiao Yingtao closed the door behind her and walked over.

Feng Jiu’er pulled over a chair and sat down in front of Qiao Mu. “Miss Qiao, what’s wrong?”

Qiao Mu still said nothing, her head lowered.

Xiao Yingtao set down the small basin and came to sit beside the two of them.

She studied Qiao Mu and asked softly, “Qiao Mu, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” Qiao Mu took a deep breath and lay back down again, turning her back to the two of them. “Both of you go on out, I want to rest a while.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Qiao Mu’s back, her crescent brows knitting together slightly, and turned to look at Xiao Yingtao.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know either.” Xiao Yingtao shook her head, meeting Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, and sat down behind Qiao Mu.

“Qiao Mu, didn’t you have so much to say to Jiu’er? Now that she’s here, why aren’t you happy?”

“I’m not unhappy!” Qiao Mu said firmly.

“Then what are you trying to do?” Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together and tugged at Qiao Mu’s sleeve.

“Whatever you want to say, just say it. Don’t stay silent — we’re all worried about you.”

The cabin fell quiet for a moment, then Qiao Mu turned over, lying flat on her back, eyes open, looking at the two of them beside her.

“I want to rest. Once I’ve rested enough, we’ll talk, all right?”

Xiao Yingtao looked at her, brows furrowing. “Are you upset that Jiu’er left us behind, is that it?”

“Qiao Mu, since when did you get so petty? Just like Jian Yi.”