“Master Lei is too generous with his praise.” Feng Jiu’er glanced back at Xiao Yingtao. “Let’s go, there’s still work to do.”

“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao put away the notebook she’d been recording in, stood up, and came to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

“Doctor Long, if you don’t mind staying, I still have matters to discuss with you later.” Lei Shenbao’s voice rang out again.

“That can wait until Qiao recovers,” Feng Jiu’er said with a slight nod. “If it’s inconvenient for her to recuperate here, I’ll still have to take her back.”

“What inconvenience could there be? Just tell Yang Sheng to let me know, and I can provide whatever’s needed.” Lei Shenbao waved his hand.

“Go on, saving lives matters more.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded and left the main hall together with Xiao Yingtao.

“Lei.” Lei Shenbao sat back down in his seat, looking at Feng Jiang. “Do you think this Doctor Long can be trusted?”

“Her understanding of medicine exceeded my expectations. No wonder you’re willing to hire her as your physician.”

“I don’t know,” Feng Jiang said, shaking his head.

He had never been a man of many words, and after what happened last night, he had grown even more silent.

“I checked, but I couldn’t find out anything specific about her background. I only know she’s not from the Feng clan. For now, nothing seems suspicious.” Lei Shenbao’s expression looked pleased.

It could be said that ever since he’d first started talking with Feng Jiu’er, his mood had stayed good the whole time.

That line about “thirsting for talent like a parched man thirsts for water” hadn’t seemed to be empty words either.

“Master Lei.” Yang Sheng came before Lei Shenbao and knelt down.

“What is it?” Lei Shenbao looked at him, brows furrowing.

“Master Lei, do you have the antidote? You do, don’t you?” Yang Sheng asked in a low voice.

Lei Shenbao didn’t respond. Yang Sheng bent forward and kowtowed, his head striking the ground with a thud.

“Master Lei, since you have the antidote, why won’t you bring it out? Miss Qiao really was injured because of me. You—”

“Sheng’er.” The steward hurried in from outside, dropping to his knees as well.

“Sheng’er, since when is it your place to manage Master Lei’s affairs?”

“Master Lei.” Yang Sheng didn’t look at his father, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lei Shenbao. “Can you?”

“If Doctor Long still hasn’t managed to develop it within two hours, I’ll personally bring the antidote over myself.”

Just as Lei Shenbao shifted his gaze toward Feng Jiang, Feng Jiang had already looked away from him.

“Lei, you have my condolences! Beautiful women, I can send more your way…”

“No need.” Bao Lei tossed out the words flatly and stood up.

“I’m going to check on Qiao. Master Lei, please do as you wish.”

“Lei.” Lei Shenbao stood up.

Feng Jiang stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around.

“Do you also think what I’m doing lacks any human warmth?” Lei Shenbao said in a deep voice.

“What is Master Lei referring to?” Feng Jiang asked flatly.

“Are you also blaming me for not handing the antidote straight to Doctor Long?” Lei Shenbao’s voice grew even lower.

“No,” Feng Jiang said, still as cold and indifferent as ever, as though unwilling to say even one extra word.

Seeing the situation turning awkward, the steward immediately stood up.

“Master Lei, the master… he’s not in a good mood. He wants to go back, so let him go rest.”

“Three wives, and the young master too… oh! How pitiable!”

The steward assumed Feng Jiang was just using an excuse to leave, not that he genuinely meant to go see Qiao Mu.

Feng Jiang acted as though he didn’t care, but how could he possibly not care?

Hearing that Lei Shenbao had the antidote and still wouldn’t bring it out, he was seething inside.

“My not handing the antidote over directly is a kind of test for Doctor Long.” Lei Shenbao, rare for him, was willing to explain himself.

“If she didn’t have the ability, I wouldn’t consider using her either.”

“Of course, like I said, if Doctor Long still hasn’t developed the antidote after two hours, I’ll bring it to her myself.”

“Go back and rest well.” Lei Shenbao waved his hand.

“I’ll definitely give you an explanation for everything. Stay here these next few days and take good care of your health. In a few days, I’ll have a task for you.”

Feng Jiang nodded, and without leaving another word, turned and left.

Once matters inside Bao Manor were settled, dozens of guards were added outside Bao Manor to stand watch.

Feng Jiang gave orders that without his command, no one was permitted to enter the east wing.

Except at midday, when the steward and Yang Sheng brought servants in to deliver meals, at all other times there wasn’t a single servant in the east wing.

After learning that Feng Jiu’er was still working on the antidote and that he couldn’t help, Yang Sheng could only go out and stand guard.

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao left their midday meal untouched, busy the whole time.

If Feng Jiu’er wasn’t eating, Jian Yi certainly wouldn’t eat either.

Those outside assumed Feng Jiang was resting in his own quarters, but in truth he had stayed by Qiao Mu’s side the entire time.

The food the steward brought in sat there, cooling, untouched.

When Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, and Jian Yi entered, Feng Jiang was still in the very same position.

He sat in the chair by the bed, facing it, holding Qiao Mu’s hand, not moving at all.

It was only when the three of them entered and made some noise that the statue-still figure finally reacted.

“What’s the situation?” Feng Jiang stood up and asked.

“It’s done.”

Just as Feng Jiu’er nodded, Xiao Yingtao carried over a bowl of medicine and approached Feng Jiang.

“This is the antidote?” Feng Jiang looked at the bowl in Xiao Yingtao’s hands.

“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded. “Be careful with it! This medicine wasn’t easy to come by.”

Feng Jiang nodded and took the bowl.

He scooped up a mouthful, held it in his mouth, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to Qiao Mu’s, feeding her the medicine that way.

This was the third time today he’d fed her medicine like this.

Ever since Xiao Yingtao had taught him this method, Feng Jiang had been using it to feed Qiao Mu her medicine.

With two prior rounds of experience, he handled it now with practiced ease.

It wasn’t that Feng Jiu’er hadn’t suspected Lei Shenbao had the antidote — given his understanding of this particular poison, it wouldn’t be strange if he had it.

But unless it was a last resort, she wouldn’t beg Lei Shenbao for the antidote.

Lei Shenbao was a cunning man, and Feng Jiu’er didn’t dare gamble with Qiao Mu’s life.

Feng Jiang carefully fed Qiao Mu every last bit of medicine in the bowl, then wiped the corner of her mouth, turned, and handed the bowl back to Xiao Yingtao.

“Jiu’er.” He turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er. “Qiao Mu — when will she wake up?”

“I’m no immortal, I can’t foresee the future,” Feng Jiu’er said with a faint sigh, sitting down at the table nearby.

“Do you know why Qiao Mu saved Yang Sheng?” She raised her eyes to look at Feng Jiang.

Feng Jiang met her gaze and shook his head.

Feng Jiu’er took the tea Jian Yi handed her and continued, “Didn’t you notice — last night, the color of Yang Sheng’s clothes looked a lot like yours?”

“His build is also similar to yours, and he was wearing almost the same outfit as you.”

“Qiao Mu had a lot to drink last night. She must have mistaken him for you.”

“Otherwise, I can’t think of any reason she’d risk her life to save someone she didn’t even know.”

“Qiao Mu really is pitiable.” Xiao Yingtao looked at the unmoving figure on the bed and sighed silently.

“Day and night she pined for someone, and now that she’s finally found him, she’s troubled because she doesn’t know his true feelings.”

“She’s Qiao Mu — shouldn’t she always be carefree and easygoing, without a worry in the world? Why has she become like this? Jiu’er said…”

Xiao Yingtao’s voice caught in her throat, and she couldn’t bring herself to finish the rest.