“Jiu’er, what did you say?” Feng Jiang looked at Xiao Yingtao, then at Feng Jiu’er. “Jiu’er, what do you mean? What’s wrong with Qiao Mu?”

“Jiu’er said Qiao Mu might lose her memory.” Xiao Yingtao sniffled, went over and sat on the edge of the bed, and picked up Qiao Mu’s hand.

“Qiao Mu, whatever happens, don’t you forget me and Jiu’er. The three of us sisters agreed — we share blessings and hardships together.”

“Qiao Mu, don’t you forget us! We still need you.”

“Jiu’er, is what Xiao Yingtao said true?” Feng Jiang’s brow furrowed tightly, his expression deeply anxious.

Feng Jiu’er took a sip of tea and set down her cup.

“This poison affects the nervous system. The antidote’s been administered now, but like I said, the details we won’t know until she wakes up.”

Feng Jiang didn’t know what “nervous system” meant, but since Jiu’er had said it, he didn’t want to disbelieve her, nor did he want to doubt her.

“Jian Yi, I’m hungry. Is there anything good to eat?” Feng Jiu’er drained the tea in her cup and stood up.

“Lunch — the steward already prepared it,” Jian Yi said softly.

“Let’s go eat first. No one’s made of iron.”

“Xiao Yingtao.” Feng Jiu’er glanced back. “Let’s go eat first.”

“Mister Bao, you should go too.” She looked at Feng Jiang, who had turned around, and sighed faintly.

“She won’t wake up for a while yet. You exhausted so much true energy last night, and you haven’t eaten or drunk anything for most of the day. If your body breaks down, who’ll take care of her?”

“If you don’t actually like her, I can take her back to Dragon Shadow with me.”

“Feelings can’t be forced. If you truly don’t like her, then her losing her memory isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“Qiao Mu ought to live freely and without a care. She couldn’t make sense of things, and last night I didn’t consider her feelings at all — that’s partly on me too.”

“Let’s go.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand again and turned to leave.

Feng Jiang hadn’t even had the chance to speak to Qiao Mu yet. He turned and watched Feng Jiu’er walking away.

“I want to take care of her — for the rest of my life. Is that all right?”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, then turned back to meet Feng Jiang’s gaze.

“Are you sure you can outlive Qiao Mu? If you marry her and turn her into a widow, wouldn’t that be even more miserable than her being alone her whole life?”

“I won’t,” Feng Jiang said, shaking his head, his expression grave.

“If she’s willing, I’ll put my own life above everything else, every moment, and do everything I can to care for her for the rest of my days.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, turned, and waved her hand. “I believe you. Go eat first — don’t go forgetting your words the moment they leave your mouth.”

Feng Jiang watched Feng Jiu’er walk away, his brow lightly knitted, unable to respond.

Xiao Yingtao came up in front of him and waved a hand.

“Hey, what Jiu’er means is — if you really are putting her life first, you need to eat well, drink well, and sleep well, don’t you think?”

“Since Jiu’er said Qiao Mu won’t wake up for a while, then she definitely won’t wake that fast.”

“Let’s go, time to eat. I’m starving!”

Xiao Yingtao tossed out those words and walked off with a light, brisk step.

Compared to how she’d been crying just moments ago, she didn’t seem like the same person at all.

It wasn’t until the door to the room had been shut that Feng Jiang finally came back to himself, turned, and sat back down by the bed.

He picked up Qiao Mu’s hand again and brought it to his lips.

“I’m sorry!” A hoarse voice rang out in the room.

“For the rest of this life, let me take care of you, will you? Qiao Mu, will you give me a chance?”

Feng Jiang’s words went unanswered.

He gazed at her for a long while, then set her hand back down gently, stood up, and tucked the blanket in around her.

Just as Feng Jiang turned away, the eyelids of the figure on the bed fluttered slightly.

“Jiu’er, will Qiao Mu really lose her memory?” Xiao Yingtao asked, sitting down at the table outside the chamber.

“Probably not,” Feng Jiu’er said, taking the soup Jian Yi had ladled for her. “There’s still enough time.”

“That’s good to hear.” Xiao Yingtao nodded and picked up a bowl of rice. “Then do you two not need to go back?”

“Depends on how things go.” Feng Jiu’er picked up her spoon and drank her soup.

Going to the Leiteng Inn had mainly been to get acquainted with Lei Shenbao, and now that they’d accomplished that, whether they went back or not made little difference.

These past few days at the Leiteng Inn hadn’t been entirely without gains — she’d witnessed Lei Shenbao’s twisted nature firsthand, and she’d also gained a third imperial elder brother.

Not bad at all!

By the time Feng Jiang came out, the three of them in the chamber were all eating, very quietly.

He sat down at the empty seat, not idling for even a moment — drinking soup, eating rice, picking up dishes with his chopsticks.

Before long, Feng Jiang set down the bowl that had gone empty in his hands.

He stood up and said softly, “Eat slowly, the three of you. I’ll go in and watch over her.”

“With us here, what could happen to her?” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at the one who had stood up. “You can’t hide away in there all day.”

“Lei Shenbao did say he’d have a task for you in a couple of days. Sooner or later you’ll have to take it on — might as well act early.”

“And besides, those three women — whatever the case, they died because of you. You should go show them some concern.”

“I’m worried about Qiao,” Feng Jiang said, not hiding it.

“I’m here.” Feng Jiu’er looked at him, eyes blinking.

Feng Jiang collected himself and nodded. “Fine, I’ll go take a look at the situation.”

Feng Jiang pushed open the chamber door, crossed the courtyard, and left the east wing.

Right then, the sun was blazing overhead, and Yang Sheng was still standing guard outside.

“My lord.” Hearing footsteps, Yang Sheng turned and cupped his hands toward Feng Jiang in salute.

“Has everything been taken care of?” Feng Jiang asked in a deep voice.

Yang Sheng paused, then nodded in response. “Everything’s been handled!”

“Master Lei was worried that seeing the scene would stir up painful memories for you, my lord, so he ordered my father to lay the three wives to rest early.”

Feng Jiang had also noticed — that morning there had still been white cloth banners and white lanterns everywhere, and now not a trace of them could be found.

Yang Sheng knew his own master surely wasn’t happy about it. The dead women were, after all, his wives, and the master hadn’t even had time to bid them farewell before they were taken away.

But who would dare disobey Master Lei’s orders?

Just as Yang Sheng was about to offer some words of comfort, the steward came hurrying over from the distance.

“My lord, are you in good health?”

“What is it?” Feng Jiang looked at him and asked in a deep voice.

The steward stopped and cupped his hands. “My lord, I’ve just received word — Master Lei has captured Lang Yu.”

“You know how high Lang Yu’s standing is in Yongshan City, my lord. I’m worried Master Lei might…” The steward shook his head.

“My lord, do you want to go over and take a look? I don’t know the details myself.”

“My lord.” A guard came rushing over.

“My lord, Steward Yang — word has come from Master Lei, asking that you and Doctor Long go over there.”

“Did they say what for?” Feng Jiang asked in a deep voice.

“No,” the guard said, shaking his head.

“It’s probably about the Lang Yu matter,” the steward said, turning to Feng Jiang. “Master Lei said he’d give you an explanation.”

“If he finds evidence proving Lang Yu was the mastermind behind this whole affair, Lang Yu probably won’t escape death either.”

“But my lord, given Lang Yu’s standing… I’m worried that if Lang Yu dies, his people will come looking for trouble…”

“Father.” Yang Sheng spoke up. “If it really is Lang Yu, then he deserved to die!”