“My lord, that’s everything.” The last maidservant said softly as she left.

Feng Jiang waved a hand. “You may go. No need to attend any further.”

“Yes, my lord.” The maidservant nodded, turned, and left, closing the door behind her for those inside.

“Come on, soak for a while—you’ll feel better.” Xiao Yingtao finished tidying the clothes and once again took hold of Qiaomu’s arm.

Qiaomu glanced at Feng Jiang.

Feng Jiang met her gaze and was about to step forward when he heard Xiao Yingtao’s voice.

“Master Bao, aren’t you leaving?” Xiao Yingtao asked.

“Qiao is a woman. If you stay, it’s a bit inappropriate, to say the least.”

There was nothing wrong with what Xiao Yingtao said, but to Feng Jiang’s ears, it seemed to confirm that Qiaomu truly had lost her memory.

“Xiao Yingtao.” Feng Jiang turned his gaze to her. “You’ll be all right here?”

Xiao Yingtao frowned and led Qiaomu toward the screen at the back.

“Why don’t you go rest? She’s doing fine—after she soaks for a bit, she’ll need to rest too.”

“Master Bao, you haven’t slept in two days now. Go on back—I’ll stay here, that’s enough.”

Xiao Yingtao paid no more attention to Feng Jiang and led Qiaomu behind the screen.

Feng Jiang stood there, having just raised his eyes to glance inside, but the moment he did, he turned and put his back to everything behind him.

“Then… I’ll trouble you.”

From beyond the screen came the sound of Feng Jiang’s footsteps leaving, and finally, the closing of the door.

Xiao Yingtao hung up the clothes Qiaomu had changed out of, pulled over a stool, and sat down beside the bathtub.

“That man’s worried sick.”

“Right? And whose fault is that but yours?” Qiaomu leaned against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.

“You should head back too. I’m fine now—you’ve probably got plenty to do, especially if we set off again tomorrow.”

Xiao Yingtao looked at Qiaomu like this, frowned, then blinked.

“Do you really want me to go?” If she left, wouldn’t that give the person outside a chance?

“Mm.” Qiaomu nodded. “Don’t disturb my rest.”

Soaking in the herbal bath, Qiaomu felt her whole body and mind relax.

Men, women, love—what a mess it all was!

Territory, gold, silver notes—now those held far more appeal.

Once she had mountains of gold and silver, she could pick out a few handsome men besides—wouldn’t that be nice!

One like the Ninth Prince, one like Yanu, one like that fellow outside…

Qiaomu’s lips curved up slightly, and only then did she realize she didn’t actually like that man as much as she’d thought—after all, she’d liked plenty of people before.

Thinking about it this way, her mood improved even more.

Not liking him too much was fine too—saved her the trouble of being all tangled up in feelings. That sort of thing wasn’t good!

Xiao Yingtao had been unable to make sense of Qiaomu since she’d just woken up, but now, seeing the crease between her brows smooth out, her own mood lifted too, and she felt somewhat reassured.

“You really don’t need me—I’m off.” She looked at Qiaomu and raised an eyebrow.

“Go on, get out of here and stop disturbing my peaceful dreams!” Qiaomu said with a touch of disdain.

“Oh.” Xiao Yingtao stood up. “You really think I have nothing better to do?”

“Jiu’er wants me to finish preparing all the medicinal herbs for your recovery before she sets off—only then will she be at ease!”

Xiao Yingtao stood and stretched.

“Now that you’re awake, she’ll probably leave soon, and I won’t even have time to rest tonight.”

Xiao Yingtao shook her head helplessly, then glanced down at Qiaomu.

“I’m really leaving now. You can only soak for about two hours—remember not to fall asleep in the tub, or you’ll drown!”

“So noisy!” Qiaomu waved her off again.

“Fine, I’m going!” Xiao Yingtao gave a cold huff and turned to leave.

Qiaomu wanted her gone, but Feng Jiang probably wanted her gone even more than Qiaomu did.

Xiao Yingtao couldn’t say she wasn’t a little put out—her time was so precious, and yet everyone seemed to dare to look down on it.

Still, Xiao Yingtao was quite happy to leave, all things considered.

Partly because she was busy, but also because someone was surely waiting outside.

Feng Jiang, sitting outside, heard the door open and stood up to meet her.

“How is it?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself.” Xiao Yingtao didn’t know what was going through Qiaomu’s mind, so she didn’t dare say anything careless.

Hearing this, Feng Jiang’s brow tightened.

“It’s all my fault! If I hadn’t made her worry, she wouldn’t have drunk so much wine, and if she hadn’t drunk, then she wouldn’t have—”

“What’s the use of saying that now?” Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together. “Besides, she’s awake now and will get better soon.”

“I still have things to attend to. I’ll leave Qiao in your hands.”

Xiao Yingtao didn’t feel right staying—she always had the sense she was deceiving someone.

Deceiving people wasn’t a good thing! And besides, the Third Prince really was a good man.

With that, Xiao Yingtao turned and put her back to Feng Jiang.

“Jiu’er says the medicinal bath only needs about two hours. Go check on her after a while—she’s still quite weak right now.”

“Understood.” Feng Jiang nodded, looking at the closed door.

“Don’t worry! As long as your feelings for her are sincere, she’s sure to recover.”

With those parting words, Xiao Yingtao left.

After Xiao Yingtao left, Qiaomu was alone in the room, and Feng Jiang couldn’t relax at all.

Exactly two hours later, he knocked on the door.

“Qiao, I’m coming in,” Feng Jiang said, then knocked again.

Qiaomu had just gotten out of the bath and dressed.

Hearing the knock, she lay down on the bed, her back to the door, and closed her eyes.

This man—if he was truly sincere, she’d just marry him and be done with it!

But the condition was, he had to truly love her, not just be kind to her out of guilt.

Feng Jiang knocked three times before carefully pushing the door open.

He stepped inside, saw the figure lying on the bed, and let out a quiet breath of relief.

Feng Jiang didn’t leave. He moved quietly, came to the bedside, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Qiaomu steadied her breathing, keeping it even, so that she looked truly asleep.

Feng Jiang didn’t intend to disturb her either, and sat there without moving.

Qiaomu could sense his presence, but didn’t understand what point there was in him staying.

Time slipped by little by little, and she too began to grow drowsy, until at last she truly fell asleep.

When Qiaomu woke again, she discovered, to her astonishment, that she was holding someone in her arms.

It wasn’t her own body heat—Qiaomu could tell that much.

She lowered her head to look at the head cradled in her embrace, her eyes going wide, nearly popping out of her skull.

Fortunately, Qiaomu had weathered no small amount of danger and bloodshed in her life, or she might have kicked the person in her arms straight across the room without a second thought.

Looking at the head in her embrace, the memories of the previous night slowly began to surface.

She had fallen asleep, and somehow—she wasn’t sure how—found a handsome man sitting beside her.

Then, somehow, she’d sat up and pulled him into her embrace.

“Come! Come home with me, you’re so handsome! Not bad at all! You’re the one—come home with me!”

Young Lady Qiao had pinned Feng Jiang down, holding his head and pressing it against her chest.

“From now on, you belong to me, Qiao Mu! Don’t even think about escaping my grasp!”

“I don’t care whether you’re willing or not—you’re the man I, Qiao Mu, have chosen. Think you can run? Not a chance!”

“Hahaha…”