“I really am curious — just who exactly are you?” Chen Hong said, unhurried.

She raised her hand and gave a single gesture, and the eight black-clad women behind her stopped their casting.

Feng Jiu’er had no patience to spare for this wicked woman before her. She sheathed her blade and ran toward Jian Yi.

Guards kept pouring in from all sides, and Yu Jingfeng wasn’t entirely without fear.

Miss Jiu’er was still here — he had to protect her, and he was determined to bring her back without a single hair out of place.

Before Yu Jingfeng could even act, Chen Hong slipped past him and left.

She truly left, and took everyone present along with her.

Once the group had moved off, one of Chen Hong’s subordinates asked in a low voice, “My lady, are we really letting them go?”

Chen Hong’s lips curved slightly as she replied, “He’s mine now anyway — it makes no difference if they take him.”

More importantly, she knew full well she was no match for Long Jiu’er.

With the enemy army closing in, there was still much for her people to do — no need to stay and be sacrificed at Long Jiu’er’s hands.

Long Jiu’er had to die. If she didn’t, Chen Hong had no confidence she could ever get rid of Tang Xiaohua.

By now, Chen Hong’s desire to eliminate Tang Xiaohua was no longer merely about the position of Lady Yue.

It was a grudge between her and Tang Xiaohua — unless Tang Xiaohua died, the feud between them would never be resolved in this lifetime.

And to bring about Long Jiu’er’s death, having this heaven-sent beauty of a man as her pawn would be more than enough.

“Jian Yi, what’s wrong? Jian Yi, can you hear me?” Feng Jiu’er used her short blade to cut through the chains binding him.

Yu Jingfeng had no idea of Chen Hong’s plan, but right now the most important thing was still to save him.

Once Chen Hong had left, he too strode quickly toward Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi.

Feng Yinan, hurrying over from the grove, also appeared beneath the pavilion.

With the chains cut away from Jian Yi’s body, Yu Jingfeng stepped forward to support him.

“Jiu’er, Jian Yi has truly passed out,” Yu Jingfeng said.

Of course Feng Jiu’er already knew.

Seeing Jian Yi in such a state, her eyes reddened with the ache of it.

Chen Hong — this debt, Feng Jiu’er would remember it!

Even without knowing what Chen Hong was plotting, Feng Jiu’er had no intention of staying behind, nor of seeking revenge right now.

“Take him away!” Feng Jiu’er said, forcing back the tears welling in her eyes.

“Jiu’er, is Jian Yi alright?” Feng Yinan came over. “Let me.”

He took hold of Jian Yi’s other arm, taking over Feng Jiu’er’s position.

Feng Jiu’er glanced around once, then let her gaze settle on Jian Yi.

She brushed his dark hair aside and touched his face.

Finally, she said, “Let’s talk once we’re away from here.”

Jian Yi, don’t be afraid! I won’t let anything happen to you.

“Alright.”

“Alright.”

Yu Jingfeng and Feng Yinan nodded at the same time.

The two of them supported Jian Yi between them and followed Feng Jiu’er’s lead as they left.

They didn’t go far before stopping at a small wooded hillside.

Yu Jingfeng and Feng Yinan laid Jian Yi down, and Feng Jiu’er immediately crouched before him.

“Yinan, find some way to get a carriage here.”

“Alright.” Feng Yinan stood up. “Be careful, both of you!”

“Go on.” Yu Jingfeng waved him off.

When Yu Jingfeng turned back, he saw Feng Jiu’er beginning to undress, and immediately grabbed at her sleeve.

He nearly tore off her cloak, which hadn’t even come loose yet.

“My apologies! Miss Jiu’er.” Yu Jingfeng hastily let go.

“I’ll handle it. There’s no need for your clothes — I’ll take care of it.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yu Jingfeng had already taken off his own cloak.

He crouched down and laid the cloak over the withered grass.

Feng Jiu’er carefully helped Jian Yi lie flat.

“Yu Jingfeng —” The words had barely left Feng Jiu’er’s mouth when he had already taken off another layer of clothing.

“Drape this over him,” Yu Jingfeng said.

He was worried Feng Jiu’er might try to take off her own clothes again — with him there, how could he possibly let Miss Jiu’er do such a thing?

No matter, he still had another layer underneath.

Feng Jiu’er took the garment and draped it over Jian Yi, but it still wasn’t enough — in the end she took off her own cloak as well and laid it over him too.

“Yu Jingfeng, do you remember that herb Xiao Yingtao showed you before?”

“I remember.” Yu Jingfeng nodded. “Miss Jiu’er, do we need it now?”

“I’m not sure if we need it, but the herb is fairly common — go see if there’s any nearby.”

As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er was already checking Jian Yi’s pulse.

“Alright, I’ll go look.” Yu Jingfeng nodded, turned, and began searching around.

As long as he didn’t stray too far, he could still search nearby — saving Jian Yi mattered most.

Earlier, when Yu Jingfeng had followed behind Feng Jiu’er toward the water stronghold, he too had seen that mass of black smoke enter Jian Yi’s body.

He didn’t understand dark arts, nor did he recognize sorcery — right now he had no idea what he could even do to help.

Feng Jiu’er checked Jian Yi’s pulse, set his hand down, and lifted his eyelids to check.

“Jiu’er, I found some.” Before long, Yu Jingfeng came back with a handful of herbs.

“Jiu’er, take a look — is this the right kind?”

Feng Jiu’er turned to look and nodded. “Yes, that’s the one.”

“Pick the tenderest leaves, find something to grind them up with, and feed it to Jian Yi.”

“Alright.” Yu Jingfeng, never having known he had such a talent for finding medicinal herbs, felt a bit pleased with himself.

Then again, Lord Yu — that doesn’t really have much to do with talent, does it?

This herb had good medicinal properties and grew easily — finding it could only really be called good luck.

Feng Jiu’er said nothing more, picked up a set of silver needles, and began applying them to Jian Yi.

Whatever else, the priority was to wake Jian Yi up first, even though Feng Jiu’er knew full well that whatever had happened to him was no simple matter.

There had been no shortage of people at the manor — at least a hundred guards had closed in at the time — yet Chen Hong had let them leave without so much as a fight.

A woman so thoroughly steeped in darkness, body and soul — how could she possibly let them go out of kindness?

“Jian Yi.”

Feng Jiu’er tried several acupoints, but Jian Yi showed no response at all, and her eyes reddened without her even realizing it.

Only now did she realize just how lacking her medical skill truly was.

“Jian Yi, it’s me, Jiu’er. How are you feeling?”

“Jian Yi.”

“We agreed that one day I’d entrust our daughter to you — but seeing you like this now, how could I possibly feel at ease leaving her in your care?”

Feng Jiu’er rubbed at the dark energy lingering between Jian Yi’s brows, then pressed the silver needle in her hand into that very spot.

As Yu Jingfeng approached, he overheard what Feng Jiu’er had said.

He never would have guessed that Miss Jiu’er and Jian Yi had made such a promise — but what if Miss Jiu’er only ever bore sons?

Picturing his own lord holding a small child with that foolish, doting look, Yu Jingfeng’s mood lifted a little more.

In the blink of an eye, he caught himself, and carrying the herbal juice, stepped forward and crouched down beside Feng Jiu’er.

Jian Yi, my apologies!

Jian Yi’s condition was clearly dire, and yet he himself had just been off thinking such nonsense — that was too much!

Still, the image of His Highness the Prince cradling a baby daughter was something he simply couldn’t picture.

Come to think of it, if the Prince and Miss Jiu’er really did have a daughter one day, would the Prince ever actually allow his own daughter to marry Jian Yi?

Handsome as Jian Yi was, by that time wouldn’t he be old already?

An old ox grazing on tender grass — the Prince would never allow it.

—