A brother brought over a large bowl of water.

“Young master, water, drink up.”

“Mm, you need to drink plenty of water.” Feng Jiu’er took out silver needles and set them down.

“Let Liuyang drink first.” Zhao Yusheng looked at Duan Liuyang beside him, whose face had suddenly turned pale, his brows knitting tightly.

“I’m fine.” Duan Liuyang’s body swayed, not looking fine at all.

“Let Brother Zhao drink first.”

“You drink first!” Zhao Yusheng said angrily.

The brother handed the water to Duan Liuyang; he had wanted to suck out the poison for the young master earlier, but hadn’t expected Miss Duan to have already done it for him.

“Miss Duan, you should drink first.” Your condition seems more serious than the young master’s.

He didn’t say the rest out loud — besides, with Miss Jiu’er now treating the young master, he felt at ease.

Xiao Yingtao took the water and held it to Duan Liuyang’s lips.

“Here, drink it all.”

“I’ll go pour more.” The brother dropped that line and ran off.

Duan Liuyang glanced at Zhao Yusheng, reached out to take the water, and gulped it down.

She truly hadn’t meant to make anyone worry — she only wanted to help him, didn’t want anything to happen to him.

Many brothers had heard the news and rushed over.

“Xiao Yingtao, is Zhao Yusheng okay?” Xing Zizhou asked.

“He’s fine.” Zhao Yusheng waved his hand. “Go do your work, Jiu’er’s here.”

He truly felt fine, and even more so, he couldn’t let himself delay everyone’s work.

“You all go back,” Xiao Yingtao said, looking up at Xing Zizhou. “Jiu’er’s here.”

“Alright.” Xing Zizhou nodded and led everyone away.

Yang Sheng didn’t say anything either; seeing Zhao Yusheng’s complexion looked normal, he too led the brothers back to their work area.

“Get to work, don’t stand around.” Zhao Yusheng looked at his brothers and waved his hand.

The brothers all nodded and turned to keep digging.

The young master was right — Miss Jiu’er was here.

Those who should be working got back to it.

Qiao Mu noticed Duan Liuyang’s complexion wasn’t right and crouched down.

“Liuyang, you—”

Before Qiao Mu could finish speaking, Duan Liuyang bent over and vomited violently onto the ground, even throwing away the bowl in her hand.

“Liuyang.” Zhao Yusheng frowned and tried to stand up.

“It’s good that she’s vomiting — once it’s out, she’ll be fine.” Feng Jiu’er glanced over.

“After she’s done vomiting, give her two more pills.”

“Alright.” Xiao Yingtao nodded.

Duan Liuyang felt she was quite useless, looking apologetically at the family members who were worried about her.

After Feng Jiu’er finished the acupuncture to draw out the poison from Zhao Yusheng, she applied ointment and bandaged the wound.

After taking her medicine, Duan Liuyang, supported by Xiao Yingtao, walked outside for a while and sat down on a blanket. Yue Qinchun even draped a robe over her.

She watched everyone busy about, especially busying themselves for her sake, which only made her heart more uneasy.

Shen Rong’er and Leng Xuepiao cleaned up the vomit; Leng Xuepiao went to help dig, and Shen Rong’er followed along.

Qiao Mu had long since gotten busy.

Xiao Yingtao stayed by Feng Jiu’er’s side until Zhao Yusheng’s wound had been fully treated.

Duan Liuyang sat there alone; a breeze blew past, and she pulled her robe tighter.

That thin, frail figure made others feel a pang of pity looking at her.

Feng Jiu’er stood up and glanced toward Duan Liuyang.

“Zhao Yusheng, go on back. Take Liuyang back, it’s too cold here.”

“I’m not going back.” Zhao Yusheng stood up and followed Feng Jiu’er’s gaze toward Duan Liuyang.

“Xiao Jun, set up a tent, let Miss Duan go rest inside.”

“Yes.” A brother nodded and turned to walk toward the other side.

Zhao Yusheng looked back for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and walked toward Duan Liuyang.

Duan Liuyang blinked nervously — it was all her fault, unable to help, and even causing trouble.

“Brother Zhao, I’m sorry!” She looked up at him as he approached.

That face, already fairer than most, was now even paler.

Zhao Yusheng crouched down in front of her.

His large frame blocked out all the light shining down.

“Are you alright?” Zhao Yusheng felt helpless too — this girl was too foolish!

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao watched the two of them, exchanging a glance, their eyes full of colorful sparkle.

“Jiu’er, I think Zhao Yusheng and Liuyang suit each other very well — the two of them have practically gone through life and death together.”

“Matters of the heart, who can say for certain.” Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly.

If Zhao Yusheng really ended up with Liuyang, she wouldn’t object — Zhao Yusheng was a good man, and Liuyang was a fine woman too.

This young master of Zhao Family Fort — the only young master — had been the one she’d personally lured away.

If Zhao Yusheng went back one day bringing a wife and children with him, the old master and his wife would surely be overjoyed.

Still, this stubborn fellow — apart from himself, no one knew what was really on his mind.

“Brother Zhao, I’m fine.” Duan Liuyang shook her head.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t help you, and made you worry instead!”

Duan Liuyang lowered her head, looking frustrated with herself.

“You did help me.” Zhao Yusheng ruffled Duan Liuyang’s hair.

He didn’t know why either, but ever since that night, he’d simply come to see her as his own little sister.

“Jiu’er said if it weren’t for you, my condition would have been much more serious.”

“As for you — didn’t you know it was dangerous? You shouldn’t have sucked it out with your mouth like that, you could have gotten poisoned too.”

“Fortunately Jiu’er and the others were here, otherwise you’d have been in real trouble today.”

Duan Liuyang looked at this man who was so gentle to her, so good-looking, and so capable, and felt warmth in her heart.

But she had no extra thoughts beyond that — being able to receive Brother Zhao’s care was already enough to satisfy her.

The brother brought the tent over, and Zhao Yusheng stood up.

“Rest well for a while, it’s still early, I need to go help out.”

“Mm.” Duan Liuyang pursed her lips lightly and nodded.

Zhao Yusheng nodded and, as he turned back, saw Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao still standing behind him not far off.

“Jiu’er, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow. “Seems like there’s something going on between you and Liuyang, isn’t there?”

Zhao Yusheng’s thick brows knitted, and he shook his head. “What do you mean, something going on?”

“I see Liuyang as a little sister, don’t overthink it.”

“In this lifetime, one wife is enough for me.” He looked at Feng Jiu’er, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly.

“Zhao Yusheng, I’m not your wife, and soon I’ll be someone else’s wife — hurry up and find one for yourself!”

“Not looking.” Zhao Yusheng shook his head. “If I can’t marry you, then marrying your and the prince’s daughter wouldn’t be bad either!”

Zhao Yusheng raised his thick brows, walked between Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao, and headed toward the busy brothers.

“Zhao Yusheng, you’re asking to die!” Feng Jiu’er turned and smacked his shoulder hard.

“My daughter won’t fall for an old man!”

“I’ll take good care of myself, don’t worry!” Zhao Yusheng still wore a smile.

Since Jiu’er and the group of women often discussed skincare and self-care matters together, Zhao Yusheng had heard so much of it he’d picked it up by osmosis.

“No way! My little princess is going to find someone young.” Feng Jiu’er laughed happily.

“Matters of the heart are hard to say.” Zhao Yusheng laughed. “Let’s talk again once you’ve given birth to your little princess.”

—