Another slightly younger voice said, “Your Highness, Master Cang Xu is right. This is already the third time this year. If there’s such massive bleeding again, even if a descendant of the Shangqiu lineage appeared in this world, I’m afraid it would be beyond salvation.”

“I understand.” Qin Zhiyan’s rich voice suddenly rang out, but at this moment it sounded so weary and weak, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. He coughed twice and said gravely, “Thank you both for your concern, gentlemen.”

“Sigh, this old man has said it before – if Your Highness could set aside all worldly affairs and rest quietly, not overworking your mind and body, there might still be six or seven years of life left. But Your Highness disregards your condition like this, this old man…”

“Sir, you need not say more. Because of me, I’ve disturbed both gentlemen’s peaceful sleep. I truly apologize. Han Zhou, please escort the two gentlemen out.”

“Yes!”

“Ah,” the elder sighed and said, “Your Highness should rest early. This old man will take his leave first.”

“Take care, sir.”

Qing Xia saw they were about to come out and was just about to turn and leave when unexpectedly, the young guard named Han Zhou was extremely alert. He suddenly rushed out from the inner room, drew his sword from his waist, and fiercely attacked Qing Xia while shouting, “Who goes there?”

“It’s me!” Qing Xia dodged and quickly said.

“Miss?” Han Zhou was startled and stood in place, looking somewhat troubled as he turned toward the inner room. He clearly knew that this young lady who had suddenly appeared in the military camp held extraordinary significance for his master.

“Han Zhou, you may all leave first.” Qin Zhiyan’s voice rang out faintly, but surprisingly it swept away the previous weakness and became clear and bright.

The two elderly physicians, accompanied by Han Zhou, looked at Qing Xia with suspicious eyes and slowly withdrew.

Qing Xia stood in the front hall. Seeing that there was no sound from inside for a long time, she still said softly, “Qin Zhiyan, are you in there?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself hard. Having just heard him speak, she asked such a pointless question – how stupid could she get?

“Mm,” Qin Zhiyan’s voice slowly rang out, surprisingly calm. He said gravely, “Yima’er, it’s so late. You came to find me – is there something wrong?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just saw doctors entering your tent and wanted to know if you were alright.”

Qin Zhiyan said gravely, “It’s an old ailment, nothing serious. If there’s nothing else, please go back first. I’m very tired and want to rest.”

“Oh.” Qing Xia responded dully, feeling rather unhappy inside. She had kindly come to check on him, but not only did he not appreciate it, he seemed to blame her for meddling. She turned to leave, but just then, she suddenly heard a suppressed cough from inside – low and faint. Though the sound was weak, Qing Xia heard it clearly. She frowned, lifted the curtain with one hand, made the sound of footsteps as if leaving, and let the heavy curtain fall with a loud swish.

The tent remained deathly quiet. Qing Xia pricked up her ears, held her breath, feeling as if all the hair on her body was tense with nervousness.

Just then, a series of heavy coughing suddenly rang out, filled with great pain, like a patient in the final stages of consumption. Without thinking, Qing Xia rushed into the inner room in two steps.

Qin Zhiyan wore a pure white long robe, leaning against the bed. His clothes were stained with blood, his face pale as paper, black hair scattered over his shoulders. Hearing the sound, he turned his head slightly. Seeing it was Qing Xia, he said nothing, only slowly shook his head and stood up coughing, walking toward a small table nearby.

Seeing this, Qing Xia hurried over, picked up the teacup from the table, hastily poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Qin Zhiyan.

This wasn’t clear tea – the bitter taste like coptis contained the fresh fragrance of herbs. After Qin Zhiyan took a sip, he felt slightly better. The coughing gradually lessened and finally subsided. He turned to look at Qing Xia, meeting her anxious eyes directly. Though he knew she had deliberately deceived him earlier, he couldn’t bring himself to say a single word of reproach. He only shook his head slightly and said softly, “Naughty.”

Qing Xia was startled, and her cheeks actually took on a rosy hue. She supported his hand, helped him slowly sit on the bed, then ran to pour another cup of tea and brought it back, saying, “Do you want more?”

Qin Zhiyan shook his head faintly, sitting wearily on the couch with a face pale as paper. His black hair fell down, covering half his face and revealing only his chin.

Qing Xia stood to one side, holding the teacup, looking at Qin Zhiyan somewhat at a loss. Seeing his clothes stained with blood, she hurried to the cabinet and rummaged through it, finally finding a plain blue cotton undergarment. She ran back eagerly and handed it to Qin Zhiyan, saying quietly, “Qin Zhiyan, please change your clothes.”

Qin Zhiyan slowly raised his head. His beautiful phoenix eyes looked at Qing Xia with a trace of amusement, and the corner of his mouth curved into a slight smile.

Qing Xia felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Rarely seen girlish mannerisms unconsciously appeared on her face as she pouted slightly, biting her lip and saying, “Are you going to change or not?”

Qin Zhiyan smiled and stood up, spreading his arms wide as if letting Qing Xia dress him.

Qing Xia was slightly startled, then put down the garment in her hands and reached out to unfasten the cloth buttons on Qin Zhiyan’s chest.

Large patches of bright red blood were scattered on his snow-white garment like blooming flowers. Qing Xia’s slender, pale fingers brushed past those warm liquids, and she could almost smell the metallic scent.

Qin Zhiyan was very tall, a full head taller than Qing Xia. Her head only reached his chin, and her fluffy hair occasionally brushed against his neck and chin, causing waves of tingling sensation and small goosebumps.

Qing Xia’s hands could hold knives, guns, operate warships, fighter jets, and various explosive devices, but now, facing a simple button, sweat slowly beaded on her forehead. She didn’t know if it was because the room was really too hot, or if she was truly nervous.

Ancient clothing was really difficult to remove. Qing Xia struggled for a long time without even unfastening one button. Feeling annoyed, she applied a bit more force. With a soft “pop” – such a light sound, but in this quiet room, it was like a stone breaking the silence of a still lake. The button suddenly sprang from Qing Xia’s hand, fell to the ground, rolled several times on the pure cotton carpet, then lay quietly there, sinking into the carpet’s pile with only half the button surface showing.

Qing Xia was stunned, her eyes widening slightly as she tilted her head up, mouth agape in surprise, staring blankly at Qin Zhiyan.

Qin Zhiyan was also dazed. He looked down and happened to see Qing Xia’s surprised expression, watching her hand held halfway up, looking at him with a bewildered, foolish expression. A smile suddenly slipped through his eyes. He turned his head, and from below looking up, she could only see his gentle profile and the hidden smile at the corner of his mouth.

Qing Xia became a bit angry. Her hand was pressed against Qin Zhiyan’s chest, so she could feel the suppressed laughter beneath the slight rise and fall of his chest. Angrily, she applied force and pushed against Qin Zhiyan’s chest without restraint.

A series of urgent coughs immediately rang out. Qin Zhiyan had been laughing happily when she pushed him like this, naturally causing him to choke. Qing Xia was greatly alarmed and quickly supported Qin Zhiyan, urgently patting his back. But Qin Zhiyan’s coughing didn’t lessen at all – instead it became more severe. He bent over halfway, looking extremely pained. Only then did Qing Xia panic, tears almost welling in her eyes. She regretted it so much she wanted to bang her head against the wall and turned to run toward the tent entrance, but Qin Zhiyan firmly grasped her wrist. She didn’t dare struggle forcefully and could only look at him anxiously while continuously patting his back.

“Don’t be afraid.” Finally stopping, Qin Zhiyan’s face was pale, but he still smiled weakly at Qing Xia, reaching out to pat her little head and comfort her, saying, “It’s alright.”

Qing Xia pressed her lips together tightly. Looking at his condition, for some reason, she felt so distressed she was almost about to cry. She lowered her head, said nothing more, and continued unfastening his buttons. Practice makes perfect – having done it once, the rest became much easier. In a moment she had unfastened a row of buttons, leaving only two toggle buttons at the collar. Qing Xia stood on her tiptoes slightly and raised her hands. Her forehead could almost feel Qin Zhiyan’s warm breath. The faint fragrance from his body was like calming medicine, gradually settling her thoughts. Her fingers were as nimble as butterfly wings, layer by layer unfastening the collar ties, toggle buttons and cloth cords, then untying the sable tail fur around his neck and slowly placing it on the bed beside them.

Qing Xia walked behind Qin Zhiyan, removed the outer layer of his single robe, then reached around from behind, encircling Qin Zhiyan’s body to unfasten the front of his garment and remove another layer of clothing.

Under the lamplight, Qin Zhiyan’s body gradually became visible. Qing Xia felt somewhat embarrassed. She didn’t know what was wrong with her – she had never been some pure, innocent girl. In the modern world, she’d had such experiences more than once or twice for missions. But now, just seeing Qin Zhiyan’s bare upper body, she felt her face burning and almost didn’t dare lift her head.

Qin Zhiyan was very thin, but not the kind of thin she had previously imagined. Perhaps because he had practiced martial arts, his build was quite solid with well-defined muscles. He was tall and appeared very strong, yet unlike ordinary martial artists who were ostentatious – his was a restrained strength with soothing and scholarly temperament. Perhaps due to his illness, his skin was very pale with ivory-like lustrous whiteness. Qing Xia had previously thought Qin Zhiyan must be skin and bones, but discovered that beneath his clothes, he still maintained the same noble bearing and extraordinary brightness as his exterior.

“Yima’er.”

Qin Zhiyan’s voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Qing Xia’s thoughts and blank stare. Qing Xia was startled and instinctively said, “Hm? What is it?”

“Mm,” Qin Zhiyan pondered slightly, as if finding it difficult to speak. After thinking, he gently cleared his throat and slowly said, “I’m a bit cold.”