Zhao Huai’s hand gradually reached toward the blade at his waist, then he walked toward Muruo.

But after Muruo’s gaze shifted away from Zhao Qing’s neck and he continued inserting needles as if nothing had happened, Zhao Huai moved his hand away from the broadsword at his waist.

After a while, dozens of silver needles had landed on the acupoints all over Zhao Qing’s body.

“The needles can be removed after one hour.”

Muruo was covered in sweat. He poured a cup of water and gulped it down.

Zhao Huai asked him: “How is it?”

“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine when he wakes up.”

“Completely cured?”

“Dream on!” Muruo sneered and put down the cup in his hand. “This is a long-term job. I encountered a case like this two years ago. The only solution is quite simple—force out that other personality in his heart, then break it down piece by piece.”

“What method of breaking it down?”

“That depends on what that personality’s weakness is. As long as you grasp the weakness and break through it, then continue with long-term acupuncture treatment, he’ll be fine in a year or two.”

Zhao Huai seemed to understand but not quite.

Muruo: “When the time comes, send him to Lu’an Temple in Nanyang City.”

“Lu’an Temple?”

“Since you said five days, then during these five days I’ll do my utmost to cure him. But after five days, we’ll leave, yet he needs long-term acupuncture treatment. I can’t very well be detained here, nor can you have him leave with us, right? Abbot Lingzhou of Lu’an Temple has extensive research in acupuncture techniques. If you send him there with my letter, Abbot Lingzhou will naturally perform acupuncture for him. Moreover, Lu’an Temple is a good place, most suitable for recuperation.”

Zhao Huai thought for a moment, then nodded.

Muruo also tidied up a bit and left the room.

At this time!

Ji Yunshu, following Muruo’s instructions, crushed the needed medicinal herbs one by one and was applying medicine to Jingrong’s wound.

He was bare-chested, sitting upright with proper posture.

As Ji Yunshu applied the medicine, her nose tingled with emotion.

“Was it injured in that forest?”

“Mm.”

“When Muruo came to find me, he didn’t mention it.”

“He knew I didn’t want you to worry.”

She bit her lip, suppressing the uncomfortable feeling in her heart.

After the medicine was applied, she carefully helped Jingrong put on his clothes.

But Jingrong grasped her hand. “You’ve indeed become much plumper and fairer.”

Ugh!

Ji Yunshu withdrew her hand and sighed. “Originally it was just Wei Yi and me who were trapped. But you—you foolishly barged in. And within five days, no matter how capable Muruo is, he can’t possibly cure Zhao Qing’s illness.”

“Why worry so much? Whether we die or live, with this prince by your side, even if we go down to the King of Hell’s palace, you’ll have someone to talk to.”

“You’re still talking nonsense.”

Jingrong smiled.

Shi Ziran, leaning against the door, glanced at the two of them, then crossed his arms, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he said leisurely: “It seems the prince’s injury has already healed.”

Jingrong casually picked up the teapot on the table and threw it at him.

Caught it!

Shi Ziran held it in his hand and played with it, even tossing it up a few times.

“Could it be that this subordinate spoke incorrectly? When the prince sees the princess consort, any injury can heal.”

The words “princess consort” greatly satisfied Jingrong.

“Correct. Seeing this prince’s princess consort, the injury healed.”

“Then why did the prince throw something at me?”

Shi Ziran pouted.

Ji Yunshu looked at him curiously. Who was this person?

He wasn’t among the group that left the capital with them!

Probably seeing Ji Yunshu’s confusion, Jingrong explained: “He’s Zijin’s older brother. He also grew up by my side since childhood. He went up the mountain to observe a vegetarian fast before and only returned yesterday.”

Ji Yunshu nodded.

Shi Ziran raised the corners of his mouth in a smile, then squinted his eyes in confusion. “I just don’t understand. A dignified prince actually agreed to such an absurd request, staying here for five days? Isn’t that equivalent to being imprisoned? Might as well fight our way out for a clean break. Besides, aren’t there three thousand troops in Jingzhou? It’s just a small Gaoshan Stronghold—what does it matter if they have traps?”

Jingrong: “If you say one more word, I’ll have Zijin sew your mouth shut.”

“Did I say something wrong?” He was puzzled. “A den of bandits that the court has let run wild for years—if the prince could eliminate them this time, you could claim credit before His Majesty.”

Just thinking about it felt exhilarating.

Then he could follow his prince and enjoy the good life.

Who would have known—

Jingrong said four words: “The courage of a brute.”

“Those three thousand troops were borrowed as a precaution. But looking at the current situation, there’s no need to take such a risky move. Yunshu and Muruo are right—this prince was indeed too impulsive before. If we truly brought troops to attack the mountain, the consequences would be unthinkable.”

After hearing this, Shi Ziran thought about it in his heart and shut his mouth.

Ji Yunshu glanced at both of them, then stood up.

“I’ll go brew your medicine first.”

Jingrong said: “Let Zijin go.”

“How would she know how to brew medicine? I’ll go.”

So, taking the medicine and the blood-stained cloth strips from the table together, she went out.

Outside, Shi Zijin stood in the courtyard, vigilantly watching the surroundings the entire time.

Wei Yi squatted on the stone steps, playing with something in his hands, his head hanging down unhappily.

Ji Yunshu walked over and asked: “What’s wrong?”

No answer.

“Unhappy?”

No answer.

“Wei Yi.”

Still no answer.

Ji Yunshu crouched down and reached out to touch him, but he twisted his body and turned away.

“After Shu’er has Brother Jingrong, she doesn’t care about me anymore.”

Grievance mixed with complaint.

So it was about this.

Ji Yunshu tugged at the corner of his clothing and said: “How could I possibly not care about you? You saw it too—Brother Jingrong was injured.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you still angry?”

“I…”

That’s right! Jingrong was injured, and Ji Yunshu helped him bandage it. Why should he still be angry?

There was no need!

His eyeballs rolled upward. After thinking for a moment, he said: “Then I’m not angry anymore.”

The corners of his mouth stretched into a smile.

“Truly not angry anymore?”

“Mm.”

He nodded emphatically.

Ji Yunshu then stood up and said: “Then stay here nicely. I’m going to brew medicine.”

“Oh.”

He obediently agreed.

When Ji Yunshu went to brew the medicine, Shi Zijin followed behind her.

She was in the kitchen, and Shi Zijin stood guard outside, her gaze unwavering, afraid something might happen to her again.

After brewing the medicine, as Ji Yunshu was carrying it back, she encountered two bandits head-on carrying a bundle wrapped in white cloth.

The two were walking hurriedly and bumped into Ji Yunshu’s shoulder. Half the medicine in her hand spilled onto the white cloth.

Oh no!

The two bandits loosened their grip, and the bundle fell.

It turned out to be Jiu’er’s skeleton. Most of it had been crushed and bundled together.

The spilled medicine seeped through the white cloth and stained the crushed skeleton.

Ji Yunshu glanced at it, and immediately her eyes tightened, her heart trembling slightly.

Her mind buzzed.

The two bandits quickly picked up the pile of bones again and hurried away.

Ji Yunshu stood frozen in place for a long while, then turned around to go back.

Her footsteps grew faster and faster…

When she entered the room, Muruo and Jingrong were sitting inside.

Both their faces were grave.

Ji Yunshu’s voice caught for a moment, her expression shocked as she said: “I think there’s something I may have gotten wrong.”

Muruo: “Not maybe—definitely!”