“Ninth Prince…” Ye Luosha’s heart constricted, and she collapsed back to the ground in utter exhaustion.

Even though, not two incense sticks’ worth of time ago, they had still been enemies fighting to the death — even Ye Luosha could not deny it now. With Ninth Prince present, there was, astonishingly, such a sense of reassurance.

In this moment, Ye Luosha’s emotions were complicated beyond any words to describe. Yet no matter what she was thinking, in the end, it all became anxiety and worry.

Mu’er had not yet recovered. His wounds continued to seep blood. His entire body, his every breath, was still ebbing away moment by moment.

Even with Ninth Prince’s true energy protecting his pulse, the blood would not stop. There was still no solution.

With great effort, Ye Luosha and Elder Shi managed to pull themselves up. They did not dare go near and disturb Zhan Qingcheng, and could only look on helplessly at Feng Jiu’er, who was still working in a frenzy.

The wounds were so deep — how could the blood possibly stop?

But if the blood could not stop, how could their Mu’er survive?

What was to be done? What could be done now?

Feng Jiu’er turned her entire bag upside down and emptied everything inside onto the surface before her.

She had only meant to see what else might be of use — yet to her surprise, a small wooden box tumbled out.

The small wooden box that Xue Gu had given her. Inside were several medicinal pills — for life-saving use!

She picked it up and smelled it, then immediately pried open Mu Mu’s mouth and placed all three pills inside.

Turning to look at Ye Luosha, who wanted to stop her but did not dare, Jiu’er said urgently: “Find a place to settle him immediately. I need the finest quality ginseng — for sustaining life!”

…

They did not know what method Feng Jiu’er had used — yet she had truly managed to stop the flow of blood from Mu Mu’s wounds.

In truth, there was still a faint seeping of blood from the wounds even now. But compared to the torrent that had poured out before, the difference was like heaven and earth.

In any case, Mu Mu’s single thread of life had been maintained.

Yet his condition remained very serious. According to Feng Jiu’er’s assessment, he had not yet passed the critical period — his life could be in danger at any moment.

Most critically: he had lost too much blood. Even now that the bleeding had been slowed, his body’s vital energy continued to weaken moment by moment.

Ninth Imperial Uncle’s true energy was the lifeline sustaining him. If anything were to go wrong on Ninth Imperial Uncle’s end, Mu Mu’s life would likely be impossible to preserve.

“His vital energy is too depleted. A blood transfusion is necessary.” Feng Jiu’er stepped back from Mu Mu’s bedside and looked at Ye Luosha with urgency. “Whose blood type matches his?”

Blood type… matches?

Both were deeply anxious, yet Ye Luosha and Elder Shi wore expressions of complete bewilderment. Blood type compatibility — what did that mean?

Seeing their faces, Feng Jiu’er came back to herself. In her panic, she had forgotten everything.

This was ancient times — not the twenty-first century. Blood types. Blood transfusions. They would have no understanding of any of it.

The worst of it was that here, there were no tools for a transfusion.

There was no choice. She would have to take the risk of using silver needles to transfer blood.

This method — she had only ever encountered it in texts. After all, in the modern world, there was simply no need for such an antiquated technique.

Whether it would actually work, even she herself had no certainty. Yet right now, without a transfusion, Mu Mu had no chance of surviving.

“I need to test your blood types first.” There was no time for explanations. She picked up a cup, retrieved a small amount of medicinal powder from her bag, and went out of the room.

She did not know how much time passed before she returned from outside, holding several medicinal herbs in her hand.

As she walked, Jiu’er crushed the herbs in her palm with force. The juice dripped into the cup. She mixed it with the medicinal powder she had retrieved earlier, and finally poured in a small amount of clear water.

She then took a second cup and poured a portion of the herb-and-medicine solution from the first cup into it.

Holding the cup, she walked to the bedside. Her gaze could not help but drift, for just a moment, to the man seated at the inner edge of the bed.

Ninth Imperial Uncle’s complexion was not well. From the early hours of morning until now, nearly three full hours had passed — Ninth Imperial Uncle had been channeling energy into Mu Mu without pause, without a single rest in between.

Ye Luosha and Elder Shi had tried several times to relieve him. Yet their own true energies had been damaged, their internal energy not yet recovered. Jiu’er did not dare take the risk.

But even with Ninth Imperial Uncle’s deep reserves of internal energy — continuing this way, she did not know how much longer he could endure.

And so, after treating Ye Luosha and Elder Shi with her needles, she had them sit to one side and rest — because at any moment, they would need to take over for Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Carrying the cup, Feng Jiu’er took Mu Mu’s other hand and used a silver needle to draw a single drop of blood from his fingertip, letting it fall into the cup.

Afterward, she carried the cup to stand before Ye Luosha.

Ye Luosha, who now relied on them to save Mu Mu, naturally did not dare show even half a measure of disrespect in her words. Even so, she found the action somewhat absurd.

“I… and Mu’er share no blood relation. How could this serve as a blood-recognition test?”

Was this Feng Jiu’er in such a panic that she had run out of ideas?

Jiu’er said nothing. She took her hand.

Though Ye Luosha did not agree, she at least offered no resistance. She allowed Jiu’er to draw a single drop of blood from her fingertip.

A blood-recognition test required only clear water. She did not understand why Feng Jiu’er had gone to such lengths, adding so many medicinal substances to the water.

The two drops of blood did not mix — just as Ye Luosha had anticipated, since she was not Mu Mu’s birth mother.

Jiu’er discarded the solution from this cup. She drew Mu Mu’s blood a second time, then went to stand before Elder Shi.

A look of strange discomfort crossed Elder Shi’s face. Deep within, he was full of resistance and unease.

“I am of low birth — I dare not presume upon the Young Palace Master’s noble person. Miss Jiu’er, you…”

Feng Jiu’er still said nothing. Without waiting for him to finish, she had already taken his hand. The silver needle descended. A bead of blood slid down.

This one also failed to match. Ye Luosha and Elder Shi exchanged a glance, both unsettled.

Had Feng Jiu’er truly lost her mind? Given the two of them and their stations — how could either of them serve as a blood-recognition match for Mu Mu?

Yet Jiu’er did not give up. She had originally intended to test herself as well — but she was the one who needed to perform the procedure. If she used her own blood, she would not be able to carry it out.

And in this place, there was no second person with the ability to take on the task of the transfusion.

So the third person to be tested was Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Ye Luosha’s gaze immediately fell, intent and unwavering, on the cup in Feng Jiu’er’s hand.

Perhaps even she herself did not know what she was thinking. Yet there was an urgent, pressing desire to see the result.

When Jiu’er carried the cup — now holding a drop each of Mu Mu’s and Ninth Imperial Uncle’s blood — and her expression shifted visibly, Ye Luosha immediately cried out: “How is it? They…”

“This is not a blood-recognition test. Do not misunderstand.” Jiu’er knew what she was thinking.

To do such a thing in ancient times — the only thing anyone could think of was a kinship test. In truth, she had only been using the medicinal solution to test blood compatibility.

Watching the two drops merge together, Jiu’er’s eyes lit up. She said urgently: “Ninth Imperial Uncle — your blood can save him!”