Feng Jiu’er released Jian Yi’s hand and leaned forward, lifting his eyelids to examine them.

“Would everyone please step outside for a moment? It is far too noisy.” Feng Jiu’er did not turn her head as she spoke, her voice low and firm.

She could barely catch Jian Yi’s breath anymore. How could she not be anxious?

This fool — had left just like that. Given the state he was in, how could he possibly have thought of making his way to the southern wilderness?

Feng Jiu’er did not quite know whether to be grateful to Zhào Xiǎo or not. It was true that Zhào Xiǎo had saved Jian Yi — but the level of medical care in the stronghold was clearly nowhere near sufficient.

Had she not come today, Jian Yi would most likely have lost his life here.

Hearing Feng Jiu’er’s words, Zhào Yùshēng immediately turned and walked toward the others.

He caught Zhào Xiǎo’s eye and indicated with a look that she should leave. But Zhào Xiǎo pressed her hand over her lips and shook her head.

She was not going. There was no possibility she could leave at a moment like this.

Zhào Yùshēng gave a slight raise of his brow. Zhào Xiǎo retreated several steps but still refused to leave the room entirely.

At the bedside, Feng Jiu’er continued her careful examination of Jian Yi and made no further demands of anyone.

Suddenly, Jian Yi’s eyelids stirred faintly, and he opened his eyes — slowly.

“Jian Yi.” Feng Jiu’er clasped his hand and leaned in close. “Jian Yi — it is me. I am Jiu’er.”

Meeting Jian Yi’s gaze, Feng Jiu’er felt a pang of anguish.

These past days — how had he endured it all alone?

Jian Yi had never been one for the company of strangers. Yet here he had lain, gravely ill, without a single familiar face at his side to keep watch.

She bit her lip and drew a steadying breath. She knew this was no time to let her thoughts wander.

This man’s breath returning all at once like this — it was not a good sign.

“Jian Yi — I am Jiu’er. Look carefully — do you still recognize me?” As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er was already drawing out her needle case.

“Xiao Yingtao — prepare hot water.”

“Yes.” Xiao Yingtao, standing at Feng Jiu’er’s side, gave a sharp nod.

Was Jian Yi on the verge of death? She was not certain — but his face was truly, terribly pale. As pale as…

She did not dare think further. Xiao Yingtao turned her gaze toward Zhào Yùshēng.

Zhào Yùshēng gave a nod, then immediately turned and walked out.

“Jiu’er.” Suddenly, Jian Yi blinked, and his hand closed around Feng Jiu’er’s.

Feng Jiu’er’s eyes widened for a brief moment — then she composed herself.

“It is all right. I am here now. I will heal you. I promise.”

Zhào Xiǎo, who stood nearby with her hand pressed over her mouth, was overcome with emotion. She had been afraid the beautiful young man she had rescued was mute — it seemed he was not after all.

Feng Jiu’er tightened her grip around Jian Yi’s hand, and seeing him blink, she gave a small nod.

“It is me — it is me. I am Jiu’er. Jian Yi, do not be afraid. I am here. I will stay with you until you are well.”

Having made her promise to Jian Yi, Feng Jiu’er stood up and shrugged off the outer robe she felt was hindering her movement.

She glanced back and tossed it aside with a casual flick of her wrist — the robe sailed through the air and landed neatly on the hook of a wooden rack standing some distance away.

“Xiao Yingtao — prepare a screen. I need to apply the needles to Jian Yi.”

Jian Yi would surely not want so many people watching while he was undressed.

Xiao Yingtao had been serving as Feng Jiu’er’s assistant for far longer than a day or two. Even though this was not their own territory, Feng Jiu’er still called for her by name out of habit.

“Of course.” Xiao Yingtao gave a nod and turned to look at Zhào Xiǎo.

“A screen?” Zhào Xiǎo caught her gaze and nodded vigorously. “I will go get one right now. Immediately.”

The words were barely out before Zhào Xiǎo had already gone around to the back of the bed.

The screen was not heavy. Zhào Xiǎo moved it into place on her own.

“Jiu’er — is there anything else you need?”

The “Jiu’er” felt a little awkward to say — but Zhào Xiǎo let it go quickly enough.

So long as this woman could save her beautiful young man, whether she was called Jiu’er or anything else, she would be her benefactress.

Feng Jiu’er named a long list of medicinal herbs — some to be taken internally, some for a medicinal bath. Zhào Xiǎo counted them on her fingers and committed every one to memory with great care.

“Jiu’er — is that all? Nothing else?”

“Miss Zhào — are you truly certain you can remember all of that?” Xiao Yingtao was well familiar with medicinal herbs, so memorizing what Feng Jiu’er had just listed was no great difficulty for her.

“Yes.” Zhào Xiǎo gave a very earnest nod.

“That is all for now. Go and prepare them.” Feng Jiu’er’s low voice drifted over from the other side.

“Understood.” Zhào Xiǎo accepted her task and immediately turned to leave.

“Draw the screen closed. I am ready to begin the needling.” Feng Jiu’er gestured briefly. “Xiao Yingtao — come help.”

“Understood.” Xiao Yingtao turned and pulled the screen shut, blocking the view from outside the room.

At that moment, Zhào Yùshēng came in carrying a bucket of hot water.

The two of them stepped together into the space behind the screen. Feng Jiu’er reached out and loosened the ties of Jian Yi’s robe.

Jian Yi kept his eyes fixed on Feng Jiu’er without wavering, though his gaze had little strength in it — a sight that made one’s heart heavy to witness.

Zhào Yùshēng set down the hot water, and Xiao Yingtao looked at him and said in a quiet voice, “You should go outside for now. If anything comes up, I will come out and find you.”

“All right.” Zhào Yùshēng said nothing more. He looked at Jian Yi once more, then turned and walked out.

He stepped out from behind the screen and came before his parents, giving them a small nod.

“Father, Mother — let us step outside. Do not disturb Jiu’er while she is treating Jian Yi.”

Had it not been for Feng Jiu’er, Zhào Yùshēng could say with certainty that Jian Yi would have been beyond saving by now.

But wherever Jiu’er was, there were miracles — and who could say whether Jian Yi might yet be pulled back from the edge of death.

Madam Zhao, who had taken a seat, glanced once toward the screen, then reached out and took Zhào Qīngshān’s hand.

“Whatever needs to be said — let us go outside and say it.”

Zhào Yùshēng and Zhào Qīngshān each took one side and helped Madam Zhao out of the room.

Madam Zhao’s gaze stayed on Zhào Yùshēng the whole way. A little color had already crept back into her complexion.

The three of them left the inner chamber, and Zhào Yùshēng turned to pull the door shut behind him.

Madam Zhao settled herself in the main seat, and Zhào Yùshēng, eager to understand, asked at once, “Mother — what happened to Jian Yi? How did he end up in the Zhao Family Stronghold?”

What puzzled Zhào Yùshēng most was that Jian Yi had been right here in the stronghold all along, and yet none of his own people had known a thing about it.

“Shēng’er.” Madam Zhao gave the back of Zhào Yùshēng’s hand a gentle pat. “Have you fallen for Jiu’er?”

Zhào Yùshēng sat down beside her and frowned lightly.

“Mother — I was asking about Jian Yi. The man lying on Xiǎo’s bed is called Jian Yi. He is one of our people.”

“He suffered grievous injuries and did not want to burden the rest of us, so he slipped away on his own. After the battle was won, Jiu’er and I came to find him. How did he end up here in the Zhao Family Stronghold?”

“Shēng’er.” Madam Zhao called his name again, pressed her lips together, and looked at him. “Answer your mother’s question first. Have you fallen for Jiu’er?”

Zhào Yùshēng glanced back at the door to the inner chamber, then shook his head.

“No. It is admiration, nothing more. She is a young woman of slight build, yet she possesses sweeping ambitions and a mind like a great general’s. Is that not something we ought to learn from?”

He lifted his gaze to meet Zhào Qīngshān’s, steeling himself to continue. “Jiu’er is not yet twenty.”

“She must have weathered more hardship than I can even imagine to have reached where she is today. However one looks at it, in this lifetime, I—”

“Enough of this nonsense!” Zhào Qīngshān fixed Zhào Yùshēng with a glare. “All your mother wants for you in this lifetime is that you stay healthy and safe!”

He said nothing more after that. He rose to his feet and walked out.