“I see.” Lei Shenbao withdrew his gaze from Feng Jiu’er’s rather unremarkable face.

“Lei.” He turned back to look at Bao Lei. “Tomorrow’s match—no problems, I trust?”

“I don’t agree with him continuing to compete tomorrow,” Feng Jiu’er said, shaking her head. “His opponent isn’t only skilled but powerfully built as well. Mr. Bao, he…”

At present Feng Jiu’er was nothing more than a physician with no internal energy of her own, so naturally she couldn’t tell whose martial skill was superior, let alone realize that Bao Lei had deliberately let his opponent win that day.

“It’s fine.” Bao Lei gave Lei Shenbao a reassuring look.

“After Doctor Long’s treatment, my body feels much better. Lord Lei, if there’s nothing else, please go on ahead.”

Feng Jiu’er’s sigh was audible to everyone present.

“I’ve said my piece—whether you listen or not is up to you.”

She glanced back at Bao Lei once, then withdrew her gaze and shouldered her medicine box.

“I did say that if you don’t make it back tomorrow, the deposit won’t be refunded.”

“Qiao, let’s go. I’m tired too.”

Feng Jiu’er hoisted her medicine box onto her back and walked off without looking back.

Qiao Mu bowed to both Lei Shenbao and Bao Lei, shouldered the large medicine chest, and followed Feng Jiu’er out.

“Doctor Long, please—” The steward gave a slightly timid wave of his hand.

With Lord Lei still present, this physician was rather arrogant—but seeing how effective her needlework had been for his master, he chose not to dwell on it.

After Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu left, only Lei Shenbao and Bao Lei remained in the chamber.

“Lord Lei, Doctor Long says you need proper rest after the acupuncture,” the steward reminded, turning back with his head lowered.

Tomorrow’s match was far too important; the steward was anxious as well.

Lei Shenbao looked at Bao Lei, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Don’t worry.” Bao Lei gave a light nod.

“Good.” Lei Shenbao nodded. “Though, you’re quite at ease leaving that little physician here?”

“She has no martial skill, and she’s merely a woman. I have nothing to worry about.” Bao Lei walked over and sat down on the bed.

“Do you need me to have someone look into her background?” Lei Shenbao asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It doesn’t matter.” Bao Lei tossed off a few words and lay down.

Lei Shenbao looked at him once more, then waved a hand.

“I’ll have someone send over some tonic medicine. Since you have a physician here now, have her check whether it’s suitable.”

“I’m leaving. Don’t disappoint me tomorrow.”

Lei Shenbao’s words received no response; he seemed used to it, and strode out of the chamber.

The steward looked at the man on the bed, then turned and followed Lei Shenbao out, closing the door behind him.

The next day, at the same hour, the largest arena in Li City drew an even bigger crowd than the day before.

Over the past several months, plenty of people had challenged the foremost Thunder King, but the outcome had always been the same. People had seen and heard it so many times that it no longer held much excitement.

But unexpectedly, someone had defeated the foremost Thunder King the day before—a strangely dressed outsider.

Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, Jian Yi, and Xiao Yingtao followed along with Bao Lei.

Today they took a special passage and didn’t have to squeeze through the crowd as they had the day before.

And because they belonged to Bao Lei’s household, they were given two seats.

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao sat in the same row as Lei Shenbao, though Lei Shenbao occupied the central position while the two women sat at the far right end.

Qiao Mu, disguised as a man, and Jian Yi stood guard beside the two women.

In Li City, Feng Jiu’er had no intention of revealing her identity as the Deputy Master of Dragon Shadow—for now she was nothing more than an ordinary physician.

Feng Qiongcang had already received word that they had arrived in Feng Clan territory.

Not only Feng Jiu’er’s own people, but also Tang Xiaohua’s people, had learned of this.

From now on they would need to travel even more carefully, especially the farther north they went—the more dangerous it would become.

There was no doubt that Bao Lei would win today. But to make it look like a narrow victory, he had taken on no small amount of injury that day.

On the way there, Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu had already begun tending to his wounds inside the carriage.

Qiao Mu kept a cold expression the entire time, but her movements remained nimble.

She and Feng Jiu’er had already had their external injuries treated by Feng Jiang before reaching the estate.

Back at the residence, everyone went straight into the east wing.

Those in the west wing badly wanted to go ask for news, but because of what Bao Lei had said the day before, they were effectively under house arrest.

In the chamber, Xiao Yingtao wrote out prescriptions outside, while Qiao Mu was once again saddled with the task of attending to Feng Jiang’s bath.

Rather than say she had taken on the task, it would be more accurate to say that Feng Jiang, despite wanting to refuse, had no way of doing so.

The moment they entered the chamber and shut the door, Feng Jiang was hauled straight into the inner room by Qiao Mu.

No one bothered to close the inner room’s door. Xiao Yingtao and Feng Jiu’er didn’t care to either.

From inside, the two voices could be heard from time to time.

“Don’t move!” Qiao Mu’s voice rang out, edged with anger. “Take it off yourself, or shall I do it for you!”

“I—I’ll do it myself.” Feng Jiang’s voice came through, tinged with a hint of timidity.

“Wait, wait a moment!”

“What is there to be shy about? Is there any part of your body I haven’t seen?” Qiao Mu’s voice had barely risen before there came a tearing sound—the sound of clothing being ripped apart.

“Qiao, you—” Feng Jiang didn’t even dare say more.

“Only afraid now? What were you doing earlier?” Qiao Mu’s fury blazed.

“What did you say yesterday? Protect yourself—is this what you call protecting yourself?”

The two “little wives” seated outside, hearing the commotion within and imagining the scene that might be unfolding, couldn’t help covering their lips and stifling laughter.

Feng Jiu’er’s mood hadn’t been good to begin with.

She wished she could scold someone the way Qiao Mu was doing—it might make her feel a little better.

But Feng Jiu’er understood clearly that her third imperial brother was now an arrow already nocked on the bowstring, with no way to retreat.

Fortunately, that dead pig of a man’s martial skill really was quite mediocre, or else the suffering her third imperial brother endured today would have been far worse.

“I’m sorry! From now on I’ll…”

“There’s still a ‘from now on’?” Qiao Mu cut him off coldly. “Just put your clothes on already—it’s unsightly!”

Qiao Mu had Jian Yi standing guard outside, and so she let her anger out freely instead of holding it in.

“I… I was already wearing something underneath.” Feng Jiang glanced at the open door, his voice unconsciously dropping even lower.

Qiao Mu fetched a pair of inner trousers and stood there, staring at the man in front of her, who stood considerably taller than she did.

Feng Jiang finished tying his robe and, turning back, saw his own undergarment in her hand.

“Why don’t you step outside first, and I’ll—”

“If you won’t come, I’ll do it myself!” Qiao Mu narrowed her eyes and turned around.

“I’ll do it myself.” Feng Jiang didn’t dare delay any longer and bent down.

Qiao Mu didn’t dare turn back. She herself didn’t understand why she was so angry, or why she’d even gone so far as to force him to change clothes in front of her.

She was absolutely not the kind of woman driven by lust—this was simply pure anger, and she didn’t know how else to vent it! That had to be it!

Feng Jiang looked up, took the undergarment from Qiao Mu’s hand, and bent down once more.

Straightening up, he looked at the woman before him: “There. Done.”

“That… I’m sorry! Did I worry you today? I promise, there won’t be a next time!”