After making his way through several collapsed sections, Feng Jiang finally spotted Qiao Mu lying on the ground.

Heedless of everything else, he tore through the burning wood with his bare hands and reached her side.

“Qiao Mu.” He crouched down and lifted her into his arms. “How are you? Qiao Mu, wake up.”

Heavily drunk, Qiao Mu had inhaled a great deal of smoke, and worse, her arm had been wounded, dark blood flowing steadily from it.

“Jiu’er, Jiu’er, Qiao Mu’s been poisoned, Jiu’er.” Feng Jiang held Qiao Mu, his anxiety like a wolf caught in raging fire.

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu is hurt, poisoned.”

Her face had gone deathly pale, not a trace of color left, and even her breathing had grown faint to the point of nearly vanishing.

Looking at Qiao Mu’s face, Feng Jiang felt his heart ache so badly he could hardly breathe.

Flames surrounded them on every side, reddening Feng Jiang’s eyes.

He carried Qiao Mu, ignoring every tongue of fire that drew near, and strode toward the way out.

Elsewhere, Feng Jiu’er had just helped Steward Yang’s son, Yang Sheng, to his feet when she heard Feng Jiang’s voice.

She could make out, faintly, Feng Jiang carrying Qiao Mu toward the exit, and supporting the unconscious Yang Sheng, she too made her way toward the front hall.

A thunderous boom sounded, and the entire building collapsed.

Had Xiao Yingtao not retreated in time, she would surely have been crushed beneath the blaze.

“Doctor Long, Doctor Long, where are you?” Having retreated to a slightly safer spot, Xiao Yingtao shouted toward the collapsed chambers.

Her small face was so blackened by smoke it was nearly unrecognizable, only her red, tear-glistening eyes still visible.

Just as Xiao Yingtao was about to approach again, she caught sight from the corner of her eye of something flying out from another section of the chamber, and immediately afterward, that part of the building collapsed too.

Feng Jiang and Feng Jiu’er sheltered Qiao Mu between the two of them, while Feng Jiang’s other arm supported Yang Sheng.

With a thud, all four of them collapsed onto the ground of the courtyard at the same time.

Seeing this, everyone rushed over.

The tremendous impact jolted Yang Sheng back to consciousness.

He opened his eyes, saw the person beside him, and shouted, “My lord, hurry and save Qiao—he saved me!”

“There was poison on the blade, my lord, hurry and save Qiao!”

Feng Jiang could no longer concern himself with anything else. He looked back once, then lifted Qiao Mu into his arms and strode off.

The entire west wing had collapsed; anyone still inside now had no chance of being reached in time.

No one thought their lord heartless—after all, he had saved Yang Sheng, and that man called Qiao as well.

It wasn’t that their lord didn’t want to save the wives—it was simply that there was nothing more he could do.

As Feng Jiang carried Qiao Mu away, Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao said nothing and simply followed.

Those left behind continued fighting the fire, but could the people still trapped inside truly still be alive?

In the east wing, in Qiao Mu’s room.

Qiao Mu lay on the bed, completely unresponsive.

Beside her sat a tall, broad figure.

Feng Jiang held Qiao Mu’s hand the entire time, refusing to let go.

Feng Jiu’er’s silver needles kept probing various acupoints on Qiao Mu’s body.

Xiao Yingtao moved in and out, at times carrying in her medicine box, at other times bringing in a basin of water.

Yang Sheng followed in behind Xiao Yingtao.

“My lord, how is Mr. Qiao doing?”

Before Yang Sheng could get close, Xiao Yingtao threw her arms out, blocking his path.

“What do you think you’re doing? The one who’s hurt is one of our own—please leave!” Xiao Yingtao said, staring at him sternly.

She had no time now to deal with people like this—Qiao Mu still hadn’t woken, Jiu’er hadn’t said a word, and Xiao Yingtao was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

“I mean no harm.” Yang Sheng met her gaze. “Mr. Qiao saved my life. I just want to know how he’s doing.”

“He’s not doing well!” Xiao Yingtao kept her arms outstretched, blocking him.

“Captain Yang, this is a critical moment. If you truly care about Qiao, please go outside.”

“Please go stand guard outside, and don’t let anyone in besides our own people from Dragon Shadow delivering medicine—can you do that?”

Xiao Yingtao looked at him pleadingly.

Yang Sheng met her gaze and nodded. “Fine, I’ll keep watch outside. Whatever you need, just say the word.”

He left it at that and turned to go, not daring to disturb them any further.

Jian Yi received word via messenger bird and rushed over with enough medicine.

A full four hours passed before Qiao Mu’s condition finally stabilized somewhat. Feng Jiu’er didn’t dare pause for even a moment, continuing to apply needles to draw out the poison.

On the third attempt, Feng Jiu’er’s needlework combined with Feng Jiang’s true energy finally succeeded in driving the toxins from Qiao Mu’s body.

Qiao Mu kept coughing up black blood; Xiao Yingtao cradled her head so the discharge wouldn’t block her airway.

Only once Qiao Mu stopped spitting blood did Xiao Yingtao carefully lower her head back onto the bed.

She looked up at Feng Jiu’er, her eyes—dried out from crying—welling up with tears once more.

“Jiu’er, how is she? She won’t die, she won’t die, right?”

Feng Jiu’er put away her silver needles and pressed her long fingers to the pulse point on Qiao Mu’s wrist.

Feng Jiang and Xiao Yingtao watched her without blinking, until at last her eyes flickered.

“How is she?” Feng Jiang asked hoarsely.

“Her life is preserved for now, but the full extent of the damage won’t be clear until she wakes,” Feng Jiu’er said, tucking Qiao Mu’s hand back beneath the blanket.

Hearing Feng Jiu’er’s words, Xiao Yingtao couldn’t help choking up.

For two full hours, she had thought countless times that Qiao Mu might never come back.

They had been fighting for her, and she had been fighting too, hadn’t she?

Thankfully, she hadn’t given up—Jiu’er had said she could stay, and she definitely wouldn’t have left.

“Her body is extremely weak right now. The residual toxin has done significant damage, and I must work out an antidote as soon as possible.”

Feng Jiu’er stood and placed the blood sample she had collected from Qiao Mu into her medicine box.

“I need to go to the next room to do research. She’s in your care for now.”

“Xiao Yingtao, be strict about controlling the medicine as it’s prepared. If she can’t swallow it down, you can teach Mr. Bao the method.”

“Alright, alright.” Xiao Yingtao wiped at the corners of her eyes and stood up hastily.

“Jiu’er, your complexion isn’t good—shouldn’t you rest for a bit first?” Jian Yi reminded gently.

“Time is short. I’m worried this potent poison might damage her mind,” Feng Jiu’er said, her voice both hoarse and flat.

“She cannot become a fool. I absolutely will not allow it!”

Feng Jiu’er turned back to glance at Feng Jiang and continued, “If you truly trust Lei Shenbao, when he comes, let him in to take a look.”

“If he knows what poison Qiao was struck with, it will make my work much easier.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiang nodded, his gaze never leaving Qiao Mu.

The fire at the Bao estate’s west wing burned for half the night.

The next day, the entire estate was draped in white wreaths, white ribbons, and white lanterns.

Seven people had died at the Bao estate that night—three wives, two maidservants, and two guards.

The steward had been busy since early morning; the whole estate was shrouded in heavy grief.

Many came to offer condolences, but all were kept to the front hall—not even a glimpse of Bao Lei could be had.

For such a serious tragedy to befall the estate, with Bao Lei suddenly losing three wives at once, anyone could understand the state of his heart.