“The… physician…” Yu Jingfeng’s expression turned deeply conflicted. Feng Jiu’er had said — for the time being, do not let the Ninth Prince know she was here.

Otherwise, with so much blood involved, the Ninth Prince would simply refuse to drink it.

Just like the last time — when Miss Jiu’er had cut open her hand to feed His Highness her blood, His Highness had grown furious over it.

But when all three pairs of eyes in the room converged on him, Yu Jingfeng felt the pressure bearing down on him like a crushing weight.

“That… the physician… this physician has something of a peculiar nature and dislikes encountering strang—”

“Which physician is this?” Emperor Ji’s expression darkened. “Not the one from before?”

“Not the previous one. The previous physician’s medicine was producing no discernible improvement in His Highness’s condition, so this subordinate took it upon himself to arrange for a replacement.”

“You went and changed the physician without authorization!” Leng Yue stared at him furiously and snapped: “What if that physician—”

“The results speak for themselves — the physician’s medicine is working on His Highness.”

His Highness’s color tonight had visibly improved. Still very pale, certainly, but there was now a faint hint of color.

And at the corners of his lips — there was no trace of blood. Which meant, for the time being, the coughing of blood had stopped.

Yu Jingfeng was no physician himself, but he could read at least this much. And from what he could see, Miss Jiu’er’s blood was already beginning to take effect.

He looked at Emperor Ji: “Old Master, this physician is an old acquaintance of this subordinate’s, and I stake my life on the assurance that there is absolutely nothing suspect about her.”

“Only — she has been living incognito for many years and is unaccustomed to meeting strangers. I fear that if she is displeased, she may wish to depart, and then…”

“Then I will simply refrain from seeing her.” Those reclusive figures — miracle physicians, ghost doctors, and their ilk — were mostly peculiar people. If the physician did not wish to be seen, then so be it.

The critical point was that after Wuya drank the medicine tonight, the Gu Poison in his body had inexplicably been suppressed. That was a fact.

Although the damage to his heart meridian was now an established conclusion, if the Gu Poison could be held at bay temporarily, it would buy them a few more days at least.

In any case, this medicine proved far more effective than channeling his own energy into Wuya directly.

Leng Yue still wanted to say something, but since everyone else in the room had agreed not to press for a meeting, she could do nothing about it.

Even so — to refuse to let even one person catch a single glimpse — something about it still sat uneasily in her heart.

Yu Jingfeng did not want to linger here too long; he was afraid he might let it slip, in a moment of careless chatter, that Miss Jiu’er was present.

Informing His Highness would cause him to refuse the medicine. And informing the Old Sovereign — the Old Sovereign might well be unwilling to allow Feng Jiu’er to remain by the Prince’s side.

So he decided the wisest course of action was still to make his escape.

He cast one final glance at His Highness, confirmed that his condition had grown slightly more stable, then bowed his head and said: “Your Highness, this subordinate will now go downstairs and prepare some steamed buns for Your Highness.”

“This…” Even Emperor Ji felt that asking this powerfully built soldier of a man to cook was not exactly an inspiring prospect.

But Yu Jingfeng’s eagerness to leave had already carried him out the door in swift strides.

Leng Yue looked at Zhan Qingcheng once more, her mind pulled in two directions — yet in the end, the sight of the pallor on his face moved her, and she said hurriedly: “Adoptive Father, let me go and help Yu Jingfeng. He is clumsy and careless — I’m afraid he might…”

“Go, then.” Having Leng Yue there would at least provide some reassurance. Otherwise, could anything Yu Jingfeng produced truly be eaten?

But Zhan Qingcheng’s gaze had fallen on the door — his eyes deep, still, and unreadable, lost in some thought only he could fathom.

Emperor Ji said, “Wuya, shall I channel my energy into you again?”

“There is no need.” Zhan Qingcheng closed his eyes and slowly regulated his own breathing and inner energy. “This medicine is very effective. I am all right.”

Difficult as it was for Emperor Ji to feel reassured, he at last let out a breath of relief.

His curiosity about that physician who refused to be seen had grown considerably greater.

But for now, what mattered most was that Wuya’s condition could stabilize slightly — long enough for them to reach the Southern Wilds and rendezvous with the Ghost Doctor.

Everything else, Emperor Ji had little energy left to dwell on.

Back in the kitchen, Yu Jingfeng returned to find Feng Jiu’er’s figure moving busily within, and only then did he let out a long, heavy breath of relief.

“They wanted to see you,” he said. He was only stating facts.

“Unless you want to see Ninth Imperial Uncle refuse to drink the medicine — and me getting driven out by that old man.”

Feng Jiu’er was entirely clear-eyed about her own position. Ninth Imperial Uncle had been gravely wounded because of her involvement. That elderly man was obviously Ninth Imperial Uncle’s senior — and which elder would welcome a woman who had dragged their own kin into harm’s way? That he had not killed her outright was already an act of exceptional grace.

Yu Jingfeng glanced at Qiao Mu, who sat eating nearby. Since Miss Jiu’er felt no need to conceal the words “Ninth Imperial Uncle” from her here, neither did he.

He walked up to Feng Jiu’er and said: “The Old Master is His Highness’s adoptive father, but he is not a man of the court. Miss Jiu’er…”

“Understood.” She could not keep Ninth Imperial Uncle’s presence here hidden from Qiao Mu — not after Qiao Mu had recognized Yu Jingfeng.

But Ninth Imperial Uncle’s other identity — that was absolutely something no one could be permitted to know.

That adoptive father was most likely another identity as well, concealed beneath a different face. As long as they were presenting themselves as ordinary people to the world, there was nothing particularly suspicious about any of it.

An adoptive father, with no blood relation, not of the imperial house — not being a man of the court was perfectly ordinary.

Qiao Mu swallowed what was in her mouth before looking at Yu Jingfeng, cupping her hands in a salute: “I did not know who you were a moment ago, my lord. Please forgive the offense.”

Yu Jingfeng returned the gesture, eyeing her with considerable curiosity. “This one does not appear to be a student from the Longqi Army.”

If the new Longqi Army had someone this formidable, he would have known about it. Yet the young woman disguised as a man before him now — why did she seem more and more familiar the longer he looked at her?

A moment later, Yu Jingfeng’s eyes darkened: “You are the chieftain of Qingfeng Stronghold!”

Qiao Mu smiled with serene composure: “You are gracious to still remember me.”

Yu Jingfeng’s expression grew somewhat strained as he stared at Feng Jiu’er’s busy figure. “Miss Jiu’er, why are you with her…”

“She challenged me to a duel and lost two rounds in a row. She is my person now.”

At that, Qiao Mu instantly felt the irritation flare up, and her expression soured in an instant. “That was you cheating — the person on the carriage that day was never actually…”

“All’s fair in battle. You’re still not convinced?” Feng Jiu’er still did not look up, her voice unhurried and cool. “Losing two rounds and still unwilling to accept it — saying that out loud would be an embarrassment. Have some dignity.”

Feng Jiu’er’s words left Qiao Mu with nothing to refute, yet in truth she had genuinely been deceived back then.

Feng Jiu’er had carried on with such passionate, deep devotion toward whoever was in that carriage — and yet it had all been an act. She had fallen hook, line, and sinker for Feng Jiu’er’s performance, ended up in a bewildered daze, and that was how she had been tricked into losing.

Still, as things stood, they had actually made it to where the Ninth Prince was. And from the look of things, the news of his grave injuries was… real.

All right then. Being able to protect the Ninth Prince was, in its own way, fulfilling a long-cherished wish of hers.

No matter what else could be said — the most important thing right now was to help His Highness recover.

“Can you even do this?” Watching Feng Jiu’er fumbling about with mounting panic, Qiao Mu furrowed her brow. “Have you actually done this before? Don’t tell me you’re just winging it.”