Feng Jiu’er’s life had at last been truly preserved.

For these two days she had been lying in the inner chamber on the cold jade bed. As her own cultivation continued to surge unchecked, her aura burned with a scorching heat, as though her body were on fire.

Only the cold jade bed’s chilling energy could keep that blazing heat in check.

So for the time being, she had to remain here and could go nowhere.

Mu Mu kept watch by the cold jade bed every day. The bed’s chill was a constant strain on his body — a point Ye Luosha had raised many times over.

But so long as Jiu’er had not awakened, Mu Mu would not leave her side. What Ye Luosha feared was that Jiu’er would not yet have woken, and this wretched young man would already have collapsed again.

“Had she not been the Phoenix Maiden, I would truly have had to eliminate her.” Standing outside the inner chamber, gazing at the tightly shut stone door, a shadow of helplessness flickered in Ye Luosha’s eyes.

A middle-aged man of nearly fifty stood behind her, also staring at the stone door, his gaze deeply complex.

“Palace Master, when will Feng Jiu’er be able to awaken?”

“Within the next two days, most likely.” She had only just channeled energy for Feng Jiu’er today to help circulate her blood. Now that Feng Jiu’er’s vital energy was growing ever more dense and stable, waking in the next two days was very likely.

“Elder Shi, why do you look as though you have something you wish to say?” Ye Luosha turned to look at him, a slight furrow in her brow. “Feel free to speak plainly.”

“Then I will speak plainly.” Elder Shi looked at the chamber door, a chill settling over his features. “I have heard that this Miss Feng and the Ninth Prince share a very close relationship.”

“What is Elder Shi implying?” Ye Luosha considered this, and at once her expression became difficult.

How had she forgotten — Feng Jiu’er and the Ninth Prince shared an undeniably intimate bond?

Feng Jiu’er carried the Ninth Prince’s command token — proof enough of the trust and favor he extended to her. For the Ninth Prince, Feng Jiu’er had disguised herself as part of the Prince’s convoy and set out alongside them. How many dangers would she have faced along the way?

She knew, of course. Yet Feng Jiu’er had gone without a moment’s hesitation.

A young woman who would go without hesitation for a man — what an extraordinarily deep and weighty feeling that was.

“Precisely, Palace Master — as you suspect. It is to be feared that this Miss Feng and the Ninth Prince share a bond that cannot easily be spoken of.”

Elder Shi’s concern was entirely well-founded. When they had previously set an ambush for the Ninth Prince at Black Tiger Mountain, their scouts had reported that Feng Jiu’er had remained at the Ninth Prince’s side throughout.

Ye Luosha’s brow furrowed even deeper. This, she had truly overlooked.

It was only because, during this period, watching Mu Mu’s devotion to Feng Jiu’er, she had come to assume their feelings for each other must be genuine and deep — that the two of them had perhaps already pledged themselves to each other.

After all, Mu Mu’s heirloom had been on Feng Jiu’er’s wrist this entire time.

Was it possible that all of this had been only her Mu’er’s unrequited yearning — and that in Feng Jiu’er’s heart, there was only the Ninth Prince?

“Whatever shall be done? My Mu’er went so far for her that even his hair turned white, and now he disregards his own body and keeps watch at her side day and night…”

Ye Luosha’s heart was truly aching — aching for her precious disciple.

If all that sacrifice brought no return, what a devastating thing that would be.

“That is precisely why, Palace Master, I do indeed have an idea — though it would require your cooperation…”

“Young Palace Master, I need to clean Jiu’er’s body now. Young Palace Master, you…”

“I will return in a moment.” Before Liuli had even finished her sentence, Mu Mu had already risen and was walking toward the chamber door.

Every day when Liuli came to wash Jiu’er’s body, Mu Mu would always excuse himself. How else would it do — he could not let Jiu’er’s reputation be tarnished.

Besides, he could use the time to wash up and change into a clean set of clothes before returning to keep watch over Feng Jiu’er.

After Mu Mu left, Liuli went about her task as she did each day — washing Jiu’er’s body.

Every time she saw the chain on her wrist, Liuli would stand there in a daze for some time.

That chain belonged to the Young Palace Master. She had seen it before — though only on rare occasions — but the Young Palace Master’s belongings were things she would remember after a single glance.

The Young Palace Master had given Jiu’er his own possession, which meant he had truly and fully claimed her as his.

She ought to be happy for the Young Palace Master. He had been alone for over twenty years; at last, there was a young woman who could be by his side.

She only hoped that when Feng Jiu’er awoke, she would be moved by all that the Young Palace Master had given for her, and treat him well for the rest of their lives.

As she changed Jiu’er into a fresh set of clothes and then went to clean her feet, she caught sight of another chain around her ankle. Again, Liuli was drawn into a long moment of contemplation.

This chain — she did not know whose it was. Was it Feng Jiu’er’s own?

Could it be… a lovers’ set? One a gold lock, the other a gold key — a rather fitting pair, at that.

But why was it fastened around the ankle? If not for the act of washing her body, it would ordinarily never be seen.

Fastened there… perhaps because she considered it precious. Most likely, it truly was a matching lovers’ set with the one on her wrist — otherwise, how could the pattern and craftsmanship be so perfectly alike?

Yet what puzzled her was why it was not one chain for the Young Palace Master and one for Feng Jiu’er. Wouldn’t that be the more fitting keepsake between a pair of lovers?

With a faint sigh, Liuli slipped a long stocking onto Jiu’er’s foot, concealing the chain from view.

There came a few knocks at the stone door. Liuli quickly finished putting all of Jiu’er’s clothes in order before going to open it.

She had not expected the one knocking to be not the Young Palace Master, but the Palace Master — together with Elder Shi.

“Palace Master.” Liuli respectfully called out her greeting, then looked at the man walking behind Ye Luosha and bowed her head. “Elder Shi.”

“Mm.” Elder Shi gave a nod, glanced at her briefly, and said, “Liuli, you wait here at the door. If the Young Palace Master should come by in a moment, tell him that Jiu’er’s clothes have not yet been properly settled and ask him to wait outside for a short while.”

“Why…” She wanted to ask why, but with the Palace Master’s face wearing an expression of grave seriousness, Liuli did not dare to press further.

She could only lower her head and stand guard at the door in silence, not speaking.

Yet watching Elder Shi and the Palace Master approach Feng Jiu’er, she felt an unease creeping over her heart — she could not say why, but she had an unsettling premonition.

“Elder Shi, let us begin.” Ye Luosha looked at Elder Shi, clearly somewhat anxious.

Mu Mu would arrive very soon. If they did not begin, there would not be enough time.

“Very well.” Elder Shi reached into his robe and drew out an exquisite crystal box. He sat down on the cold jade bed, and from within the box, he withdrew — a small, tiny worm.

A Gu worm!

Liuli panicked. “Palace Master, what are you doing?”

She wanted to step forward, but Ye Luosha held her back. “Whatever you witness today, you are not permitted to breathe a single word of it — especially not to the Young Palace Master or to Feng Jiu’er.”

“Palace Master…”

“Listen carefully. The future of my Yemingong, and the future of the entire Di family — all of it rests upon your discretion at this moment.”

Ye Luosha fixed her with a cold, unfeeling stare — eyes entirely without warmth — and Liuli’s heart was seized with terror.

“Remember — not one single word!” Then, Liuli watched as the Gu worm in Elder Shi’s hand slowly crawled its way toward Feng Jiu’er’s body…