Every wound on Xiao Yingtao’s body, strictly speaking, was what one might call a surface injury — flesh and skin damage only, with no vital organs struck and no internal wounds sustained.

Yet every single wound was horrifying to look at — so severe that it was simply too gruesome to bear witness to.

These were wounds left by a barbed whip. The flesh across her body was mangled and raw, barely a patch of intact skin remaining.

Most notably, one particular lash had driven its barb so deep it nearly pierced her heart and lungs. A technique so ruthless was rarely seen.

For a young woman, such a punishment would inevitably leave its mark on the rest of her life. Even in the hands of a divine physician like Feng Jiu’er, these scars could never be completely erased.

For the rest of her days, she would bear these marks.

Jiu’er had not allowed Xing Zizhu to see Xiao Yingtao’s wounds. That was something only Xiao Yingtao herself could decide — after she recovered — whether or not to let him see them.

Moreover, during Xiao Yingtao’s haze, the name on her lips had not once been Xing Zizhu’s — it had been Mu Mu’s.

Although Xiao Yingtao and Xing Zizhu appeared entangled in something unspoken, whether it was truly mutual or only Xing Zizhu’s one-sided attachment — that remained unclear.

After much painstaking effort, the wounds were finally dressed. By then, daylight had broken.

When Feng Jiu’er emerged from Xiao Yingtao’s room, Xing Zizhu and Qiaomu were still keeping watch in the courtyard.

Xue Gu and Feng Yinan stood guard outside. The whole night through, no one had dared to relax — all of them afraid that the First Prince’s men might come searching here at any moment.

“Jiu’er, how is she?” Having been barred from entering all night, Xing Zizhu had been frantic with worry. Though he had kept vigil through the night, he appeared sharp and alert — his every nerve still taut.

Xiao Yingtao had not yet woken, had not yet recovered. Until she did, he would not allow himself even a moment’s mental lapse.

Feng Jiu’er looked at him — at that face etched with worry and urgency, sincere and heartfelt, filled with unmistakable tenderness.

If only Xiao Yingtao felt the same way, what a beautiful union that would be.

She pressed her lips together and said evenly, “The scars Xiao Yingtao carries on her body — I’m afraid they will never fade for the rest of her life.”

Xing Zizhu’s large hands clenched tightly. A fury ignited in the depths of his eyes — he could barely contain the urge to seize Tuoba Keyan at once and tear him apart with his own hands.

“Xing Zizhu,” Feng Jiu’er continued, her gaze still locked steadily on his eyes. “Her body will carry these scars forever. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Jiu’er, what do you mean by that?” Xing Zizhu started, then in an instant he bristled with something between rage and exasperation. “Are you saying that because Xiao Yingtao has scars on her body, I would think less of her?”

“Yet the name she kept calling in the night…”

“I know!” Xing Zizhu closed his eyes briefly. He did not look at her, but fixed his gaze instead on the morning light that was gradually brightening outside.

“I know. I have always known. But Mu Mu — doesn’t he love you? Though I haven’t known him long, I know his temperament well enough.”

Xing Zizhu let out a silent, quiet sigh. If Mu Mu had even a shred of feeling for Xiao Yingtao, he would never cut in and take her from him — but Mu Mu did not.

“When Mu Mu falls for someone, it is an absolute thing — he would never change. And when he does not care for a woman, he would just as absolutely never force himself.”

So Xiao Yingtao and Mu Mu were impossible. And if they were impossible, then why couldn’t he try?

Feng Jiu’er seemed to understand his meaning. Xing Zizhu’s thinking was not wrong — but even so… “Don’t force her. Otherwise, I fear you will both end up regretting it.”

Xiao Yingtao gave off the impression of being too soft most of the time, making people think she was someone easily swayed, someone easily bent to another’s will.

But after everything that had happened, Jiu’er had seen clearly — when Xiao Yingtao chose to stand firm, she was capable of a remarkable strength.

They had not witnessed Xiao Yingtao’s wounds with their own eyes, but Jiu’er and Qiaomu had seen them plainly enough.

To endure such torment and still keep her teeth clenched and say nothing — who could still call her soft, call her weak?

Xing Zizhu said nothing. He simply stared at the closed door, a trace of something bleak settling in the depths of his eyes.

Jiu’er said no more, pressing him for no promises. Some things had to be resolved by the parties themselves. She only wished to see Xiao Yingtao spared any more suffering — nothing more than that.

Outside, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps broke the stillness. The three standing at the door immediately shifted into a state of alert.

Jiu’er listened carefully, then said evenly, “It’s nothing. It’s Yinan.”

She moved to meet him — and indeed, it was Feng Yinan stepping in from outside the courtyard. “Young Master, the First Prince’s guards are coming from down the street, conducting a house-by-house search.”

A house-by-house search. In other words, a full sweep of the area had begun.

Though they had long known this place was not safe, being truly confronted with it still sent everyone scrambling in a mild panic.

The most pressing problem was that Xiao Yingtao’s condition was genuinely not well.

“I’ve barely managed to dress her wounds properly. Moving her now, I’m afraid the wounds will easily become inflamed.”

The word “inflamed” was unfamiliar to everyone, but since Jiu’er had stressed it so gravely, it was clearly a very serious matter.

Qiaomu said, “But if we don’t leave, they have far greater numbers than us — we cannot hold this position.”

Both Xing Zizhu’s and Feng Yinan’s gazes fell on Feng Jiu’er. In moments like this, everyone’s hopes all rested on Feng Jiu’er alone.

Jiu’er drew a deep breath, then suddenly said, “Have Xue Gu come back.”

“I’ll go right away.” Feng Yinan immediately turned and rushed outside.

Jiu’er looked at Xing Zizhu. “Send word to the Second Prince. Have him dispatch people to protect us.”

“Would that not be forcing the Second Prince to openly admit to consorting with outsiders?” Xing Zizhu was taken aback. Xiao Yingtao had bitten through the pain and endured an entire night of silence precisely to avoid implicating the Second Prince.

To do this now — would that not render all of Xiao Yingtao’s efforts in vain?

Not to mention, for the sake of their own safety, to have the Second Prince go directly head-to-head against the First Prince like this… that might well ruin the Second Prince’s entire future.

“I also want to see whether the future heir to the throne we have chosen is truly worthy.” Jiu’er gazed toward the distant horizon, her voice level. “If he is not the kind of man who can stand tall and bear the weight of the sky, then he is not worth the Ninth Imperial Uncle making peace with him — and he has no right to that position.”

Xing Zizhu exhaled a long, heavy breath and said in a low voice, “Understood. I’ll go at once.”

The distance from here to the Second Prince’s manor was not too far. If the Second Prince acted without hesitation and sent his men immediately, there was still time.

If the Second Prince hesitated, or needed time to deliberate — it would likely be too late.

Xue Gu returned quickly. Jiu’er said a few words to her in private, and Xue Gu immediately left without a moment’s delay.

Qiaomu watched her retreating figure, then turned to Feng Jiu’er. “Then — what do we need to do now?”

To stake everyone’s lives on the Second Prince — was that not too reckless?

If the Second Prince turned out to be a coward, or if he refused to help in order to protect his own interests — then staying here would be a dead end with no way out.