Feng Jiu’er was occupied for nearly an entire day. Mu Mu stayed in the room for the better part of that day alongside her.

Such a prolonged expenditure of energy meant that by the time it was over, a faint pallor had risen across his face.

When Qiao Mu finally emerged from the room, everyone surged forward at once. Xiao Yingtao asked urgently: “How is he? What happened?”

If they had come out quickly, there would be no need to ask — that would mean the miracle had truly been lost.

But they had endured for the better part of a day. From early morning until now, when the sun was nearly setting.

The longer they held on, the more it proved that the miracle was real.

Qiao Mu let out a long breath, tinged with heartache. “He’s alive.”

Xiao Yingtao’s entire body went weak in an instant, and she nearly crumpled to the ground.

The tension she had held coiled inside her for more than half a day — the moment it released, she herself nearly fainted from the strain.

Xing Zizhou caught her, steadied her, and then looked to Qiao Mu with intent eyes: “Since he’s been pulled back — why… that expression?”

Qiao Mu’s face was not good at all. It was plain that her mood was very poor. Yet if he had been saved, shouldn’t she be relieved?

Everyone’s nerves were taut. Eyes fixed on Qiao Mu, they waited for her to explain.

Qiao Mu looked at each of them in turn, then shook her head and said quietly: “He didn’t only suffer poisoning. His meridians have also been destroyed. Now he…”

Qiao Mu truly didn’t want to say it — why did every terrible thing have to happen to Feng Yinan of all people?

He had worked so hard to stand again. So hard to walk. Truly so hard.

She clenched her palms, and forced the words out through gritted teeth: “He is completely paralyzed. He can no longer walk — and his hands can’t move either.”

“How — how could this be?” Xiao Yingtao nearly buckled again. If she hadn’t been in Xing Zizhou’s arms, she would have collapsed on the spot.

“He fought so hard to recover. So hard…”

“There’s more.” Qiao Mu drew a deep breath and said, forcing herself: “The poison the intruder used was vicious beyond measure. His throat has been damaged by the poison. Now, even when he wakes — he cannot speak.”

In other words — even when he woke, his hands and feet would not move, and his mouth could not form words. Aside from eating and sleeping, he would be capable of nothing at all.

Xing Zizhou had not been at Tianji Hall for long, and he was not especially familiar with what went on inside. Hearing that Feng Yinan had been subjected to such a devastating poison, and that his entire network of meridians had been severed, he clenched his large hand into a fist and demanded: “Who did this? Did Yinan have an enemy?”

Tianji Hall may have harbored many secrets, and perhaps there truly were those who watched everyone within these walls with hungry, predatory eyes — but that absolutely would not include Feng Yinan.

The injury to Yinan’s leg had predated the founding of Tianji Hall. In the several months since Tianji Hall was established, Feng Yinan had not been involved in a single significant matter concerning it.

Even if someone intended to ambush or assassinate someone from Tianji Hall, they would absolutely never target Feng Yinan.

Who on earth was behind this? And what did they want?

“In these past months, Yinan has done nothing but practice standing in the rear courtyard, and stayed in his room reading medical texts. How could he possibly have made an enemy?”

Qiao Mu also could not fathom it. What purpose could whoever had struck this blow possibly have?

“It must be him — it must be him!” Xiao Yingtao suddenly clenched her palm and pulled herself upright from Xing Zizhou’s arms.

She turned and charged straight toward the gate of the east wing courtyard.

“She’s definitely going to find Tuoba Keyan!” Qiao Mu said, gripping her fist, brow deeply furrowed.

The atmosphere last night toward Tuoba Keyan had indeed been very hostile, to the point that after arriving, he had left soon after with a darkened expression.

Could it really be Tuoba Keyan? Apart from him, there was simply no one else who would have any reason to move against Feng Yinan.

Had it truly been because Tuoba Keyan feared that once Feng Yinan fully recovered, he would seek revenge — and so, while Yinan had only just gotten back on his feet, his limbs not yet fully restored to coordination and his mind dulled by drink, he had struck first, comprehensively destroying Yinan before he could pose any threat?

“Xiao Yingtao — don’t act rashly.” Xing Zizhou went after her.

Qiao Mu drew a deep breath. Her expression grew increasingly grave.

In the end, she glanced at Yanu: “I’m going to see what’s happening. You stay here and watch — see if Feng Jiu’er or Mu Mu need anything.”

Yanu looked at her and hadn’t yet reacted before Qiao Mu had already turned and walked away.

Yanu looked at Qiao Mu’s retreating figure, then back at the door in front of him, caught in a dilemma.

Feng Jiu’er emerged two incense sticks later. Mu Mu was still inside, keeping watch over Feng Yinan.

As things stood, Feng Yinan had barely managed to hold onto his life — only to wake and find that his hands and feet could not move, his mouth could not speak, and all he could do was lie in bed with only his eyes capable of blinking. Even eating posed difficulties.

He had been overcome with emotion and had lost consciousness twice from the agitation. After that last time he came around, he finally settled into a kind of stillness.

But that stillness was nothing but despair — the dead silence of a man who could see no ray of hope left in his life.

When Feng Jiu’er came out, only Yanu was waiting outside. At the sight of her emerging, Yanu broke into urgent gestures.

Feng Jiu’er’s expression shifted: “What? They’ve gone to find Yan?”

Those reckless people — how could they be so impulsive? The truth of the matter wasn’t even clear yet.

“Yanu, go and prepare some congee for me — the thinnest consistency possible. I’ll be back shortly.”

Yanu nodded and turned, heading for the kitchen.

Feng Jiu’er didn’t dare linger. She went straight in the direction of the west wing.

Sure enough, before she even reached the west wing, she could faintly hear the sounds of a scuffle.

She pushed through the door and said in a clear, firm voice: “Stop — everyone stop!”

Xue Gu withdrew her palm and fell back to stand in front of Tuoba Keyan, making it plainly clear that she would not permit anyone to harm him.

Xiao Yingtao still wanted to charge forward, but Xing Zizhou caught her and pulled her back. “Xiao Yingtao — don’t act rashly. Feng Jiu’er is here now. Whatever there is to say, let Feng Jiu’er ask.”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Feng Jiu’er. Just moments ago, Qiao Mu and Xing Zizhou had both joined in — but both had held back, given that they were facing Xue Gu.

As for Xiao Yingtao — she had gone after Tuoba Keyan’s life in earnest. She had shown no restraint. Xue Gu’s arm bore a knife wound left by her.

Not deep — but blood had seeped through, staining her sleeve red.

Tuoba Keyan simply stood to one side, watching them without saying a word.

“What is the meaning of this — people on the same side drawing blades on each other?” Feng Jiu’er strode forward and snatched the short knife from Xiao Yingtao’s hand. With a clang, she hurled it to the ground in the distance.

“Xue Gu — you’re injured?” She moved to examine Xue Gu’s wound.

Xue Gu drew her arm back, out of sight, and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

The news of what had happened to Feng Yinan weighed on her heart as well. Several times she had wanted to go and find out how he was doing — but she had been afraid to step away even for a moment, lest something happen to Keyan in her absence.

Every person of standing in this rear courtyard, aside from herself and Feng Jiu’er, bore some degree of hostility toward Tuoba Keyan. With Feng Yinan’s situation still unclear, she had feared exactly this — that they would come seeking revenge from Keyan.

And now, as it turned out, her fears had been well-founded.