Feng Jiang was startled by him and quickly said, “Fourth Imperial Uncle, you are awake?”

Feng Li did nothing but furrow his brow deeply. His palm gathered force — he was clearly preparing to strike back!

Feng Jiang panicked. “Fourth Imperial Uncle, please do not be angry! We are only tending to your wounds. We have absolutely no intention of disrespecting you in any way!”

With his clothing undone like this, he naturally would be furious.

Gravely injured as he was, a man with such profound inner energy could send Feng Jiu’er to her death with a single casual palm strike!

Feng Jiang had already prepared himself — if Fourth Imperial Uncle truly lashed out, he would throw himself forward and shield Jiu’er.

He could not very well strike Fourth Imperial Uncle while he was in this state. He could only take the blow in Jiu’er’s place.

A pain like his chest being torn apart caused Feng Li to gather his true energy fully into his palm.

Through his blurred consciousness, he could not make out who was before him. He knew only that someone was touching his body!

Yet Feng Jiu’er, as though completely unaware of the danger, continued to apply medicine to his wound without pause.

The searing pain made large beads of sweat break out at Feng Li’s temples.

That palm was moments away from being sent out.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, please do not strike — she does not know any martial arts…”

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, Jiu’er is frail and could not withstand a single blow from you. Could you not be so fierce toward me?”

Jiu’er spoke as though nothing were the matter, and having applied the medicine, she calmly put the vial away.

That voice… Feng Li’s fingertips tightened, and the true energy gathered in his palm dissipated by several degrees.

Jiu’er took up the bandages she had readied and gently applied medicine to the area around Feng Li’s wound.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, put your hand down. Stirring up your true energy will only worsen your injuries.”

“Jiu’er…”

“Yes, it is me, Jiu’er. Fourth Imperial Uncle, be good and put your hand down.”

Feng Jiang watched as Feng Jiu’er, with just a few quiet words, somehow made Fourth Imperial Uncle comply and lower his hand, settling without further resistance.

“Fourth Imperial Uncle, the medicine will hurt a great deal. Please bear with it.”

Feng Li said nothing. But the cold sweat on his face and brow grew more and more.

“His injuries are very serious. The sword energy has nearly reached his heart.”

Feng Jiu’er’s expression grew grave. Seeing Fourth Imperial Uncle’s injuries like this, no matter how composed she appeared on the surface, her heart was still seized again and again by waves of sharp pain.

Feng Li’s consciousness had not truly returned. His whole mind was hazy and confused.

At first, when he sensed someone touching his body, his instinct had been to drive that person away. But then, somewhere in that dim and foggy state, he heard Jiu’er’s voice.

He had only heard that voice for a single night, and yet after hearing it, it had been branded deep into his heart.

The medicine was undeniably painful, and combined with Feng Jiu’er’s pressing and kneading technique — Feng Jiang had not been without experience of what that felt like.

But he had absolute faith in Jiu’er.

It was painful now, yet soon it would be better. As long as he could endure it.

“You can also insert needles?” When he saw Jiu’er take out the needle case and press several silver needles down at once between her fingers, Feng Jiang’s admiration rose like a river in full flood.

Other physicians always inserted needles one by one, slowly. But Jiu’er applied multiple needles at once.

How could there be such a remarkable needling technique? Most importantly, he simply believed — even inserting needles this way, Jiu’er would not place a single one incorrectly!

Feng Jiu’er’s needling technique had indeed been refined to a state of absolute mastery.

After more than a dozen silver needles had been set, she picked up a towel and gently wiped the sweat from Feng Li’s face.

Feng Li was watching her — his eyes unfocused, his consciousness clearly still not fully returned.

She gently wrapped her hand around his, and said softly, “It will stop hurting soon. Fourth Imperial Uncle, do not be frightened.”

Feng Jiang had been about to say that Fourth Imperial Uncle would never be frightened — but Fourth Imperial Uncle had truly, because of Feng Jiu’er’s words, let the deep furrows at his brow slowly ease and smooth away.

Perhaps Fourth Imperial Uncle was not frightened. Perhaps it was simply that Jiu’er’s voice could make him relax.

Even the pain seemed not quite so intense.

Before long, Jiu’er removed the silver needles and applied medicine to Feng Li once more.

Finally, she took up clean cloth strips and wrapped his wound again.

“Are there any other injuries elsewhere on his body?”

“None.” Feng Jiang said quickly.

Jiu’er let out a breath of relief, then took Feng Li’s wrist again to read his pulse.

His pulse was still very erratic — a result of the severe internal injuries. But neither of them was a skilled martial artist, and they had no way of channeling energy into him to aid his healing.

“Imperial Father…” The words slipped out of Jiu’er’s mouth, and Feng Jiang immediately turned in alarm to look toward the door.

Jiu’er frowned. Third Imperial Brother seemed very frightened of Imperial Father. Was Imperial Father truly that terrifying?

“I only meant — is Imperial Father’s martial arts very advanced? Would it be possible to ask him to channel energy into Fourth Imperial Uncle?”

Fourth Imperial Uncle’s external wounds were severe, but what was truly keeping his consciousness from returning was the internal injury.

The injury was too serious. If not for the woman from earlier channeling energy into him, she did not know whether Fourth Imperial Uncle could have held on.

Yet that woman’s identity remained unknown. And if the price of channeling energy into Fourth Imperial Uncle had been the liberty she took with him —

Then even if Fourth Imperial Uncle survived, when he learned of it afterward, he would likely be furious beyond all bearing.

She… did not want to see Fourth Imperial Uncle’s honor be tarnished. It felt exactly as though her own honor were being tarnished.

“Imperial Father… his martial arts are indeed very formidable, but…” Feng Jiang did not know whether Imperial Father would be willing. He was, after all, the sovereign of the nation.

In truth, over all these years, Feng Jiang had never understood what sort of relationship existed between Imperial Father and Fourth Imperial Uncle.

Fourth Imperial Uncle kept himself apart from all people — including Imperial Father. They seemed never to have any dealings with one another at all.

If not for the fact that Feng Jiang had stubbornly followed Fourth Imperial Uncle everywhere and refused to leave, Fourth Imperial Uncle would likely not have given him a second glance.

“No — the injury is too serious. There is no time to wait.”

Jiu’er fed Feng Li a pill, then stood and looked at Feng Jiang. “Third Imperial Brother, go and prepare a carriage. I need to bring Fourth Imperial Uncle into the palace.”

As she was about to leave, she suddenly said, “Wait — put Fourth Imperial Uncle’s mask on for him first!”

She did not know why Fourth Imperial Uncle covered his remarkable, matchless face, but Jiu’er believed there must be a reason.

She took up the mask and placed it on Feng Li’s face herself.

That face at once became stern, cold, and imperious once more.

He was again that Fourth Imperial Uncle — so remote and forbidding that no one dared approach — yet whichever Fourth Imperial Uncle he was, she liked them both.

Jiu’er took his hand and held his large palm firmly in both of hers.

“Do not be frightened, Fourth Imperial Uncle. I will certainly heal you!”

Feng Jiu’er had brought the man back directly, and now wanted him to help with the healing. This was something Feng Qiongcang had not quite anticipated.

However, Feng Li’s injuries this time were indeed very grave — which showed that the people who had slipped into the capital were truly no ordinary matter.

“Even if his wounds are this serious, even if I channel my energy into him, there is no guarantee he will survive.”

Feng Qiongcang sat in his chair and looked at the man who had been laid upon the bed, his expression entirely without feeling.

Feng Jiu’er understood that one could not measure the bonds of the imperial family by the standards of ordinary household brothers and sisters.

But for Imperial Father to be so cold toward Fourth Imperial Uncle still left her feeling somewhat taken aback.

At the very least, he ought to show even a trace of concern, ought he not?

Why was Imperial Father so cold and indifferent toward Fourth Imperial Uncle?