“Kill them without mercy!”
Feng Qingjue’s eyes turned red, and his entire body seemed to suddenly emit a wave of killing intent. The sound of his anguished voice echoed within the alley, filled with sorrow and rage.
Afterwards, he reached down to cradle Mo Qingli into his arms. His heart trembled as he realized just how light she was—so it turned out her body was this weak, this delicate.
He stared at the body in his arms, his mouth repeatedly repeating the same phrase—Please be okay, you’ll be okay. I won’t let you be hurt.
Feng Qingjue was suddenly struck with a sense of regret. Earlier, why had he stopped his bodyguards from taking any action? The thought resounded in his mind. If only, if only he hadn’t stopped his bodyguards from coming out, the consequences would definitely have been different. Then… then, she would have never been hurt!
Of course, this was only an “if” scenario. It wasn’t possible to turn back time and redo anything.
Feng Qingjue tightly embraced Mo Qingli, using all of his energy to quickly run back to the Sixth princess’s residence. Feng Qingjue didn’t understand why his body’s initial reaction was to head towards her residence. All he had was a faint impression that told him if he returned back to the residence, Mo Qingli would be able to heal.
Feng Chenling stood at the doorway of the residence, waiting for Mo Qingli and Feng Qingjue to return. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a bloody Feng Qingjue carrying a dying, blood-soaked Mo Qingli.
“Wife, you, you, you…!” Feng Chenling hurriedly ran forwards, supporting Mo Qingli’s body. His palms became completely covered with blood.
Opening his mouth, he wanted to demand Mo Qingli what exactly had happened. Still, the rational part of his mind knew, she was in no state to answer any of his questions.
His face was filled with terror. He was terrified that Mo Qingli would leave him just like this!
Feng Chenling grabbed onto Feng Qingjue, his eyes filled with desperate hope. “Qingjue, Wife… she’s fine, right?”
Feng Qingjue’s eyes were devoid of light. “I’m sorry, Chenling. We encountered assassins, and in order to save me, she… please, can you hurry and call the Imperial Doctor? She… she… I’m scared… I’m so scared…”
Tears slowly descended down Feng Qingjue’s face. He had stayed in this matriarchal nation too long; he was already starting to take on some of the mannerisms of the men here. The previous him, even when met with a heart-wrenching situation, would have never cried.
But today, he was crying.
“Qingjue, don’t be upset. Hurry and get Wife into her chambers.” Feng Chenling calmed himself. He knew that this wasn’t the time for crying. For now, the main priority was to save Mo Qingli.
“Yue Yao,” Feng Chenling called, looking at the dumbly-blinking Yue Yao. “Hurry and find the best doctor in the Imperial City! Right, a medical expert is better than an imperial physician. It’s best not to alert an imperial physician on the matter.”
Alerting an imperial physician meant alerting the Empress. If the Empress knew about it, the entire empire would know about it too. There were many people who wished harm on Mo Qingli. Furthermore, the person who was able to send so many trained assassins in a public space was definitely not a simple person. Although he didn’t know their identity, he knew that they were not a person to go against easily.
“Yes!” Hearing the instructions, Yue Yao immediately ran to Ran Ge’s pharmacy.
Feng Chenling burst into Mo Qingli’s chambers. “Qingjue, you have to slowly put her on the mattress!”
“Slow down, don’t open up any of her wounds!” Feng Chenling and Feng Qingjue slowly positioned Mo Qingli into place.
Staring at the pale-faced Mo Qingli, the two people in the room were thinking the same thing—Please let her be okay, please let her be okay!!!
“Hurry and heat up the water,” Feng Chenling methodically instructed, and then turned to the grieving Feng Qingjue. “Qingue, Wife will definitely be okay! You don’t have to worry or blame yourself.”
Feng Qingjue raised his head, staring at Feng Chenling’s encouraging eyes. His heart couldn’t help but be moved, with more tears forming in his eyes. “Chenling, thank you.”
“I’m your elder brother¹, so there’s no need to thank me,” Feng Chenling gently smiled. Seeing that Feng Qingjue had calmed down, he instructed, “We need to hurry and change Wife’s clothing into something cleaner. Or else we’ll run the risk of infection.”
“But…” Feng Qingjue’s face flushed a scarlet red color. “I… I haven’t, haven’t….”
“Of course we won’t be the ones changing her clothes,” Feng Chenling said, interrupting Feng Qingjue’s misunderstanding. “I meant that we should get the maids to help Wife clean up and change clothes. It’s inconvenient if we stay here. Let’s wait outside.”
For some reason, Feng Qingjue couldn’t help but feel some disappointment. What exactly was he even disappointed for!? He couldn’t help but feel disgust towards himself as he followed Feng Chenling outside of the inner chamber.
Seeing the maids walk out of the room with more and more basins of blood-soaked water, Feng Qingjue and Feng Chenling felt their hearts shatter.
After the maids had finished changing Mo Qingli’s clothes, Feng Qingjue barged into the room, leaning at her bedside. He tightly gripped onto her hand. “Mo Qingli, you better be okay! I forbid you from being hurt, do you hear me?”
“Wife…” Feng Chenling couldn’t help but be influenced by Feng Qingjue’s raw emotions, his eyes brimming with tears.
“The doctor is here, the doctor is here!”
Yue Yao ferociously rushed into the room, reporting to Feng Chenling and Feng Qingjue. Right before she could finish, Ran Ge walked into the room, followed by Leng Mei, who was carrying several chests of medicinal materials.
Just as she entered, Ran Ge unsatisfactorily said, “Everyone, get out!”
Feng Chenling and Feng Qingjue were obviously reluctant, loudly refusing.
“All of you are disturbing the fresh air in the room. Get out! Yue Yao, you too,” Ran Ge curtly instructed, shooing them out.
Yue Yao and Ran Ge had grown up together since childhood, so she was all too familiar with Ran Ge’s attitude. Furthermore, Ran Ge’s medicinal skills were no worse than any imperial physician.
Yue Yao could only turn to the two consorts in the room. “Prince, Fourth Consort. For the Princess’s sake, let’s leave.”
Feng Chenling knew that they were only delaying Mo Qingli’s treatment at this point, making her condition even more critical. Furthermore, there was no alternative as to the doctor in front of them. He had no choice other than to believe her and Yue Yao now.
He grabbed Feng Qingjue’s hand. “Qingjue, let’s wait outside and let the doctor treat Wife in peace.”
Feng Qingjue glanced at Feng Chenling, but could only see the pale-white Mo Qingli lying on the bed. Still, he let Feng Chenling pull him out of the room. As he passed by Ran Ge, Feng Qingjue lowly warned, “If anything happens to her, this prince will definitely investigate you!”
After the ensemble had left, Ran Ge lowly released a cold sigh—finally, the atmosphere was a lot lighter!
“Leng Mei, find me the silver needles.”
That day, Mo Qingli had left Leng Mei within the care of Ran Ge’s pharmacy. Leng Mei had only been covered with some superficial bruises, with no real afflictions. However, Leng Mei hoped to remain in Ran Ge’s pharmacy to help her with menial chores, while also conveniently learning medical skills in the process. Although Ran Ge didn’t need any assistance, she felt sorry for Leng Mei’s circumstances and allowed work in the pharmacy. Seeing that she was clever and learned quickly, she allowed Leng Mei to stay by her side.
Leng Mei unfolded the array of acupuncture needles. There were a total of thirty-four needles of all sizes, shapes and widths.
Ran Ge opened the lapel of Mo Qingli’s shirt, exposing the three-inch wide gash on her chest. The wound was a faint purple color now, which Ran Ge stared at with alarm—the sword had been laced with poison.
She hurriedly grabbed one of the needles at her side and began pricking Mo Qingli’s acupuncture points.
After a short period of work, the skin around Mo Qingli’s wounds were covered with array of differently sized pinpricks. Ran Ge had sealed all of Mo Qingli’s acupuncture points in the area, preventing the poison from spreading any further.
She had Leng Mei pass her a rag, which she used to wipe away the sweat on her forehead. When she motioned to return the towel into Leng Mei’s hands, she realized that Leng Mei was no longer paying any attention. Raising her head to look, she saw that Leng Mei was looking at something behind her, her eyes filled with an inscrutable look.
Following Leng Mei’s line of sight, she turned around.
At some period of time, a blue-robed man had suddenly appeared behind her. Most striking was his pair of azure eyes, which exuded a bewitching and alluring aura. His entire appearance was extraordinarily handsome.
It was just that his beautiful face was currently wearing an expression with no small amount of anger.
“Who are you?” Ran Ge demanded, furrowing her eyes. The thing she hated most was being disturbed in the middle of treating a patient. “Didn’t I tell you all to get out? Why did you sneak back, then? Get out!”
She rudely demanded him to leave, but failed to notice the shift in expression that appeared on Leng Mei’s face.
“Scram,” Mu Tianlang coldly spit out, his eyes turning to the prone Mo Qingli. He didn’t deign to glance any longer at the other two people in the room.
“You…” Ran Ge remained in place. She was considered to be an extremely tall woman within this country, and yet she was still considerably shorter than the man in front of her. “Why don’t you say that again?”
Ran Ge’s fists clenched. Anger reddened her eyes as she glared at the unexpected visitor.
“Scram!” Mu Tianlang didn’t add any superfluous words. He furrowed his eyebrows, showing his intolerant expression.
These mortals really talked too much. He had a strong urge to throw the woman in front of him out.
Leng Mei grabbed onto Ran Ge. “Ran Ge, he has a plan to save the princess.”
“How do you know?” Ran Ge didn’t even think before asking this question. She didn’t believe that the man in front of her had stronger medicinal abilities than she did.
Leng Mei glanced down, avoiding Ran Ge’s eyes. “Because, when I was on the verge of death, it was him that saved me.”
“But…” Ran Ge was still very reluctant.
“Ran Ge, do you believe me?” Leng Mei’s eyes stared resolutely at Ran Ge. “If you believe me, then let him save the princess!”
What does this even have to do with believing you? Ran Ge silently demanded.
Mu Tianlang rubbed his forehead in annoyance. In one movement, he picked up the protesting Ran Ge, opened the door, and threw her out. Leng Mei discreetly followed her outside.
Afterwards, Mu Tianlang closed the door.
“Who are you? What do you want to do?”
“Hurry up and open up the door for this prince!”
“If you don’t hurry up and open the door, don’t blame me for tearing it off the hinges!”
The door shook with the sounds of people trying to break it down. Mu Tianlang’s azure eyes flashed with a trace of annoyance, and with a quick incantation he sealed the room within a barrier. Immediately, all external sound disappeared.
Dusting off his hands, Mu Tianlang was very pleased with himself. Finally, there was silence.
Walking to Mo Qingli’s side, he sat down and gently traced a finger over Mo Qingli’s pale face. One corner of his mouth lifted into a ridiculing smile. “For the sake of a mortal you’ve reduced yourself into this state. Was it worth it?”
¹He calls Feng Qingjue his “brother”, but they aren’t related in the blood sense. Again, they have similar last names but they’re pronounced differently in the Mandarin tones (风vs凤).
“Kill them without mercy!”
Feng Qingjue’s eyes turned red, and his entire body seemed to suddenly emit a wave of killing intent. The sound of his anguished voice echoed within the alley, filled with sorrow and rage.
Afterwards, he reached down to cradle Mo Qingli into his arms. His heart trembled as he realized just how light she was—so it turned out her body was this weak, this delicate.
He stared at the body in his arms, his mouth repeatedly repeating the same phrase—Please be okay, you’ll be okay. I won’t let you be hurt.
Feng Qingjue was suddenly struck with a sense of regret. Earlier, why had he stopped his bodyguards from taking any action? The thought resounded in his mind. If only, if only he hadn’t stopped his bodyguards from coming out, the consequences would definitely have been different. Then… then, she would have never been hurt!
Of course, this was only an “if” scenario. It wasn’t possible to turn back time and redo anything.
Feng Qingjue tightly embraced Mo Qingli, using all of his energy to quickly run back to the Sixth princess’s residence. Feng Qingjue didn’t understand why his body’s initial reaction was to head towards her residence. All he had was a faint impression that told him if he returned back to the residence, Mo Qingli would be able to heal.
Feng Chenling stood at the doorway of the residence, waiting for Mo Qingli and Feng Qingjue to return. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a bloody Feng Qingjue carrying a dying, blood-soaked Mo Qingli.
“Wife, you, you, you…!” Feng Chenling hurriedly ran forwards, supporting Mo Qingli’s body. His palms became completely covered with blood.
Opening his mouth, he wanted to demand Mo Qingli what exactly had happened. Still, the rational part of his mind knew, she was in no state to answer any of his questions.
His face was filled with terror. He was terrified that Mo Qingli would leave him just like this!
Feng Chenling grabbed onto Feng Qingjue, his eyes filled with desperate hope. “Qingjue, Wife… she’s fine, right?”
Feng Qingjue’s eyes were devoid of light. “I’m sorry, Chenling. We encountered assassins, and in order to save me, she… please, can you hurry and call the Imperial Doctor? She… she… I’m scared… I’m so scared…”
Tears slowly descended down Feng Qingjue’s face. He had stayed in this matriarchal nation too long; he was already starting to take on some of the mannerisms of the men here. The previous him, even when met with a heart-wrenching situation, would have never cried.
But today, he was crying.
“Qingjue, don’t be upset. Hurry and get Wife into her chambers.” Feng Chenling calmed himself. He knew that this wasn’t the time for crying. For now, the main priority was to save Mo Qingli.
“Yue Yao,” Feng Chenling called, looking at the dumbly-blinking Yue Yao. “Hurry and find the best doctor in the Imperial City! Right, a medical expert is better than an imperial physician. It’s best not to alert an imperial physician on the matter.”
Alerting an imperial physician meant alerting the Empress. If the Empress knew about it, the entire empire would know about it too. There were many people who wished harm on Mo Qingli. Furthermore, the person who was able to send so many trained assassins in a public space was definitely not a simple person. Although he didn’t know their identity, he knew that they were not a person to go against easily.
“Yes!” Hearing the instructions, Yue Yao immediately ran to Ran Ge’s pharmacy.
Feng Chenling burst into Mo Qingli’s chambers. “Qingjue, you have to slowly put her on the mattress!”
“Slow down, don’t open up any of her wounds!” Feng Chenling and Feng Qingjue slowly positioned Mo Qingli into place.
Staring at the pale-faced Mo Qingli, the two people in the room were thinking the same thing—Please let her be okay, please let her be okay!!!
“Hurry and heat up the water,” Feng Chenling methodically instructed, and then turned to the grieving Feng Qingjue. “Qingue, Wife will definitely be okay! You don’t have to worry or blame yourself.”
Feng Qingjue raised his head, staring at Feng Chenling’s encouraging eyes. His heart couldn’t help but be moved, with more tears forming in his eyes. “Chenling, thank you.”
“I’m your elder brother¹, so there’s no need to thank me,” Feng Chenling gently smiled. Seeing that Feng Qingjue had calmed down, he instructed, “We need to hurry and change Wife’s clothing into something cleaner. Or else we’ll run the risk of infection.”
“But…” Feng Qingjue’s face flushed a scarlet red color. “I… I haven’t, haven’t….”
“Of course we won’t be the ones changing her clothes,” Feng Chenling said, interrupting Feng Qingjue’s misunderstanding. “I meant that we should get the maids to help Wife clean up and change clothes. It’s inconvenient if we stay here. Let’s wait outside.”
For some reason, Feng Qingjue couldn’t help but feel some disappointment. What exactly was he even disappointed for!? He couldn’t help but feel disgust towards himself as he followed Feng Chenling outside of the inner chamber.
Seeing the maids walk out of the room with more and more basins of blood-soaked water, Feng Qingjue and Feng Chenling felt their hearts shatter.
After the maids had finished changing Mo Qingli’s clothes, Feng Qingjue barged into the room, leaning at her bedside. He tightly gripped onto her hand. “Mo Qingli, you better be okay! I forbid you from being hurt, do you hear me?”
“Wife…” Feng Chenling couldn’t help but be influenced by Feng Qingjue’s raw emotions, his eyes brimming with tears.
“The doctor is here, the doctor is here!”
Yue Yao ferociously rushed into the room, reporting to Feng Chenling and Feng Qingjue. Right before she could finish, Ran Ge walked into the room, followed by Leng Mei, who was carrying several chests of medicinal materials.
Just as she entered, Ran Ge unsatisfactorily said, “Everyone, get out!”
Feng Chenling and Feng Qingjue were obviously reluctant, loudly refusing.
“All of you are disturbing the fresh air in the room. Get out! Yue Yao, you too,” Ran Ge curtly instructed, shooing them out.
Yue Yao and Ran Ge had grown up together since childhood, so she was all too familiar with Ran Ge’s attitude. Furthermore, Ran Ge’s medicinal skills were no worse than any imperial physician.
Yue Yao could only turn to the two consorts in the room. “Prince, Fourth Consort. For the Princess’s sake, let’s leave.”
Feng Chenling knew that they were only delaying Mo Qingli’s treatment at this point, making her condition even more critical. Furthermore, there was no alternative as to the doctor in front of them. He had no choice other than to believe her and Yue Yao now.
He grabbed Feng Qingjue’s hand. “Qingjue, let’s wait outside and let the doctor treat Wife in peace.”
Feng Qingjue glanced at Feng Chenling, but could only see the pale-white Mo Qingli lying on the bed. Still, he let Feng Chenling pull him out of the room. As he passed by Ran Ge, Feng Qingjue lowly warned, “If anything happens to her, this prince will definitely investigate you!”
After the ensemble had left, Ran Ge lowly released a cold sigh—finally, the atmosphere was a lot lighter!
“Leng Mei, find me the silver needles.”
That day, Mo Qingli had left Leng Mei within the care of Ran Ge’s pharmacy. Leng Mei had only been covered with some superficial bruises, with no real afflictions. However, Leng Mei hoped to remain in Ran Ge’s pharmacy to help her with menial chores, while also conveniently learning medical skills in the process. Although Ran Ge didn’t need any assistance, she felt sorry for Leng Mei’s circumstances and allowed work in the pharmacy. Seeing that she was clever and learned quickly, she allowed Leng Mei to stay by her side.
Leng Mei unfolded the array of acupuncture needles. There were a total of thirty-four needles of all sizes, shapes and widths.
Ran Ge opened the lapel of Mo Qingli’s shirt, exposing the three-inch wide gash on her chest. The wound was a faint purple color now, which Ran Ge stared at with alarm—the sword had been laced with poison.
She hurriedly grabbed one of the needles at her side and began pricking Mo Qingli’s acupuncture points.
After a short period of work, the skin around Mo Qingli’s wounds were covered with array of differently sized pinpricks. Ran Ge had sealed all of Mo Qingli’s acupuncture points in the area, preventing the poison from spreading any further.
She had Leng Mei pass her a rag, which she used to wipe away the sweat on her forehead. When she motioned to return the towel into Leng Mei’s hands, she realized that Leng Mei was no longer paying any attention. Raising her head to look, she saw that Leng Mei was looking at something behind her, her eyes filled with an inscrutable look.
Following Leng Mei’s line of sight, she turned around.
At some period of time, a blue-robed man had suddenly appeared behind her. Most striking was his pair of azure eyes, which exuded a bewitching and alluring aura. His entire appearance was extraordinarily handsome.
It was just that his beautiful face was currently wearing an expression with no small amount of anger.
“Who are you?” Ran Ge demanded, furrowing her eyes. The thing she hated most was being disturbed in the middle of treating a patient. “Didn’t I tell you all to get out? Why did you sneak back, then? Get out!”
She rudely demanded him to leave, but failed to notice the shift in expression that appeared on Leng Mei’s face.
“Scram,” Mu Tianlang coldly spit out, his eyes turning to the prone Mo Qingli. He didn’t deign to glance any longer at the other two people in the room.
“You…” Ran Ge remained in place. She was considered to be an extremely tall woman within this country, and yet she was still considerably shorter than the man in front of her. “Why don’t you say that again?”
Ran Ge’s fists clenched. Anger reddened her eyes as she glared at the unexpected visitor.
“Scram!” Mu Tianlang didn’t add any superfluous words. He furrowed his eyebrows, showing his intolerant expression.
These mortals really talked too much. He had a strong urge to throw the woman in front of him out.
Leng Mei grabbed onto Ran Ge. “Ran Ge, he has a plan to save the princess.”
“How do you know?” Ran Ge didn’t even think before asking this question. She didn’t believe that the man in front of her had stronger medicinal abilities than she did.
Leng Mei glanced down, avoiding Ran Ge’s eyes. “Because, when I was on the verge of death, it was him that saved me.”
“But…” Ran Ge was still very reluctant.
“Ran Ge, do you believe me?” Leng Mei’s eyes stared resolutely at Ran Ge. “If you believe me, then let him save the princess!”
What does this even have to do with believing you? Ran Ge silently demanded.
Mu Tianlang rubbed his forehead in annoyance. In one movement, he picked up the protesting Ran Ge, opened the door, and threw her out. Leng Mei discreetly followed her outside.
Afterwards, Mu Tianlang closed the door.
“Who are you? What do you want to do?”
“Hurry up and open up the door for this prince!”
“If you don’t hurry up and open the door, don’t blame me for tearing it off the hinges!”
The door shook with the sounds of people trying to break it down. Mu Tianlang’s azure eyes flashed with a trace of annoyance, and with a quick incantation he sealed the room within a barrier. Immediately, all external sound disappeared.
Dusting off his hands, Mu Tianlang was very pleased with himself. Finally, there was silence.
Walking to Mo Qingli’s side, he sat down and gently traced a finger over Mo Qingli’s pale face. One corner of his mouth lifted into a ridiculing smile. “For the sake of a mortal you’ve reduced yourself into this state. Was it worth it?”
¹He calls Feng Qingjue his “brother”, but they aren’t related in the blood sense. Again, they have similar last names but they’re pronounced differently in the Mandarin tones (风vs凤).
