"Brother Feng, you're awake? I was just about to take off your mask and wipe your face." Li Xi actually wanted to see what he looked like, and she intended to peek secretly, but who knew he would suddenly wake up.

Feng Monian frantically touched his face. Luckily, he had woken up early; now was not the time to reveal his true identity.

He said weakly, "I am ugly and I am afraid I will offend your eyes." He struggled to get up, but found that he could not muster the strength.

Seeing this, Li Xi pressed him down, "Brother Feng, your poison hasn't been cured yet, so lie down and rest. Lan'er and your godfather have already made progress on the antidote, so please be patient."

Feng Monian nodded slightly, closed his eyes, but his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

"Thank you......" He was about to say thank you when he felt a metallic taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Brother Feng!" Li Xi exclaimed, "How are you?"

Feng Monian raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled slightly, "It's alright, I won't die."

"Why didn't you dodge when Murong Xuan was poisoning you last night? With your martial arts skills, you shouldn't have fallen for his trick."

Feng Monian smiled faintly, "I was careless. I thought he had run out of tricks, but I didn't expect him to have this trick up his sleeve."

After being poisoned last night, he sent out a signal, and his men would be here soon. Unexpectedly, Xiao Xi brought him back to Tingfeng Courtyard.

Last night, seeing her anxious expression warmed my heart. Yet, a strange feeling stirred within me—the excitement of being close to her.

Looking at her rosy cheeks, Feng Molin felt a surge of inexplicable emotions.

He recalled the scene of them clinging to each other last night, and for a moment, he was stunned.

"Brother Feng, do you have a fever?" Li Xi gently stroked his forehead, her tone revealing a hint of worry.

Feeling the coolness of her fingertips, Feng Molin came back to his senses and smiled slightly, "Perhaps it's because it's warmer inside."

"You have a slight fever; it seems the poison hasn't been neutralized yet. We can't relax for a moment. I'll talk to Lan'er; you should rest more. Lin Da..."

Lin Da entered shortly after, "Young Master Xi."

"Find a clean set of clothes for Master Feng to change into," Li Xi instructed the servant before going to find Meng Zhelan.

Feng Molin smiled helplessly as he watched her anxious back.

He closed his eyes, and the scene from last night floated into his mind, stirring up a strange emotion within him.

He had always thought he was used to being alone, but now he desperately longed to have this warmth forever.

Meng Zhelan walked in carrying the medicine and was somewhat surprised to see that Feng Molin had changed into clean clothes.

Despite being severely poisoned, the man remained calm and composed, as if everything was under his control.

"Master Feng, this is the antidote. Take it and rest for a while; you should feel better soon. Xiao Xi said you have a fever. Could you please extend your hand so I can take your pulse?" Meng Zhelan placed the medicine bowl on the small tea table beside the bed.

Feng Molin stretched out his right hand. The toxicity of the Hundred Flowers Intoxication was so potent that the meridians on his hand turned black, making it look somewhat terrifying.

"Hmm, the poison in Master Feng's body has stopped spreading, which must be related to his powerful internal strength. Drink this bowl of medicine and come back to check on him again later."

Meng Zhelan asked Lin Dalai to help him drink the medicine, and she sat aside to observe the changes in him after he drank the antidote.

Feng Monian felt a little dizzy after taking the medicine, but he forced himself to ask, "Miss Meng, where did Xiao Xi go?" She said she was going to find Meng Zhelan, but she hasn't come back yet.

Meng Zhelan's expression was ambiguous. "Xiaoxi said she'd go to the kitchen to get you some food. Master Feng, would you mind if I asked you a question?"

"I wonder what Miss Meng wants to know? I will tell you everything I know without reservation." Feng Monian rubbed his eyebrows, trying to clear his mind.

Lin Da has already left, so now only the two of them are here.

After considering for a moment, Meng Zhelan asked, "I wonder what Master Feng thinks of Xiaoxi?"

Feng Monian was caught off guard by Meng Zhelan's question and was speechless for a moment.

After a moment, he slowly said, "I greatly admire Xiaoxi's courage and intelligence. She is kind and has a strong sense of right and wrong, which I greatly admire."

"Is that so?" She pondered Feng Monian's answer. "It seems that Master Feng is paying too much attention to Xiao Xi. I saw you staring at her back a few days ago..." Meng Zhelan was unsure what kind of feelings he had for Xi'er.

Feng Monian sensed Meng Zhelan's probing intent. He took a deep breath and answered seriously, "My feelings for her are indeed different. She is very special."

Meng Zhelan was shocked, not expecting him to be so direct. "But Xiao Xi, she... she's a man..."

Feng Monian didn't seem surprised. He calmly explained, "I know, but that's not important."

Meng Zhelan was stunned; she hadn't expected Feng Monian to say such a thing.

In her view, the relationship between a man and a woman is based on mutual affection. However, if one party is of the same sex, how should such a relationship be defined?

She asked, puzzled, "Then you..."

"I understand that feelings should begin with emotion and end with propriety," he said frankly. "But I just like her, nothing else. Before meeting Xiaoxi, I had never had that special feeling for anyone."

Meng Zhelan was silent for a moment, surprised by Feng Monian's candor. She began to re-examine her previous thoughts; perhaps, feelings shouldn't be limited by gender.

Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't know what to say. This was the first time she had encountered such an unconventional person, and Xi'er was, on the surface, a man.

Perhaps after the Red Lotus Sect incident is resolved, Xi'er will be able to regain her female identity, and at that time, the two of them might be able to be together.

"Are you really not bothered?" she asked again to confirm.

“I don’t mind,” Feng Monian answered decisively. “I do like her, but that has nothing to do with whether she is a man or not.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhelan felt a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling.

Even if Feng Monian didn't mind that Xiao Xi was a boy, Xiao Xi still seemed to be clueless.

Meng Zhelan thought she needed to find an opportunity to talk to Xiao Xi.

Feng Monian (Qin Xiaolin) gradually fell asleep, perhaps because of the medicine he had taken. Soon, soft snoring could be heard.

Li Xi gently pushed open the door and came in, only to find Meng Zhelan staring intently at Feng Monian, and thought something had happened.

"Lan'er, has Brother Feng fainted due to a high fever?"

Meng Zhelan realized what was happening and quickly waved her hand, saying, "It's nothing. He just fell asleep after taking the medicine. I'm observing his changes after taking the medicine to see if the antidote will work."

So that's how it is. Li Xi thought the poison had spread. She put down the small stove, and the charcoal fire kept the rice porridge warm. Soon, the room was filled with the aroma of rice.

She gently lifted the lid and stirred with a spoon; the porridge gradually became evenly colored. The heat of the charcoal fire slowly thickened the porridge, releasing an enticing aroma.