Lu Zhi walked out, his steps slightly unsteady as he left.

Chu Mo lowered his brows slightly and stood calmly in place, only his hand holding the medicine bowl was clenched tightly, his fingertips turning white.

He used to hate it most when Jiang Fei would always send people to urge her to return to the manor, making it difficult for him to stay by Rongrong's side. The first two times the Cold Flower Poison flared up, it was the same thing.

This time, however, she did not send anyone to urge him.

Even... Chu Mo's jaw tightened. He had already heard when he returned to the manor that Lu Zhi had stayed in her room all night.

Is it because of Lu Zhi? That's why he hasn't even called out to him?

A surge of anger rose within me, but then I was momentarily bewildered by my own emotions.

"Cough..." Jiang Fei coughed softly on the bed, his voice still very hoarse.

Chu Mo came to his senses, and the hostility in his eyes had vanished without a trace. He carried the medicine bowl to the bedside and said, "I'm sorry, Fei Fei, I wasn't there for you when you needed me." He sat down on the edge of the bed and said, "I'll feed you your medicine."

Jiang Fei pressed her pale lips together, not looking at him, but coldly gazing at the curtain beside her.

Chu Mo looked at the motionless woman and paused: "I had some urgent matters to attend to last night, and I was busy all night. I only rushed back this morning. Are you... blaming me?"

"..." Jiang Fei remained silent.

Chu Mo took the spoon, gently stirred the medicine, and only scooped up a spoonful when it cooled down: "Feifei, even if you don't want to talk to me, don't joke around with your health..."

His voice gradually softened.

Jiang Fei turned to look at him. His face was pale, but his eyes were red and misty, filled with tears and grievances.

Chu Mo looked at her, momentarily stunned.

He had never looked at Jiang Fei so seriously before, and even felt that everything about her had nothing to do with him.

But... last night, he stayed by Jiang Rongrong's side, watching Rongrong suffer from the Cold Flower Poison, feeling like she was dying, unable to move her limbs, and he couldn't even bring himself to commit suicide.

What about Jiang Fei? How did she manage to survive all that pampered life all by herself?

She said she knew she didn't have long to live.

How did she manage to process this all by herself?

"Don't cry..." Chu Mo said softly, "I couldn't be with you last night, but I've been with you these past few days, haven't I?" His voice softened unconsciously.

The tears in Jiang Fei's eyes became more and more obvious, teetering on the verge of falling.

Chu Mo paused for a moment, then said, "There's a Lantern Festival in a few days. I remember you mentioned it a while ago. Shall I go with you?"

The words almost slipped out of his mouth uncontrollably.

Tears welled up in Jiang Fei's eyes and streamed down her face. Her voice was filled with grievance: "Last night, I wanted to send someone to find you, but I was afraid of disturbing you..."

Looking at her tears, Chu Mo's earlier displeasure caused by Lu Zhi was completely wiped away.

Is it because you're afraid of bothering him that you don't go to see him?

“I know,” Chu Mo whispered, bringing the spoon to her lips. “Shall we drink the medicine first?”

Jiang Fei glanced at the dark, murky medicine, pursed her lips, and said, "The medicine is very bitter..."

Chu Mo laughed: "I'll have Green Bamboo bring the candied fruit in a bit."

Jiang Fei nodded and drank the medicine down his throat, mouthful by mouthful. After finishing, she said, "Remember to come with me to the Lantern Festival."

Chu Mo nodded, his lips unconsciously curving into a smile.

But his smile froze the next moment.

He paused, probably because he needed the antidote for the Cold Flower Poison.

But... is that really all there is to it?

Jiang Fei glanced at the disordered favorability rating above his head and didn't say anything more.

outside the house.

A young man in a black robe with his long hair tied up stood quietly, listening to the sounds coming from inside the room. The tingling sensation on his cheek seemed to still linger from the slap, and…

He reached out and gently touched his chest.

She said last night: There is only "ginger", not "slave".

But she doesn't remember.

"Heh." With a self-deprecating laugh, Lu Zhi turned and went back to his courtyard.

...

Jiang Fei remembers the Lantern Festival very clearly.

In the original storyline, this day marked a significant turning point between the original owner and Chu Mo—it was on this night that Chu Mo received a report from his guards that a wandering physician had cured a patient suffering from the Cold Flower Poison ten years prior. He then dispatched a large force, acting in the name of the Princess's residence, to search for the physician's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Chu Mo had been attacked that night.

The assassin was sent by the second prince of Wei, who was worried that Chu Mo would gain power and take revenge on Wei after becoming the consort of Yan. So he took advantage of the festive atmosphere to kill him and silence him.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the capital city was exceptionally lively, decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, a scene of bustling prosperity.

Jiang Fei walked ahead, occasionally turning her head to look at the lanterns hanging on the surrounding tree branches: "Chu Mo, they're so beautiful!"

Chu Mo, who was following behind her, smiled and nodded slightly.

Jiang Fei stopped beside a jewelry shop, picked up a red jade peacock hairpin, held it up to her head, and then turned to look at Chu Mo, her eyes sparkling: "Is it pretty?"

Chu Mo paused slightly.

Tonight, Jiang Fei was only wearing a moon-white satin dress, and her face was still pale, but her eyes were so bright that people dared not look directly at her.

"Hmm?" Seeing that he didn't speak, Jiang Fei frowned and leaned closer to his face. "It doesn't look good?"

Chu Mo shook his head: "It looks good."

Jiang Fei laughed: "You can't forget that it looks good!"

Just as she was about to take out her silver, someone suddenly ran forward and said, "The Lantern Festival is about to begin."

Jiang Fei's eyes lit up. She put the peacock hairpin back, grabbed Chu Mo's cloak, and excitedly ran with the crowd.

Chu Mo looked at her gripping his hand and pursed his lips.

The Lantern Festival is one of the most important festivals in Dayan. On this night, people of all ages and genders can go out, and there is no curfew.

And beside the most bustling Spring Lake in the city is the place where lanterns are released.

After buying the lantern, Jiang Fei pulled Chu Mo to occupy the best spot on the lantern stand. On the desk next to them, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were prepared so they could write their wishes on the lantern.

"I've heard that if a Ruowen Lantern flies high, any wish can be granted!" Jiang Fei turned to look at Chu Mo. "What's your wish?"

Chu Mo paused for a moment, then shook his head: "I have no wishes."

"How could that be!" Jiang Fei clearly didn't believe it. "How could a person not have desires?"

Chu Mo remained silent.

He wouldn't place his hopes on these obviously unreliable Kongming lanterns; he trusted himself more.

Jiang Fei was already writing with a calligraphy brush on the side.

She wrote very carefully, stroke by stroke, just like... that day in front of the sugar figurine stall, when she wrote his name.

Chu Mo paused for a moment, then took two steps forward, wanting to see what she had written.

"Don't look!" Hearing footsteps, Jiang Fei quickly covered the banner, her face slightly flushed. "This is my wish; you write it yourself!"

Chu Mo looked at her cautious expression and suddenly laughed.

There was no reason, I just inexplicably wanted to laugh.

Jiang Fei pouted and continued writing the remaining words.

After she finished writing and the ink dried, she rolled up the scroll and hung it under the lamp, but kept it tightly in her hand so that no one could see it.

It's time to release the lanterns.

Chu Mo took out a tinderbox and lit the candle in the lantern for her. The red lantern was illuminated by the candlelight and glowed red. Many men and women around had also lit their lanterns.

Jiang Fei held onto one side of the lamp, and Chu Mo held onto the other side; the two waited quietly.

After an unknown period of time, a gong sounded, and thousands of lanterns were released at the same time, like thousands of lights in the night sky, dazzling and extremely beautiful.

Jiang Fei also quickly released the calligraphy scroll in his hand.

Chu Mo wasn't particularly interested in her wishes, which were nothing more than good health and growing old together, so he just glanced at them casually, but froze when he saw the contents.

The banner contained only one sentence—

May Chu Mo have all his wishes fulfilled and live a life of joy.

The wish I made was only for him.

Even though her days were numbered, she still wished him to have his.

But if his wish were to come true, it would plunge her into utter hell.

"The lantern has flown away!" As Jiang Fei stepped down from the lantern platform, he still excitedly clutched his cloak, his face glowing warmly in the lamplight.

Chu Mo stared at her intently for a long time, then unconsciously reached out as if to touch her cheek.

"Prince Consort." The voice of the guard came from beside him, sounding particularly abrupt in the bustling night.

Chu Mo snapped back to his senses, withdrew his hand, and looked to his side: "What is it?"

The guard hesitated for a moment, then walked up to him and whispered, "Regarding the Cold Flower Poison, it is said that someone was poisoned by the Cold Flower Poison ten years ago but still survived. I have found that person."

Chu Mo's fingertips trembled.

So, is there an antidote for the poison of the cold flower?

Where is that person?

"My subordinates have captured him and taken him to an old house in the east of the city."

Chu Mo's breathing quickened for a moment, and then, as if remembering something, he turned to look at Jiang Fei.

Jiang Fei was also looking at him, her smile fading slightly: "Are you busy with something?"

Chu Mo's hand slowly clenched: "Mm."

“Let him go,” Jiang Fei replied with a smile. “The Lantern Festival is still a long way from over. I’ll wait for you here.”

Chu Mo was taken aback.

In a daze, it was as if he had returned to his childhood, to the woman he should have called his mother, who stroked his head and said: "Mo'er, go with him. Mother has things to do here. Mo'er will wait for Mother in the palace."

"Master," the guard whispered.

Chu Mo snapped out of his reverie and nodded to Jiang Fei: "Okay."

He turned and disappeared into the night with his bodyguard.

Chu Mo's favorability rating: 15.

Jiang Fei stared at his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight before turning her gaze away. She then turned to look to the side, walked to the corner of the stone steps, sat down, hugged her knees, and looked dazed.

I heard faint footsteps behind me.

Jiang Fei didn't turn her head, remaining seated: "Lu Zhi."

Lu Zhi paused for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and quietly walked behind Jiang Fei: "Princess."

"You should go back to your residence too," Jiang Fei said softly, lowering her eyes. "Don't follow me."

Lu Zhi was taken aback: "The princess is going to wait here?"

Is she truly so infatuated with Chu Mo?

But Chu Mo might never come back to find him.

Because Chu Mo simply didn't believe she would stay there waiting.

"What?" Jiang Fei looked at him.

Lu Zhi's throat tightened slightly: "Princess, why don't you return to your residence..."

"Go back!" Jiang Fei interrupted him. "I'm going to wait for Chu Mo here!"

Lu Zhi stopped speaking, and after a long pause, said, "My duty as a subordinate..."

"I told you to go back!" Jiang Fei glared at him. "Don't follow me anymore. I just want to be alone!"

As she spoke, her voice already trembled with tears.

Lu Zhi looked at her quietly, his hands clenching slightly.

Everyone in the capital knew that she liked Chu Mo.

Chu Mo valued everything more than her, so naturally she was heartbroken.

She actually... guessed that Chu Mo might not come back, but she still waited.

"Your subordinate obeys." Lu Zhi lowered his head, his clenched hand gradually loosened, and he turned to leave.

...

Chu Mo never expected that there was actually a cure for the Cold Flower Poison.

The person who was poisoned by the Cold Flower was once a notorious bandit who robbed the rich to help the poor. He was ambushed and poisoned, but later met a wandering doctor who cured him.

I've heard that the itinerant doctor has appeared in the Great Yan Kingdom in recent months.

"Pass down the order," Chu Mo instructed the guards, "everyone secretly inquire about the whereabouts of that itinerant doctor."

"Yes," the guard replied hastily and left.

As the night deepened, Chu Mo knew that tomorrow he would report to the Emperor of Great Yan and use the Princess's residence as a pretext to search for the itinerant doctor.

Once found, Jiang Fei will be completely useless to him.

He was no longer bound by Jiang Fei's constraints.

Jiang Fei has the emperor to cure her poison; whether she lives or dies is up to fate. He will also take Rongrong away; he will definitely cure Rongrong of the poison.

Everything should have been this way, and that was what he thought too.

But... is that really the case?

Chu Mo stared blankly at the dark night sky. In the distance, there seemed to be a few lights, much like the lanterns that were slowly rising tonight.

"May Chu Mo have all his wishes fulfilled and live a life of joy."

The words on that banner flooded his mind again.

Foolish woman, he never truly cared for her!

In the darkness, a faint sound could be heard.

Chu Mo paused.

The next instant, a long sword gleaming with cold light slashed through the night sky and thrust straight at him. Then, more than ten men dressed in black emerged at the same time, all exuding a murderous aura.

Chu Mo swiftly leaned back to avoid the fatal sword strike.

The man in black did not give up, and flipped his longsword to slash horizontally at him.

Chu Mo dodged again, reached out and grabbed the man in black by the neck, gripping it tightly, watching his neck snap helplessly in his hand.

He disgustedly wiped the blood off his hands and went back to dealing with the other men in black.

In the end, he only felt that his hands and body were covered in sticky blood.

But the men in black seemed to appear endlessly, their numbers increasing, and each one was ruthless in their attacks.

With a "snap," Chu Mo felt a sharp pain in his back, and warm blood flowed down instantly.

Chu Mo turned his gaze, a few drops of blood splattered on his snow-white face, like a ghost. He swiftly grabbed the man in black by the neck, but narrowed his eyes when he saw the mark on the back of the man's neck.

That was the mark of the secret guards of the Great Wei royal family.

Assassins of the Great Wei.

Without batting an eye, he took his longsword and slit his neck.

The man in black seemed wary, holding his long sword and cautiously watching him.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chu Mo thrust his longsword straight at those people. As they dodged, he darted over the high wall beside him and headed into the distance.

The man in black hurriedly gave chase.

When he could no longer hear any sound, Chu Mo finally emerged from under the high wall, his face pale and his forehead covered in cold sweat.

His hands were covered in blood. He let out a soft breath and walked step by step toward the city.

These men in black were merely reminding him not to be soft-hearted; he would definitely return to the Great Wei and avenge all the humiliations he had suffered a thousandfold.

And here...

Chu Mo glanced at the moon overhead; the night was already deep.

By now, Jiang Fei should have already gone back. That's just her nature; she wouldn't wait for him too long.

Chu Mo sneered and turned to walk towards the princess's residence, but stopped when he passed the intersection where the lantern platform was located.

It was here that he parted ways with Jiang Fei.

She said she would wait for him to come back.

Now, the place is deserted, without a single person in sight.

It was all a lie, just like that woman. She told him to go to the palace first, but he waited for three days and three nights, only to receive the news that she didn't want him.

What followed was years of humiliation and abuse.

They're all the same.

He smiled mockingly and lifted his foot to continue walking.

"Chu Mo?" A woman's weak voice suddenly came from behind.

Chu Mo's steps froze.

"Is it you?" the woman's voice continued, tinged with probing and caution.

Chu Mo stood frozen in place, unable to move, before slowly turning around after a long while.

In the dim light, the woman stood up from the stone steps and slowly walked out into the moonlight. She was still wearing that white satin dress, which seemed to glow in the night.

Jiang Fei.

"You've finally arrived." Jiang Fei smiled and walked towards him.

Chu Mo stared blankly at the woman who kept approaching him, his voice hoarse: "You've been waiting all this time?"

“Yes,” Jiang Fei nodded, “I was getting angry waiting for you and you still hadn’t come.”

"Then, after I'd calmed down, you still hadn't come..."

She smiled quietly: "Luckily, you came when I was scared..."

Her voice trailed off as she stared blankly at him: "Chu Mo, what's wrong with you?"

Chu Mo suddenly realized what was happening, and seeing the fear in Jiang Fei's eyes, his expression gradually darkened.

Was she scared?

But the next moment, she reached out and touched his cheek, carefully wiping away the beads of blood on his face: "You're injured? How did you get injured..."

The bloodstains on her white dress were quite glaring.

Chu Mo stared at her with a complex mix of emotions, his throat tightening.

But then came the sound of well-trained footsteps from afar.

Chu Mo's expression darkened, and he turned to look over there. It was the black-clad man who had returned. He reached out and pulled Jiang Fei into a dilapidated thatched hut.

The thatched hut was very dark, and as soon as the door was opened, dust filled the air, suggesting that it had been abandoned for a long time.

In the darkness, Jiang Fei frowned in disgust, but still followed Chu Mo's lead and squatted down to hide.

Chu Mo's breathing became rapid, and he could feel the wound on his back bleeding continuously.

Jiang Fei looked at him with concern, not daring to speak, her eyes glistening with tears.

Chu Mo turned to meet her gaze and unconsciously said, "I'm fine."

Jiang Fei clearly didn't believe it, biting her lip tightly.

The footsteps of the man in black were getting closer and closer; it wouldn't be long before he found the thatched hut.

Chu Mo looked at the woman beside him. The men in black had come prepared. He could escape on his own, but what if he took the woman with him...?

He absolutely cannot be arrested.

"Boss, there's only that house left." The man in black whispered from outside the door.

The footsteps were coming this way.

Jiang Fei suddenly turned to look at Chu Mo and said softly, "Are they looking for you?"

Chu Mo narrowed his eyes, looked at her cautiously, and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Jiang Fei clenched her fists tightly, and then suddenly reached out and pushed him down.

Chu Mo frowned, and a chill flashed in his eyes.

However, Jiang Fei swiftly placed her hand on his neck, untied the cloak's belt, pulled the cloak off, and then chuckled softly: "Chu Mo, anyway, I won't live much longer."

The next moment, she put on the cloak and walked quickly toward the door.

Chu Mo stared in astonishment at her retreating figure, watching her open the door of the thatched hut and disappear through the entrance.

"There!" came the voice of the man in black, and footsteps followed behind her.

Chu Mo stared wide-eyed, his face deathly pale.

Jiang Fei protected him.

Something was contracting in my chest, a sharp, aching pain.

I won't live much longer, so I ran away in his place.

If he goes out, he still has a chance of survival, but if she goes out, she will surely die.

Chu Mo suddenly stood up and walked outside.

Jiang Fei, who knew no martial arts, couldn't go very far. By the time he caught up, the men in black had already surrounded her, their long swords aimed straight at her.

"Jiang Fei." Chu Mo suddenly called her name loudly, leaped up, passed over the crowd, and hugged her in his arms.

A longsword slashed his back hard, and a sharp pain shot through him.

"Chu Mo!" Jiang Fei hugged him, her voice hoarse.

Chu Mo held her for a long time, then chopped her on the back of the neck with a chop, watching her faint in his arms. He then took out a cannon from his sleeve and fired it into the sky.

When the signal cannon fires, the guards come out.

A moment later, someone came and said, "Master."

Chu Mo looked at the woman in his arms, his face deathly pale, his voice like that of a demon from hell: "Leave no survivors."

...

When Jiang Fei woke up again, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

Thinking of the exciting scenes that unfolded last night, she almost instantly got out of bed and headed for the door.

She was eager to know how much favor she had for Chu Mo at that moment.

"Princess, you're awake?" Green Bamboo looked at her with surprise. "You were frightened yesterday, and the doctor said you need to rest and recuperate..."

"Where is the prince consort?" Jiang Fei interrupted her, asking urgently.

Green Bamboo paused for a moment: "The prince consort was injured last night, but the doctor has examined him and it is not a fatal wound."

"I'm going to see him," Jiang Fei said, and then ran towards the side courtyard.

At the doorway, Lu Zhi watched the woman run past quickly, and his hand twitched slightly.

When Jiang Fei arrived at the side courtyard, Chu Mo was still fast asleep.

However, his favorability rating has already reached 40.

Looking at the 40 favorability rating, Jiang Fei found Chu Mo increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Although it certainly can't compare to his feelings for Jiang Rongrong, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Wasn't it also because of the distance of "not being able to have" that he developed feelings for Jiang Rongrong that seemed "deeper than love"?

A servant quietly appeared at the door, holding a tube of ointment.

Jiang Fei turned her head and took the ointment from him: "I'll do it."

The servant breathed a sigh of relief, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.

Jiang Fei opened the ointment, glanced at Chu Mo who was still asleep, pondered for a moment, and slowly reached out to unbutton his undergarment.

But someone grabbed her wrist.

Jiang Fei was slightly taken aback and looked up at Chu Mo.

He had opened his eyes at some point and was quietly gazing at her.

"You're awake?" Jiang Fei exclaimed in surprise. "Your injuries are quite severe. Let me apply some medicine for you."

Chu Mo looked into her eyes without saying a word.

But the events of last night kept replaying in his mind.

This was the first time he had summoned his own guards in the capital, a move that was bound to attract the attention of the imperial palace.

For... Jiang Fei?

It shouldn't be for her.

"Chu Mo..." Jiang Fei's voice was a little softer as she gently pulled her hand away from his.

Chu Mo snapped out of his daze and released his grip.

Jiang Fei said again, "Your injury is on your back, shall I apply the medicine for you?"

Chu Mo remained silent for a long time: "Let the guards in..."

“They definitely didn’t hold back,” Jiang Fei said, looking at him. “You protected me last night, so let me help you.”

Mentioning last night, Chu Mo's expression darkened slightly, but he finally sat up and said, "It might have scared you."

"How could this be!" Jiang Fei hurriedly stepped forward and slowly took off his undergarment.

But she paused when she saw his back.

His back was almost entirely covered in unblemished skin, with whip marks, sword wounds, and numerous burn scars.

Sensing silence behind him, Chu Mo lowered his eyes, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Let the guards in..."

The sound stopped abruptly.

Jiang Fei reached out and gently stroked the scars on his back, her voice thick with nasal tone: "Does it hurt?"

Chu Mo's back stiffened.

It probably hurt at the time, but I forgot about it later.

All I remember is hatred.

A warm, soft sensation gently covered his shoulder, and Chu Mo trembled slightly.

Jiang Fei quietly placed a kiss on Chu Mo's lips: "Chu Mo, I'm not afraid, I'm just heartbroken."

I feel sorry for you.

Chu Mo's throat tightened, and he could no longer speak.

Jiang Fei applied some ointment to his wound, her hands soft and gentle, carefully soothing it. It seemed... the pain had lessened.

After an unknown amount of time, the softness disappeared, and Chu Mo felt empty inside, somewhat lost and forlorn.

He suddenly realized what was happening and pursed his lips.

“You haven’t eaten anything since last night,” Jiang Fei said, placing the ointment aside and helping him put on his undergarments. “I’ll make you some nourishing food.”

After saying that, the person turned to leave.

Chu Mo's throat tightened: "Have the servants..."

"It's alright, Lu Zhi will start a fire soon." Jiang Fei turned around and smiled, then disappeared through the doorway.

Chu Mo remained seated on the bed, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

Should Lu Zhi start a fire?

He slowly got up, calmly put on his outer garments as if he had never been injured, and then got out of bed.

...

Dining room.

Jiang Fei held a spoon and carefully scooped up the oil floating on the chicken soup, one spoonful at a time, with great care.

Lu Zhi quietly added firewood, looking at the woman in front of him.

"That should be about right..." Jiang Fei didn't look up, still scooping up the oil, talking to himself.

Lu Zhi's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his throat tightening.

He knew that she was doing it for Chu Mo.

Whether I was cooking, feeling sad, or happy during this time, it was all for Chu Mo.

Even if... Chu Mo is not worth her doing this.

“Princess…” he whispered, about to say something, when Jiang Fei suddenly scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and brought it close to his lips.

Lu Zhi was taken aback.

"Try it!" Jiang Fei urged him with a smile, "See if it tastes good!"

Looking at the smile on her face, Lu Zhi realized that she had been like this for some time now, so he no longer found it strange. He lowered his head, leaned forward, and drank the chicken soup in one gulp.

It smells delicious and tastes great.

But the drink made his heart ache.

"How is it?" Jiang Fei looked at him expectantly.

Lu Zhi clenched his fists tightly and nodded almost imperceptibly: "Mm."

"Really!" Jiang Fei exclaimed in surprise. "This is my first time cooking this too, and I didn't expect it to be so successful."

As she spoke, she stirred the chicken soup in the porcelain jar, then ladled it into a bowl. "By the way, what were you trying to say earlier?"

Lu Zhi's throat tightened, and he lowered his head as if suddenly realizing something: "It's nothing."

Jiang Fei raised her eyebrows slightly, then picked up another piece of chicken and fed it to him: "Try this too!"

Lu Zhi stared at her intently, then opened his mouth and ate the chicken from her hand.

This was the scene that Chu Mo saw when he entered.

Jiang Fei, dressed in white, picked up a piece of chicken and fed it to the lips of the boy who was a head taller than her, her smile clean and beautiful.

Lu Zhi gazed intently at her, his cheeks slightly flushed, his eyes filled with a doting affection he himself was unaware of.

"Feifei!" Chu Mo suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat out of control.

Jiang Fei turned her head and looked over, then her eyes lit up with joy: "Chu Mo!"

As she spoke, she threw the bamboo chopsticks aside and was about to run towards him, but then she remembered something. She came back, picked up the bowl of chicken soup, and held it in front of him: "Look, I made chicken soup for you!"

Lu Zhi stared blankly at the woman's back, his gaze somewhat lost and unsettled.

The chicken in her mouth still had a lingering aroma, but she had already run off to someone else.

He was just tasting the food for others.

Chu Mo looked at Jiang Fei: "Just now..."

“It’s me,” Jiang Fei smiled. “I didn’t know how it would taste, so I let Lu Zhi try it first.”

Chu Mo raised his eyes, his gaze quickly sweeping over Lu Zhi, before chuckling, "From now on, you don't need to bother others anymore, you can just let me try it..." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly.

Jiang Fei was pleasantly surprised: "Really?" Then, remembering something, she added, "Oh right, your injuries haven't healed yet, you should go back to your room and rest..."

The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance.

Lu Zhi remained standing in the same spot, feeling as if someone had slashed his heart with a thin blade—a pain that was inconspicuous yet intense.

The pain made it difficult for him to breathe.

...

That night, in the study.

Chu Mo stood by the window, looking out into the darkness, his expression somber.

The way Jiang Fei prepared meals for him;

Jiang Fei said she didn't have long to live;

The way Jiang Fei made a wish for him;

Jiang Fei confronted the man in black on his behalf;

Jiang Fei...

It's all her.

That shouldn't be the case.

She was nothing more than a pawn.

Two knocks were heard on the door.

Chu Mo suddenly came to his senses.

The guard slipped in: "Master, we've found the itinerant doctor."

Chu Mo's back stiffened, and he turned around quickly: "So fast?"

"That itinerant doctor had already accepted the imperial edict. When I found him, he was in the capital region, saying he wanted to enter the palace to meet the emperor and would arrive at the princess's residence tomorrow," the guard said.

Chu Mo pursed his thin lips, and for some reason, the first thing that came to mind was Jiang Fei's pale face when she was poisoned. He abruptly banished her from his mind.

He did all this, clearly just for Rongrong.

"The fact that our master fired the signal cannon last night and our guards were dispatched has alarmed the palace," the guard continued. "We heard that they are investigating the origins of those troops."

Where are those men in black?

"They have all been silenced."

"Mmm," Chu Mo responded softly.

His power can no longer remain hidden; it is time to act.

Tomorrow, after the itinerant doctor examines Jiang Fei's body, he will be able to obtain a method to cure the Cold Flower Poison.

Power, antidote.

He got it all.

Then Jiang Fei became a pawn to be discarded.

But... Chu Mo frowned. Last night, the image of that woman running out in his cloak kept replaying in his mind.

He had never seen anyone as foolish as her.

He was just using her!

There was another burst of hurried footsteps outside the door.

He was a guard in the princess's residence.

The guards quickly hid to the side.

"Your Highness, someone from the Imperial Preceptor's residence has brought this bottle of medicine. They said they heard you were injured and sent it especially for you," the guard said respectfully.

Chu Mo took the medicine, and the guard withdrew.

Along with the medicine for the wounds came a note with only a few words:

Wishing you good health.

It's clearly Jiang Rongrong's handwriting.

Rongrong.

Chu Mo gently stroked the porcelain bottle containing the medicine.

The guard stepped forward: "Master... are you worried about Princess Changning?"

Chu Mo's hand trembled, and the porcelain bottle slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground and shattering.

The guard hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Master, please forgive me!"

Chu Mo remained silent, only looking down at the fragments on the ground.

After a long while, he closed his eyes, then opened them again.

Even if there were some marital affection between Jiang Fei and Rongrong, it was still no match for Rongrong, not to mention... there was also the immense power, the past humiliation, and the hatred of being held hostage!

And Jiang Fei...

Chu Mo clenched his fists tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

He has many wounds on his back, but the one he got last night while protecting her is nothing to brag about.

"After the itinerant doctor visits the patient tomorrow," Chu Mo said, "prepare for action."