Her fingers were in so much pain that she gasped for breath.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, as if even her breath could echo.

Unexpectedly, there was such a mechanism hidden beneath this platform, concealed by her mother's huge crossbow, and no one noticed it, not even she herself, who was on it at the time.

Who is this organization...?

"Cough cough..."

Xie Lingqin coughed a few more times. She tried to stand up by holding onto the wall, only to find that she had twisted her leg.

Xie Lingqin was so tired, she thought, "I should take a nap." A voice kept calling to her.

In the dim light, a figure seemed to be slowly approaching.

That figure...

"Who, who are you..."

“I am Mr. Dong, your close friend despite our age difference. You know, I haven’t even received any benefits yet. I haven’t even used the Xuan paper with your signature, and you’ve already ruined it like this. I’ve really lost out.”

"Mr. Dong...?"

As Xie Lingqin spoke, she tried to open her eyes, which she wanted to close, but she couldn't; she was in pain.

I don't know where it hurts, I just know it hurts.

"You old man Dong, cough cough... I'm already like this, and you're still thinking about... your favors." Xie Lingqin, barely able to speak, finally saw the person approaching.

"Of course, at this age, I don't want to be taken advantage of..."

"Or, do you think I'm still worth anything? Sell me, anyway..."

Anyway, Xie Lingqin didn't finish her sentence.

Anyway, that's how it is for her. It's as if she lost everything in an instant. In this vast world, there's nothing she can grasp again in an instant.

"Didn't you leave the capital to see your wife? What are you doing here?"

Xie Lingqin took Dong Lao's pulse and asked softly.

"I received a letter from home halfway through my journey, saying that my son was sick and that I should stay at home for a while. So I went back to the capital to pick up some things. I didn't get those things, and then I heard about your situation. Luckily..."

Old Dong seemed to be smiling, extremely relieved, "Fortunately, you made a friend like me despite our age difference, it wasn't a wasted friendship."

"This mechanism, this secret passage, it's all your..."

"Yes, as you know, I am highly skilled in martial arts and not simple at all. After so many years in the capital, I must have planned a way out for myself. I never expected that I would not have used this tunnel, but you have. Tell me, is this lucky or unlucky?"

"Hehe...cough cough..."

Xie Lingqin coughed violently again.

"Bear with it, I'll treat the wound on your shoulder for you." As he spoke, Old Dong pulled down Xie Lingqin's clothes. Although he had imagined it, when he saw the shocking wound, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes. A kind of heartache spread and clamored in every cell of his body, but he could only control it, control it, and control it again.

"Girl, bear with it," said Old Dong.

"Hmm, it doesn't hurt, really." Xie Lingqin leaned against the stone wall almost weakly. When she said it didn't hurt, her eyes were dim, and even her once bright starry eyes couldn't gleam.

The worst pain is over, so what's there to feel pain about now?

"Mr. Dong, you're being unusually gentle today. Did you call for help when you arrived? I twisted my ankle and can't walk easily. I need someone to help me leave..."

"It's alright, I'll carry you on my back in a bit, okay?"

"Okay, I'll take a nap."

As Xie Lingqin spoke, she closed her eyes and her arms fell limply to her sides.

She was too tired.

"Go to sleep. Once you're asleep, you'll feel better and the pain will go away."

Old Master Dong murmured softly, but his hand continued to examine Xie Lingqin.

His aged, wrinkled hands landed on her slender ankles, gently massaging and smoothing them.

Extremely light and gentle, it not only didn't wake Xie Lingqin, but instead made her feel as if she were sinking into it.

After a long, long time, when Xie Lingqin opened her eyes again, she felt herself moving. Beneath her were lean bones and slightly heavy breathing.

"Old Dong...you're such an old man, yet you're still so strong..."

"You brat, what sins have I committed to deserve this? You're the one I'm dragging into this mess."

Mr. Dong seemed quite regretful, and he spoke with great difficulty, taking deep breaths with every word.

"I...cough cough...it's not serious, why are you panting? It seems you're not old after all."

"Otherwise, would you be planning to leave Beijing to retire?"

"oh."

Xie Lingqin wasn't in a good mood. Even though she was still joking, the pain still spread throughout her body.

"Hey, slow down, you're digging into my shoulder and it hurts."

Xie Lingqin felt sleepy again. "Why do you smell so strongly of medicine?"

"I'm a doctor, how can I not smell medicine?"

"Oh, where are we going?"

"I can't show myself. Don't worry, someone will come to meet you."

"oh……"

"I originally wanted to steal the antidote from the Crown Prince's residence, but I failed. The antidote... was damaged. You won't blame me, will you?"

"It's not my fault..."

A cold drop fell onto Old Dong's neck.

Xie Lingqin fell into a deep sleep again.

When she woke up again, Xie Lingqin was already lying in a room.

The surroundings were simple and elegant, but not a familiar environment.

Xie Lingqin tried to sit up abruptly, but struggled to lean back.

The loud noise startled the people outside.

Xu Yiran appeared in front of Xie Lingqin in an instant. Looking at her still pale face, he stepped forward and took her hand. At this moment, his eyes were red, and the pain of wishing he could suffer in her place was clearly written on his face.

The gentle breeze and bright moon seemed to reflect the man's calm demeanor, but this was the first time Xie Lingqin had seen him heartbroken since she learned of her relationship with Yuwen Yao.

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