After treating Wu Jiao's wounds, Jiang Jiuniang asked Zhang Shi to take her to rest, and then she treated Prince Jing's injuries.

In contrast, Prince Jing's injuries were much more severe, with numerous wounds, large and small, leaving not a single patch of uninjured flesh on his body.

Some have already scabbed over, some are still bleeding, and some that haven't been treated properly have started to fester.

The most serious injury is to the leg; if it were someone else, they would probably be crippled.

"Seeing Princess Sheng'an's injury, I thought you were in a similar situation. I didn't expect you to be such a hero saving a damsel in distress. I didn't realize you were so responsible!"

Jiang Jiuniang teased him while treating his wounds.

Prince Jing was initially somewhat smug, boasting, "That's right, I am a man, and it is my duty to protect the weak in such situations."

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly realized Jiang Jiuniang's teasing and immediately said, "Don't misunderstand, there's nothing between her and me! We're completely innocent!"

"I definitely believe it, but I don't know what those people outside are thinking."

Jiang Jiuniang sighed. This is how times are. Prince Jing is doing a little better, but Wu Jiao's reputation is completely ruined.

Prince Jing was stunned; he hadn't thought that far ahead at all.

He originally thought that if he survived, he would definitely go back and apologize to Mei Lanyi in person, following all the instructions Jiang Jiuniang had given him.

Having been in danger for over a month, his only regret was that he was too proud to apologize properly to Mei Lanyi.

He was thinking of apologizing and then pursuing Mei Lanyi properly, and he wouldn't disrespect her like before, hurting her under the guise of liking her.

He was preoccupied with Mei Lanyi and never considered taking responsibility for Wu Jiao.

During this period, she and Wu Jiao were practically inseparable, sharing everything from food and drink to bathroom breaks, with absolutely no privacy whatsoever. Wu Jiao's reputation was indeed ruined by her own actions.

If it were his past self, he wouldn't have needed to be so conflicted; he could have married both of them. But now, he doesn't have that kind of ambition; he just wants to win Mei Lanyi's favor.

If Mei Lanyi doesn't like him, he never wants to get married in this lifetime.

But what about Wu Jiao?

He never had any romantic feelings for Wu Jiao. After all, given his status, he disliked Wu Jiao's family and country, and he never thought about being with her.

What if they refuse to take responsibility? Can they still renege on their promises?

"What should we do then? You have so many ideas, help me think of something! I'm still thinking of going back to pursue Mei Lanyi!"

He looked at Jiang Jiuniang with a constipated expression, not wanting this matter to ruin his plans.

Jiang Jiuniang gave him a strange look: "This is your own business, what's the use of asking me?"

"No, you need to help me think of a way to protect that girl's reputation! I don't have any romantic feelings for her. Don't you know who I like?"

Jiang Jiuniang raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you already give up on Miss Mei?"

“I had given up before, but after going through life and death, I realized that I still really like her. I want to try again. Maybe she will be moved by me?”

Prince Jing still harbored a sliver of hope, but Jiang Jiuniang said directly, "It's easier said than done. Winning Miss Mei's heart is not so simple. Your identity is special, and your marriage is difficult to control."

"I understand all of that!"

Prince Jing readily agreed, and then said, "I just wanted to tell you that even if Mei Lanyi and I don't end up together, I will not marry Princess Sheng'an. Although she is a good person, we are not on the same path. I will not allow the people of Dongting to be included in my family genealogy."

This is a matter of principles and bottom lines.

Because of this, Prince Jing never thought of falling for Wu Jiao, and even if he remained single, he would never choose Wu Jiao.

Jiang Jiuniang sighed. Prince Jing's thinking was correct and understandable, but it was a bit cruel to Wu Jiao.

When Wu Jiao got out of the car, the look of worry on Prince Jing's face was genuine.

If nothing unexpected happens, that girl has secretly fallen for Prince Jing.

Another sad person has been added to the world.

"Then you should keep your distance from her, and when faced with teasing from outsiders, you should explain seriously, protect the girl's reputation, and prevent any rumors from spreading."

“If necessary, you can recognize someone as your sworn sister, which can save a lot of trouble. Of course, the premise is that the girl is willing.”

That's all Jiang Jiuniang can think of for now.

"As expected, I made the right choice! You're reliable!"

Prince Jing gave a thumbs-up, looking much more relaxed.

"Quickly, let me see if there's any hope for my leg. Will it affect my ability to pursue girls?"

As he spoke, Prince Jing lifted his legs onto the stool with both hands so that Jiang Jiuniang could examine him.

Jiang Jiuniang examined it carefully, even tried acupuncture, and then asked seriously, "It can be cured, but it depends on whether you want to be cured or not."

Prince Jing was stunned, not understanding for a moment, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Jiang Jiuniang rolled her eyes: "You don't even understand this? How have you managed to survive until now?"

She glanced outside to make sure no one was eavesdropping before offering her advice: "The emperor won't care about someone who poses no threat to him."

Prince Jing was momentarily stunned, then seemed to understand something.

"You mean..."

Jiang Jiuniang was too lazy to beat around the bush with him and said directly, "Let me just tell you straight, if you still want to be with Miss Mei, your leg can't be healed. Once it is healed, your marriage to Princess Sheng'an will be a done deal."

The emperor allowed Wu Jiao to come to the border precisely because he wanted to bring the two of them together, which would reduce the threat posed by Prince Jing to him.

However, if Prince Jing were to lose a leg, thus losing his chance to compete for the throne, the emperor would not interfere too much with his marriage, considering that he was lame.

After all, he was already crippled, so marrying anyone wouldn't shake the emperor's position.

After thinking it through, Prince Jing immediately said, "Then let me be lame, as long as it doesn't affect my life. Ideally, it should be the kind that requires frequent doctor visits and acupuncture, something that looks serious but is actually manageable!"

After being enlightened, Prince Jing also became much more sensible.

With his leg injured, he could no longer go to the border, but he could still stay in the capital and wholeheartedly pursue Mei Lanyi.

It is said that even the most virtuous woman can be won over by persistent suitors. He believed that as long as he was sincere enough, Mei Lanyi would definitely see his good qualities.

As for Wu Jiao, they never really crossed paths. At most, they only have a bond forged through shared hardships. There's no need for her to sacrifice her entire life for this.

"Okay, I can cure you if you need it in the future anyway, just hold on for now."

Prince Jing nodded repeatedly: "Good!"

After treating his injuries, Prince Jing didn't want to stay a moment longer. He immediately took his men to find Ji Ziqiu and had him held down and beaten without saying a word.

Ji Ziqiu knew he couldn't escape this ordeal, so he obediently took the beating without even trying to defend himself.