The Princess's Residence.

The study was the most secure place in the entire Princess's residence, second only to her sleeping quarters. At this moment...

Shang Changge was alone in the study, working on pills made primarily from blood, while Zhuque stood guard outside the door like a door god.

Xiao Ji's arm injury has improved, but on the surface it's not thanks to Shang Changge but to Jing Xiuming.

Yes, Jing Xiuming became a scapegoat.

Was this a decision made jointly by Shang Changge and Xiao Ji, or did the two malicious couple remain unchanged in the slightest?

After Shang Changze's large-scale search for renowned doctors and other rumors, most people in the world had heard about Xiao Ji's injury.

Furthermore, the conclusion reached by the imperial physicians that there was no cure, and the current improvement in the injury, including the future recovery, requires a relatively reasonable explanation.

In the Ghost Market, Jing Xiuming, as the eldest disciple of the Poison Doctor Granny Hua, was undoubtedly the best candidate to act as a shield.

In particular, Jing Xiuming did indeed find a way to treat Xiao Ji's arm injury from medical books and ancient texts, which made his use of this as a shield perfectly reasonable and watertight.

After a while.

"Knock, knock, knock."

After handling the pills, Shang Changge tapped his fingers on the table, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

General Xiao should have arrived by now, why hasn't he come yet?

However, Shang Changge wasn't usually one to worry too much, so after a moment of confusion, she stopped dwelling on the issue.

He got up, went to the bookshelf filled with all kinds of books, pulled out a book, returned to his seat, and placed his long, straight legs on the desk.

After adjusting to the most comfortable sitting position, I started reading page by page.

Meanwhile, inside the General's Mansion.

Xiao Ji and Xiao Zhen, who should have been out, sat drinking tea and having a father-son conversation.

Steam rose from the hot tea, filling the air with its aroma. After listening to his son's words, Xiao Zhen's expression turned grave, his shame deepening.

"So, you're saying you don't want children because your mother and I neglected you when you were young?"

But Ji'er, your situation and that of the Princess are ultimately different from that of your mother and me.

There will be no war on the border for the next few years, so you won't let your children down. Besides, although the Princess has compromised on this matter, His Majesty may not approve of it.

"Furthermore, the princess is, after all, a woman. Women all hope to have their own children. Now that your relationship is at its peak, she is compromising for you, but as time goes by and your feelings fade, she may regret it."

Xiao Ji took a sip of tea, his whole being exuding a cold and aloof demeanor, and a subtle, chilling aura of someone who had been through countless battles.

Unable to heed his father's concerns, he displayed an attitude of stubbornness and autocracy:

"This is a matter between your son and the Princess, you don't need to worry about it. Your son trusts the Princess's feelings for him and will not go back on her word."

After saying this, Xiao Ji got up, took his leave, and left.

Xiao Zhen was left alone in the brightly lit tea room, watching his son's figure gradually disappear into the distance before stepping out the door and leaving.

Xiao Zhen sighed deeply, his mind heavy with worries.

A moment later, he drank the cooled tea in his cup in one gulp. The strong, bitter tea he usually drank was nothing compared to the sorrow and guilt he felt as a father.

Hopefully, as Ji'er said, the eldest princess won't go back on her word in the future.

Otherwise, given how deep Ji'er's feelings for the Princess were, if the Princess went back on her word and chose another husband, who knows what Ji'er would do.

After a short while, at the Princess's residence.

Xiao Ji held Shang Changge as they sat on a golden nanmu chair in the study. After taking his medicine, he brought up the matter.

It wasn't to make Shang Changge feel moved after knowing, but to rehearse the statements in advance to prevent them from being leaked later.

After listening, Shang Changge felt complicated. She touched half of Xiao Ji's face and looked into the man's deep eyes: "Is it worth it, Xiao Ji?"

The question was vague, but Xiao Ji understood it. He placed his broad, strong hand over Shang Changge's hand, their fingers intertwined, and answered with a firm expression, "Of course."