Duan Xingzhi's eyes narrowed.

He sidestepped to avoid a vital spot and then slashed out with his sword in a backhand motion!

With a "rip," Ling Yuan's clothes tore open at the chest, revealing a deep wound that exposed bone.

Fresh blood gushed out instantly!

"ah!"

Ling Yuan screamed and staggered to the corner of the wall, her face turning pale from the pain and blood loss.

He clutched his wound, watching Duan Xingzhi leap towards him, and screamed in terror, "Night Owl! You killed me today, the Third Prince will never let you go! And that Shen Zhiyi, she too..."

"puff--"

The sharp blade pierced through flesh and blood!

Ling Yuan stared wide-eyed at the longsword embedded in her heart in disbelief.

Duan Xingzhi swiftly and sharply drew his sword, his movements ruthless and decisive.

Ling Yuan collapsed softly to the ground, and there was no more sound.

Duan Xingzhi didn't look at him again, turned around and rushed out of the room, flying towards Shen Zhiyi's direction!

He took a shortcut.

Like a gust of wind in the dark night, it leaped in through the window!

"Ayi!"

He rushed to the bedside and scooped Shen Zhiyi out of the covers.

A pair of sharp eagle eyes quickly scanned her entire body in the darkness.

After confirming there was no blood or wounds, he put down the longsword and held her in his arms.

His tall body trembled slightly.

"Duan Xingzhi?" Shen Zhiyi was still in a daze when she felt a dizzying sensation as she was firmly held in his broad, warm embrace.

"What's wrong with you?" She turned to look at him.

"I should be asking you what's wrong." Duan Xingzhi released her, his eyes anxious, still scanning her face and body with concern. "Are you hurt?"

"No..." Shen Zhiyi looked up at him blankly.

"Still trying to hide it from me?" Duan Xingzhi interrupted her, his brows furrowed, his face full of anxiety and heartache. "I was here just now, and I felt the pain."

He placed his hand on her lower abdomen and said with concern.

Even he felt pain.

How difficult must it have been for her?

Duan Xingzhi grew increasingly uneasy, and his fingertips irresistibly parted the hem of her nightgown, gently caressing and pressing along her delicate, soft skin.

Until it was confirmed that the skin on the lower abdomen was intact, smooth, and without any wounds caused by a sharp instrument.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally felt at ease.

Startled by his sudden intrusion, Shen Zhiyi grabbed his wrist, her face flushed with embarrassment, "W-what are you doing..."

Duan Xingzhi suddenly came to his senses.

Only then did he realize how inappropriate his behavior was.

She fell into his arms, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, her red lips pursed, and she resisted him with the strength of a kitten.

His clothes were crumpled by him.

Her collarbone and a large expanse of delicate, snow-white skin were exposed.

A deep, dark color flashed in his eyes in an instant.

As if burned, she withdrew her fingertips.

"Let me go..." Shen Zhiyi's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

His burning body heat still seemed to linger on her lower abdomen, making her feel a little embarrassed.

"I won't let go." Duan Xingzhi hugged her tightly, his chin pressed against the top of her head, his arms tightening as if he wanted to embed her into his bones. He said in a muffled voice, "Unless you tell me honestly why you feel pain?"

"I really didn't..." Shen Zhiyi suddenly had a flash of inspiration and exclaimed "Ah!" in realization.

Two blushes instantly rose to her cheeks, and she exclaimed shyly, "Oh dear, that's not an injury, it's my period... I've had my period."

"Women have their periods every month, it will be fine in a few days."

She has always been more sensitive and afraid of pain than others.

Therefore, the lower abdominal distension is particularly uncomfortable.

Even herbal decoctions are difficult to cure.

Sunflower water?

Duan Xingzhi's body stiffened, as if he had been frozen in place.

A rare look of surprise and embarrassment appeared on his usually sharp and angular face.

Even the base of her ears was tinged with a suspicious blush.

In an instant, his brows furrowed deeply, he loosened his grip on her slightly, and his gaze returned to her lower abdomen.

"You mean, you experience this kind of pain every month?"

"Will it continue for several more days?"

Shen Zhiyi hummed in agreement. "That's all normal. It would be more worrying if they didn't come."

"It's just bleeding for a few days, nothing serious."

"It's bleeding?!" Duan Xingzhi's voice suddenly turned deep, his thick eyebrows furrowing even more. "It's so serious, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

An ordinary person cannot bear bleeding for even a day.

She was going to have a continuous flow for seven days!

And they had to endure this pain.

How can you say this is not a big deal?

Duan Xingzhi's brows were furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

Everyone says that being a woman is not easy, but he never knew it would be this hard.

"What can I do to make you feel better?" He held her in his arms even more gently and tenderly, cupping her cheek tenderly as if she were a fragile piece of porcelain.

Shen Zhiyi was about to say that he was making a mountain out of a molehill, but she met his serious eyes and sincere expression.

She opened her lips, and unconsciously blurted out the truth.

"Rub your tummy, massage your calves, and drink more brown sugar water."

"In short, try to avoid getting cold and overworking yourself..."

Before he finished speaking, Duan Xingzhi had already pulled the brocade quilt over and wrapped her up in his arms, leaving only her head exposed.

"Like this?" He looked at her anxiously. "Are you feeling better?"

Shen Zhiyi was both amused and exasperated.

"There's no need to wrap it up so tightly..."

He gently placed her on the couch, tucked her in, knelt by the bed, rubbed his palms together to warm them, slipped one arm under the covers, and once again lifted the clothes around her waist to cover her lower abdomen.

Apply slight pressure.

He leaned closer, his eagle eyes fixed on her, not missing a single expression on her face.

"Is that so?" he asked as he went. "Ayi, if you feel comfortable, you should tell me."

That way, he'll know what to do next time.

Shen Zhiyi was struck by his blunt words, and blushed so much that her neck turned pink.

She turned her head, bit her lip, and softly replied, "Mmm..."

Duan Xingzhi didn't quite hear it.

He leaned closer, "What?"

His rough palms slammed against her soft skin, sending a jolt of electricity through her.

Shen Zhiyi trembled involuntarily.

"I said it's...it feels good..." Her eyes were watery, but she didn't dare look at him. Her voice was broken and soft, "It's warm and feels good..."

Duan Xingzhi suddenly stopped.

He lowered his gaze to her flushed cheeks, his eyes darkening in an instant.

Blood boils and surges, roaring in the veins, making every inch of skin on the body scald.

He looked at her for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Wouldn't it be more comfortable to sleep while holding me?"

"Huh?" Shen Zhiyi was stunned.

She slowly turned her head to meet his gaze.

Duan Xingzhi's gaze was deep and somber.

He killed Ling Yuan, and from that moment on, he was surrounded by danger and had to stay by her side every step of the way.

She has agreed to marry him.

In his heart, she was his wife.

This will never change.

"Ayi," he repeated in a deep, husky voice, "Do you want me to hold you while you sleep?"