Qi Jingqing didn’t wake until nearly noon. When he opened his eyes, the page was walking toward the bed with a jar of ointment and was startled to see him awake.
“Y-Young Master, you’re awake?” The page rushed forward.
Qi Jingqing rubbed his forehead and sat up with the page’s help. In the process, his robe loosened slightly, revealing his thin chest.
“What are you holding?” he asked.
The page quickly held out the small jar. “This? It’s comfrey ointment—for itching and swelling. I don’t know where all the bugs came from in the middle of winter, but they bit you all over—there’s not a spot untouched.”
Qi Jingqing paused and looked down to see red marks dotting his body. Remembering the events of last night, a faint blush crept onto his face.
The page kept muttering, “It’s my fault. If I had been more attentive, you wouldn’t have gotten bitten so badly. You must’ve had a rough night—it’s no wonder you slept so late this morning…”
Qi Jingqing cleared his throat and took the ointment from him. “I’ll handle it. You may leave.”
“…Are you angry with me?” The page looked crushed.
Qi Jingqing replied, “Of course not.”
The page insisted, “Then why won’t you let me serve you?”
“It’s not that I won’t let you…” It’s just that if you keep helping, you’ll notice it’s not just bug bites.
Qi Jingqing was silent for a long moment before finally telling the truth: “Last night… Her Highness came.”
“…What?”
“Her Highness came,” Qi Jingqing repeated.
The page wasn’t entirely clueless. After a moment of stunned silence, his face turned bright red. “Th-Then you probably don’t need this ointment…”
He hurriedly snatched the ointment back, turned to leave, then paused and turned around again. “Let me fetch some hot water and help you bathe.”
“All right.” Since he’d already said it, there was no point in being coy. Qi Jingqing agreed, and when their eyes met, both of them flushed.
The page was always efficient. In no time, water was brought in. To avoid others learning what had happened, he dismissed the rest of the staff and rolled up his sleeves to assist personally.
When Qi Jingqing undressed completely, revealing the various marks and bite marks on his body, the page sucked in a breath. “Th-This… Her Highness was a bit too rough. How could she hurt you like this?”
“I asked her to,” Qi Jingqing said as he glanced at the mirror, where the marks on his body were clearly visible. “I like it when she’s like that with me.”
The page didn’t understand, but he was deeply shocked.
After the shock, he still had to worry. “Can you handle it?”
“Of course,” Qi Jingqing said as he slowly walked to the bath. “Even if I lose control, Her Highness always knows her limits.”
The page’s mouth twitched. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
Perhaps realizing she had gone too far, that evening Feng Lezhen came to make amends.
When Qi Jingqing returned to his room after chatting with his parents for a while, he saw her sitting at the table drinking tea. Beside her, the page stood respectfully, holding a plate of pastries.
Qi Jingqing couldn’t help but smile. “Is this place some kind of no-man’s land now? How is it that Your Highness comes and goes as you please?”
“Don’t want me here?” Feng Lezhen countered.
Qi Jingqing replied, “I wish Your Highness would come every single day.”
The page quietly took his leave. After closing the door, he instructed the servants in the courtyard not to disturb them further.
Inside the room, Feng Lezhen reached out her hand toward Qi Jingqing. He smiled, walked over with the help of a cane, and crouched in front of her, rubbing his cheek against her palm.
“Is your body feeling any better?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Qi Jingqing paused before answering, “My waist is still a bit sore.”
“I went too far last night,” Feng Lezhen sighed. “I shouldn’t have been so reckless.”
“If Your Highness weren’t reckless, that’s when I’d be upset.” He gazed quietly at her.
Those eyes, once cold and untouched by the mortal world, now held a warmth potent enough to topple kingdoms—so alluring that one might willingly drown in them.
Feng Lezhen always thought herself fairly composed, but every time she faced him, she would inevitably falter.
“…No,” she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay clear-headed. “Tonight, we’re just sleeping. Nothing else.”
Qi Jingqing chuckled, “I’ll listen to Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen smiled and stroked his cheek.
After New Year’s Eve, the Lantern Festival arrived in the blink of an eye. The accounts at the camp had been tallied and payments settled. Shen Suinian brought up the matter of leaving.
Feng Lezhen paused slightly. “And Suifeng…”
“Naturally, he’s leaving too. Spring Begins is only a few days away. Around this time every year, he usually sets out on his travels. Who knows where he’ll go this year?” Shen Suinian said with a grin.
Feng Lezhen lowered her eyes. “That’s good.”
“Yes, it’s good,” Shen Suinian sighed. “For people like Your Highness and me, we can have the world at our fingertips, but there’s one thing we can never touch—freedom. Fortunately, Suifeng has it. He can see the beautiful mountains and rivers for us, live freely and unrestrained, a life completely different from ours.”
Feng Lezhen curved her lips faintly. “No need to hint at me, Dalang. Since I let him go back then, I wouldn’t go back on my word and cage him at my side again.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Shen Suinian said, bowing respectfully.
Feng Lezhen cast him a casual glance. “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“And Suifeng? He’s leaving tomorrow too. Isn’t he coming to bid me farewell?”
“He’s at the Zhenbian Marquis Manor right now. I believe once he finishes taking the Shizi’s pulse, he’ll come see Your Highness,” Shen Suinian replied.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “Then I’ll wait.”
Shen Suinian answered with a hum and turned to look out the window.
Though the new year had arrived, the weather hadn’t warmed. Beneath the thick snow, dried branches sprawled like claws, devoid of any vitality.
At the marquis manor, upon hearing Shen Suifeng had arrived, Qi Jingqing calmly trimmed the potted plant by the window. “I won’t see him.”
“…Shizi, Dr. Shen made the trip here especially. You should really see him,” the page said awkwardly. “You’ve been feeling unwell lately. Let him take a look, maybe prescribe something—it might help.”
Qi Jingqing repeated, “I won’t see him.”
Just as the page was about to persuade him further, a scoffing voice sounded from outside the door: “You think saying you won’t see me means I won’t come in?”
Qi Jingqing didn’t turn around and continued trimming the plant. “When did Dr. Shen learn to show up uninvited?”
“You think I want to come?” Shen Suifeng glanced at him and calmly poured himself a cup of tea. “If I hadn’t promised Her Highness, I wouldn’t bother.”
“So it’s for Her Highness.” Qi Jingqing set down the shears and sat opposite him.
Shen Suifeng raised an eyebrow. “Pale complexion, dark under the eyes—you look like this and still refuse treatment?”
“This kind of condition can’t be treated by a doctor,” Qi Jingqing said as he adjusted his collar slightly, revealing faint red marks. “Her Highness, however, can treat it. If she restrains herself for a few days, I’ll be fine.”
The smile faded from Shen Suifeng’s lips.
Qi Jingqing picked up the teapot, refilled Shen Suifeng’s cup, then placed the pot back on the table.
“Take your time. I won’t see you out,” Qi Jingqing said with a light smile.
Shen Suifeng stared at him for a long while, until Qi Jingqing was about to look away. He finally gave a cold chuckle. “Qi Jingqing, what’s the point of all this?”
Qi Jingqing’s gaze shifted slightly.
“I haven’t wronged you, have I? Why are you so hostile toward me?” Shen Suifeng crossed his arms, clearly determined to get an answer.
Qi Jingqing was silent for a moment. “I’m not targeting you.”
“Then why refuse my treatment?” Shen Suifeng’s eyes turned cold. “If it’s because you mind my past with Her Highness, well—you’re the one by her side now, you’re the one basking in her favor. You’ve already won. Why still care about someone who’s been cast aside?”
The page hurriedly interjected, “Dr. Shen, please don’t take offense. Our Shizi didn’t mean it like that…”
“Leave us,” Qi Jingqing cut him off.
“Shizi…”
“Leave.” Qi Jingqing frowned.
The page looked between them, then finally exited, looking rather dejected.
Now, only the two of them remained in the room, and neither spoke for a long time.
Eventually, Qi Jingqing said slowly, “It’s not that I was targeting you. At first, I didn’t want you to treat me… because I felt guilty.”
“Guilty about what?” Shen Suifeng’s words turned sharp in his irritation. “You feel guilty for being with Her Highness now, like you’ve betrayed me? Spare me. Frankly, you wish you could feel guilty. Too bad it took nearly a year after I left for Her Highness to finally accept you. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“You’re right. I thought it over and realized that too,” Qi Jingqing acknowledged.
Shen Suifeng choked a bit on that answer, then asked coolly, “Since you’ve figured that out, why still refuse my treatment?”
“Because I don’t want it,” Qi Jingqing said, looking at him. “It’s my body—I know it better than anyone. I don’t need you to confirm anything.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Shen Suifeng said, incredulous. “You’re not a doctor!”
“No, but I still don’t want you treating me.” Qi Jingqing refused again.
Even a clay statue has a temper—let alone someone like Shen Suifeng. His expression turned cold as he strode toward the door, but halfway there, he turned back.
“I’ve come again and again—once because Her Highness asked, and again because I promised my master I’d treat you. Since you’re so unwilling, I won’t return. Take care of yourself.”
After speaking, he turned and left. Qi Jingqing watched his figure walk farther and farther away, and suddenly felt a sharp pain twist through his chest.
The page had been waiting outside the door the whole time. Seeing Shen Suifeng storm out in anger, he knew things must have gone badly between the two. He quickly followed after him, trying to explain: “Dr. Shen, please don’t take offense. You know, our Shizi is usually very mild-tempered. If he’s acting so out of character, there must be a reason…”
Shen Suifeng’s face was cold, and he didn’t respond at all.
The page didn’t dare block him and could only rush back into the room to get Qi Jingqing, hoping he would come out and soften things with Shen Suifeng.
Shen Suifeng was already walking out without looking back. Just as he neared the entrance, a sharp, panicked cry suddenly came from the main bedroom:
“Shizi!”
He stopped dead in his tracks, cursed under his breath, and turned back in a hurry.
“Shizi, what’s wrong? Shizi!” The page knelt on the floor by the table, holding Qi Jingqing in his arms, eyes red with panic.
As soon as Shen Suifeng entered the room, he saw the scene: the page sitting on the floor with Qi Jingqing in his arms, the latter breathing rapidly, pupils somewhat unfocused.
His expression shifted, and he quickly strode forward, drawing several silver needles and sealing nearly ten of Qi Jingqing’s acupoints. Just as he was about to take his pulse, Qi Jingqing seemed to regain a bit of clarity and lifted his hand in a weak attempt to refuse.
But that strength was pitifully feeble. Shen Suifeng caught his wrist easily and pressed his fingers against his pulse.
The room fell silent.
Only the page’s stifled sobs and Qi Jingqing’s faint, rapid breathing could be heard.
After a long while, Shen Suifeng slowly looked up. Qi Jingqing gave a helpless smile: “I told you… I know my own body. There’s no need for you to confirm it.”
Shen Suifeng stared at his worn and haggard face. His throat felt as if it had been gripped tightly—he couldn’t say a word.
