"Zhixu!" Fengyu exclaimed in shock, seeing that both Xie Xun and Nuanyang had fallen through the door together. Instinctively, Fengyu’s hand supported Xie Xun’s waist. Her palm came away wet with blood, and her expression changed drastically. Feiying had already rushed in and closed the door. Nuanyang was sprawled on the ground, an arrow lodged in his back, blood pouring from the wound. Fengyu cradled Xie Xun in her arms. Luckily, the two had swapped bodies, allowing her to easily lift her own fragile frame. Xie Xun’s waist had been pierced by a sword, and the excessive blood loss was evident. He had done a rudimentary job of treating the wound, but the exertion from running had reopened it, soaking the white bandages with blood. Fengyu was both panicked and distressed, especially when she noticed Xie Xun wearing the Soul Suppressing Pearl. She grew even more confused. Why was he wearing it? And why hadn’t they swapped back? Before long, there was another knock at the door. Feiying went to answer, and Zhang Lingzheng entered carrying a medicine box, his forehead covered in sweat. After discovering how badly injured both Xie Xun and Nuanyang were, Ying Si had promptly fetched Zhang Lingzheng, who now stationed himself at the door to stand guard. When Zhang Lingzheng arrived, he’d initially wondered if it was Xie Jue’s Shadow Guard in need of treatment. To his shock, it was Xie Xun himself, and he erupted with fury. "Injured again?! Weren’t you in hiding?!" Were they fearless? Why were they moving about in the Capital City during the day? Did she not know how notorious she used to be here? "Quick, treat his wounds," Fengyu shouted anxiously, dragging Zhang Lingzheng over with trembling hands. Zhang Lingzheng’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Fengyu. "Xie Xun? Are you insane? You actually came to the Capital City? Do you have a death wish? What’s wrong with your head?" "Stop shouting and just treat her wounds." Zhang Lingzheng felt as if his very soul was about to flee his body. Fengyu showing up in the Capital City was one thing, but Xie Xun still being here? With the Jiangnan battlefield in the throes of chaos, Zhang Lingzheng had assumed Xie Xun had gone there while Fengyu alone returned to the Capital City. Xie Xun’s wound was a deep stab to his waist, terrifying to look at and troublesome to treat. Fengyu’s eyes reddened as she gazed at the horrific injury on her own body. How much this must hurt! Nuanyang’s arrow wound was comparatively easier to handle. Zhang Lingzheng’s medicine box was well-stocked, and Nuanyang’s life was not at risk. Watching Fengyu pace in the room like a nervous wreck as he treated Xie Xun, Zhang Lingzheng grew increasingly agitated and finally shooed her out. "Xie Zhixu, go wait outside. Stop disturbing me." "I’ll just watch and won’t say a word." For more chapters visıt 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩 "Even your silence is distracting me. You’re annoying. Out!" Zhang Lingzheng’s irritation was palpable. More than that, he was unnerved by Xie Xun’s current imposing aura. Even though it was Fengyu inhabiting his body, the oppressive force emanating from him felt entirely different from three years ago. Zhang Lingzheng couldn’t help but dread the possibility of declaring Third Miss incurable, only to be cut down by Xie Xun’s blade. Trouble seemed to follow her everywhere. Every time he saw Fengyu, she was in a wretched state, yet somehow survived each ordeal. Truly stubborn when it came to holding on to life! She’s still not dead after all this! Fengyu trusted Zhang Lingzheng implicitly and dared not delay his treatment. She obediently stepped outside to wait. Feiying had already finished treating Nuanyang’s wound. "Feiying, why is Nuanyang in the Capital City?" "Second Young Master, upon learning of your body swap, instructed me to send a letter to the West State, summoning Nuanyang to the Capital to protect the master. He feared that with the master in your body, mobility would be limited and having only Shadow Guards around would be unsafe. Nuanyang brought sixteen people to the Capital, but now only he remains. Fortunately, the master was operating last night under the guise of a Marquis Zhenbei Mansion death soldier. The Jinyi Guard hasn’t confirmed your presence in the Capital and assumes the Second Young Master activated the death soldiers of the Marquis Mansion. They are currently conducting a citywide search," Feiying quickly explained. "When I went out to deliver a message, I happened to come across them being pursued by the Jinyi Guard. Thankfully... thankfully..." Fengyu felt her chest tighten with frustration and grief. Xie Zhixu’s limitations while using her body were only too apparent. If he had been in his own body, he wouldn’t have suffered such serious injuries. It was always her who caused him trouble. Like when Dugu Jing broke her left leg. And now this! Why hadn’t they swapped back?! Before seeing Xie Xun, she had thought he was deliberately avoiding the swap, figuring that convalescing in Ningzhou was better than moving about in the Capital. She never imagined that they actually couldn’t reverse the switch! What if they could never return to their original bodies? Over an hour later, Xie Xun’s condition stabilized, though it remained precarious. Whether the wound would worsen depended on that night, so Zhang Lingzheng had to stay in the courtyard and couldn’t leave. Fengyu instructed Feiying to prepare some simple food, knowing they were in for a long night. After Feiying set about preparing the meal, Zhang Lingzheng brought Xie Xun to sit under the peach blossom tree in the courtyard. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Your Highness, forgive me for asking improperly, but must you marry Third Miss?" "Of course!" Fengyu thought to herself. Xie Xun wouldn’t dare not marry her! If he tried to back out, she’d haunt him day and night, even as a ghost, ensuring he never knew peace. Watching Zhang Lingzheng’s grave expression, Fengyu couldn’t help but feel uneasy. "Doctor Zhang, why do you ask such a thing?" "Your Highness, Third Miss’s health has always been weaker than most. She has a deficiency of vital energy and blood, and she’s prone to illness. Her repeated injuries... have harmed her at the root. After Dugu Jing kicked her years ago, I told you then that she might struggle to bear children in the future. Now, with this sword wound striking the uterine area, it’s almost certain she’ll never have offspring," Zhang Lingzheng said, his loyalty to the Marquis Mansion compelling him to speak bluntly. "If Your Highness desires heirs, then you should forget about Third Miss." Though Fengyu had long suspected as much, hearing Zhang Lingzheng confirm it left her unable to process the reality. Her mind went blank as a deep, internal pain wrapped itself around her like binding vines. She was destined to be without children...