Senior brother is so awesome!

Not long after Suixin left, Qing'er came in, wearing an indigo tight-sleeved outfit, her hair neatly tied back in a ponytail-like style.

His pale face revealed a hint of determination, and his numb and cold eyes only showed a slight smile when he looked at her. "Master, after you've had breakfast, please go to the east wing. Young Master Situ insists that you apply the medicine yourself."

Qin Yuechan nodded, lowered her gaze, and picked up the bowl to sip the porridge.

Since transmigrating, her diet has always been exquisite. Except for a period of simple meals when she was stranded in the Chen family after rolling down the mountain, even the most basic porridge was prepared by the chef with great effort. Today, she suddenly drank plain porridge, which reminded her of when she was sick in her previous life. She had no one to take care of her and was too lazy to move. The simplest thing she ate was a bowl of plain porridge, steaming hot, fragrant and comforting.

Although she had heard what Suixin had just said, she still didn't want to doubt Qing'er. After all, the two had relied on each other for many years, and their tacit understanding was something that even Suixin couldn't match. If what Suixin said was true, who else could she trust?

Qing'er tidied the room efficiently, but when she turned around, she saw her master's gaze fixed on her. She quickly asked, "What are your orders, Master?"

Qin Yuechan was taken aback, only then realizing that she had been looking at her unconsciously. She smiled to hide the look in her eyes before raising her eyes and saying lightly, "It's nothing, I just feel it's too much of a waste to have a highly skilled bodyguard like you do these small things like cleaning the house for me."

Qing'er asked, puzzled, "Why are you saying these things for no reason?"

Without saying anything more, he placed the bowl of porridge on the table, took her hand, and led her outside, saying, "Come with me to see that scoundrel."

On the shared bed in the east wing, the second senior brother Zhu Mingquan and the fifth senior brother Zhao Yelin had already sat up and were meditating cross-legged. Only the fourth senior brother was wrapped up like a mummy and lay across the bed, his bored peach blossom eyes darting around. When he saw someone push the door open and enter, and saw that it was Qin Yuechan, he said happily, "Chan'er, you've finally come!"

She quickly put her finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture, and walked over to scold him in a low voice, "Didn't you see that Second Senior Brother and Fifth Senior Brother are meditating? What if you go into qi deviation while making noise?"

Situ Ze ignored her and turned away, his stiff, immobile fingers tugging at her small hand as he looked at her pitifully. "Hurry up and change my dressing. If the wound is better, can you please stop bandaging it so tightly?"

Looking at him like this, she couldn't help but burst out laughing. No one would be used to being wrapped up like a rice dumpling.

Fearing that his shouting would disturb his second senior brother and the others' meditation, they began to change his dressing.

After several practices, Yuechan's technique had become much more skillful. With Qing'er's help, she quickly cleaned up all the wounds on his body. Some of them had already scabbed over, but after yesterday's bumpy ride, several wounds reopened. Fortunately, Situ Ze was physically strong, so it wasn't a big problem.

The little hand playfully tied an adorable bow on his chest, while the bow on his head was even bigger, almost as big as his face, making him exceptionally cute with his pair of bright, darting eyes.

Even though Qing'er was very patient, she had no choice but to pick up the medicine bottle and leave the east wing first. Situ Ze, however, felt nothing and comfortably enjoyed her "gentle" service.

Just then, Zhu Mingquan finished his meditation and saw her sitting on the bed with a smile, laughing and joking silently with Situ Ze. A strange look flashed in his eyes.

Qin Yuechan felt a focused gaze and looked up, her eyes meeting his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, which seemed veiled in mist, making it impossible to see the depths within.

Subtly brushing aside the sudden discomfort, she said with a smile, "Second Senior Brother, are you feeling better?"

Zhu Mingquan withdrew his gaze and nodded gently, "Much better."

The subtle aloofness puzzled Qin Yuechan, and the atmosphere in the room became somewhat awkward. Fortunately, her fifth senior brother finished his meditation a short while later. When he saw her, a hint of shyness appeared on his dark face, and he grinned and said, "Junior Sister."

She nodded with a smile and made up an excuse to escape from the east wing. She tried her best to shake off the disappointment in her heart and told herself that she was being too sensitive, or that her second senior brother might be too tired, otherwise why would he be distant from her?

At noon, Zhong Zhichen returned to the farm with a gloomy face. One by one, people dressed in black went in and out of the main house, and after a while, they came out again and disappeared quietly.

Although he did not tell her the truth, Qin Yuechan still sensed the seriousness of the situation. After sitting in the courtyard with Qing'er for a while, she couldn't help but go into the main house.

In the slightly dilapidated house, a dark purple figure stood with his hands behind his back by the window. When he saw her come in, his tightly pursed thin lips moved slightly, but he remained silent.

Her heart skipped a beat. Zhong Zhichen had been looking into the courtyard the whole time? Was he watching her? Or was he waiting for her to come in and ask him something?

She took a step to his side, her little hand instinctively reaching out to hold his. His hand was as warm as ever, almost burning hot for her, whose hands and feet were always cold.

Meeting his dark, unfathomable gaze, she parted her lips slightly, "What exactly happened? Why did you keep it from me?"

He looked down at her, gazing at her for a long time, and finally said softly, "It's better that you don't know, with me here."

With just a simple sentence, a warm feeling quietly swept through Qin Yuechan's heart. A faint joy curved her red lips as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"With you, I'm not afraid of anything, but I want to share the burden with you and not allow you to bear it all by yourself."

His body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and he placed his large hand on her back, gently stroking it.

As if he had made a huge decision, his voice was hoarse with suppressed emotion, "I can tell you, but cowards are not allowed to be afraid."

She giggled, tilted her head back, and said defiantly, "I'm not as weak as you think!"

He tapped her forehead with his large hand and chuckled, "Silly girl."

Qin Yuechan had no idea what important things he was going to say, but he actually took her on horseback, refused the guards who wanted to follow, and galloped wildly across a large grassland at the foot of the mountain!

It wasn't her first time riding a horse, but having him holding her from behind made her feel incredibly safe. The sharp wind swirled around her with the swift hooves of the horse, her long hair fluttered in the breeze, and the rich, earthy scent of the secluded grassland filled her nostrils, bringing her an unprecedented sense of comfort.

Just when she thought the two of them would keep running, Zhong Zhichen pulled on the reins, gradually slowed down, and lifted her off the horse.

The robust black horse grazed on its own to one side, its posture haughty yet elegant. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "After following you for so long, the horse has taken on your image!"

Suddenly, her waist tightened, and she realized she had said the wrong thing. She tilted her head back with a grin, but she couldn't see a trace of anger on his face.

"I mean, even the horses have caught your air of nobility!"

Since no one was around, she didn't hold back in flattering him.

But who is Zhong Zhichen? She rose to that highest position almost entirely amidst flattery. The ministers' eloquent tongues were far superior to hers, which was clumsy and inarticulate.

Eagle Eyes glanced down at her, released her waist, and took her hand, walking slowly across the deserted grass.

Looking at his somewhat heavy back, Qin Yuechan's heart, which had just relaxed for a moment, tightened again, waiting for him to reveal the truth.

Finally, after walking for a while, Zhong Zhichen stopped, turned around and looked at her intently, his handsome face showing a hidden expression. "Chan'er, if I told you that the soldiers who suddenly appeared in the training ground were from Xuanwu Kingdom, would you believe me?"

Her eyes flickered, and she turned her head slightly. "Don't tell me this is all Qin Muhan's conspiracy."

She sensed something was amiss when Yun Ting arrived yesterday, but she couldn't believe it. After all, she had given all her feelings to Qin Muhan during the two years she spent in Xuanwu Kingdom. Her intuition told her that Qin Muhan felt the same way. However, since Zhong Zhichen would say such a thing, it must be based on something. So, what was his intention?

He lifted her chin with his large hand and turned her face towards him, looking at her intently. "My Chan'er isn't stupid. This matter is related to an extremely mysterious cult, and Qin Muhan is following the cult's orders!"

Qin Yuechan was somewhat confused. "A cult?" Her eyes lit up, and she said with certainty, "Mu Han must have been coerced, his mind controlled by this damned cult, to do such a thing! No, he must be in great danger now! We have to find a way to save him!"

She gripped his hand tightly, trying to convince herself of the truth of her suspicion. She didn't understand why, but amidst her nervousness, a sliver of hope flickered through her mind, like a tiny planet in the vast universe, pitifully insignificant, yet undeniably real.

Zhong Zhichen's silence shattered the connection she had painstakingly made between Qin Muhan and the cult. He slowly shook his head, "He was not bewitched or manipulated in any way, because he himself is an elder of the cult."

"That's impossible!" she said decisively, but when she met his eyes, which showed a hint of pain, she tried hard to suppress the excitement surging in her heart. An unnatural bitter smile appeared on her lips. She knew that she must look terrible even without looking in a mirror.

"Just tell me, I... I'm listening," she said softly.

Zhong Zhichen's deep, cold eyes flashed, and he continued, "On the eve of the martial arts tournament, the emperor of Xuanyuan Kingdom suddenly passed away, and Crown Prince Pei Yulin succeeded to the throne. At the same time, imperial edicts were posted throughout Xuanyuan Kingdom, saying that the regent was extremely powerful and intended to rebel, and wanted to take back military power."

He spoke casually, as if he were talking about someone else's affairs. She asked in confusion, "Why would the Crown Prince suddenly launch an attack? With your power, he can't possibly cause any real trouble!"

“You’re wrong.” Zhong Zhichen gazed at the distant, towering mountains. “How could an emperor not have his own subordinates? Even though I hold military power in Xuanyuan, there are bound to be people with ulterior motives in a large forest. Besides, he has announced the regent’s rebellion to the world. If the army still follows me, wouldn’t they also be branded as traitors?”

---Aside---

The books I ordered from Dangdang.com arrived today. Since my mom lives in a small town, she had to take a bus to the city to pick them up. But after all the hard work of carrying that box of books back, not a single one was the correct one! They sent the wrong books! Oh my god! I was so frustrated. I started taking pictures and requesting exchanges, it was such a hassle! Ugh, I'm never buying books from Dangdang again!