The crimson gate was opened from the inside.
"The Madam has ordered that all these things be taken down..."
A throng of people, all dressed as household servants, poured out.
Liu Jin stepped forward, "I am looking for your young lady."
The leader, upon hearing this, showed impatience. "Go, go... our young lady is gravely ill and cannot receive visitors!"
She had visited Tianwaitian Restaurant just two days ago; how could she be so gravely ill so quickly?
"Young man, please go and announce me. Your young lady met with me before, and she left something with me..."
"I am from Tianwaitian Restaurant..."
Initially, the man had been impatient, but upon hearing the latter half of her sentence, his expression changed.
"Wait..."
He then went inside.
The red decorations at the entrance were all being removed.
"Madam, it's them!"
A woman of dignified bearing emerged, appearing to be around forty years of age.
She paused for a moment upon seeing Liu Jin.
"Please invite them in.
"Esteemed guests, please come in!"
Liu Jin acted as if she was certain Madam Wu would invite her in immediately. Her expression was calm, and she said nothing further throughout the process.
"This is the guest room. Please wait here for the time being. Once our Madam has finished speaking with that young lady, she will naturally return..."
Qin Jiujiu and Xie Jing were shown to separate rooms, while Liu Jin was invited in by the Madam.
Either the Wu family had some connection to Tianwaitian Restaurant, or Madam Wu recognized Liu Jin's identity at a glance.
"There's something fishy about this Wu family," Xie Jing suddenly remarked.
Qin Jiujiu, who was sitting nearby, eating pastries from the table, looked at him.
Xie Jing rarely spoke like this. For him to say so today, it seemed the Wu family indeed had problems.
"Could it be demons?" Qin Jiujiu's first thought was this.
After all, she had been suffering from their effects recently.
"What? Little Jiujiu, are you scared?"
There was a hint of schadenfreude in his tone.
"No matter what, don't I still have you?" she said, taking a bite of a peanut crisp.
Hearing this, Xie Jing's lips curved into a smile. With a flash, he was behind her.
He rested his hands on the table in front of her, encircling her in his embrace, and brought his head close to her ear, exhaling softly.
"Little Jiujiu, you've entrusted your life to me?"
These words felt familiar.
Qin Jiujiu pondered, thinking that the villain's current trajectory was a bit suggestive, not at all like someone who shunned women.
She even conjured up some rather colorful images in her mind.
Stop!
Qin Jiujiu quickly dismissed her thoughts and then pushed back.
Her head bumped squarely against Xie Jing's chin.
"Ouch..."
Qin Jiujiu seized the opportunity to break free from his embrace. Once she escaped his scent, she gave Xie Jing a triumphant smile.
"Little Jiujiu, you're being naughty~"
A smile appeared on Xie Jing's face, and paired with his low, hoarse voice, it was strangely unsettling.
Qin Jiujiu shivered and then heard him say, "Little Jiujiu~ Come here."
As if compelled by an unseen force, she moved towards Xie Jing on her own accord.
"Little Jiujiu is much better now, isn't she? Hug me."
Qin Jiujiu's mind went blank for a moment, her gaze vacant.
But smelling his scent, she inexplicably felt at ease and wanted to be closer to him.
"It's cold..."
Everything around was cold.
She herself felt cold.
Qin Jiujiu's teeth chattered, and her body trembled. She reached out to hug Xie Jing's waist, but her whole body was shaking.
Xie Jing used his internal energy to warm himself up, but Qin Jiujiu's condition did not improve.
He lowered his head to look at the back of her neck.
The red petals on her skin were incredibly vibrant.
Only one last corner remained before it would fully bloom.
He reached out and touched the alluring, bewitching petal. Its vibrant color, however, exuded danger.
He continued to caress it, then, as if possessed, lowered his head.
The moment his lips touched hers, Qin Jiujiu flinched.
Xie Jing bit down gently, sending a jolt through her body like electricity. Qin Jiujiu cried out in pain.
As the petals had not yet fully formed, the duration of her control was still limited.
A strange look flashed in Xie Jing's eyes, even a hint of crimson appearing.
He only behaved like this when he was excited.
He raised his head, but allowed the hand at his waist to remain.
Qin Jiujiu's eyes gradually regained clarity.
Had she missed something just now?
More importantly, why had she spontaneously hugged Xie Jing?
And what were those suggestive images that had flashed through her mind earlier?
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Qin Jiujiu quickly released her grip and walked towards the door.
"The Madam requests your presence, the two of you!"
Qin Jiujiu looked back at Xie Jing, as if seeking his opinion.
However, the young man maintained his indifferent demeanor, so she turned to the little maidservant in front of her and said, "Alright."
...
Before them lay a courtyard. Though not large, it was clean and exquisite, which garnered some favor from Qin Jiujiu.
This courtyard was likely where a woman resided.
Entering the courtyard, perhaps due to the wilting flowers of winter, not a hint of color could be seen amidst the thick white snow.
The trees were bare, not a single leaf remaining.
Qin Jiujiu stepped into the courtyard, walking step by step on the snow.
"Jiujiu, Madam Wu requests that you examine her daughter's illness..."
Liu Jin shot her a meaningful glance.
Behind her stood Madam Wu.
The entire house was warm. Far from the icy, snowy conditions outside, it was incomparable to the guest room they had occupied earlier.
"Two young heroes, the County Princess mentioned that you know capable individuals who could treat my daughter's illness. Would you be so kind as to trouble yourselves to find such a person for us? As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will offer a generous reward!"
Qin Jiujiu looked at Liu Jin, and seeing her gaze, she had already guessed the general situation.
Madam Wu addressed Liu Jin as County Princess, implying she knew of her identity.
"I can try, but I cannot guarantee success..."
"Being able to try is good enough..."
Madam Wu was extremely excited at this moment and reached out to grasp her hand.
"However, that friend is currently occupied with some matters and may not be able to come for some time."
"I worry Jin Chu won't be able to hold on that long..." Madam Wu's eyes were red-rimmed, on the verge of tears.
Qin Jiujiu could only comfort her, "We will think of a way to urge him, perhaps your daughter is blessed with good fortune and can be saved."
But the Imperial City was currently under a barrier set by Su Ming, rendering ordinary communication talismans useless.
The only possibility was Xie Jing.
Qin Jiujiu turned to look at Xie Jing. His eyes were deep, and she wondered what he was thinking.
"Thank you, young lady!"
Madam Wu's tone was earnest, and she gently patted Qin Jiujiu's hand.
Qin Jiujiu nodded, then asked, "May I have a look at Miss Wu's current condition? That way, I can inform my friend accurately."
"Please, come in!"