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She wiped her tears away with her sleeve before walking back to Ji’er with feigned nonchalance. Stifling her unease, she said softly, “Your Highness, some servants just love to gossip and make stories up, so don’t worry too much about what they said. It’s getting late—you should head back for your bath. The General’s still waiting for you in the study.”

“All right,” Ji’er replied and returned to her room with Tong’er.

Meanwhile, Chu Qi was attending to military affairs in the study.

Although there was no active warfare between Great Shang and the Yan Kingdom due to their friendly relations, the frontier was a place of military importance. There was still a lot to oversee, and there could be absolutely no slackening of defense.

Since Ji’er came to the West Water Frontier, she would spend time with him in the study every day.

While he dealt with military affairs, she would read a book quietly without disturbing him.

Even when he was swamped with work and had no time to talk to her, she would not feel uncomfortable, and she would still keep him company the next day.

For many years, he had grown accustomed to solitude. However, since having Ji’er around, he would feel warmth flood his stony heart whenever he glanced up and saw the girl accompanying him in silence.

He had already gotten used to her presence. Whenever he felt tired, just the sight of her sitting quietly nearby filled him with contentment.

That night, however, Ji’er did not appear even though it was already late.

Chu Qi frowned unwittingly.

After reviewing another document, he finally gave in to his worry. He rose and headed out, just in time to see Tong’er rushing over.

“Is the Princess all right?” he asked in a low voice.

Tong’er’s face was pale. “General, something has happened to the Princess.”

“What?” Chu Qi felt his stomach drop.

…

When Chu Qi entered Ji’er’s room, she was still in the bathtub.

The water had already gone cold, but she seemed oblivious to it.

Her eyes finally moved when a shadow fell over her.

Bundling her up in a blanket, Chu Qi carried her out of the bathtub.

When Ji’er realized that it was him, she nuzzled her head against the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

Chu Qi pursed his lips, his heart aching terribly at the sight.

He wanted to scold her for torturing herself, but when he looked at her listless face, he could not bring himself to say anything.

In the end, he just tucked her into bed.

Just when he was about to stand up, she grabbed his sleeve.

“Lil Qi, don’t leave me…”

The sight of the girl’s vulnerable and pleading eyes gripped Chu Qi’s heart painfully. Stroking her head, he said gently, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to get a towel and dry your hair.”

Ji’er hesitated briefly before letting go of his sleeve.

After fetching a towel quickly, Chu Qi sat down beside her and let her lay her head on his lap so he could dry her hair.

After a long time, Ji’er suddenly asked, “Lil Qi, is it true what they say?”

Chu Qi paused in his movement. “What?”

“They said that when I was born, Father tried to ki—Mmph!”

Before she could utter the word “kill”, the man sealed her lips.

A tear fell from the corner of Ji’er’s eye. She abruptly threw her arms around Chu Qi’s neck, desperately trying to draw warmth from him.

She just wanted to lose herself in that moment.

“Lil Qi… take me.”

After some time, she murmured in a trembling voice.

Chu Qi stared at her intently with his dark eyes, the sweat on his smooth forehead an indication of his self-restraint.