A Jiu arrived to find the army doctor already there.
Tuoba Yan lay sprawled on the ground. The doctor was busy bandaging Ye Qing's wound and pinching Tuoba Yan's philtrum.
A Jiu watched, her heart in her mouth. Fortunately, Ye Qing hadn't been intent on suicide, so the wound wasn't deep.
The few army doctors were skilled. Ye Qing's bleeding was quickly stopped. As soon as she regained consciousness, she was in a daze, muttering, "How could this happen?"
"Ye Qing, do you believe me now? I didn't expect you to cut your wrists, though," A Jiu said, still feeling a bit guilty. She had already poured Ye Qing a bowl of spiritual spring water.
Ye Qing didn't even look at it. "But why does he have the same burn mark on his chest as Nan Mingjun?"
"Ah?" A Jiu was startled. She hadn't seen Tuoba Yan's body.
Ye Qing slowly looked up at A Jiu. "The moment he fainted, I pulled open his collar and looked."
"Then... then don't ask me. I really don't know anything," A Jiu said, waving her hands frantically. A cold sweat broke out on her back, and she turned to flee.
"Stop."
A Jiu froze outside the tent, slowly turning back to look. She smiled with a look of innocent harmlessness.
"I really don't know." How could such a coincidence exist in the world?
"How do you two know each other? I want you to tell me everything," Ye Qing said, her gaze sharp as she looked at A Jiu.
This girl was either incredibly deep, her pure eyes hiding dark schemes, or she truly knew nothing.
A Jiu disliked lying. Having to weave countless lies to cover up one lie was too exhausting. So, she told everything truthfully.
Ye Qing watched A Jiu the entire time, her face showing no cracks.
Even when asked the same question three times, the details remained consistent. There was only one possibility: she was telling the truth.
"You really have nothing to do with him?" Ye Qing was still unwilling to give up. If they truly had no connection, why was Nan Mingjun always around her?
Ever since she learned Nan Mingjun had been to the prince's manor, she had been investigating. Including his trading fruits for army rations and salt, all of it was for this girl.
"There is, there actually is one thing that has a connection." Since she had already started talking, A Jiu figured she might as well clarify everything so Ye Qing wouldn't be suspicious all day.
"You... hurry up and say it!" Ye Qing shot up.
A Jiu told the truth. "It was just to get into the city. Nothing else. Besides, the divorce letter was given to me."
Ye Qing stared for a long time, scrutinizing A Jiu. She still couldn't find any trace of deception. But it didn't matter. She could check at the yamen once she returned.
"It seems you are sincere. I will say a few good words to the Prince, and you can await your reward."
A Jiu's ears perked up. "You're not going to reward me with silver needles again, are you? I don't need those."
"That's the Ice Soul Needle!" Ye Qing almost shouted. She remembered that this girl had performed meritorious service saving people at the morgue and was rewarded with an Ice Soul Needle by Eunuch Zhou. But this girl refused it. "Do you know that needle is priceless? Are you... truly foolish or pretending to be?"
"Then forget it. I don't want any reward," A Jiu said and turned to leave.
Last night, while healing in the cave, she had gained over two hundred merit points. The voice had sounded the same as at the morgue, echoing repeatedly, making A Jiu's ears buzz.
"You don't want it?" Ye Qing stood at the tent entrance, watching Meng Jiu'er's retreating back. Looking at her attire, she could have asked for silks and satins.
A Jiu didn't want to return to her own tent at the moment. She decided to go see Tuoba Yan. This guy looked handsome and fearless, but she wondered if he felt utterly humiliated throughout the entire camp now that he had fainted.
As she reached the army camp, sure enough, roars of laughter echoed everywhere.
"Someone from the Patrol Division, weren't you here to support the war effort? How come... hahaha!"
"You've got a tall frame but you're afraid of blood. I say, Patrol Brother, if you were to stab yourself while catching a thief, who do you think would fall down first?"
"I bet it would be you. Shall we bet?"
Tuoba Yan stood in the middle of the crowd, his face ashen, hands on his hips. When he saw A Jiu arrive, his eyes brightened.
"All of you, shut up," Tuoba Yan snapped, like a child. He then turned and pulled A Jiu towards the mountain.
"Afraid of blood?"
A group of soldiers, unsure who said it, repeated the phrase.
"That's right. How can someone afraid of blood be a patrol envoy? And how can they fight on the battlefield?"
Suddenly, as they watched Tuoba Yan and Meng Jiu'er walk away, all the laughter died down.