Keep your voice down. Are you trying to look glamorous dressed as a forced lover?

Li Qingyan remained silent and did not respond.

Yin Gong remained silent, waiting for Li Qingyan's answer.

Li Qingyan asked, "How exactly did Ji Mingzheng get injured? Why is he still in pain? Is it physical pain or psychological pain?"

A hint of pain flashed in Yin Gong's eyes: "When the young general went to provide support, he was ambushed. In order to save people, his kneecaps were shattered by the enemy."

"Because their general had injured their general before, making it impossible for him to stand up again, they retaliated by deliberately attacking the general's kneecap, which was completely shattered by them."

Li Qingyan's heart sank upon hearing this. Crushing his kneecap would make him truly unable to stand up physically.

"That's why his wound hasn't fully healed and he's still in pain."

Yin Gong nodded: "After being injured, the young general's joints repeatedly swelled, became painful and ulcerated. Although he eventually recovered, he was left with chronic illnesses. Those broken bones will forever torment him."

"The military doctors tried everything they could, but they still couldn't find a solution."

"I understand, I'll ask for you, but don't act on your own again."

Li Qingyan warned Yin Gong, who immediately replied, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Before leaving, Li Qingyan glanced at Changfeng Palace.

She thought that she should spend more time with Ji Mingzheng in the future, so that he wouldn't be bored in the harem. They could also work together to get the protagonist's halo and eventually create a miracle so that he would stop hurting or even get better!

If he continues to suffer, they can vent their emotions to each other.

She could also ask for his opinion, as well as Wen Sheng's. Li Qingyan felt that compared to Song Qinian, whom she hadn't had much hope for and who had already rejected, and Sannoye, whose situation was currently uncertain, Ji Mingzheng and Wen Sheng both had a good attitude towards her, so she had some confidence in them.

Although she said she needed to find other people, it was still difficult to gather a male lead candidate of similar quality in a short time. Starting over was full of uncertainty, and she didn't have that much time, so it would be best if they agreed.

"Sannoh should still try to win him over."

As for Song Qinian, she didn't want to see him for the time being.

Fortunately, even without Xiao Song, if there's any uncertainty about official matters, we can still turn to Lao Song, namely Song Qinian's grandmother.

Li Qingyan handled official business independently that day. Compared to before when Song Qinian was there to oversee things for her, she felt a little unsure of herself, but fortunately, nothing went wrong in the end.

Li Qingyan scoffed at this, saying, "It's not that I can't live without you."

This day was not only the day Li Qingyan stopped relying on Song Qinian, but also the day she broke free from the previous embrace and holding hands and remained clear-headed.

She survived thanks to Qiu Nanzhu.

Qiu Nanzhu kept looking for her, and Li Qingyan went to see Qiu Nanzhu before going to work.

Although Qiu Nanzhu hadn't died, she was injured and had been tormented by the self-made medicine all night, resulting in excessive blood loss. Her condition was already poor, and after being locked up, she hadn't had a drop of water except for the medicine.

When Li Qingyan saw him again, he was no longer the arrogant and composed man he once was. His lips were dry and cracked, his eyes were unfocused, and he was weak all over, barely able to lift his head.

He never knew that thirst could be so painful.

When Li Qingyan appeared before him, his eyes flashed with an astonishing light.

"Your Highness."

He struggled to sit up.

"Would you like some water?"

Qiu Nanzhu's Adam's apple bobbed: "Yes." Of course he wanted to.

Seeing Li Qingyan looking down at him, Qiu Nanzhu's slow-witted mind finally worked, and he knelt down in front of her.

"Your Highness, I was wrong. I will never drug you again. I will definitely treat His Majesty properly."

His throat was so dry and painful that even breathing was a burning sensation; every word and every sentence was painful for him.

Li Qingyan finally nodded in satisfaction and turned to look at the teacup in Huai Xu's hand.

Qiu Nanzhu looked longingly at the teacup, thinking she would soon be able to drink water, but instead of taking the teacup, she reached out her hand.

Finally, Li Qingyan scooped up a handful of cool water, gently cupped it in her palm, and slowly stopped in front of him.

She leaned down slightly to look at him, her eyes devoid of any warmth, only displaying a condescending sense of control.

Qiu Nanzhu's face was full of disbelief, but his actions were faster than his thoughts. He stepped forward, knelt in front of her, and frantically sucked the water from her palm, looking humble and pathetic.

It was like redemption, yet also like humiliation.

He once drugged her and appeared before her, hoping to be her salvation, but he failed.

But at this moment, she truly became his salvation.

He sucked almost greedily, not wanting to miss a single drop, but there was too little water, and it was gone in no time. Only water droplets seeped through his fingers and slid down, flowing over her delicate wrist bones.

He licked his lips, and finally couldn't resist reaching out to catch the water droplets, which spread from between his fingers to his wrist, and then to the fingertips. He chased after them eagerly.

"Are you a dog?"

Li Qingyan's voice was laced with sarcasm as he abruptly withdrew his hand.

Suddenly deprived of water, Qiu Nanzhu almost instinctively leaned forward, chasing after her hand—not enough, not enough!

The water she gave him soothed the burning in his throat, but it also completely shattered Qiu Nanzhu's last bit of pride.

Once, on the surface, she was just a lowly female doctor, but in her relationship with Li Qingyan, she always held the dominant position.

He dominated their relationship, he was high and mighty, but after being killed by her once and experiencing everything today, everything changed.

He knew perfectly well that Li Qingyan was doing this on purpose; she wanted to tame him. He knew it all too well, yet he could no longer muster the will to resist. His voice trembled almost imperceptibly, filled with pleading:

"Your Highness, give me a little more..."

"Is this what you're asking for?"

Li Qingyan kicked him away.

Qiu Nanzhu collapsed to the ground in a disheveled state, her Adam's apple bobbing. She stared at Li Qingyan for a moment before crawling at her feet: "Master, could you give me a little more?"

He admitted it; he was a dog.

Her dog.

Li Qingyan raised an eyebrow and sat down on the chair that had been prepared for her.

Qiu Nanzhu involuntarily looked at her hand, then realized what was happening and obediently knelt down in front of her.

"What a good dog."

Li Qingyan lifted Qiu Nanzhu's chin with her toes and praised her.

Despite the humiliating words, the familiar scent emanating from her and the trembling pearls on the tips of her shoes made Qiu Nanzhu's Adam's apple bob, and he almost couldn't help but let out a bark.

Perhaps it was because he was on the verge of death, or perhaps because no one had ever dared to treat him like this before, but he actually felt a secret pleasure and couldn't help but tremble all over.

Seeing that Qiu Nanzhu really looked like a dog, Li Qingyan finally kindly gave him another slap of water.

Qiu Nanzhu's eyes shone brightly, and without hesitation, he knelt down to drink again.

He looked up at her, quickly finished his water, and was reluctant to let go. After licking the water from between his fingers and wrist, his lips landed on her wet hand again, as if licking the meager amount of water, or as if kissing her fingers, devout and tender.

His tongue brushed against his fingers, seemingly unintentionally, while his eyes burned with an astonishing intensity.

It really is like a dog whose eyes are only on its owner.

Li Qingyan suddenly withdrew her hand and kicked him hard.

"You have no right to lick my hands."

Surprisingly, Qiu Nanzhu, who had been kicked down, was not angry: "Please punish me, Master."