Two hours later, Ke You brought the medicine.

"My lord prince, the herbs we brought are missing a few ingredients. I've switched to another prescription, but it doesn't work as well as the first, so the princess consort may be slower to recover."

Ning Chen frowned slightly, but for now nothing better could be done.

"All right, I understand. You can go... Third Brother, the medicine is your job. You see to it yourself and bring it on time."

Ke You nodded. "Yes!"

Ning Chen fed Xiao Yanxi the medicine, his eyes full of tenderness.

She was a woman, yet she had followed him all over, on campaigns north and south, feeding him intelligence the whole way... Countless victories had been won on the strength of what she found.

Of all his women, Xiao Yanxi had it the hardest.

This chill wasn't just from the cold. It probably had a lot to do with how worn out she was from the long journey.

Ning Chen stayed in the tent and looked after her with great care.

By nightfall Xiao Yanxi had taken three doses of medicine that day, but with the missing herbs, she was hardly any better. She was still in a daze.

She managed half a bowl of thin porridge, then drifted off into a muddled sleep.

Ning Chen kept watch until the next morning.

Her fever hadn't come down at all.

Ke You brought the medicine, and Ning Chen gave it to her.

Xiao Yanxi slept on and wouldn't wake.

Ning Chen was sick with worry. Just then, a tiger's roar sounded in the distance.

It sounded like Lone Stride.

Ning Chen glanced at the sleeping Xiao Yanxi, then signaled to Ke You with his eyes, and the two of them slipped quietly out of the tent.

Outside, Ning Chen headed for the edge of the camp.

That roar had to be Lone Stride. Could she have come back?

He hadn't gone far when Feng Qizheng came toward him with a few men, carrying something.

Feng Qizheng saw him and came running over.

Only then did Ning…