Chapter 473: Marshal, You’re in This State, and Still Thinking About Such Things...

Hearing that Xie Youchen was awake, Jiang Qingli pushed her own condition from her mind, threw open the car door, and headed toward him.

Most of the medical staff had gone to tend to the other wounded, leaving two specialists and three nurses by Xie Youchen’s side, who were currently examining him.

The young man was still unconscious. His face was pale, his thin lips had a bluish tint, and his brows were tightly furrowed.

Jiang Qingli’s heart felt as if it had been viciously squeezed, a painful, sour ache spreading through her chest.

Zhong Tongyun frowned. "I thought you said he was awake? What’s going on?"

The attending physician quickly explained, "Ladies, Marshal Xie did wake up for a moment. However, the toxins in his system haven’t been fully cleared yet. He spoke a few words to Secretary Chen before falling back into a coma. But he’s out of danger now, so please don’t worry."

Zhong Tongyun wanted to ask more, but Jiang Qingli spoke first. "Thank you for everything. I won’t disturb you any further."

Seeing the conflicted, indescribable look on Chen Mi’s face, Jiang Qingli frowned and shot him a meaningful glance.

Back in the car, Chen Mi followed Jiang Qingli into the rear seat. The partition rose, creating a soundproof space.

Once the convoy assembled, it headed toward the center of the Ninth District.

Jiang Qingli asked, "What did Xie Youchen say to you?"

Chen Mi hesitated. "Well..."

Jiang Qingli assumed he was being discreet out of his professional duty as a secretary and adopted a firm tone. "Just say it. If Xie Youchen gave you a hard time about it, I’ll take it up with him."

Seeing how anxious she was, Chen Mi mentally apologized to the Marshal and repeated Xie Youchen’s words in full. "The Marshal said that if he didn’t make it, he hoped you wouldn’t... dwell on it."

’He’ll be saved.’

Jiang Qingli retorted silently.

The image of him lying there flashed through her mind, and tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall. But she froze when she heard what Chen Mi said next—

"The Marshal also said that among your Beast Husbands, Ye Linyuan is insidious and treacherous, Qin Muye is stupid and hot-headed, Yuan Shimo is frail and inflexible, and Gu Nian is two-faced and too young... He said none of them are reliable. So, the Marshal ordered me to keep a close watch on them. If any of them dare to betray you, I am to kill them."

"Furthermore, the Marshal said that, compared to the others, while Baili Jing may not grasp the bigger picture, he bears you no ill will. He could, reluctantly, be left to manage your affairs from the rear. However, you cannot trust him alone; he needs to be paired with Yi Nuo..."

Jiang Qingli: "..."

A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

Jiang Qingli wiped it away, but the sorrow she’d just felt had vanished, replaced by a profound sense of speechlessness...

’That Xie Youchen... on death’s door and still thinking about things like this...’

Jiang Qingli huffed, but she couldn’t suppress a slight smile.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Mi breathed a sigh of relief.

’Actually, the Marshal had other instructions, too. For example, he told me to keep a close eye on any other males she might get involved with, that even a ’side piece’ had to be of decent character so they wouldn’t lead her astray...’

’Saying all that would make him sound like a tragic, spurned husband. Chen Mi decided to save his Marshal some face and kept that part to himself.’

’He figured that fighting off love rivals was a job best left for the Marshal to handle personally once he recovered.’

-

Zhong Tongyun brought them back to the City Lord’s official residence.

Although the climate of the Ninth District was humid year-round, it nurtured lush vegetation. The view in every direction was a fresh, vibrant green, a particularly pleasant sight.

Jiang Qingli was in no mood to appreciate it. After getting out of the car, she was helped through the door by Zhong Tongyun.

On the way back, Zhong Tongyun had contacted Yuan Liang to inform him of Xie Youchen’s condition. They needed to immediately convene a meeting with the senior commanders of the Twelve Cities to discuss how to deal with the invaders.

The medical transport stopped, and personnel carried Xie Youchen toward a prepared room.

Chen Mi said, "I’ll go have them send someone to bandage your hand."

Jiang Qingli looked down at her hand. The wound on her palm, pierced by the vine, had already healed over, leaving only a few scratches and dried blood.

"It’s not necessary." Seeing Zhong Tongyun turn back to wait for her up ahead, Jiang Qingli replied casually and hurried to catch up, telling Chen Mi to join them for the meeting.

...

By the time the meeting ended, the sky was pitch-black.

Jiang Qingli had run on adrenaline to get through the meeting. Now, she was utterly exhausted, her eyelids drooping.

Zhong Tongyun helped her up and led her to the room that had been prepared for her.

At the door, Zhong Tongyun spotted a tall figure in a luxurious suit squatting by the entrance. Mistaking him for one of her own paramours, she snapped, both anxious and angry, "Who gave you permission to be here by our distinguished guest’s room? Have you no sense of propriety!"

The man slowly looked up, revealing a handsome but unfamiliar face.

Just as Zhong Tongyun was about to ask, Jiang Qingli spoke up. "Lord Zhong, this is my housekeeper, Yi Nuo."

Yi Nuo greeted Lord Zhong and added apologetically, "My clothes were soiled, so your housekeeper gave me this suit."

Zhong Tongyun coughed in embarrassment. "Ah, so he is your housekeeper, Qingli."

Yi Nuo stepped forward to take over supporting Jiang Qingli from Zhong Tongyun, but the latter stopped him. "Housekeeper Yin, you’ve had a long day too. You should go and rest."

She lowered her voice and whispered in Jiang Qingli’s ear, "Qingli, the Great Divine Servant is waiting for you in your room."

The "Great Divine Servant" she mentioned was Zhou Yanli.

Zhou Yanli had stepped down from his position after he was married, but the current Great Divine Servant was his apprentice. Since many affairs were still decided by Zhou Yanli, his prestige was even greater than before, and most people hadn’t been able to break the habit of calling him by his old title.

Zhou Yanli was supposed to be in the Fifth District attending a church function right now. His presence here meant he must have snuck away.

Yi Nuo took the hint and departed. Jiang Qingli pushed open the door and entered the room.

Zhou Yanli was still in the red robes he wore for services, but his face lacked the divine composure he maintained in public. It showed only deep, fearful concern.

He hurried forward and embraced Jiang Qingli, patting her back as if soothing a child. "Good girl, you’ve been through so much. You did an amazing job. Your mother and I are so proud of you..."

Jiang Qingli was a grown woman now, but she remembered Zhou Yanli comforting her with this same embrace when she was a child, and her nose began to sting with unshed tears.

But it also felt a little strange. Usually, at a time like this, someone would come to stop him—

"Can you stop your goddamn dawdling!"

A rift tore open in the space beside them, and Xie Qizhen strode through. He yanked Zhou Yanli away, spun his daughter around several times, and only let out a long sigh of relief after confirming she was unharmed. "Xiao Li, it’s all my fault for not coming with you. Don’t be scared anymore, you’re safe now."

Zhou Yanli frowned slightly. "Shouldn’t you be in the First District, helping the female master deal with those people? What are you doing here?"

"I’m only here for ten minutes, and you’re still trying to boss me around? You damn busybody!" The thought alone made Xie Qizhen furious. "If you hadn’t stopped me from going with her, would our girl have gotten hurt?"

Zhou Yanli’s eyes narrowed.

Jiang Qingli: "..."

’Yep, there it is. The same old routine.’

Knowing her biological father could never win an argument against her "third dad," Jiang Qingli stepped in to smooth things over. "I was the one who wanted to go alone, and I’m not hurt... Anyway, I’d like to get some rest."

Xie Qizhen shot Zhou Yanli a glare, then unceremoniously picked Jiang Qingli up and set her down in front of the bathroom. "Alright, Dad’s heading back then. You get some rest. If you need anything, just tell that... that Zhong woman. Still, I don’t feel right leaving you here alone..."

Jiang Qingli said, "Have Yi Nuo stay with me."

Xie Qizhen readily agreed. "Fine! That kid’s pretty good at looking after people!"

Zhou Yanli frowned, clearly disapproving, but before he could voice his opinion, Xie Qizhen had already gone out to summon the housekeeper.

Zhou Yanli: "..."

He glanced at Jiang Qingli, who was winking at him, and poked her forehead in helpless exasperation. "Honestly, you."