- Chapter Start –

In the throne room of the Imperial Palace, the Emperor wears a hole in the carpet as he paces up and down, watched over by the very serious Xuan YuanXiao standing to one side.

Is he not the Emperor of Great Xi?

Is he not the most important man in Princess Zhao Ling's life?

Did he not just recover from being poisoned by that fake Imperial Perceptor of XiBei?

Then why has his only daughter and only child spent the whole night at the royal shrine, praying, not for her father's continued good health and long life, but for Li LianHua?

And when the Empress Dowager found out, instead of putting a stop to such nonsense, why had she kept her granddaughter company instead?

It was ridiculous!

So ridiculous, in fact, that he couldn't focus on his weekly meeting with his ministers and had all of them dismissed. A knock on the door interrupts him mid-pace and he turns around as Xuan YuanXiao calls out "Enter!"

A guard come in and bows low before passing a message to Xuan YuanXiao who dismisses him. Only when the door closes does he break the seal.

"Well?" The Emperor demands, only to be confronted by a very rare smile from his Palace Commander.

"Bixia, the antidote worked. Li LianHua is cured!"

Thanks to Yang YunChun who has dutifully sent an update every three hours, they already know that Madam Qin and Bhante Wuliau – two people who have long known Li LianHua as Li XiangYi – have arrived at Tianji Hall to help.

To be honest, the Emperor isn't surprised that Li LianHua has pulled through this, not with so many people rallying to his aid. What he is surprised at, is this very odd sense of relief he feels.

"I will inform the princess," he says and walks off without waiting for Xuan YuanXiao's bow of acknowledgement.

- o -

In the royal shrine, Princess Zhao Ling is still bowed in prayer while the Empress Dowager dozes in a chair nearby.

"Qing-er, you can stop this ridiculous charade now," the Emperor says from the doorway, paying no mind to the flurry of curtseys and greetings from the maids.

"My son, she will only cease once we have good news," the Empress Dowager repeats in a weary voice with her eyes remaining closed.

"Li LianHua has been cured of the Bicha poison."

The Empress Dowager opens her eyes as Princess Zhao Ling swings around to face him.

"Yes, he's cured," the Emperor confirms in an annoyed tone. "May Li XiangYi or Li LianHua or whatever he calls himself enjoy a long and healthy life."

When they gape at him in shock, he rolls his eyes.

"Have I not already given you two and Di FeiSheng my word? Besides, one who has managed to survive a decade despite being poisoned must surely be favoured by the Heavens."

"Fuwang!" Princess ZhaoLing is laughing and crying as she flings her arms around him. "You said it so you should mean it."

The Emperor returns her hug, feeling just a little mollified.

"Very well. You two are to retire to your rooms and rest after lunch. If you two fall sick because of Li LianHua, I will blame him!"

- o -

Back at Tianji Hall…

Guan HeMeng stumbles as Yun BiQiu leads him over to the refreshments table. His legs are full of pins and needles – excuse the pun – from sitting down for so many hours. He and Bhante Wuliau were flanking Li LianHua as they worked in tandem, shifting their needles from one accu point to another to assist Madam Qin's work as she gathered the Bicha poison.

"Guan-shenyi, are you alright?" Yun BiQiu tightens his grip on his arm at once.

"I'm fine." To be honest, Guan HeMeng's numb legs, stiff shoulders and aching back aren't the real reason why he stumbled. For the past six hours, he had focused on his task, not daring to think of anything or anyone else. And before that, he had worked with the Drug Demon on selecting the right herbs in the right quantity that would complement the Styx Flower, and had waited on tenterhooks for four hours until the antidote was ready.

He can finally appreciate the fact that Li LianHua is cured… just as the final minutes of his time ran out. To know that Li LianHua will live a long and healthy life is a heady enough thought, to realise that it took the combined skill and tireless effort of so many people…

It feels… humbling… to be a part of this. Guan HeMeng has always worked alone, Su XiaoYong and his assistants notwithstanding, but he's grateful for this opportunity. If he also feels lightheaded and almost giddy with euphoria, it's because Li LianHua hasn't completely ruined his hard earned reputation after all.

"I'm fine. Li LianHua is cured!" He declares with a smile, the words bubbling out before he can stop them. "He's going to live!"

Yun BiQiu blinks at him with crinkled brow – likely thinking that he's finally cracked – before tugging him over to where stacks of bronze mirrors provide a secluded corner.

"Guan-shenyi, are you sure you're alright?"

The deep concern in those warm eyes only serve to widen Guan HeMeng's smile which in turn makes Yun BiQiu smile in bemusement.

"Thanks to the part you played, BiQiu," Guan HeMeng says, deliberately addressing him by name. "Not only in designing the mirror holder but giving Li LianHua back his Yangzhouman."

Yun BiQiu's smile turns self-deprecating at once.

"I merely assisted He-tangzhu with the calculations. As for Li LianHua's Yangzhouman, it was never mine to keep. Qiao WanMian did the same too."

Guan HeMeng nods, struck anew by Yun BiQiu's penchant for downplaying his own deeds.

"I remember you telling me that you can only put the past behind you if Li LianHua is healed."

Yun BiQiu nods.

"You remembered? I will. And you in turn should admit that you want him cured not because of your reputation, but because he's a good friend."

Guan HeMeng finds himself smiling again, he can't remember ever smiling this much!

"I will. We can both enjoy our lives again now that that idiot has no reason but to live. Will you?"

"Enjoy life?"

"Yes," Guan HeMeng says and adds before he can second guess himself, "with me."

"With… Guan-shenyi, are you…?" Yun BiQiu's pale cheeks flush pink.

Oh. He's adorable.

Maybe this isn't the right time, with both of them physically and mentally exhausted, and Guan HeMeng feeling giddy besides, but he's never been one to hesitate. Once he makes up his mind on a course of action, he goes for it; whether it's to become a healer, or to master the art of acupuncture, or to take care of Su XiaoYong and her grandfather… or to find a life partner.

If no one else has realised what a catch Yun BiQiu is, too bad, Guan HeMeng isn't going to give them a chance. Without breaking eye contact, he reaches for Yun BiQiu's hands. Both of them.

"Call me HeMeng."

"I…" Yun BiQiu turns a brighter pink as he tries to tug his hands free without success. His attempts are half-hearted at best, giving Guan HeMeng the encouragement to continue.

"BiQiu, will you allow me to court you?" The words come out in something of a rush.

Yun BiQiu freezes at once, eyes going wide.

"What – court me - why would you even want to?"

"I like you," Guan HeMeng says as steadily as he can over the pounding of his heart. "You're knowledgeable and skilled, helpful and loyal, conscientious and honourable."

Yun BiQiu shakes his head at once.

"I poisoned-"

"That was in the past."

"I was bewitched by Jiao LiQiao. She seduced me. I'm no longer…" The shame in Yun BiQiu's voice is doing all sorts of dreadful things to Guan HeMeng's heart.

"I don't care. I want you."

Yun BiQiu gulps.

"You sound so sure."

"Do I?" Guan HeMeng wraps his arms around Yun BiQiu and realises that he's actually trembling. Or maybe they both are. "I've never liked anyone this way before."

"But you're young and so talented." Yun BiQiu's voice is muffled against his shoulder. "You're known as the Divine Healer with Needles."

"And you're Baichuan Academy's Defence Array Specialist," Guan HeMeng counters. "But our titles aren't important."

"They're not?"

"What is important is whether you like me back or not." Despite his bold words, Guan HeMeng's heart is racing, something he knows Yun BiQiu is aware of.

"Guan-shenyi… HeMeng, I – ahh!"

Keeping his lips pressed to a flushed cheek, Guan HeMeng smiles at the tell-tale hitch in Yun BiQiu's breath.

"So, do you like me?"

"I…" Yun BiQiu squirms in his arms. "Yes."

Pleased, Guan HeMeng releases him, but holds his hands again and looks him in the eye.

"Then may I court you?"

Yun BiQiu nods with a smile that quite melts Guan HeMeng's heart.

- o –

Di FeiSheng could swear he's never cried in his life. At least, he doesn't remember doing so. Not during his darkest days at Di Fortress nor after Jiao LiQiao severed his tendons. He doesn't even think he's crying now except for the tears running ceaselessly down his cheeks and dripping on Li LianHua's face.

"A-Fei." A slender hand, pale with greenish black fingertips lifts halfway before falling back down. "Oww."

"Li LianHua?" Fang DuoBing sounds worried, his hand grips Di FeiSheng's shoulder tighter.

"It hurts everywhere, doesn't it?" Madam Qin sounds calm. "The antidote extracted the Bicha poison from your bone marrow and your organs. Then I purged all of it out through your fingers."

She rests a hand on his head and smiles.

"But you're healed now and the discomfort will fade in a couple of days."

"Shiniang, I… I'm cured?"

Madam Qin's face softens with a loving smile that is reminiscent of Madam He when she looks at Fang DuoBing.

"Yes. You should thank your disciple. If he hadn't contacted me or Bhante Wuliau, it would've been too late."

"Oh."

"So no more nonsense about dying and not deserving to live and all that." Madam Qin's face goes from loving to stern in an instant.

"Qin-qianbei is right!" Fang DuoBing's voice is still thick with tears, but his smile is sunshine bright. "Li LianHua, shifu, if you won't listen to A-Fei or myself then at least listen to your shiniang!"

Li LianHua pouts and grumbles under his breath.

"What was that?" Madam Qin arches an eyebrow.

Di FeiSheng exchanges a glance with Fang DuoBing and both are in perfect accord – neither of them would ever want to cross this woman.

"Thank you, shiniang. I would like a bath, please."

Di FeiSheng finds his eyebrow lifting in turn. He's never heard Li LianHua sound so… meek, but he also knows it won't last.

"Of course." Placated once more, Madam Qin looks around. "Let's get you to a more comfortable place."

"I will carry him back to his room." Di FeiSheng lifts his arm to wipe his face on his sleeve only to hiss when his neck and shoulder muscles seize up.

"Zunshang!" Wu Yan crouches beside him at once.

"You need rest, A-Fei. I'll carry Li LianHua," Fang DuoBing says. He stands up and sways.

"You need to rest too, XiaoBao!" He XiaoFeng walks up to them with Zhan YunFei. "YunFei here will carry Li-shenyi."

"But-" Di FeiSheng and Fang DuoBing protest in unison

"No buts," Madam He announces as she and He XiaoFeng help Madam Qin to her feet. "You all need baths, a hot meal and then sleep, lots of it!"

Di FeiSheng opens his mouth to argue, sees Fang DuoBing nodding in agreement and closes it again.

"Wu Yan, help Di-mengzhu back to his room," Madam He continues. "There's a hot bath waiting for him and Li-shenyi there."

Di FeiSheng loses all motivation to argue. That hot bath sounds very appealing since Li LianHua will be there too. He doesn't even protest when Zhan YunFei lifts Li LianHua into his arms. He XiaoFeng does a little clap and squeal - like it's a feat - when Li LianHua weighs no more than a feather!

"Please allow us, zunshang." XunMing grabs Di FeiSheng's other arm and pulls him up with Wu Yan's help.

Di FeiSheng sees the Drug Demon hovering nearby and nods to him.

"Good work, Yao Mo. Go take a rest."

"Thank you, zunshang." The Drug Demon bows low and withdraws, looking relieved and exhausted.

"You two need rest as well," Di FeiSheng says as they follow Zhan YunFei.

"After we bring you to your room, zunshang," Wu Yan says.

"XunMing, what about your injuries?"

"Please do not worry about me, zunshang. Guan-shenyi promised to make me a tonic that will heal me in a week."

Di FeiSheng takes in Wu Yan's eager nod on one side and XunMing's hopeful smile on the other.

"Good."

His legs feel numb and he finds himself accepting more of their support than he wishes to, aware of the worried frowns they're giving him. Not to mention his reputation as the fierce and feared Demon Leader of the JinYuan Alliance is already in ruins thanks to Fang DuoBing and his family's insistence on calling him A-Fei.

As for Madam Qin addressing him as a foolish-

Di FeiSheng squashes that thought at once. The least said about that the better. Still, he supposes he has no choice but to forgive them for their transgressions since they all helped to cure Li LianHua.

He keeps his gaze trained on that slender arm looped around Zhan YunFei's shoulder and feels his heart giving a happy little leap. The most important thing of all is that Li LianHua is cured.

- Chapter End –

bixia = your majesty
fuwang = royal father
mengzhu = alliance leader
qianbei = someone more senior but not elderly
shengyi = doctor
shiniang = wife of martial teacher
tangzhu = hall master
zunshang = my lord