"You haven't eaten all day," said the old butler. "If the Marquis was here, he wouldn't be able to bear to look at Your Highness mistreating yourself like this - even just a bowl of porridge is good enough, let this old servant go fetch one for you?"

Chang Geng was exhausted both mentally and physically. At the mention of Gu Yun, he silently recited the other man's name a few times in his heart, trying his best to get himself together: "It's alright, Uncle Wang, if I am hungry, I will go find something to eat later in the night."

The old butler listened to his voice; although it was weak, it was still reasonable. It was not his place to continue to press the matter. He had to turn back and called the other servants, together with Ge Pang Xiao and Cao Niangzi, who were watching over with concern. They all turned around to look at Chang Geng's door a few times as they took their leave.

Chang Geng sat by the door. As soon as he looked up, he saw the pair of shoulder guards that Gu Yun hung on his bed.

The object was dark and cold, giving off a sense of inhumanity, but it was left there by the original owner in order to dispel his nightmares.

He did not know how long he had sat there. The brazier in the room gradually warmed his cold body. Chang Geng regained a little bit of strength. He climbed up to clean up after himself, changed into new clothes, and found the medicine that his martial arts instructor had given him when he injured himself in a sword training session the other day. He washed the wounds then carefully applied the medicine on them.

He took Gu Yun's shoulder guards down, hugged them in his arms, and laid, face up, on his bed.

He did not cry.

It might have been because there was no strength left, or because he had just shed blood.

Quite often as one already chose the road of shedding blood, they would not shed tears anymore. After all, a person only had a little bit of water; there could only be one side to focus on.

Chang Geng clashed with the enemy destined to entangle with him for a lifetime - utterly defeated, he also came to recognize the power of the opponent.

But it was strange how he felt no fear, much like in Yanhui, when he was alone in Xiu Niang's room, facing the barbarian in Heavy Armor.

He had a kind and gentle attitude, but nothing in this world could ever force him to give in.

Ah... anything except Gu Yun.

Chang Geng thought with exhaustion: "I hate Gu Yun to death."