Feng Zuwen walked over excitedly, scooped Feng Yuanhao up in his arms, and gently laid him on the bed.
Feng Tianxing kicked her little short legs, trying to climb onto the bed.
Feng Zuwen lifted her onto the bed as well.
She stretched out her little hands to undo Feng Yuanhao's clothes.
But she was only three years old, without enough coordination, and struggled mightily with it.
Seeing her intent, Feng Zuwen stripped off Feng Yuanhao's top in a few quick motions.
[Daddy's so reliable.]
Feng Tianxing then searched the bed for a cloth, but there wasn't one, so she had to yank away Feng Yuanhao's pillow towel—who cared if it was dirty or not.
Feng Yuanhao had no idea what his little sister wanted his pillow towel for, and obediently lifted his head.
[Xiao Hei, come in.] Feng Tianxing called Xiao Hei with her divine sense.
The two were bound by a soul contract; as long as the distance wasn't too great, Xiao Hei would receive her call whenever she summoned him.
Feng Yuanhao's leg injury was rather old, and since it had damaged the bone, leaving him unable to stand, it was very likely his spinal nerves were injured as well. Once he took the elixir pill, the repair process would be especially painful, and he would need Xiao Hei's help.
The window was half open, and soon Xiao Hei came fluttering in on his wings.
[Stand on Big Brother's chest, and in a moment use your spiritual power to help unblock his meridians.]
That would make things faster and ease some of the pain.
Xiao Hei obediently stood on his chest. The father and son didn't understand, but since they knew this black bird was one Feng Tianxing had brought back, they didn't chase it away.
Feng Yuanhao had barely exercised in over two years, and his body was very thin.
Unlike Feng Zuwen, who was strong and sturdy and could withstand the medicinal force.
With a single thought, an elixir pill appeared in Feng Tianxing's hand.
It was jade-green, extraordinarily beautiful.
The elixir pills Feng Tianxing refined were always exceptionally pure, each one gorgeous in color.
This was a Marrow-Cleansing Bone-Repairing Pill, a Grade 6 Peak-Quality Pill. Its efficacy was even better than the one she had given Feng Zuwen.
Seeing the pill, Feng Zuwen's eyes lit up—he was even more excited than Feng Yuanhao, because he had experienced its effects firsthand.
Feng Tianxing popped the pill into Feng Yuanhao's mouth, and the moment she saw his throat bob, she immediately balled up the pillow towel—which he had probably slept on for who knew how many days—and stuffed it into his mouth. But she was small, and thus weak, and it seemed she hadn't stuffed it in properly.
Feng Zuwen understood what she meant and immediately helped stuff it in.
A burning sensation spread out from his chest.
Spiritual power flowed from Xiao Hei's claws into Feng Yuanhao's body, helping him dissolve the medicinal force and unblock his meridians.
Slowly, a tearing pain spread from the spinal cord at his lower back to every limb, especially his thighs.
"Mmph… mmph…" muffled groans escaped Feng Yuanhao's mouth around the pillow towel.
His forehead and body were soon covered in sweat.
Feng Zuwen immediately lifted Feng Tianxing off the bed, then strode onto it and pinned Feng Yuanhao down firmly, keeping him from thrashing in pain.
[Big Brother is the bravest, Big Brother is the strongest, Big Brother is the mightiest, Big Brother is the best…] Feng Tianxing lay over the edge of the bed, racking her brains for every word of encouragement she knew. She clapped her little hands as she chanted, looking for all the world like she was keeping a beat.
That soft, sweet toddler voice swept over Feng Yuanhao's heart like a spring breeze.
He could endure this. He would endure. Once he got through it, he would be able to stand.
It took a full half hour before the pain slowly began to fade.
Feng Yuanhao was truly one who could endure—despite everything, he never let his muffled groans grow too loud.
When everything finally settled, Feng Yuanhao opened his eyes.
The light in them was unlike anything before.
He felt his body incredibly light, his mind exceptionally clear.
A freshness he had never known.
"Tianxing!" He excitedly scooped up Feng Tianxing from beside the couch and planted a big kiss right on her face.
[Ugh… it stinks!] Feng Tianxing tilted her head back as far as she could, her little hands fanning frantically.
Feng Yuanhao looked down at his own body—a layer of gray, filthy, excrement-like substance covered him.
He immediately set Feng Tianxing down, grabbed the pillow towel he'd just been biting in his mouth, and started wiping.
Even he couldn't stand the stench.
"Ahh, giggle…!" Feng Tianxing laughed happily. Though the sound was rather unpleasant, to father and son it was like heavenly music.
Feng Yuanhao wiped and wiped, but how could one small pillow towel get him clean? He picked up his discarded clothes and wiped with those too.
He carefully lifted his leg—and it rose with ease.
He stood up and stamped his feet.
He lifted his legs in place.
He was just as agile as before the fall.
"Hahaha…!" The young man's laughter rang out, though he kept it down, after all there were servants outside.
"Yuanhao!" Feng Zuwen cried out joyfully at his son's reaction.
Feng Yuanhao put on a fresh set of clothes.
Then he scooped up Feng Tianxing, lifted her high, and spun around several times before stopping, making her giggle nonstop.
"My dear little sister, my lucky star. From now on, big brother will take you anywhere you want to go," Feng Yuanhao promised.
Feng Tianxing nodded again and again.
That night changed Feng Yuanhao's fate.
Feng Zuwen couldn't stand the stench on him either. He picked up Feng Tianxing, said a few brief words, and quietly slipped away.
He still reeked terribly.
Feng Yuanhao sat back in his wheelchair, wheeled himself to the door, and opened it.
"Wang Jiang," he called out loudly.
"Young Master, what are your orders?" Wang Jiang came jogging in at once, a puzzled look on his face—he thought he'd just heard the Young Master laughing.
Wasn't the Young Master alone in his room?
Seeing the Young Master suddenly shouting with such high spirits, he could barely adjust.
"Prepare a bath for me."
A bath? Hadn't he just bathed before nightfall? Wang Jiang scratched his head, thinking he'd misheard.
"What are you waiting for?" Feng Yuanhao couldn't bear it a moment longer—he'd already stink-driven his little sister away.
"Yes." Unable to figure it out, Wang Jiang turned and ran.
Thankfully, someone was keeping the night watch in the kitchen.
He boiled water, carried it over, helped Feng Yuanhao into the bathing tub, and attended to his bath as usual.
Feng Yuanhao knew it wasn't time yet to reveal that he could stand.
He still pretended to be paralyzed as before, letting Wang Jiang do everything.
Back at Luoxia Courtyard, father and daughter quietly entered the bedroom.
Song Shuqing still had the lamp lit, waiting for them.
"You haven't slept yet, Madam?" Feng Zuwen asked softly.
Feng Yuanji was still asleep in the side chamber next door, and the night maid was still there. He had to stay alert.
Fortunately, ever since Feng Zuwen was injured yesterday, she had personally "attended" to him, not letting any servants in.
So the servants dared not enter the inner chamber, and had no idea Feng Zuwen had been sneaking out to handle affairs.
Feng Zuwen placed Feng Tianxing on the marital bed, letting her sleep in the middle.
He unceremoniously removed his outer robe and lay down on the outside.
Feng Tianxing's eyes sparkled.
This was only her second night back. Last night both her brothers had been there too, and she'd had to sleep on the couch in the corner. Tonight was the first night she would officially sleep since returning to the Marquis Manor.
She never expected such treatment—sleeping with her parents.
In her past life, she'd never had such treatment. As far back as she could remember, she had never slept beside her parents even once.
A real family of three, together for the first time.
Feng Tianxing turned his head, looking left at his father and right at his mother, smiling brilliantly.
【Dad, I'm already over two hundred years old. You still snuggle up with me—how embarrassing.】
But Feng Tianxing didn't push him away; this was true fatherly love.
Then Feng Zuwen simply pulled him close, and Feng Tianxing rested his head on his arm.