"Last night he could have returned, but Prince Xuan rushed back midway and injured him. Now..."
"He was merely injured, not killed! Go and play the flute again, tell him to come back quickly. This time, just return directly, no need to kill anyone, and don't cause any more trouble!"
Yu Linglong was truly in pain now, so much so that she was beginning to doubt life itself.
To think that someone so high and mighty, with such noble and superior status, had to endure such suffering.
She really couldn't take it anymore!
"Hong Chou, hurry up and bring Ye Qingying back to me now. I want him to stay by my side!"
She truly, truly never wanted to live through such days of fear and anxiety again.
"Hong Chou, why are you still standing here? Go quickly!"
"Your Majesty, setting aside whether he is being watched at the moment, this蛊毒 (gu poison) only acted up last night. If we stimulate it again now, I fear he might not be able to withstand it."
"Didn't Your Majesty say that if the蛊毒 (gu poison) penetrates the internal organs, and the poisoning is too deep, with too frequent stimulation, his nerves would be damaged?"
"At that time, I'm afraid he will completely lose his consciousness and become a 'gu ren' (gu person)!"
A 'gu ren' would then become a killing tool, utterly and completely!
No matter what, Ye Qingying was still a person of some standing. To turn him into a mindless killing tool…
From Hong Chou's personal perspective, valuing heroes and respecting heroes, it was truly a pity.
"Do you think I care?" Yu Linglong sneered coldly.
"Ye Qingying is merely a tool for killing to me. It's better if he has no consciousness; without consciousness, he can be completely controlled by me!"
"But a killer without consciousness is like..."
"Are you doubting my decision now?"
Yu Linglong's expression suddenly darkened, and she glared at Hong Chou, angrily saying, "Hong Chou, don't forget your own identity. You are just a dog I raised!"
Hong Chou's heart jolted violently.
A dog!
Although, even if she hadn't said it, Hong Chou knew that in Yu Linglong's eyes, she, Qing Mei, and even Ye Qingying were all the same – mere tools for her to exploit.
However, hearing it stated so directly was still difficult to accept.
Yu Linglong probably realized that her words were too harsh.
She softened her expression before continuing, "I suffered humiliation tonight... What I said earlier was just out of anger. Hong Chou, you are different from Ye Qingying. Ye Qingying has already intended to betray me, so I have no need to pity him now."
"As long as you remain loyal to me, I will never mistreat you in this life!"
"Yes, subordinate understands." Hong Chou lowered her head, her expression still somewhat stiff.
Yu Linglong did not want any further complications tonight: "Bring him back immediately tonight."
"Yes."
Whether Ye Qingying would become a 'yao ren' (medicine person) after suffering a mental breakdown had little to do with Hong Chou.
The slight sympathy she felt earlier had completely vanished.
Her own situation was not much better.
Yet, she still had to endure. One day, she too could command the wind and summon the rain.
Yu Linglong was now the only strong support she could cling to, and she couldn't let go for now.
After Hong Chou left, Yu Linglong sat on the chair, the look of benevolence instantly vanishing from her face.
They were all just dogs she raised; it was all the same!
But now, she had to use them!
Feng Qihe… her palm gradually tightened.
Feng Qihe! One day, I will make you my dog too!
Her waist really hurt terribly!
Just as she was about to get up and return to bed to rest, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew in from outside.
A strange floral scent…
"Hong Chou?" Wasn't that the floral scent Hong Chou had prepared for her? Had Hong Chou not left yet? What was she doing lurking outside her window?
Could it be that even Hong Chou wanted to betray her?
Yu Linglong's expression darkened, and she flung open the window, chasing after it.