Chu Qianli never expected that the person whose acupoints she had sealed could still move so fast!
While not as swift as Feng Qihe's initial burst, his speed was still astonishing!
She had already retreated at her fastest pace.
However, Feng Qihe's tall figure appeared before her in the blink of an eye.
But that was as far as he could go.
With a *poof*, forcibly breaking through the sealed acupoints ultimately backfired on him.
A mouthful of fresh blood erupted.
Feng Qihe's vision went black, his legs weakened, and he fell to one knee.
But before he knelt, his long fingers had already clutched the corner of Chu Qianli's clothes.
He actually tore off a piece of fabric!
Chu Qianli shifted again, finally putting more distance between them.
Silver needles were poised at her fingertips, ready to be thrown at any moment.
If it weren't for the fact that he was too weak to pursue further, these silver needles would have already struck him.
"I hope you don't have another berserk episode, or I won't be polite!"
She turned and left.
Feng Qihe wanted to chase after her, but at this moment, he couldn't move.
This damned woman's needles were fast, accurate, and ruthless!
One misstep, and one could easily lose their life in her hands!
She was truly a flower with thorns; trying to pluck her carelessly would only result in self-injury.
Yet, the more unattainable she was, the more he desired to pluck her.
To make her obediently surrender, lie beneath him, and scream, tremble!
The mere thought sent a surge of blood through him!
Feng Qihe closed his eyes. The imagined scene disrupted his breathing, and another mouthful of blood surged out.
He immediately reined in his thoughts and focused on circulating his internal energy.
Soon, with a *poof*, the silver needle that had pierced his neck was vibrated out by his internal energy, striking a nearby tree trunk.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, stood up, and looked in the direction Chu Qianli had left.
Her figure was long gone.
The emptiness was like a piece of his heart that had been violently torn away with her departure.
He wanted to possess this woman!
No matter the cost, he would make her willingly lie beneath him, driven mad by him!
...
Chu Qianli quickened her pace.
Finally, she was far from the imperial palace.
Her horse galloped through the streets, and before long, it stopped in front of the Duke's Mansion.
Returning to the Duke's Mansion and entering her own courtyard, her heart finally felt a measure of peace.
Prince He's internal energy was too formidable. Although she had sealed his acupoints earlier, preventing his violation,
if he had truly disregarded everything and lunged at her, her silver needles might not have been able to stop him.
Moreover, she had only managed to seal his acupoints because he was caught off guard.
If a similar situation arose again, and he was prepared, it would not be so easy for her to act.
This man was truly like a madman!
She had no idea what was so special about her that drove him to such madness!
Could she change her ways?
What a nuisance!
Upon entering her courtyard, Fu Ning greeted her, "Miss, the Iron Heart guard from Prince Xiaoyao's mansion has arrived."
"Iron Heart?" Chu Qianli calculated the days. It was still several days before Feng Wuya's second treatment. Why had Iron Heart come now?
Iron Heart waited under the pavilion, standing there without daring to sit.
He appeared extremely anxious.
Upon seeing Chu Qianli, he immediately stepped forward, his demeanor consistently respectful.
"Miss, your subordinate... your subordinate is being presumptuous, but I have an impolite request."
... Chu Qianli went to Prince Xiaoyao's mansion.
Under the pavilion in the backyard, she saw that elegant figure in plain white from a distance.
He was playing a harmonica.
It was something Chu Qianli had given him the last time she visited.
After a few days, listening to it now, he played quite well.
He seemed even more skilled than her.
"Miss, our Prince... his appetite hasn't been good recently, and his spirit also seems... not very good."
Iron Heart was truly at his wit's end, which was why he had sought her out.
Even the Prince did not know about this.
"Ever since Miss left last time, the Prince hasn't smiled again. These past few days, the Prince has been listless, only toying with the playthings Miss left him, and not paying attention to anything else."
Chu Qianli understood. This patient wasn't eating well and seemed to be in low spirits.
Iron Heart was worried, so he had come to find her.
"Was he like this before?"
"Actually... it was similar. However, when Miss was here for those two days, the Prince... the Prince was very different from before."
It was as if those two days had given everyone in the mansion hope.
But after Chu Qianli left, the Prince returned to his original state, even more quiet and reclusive than before.
Everyone was worried.
"I understand." Chu Qianli took a step forward, paused, and then looked back at him, saying, "Tell the cook to prepare more food and drinks. I'm also very hungry."
Heaven knew how she had managed these past two days.
Fighting and killing all the way, living in fear, she hadn't even closed her eyes.
She was truly exhausted.
However, as she walked to the edge of the pavilion and looked at the figure in the pavilion over the lake, Chu Qianli's inner烦躁 (fánzào - annoyance/restlessness) inexplicably subsided by more than half.
This mansion, this man, possessed a magical power.
His composure, his tranquility, could make one temporarily forget the worldly disturbances outside.
He played the harmonica, and its melody was like him, clear and light, like a spring breeze, gentle and elegant, capable of cleansing the soul.
Chu Qianli couldn't help but sigh softly.
Listening to his music was truly comfortable.
"A'li?" This soft sigh alerted the man under the pavilion.
He turned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, followed by bewilderment: "Why are you here?"
"Iron Heart said you weren't eating or resting properly and were being disobedient, so he asked me to come."
Chu Qianli walked into the pavilion and sat in her favorite spot.
Here, the lake was right beside her, and one could see the fish swimming in the water by looking down.
There was also a cool breeze blowing, making one drowsy as soon as they sat down.
"Iron Heart, that meddlesome fellow."
Feng Wuya murmured softly, but he didn't seem angry.
Instead, there was a hint of pleasant surprise.
"I thought you weren't in the capital."
"I returned this morning. As soon as I got back, your father summoned me to the palace to reward me for my merits."
She leaned back against the chair, lifting her legs and reclining on the long bench.
"You haven't rested properly?" He had heard about Chu Qianli's rescue of the Fourth Prince today.
However, knowing they were safe and sound, he hadn't thought too much about it.
But now, it seemed this girl was truly exhausted.
"I didn't even have time to eat, so where would I find time to rest?"
Feng Wuya didn't ask further and immediately ordered for snacks to be brought.
Chu Qianli smiled, "I've already asked someone to prepare them."
She also realized that in this Prince Xiaoyao's mansion, she seemed to be quite at ease, acting as if she belonged.
Iron Heart quickly brought the food and drinks.
Chu Qianli didn't stand on ceremony and began to eat immediately.
Before long, her stomach was round.
"If you have nothing else to do now, shall I play a tune for you?"
Feng Wuya ordered a guqin to be brought.
Chu Qianli said nothing, closed her eyes, and listened quietly.
The zither's melody was melodious.
In just a moment, she fell into a deep sleep.
In her dream, Chu Qianli clenched her fists tightly, her brow furrowed.
It felt as if someone was approaching.
That person carried a cold, ruthless killing intent...