This parting, Ling Yao did not expect, all things deviated from the original track, hopes and plans turned into bubbles.
Now she is on her way to the capital, unaware that the capital has undergone earth-shattering changes.
The Capital
A person with an arm clutched rushed out of a secluded alley.
Blood dripped from his arm onto the ground. He tore at his clothes to bandage the wound while running towards a crowded area.
This person was Ruan Ji, the Minister of Dali Temple.
Today was a holiday, and he had merely followed the Left Prime Minister out of curiosity, never expecting to uncover such a great secret.
This area was too secluded. If it were a brothel or a pleasure house, he could have slipped away unnoticed. But here, there were only scattered, low-rise residences.
Alas, how could he have been discovered?
The footsteps following him pressed on his nerves. Would he really die here today?
Just as he ran towards an inconspicuous courtyard, a hand suddenly reached out from the gate and pulled him in.
"You..."
Upon closer inspection, Ruan Ji recognized the person who pulled him in.
It was Liu Donghuai, the top scholar of the year.
Currently, he was just a minor official in the Imperial Kitchen.
However, according to Ruan Ji's investigations, he had some connection with the Divine Maiden and the General of Divine Might.
"My lord, come with me."
Liu Donghuai pulled Ruan Ji into the house, where there was a side door.
"Is this where you live?" Ruan Ji asked.
"Yes, this door leads to East Fourteenth Street."
Liu Donghuai did not ask him what had happened. He only knew that Ruan Ji's position as Minister of Dali Temple had been personally restored by the Divine Maiden.
She must trust him.
"No, you must leave here too. They will find us soon, Liu Donghuai!"
Ruan Ji stared intently at him, "Go to the palace, find the Divine Maiden, find the Emperor. The Prime Minister is colluding with the Qirong people and plotting rebellion!"
...
After resolving the Qirong war in the southwest, the relationship between the First Prince and Linglong had also progressed by leaps and bounds. Ling Yao felt relaxed on the way back.
During a short rest, Qu Linglong was not idle. She found some medicinal herbs nearby, chewed them, then took Feng Shihao's hand, lifted his sleeve, and applied the chewed herbs to the mosquito bites on his arm.
Wei Hu's eyes widened, thinking that his prince was most particular about cleanliness. Would Consort Qu be scolded or thrown aside again?
But to everyone's surprise, Feng Shihao did not withdraw his arm. He obediently allowed the medicine to be applied and put down his sleeve as if nothing had happened.
Only the tips of his ears turned slightly red, and his phoenix-like eyes cast downwards, staring at a patch of grass.
"You must not scratch anymore. The more you scratch, the worse it will get."
Qu Linglong intended to blow on it to dry it, but why did he withdraw his hand?
"Mm."
Wei Hu was extremely surprised and looked at Qu Linglong again.
The relationship between the Prince and Consort Qu seemed unusual.
"Is there anywhere else?"
Qu Linglong, as if no one else was present, lifted his other arm to examine it.
"None."
Feng Shihao did not know how she had discovered his insect bites. Perhaps she had noticed him scratching?
That meant she had been watching him in the carriage as well?
Thinking of this, a sense of joy arose in his heart.
But soon, that joy was replaced by another emotion.
She was a physician.
She must have examined other men in the past.
Perhaps today she was treating him as just an ordinary patient?
Ling Yao secretly glanced over. Seeing this, she found the First Prince's expression exceptionally amusing, changing back and forth like a young girl experiencing love for the first time, with shyness and unease.
After Qu Linglong finished, she looked at her hands, which were covered in green juice.
"There's a river over there. I'm going to wash my hands."
Feng Shihao glanced at Wei Hu, signaling him to follow.
After the two left, he stood up and called out to Ling Yao, "Stop peeking over there. Come here, I need to tell you something."
"Ah, what is it?"
Ling Yao followed him with a smile behind a large tree.
Feng Shihao stood with his back to her, his posture like bamboo, his hair like ink. The breeze blew his robes, making him appear ethereal and refined.
"Ling Yao, you said last time that you could hypnotize me..."
Hypnotize?
Oh, that.
She had indeed said that, but after hypnotizing him, she would only inquire about his inner demons. As for healing them, she wasn't very knowledgeable.
Perhaps she should ask Linglong to stay by?
"What? Is there a problem?"
Feng Shihao turned around, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
"No problem. How about we try it when we reach the next town?"
"Okay, let's... try."
"First Prince, have you realized Linglong's goodness?"
Yes, she was very good.
But, she was too good.
He was afraid he couldn't keep her.
He didn't believe that with his broken body, he could keep a woman for long.
Even though she had spoken so resolutely.
"Has the First Prince let Linglong take a look?"
"No! And don't let her know!"
He didn't want her to see such a pathetic, useless him.
If she saw it with her own eyes, perhaps she wouldn't think he was so good anymore.
Wasn't it ironic? He actually craved the feeling of being valued.
He didn't want to lose it.
But if Linglong stayed, wouldn't she be able to find the problem? Ling Yao was somewhat conflicted.
Yet, she felt it was wrong to disregard the First Prince's wishes.
Upon reaching the next town, in the quiet of the night, Feng Shihao gently pushed away Qu Linglong, who was resting her head on his shoulder.
Really, how could she have leaned over while sleeping?
Her breathing was even, her cheeks flushed, and she was fast asleep.
Feng Shihao quietly got out of bed and went to Ling Yao's room.
Really.
Why was she also asleep?
"Imperial Sister, wake up quickly. Didn't I ask you to wait for me?"
Ling Yao was startled awake by his push.
She had been dreaming just now.
She dreamt the palace was on fire.
It shouldn't be true, should it?
"Why are you still spacing out? Hurry up!"
Feng Shihao was both nervous and anxious, wanting to finish quickly and return, fearing that if Qu Linglong woke up, he wouldn't be able to explain.
"Feng Shihao, you stay in one room."
Ling Yao only glanced at Feng Shihao before his eyes became glazed over, and he fell into a dream.
"You are in great pain, why are you in pain?"
"I, I am in great pain." Feng Shihao's face showed a look of suffering. "And I hate myself, how could I have been schemed against again."
"And then? What do you want to do?" Ling Yao asked softly.
"I want to kill that woman, but I have no strength. She has gone out."
"I know, she's gone to call for help."
"I would rather be dead than alive."
"But I can't escape."
"I hate, hate, hate that root of evil. It's disobedient. Why does it keep moving around."
"I don't want it anymore. I'll pull out the jade hairpin from my head and kill it, kill it, kill it, only then can I be free!"
Feng Shihao became frenzied. He reached for the jade crown on his head.
Ling Yao, startled, quickly stopped him.
"Feng Shihao, that was a nightmare. Look, the sun is so bright outside, and children are playing."
Feng Shihao's eyes became glazed over again, but his face remained ashen.
"You're mistaken. They aren't playing; they are killing a cat."
"A cat?"
"Yes, that cat has lost its eyes and a leg. They are also going to skin it."
Feng Shihao suddenly, in terror, clutched his clothes as if someone was trying to strip him.
"Yes, I was mistaken. You are tired, go to sleep."
Ling Yao realized that he could be guided by her, but he would always revert to his own inner thoughts in the end.
She was helpless and had to give up.
The First Prince's past seemed to be filled with bloodshed and darkness.
She took Feng Shihao's hand and opened the door.
Outside the door stood Qu Linglong, her face streaked with tears.