Ling Yao could no longer swallow, blood trickling from her lips.
Where it flowed, the frost melted as if meeting its nemesis.
Upon discovering this, Yu Liu stripped Ling Yao of her clothes and began to smear her entire body with blood. kuAiδugg
After a while, Ling Yao’s body softened again, and all the frost on her disappeared.
Yu Liu was so excited she almost shouted.
“Princess, Princess?”
Ling Yao still showed no reaction, her face ashen and devoid of color.
Yu Liu again used a soup spoon to pour blood into her mouth.
At this moment, Ling Yao had become a bloodied figure, and the bed was also covered in blood.
Fortunately, the blood left by the General in the days before their departure was plentiful; even with this usage, only half a jar was consumed.
Ling Yao finally made a swallowing motion. Yu Liu, between tears and laughter, fed her a whole large bowl until Ling Yao shook her head and weakly said, “Enough.”
“Princess, you’re finally awake! You scared this servant half to death, sob…”
“Mmm…”
Although Ling Yao was awake, her body was still extremely weak, and she closed her eyes again.
“Prepare, hot water.”
“Yes, yes, Princess.”
Covered in blood, the Princess certainly couldn’t rest. Yu Liu quickly prepared two bathing tubs and carried Ling Yao into them. The water in the tubs immediately turned red.
“No need to change the water. This Princess wishes to soak in the bloody water for a while longer. You may leave now,” Ling Yao leaned back and closed her eyes again.
Yu Liu seemed to understand, nodded, and left the washing room. She returned the remaining blood to the ice cellar and then went to change the soiled bedding.
To avoid any unnecessary trouble, she decided to burn the blankets.
Accompanied by two young palace maids, she carried the blankets some distance from the palace and set them ablaze.
“What are you doing?”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Yu Liu cursed her bad luck, wishing she had just taken them to the small kitchen to burn.
How was she supposed to explain this?
The person who arrived was Emperor Mingde, accompanied by Song Beiting. He had intended to check on the progress of the medicine, but instead, he witnessed this scene.
Song Beiting sniffed, bent down, and picked up a blanket. “Blood?”
“Yes, it’s just that the Princess has been indisposed these past few days,” Yu Liu said, bracing herself.
She thought to herself that His Majesty surely wouldn’t ask any more questions about this.
Little did she know that Emperor Mingde and Song Beiting were both unmarried men who had had little contact with women. Perhaps they had learned some knowledge in this area before, but they had long forgotten it, understanding only bits and pieces.
Emperor Mingde flipped through the blankets. Every single one was stained with blood, and his expression changed.
“Indisposed in what way? How much blood has been shed! You wretched servants, how do you care for the Princess!”
Emperor Mingde, enraged, kicked out, sending Yu Liu sprawling to the side. But she paid it no mind and quickly moved to block him.
“Your Majesty! The Princess is asleep, you cannot go in!”
“You insolent servant, how dare you obstruct me! Guards, bind her! If anything happens to the Princess, I will tear you limb from limb!”
“Your Majesty, the Princess is bathing! You truly cannot go in!” Yu Liu no longer cared, dodging the guards and blocking Emperor Mingde again.
Her repeated obstruction and changing words caused Emperor Mingde’s expression to darken.
He knew this maid was from Xiao Shan’s faction, and she was indeed audacious. If his imperial sister did not value her so highly, he would have had her dragged out and beaten to death long ago!
Song Beiting frowned at this. “Miss Yu Liu, His Majesty merely wishes to confirm if the Princess is unharmed. His Majesty is the supreme ruler and the Princess’s own brother. Does he need a maid’s permission to see the Princess?”
“This servant dares not! You have seen the bloodstains on the blankets. The Princess is truly bathing. Even a brother must avoid impropriety! Moreover, who knows what intentions Commander Song harbors?”
These words were practically accusing Song Beiting of improper intentions, of trying to take advantage of the Princess!
Truly audacious!
Song Beiting’s face contorted with displeasure.
Emperor Mingde glared at Yu Liu with a sinister gaze, gritting his teeth, “Bind her for me!”
Seeing the guards approach to seize her, and knowing the Emperor was determined to enter, Yu Liu could only run towards the room, hoping to notify Ling Yao in advance.
However, she was struck on the back by the pommel of a sword thrown by Song Beiting, falling to the ground and being apprehended by the guards.
“Scoundrel!” Yu Liu cursed him, looking at him.
Song Beiting, suppressing his anger, ignored her and followed Emperor Mingde towards the sleeping quarters.
At this moment, Qu Linglong and Yu Shan heard the commotion and had already arrived.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. Your Majesty, what is happening?” Qu Linglong asked, confused.
Yu Liu breathed a sigh of relief and gestured to Yu Shan.
Emperor Mingde still trusted Qu Linglong. He wasn’t so unreasonable as to barge into his sister’s room late at night; he had only ordered Yu Liu to be bound because she seemed so suspicious.
“Imperial Physician Qu, please go in and see if the Princess is well. Is she asleep or bathing?”
He glanced at Yu Liu, “If anyone is lying, I will not forgive them lightly!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Qu Linglong was unaware of what had transpired recently, but seeing Yu Liu’s relieved expression, she felt there was likely no major issue.
She entered the room.
She emerged shortly, her face showing a hint of panic. She glanced at Yu Liu first, but Yu Liu gave her no indication, merely waiting for her to speak like everyone else.
What was going on? Where had the Princess gone?
“The Princess is neither asleep nor bathing. No one is in the room.”
Emperor Mingde and Song Beiting suddenly turned to look at Yu Liu.
Yu Liu was naturally bewildered. “Impossible! When this servant came out just now, the Princess was still bathing!”
Her expression did not seem feigned, and Qu Linglong’s panic intensified. “But there is truly no one inside.”
Moreover, the bathtub was filled with blood.
Oh heavens!
Where had the Princess gone?
She had just had her blood drawn; she couldn’t possibly have run off!
The Feng Que Tower was heavily guarded, so it was impossible for thieves to have entered!
Emperor Mingde and Song Beiting could no longer stand it and rushed into the room. Of course, no one was on the bed. In the adjoining washing room, two bathtubs were placed: one with clean water and the other with bloody water.
“Blood? Why is it all blood? Where exactly is my imperial sister injured? Drag that lowly servant in!”
Linglong and Yu Shan were unaware of what had happened. The Princess had been fine after her blood was drawn. The cut on her wrist was small, and after bandaging, she shouldn’t have been bleeding anymore, let alone this much.
Song Beiting’s face was tense as he leaned down to sniff.
This action was precisely what Yu Liu, who was being dragged in, saw, and she couldn’t help but curse, “Filthy and vulgar!”
After being accused several times by her, Song Beiting finally lost his patience and reprimanded her coldly, “Silence!”
“The Princess’s blood carries a fragrance. This blood is not the Princess’s, nor is the blood on the blankets. Whose blood is it?”
Upon his question, Yu Shan finally understood.
However, the most important thing now was that the Princess was missing!
They had to find her as soon as possible. Since the General’s blood had been used, her body must have been harmed.
The Princess was in danger!
Seeing Yu Liu’s lips sealed shut, Emperor Mingde wished he could flay her on the spot!
“Wretched servant! Speak quickly!”
Yu Liu would never speak. The Princess was a divine being. If people knew she drank blood, she would be demonized by those with ulterior motives.
Especially this person named Song! The General had specifically instructed her to guard against him when he left!