Ling Yao was held by Xiao Shan and slept for a while. She was worried about the medicinal ingredient, and Ling Xi's leg could not be delayed any longer. She woke up in less than an hour.
Xiao Shan insisted on witnessing the bloodletting before leaving.
The small knife was replaced with a silver needle.
"When you held the knife, I remembered how you cut your wrist back then. How could I not misunderstand?"
Ling Yao blinked, hearing a hint of complaint in his tone. "No, besides you, no one is worth me doing this. Didn't you say I should never hurt myself at any time?"
"Hmph, it's good that you remember."
Xiao Shan squeezed her clear, tender index finger and quickly pricked it with the needle. A drop of blood slowly flowed out, carrying a sweet fragrance.
This blood was both a potent medicine and a deadly poison, depending on the Goddess's will.
One drop, two drops, three drops. It was enough.
He withdrew his hand and brought her blood-stained finger to his mouth. "Don't waste it."
Was it too little?
His mouth was hot and moist. A tingling sensation spread from her fingertip, causing her to let out a soft moan.
This sound was a hundred turns of a thousand, filled with enchanting allure, like an invisible hook that made Xiao Shan look up at her.
Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, her eyes shimmering with a flowing light, as if blooming with a myriad of flowers. Her lips trembled slightly. "Suck more."
Xiao Shan stared at her and put her finger into his mouth again, sucking on it. "Like this?"
Ling Yao couldn't help but let out a soft hum, her voice as charming as a warbler's song.
She turned her back, feeling a tingling sensation all over her body, especially in her chest, which still felt a slight sting.
"What's wrong? Let me see." He initially thought she was aroused, but now it didn't seem like it. Was there still some blood stasis?
"No, I won't show you." Ling Yao pushed him away. "Go give the blood to Qing He and tell her to hurry and prepare the medicine, or it will dry up."
Xiao Shan frowned, examining her. She truly seemed fine, as radiant as a rose.
He took the bowl out and returned quickly.
Ling Yao, with her back to him, was changing her clothes. Her smooth, fair back was like a fiery lotus. Every time he saw it, Xiao Shan couldn't suppress the stirrings within him.
"So beautiful."
Why was she changing her clothes now, and so thoroughly?
Xiao Shan embraced her from behind. Ling Yao's body trembled, and the half-undone bra slipped down to her waist. She lowered her head and froze.
Xiao Shan rested his head on her neck. Glancing down, he also noticed something unusual.
"This..." His eyes widened, and he turned to face her.
Ling Yao tried to cover herself, but it was too late. He grabbed her arms and twisted them behind her back. He then leaned in, his gaze sharp as he looked there.
"Cold..." Ling Yao had nowhere to escape, closing her eyes in shy embarrassment.
"Is this... milk?"
"I don't know... Ah!"
Ling Yao let out a sharp cry, her body instantly going limp.
"A Shan, no—" She held his head, supporting her swaying body.
Somehow, Ling Yao was placed on the bed.
Currents of electricity pulsed through her limbs. Her mind was filled with exploding golden light, and her hands gripped his thick hair, trembling uncontrollably.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Shan finally stopped. He pulled back the covers to hide her alluring beauty, rolled over, and lay on his back, panting heavily.
"Damn it, I'm going crazy."
Something was wrong. Hadn't she given him medicine? Why was he still feeling so uncomfortable?
"Xue Niang..."
"Mm." Ling Yao's eyes were closed, still caught in the irresistible torrent from moments ago.
Xiao Shan grabbed her hand. "Are you sure you gave me the medicine?"
Ling Yao's hand trembled, and she opened her eyes in disbelief. She sat up and looked.
It was proud and majestic, just like its owner, unconquerable.
How was this possible?
She had watched Qing He sprinkle the medicine in!
"Qing—"
She instinctively called out, but Xiao Shan leaped up and covered her mouth.
"My lady, why are you calling her at a time like this? Do you want your man to be seen by others?"
Ling Yao blinked her watery almond eyes and shook her head.
She didn't want him to be seen.
But what was going on?
"Perhaps, it's your blood? Or..." Xiao Shan licked his lips, drawing the last traces of sweet fragrance into his mouth.
It tasted so good.
He had only intended to smell it at first, but it was too fragrant and sweet, and he couldn't resist.
He had been a bit too rough, he wondered if he had hurt her?
His words and actions were naked and direct, typical of his personality, but they made Ling Yao's face burn with heat.
"You should go quickly!"
"Ah, alright! Tonight is the new Emperor's first palace banquet. You rest a bit longer, and I'll come to pick you up later."
Although he didn't want her to face those barbarians, as the Goddess, she had to be present at such an important occasion.
He secretly calmed his blood qi and helped Ling Yao put on her clothes.
He glanced at her a few more times before pursing his lips and leaving.
After Xiao Shan left, Ling Yao lay on the bed with her eyes closed, trying hard to stop thinking about what had just happened.
But the burning sensation still lingered.
Qing He had finished brewing the medicine, and Ling Yao, along with her, took it to Ling Xi.
Ling Xi was already unconscious and unaware of anything. Ling Yao silently recited a few words to the decoction and poured it down her throat.
"There was a little blood, I don't know if it will work?"
"We'll know the effect tomorrow," Qing He replied, unsure herself. She understood medicine, but she didn't understand the Goddess's divine power, which was a mysterious thing.
"Qing He, that medicine of yours, the one that makes people unable to have intercourse, does it work on everyone?"
"Of course, why Princess?" Qing He asked, puzzled. "Could it be that the General can still...?"
This was impossible!
This medicine only had no effect on women; it worked on all men. Even Turu, who was as strong as a stud horse, had been incapacitated by her medicine for over half a year.
Could it be that the General was immune to all poisons?
That wasn't right either; he had been numbed by her poison last time.
"No," Ling Yao didn't want to talk about Xiao Shan anymore. "I was just asking."
"You shouldn't go to the palace banquet tonight."
Qing He smiled, knowing that the Princess meant she was afraid she would see that person.
However, this was Jing Country, and there was nothing to fear. She was not someone to be bullied. She was determined to go and show that wolf cub how glorious Qing He was.
"This servant must accompany the Princess."
The Princess had never attended such a palace banquet before, so she had to accompany her, lest some ill-mannered person offend her.
Qing He had always been like this, cold and aloof, fearless.
Ling Yao nodded heavily. "Then let's go."
Let everyone get to know the once obscure Princess Ling Yao and the head palace maid who went to marry into the Tuyuhun for her!
The new Emperor's first palace banquet, attended by civil and military officials and their families, signaled a new chapter in the court.
The palace was empty, and the new Emperor had not yet established an Empress or selected concubines. Officials with eligible daughters in their households had long been eyeing this opportunity, bringing their daughters to the palace to make a good impression.
As the former Emperor had only recently passed away, although the great hall was filled with ladies, it was packed to capacity, but they were all dressed in simple hairpins and plain clothes, with nothing inappropriate. Only one person, wearing a bright red skirt, a felt hat adorned with colorful tassels, a string of alluring vermilion beads around her neck, with defiant eyes and a well-built physique, was overly ostentatious amidst the sea of plain colors.
The Third Princess of Tuyuhun, Ashina Meiduo.