Her cultivation was already high to begin with, and with Xi He injured, Song Yan’s few slaps sent her flying.
It wasn’t until her body crashed heavily onto the ground that Xi He reacted.
She pushed herself up, raised her right hand shakily, and pointed at Song Yan, her face filled with disbelief, “You, you, how dare you hit me?”
Song Yan flicked her hand. “A bitch’s skin is truly thick. My hand aches from hitting her.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Heng rushed to Song Yan’s side. He cupped Song Yan’s hands in his and gently massaged them, saying with mock reproach, “For such a bitch, is it worth you using your hand to hit her? What about the paddle I prepared for you before?”
Song Yan seemed to recall something. “You don’t say, I’d almost forgotten.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
Almost simultaneously, a white light flashed in her left palm, and a transparent paddle, about two fingers wide, appeared.
Song Yan held the paddle carefully in her hand, examining it for a long while before sighing, “It’s been so many years since I’ve used this thing.”
Yuan Heng’s gaze also fell upon the paddle, his eyes filled with a hint of nostalgia.
The two of them displayed their affection as if no one else were present. The onlookers felt that this sudden display of affection was far too sweet.
Shen Xiaoyan suddenly leaned in and whispered into Song Yan’s ear, “What is this paddle? Its material looks very special!”
Song Yan gave Shen Xiaoyan an appreciative look. “As expected of Yan girl, your discernment is extraordinary. This is made of immortal crystals, how could it not be special?”
“It’s actually made of immortal crystals?” Shen Xiaoyan was slightly surprised.
Song Yan nodded, handed the paddle to Shen Xiaoyan, and explained, “When hitting someone, just inject spiritual power into this paddle. That way, you can hit however you like. This was specially made for me by that old man years ago because too many people were chasing after him.”
Hearing Song Yan’s explanation, Shen Xiaoyan’s lips twitched a few times.
What a couple they were!
Her husband, because she was too popular and feared his wife’s jealousy, and worried his wife’s hands would hurt from hitting people, had specially made a paddle from immortal crystals.
Shen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but offer three seconds of silent mourning for all the people who had pursued Yuan Heng back then.
Then, in the next moment, she heard Song Yan lament, “Xi He. I didn’t expect your memory to worsen after so many years. Have you already forgotten the more than 100 slaps I gave you back then?”
“Who was it that was covered in blood, their skin torn and flesh ripped, crying and begging me to let her go, saying she would never pester me again?”
“Are you trying to play the game of healing a wound and forgetting the pain?”
“Or do you think that now that I’m old, I can’t wield this paddle anymore?”
By the end, Song Yan’s voice had turned as cold as ice.
Everyone present felt a ringing in their ears, clearly shaken by Song Yan’s final sentence.
Xi He also seemed to recall the unpleasant memories triggered by Song Yan’s words. The redness and swelling on her cheeks, from being slapped by Song Yan, instantly faded.
“I didn’t mean to, I was just, I was just…”
Song Yan sneered, “Just what? I’ve heard all your excuses before. Either don’t speak, or say something more pleasant. Perhaps if I’m amused, I might spare your life today and let you wait for more people to climb into your bed.”
These words made Xi He’s face turn even paler.
Yet, she felt her face burning, whether from anger or shame, she didn’t know.
In fact, she only now realized how strange she had been acting.
She had long since forgotten Yuan Heng, and even if Yuan Heng’s appearance had changed drastically, she shouldn’t have reacted like this!
Had she been tricked again?
After the incident with Long Hao, she was now extremely sensitive to the matter of being drugged.
Although she hadn’t smelled anything earlier, her intuition told her that she might have been drugged.
But who was the one who drugged her, and what was their motive?
Xi He’s mind was a jumble, making her head buzz.
She always felt that ever since she arrived at Medicine Emperor Valley, she had been unusually unlucky.
Her life had been smooth sailing for over ten years, so why was everything going wrong once she reached Medicine Emperor Valley?
No, it was more like everything had gone wrong since she met Shen Xiaoyan.
This girl was indeed here to curse her.
If Shen Xiaoyan knew her thoughts at this moment, she would surely laugh out loud to the heavens.
Who did she think she was, that Shen Xiaoyan could curse everyone she met?
This farce was completely brought to a close by Song Yan’s arrival.
As Yuan Heng was leaving, he kindly advised Long Hao, “Young man, it’s better to be a bit more restrained. If you cause any trouble in Medicine Emperor Valley and tarnish its reputation, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Long Hao’s face turned even redder, but he quietly replied, “Yes.”
Shen Xiaoyan didn’t leave immediately. She pulled Zheng Wei aside and waited until almost everyone had left before slowly walking up to Xi He.
“Oh my, look at your sorry state, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Xi He gritted her teeth. “Had enough? If you’ve had enough, then leave quickly.”
She had never been so humiliated in her life. Of course, she had automatically filtered out all the embarrassing memories from when she was a maid.
“Even like this, your temper is still the same. Who do you think you are, telling me to leave? Wouldn’t that make me lose face?” Shen Xiaoyan said with a smile.
Xi He was so angered by Shen Xiaoyan’s words that she couldn’t speak, her chest heaving violently.
Shen Xiaoyan, as if not noticing, continued, “With you like this, do you think I’m eager to see you? I’m only staying to say a few words. Your children are about the same age as me. If they knew that while you were out, you found them a new father, what would they think? Would they readily accept him, or… Hehe, I’ve said what I needed to say, so I’m leaving now. Get some rest, alright?”
After speaking, Shen Xiaoyan winked playfully at Xi He before pulling Zheng Wei and walking away.
As they passed Long Hao, the two of them tacitly avoided looking at him.
Xi He, however, didn’t notice when Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei left. Her mind was filled with what Shen Xiaoyan had just said.
She had been thinking about other things and had completely forgotten about this.
If she were to actually bring Long Hao back to Chang Qiu Palace, what would her children think, how would they view her?
All these years, she had remained chaste, not just for a good reputation, but more importantly, for her children.
The thought of the negative rumors Long Hao might bring to her children made Xi He panic.
If possible, she wished she could kill Long Hao right now to prevent further uncontrollable situations.
But as soon as she thought of taking action, she couldn’t support herself and collapsed to the ground.
A wry smile flickered at the corner of her lips, and Xi He felt a sense of helplessness.
Her mind was truly useless, she had forgotten again that she was now an ordinary person with no strength.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but glare fiercely at Long Hao’s retreating back.
It was all this man’s fault. She didn’t know what he had fed her, but she had become like an ordinary person, unable to use any magic.
If it weren’t for that, how could Song Yan have sent her flying so easily just now?
Just then, Long Hao, who had been facing away from her, suddenly turned around.
Xi He was startled by this, her eyes, filled with disgust and hatred, were not yet retracted when Long Hao saw them.
Long Hao walked towards Xi He step by step, making Xi He feel a sense of dread from the depths of her heart.
Especially Long Hao’s crazed gaze, which sent shivers down her spine.
She vaguely regretted that she had embarrassed Long Hao earlier, perhaps she had made a mistake.
But Xi He was accustomed to being superior. Even if she realized her mistake, she could still correct it, as long as she was willing to lower herself.
However, accustomed to giving orders, Xi He was simply incapable of apologizing.
Especially to someone she looked down upon.
Long Hao was indifferent to this.
Apologies were something he had received countless times before.
Therefore, whether Xi He apologized or not, he didn’t care at all.
What he cared about now was how he could vent his anger.
Although he hadn’t thought of a way yet, there would be one, wouldn’t there?
Thinking this, Long Hao bent down and scooped Xi He into his arms.
The moment Xi He was lifted off the ground, she instinctively clutched Long Hao’s body.
Long Hao let out a disdainful laugh.
And yet she still felt superior to him. Long Hao couldn’t understand where her sense of superiority came from.
Before long, Long Hao carried Xi He into the main room.
A muffled groan from a woman was heard from the main room, and then the entire courtyard fell silent, nothing could be heard.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei stood a short distance outside the courtyard, watching this scene, a smile flickering at the corners of their lips.
“It’s just as I thought. This Long Hao did it intentionally. I said they both had cultivation, wouldn’t it be easy for them to set up a barrier? Now it seems it’s not that they can’t, but that they’re unwilling.”
Zheng Wei nodded in agreement.
As for why they were unwilling, there was no need to say more; they both understood.
They certainly wouldn’t sympathize with Xi He.