Di Wenbin seized the opportunity to accuse, "Feng Ninghe, I knew you were selfish. I am not from Li country, but from the Immortal Sect. Even I am willing to offer my help for the speedy recovery of the Li Emperor, yet you refuse."
"Indeed! The Emperor treated you well, yet at this critical moment, you shrink back and refuse to help!" Baili Yang said indignantly, his cheeks flushed with anger.
Feng Guangyao quickly chimed in to undermine Feng Ninghe, "I heard the Li Emperor personally left the palace to welcome Feng Ninghe. Such an honor is not granted to everyone, yet she refuses to help the Emperor."
"Nonsense!" Bai Niannian, standing among the crowd, stepped forward, her delicate face showing a hint of displeasure. "Sister Feng is not that kind of person. She must have her reasons, perhaps she already has a plan."
Despite the accusations from everyone, Bai Niannian still trusted Feng Ninghe.
The female voice was inexplicably heartwarming. Feng Ninghe unconsciously glanced at Bai Niannian. During the palace banquet, it was also this girl who first stepped forward to help her. Although Bai Niannian hadn't been of much practical help, it was enough for Feng Ninghe to remember the kindness.
Feng Qingcheng scoffed, tilting her head proudly and looking down her nose at others. "Miss Bai, what benefits has Feng Ninghe given you that makes you stand up for her time and again?"
Di Wenbin clicked his tongue disdainfully. "This is what people with no discernment are like. Sister Qingcheng, we don't need to bother with such people. Saving the Li Emperor is what's important."
Bai Niannian, being straightforward, could not tolerate being insulted like this. She moved her lips, about to speak, but was stopped by Feng Ninghe.
Feng Ninghe thanked her softly and met her gaze. "Miss Bai, thank you."
That look inexplicably gave her confidence. Bai Niannian casually shook her head, a hint of anger on her face. "I simply couldn't stand seeing them talk about you like this, so I wanted to speak up for you."
Xiao Zhao looked at Bai Niannian with satisfaction, his sapphire eyes full of approval. "Master, this girl has good character. She has always longed to become a disciple. Why not take her in?"
Everyone was accusing, yet Bai Niannian, unafraid of the gossip, stepped forward to respond, which was enough to prove her character.
Feng Ninghe did not respond to Xiao Zhao, but quietly looked up at the few people before her, her cool voice slowly falling. "Feng Qingcheng, only you would have such a foolish idea. While pooling everyone's strength might heal the Li Emperor, even with your whisk, can you guarantee that the evil energy entering the body will be harmless to others?"
Those with higher cultivation could purify small amounts of evil energy. However, for younger disciples with lower cultivation, even a trace of evil energy could be life-threatening.
The female voice instantly enraged Feng Qingcheng. Feng Qingcheng's exquisitely made-up face flashed with ferocity. "Feng Ninghe, someone like you, who only knows how to talk and refuses to even serve the Li Emperor, what right do you have to criticize me?"
Di Wenbin nodded repeatedly. "Sister Qingcheng's plan is for the Emperor's well-being. You refuse to even help, what a waste of the Emperor's kindness towards you."
Feng Ninghe sneered, her eyebrows like smoke, her icy eyes looking at them as if they were a group of imbeciles. "Open your dog eyes and see, what is this?"
Her clear voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. As she spoke, Feng Ninghe produced a luminous sacred grass, adorned with a small blue flower. The sacred grass had extremely demanding environmental requirements. She had obtained the seeds by chance and cultivated a patch of it. To outsiders, the sacred grass was rare and extremely precious. In her eyes, she had an abundance of it; her spatial bracelet held a pile more. Initially, she had only found the sacred grass fragrant, unaware of its preciousness.
"This is... this is the sacred grass!" The First Elder of the Feng family recognized the sacred grass, his expression excited. "The Empress of Lin Country cultivated sacred grass back then, causing a stir and much competition. No one but her could cultivate it! I never expected you to have it!"
The physician standing guard excitedly leaned closer, quickly taking the sacred grass to examine it carefully. After inspection, the physician's eyes welled up with tears, and he quickly put the grass away. "This is indeed the sacred grass. Now the Li Emperor can be saved! I will go and prepare it immediately!"
The physician left with great enthusiasm. The crowd began to discuss again. "I didn't expect this eldest lady to have sacred grass. I'd say Feng Ninghe is superior." "Feng Qingcheng's method is feasible, but risky. The best approach is to use sacred grass for treatment. It's surprising that Feng Ninghe has it..."
Once again, the two Feng family ladies were compared. Their murmurs were not loud, but they were clearly audible. Feng Qingcheng's face turned from green to white, and she vented her resentment onto Feng Ninghe. "Since you have sacred grass, why didn't you produce it? Do you not want to save the Li Emperor?"
Feng Ninghe dismissed her with a cold glance, her beautiful eyes filled with chill. "Feng Qingcheng, you didn't even ask if I had sacred grass. Sacred grass is precious, and I am willing to produce it, yet you have repeatedly accused me publicly. What are your intentions?"
In a few words, she shifted the blame to Feng Qingcheng. Feng Qingcheng's face flushed, and her eyes suddenly reddened. "I... I was just anxious to save him!"
Baili Yang, unable to bear seeing the woman he loved wronged, quickly interjected, "Indeed, if you had sacred grass, why didn't you produce it earlier? Why all this trouble?"
"You scold me without understanding the truth, and now you blame me for not producing the sacred grass sooner? I truly doubt how Third Prince, with his wooden head, became the Prince of Zhenyang." Feng Ninghe did not back down, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The simple words choked Baili Yang, leaving him red-faced and unable to retort.
Feng Ninghe then turned her gaze to Di Wenbin, her icy eyes piercing. "And you, you called Miss Bai discerning, but I say the one who is truly discerning is you. Apologize to Miss Bai!"
Di Wenbin, being hot-tempered and harboring much resentment, was unwilling to apologize. He grunted, his expression arrogant. "Who knew you had sacred grass? If you had produced it earlier, why would I have said anything?"
"Apologize." The clear female voice was like the biting wind of winter, capable of freezing someone to death. Di Wenbin's heart sank. The female voice carried a hint of deterrence, and his legs involuntarily weakened, wanting to submit. However, after a moment, he shook off the emotions and arrogantly declared, "I have done nothing wrong, so why should I apologize? Who could have imagined you would possess such a precious herb as sacred grass?" He knew he was in the wrong, but he would never bow to someone like her. Bai Niannian was merely a disciple from an insignificant family; apologizing to such a person was out of the question!
"Are you sure you won't apologize?" Feng Ninghe spoke again, her cool eyes lowered, exuding a chilling aura. She raised her hand slightly, and a powerful pressure descended.
Bang! Di Wenbin felt his legs give way, and his entire body collapsed heavily onto the ground.