Before Feng Yunshu left, she told little Chang Fang that she would find a reliable steward to help manage the Five - Spice Pavilion. She also told little Chang Fang to study hard and improve his management skills so that he could take over the business earlier.
Little Chang Fang had completely regarded Feng Yunshu as a goddess. He absolutely believed every word she said.
When they were leaving, Xiao Ling told Feng Yunshu, "My lady, that little cat spirit has been following us. It seems that it wants to repay your kindness."
Feng Yunshu suddenly stopped and turned around. The timid little cat spirit immediately shrank behind a pillar, hiding itself, only its wagging tail sticking up.
"Xiao Ling, tell it that I don't need it to follow me like this all the time. It can stay by little Chang Fang's side and watch over him. But if I'm in danger, it can come to help then."
Xiao Ling immediately silently conveyed this message to the little cat spirit behind the pillar. After meowing a few times, the little cat spirit turned around and dashed towards little Chang Fang's home.
"Lady, do you think I'm too stupid?" Xiao Ling pouted, looking a bit aggrieved.
"Why do you suddenly ask this?"
"If you didn't think I was stupid, why did you take in that little cat spirit..."
Feng Yunshu let out a chuckle, "It's true that you're a bit stupid, but if I disliked you, would I have waited until now?"
"Lady..." Xiao Ling rubbed against Feng Yunshu's arm coquettishly.
Feng Yunshu couldn't help but smile and stroked Xiao Ling's fur. "In the human world, it's a dangerous place. Having more friends means having more options. Who knows when I might need the help of this little cat spirit? Besides, thanks to this little cat spirit, I've gained a lot today!"
The mistress and the maid chatted and laughed all the way, having a great time. However, at this moment, the Helan Prince's Mansion was filled with a heavy atmosphere. Everyone in the mansion didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
On a big tree in the courtyard, the following conversation took place -
"Yan Qi, what exactly happened to you guys outside just now? Has there been any change in the plan in the court?"
Yan Qi shook his head. "No, the plan was a complete success."
"Then why does the master look so terrifying? Ever since the master returned to the mansion, I've felt that aura of hostility. It gave me the creeps and made me shiver several times."
Yan Qi silently glanced in the direction of the study. "The master... he's probably shot himself in the foot. Anyway, you'd better not talk nonsense or ask any questions. There will probably be something happening tonight."
"What's going to happen?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
...
After Feng Yunshu finished dealing with her matters, she returned to the mansion. During the evening meal, she didn't see Helan Yanting come out to eat with her.
"Steward Yan, where is the prince? It's already this late. Could it be that the prince still hasn't returned?"
"Your Highness, the prince caught a bit of a chill after returning from the court. He's not feeling well and is resting in his room."
Having said that, Steward Yan paused for a moment. "Does Your Highness want to go and check on the prince?"
Feng Yunshu remembered what had happened in the Five - Spice Pavilion not long ago and the masked man. After thinking for a moment, she nodded. "Sure, I'll go and have a look."
In the east wing room.
As Feng Yunshu entered the room, a familiar smell of medicine assailed her nostrils. She quickened her steps and walked into the inner room.
Looking up, she saw Helan Yanting half - lying on the bed, reading a book. Hearing the noise, Helan Yanting didn't even turn his head. This made Feng Yunshu curious about what he was up to.
"Your Highness?"
Since he didn't turn his head, she had to walk up to him and curtsied.
Only then did Helan Yanting slowly look up and glance at her. But unlike usual, his face was not gentle. Instead, he looked a bit cold.
"My lady still remembers to come back."
His tone was also cold, and if you listened carefully, there was even a bit of complaint? Feng Yunshu found it rather amusing when she heard this.
"Your Highness seems to be in a bad mood? I went out for a stroll and didn't realize it was already this late when I came back. I heard from the steward that Your Highness is not feeling well. So, I came here to check on you without even having dinner."
Feng Yunshu pretended to be worried and reached out to feel Helan's forehead, but Helan frowned slightly and dodged backward.
"What are you doing, my lady? I'm not feeling well. You'd better not get too close to me. I'm afraid I'll pass on my illness to you."
As he was speaking, Helan averted his gaze. "Moreover, my health is already like this. It wouldn't be strange if I suddenly fell seriously ill one day. There's no need for my lady to worry about me."
"Alright then. Since Your Highness is so considerate of me, I won't disturb Your Highness's rest. I'll go back first."
Following Helan's words, Feng Yunshu waved her hand helplessly and really turned around to leave.
When she reached the door, Helan's anxious and angry voice came from behind. "Feng Yunshu!"
Hearing this, Feng Yunshu stopped in her tracks, turned around to look at him, and blinked. "Does Your Highness have anything else to say?"
Helan stared at Feng Yunshu for a long time. Then, he waved his sleeve. "It's nothing. Close the door when you go out. Don't come back again."
"Okay, I understand."
Feng Yunshu very cooperatively turned around and left, closing the door behind her.
I don't know if it was an illusion, but after walking a few steps, Feng Yunshu faintly heard the sound of something being crushed.
When she returned to her own room, Feng Yunshu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Xiao Ling, you didn't see Helan's gritted - teeth expression just now. I've never seen him look so frustrated. Hahaha..."
"That old fox finally has his comeuppance. Humph, he always acts so pretentiously in front of me. He's clearly a big bad wolf but always pretends to be an innocent little red - riding hood. If I wasn't so observant, I would really have been fooled by him!"
Xiao Ling also laughed. "Prince Helan probably doesn't know that you've already noticed his false identity, my lady. But my lady, I think you still need to be more cautious."
"Why do you say so?"
Xiao Ling jumped up quickly and whispered in Feng Yunshu's ear, "I sneaked into the yard you mentioned just now. There is indeed a spiritual beast in the hot spring pool in that yard. Not only is there a spiritual beast, but it's also not an ordinary one."
"You saw it?!"
Feng Yunshu was stunned. "What exactly is in that pool?"
"A little white dragon. There's a little white dragon that hasn't yet transformed into a human form in the pool."
"What?!! A dragon?!!"
Feng Yunshu was stunned again, her jaw almost dropping to the ground.
Xiao Ling nodded. "Yes, I saw it clearly. It's really a little white dragon in that pool, and it's a little white dragon that likes to cause trouble."
At this point, Xiao Ling put her hands on her hips angrily, looking rather aggrieved. "As soon as I got there, it splashed the water in the pool and got me all wet. Look at my once - smooth fur. It's all limp now..."
Feng Yunshu didn't have time to look at her fur. She was still in a state of shock and couldn't come to her senses.
"Could there really be a little white dragon spiritual beast in this world? Who on earth is Helan Yanting? How could he have such a powerful spiritual beast?"
The more Feng Yunshu thought about it, the more her scalp tingled. Could it be that her guess was right? Was Helan Yanting also a cultivator like herself? But... there was no trace of spiritual power on him at all. How could this be explained?
Because of this sudden news, Feng Yunshu just sat there in the room, her mind full of doubts.