"Madam, do you think I'm so idle every day that I would pay so much attention to someone and protect them so carefully?"
Feng Yunshu was momentarily stunned. Seeing the blank look on the woman in front of him, Helan Yanting's eyes softened with a hint of a smile.
"Madam, to be honest, I've always been cold - hearted and decisive in killing. But only towards you, I can never bring myself to be harsh."
Feng Yunshu's heart skipped a beat.
"So, since I've said this much, shouldn't Madam show some response?"
The man leaned in closer. Feng Yunshu could feel his hot breath on her cheek. This feeling was... even hotter than Nezha's True Samadhi Fire.
"Boom—"
Just as the atmosphere in the room turned ambiguous, a sudden thunderbolt struck outside, illuminating the whole room.
Feng Yunshu was jolted awake. In the white light, she saw the handsome man in front of her, with his sword - shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, looking at her with a half - smile, his eyes full of tenderness...
"Your Highness!"
Feng Yunshu snapped back to her senses, pushed Helan Yanting away forcefully, and quickly jumped out of the bed.
Sure enough, he's such a sly old fox! He actually used the beauty trap on me? It's simply outrageous!
Feng Yunshu stood there with a straight face, hands on her hips, glaring at Helan Yanting with wide - open eyes. "Your Highness, you're really devious. I almost forgot what I came here for today!"
"Madam, I'm just telling the truth. What wrong have I done?"
"Humph! I've given you so many chances, but you never bothered to tell me the truth. I even worried about your poor health..."
"Madam, I didn't mean to hide it from you. But there are some things you don't need to know too much about. It's more harmful than beneficial to you."
"So what about next time? Next time, what other persona will you assume to tease me, get close to me, and test me?"
"If Madam doesn't like it, I promise I'll never play such tricks on Madam again, as long as Madam doesn't take this to heart."
"Do you think I'm a three - year - old child? So easy to coax?!"
"Anyway, I've noted this down in my black book. It's getting late, and I should go back and rest. We'll talk about other things tomorrow."
Feng Yunshu glanced at the storm outside and then at Helan Yanting, who looked innocent. She made up her mind secretly. This time, she must teach this old fox a lesson, or who knows how he'll tease her next time.
After saying that, Feng Yunshu turned to leave. Helan Yanting got out of bed and was about to chase after her. Feng Yunshu immediately turned around and stopped him. "Don't come any closer! If you take one more step, I'll never talk to you again!"
Helan Yanting actually stood still on the spot. "Madam, it's storming outside. It's inconvenient for Madam to go back to your own room. Why don't you just stay here?"
"No need. Our issue isn't over yet. We'll talk when I calm down."
After saying that, Feng Yunshu turned around gracefully and left.
Helan Yanting watched Feng Yunshu go out. Then he walked silently to the window and watched her receding back, his expression a bit complicated.
Not long after, Helan Yanting walked to the table and twisted an inkstone on it. A section of the wall in the room suddenly moved, revealing a small door.
Helan Yanting walked into the secret chamber.
There was a man standing inside. Hearing the footsteps, he turned around.
"Your Highness, why didn't you explain it clearly to Miss Feng just now? You're hiding your identity for self - protection, but she doesn't understand your situation here."
The speaker was Shi Yuan, the Yuan Kingdom's envoy who had been released not long ago. "In my opinion, Miss Feng isn't an ordinary woman. If Your Highness tells her the truth, she might become a capable assistant for Your Highness."
"Lord Shi, from now on, refer to her as the imperial concubine. She's not an outsider to me, and I'll never take her as my subordinate."
Helan Yanting's face was cold. He walked to the desk and sat down, slowly rubbing the ring on his thumb.
At this moment, he was like a different person from the one who had been talking to Feng Yunshu just now.
"It seems that Your Highness has already accepted the imperial concubine appointed by the Emperor of the Dan Kingdom?"
Shi Yuan looked a bit surprised but quickly accepted the fact.
"Your Highness is not young anymore. It's time for you to have a wife by your side. But Your Highness mustn't forget the imperial concubine's identity. She's not only from the Dan Kingdom, but her father is also the powerful prime minister in the court."
Helan Yanting was silent for a moment, his face gloomy. After a while, he looked up at Shi Yuan and slowly said, "Lord Shi, do you know why the spirit fox chose her as its master?"
"This..." Shi Yuan was a bit embarrassed. "Your Highness, although I've sent people to search for the traces of spiritual beasts in the Great Wilderness Mountains for years, so far, we've only found the little white dragon and this spirit fox. I've heard that spiritual beasts usually recognize their masters because of unfinished past - life fates..."
"Do you mean that the spirit fox knew Yunshu in the past?"
"I'm just making a bold guess. There's no definite evidence. But there's another possibility. The imperial concubine might have some abilities beyond ordinary people."
Hearing this, Helan Yanting suddenly smiled for some reason. This smile left Shi Yuan dumbfounded.
The Second Prince can actually smile?!
"You mentioned some abilities. I just remembered that she is indeed different from ordinary women in some aspects."
"Your Highness means?"
"She's an exceptionally big eater."
...
"Achoo!"
Feng Yunshu had just stepped into her room when she sneezed. Then came a series of sneezes.
Worried about catching a cold, Feng Yunshu immediately asked Zilan and Axi to prepare hot water for her to take a bath and change clothes.
While taking a bath, she kept thinking about what Helan Yanting had said just now. The bath made her feel hotter and hotter.
But, did what Helan Yanting said count as... a confession?
If her former senior brothers knew that she had received a confession, they would surely laugh at her, saying it was like an iron tree blooming, a once - in - a - century wonder!
Indeed, this Prince Helan has a unique taste. There are so many beautiful ladies in the capital, but he never pays attention to any of them. Instead, he falls for this oddball like her.
But I have to admit, he has good taste!
Thinking of this, Feng Yunshu suddenly felt elated. She hummed a happy song while taking a bath.
However, one thing is one thing. The lesson still has to be given. To let him know the seriousness of lying, Feng Yunshu decided to "run away from home" early tomorrow morning!
After taking a bath, Feng Yunshu saw Xiaoling lying on her couch, looking aggrieved with its ears drooping, looking very dejected.
"Xiaoling, where were you when I was pressed down just now? You didn't even come to help your master! Do you know I almost lost my innocence?"
Feng Yunshu reached out and poked Xiaoling's forehead, accusing it heart - brokenly.
Xiaoling blinked its eyes pitifully. "Master, you really wronged me... My spiritual power was restricted at that time, and I was directly carried out by Prince Helan's guards. I finally found a chance to slip back..."
"Really?"
Xiaoling nodded quickly. "Every word is true. How could I abandon my master?"
"Okay, I'll believe you this time."
"Alright, stop feeling aggrieved. Hurry up and help your master pack up things."
Xiaoling was stunned for a moment. "It's the middle of the night. Why does master need to pack up things?"
"To run away from home, of course."