Xiaoling hopped up to Helan Yanting in a few quick steps. Looking up, she saw that he was sitting cross - legged, meditating. His face was as pale as if covered with a layer of frost. At first glance, his condition seemed rather serious.
"Prince Helan, you must have damaged your vital energy. Meditating like this won't do any good."
Xiaoling immediately jumped onto the couch and walked behind Helan Yanting. She lifted one of her paws and placed it on his back. Then she transmitted the spiritual energy in her body into his, trying to use it to repair the damage to his body.
However, Xiaoling clearly overestimated her own ability and underestimated the severity of Helan Yanting's condition.
In just a short while, Xiaoling felt a powerful aura in Helan Yanting's body that almost sucked up all her spiritual energy. She felt as if she was about to be completely absorbed. Frightened, she immediately stopped what she was doing, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Xiaoling bounced back and could only observe the changes in Helan Yanting's body from a certain distance, not daring to step forward rashly again.
Helan Yanting's face seemed to have a bit more frost on it. His brows were tightly knitted, and his expression was somewhat struggling.
"Prince Helan, wake up quickly! If this goes on, you'll go crazy from practicing!"
Although Xiaoling didn't know what was causing trouble in Helan Yanting's body, whether it was some evil method he had practiced or something else, judging from the current situation, if it continued, he would definitely be in trouble.
After Xiaoling's continuous calling, Helan Yanting finally showed some reaction. His body trembled slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes.
"Prince Helan, you're awake?!"
Helan Yanting's expression was a bit blank for a moment. After regaining his senses, he looked at Xiaoling, and his eyes focused.
"Do you know what happened to me just now?"
"Don't you have any feeling, Prince? Just now, I saw that your physical condition was not right, so I wanted to try to help you recover with my spiritual energy. Unexpectedly, there was a very powerful energy in your body that almost sucked up all my spiritual energy. It was extremely terrifying!"
"Powerful energy?" Helan Yanting frowned, and his expression became even more obscure. He rubbed his forehead.
"I'm not quite sure. Could it be because of the gu worms?"
Xiaoling shook her head. "If it's gu worms... it doesn't seem likely. Unless it's some gu worms that have cultivated into spirits, ordinary gu worms, no matter how powerful, couldn't have such power."
Saying this, Xiaoling looked at Helan Yanting worriedly. "Prince, you asked me to keep it a secret from my mistress and not let her know that you saved her. Is it because you're afraid that my mistress will worry? Or are you afraid that she'll feel uneasy because of this?"
Helan Yanting didn't say a word but just nodded slightly.
"Prince, Xiaoling is really curious about where that powerful force in your body comes from. My mistress's body was so damaged, but you were actually able to completely heal her!"
Hearing this, Helan Yanting frowned again and rubbed his eyebrows. "I can't remember what exactly happened at that time either. After I came back, I suddenly fainted. After waking up, I can't remember many things clearly. I just feel unwell."
The more Xiaoling heard, the more confused she became. She recalled the situation when Helan Yanting appeared at the cliff. "Prince, where's your little white dragon? Where has it gone?"
"Little white dragon?" Helan Yanting frowned, looking a bit confused. "Do you mean the little white dragon in the courtyard of the mansion?"
Xiaoling nodded. "Yes. Does the prince have a second one?"
Helan Yanting shook his head. "It should still be in the courtyard. Why? What's the matter?"
"Hmm?"
Xiaoling suddenly realized that something was wrong. Helan Yanting's memory seemed to have some partial deviations and became a bit confused. He didn't fully remember what had happened not long ago.
At first, Xiaoling thought that her mistress was unlucky to marry a sickly prince. Later, she found that this prince was really kind to her mistress. Before she could feel at ease, she discovered that Prince Helan was not simple!
"Oh, it's okay... I was just asking casually. It's nothing."
For the moment, Xiaoling couldn't figure out the truth of the matter and it wasn't convenient for her to speak rashly, so she simply put this matter aside.
Helan Yanting nodded and then said, "Have you completed the task I assigned you? Is the princess sound asleep?"
Xiaoling nodded, looking a bit guilty.
"Yes, my mistress is already asleep. She won't wake up for a whole day."
Saying this, Xiaoling looked at Helan Yanting uneasily. "Prince Helan, you've been doing so many things behind my mistress's back. What on earth are you up to? You're not going to abandon or hurt my mistress, are you?"
Saying this, Xiaoling immediately put her hands on her hips to show her dissatisfaction. "Although Xiaoling may not be able to beat your little white dragon, I'm absolutely loyal to my mistress. If the prince dares to hurt my mistress in the slightest, Xiaoling will never let it go!"
"Don't worry. How could I possibly hurt her? I won't allow anyone to hurt her."
As he said this, Helan Yanting got up from the couch, his hands behind his back. He looked out of the window at the sky with a complex expression.
"It's almost time. Xiaoling, remember my instructions and take good care of your mistress."
"Don't worry, Prince Helan. Even if you didn't say so, Xiaoling would definitely take good care of my mistress!"
"Hehe, Yun Shu is so smart. Naturally, her little fox is also smart. With that, I can rest assured."
After saying this, Helan Yanting told Xiaoling to go back to Feng Yunshu's room and take good care of her, while he himself walked out of the room towards the main hall.
...
Meanwhile, in the palace, rows and columns of fully - armed imperial guards were passing through the corridors. These imperial guards were all on standby, and the whole palace was shrouded in a desolate and murderous atmosphere.
In the South Study Room.
The leader of the imperial guards rushed into the room and knelt before Emperor Dongfang Chuan, bowing. "Your Majesty, the imperial guards in the palace have assembled. Everything is waiting for your Majesty's orders!"
"Good. Very efficient."
Dongfang Chuan's eyes darkened slightly. "You immediately lead a team of imperial guards to Prince Helan's mansion. Deliver my imperial edict. Helan Yanting has behaved improperly. A few days ago, he dared to threaten the crown prince and the left prime minister with force. Immediately arrest the criminal and send him to prison. Don't delay!"
"Yes, your humble servant obeys the order!"
The leader of the imperial guards left quickly. Not long after he left, Crown Prince Dongfang Qi and Prime Minister Feng arrived at the South Study Room in a hurry one after another.
"Father."
"Your Majesty."
Dongfang Chuan looked up at the two of them, and his gaze fell on Prime Minister Feng.
"Prime Minister Feng, I've heard that your eldest daughter, Feng Yunshu, has been on very good terms with Prince Helan since she married into his mansion. Is this true?"
Hearing this, Prime Minister Feng trembled all over. He knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed while explaining, "Your Majesty is mistaken. I don't know where this rumor came from. Yunshu was forced to marry Prince Helan. How could they be on good terms?"
"And not long ago, I heard that although Prince Helan appears to be a gentleman on the surface, he is actually moody and often bullies my eldest daughter in private. Moreover, Yunshu mentioned that she has divorced Prince Helan and has no connection with him."
After hearing this, Dongfang Chuan squinted his eyes thoughtfully. "I also thought that with your upright conduct over the years, Prime Minister Feng, the eldest daughter you've raised shouldn't be like this."
Saying this, Dongfang Chuan paused. "If there is any connection between the Feng family and Prince Helan's mansion, the consequences will be—"