Just as Yan Liu was in a complete panic, like an ant on a hot pan, Feng Yunshu's figure finally appeared at the door. However—
Feng Yunshu was holding Xiao Ling in her arms. There was also a man standing beside her as they walked out. The man was tall and imposing, with a handsome face. At first glance, he seemed quite a good match for Feng Yunshu.
Fearing to be discovered, Yan Liu kept a certain distance. Although he could clearly see the two of them coming out, due to the noise of other pedestrians on the busy daytime street, he couldn't hear their conversation.
He only saw from afar that Feng Yunshu and the man seemed to be chatting and laughing, and their actions even seemed a bit too intimate.
Here, Feng Yunshu sensed the gaze coming from behind the big tree. She deliberately reached out and tugged at Qing Zhu's sleeve, smiling brightly. "Qing Zhu, tell me whatever you like to eat. After you come back to my mansion with me, I'll definitely treat you well!"
Qing Zhu turned to look at Feng Yunshu and smiled cooperatively. "Yunshu, you're so kind to me. If your prince knew about this, would he beat me back to my original form right away?"
"Him? Anyway, he's not a good guy. If he really dares to show up, let me tell you, before he does anything to you, I definitely won't let him off easily!"
Qing Zhu just smiled but didn't respond to this. After walking a few steps, he suddenly said, "Yunshu, you must care a great deal about that prince. You two must have a very good relationship, right?"
Feng Yunshu was taken aback and couldn't help but stop in her tracks.
"Qing Zhu, why do you suddenly say this?"
"Hehe, when you care deeply about someone, it can't be hidden. Even if you don't want to admit it, your expression and behavior will still betray your true feelings."
"This..." Feng Yunshu was momentarily at a loss for words. This Qing Zhu had only been a human for a short time, yet he could see people so accurately. Feng Yunshu felt ashamed of herself.
"You've said it all..."
When Feng Yunshu brought Qing Zhu back to the State Preceptor's Mansion, Kong Ze was extremely shocked when he saw the two of them.
"Little junior sister, did you bring a demon back?"
As a spiritual cultivator with spiritual power, Kong Ze could naturally tell Qing Zhu's true identity at a glance, which was why he was so surprised.
Feng Yunshu smiled. "Third senior brother, don't make such a fuss... Qing Zhu is someone I brought back from the house of talented courtesans. I thought he was good-looking and had a nice personality, so I brought him back to chat with me and relieve my boredom."
"This... You went to the house of talented courtesans?!"
At this moment, Kong Ze didn't even care about his dignity as the great state preceptor. His jaw was almost on the ground.
Feng Yunshu nodded and looked at Kong Ze in confusion. "Yes. Is it a strange thing for a girl to go to the house of talented courtesans to look at handsome guys? Third senior brother, why are you making such a fuss? Don't you men also like to look at beautiful women?"
"Little junior sister, you..."
Kong Ze was momentarily speechless and actually thought what she said made sense. He didn't know how to refute her.
"If Prince Helan knew you brought a man back from outside, what do you think his reaction would be? Carry you away in the middle of the night? Punish you with family rules on the spot?"
"Humph, what carry away, what family rules. Even if he comes, the one who should be punished with family rules is him, not me!"
Feng Yunshu snorted angrily. Then she turned to look at Qing Zhu and introduced him to Kong Ze. "Third senior brother, let me formally introduce him. This is Qing Zhu."
"Qing Zhu, this is my third senior brother. He is also the great state preceptor of the Dan Kingdom. You can just call him State Preceptor on a daily basis."
Qing Zhu was a bit wary at first when he saw there was another spiritual cultivator here. But seeing that this person had a very good relationship with Feng Yunshu, he relaxed his guard. He nodded with a faint smile. "Hello, Great State Preceptor."
Kong Ze looked at Feng Yunshu, who was smiling from ear to ear, and then at Xiao Ling in her arms. "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, why do you just watch your master do such a ridiculous thing? Not to mention what Prince Helan will think when he knows about this. If this gets out, what will happen to a girl's reputation..."
Xiao Ling blinked her eyes. "Third senior brother, I believe master must have her reasons for doing this. Besides, my master is her, not Prince Helan. I can't control what others think. As long as master is happy, I'm happy, hehe."
Feng Yunshu was almost moved to tears when she heard what Xiao Ling said. "Good Xiao Ling. It seems that all the big drumsticks I've given you weren't in vain!"
"Alright, third senior brother. Don't worry so much. I know what I'm doing."
After saying that, Feng Yunshu ordered the chief steward of the mansion to prepare a guest room for Qing Zhu and clean it up for him to stay in.
"Little junior sister, judging from your attitude, are you really going to let him stay here for a long time?!" Kong Ze grabbed the corner of Feng Yunshu's clothes and looked at her in disbelief.
"That's not necessary. However... if you don't mind, senior brother, he can."
"I mind! I mind very much! If two men live together and this gets out, my whole life's reputation will be ruined!"
Feng Yunshu stuck out her tongue and looked at Kong Ze playfully. "I said third senior brother, do you still have a good reputation? Back then, when you had that scandal with the demon princess, everyone in the whole sect knew about it..."
"Shh shh shh!" Kong Ze quickly made a gesture to silence Feng Yunshu. "Fine, you're really my little junior sister! You know how to strike at the snake's vital point! He can stay in this mansion as he pleases. He can leave whenever he wants! Please don't say any more... My dear little sister!"
"Hehe, third senior brother, what are you saying? Do you think I, Yun Xi, would do such a thing? I'm well - known for keeping my mouth shut. If you don't trust others, you must trust me."
At this moment, the State Preceptor's Mansion was filled with laughter and joy, a scene of peace and harmony. However, at the same time, at the border between the armies of the Dan Kingdom and the Yuan Kingdom, the atmosphere was extremely solemn. It was a situation where the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes put everyone on edge, as if every blade of grass and every tree was an enemy soldier.
At this moment, a psychological battle had just ended in the general's tent of the Dan Kingdom. Helan Yanting successfully won over General Shi Yuan with his excellent eloquence and calm demeanor.
"Your Highness the Second Prince, I, Shi Yuan, was blind and stupid. I almost fell into the trap set by the queen and the crown prince. I didn't expect that it was actually Queen Ying who planned the whole scheme to frame my general's mansion. She's really vicious!"
"At that time, I always thought it was you, Your Highness the Second Prince, who designed all this. In fact, if it weren't for your secret help, probably hundreds of people in my general's mansion would have lost their heads and suffered the灭门 disaster!"
In his excitement, General Shi tried to kneel on the ground to thank Helan. Helan Yanting quickly supported him and stopped him. "General Shi is a founding hero with illustrious military achievements throughout his life. How can you kneel to this prince? If this prince were to accept your bow, I'm afraid I'd lose years off my life."
"Your Highness the Second Prince is being too kind. I've just done my best. I'm not as amazing as Your Highness said..."
After successfully winning over Shi Yuan, Helan Yanting turned around and left the tent. Just then, Yan Qi stepped forward. He looked at Helan Yanting with a very complicated expression, as if he had something to say but hesitated.
"Yan Qi, do you have something to say?"
When Yan Qi saw Helan Yanting coming out, he was extremely conflicted. Should he tell his master the news from Yan Liu? If he didn't tell and his master found out on his own, it would be too late. But if he told, his master might fly into a rage and he might be implicated. This...