Bai Yuchan was trembling all over.
The tray in her hand also clattered incessantly due to her violent shaking, as the soup bowls on it collided.
She gritted her teeth, wishing she could shatter them.
"Good! Yuchan will definitely deliver the Princess Consort's message!"
Bai Yuchan could feel the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
It wasn't just the blood from her bitten teeth, but also the blood surging from her throat.
Anger consuming her!
She finally understood the meaning of this phrase.
Yet, she forced herself to swallow the blood.
Whether it was to avoid being a spectacle for Zi Lingling or to avoid embarrassing herself in front of Ye Lingyuan, she absolutely could not spit out that mouthful of blood.
Zi Lingling felt a jolt of alarm.
This white lotus was truly capable of enduring!
Even she had to admire Bai Yuchan's resilience.
However, would she let Bai Yuchan off just like that?
Of course not!
She secretly thought, "Hmph! To dare to set her sights on Ye Lingyuan, it's no wonder you're so infuriated!"
But on her face, she put on a gentle smile and said, "Junior apprentice sister Bai...呸呸呸! Miss Bai, what is this..."
As Zi Lingling spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at the tray in Bai Yuchan's hand.
Of course, she did not forget to gain an advantage again.
The blood Bai Yuchan had just swallowed surged up her throat once more.
Endure! She must endure!
Before she saw Ye Lingyuan, she had to hold back!
Her throat moved, and she swallowed the surging blood again.
"This is ginseng soup that Yuchan made for the Prince."
"The Prince once stayed in Medicine King Valley for a period of time, and he drank quite a lot of the ginseng soup that Yuchan personally brewed back then... Alas, I apologize, Yuchan misspoke and made the Princess Consort laugh!"
Her words were filled with pride and veiled implications, leaving ample room for imagination.
After saying this, Bai Yuchan felt as though she had regained an advantage, and some of her resentment dissipated.
Unfortunately, she had underestimated Zi Lingling's intelligence.
If Zi Lingling fell into such an obvious trap, then she would have lived both her lives in vain.
Furthermore, she was not unaware that Ye Lingyuan was poisoned by the ancient and rare poison, Moonlit Glaze, and could not have women approach him.
A hint of disdain flashed in Zi Lingling's eyes. She said with feigned interest, "If you say so, then it must have been hard on him. Perhaps he is timid now as a lingering effect from that time? After all, he must have almost coughed up his gallbladder then!"
Timid?
Lingering effect?
Bai Yuchan mulled over her words and finally understood that Zi Lingling was subtly calling her disgusting.
"You..."
The little resentment that had just dissipated surged back into her heart with even greater force, almost causing her previous forbearance to go to waste.
Endure! Endure! Endure!
Think of it as helping the Prince recognize this wicked woman!
With this thought, Bai Yuchan smiled faintly, "It seems the Princess Consort does not know the Prince well! If you say the Prince is timid, then are there any courageous people in these three kingdoms? Moreover, from what I know, the Prince's health is excellent, and there is no such thing as a lingering effect."
Turning the tables, using the situation to her advantage!
Bai Yuchan secretly praised herself for her cleverness.
"Is that so?" Zi Lingling glanced at the study and continued, "Based on what you're saying, you should even know how many abs he has. Then please tell me, how many body hairs does he have?"
Bai Yuchan froze, then her small face blushed. She was in a difficult position.
How could she answer such a private question?
Ye Lingyuan was listening inside. If she dared to ruin Ye Lingyuan's reputation here, she could be thrown into prison immediately.
Furthermore, how would she know?
Zi Lingling did not press further. Instead, she called out towards the study, "Ye Lingyuan, when did you take her in?"
The moment these words were spoken, the surrounding temperature dropped.
Qing Feng, Qing Lei, and the other hidden guards who had been watching from the shadows shivered.
Ye Lingyuan walked out of the study, cast a cold glance at Bai Yuchan, and said, "Hmph! From today onwards, if she appears within five zhang of me, all of you will go to Wolf Valley for three months of training!"
"She," of course, referred to Bai Yuchan.
"You," of course, referred to all the hidden guards, including Qing Feng and Qing Lei.
Ye Lingyuan's voice was chilling.
With his current cultivation, the purpose of the hidden guards was to prevent any extraneous people from approaching him.
What were extraneous people? Naturally, they were the bothersome "peach blossoms" who flocked to him like bees and butterflies.
"Yes, Prince!" Qing Feng and the other hidden guards replied in unison.
"Hurry up and go!" Ye Lingyuan shouted coldly.
Qing Feng and Qing Lei understood. They immediately rushed to Bai Yuchan's side, lifted her up from either side, and sped away into the distance.
Before Bai Yuchan could react, she was already off the ground. The tray in her hand fell to the ground, shattering with a crisp sound.
Zi Lingling looked at Ye Lingyuan with amusement but said nothing.
Ye Lingyuan sighed helplessly, walked up to her, put his arm around her waist, and said, "Did you have fun?"
Zi Lingling's eyes sparkled with a smile. "Did you enjoy the show?"
Ye Lingyuan smiled faintly and nodded. "It was alright! Only..."
"Hmm?" Zi Lingling raised an eyebrow, a hint of threat in her eyes.
"Only I did not expect that the Princess Consort's method of 'nipping peach blossoms' is so unique!"
Ye Lingyuan spoke calmly, but his tone clearly carried a hint of pride.
"I also did not expect that the Prince's ability to attract peach blossoms is increasing daily!"
Zi Lingling smiled faintly.
But her words carried a hint of displeasure, and her eyes held a taste that was worth pondering.
Ye Lingyuan gave a wry smile. "It's my constitution, not my intention!"
"Is that so? It seems the matter we discussed last time can be put on the agenda. Prince, are you ready to offer up the root of your own peach blossoms?"
As Zi Lingling spoke, her eyes inadvertently drifted towards a certain spot.
Ye Lingyuan felt a sudden chill in a certain area and said with a hint of grievance, "Didn't the Princess Consort also attract many troublesome peach blossoms?"
"Did I?"
Zi Lingling looked at the Prince with feigned confusion and slight displeasure.
It was one thing to attract peach blossoms everywhere, but then he had the audacity to deny it and frame her.
Ye Lingyuan looked up, his eyebrows slightly raised. "No? Then Situ, Shen Liuxing... don't they count?"
Zi Lingling was taken aback. "These count too?"
Ye Lingyuan's lips curved. "Why wouldn't they?"
Zi Lingling was speechless.
Silence fell.
The two looked at each other, and for a moment, no words were spoken.
After a moment, Zi Lingling smiled. "I've already nipped two of them for you, so these two are for you to handle!"
Ye Lingyuan also smiled.
"Those two only required one to be nipped, but it seems the Princess Consort had to put in extra effort. The one from earlier hasn't been completely nipped yet!"
Zi Lingling smiled brilliantly. "Only these two, and no more next time!"
"Good!"
Ye Lingyuan agreed readily.
Zi Lingling no longer pursued the matter and changed the subject. "I heard someone from the Imperial Purple family has arrived?"
Ye Lingyuan nodded. "We'll discuss it in the study!"
With that, he swept Zi Lingling into his arms and strode into the study.
With a "bang," the door closed.
What they discussed remained unknown.