Ling Yao concentrated her spirit, not daring to blink for an entire night of trials. Blood dripped onto the opened blood vessels, but nothing emerged even after it dried.
She tested several spots with no reaction.
Did the蛊虫 dislike her blood?
Ling Yao asked Feng Yuanpan to find some maggots and experimented, but there was still no reaction.
She remembered that the chickens she had raised before, while they would flock around her, were not as clingy as Xiao Hu. Was it because their intelligence was too low? Or did they lack a sense of smell?
Ling Yao couldn't figure it out until much later, when the maggots, at a speed invisible to the naked eye, slowly, slowly approached the blood drops.
Indeed, they were attracted, just slower.
After this, Ling Yao didn't leave Feng Que Lou for several days, constantly searching for the蛊虫 with Feng Yuanpan.
Ming De Di showed no significant changes, apart from occasional absentmindedness; his emotions remained relatively stable.
At least, he hadn't worsened.
Ling Yao did not inform him of his physical condition, merely stating that Feng Yuanpan's examination had revealed he was overworked and needed to rest as soon as possible. Arrangements had been made for the court, and he was to recuperate in Tai Yi Dian for half a month before attending court.
Ming De Di did not doubt her at all.
He agreed very docilely, and would even pull Ling Yao to Song Bei Ting's bedside to talk.
Of course, it was mostly him talking, recounting childhood anecdotes of the three of them.
Thus, days passed. Lord Cao did not come from the court, suggesting no major events had occurred.
Ming De Di's complexion was normal, and Ling Yao began to wonder if he hadn't been poisoned by the蛊, but was genuinely suffering from exhaustion.
However, recently, his emotions had begun to fluctuate. Sometimes he seemed very agitated, his gaze unsettled.
At other times, he would simply stare out the window, lost in thought.
He dismissed Feng Yuanpan, seemingly wanting to speak with her quietly.
But he would always trail off mid-sentence and fall silent.
"Imperial Brother, what were you going to say just now?"
Ming De Di's expression was unreadable, and he looked out the window again. "Imperial Sister, the sun is very bright today. Let's go for a walk!"
"You..." Ling Yao was surprised, and then delighted.
Her previous suspicions seemed to be confirmed; his lack of fear of the sun indicated he truly wasn't afflicted by the蛊.
Ming De Di showed no signs of happiness on his face, lowering his head to adjust his already neat dragon robe.
Ling Yao then noticed that he was not wearing his usual attire, but his court dress.
"Imperial Sister, these past few days, having you by my side has made me very happy. I only wish..."
He didn't finish his sentence and had already begun to walk outside.
His steps were unhurried, his bearing regal.
Something flashed through Ling Yao's mind, her clear eyes filled with confusion. After not leaving Tai Yi Dian for half a month to search for the蛊 poison, the bright sunlight felt somewhat dazzling.
But Ming De Di, walking ahead, showed no signs of discomfort, truly fearless.
The tautly strung bow, which had been under strain for days, finally relaxed.
Ling Yao slowed her steps, gradually sitting down on a stone bench by the roadside.
She couldn't be bothered to think about what might be wrong. Her mind, suddenly relaxed, felt weary. The sun was warm, and she squinted, feeling lazy.
Like a cat basking in the sunlight.
"Princess—Princess—"
A sharp, hoarse, and dry voice suddenly rang out.
Who in the palace would dare to make such a loud commotion? Ling Yao opened her eyes and looked over.
On the empty palace path, a figure ran, stumbling as they came, their hair disheveled, their appearance disheveled, wearing a palace gown that was terribly wrinkled.
The figure was frantic, and even when they fell, they quickly got up, as if being chased by dogs.
"Yu Xi?"
As the figure drew closer, Ling Yao recognized her.
"Princess! The General has fallen!"
For a moment, Ling Yao was distracted by Yu Xi's incredibly bizarre appearance and her overly dry voice.
After Yu Xi spoke, it took a long, long time for her mind to process the words.
"Princess! The three kingdoms have joined forces to attack Jingguo. The General has been missing for many days. Three days ago, news arrived that the Tiger Wing, Black Flag, and Northern Army were annihilated. The General, the General has fallen!"
"Nonsense! How dare you speak such lies!"
Ling Yao grabbed Yu Xi's collar, her eyes reddened with anger. "How dare you utter such nonsense!"
"Princess! Urgent pleas for aid have been sent multiple times, and everyone in court knows. Feng Que Lou has been controlled, and Yu Liu is still imprisoned there. If you don't believe this servant, you should at least believe Yu Liu!"
"Princess, what have you been doing these past few days? Why have there been no reinforcements? The combined armies of the three kingdoms number a million men, and the General led 400,000 troops, holding them off for ten full days!"
Facing Yu Xi's confusion and questioning, Ling Yao only shook her head frantically.
Her chaotic mind roared, as if filled with the neighing of warhorses, the beating of drums, the glint of swords, and the spray of blood.
It's not true, it's not true. If it were true, why wouldn't she have had a premonitory dream?
He must be fine, he will be fine.
"This Princess does not believe it, does not believe it, does not believe it!"
She dropped Yu Xi and stumbled towards Feng Que Lou.
Ling Yao didn't recognize any of the guards at Feng Que Lou, but they respectfully lowered their heads, showing no disrespect.
It must be fake.
"Where is Yu Liu?"
The guard lowered his head and led her into a room, after which Yu Liu was released.
Her expression was haggard, and her wrists were bruised and purple from being bound by ropes.
"Princess, this servant was not careful; the secret passage was discovered."
"Where is the General?"
Ling Yao's eyes were wide open, afraid to speak loudly, lest she frighten Yu Liu and make her speak nonsense as well.
Yu Liu's eyes welled up with tears, and she looked at Ling Yao blankly.
"Yu Liu, hasn't the General returned to the capital yet? Where else has he gone? Send him a message to come back, tell him he's taken too long and I'm angry."
"Princess, the General said he will return later," Yu Liu lowered her head.
"Later..."
Ling Yao's throat felt painfully constricted, her heart felt like it was exploding. She opened her mouth wide, gasping for breath, but still couldn't catch her breath.
Yu Liu knelt down and cried out, "Princess, it is this servant's uselessness! This servant could not get close to Tai Yi Dian! I couldn't pass messages, and I couldn't save the General!"
No, it wasn't.
Feng Shi Jin, it was Feng Shi Jin!
She understood, she understood everything.
The coma, the Soul Devouring Gu, it was all a ploy to keep her in Tai Yi Dian.
No wonder he sent Fu Lu out every day. No wonder Feng Yuanpan always avoided her gaze.
No wonder his gaze towards her was so complex and unreadable.
He had been controlling the court all along, and she had foolishly believed everything was arranged.
"You covered my ears, you blinded my eyes, Feng Shi Jin, how dare you harm him! I, I will not let you go!"
I will not let you go.
She hated him so much. If only she hadn't been so concerned about him, if only she had returned to Feng Que Lou once...
Ling Yao's eyes were filled with blood, and the ferocity in her brows obscured her delicate features. In an instant, her entire demeanor changed.
A mysterious energy seemed to emanate from her, striking fear into the hearts of those around her.
"Pfft—"
A mouthful of blood mist erupted.
The jade pendant on her chest, without a blade, snapped and slid from her neck, shattering.
"Princess!" Yu Liu cried out in alarm.
However, Ling Yao had already spun away like a whirlwind, her long black hair whipping with her boundless rage, flailing like claws and teeth, radiating fierce hostility.