The tinkling of silver bells sounded as if from ancient times.
It had a quality that drew one in, making escape impossible.
It felt as though hands were grasping the soul hidden within the body, commanding it to be subservient.
Zhan Tianye's dark eyes deepened ominously as he gazed at Jiang Luoxi, who was muttering incantations.
At the same time, the servants who were trying to apprehend Jiang Luoxi froze.
This bell sound was amplified by inner force.
Even if not aimed at a specific person, it could temporarily disorient someone's mind.
Jiang Luoxi had not intended to act this way in front of others, but she was angry. She rarely got angry.
He could have eyes only for Yun Shu, but he could not be so cold and heartless towards her!
Waves of anger assailed her.
In that instant, her reason was lost. She should have acted only when no one was around. Without a doubt, his consciousness would have been under her control.
Fortunately, it was night, and there were few people on the road. Her bells had only swayed a few times, affecting only the people in front of the gate.
Tiny beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. She kept her eyes fixed on Zhan Tianye, gazing into his eyes, as deep and endless as the vast starry sky. Unconsciously, her heart beat faster, as if she were the one under control and bewitched.
"King Ye, I am Jiang Luoxi." Jiang Luoxi adjusted herself. Taking advantage of the dazed state of those around her, she immediately collected her thoughts and spoke in a low voice.
The next moment.
Jiang Luoxi's expression changed.
Zhan Tianye waved his hand, and a palm strike, even more forceful and filled with killing intent than before, swept towards her.
Jiang Luoxi was caught completely off guard.
She flew backward.
And landed heavily on the stone lion in front of the gate!
"Pfft!"
She spat out a mouthful of blood.
Jiang Luoxi's vision darkened intermittently.
She looked at Zhan Tianye in disbelief, her gaze meeting his icy eyes.
There was no trace of being controlled in his eyes.
Instead, there was only a chilling intensity that struck fear into the heart.
Jiang Luoxi had no time to ponder why he was unaffected by the mind-controlling charm.
Her vision blurred as she looked at Zhan Tianye, "King Ye, you!"
The others also regained their senses at this moment.
"You dare to use mind-controlling charm on this King? You're seeking death!" Zhan Tianye spoke, his voice chilling to the bone.
Jiang Luoxi's face paled in shock.
She was somewhat surprised. She had anticipated they might suspect her, so she had acted against Zhan Tianye with all speed. But her efforts had failed; Zhan Tianye was completely unaffected.
She had made thorough preparations.
Had something gone wrong when she was in the palace?
In an instant, all the problems laid bare themselves before Jiang Luoxi.
The next moment.
Zhan Tianye issued an order, "Tie her up and send her to the imperial prison! Pass on my command: interrogate her with severe torture!"
This order.
Shocked Jiang Luoxi.
"King Ye, my father is Prime Minister Jiang. I came today on the Empress Dowager's orders. I don't know why King Ye suddenly attacked me and wants to send me to prison?! Even if King Ye holds immense power, you shouldn't disregard the law of the land like this!" Jiang Luoxi struggled to stand up, her internal organs churning. She knew clearly that she had suffered internal injuries.
That palm strike just now was meant to cripple her!
He was utterly cold-blooded and ruthless towards her!
Zhan Tianye cast a cold glance at Jiang Luoxi. "Take her away."
Jiang Luoxi could only watch helplessly as Zhan Tianye entered the Night King's mansion. She was stopped outside, unable to do anything.
As she was stunned, several guards bound her with sturdy ropes!
She looked down at the ropes on her body, her red lips pursed tightly. But she did not struggle, nor did she argue further. Going to prison... would merely be a formality.
She needed to figure out why the mind-controlling charm had no effect on Zhan Tianye!
Had the蛊 water lost its efficacy?
Half an hour later.
A figure rapidly appeared at the Night King's mansion.
Upon seeing the arrival, all the mansion servants bowed respectfully, "Second Miss Yun!"
Yun Shu had no time to say anything to them. She merely nodded and immediately went to see Zhan Tianye.
Earlier, someone from the Night King's mansion had gone to the General's mansion, stating it was Zhan Tianye's instruction to invite her.
Although little was conveyed, and it wasn't mentioned what trouble Zhan Tianye was in, Yun Shu understood well that if nothing were wrong, Zhan Tianye would not have sent someone to disturb her at night.
She learned on the way that Jiang Luoxi had come to the gate of the Night King's mansion.
Among them, they didn't know why they had no memory of what happened.
When they regained their senses, Jiang Luoxi had already been struck by Zhan Tianye and spat blood.
Yun Shu's heart skipped a beat. She guessed a possibility: could Jiang Luoxi have been driven to desperation and tried to use the mind-controlling charm, which she had used on Elder Master Qin, on Zhan Tianye?
After Zhan Tianye entered the palace, she had gone to Ruan Xi to get some books and studied the art of mind control.
For the mind-controlling charm to succeed, one must first consume a special concoction of water.
Without this water, even amplifying the bells with inner force would have no effect.
Zhan Tianye would never give Jiang Luoxi the opportunity to offer him something to drink.
With a heart full of questions, she entered Zhan Tianye's room.
Zhan Tianye lay on the bed, his face pale.
This was not the first time she had seen his bloodless complexion. He was already poisoned.
However, she noticed that he didn't react when she entered; he remained asleep with his eyes closed.
Yun Shu's red lips tightened, and she quickened her pace to the bedside.
She took his wrist and immediately felt his pulse.
The moment she felt his pulse, Yun Shu's expression changed.
He was unconscious!
Not due to poison, nor weakness, but due to drugs!
In this semi-conscious state, his willpower would be significantly weakened, making him vulnerable to an opportunistic attack.
Without a doubt, it must be the蛊 water!
Zhan Tianye opened his eyes at this moment, a hint of confusion still in them. He probably thought he was dreaming.
"Princess Consort, why are you awake so early? Why didn't you wake me?" he asked.
Yun Shu blinked in surprise. Princess Consort? They weren't married yet, and he called her Princess Consort?
Immediately after.
An even more unbelievable scene unfolded before her.
His large hand fell upon her abdomen, and his expression turned incredibly gentle. "This must be a daughter, our daughter."
Yun Shu's eyes widened.
He was...
Dreaming!
In his dream, they were married, and then she conceived?! This dream...
Yun Shu's face flushed uncontrollably.
But the next moment, Zhan Tianye closed his eyes again, his brows furrowed, as if troubled by something, forming a small ridge.
The蛊 water itself contained nothing fatal, nor did it cause poisoning. It was merely an auxiliary substance to make the mind-controlling charm effective and would not harm Zhan Tianye's body.
He would be fine after a night's sleep.
In fact, even if he had consumed the蛊 water, based on the guards' descriptions, Zhan Tianye's strong willpower would not have been controlled by the mind-controlling charm.