Chapter 562: Turning Their Plot Against Them |
Over at the pavilion where Li Xiangrou was staying, she was currently tossing and turning in her room.
She felt a wave of scorching heat all over her body.
It was as if ants were crawling all over her.
This made her entire body feel like it was on fire. This fire of desire made her feel she was about to lose control.
So, staggering to her feet, she prepared to go out and take a bath to relieve this sensation.
In the end, her strength failed her, and she collapsed directly onto the floor.
Yet, her delicate frame continued to tremble.
Downstairs, Ning Qi heard the commotion.
"Did you hear something?" he asked curiously.
"I didn't mishear. There's definitely some movement."
Ning Qi spoke with absolute certainty. "Let's go, let's go up and see what's happening."
"Alright."
After the Pill Spirit agreed, he followed Ning Qi upstairs.
They soon reached the upper floor, and he knocked on the door.
"Li Xiangrou."
He called her name directly, but no one came to open the door no matter what.
This made Ning Qi grow anxious.
Without further concern for whether this was a lady's private chamber, he directly reached out and forced the door open.
He saw Li Xiangrou already lying on the floor, her entire body trembling.
Especially her cheeks, flushed red, clearly indicating something was wrong.
"Master, she's been drugged with an aphrodisiac."
The Pill Spirit, being the concentrated essence of medicinal pills, naturally recognized the signs at a glance.
"Oh? Someone drugged her?"
Ning Qi's brow couldn't help but furrow. "Do you have a way to help her?"
"That's too simple. As long as I absorb all the medicinal potency, it'll be easily resolved."
"Speaking of which, I am the ancestor of all medicines. Anyone who sees me has to behave obediently!"
The Pill Spirit said with complete nonchalance.
"Good, then I'll leave it to you."
Ning Qi nodded, then let the Pill Spirit go to help.
The Pill Spirit approached Li Xiangrou, carefully looked at her, then directly spread his hands open.
Instantly, a faint, condensed light flowed from between his fingers.
This condensed light was a verdant green color. After appearing, it abruptly surged towards Li Xiangrou on the floor.
In the blink of an eye, it enveloped her.
Thread by thread, it flowed into her body.
These were life force energies. After flooding into her body, they began to disperse the medicinal potency within her.
The medicinal potency initially resisted, but upon sensing the oppressive pressure emanating from the Pill Spirit, it immediately surrendered.
It was thus easily forced out of her body by the Pill Spirit.
After being expelled, this aphrodisiac was immediately condensed by the Pill Spirit before him.
It formed into a fist-sized mass of turbid matter.
Under his control, it continuously swirled.
"Master, this is it."
The Pill Spirit, holding this condensation, came before Ning Qi and spoke.
"How is she?"
Ning Qi only glanced at it before asking in a low voice.
"She's fine now, and she will be fine."
"I left a portion of my life force energy within her, so she won't suffer any harm."
The Pill Spirit looked at Li Xiangrou, then continued, "She just needs to sleep it off."
"Mmm, good."
Ning Qi nodded, then with a wave of his hand, directly helped Li Xiangrou up.
Using his Immortal-Demonic Power, he effortlessly placed her back on the bed.
After settling her comfortably on the bed, he then examined Li Xiangrou's complexion.
By now, her complexion had recovered, and her body was no longer trembling.
Her breathing had also become even, as if nothing had happened at all.
"Master, she'll be fine, rest assured."
"Otherwise, I'll stay here tonight. If there are any problems, I'll help her!"
Seeing Ning Qi looking at Li Xiangrou, the Pill Spirit quickly added.
"That works too. Then you stay here!"
Ning Qi had been waiting for him to say that. Hearing the Pill Spirit's words, he immediately agreed.
"Good! Master, you go and rest!"
"Leave her safety to me!"
The Pill Spirit nodded with a smile, then urged Ning Qi to go rest.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you."
Ning Qi nodded, then hurriedly left.
After going downstairs, he returned to his own chamber.
He then sat cross-legged and began to meditate and regulate his breathing.
The night swiftly passed. By early morning, Ning Qi awoke from his slumber.
After getting up, he came to the main hall.
He then heard movement from upstairs; clearly, Li Xiangrou had woken up.
After tidying herself up a bit, she directly came downstairs.
She happened to see Ning Qi was also here.
"Ning Qi!"
She thus stepped forward to greet him.
"How are you?"
Ning Qi, on the other hand, looked at her and asked with concern.
"Ning Qi, thank you. You helped me again last night."
Hearing his inquiry, Li Xiangrou continued to express her gratitude.
"Oh?"
"What are you thanking me for?"
Ning Qi smiled and asked half-jokingly.
"Of course, for saving me yet again!"
"If it weren't for you, I would have been in trouble yesterday..."
Li Xiangrou quickly said.
By the end of her words, only she herself could hear them.
The blush on her face had reached the tips of her ears.
"Oh? Then you still shouldn't thank me."
Ning Qi smiled again and pointed to the Pill Spirit on his shoulder. "You should thank him."
"Him? Who is he?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangrou couldn't help but show a curious expression.
She didn't know there was anyone else who could have saved her.
"Come out."
Only then did Ning Qi smile towards his shoulder and say.
"Whoosh!"
The next moment, the Pill Spirit, who had been Concealing His Form all along, finally revealed himself.
He was a child the size of a thumb, with a beaming smile on his face.
"He is..."
Li Xiangrou had never seen the Pill Spirit before. Seeing him appear on Ning Qi's shoulder, she couldn't help but show a curious look.
"I am the Pill Spirit, and this is my master."
"I was the one who helped you with your ailment last night!"
"So, thanking my master is indeed a bit off."
The Pill Spirit flitted about happily in the air, explaining to Li Xiangrou what happened the previous night.
"Well, thank you then!"
Li Xiangrou apologized to the Pill Spirit.
"You're welcome. You are my master's friend, so you are my friend too."
The Pill Spirit waved his hand cheerfully, then turned his gaze to Li Xiangrou. "Princess, when exactly were you drugged with that aphrodisiac?"
"Did you not feel anything at all during the process?"
"I don't know. I just had some tea with Wang Mang and the others."
"And then I didn't know anything after that."
Li Xiangrou gently shook her head, glanced around the room's layout, then continued, "Could it be that he deliberately tampered with something in my chamber?"
"Possibly."
Before the Pill Spirit could say anything, Ning Qi stepped forward and spoke.
"Ning Qi, did you discover something?"
Li Xiangrou immediately grew curious.
"Yes, look at the flowers in your room."
Ning Qi pointed to the flowers in the chamber and continued, "These flowers are all blooming brightly. After you entered, they left a medicinal agent on you."
"You were unaware, so after you arrived, you fell right into their trap."
"When this medicinal agent encounters the pollen, it triggers the aphrodisiac properties."
"And the combination of pollen from all these flowers here can even enhance the drug's effect."
"So, this matter was planned by them from the very beginning."
"How dare they! I'm going to settle accounts with them right now!"
Hearing him say this, Li Xiangrou was instantly furious.
She spoke as she was about to go and confront them.
"Hold on."
However, she was directly stopped by Ning Qi.
"Why? I want to make them pay. At a time like this, they still dare to plot against me."
"And what's more, using such despicable, lowly methods."
The more Li Xiangrou spoke, the angrier she became, her eyes filled with rage.
"These small fry, confronting them is pointless."
"Once we reach the Imperial Capital and deal with the main instigator, the rest will scatter like monkeys when the tree falls."
Ning Qi smiled. "We've encountered plenty of such situations along this journey. There's no need to dwell on it anymore."
"Ning Qi, you're right. In that case, I won't bother with them."
"Once I return and ascend the throne, I'll settle accounts with them one by one!"
After listening to Ning Qi's words, Li Xiangrou nodded seriously and said, "I absolutely won't let them act so brazenly anymore."
"Exactly, that's the right attitude. As long as we are strong enough, they won't have the chance to strike."
Ning Qi nodded encouragingly. "Then, let's get going first."
"Everything can wait until we get there!"
"Right!"
Li Xiangrou agreed, then directly followed him out the door.
"Your Highness."
...
The moment she stepped out, Commander Li brought his men over to pay their respects.
"General Li, assemble the men. We are preparing to depart."
Li Xiangrou looked at Commander Li, then continued, "Let's not delay any further. We'll travel at full speed this time."
The events she had witnessed before had made her increasingly heartbroken.
She originally held onto a thought of sparing them, but now it seemed unnecessary.
In the face of absolute strength, there is no need for any hesitation.
Just like her elder sister now. Her influence is vast, so she can bully whomever she pleases.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
After Commander Li acknowledged the order, he turned to his guards and said, "Pass the order. Assemble outside the City Lord's Mansion. We are preparing to depart."
"Yes."
...
Several guards received the command, then respectfully withdrew.
They then hurried off to notify the others.
Ning Qi watched them all leave, then turned his gaze to Commander Li. "Last night, were there any suspicious people around?"
"No. We were on patrol the whole time. This place was very secure."
Hearing his question, Commander Li shook his head and asked, "Young Master Ning, did you discover something?"
"Indeed. Someone secretly drugged the princess!"
Ning Qi nodded and said seriously, "Therefore, this place is no longer suitable to stay."
"What? Then let's go settle accounts with Wang Mang!"
"That scoundrel, actually allowing his subordinates to drug us!"
Upon hearing this, Commander Li flew into a rage.
He spoke as he was about to set off to confront Wang Mang.
"No need."
"These people aren't worth us making a big fuss over."
This time, Li Xiangrou shook her head and continued, "Let's go. Returning to the Imperial Capital early is the most important thing."
"Your Highness, this..."
Commander Li clearly still didn't want to let it go.
"Your princess has grown up. Listening to her is the right thing to do."
Ning Qi gave Commander Li a look, signaling him to drop the matter.
"Your Highness, then should we still inform him?"
Commander Li could only grit his teeth and not pursue the earlier matter.
However, he thought of something else and quickly asked.
"Go and inform him, but don't make any fuss about it."
Li Xiangrou looked at him and said seriously, "Treat this matter as if it never happened! Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Then this subordinate will go now."
Commander Li acknowledged, then turned and hurried away.
After he left, Li Xiangrou looked at Ning Qi.
"Ning Qi, shall we go too?"
She then proactively suggested.
"Good! Let's go!"
Ning Qi said nothing more. After agreeing, he took the lead and left the place.
Li Xiangrou let out a soft sigh, then followed him.
"Master, does the princess still feel somewhat disappointed?"
The Pill Spirit, looking at Ning Qi, asked curiously.
Their dialogue was conducted through divine sense communication, so no one else could hear it.
"That's inevitable."
Ning Qi nodded, then continued, "After all, it's her own close relative harming her. Who could easily bear that?"
"Master, then I actually feel she's quite pitiful."
"Her own family harming her like this."
The Pill Spirit also showed a somewhat sympathetic expression. He glanced back, then added, "If it were me, I simply wouldn't go back. How wonderful to be free and unfettered outside on my own."
"To each their own. Perhaps if you were in her position and status, you wouldn't think that way either."
Ning Qi looked at the Pill Spirit, then continued on their way.
Unconsciously, they had arrived outside the City Lord's Mansion.
By now, the guards had already brought over the horses.
Many people were discussing something, looking quite happy.
After all, having been away for so long, returning alive was the most important thing.
Their return meant they would soon see their families.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing Li Xiangrou come out, they all respectfully stepped forward to pay their respects.
"No need for formalities."
Li Xiangrou slightly raised her hand, then continued, "Has Commander Li come out yet?"
She hadn't seen Commander Li when she first stepped out, so she asked.
"Your Highness, not yet."
Someone immediately responded.
"Good. Once he comes out, we'll prepare to depart!"
"Everyone, check the carriages."
Li Xiangrou gave a slight nod, then continued issuing commands.
"Yes!"
"As you command."
The guards all acknowledged and began to busy themselves.
Ning Qi and Li Xiangrou stayed there, patiently waiting for Commander Li to emerge.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Commander Li finally walked out from the mansion gate.
Several people followed behind him.
Among them were Wang Mang and a few others who had appeared with him yesterday.
"Your Highness, leaving in such a hurry?"
Wang Mang hurried over, even showing a somewhat regretful expression.
"Yes. There's much to attend to upon returning."
Li Xiangrou had already put the earlier incident behind her.
Her face showed not the slightest hint of anything amiss, making Wang Mang think his scheme had been seamless.
"Your Highness, at least have lunch before you go."
Wang Mang, still unwilling to give up, continued to urge them to stay.