Lan Qing's face, which had been pale moments ago, suddenly turned a deep crimson.
Chu Qianli was startled and wanted to go over, but Fulong pulled her back, "Worry about the cold from the ice pool!"
With this pull, she unexpectedly stumbled and fell towards the ground.
Fulong was startled and hastily supported her, "A'li, are you injured?"
Chu Qianli let out a long breath, finally managing to calm the surging blood in her chest.
She nodded.
"Before returning, I was poisoned by Feng Xi. Although much of the toxin has been cleared, some remains in my body, and my powers have not yet recovered."
But Fulong looked at her, and it was clearly more than just a lack of recovered power.
She looked very weak!
The poison's damage to her was definitely not as casually described!
"Don't worry, I'm really fine. Do I look like someone who's not fine?"
"Do you look like someone who's fine?" Fulong snorted, somewhat annoyed.
He hadn't been by her side when she was poisoned and injured, to protect her!
The more he thought about it, the more useless he felt!
"Brother, at least the young lady has returned safely, which is a great fortune amidst misfortune. What's happened has happened, and blaming yourself is useless."
Fu Ning couldn't stand it anymore. Although the distance was somewhat far, he still offered comfort from afar.
"Let's not talk about that for now. What was going on with the National Preceptor just now?"
Looking at Lan Qing's complexion again, it had returned to a pale white. What was that crimson flush earlier?
"Princess Ling Wang said that the ice pool would help him recover his powers, but the process is extremely dangerous. He was circulating his energy himself, and there was a risk of qi deviation."
"But all we can do is guard him, not disturb him, and we can't disturb him, so..."
"So he was almost in a state of qi deviation just now?" Chu Qianli asked worriedly.
"It should be." Princess Ling Wang understood more. They truly understood nothing.
The Lan clan's unique arts were beyond their comprehension.
"A'li, since you're not feeling well, you shouldn't stay here. If anything happens with the National Preceptor, I will send someone to inform you."
Fulong supported her and they walked out of the cave. "Stay away from the ice pool; this place offers you no benefits."
They were not members of the Lan clan. The ice pool only harmed them, bringing no benefit.
Fu Ning remained at his post, not having left for a moment.
"Thank you for your hard work." After exiting from inside, Chu Qianli finally felt the pressure in her chest ease.
Earlier, it had felt like a wild horse, as if she might vomit at any moment.
"We are just guarding here; how can that compare to your hardships?"
Although Fulong had not accompanied her to Xinhua Village personally, he could imagine it must have been extremely perilous.
Fortunately, they had all returned safely.
"A'li, when do you plan to tell the Emperor the truth about your identity?"
Although he was in the Lingjiu Palace, he was aware of some of the news from outside.
Chu Minghao and Prince Yu had both been imprisoned, Lan Fan had escaped and was being sought city-wide.
Now, although it wasn't completely peaceful, following the current pace, the Emperor was at least temporarily safe.
Her return to the Emperor's side was now finally safe, wasn't it?
"Shouldn't it be time to tell him?"
A father and daughter reuniting, how wonderful that would be!
A'li must also be waiting, perhaps already impatient, right?