Su Ling'er's heart skipped a beat at Leng Feng's words. Did Leng Feng know her identity? Impossible... she was sure she hadn't given herself away, and Leng Feng was still under the influence of the attraction incense; he couldn't possibly suspect her like this.
Recalling their constant emphasis that outsiders were not allowed to loiter outside Qing Ya Pavilion, Su Ling'er assumed Leng Feng meant she was helping him because she had trespassed into Qing Ya Pavilion.
Su Ling'er helped Leng Feng out of the room. Leng Feng slowly withdrew his arm, then knelt heavily on the ground, bowing his head to the floor. "Your subordinate admits his guilt. I beg His Highness to forgive me..."
Huo Qiyuan glanced at the person next to Leng Feng, then quickly looked away. "Who is she?"
Su Ling'er had been stealing glances at Huo Qiyuan since she exited the room. She thought she was being very discreet, but Huo Qiyuan had already sensed a faint, elusive gaze, otherwise, he wouldn't have inquired about her identity.
"Su Ling'er pays her respects to His Highness. This servant is a maid assigned to the別院 (biéyuàn - separate residence/villa) by Zhengyi Lane." Su Ling'er emphasized the words Zhengyi Lane, intending to remind Huo Qiyuan that she was from the same place as Su Muqing.
Huo Qiyuan ignored Su Ling'er, who was bowing, and looked at the three people kneeling before him, asking in a chilling tone, "Have you forgotten the rules of Qing Ya Pavilion?"
"Your subordinate admits his guilt!"
"Your subordinate admits his guilt!"
"Your subordinate admits his guilt!"
Leng Si and the other two pleaded guilty in unison.
Silence fell over the scene. Leng Feng's arm, propped on the ground, trembled as he said in a shaky voice, "Your Highness, she is the woman my subordinate... fancies. Hearing that my subordinate was unwell, she wanted to come and see..."
If she was here to visit, why choose to come at night? And judging by Leng Heng's earlier behavior, this woman probably hadn't just arrived. "When did she arrive?"
"...Yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Huo Qiyuan's rhetorical question was like ice water dripping onto the hearts of the three men.
"Your Highness, it was I who saw Second Brother with no one to care for him, so I took it upon myself..." Fearing Leng Feng would be punished, Leng Heng quickly took the blame.
"Your Highness, it's not like that. She came to deliver medicine to Eldest Brother. We tried to turn her away, but she snuck back in..." Leng Si, seeing Leng Heng's intention, quickly shifted the blame to Su Ling'er.
They had grown up with His Highness since childhood and had a very close relationship. They could eat, drink, and tease each other, even joking around.
However, the one rule Huo Qiyuan insisted on was that his rules must not be broken, especially not by those closest to him, and certainly not by deliberately defying them.
Qing Ya Pavilion housed mostly defense maps for Si'an Prefecture and the future military movements of the Huaxia Army, along with other important items. Therefore, Huo Qiyuan had established a rule from the outset that no outsiders were allowed in.
If Su Ling'er had merely come to visit or left immediately after delivering medicine, it would have been fine. But she, an outsider, had stayed for a whole day.
Leng Si had intended to absolve Leng Heng, but his words only made things worse. As soon as he spoke, Huo Qiyuan's voice, colder than before, cut through the silence.
"Are you saying a woman snuck in under your noses, and you were completely unaware? It seems I've been too kind to you, making you too lax with your vigilance..."
"Your subordinate admits his guilt!"
Leng Si also felt annoyed. At the time, their entire focus was on Leng Ren, and no one expected this woman to be so persistent. She had actually snuck into Leng Feng's room.
"Your Highness, this servant just wanted to check on Leng Feng... Ah!" Su Ling'er, flustered, took two steps towards Huo Qiyuan.
She had seen clearly that this matter today would not be easily resolved. Even if Huo Qiyuan didn't kill her, he would definitely drive her out of the 別院, and then her plan would be impossible to execute!
But last night, she had already sent a secret letter to Chehe City, guaranteeing that she would complete her mission within the next two days. Heaven knew how happy she was when she heard Huo Qiyuan had returned. But she never imagined it would turn out like this.
Although there were other people here, this was her last chance. No matter what, she had to try. If she succeeded, she wouldn't have to worry or fear anymore...
So, Su Ling'er used her old trick again, pulling out the handkerchief she had prepared in her sleeve. Then, feigning a stumble, she tripped towards Huo Qiyuan.
She knew Huo Qiyuan wouldn't help her and might even swat her away, so she had prepared a backup. As the handkerchief flew out, another item also fell.
As expected! Compared to the thin, harmless handkerchief, Huo Qiyuan's attention was captured by the jade pendant that had fallen from her sleeve.
The handkerchief, carried by the wind, fluttered past Huo Qiyuan's face and landed at his feet. At that moment, Huo Qiyuan caught a strange scent.
However, girls' handkerchiefs were generally fragrant. Just like Su Muqing, her body and everything belonging to her carried a fresh scent.
He bent down to pick up the jade pendant that had fallen. Su Ling'er scrambled forward, grabbed her handkerchief, and stuffed it back into the sealed bottle in her sleeve. She had held her breath from the moment she fell to picking up the handkerchief.
She knew how potent this medicine was. Although there were three other men present, they were all kneeling on the ground, and this was in the corridor. Not only was the terrain open, but the wind was also blowing towards Huo Qiyuan.
A smile flickered across Su Ling'er's lips and quickly vanished. Today, even heaven was helping her. Huo Qiyuan should be the only one to smell the effects of the aphrodisiac.
Huo Qiyuan held the jade pendant and examined it. If he remembered correctly, this should have been given to Su Minghui by Muqing. "You said you are from Zhengyi Lane, so who is Su Minghui to you?"
"I... this servant... is his collateral niece. I beg Your Highness to return the jade pendant, and this servant will be eternally grateful." Su Ling'er stammered, then made a move to snatch the jade pendant.
Although she was the only woman present, there was no time to delay! The effect of this medicine took hold quickly, and now was the perfect time for her to "throw herself into his arms."
No one present expected Su Ling'er to boldly reach out and try to snatch the item from his hand, and Huo Qiyuan certainly didn't. Just as he instinctively reached out to push her away, he felt a strange sensation.
Because of his sudden distraction, he was successfully approached. Su Ling'er pretended to vie for the jade pendant in his hand. Seeing Huo Qiyuan's sleeve about to swing, she leaned sideways and tightly embraced his waist.
All of this happened too quickly and too strangely. When the three kneeling men looked up, from their perspective, they saw His Highness's arm around the young maid's waist, and the young maid tightly hugging His Highness's waist...