Huo Qiyuan pushed away the woman leaning against him, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. Seeing Su Ling'er shoved aside, Leng Feng, kneeling nearby, tried to support her.
Previously, whenever someone spoke ill of Su Ling'er, he would feel an inexplicable irritation. Now, seeing her being treated violently, Leng Feng could no longer control the agitation within him.
In fact, Leng Feng's mind was still relatively clear. He knew that Su Ling'er was trying to seduce the Prince. His heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles, a fine, dense pain. Yet, he still couldn't bear to see Su Ling'er in trouble.
"Your Highness, please show mercy... Your subordinate truly likes her... Your subordinate is willing to accept any punishment." Leng Feng trembled all over, kowtowing incessantly, his voice shaking. He was terrified that Huo Qiyuan would truly kill Su Ling'er.
He had two conflicting voices in his mind: one urging him to protect Su Ling'er, and the other telling him to restrain himself, to not forget that Huo Qiyuan was his master and he absolutely could not disobey.
These two completely different psychological states and emotions collided within Leng Feng, further tearing apart his already weak body into a state of extreme fragility.
Huo Qiyuan flicked his sleeve, glancing at Leng Feng expressionlessly without paying him much mind. Then, he turned his head to look at the woman he had thrown away, furrowing his brow.
The effects of the aphrodisiac had dispersed throughout his body. Although the spirit spring water did not have a significant effect on non-toxic substances like this, it could at least offer some relief. Therefore, apart from feeling a slight warmth, Huo Qiyuan experienced no other major changes.
Furthermore, Huo Qiyuan had previously been poisoned by the Ice Tendril Grass. The method he used to treat it was less about expelling the poison and more about integrating it into his own body. Since then, his body temperature had always been lower than that of ordinary people.
Su Ling'er had been thrown quite far. She struggled to prop herself up, looking with disbelief at the cold, yet sober, stern man in the distance.
How could this be possible! She had personally experienced the potency of the drug. They had all reacted immediately after smelling it. While it was understandable for her, a woman, to be unable to resist, Wang Bingchang and Huo Qixiao, both men with martial arts skills, had also been unable to control the effects of the drug.
But why was this person still able to stand there so calm and composed? It was either because his internal energy was too profound, or his self-control was so terrifying.
During the period of fleeing the famine, Huo Qiyuan had been mostly unconscious, so he was not very familiar with Su Cuiling's affairs. He thought of Su Minghui and Su Muqing. Since this woman could obtain this jade pendant and was from Zheng Yi Alley, it was possible they were related.
Since they might be relatives, the handling of the situation would need to change. "Since you are Su Minghui's niece, I will let you go this time. You may leave! If you dare to disrespect the rules of the villa again, do not blame me for being impolite."
"I..." Su Ling'er was full of unwillingness. She opened her mouth, about to say something. Leng Feng suddenly spoke, interrupting Su Ling'er's intended words. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy..."
Huo Qiyuan did not pay attention to Leng Feng at this moment. If he let this woman go out of consideration for Su Minghui, then the punishment they received could be lighter. "Leng Si, escort her back to the rear courtyard and guard her well. Summon the steward for me."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Leng Si breathed a sigh of relief, then got up, pulled Su Ling'er to her feet, and dragged her by the arm as he walked out.
"Brother Leng Feng..." Su Ling'er had just started to call out when Leng Si whispered a fierce warning in her ear. "Do you want to get my second brother killed? Come with me..."
"Come in." Huo Qiyuan stepped into the room. Leng Ao, supporting Leng Feng, also walked in together.
Seeing Leng Feng's dire condition, Huo Qiyuan gave him two pills: one for replenishing qi and one for healing. The matter had not yet been investigated, so his internal energy could not be removed for now.
Leng Feng took the pills, his expression complex, his heart in a frantic struggle. Finally, under their gaze, he swallowed the two pills.
As expected of a miraculous medicine, the pills dissolved upon entering the mouth. As they flowed down his throat and into his dantian, Leng Feng immediately felt his body begin to warm up, and the pain in his lower abdomen also eased somewhat.
"You guys..." Huo Qiyuan, seeing Leng Feng's complexion improve, was about to get to the important matter. Suddenly! He felt something was amiss with his own body. Why was he getting hotter and hotter?
Although June was starting to get hot, the evenings were still quite cool. Coupled with his own inherent cold constitution, he shouldn't suddenly feel warm.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Leng Heng saw Huo Qiyuan drenched in sweat and found it very strange.
"I don't know, Your Highness. I suddenly feel thirsty and my whole body is very hot." Su Muqing had said his body would no longer be poisoned, so what could this phenomenon mean...
Huo Qiyuan glanced at Leng Feng, recalling his unprovoked outburst, and then his sudden fever. Could it be that they both encountered the non-toxic type of medicine Su Muqing had mentioned?
"Leng Heng, do you feel unwell?" Huo Qiyuan asked the person beside him, sweat pouring down his face.
Leng Heng shook his head with a strange expression. "Your subordinate feels nothing. Your Highness, are you feeling very unwell? Shall I find a military doctor for you?"
Leng Feng secretly clenched his fist, lowered his head, and opened his mouth. Finally, he closed his eyes in pain, still saying nothing.
Huo Qiyuan endured the discomfort in his body, looking at the person kneeling at his feet with a frown. "Leng Feng, you have followed me for over twenty years. You are like a brother to Leng Ren and Leng Nuo... I will give you one more chance. Why did you attack?"
Leng Feng knew that his own abnormality was definitely related to Su Ling'er, and perhaps the Prince's current discomfort was also related to her.
In fact, he had already noticed some unusual things before he went berserk. He would inexplicably feel irritable, suddenly become bloodthirsty and ferocious, dislike being in crowded places, and even find his lifelong brothers unbearable...
And whenever these abnormal phenomena occurred, they could only be relieved by smelling the fragrance on Su Ling'er. Otherwise, he would lose control. This ultimately led to his aggressive actions!
Fragrance? Could it be the scent on her?
That's right! It must be! Ever since he first met Su Ling'er and smelled the scent on her, he had become infatuated. It was precisely because of this fragrance that he became increasingly curious about Su Ling'er, drew closer and closer, and then could no longer leave her...