Feng Ninghe's composed demeanor only fueled Madam Zhang's anger further.
The elders of the Feng family, fearing the situation would escalate, quickly intervened.
"Since the Emperor of Li has made his decision, and the Feng family is not involved, it is a cause for celebration."
The First Elder hurriedly chimed in, "No one wished for this to happen. Now that it has, there's little we can do."
Madam Zhang, unwilling to accept this, glared fiercely at Feng Ninghe, expressing her displeasure. "If she hadn't been so meddlesome, Tongtong wouldn't have ended up like this. Perhaps a stern warning would have sufficed, without banishment to the frontier!"
Feng Ninghe chuckled softly. "If Auntie is worried about Tongtong being bored in the frontier, you are welcome to accompany her. I can request it from the Emperor of Li at any time."
Madam Zhang grew anxious and took a step towards Feng Ninghe, but the First Elder stopped her.
The First Elder quickly soothed, "Harmony brings wealth, and a united family prospers."
Feng Ninghe glanced at Madam Zhang and walked away.
As she passed Di Wenbin, she paused and turned her gaze to him. "You confidently declared that the First Prince would not dare to act against the Emperor of Li. Did you open your dog eyes wide enough to see clearly?"
Her icy voice carried no discernible emotion.
Di Wenbin's face turned ashen, and he bit his lip, unable to utter a word for a long time.
How could he have known the First Prince's heart was so cruel as to attack his own father?
Xiao Zhao rolled its eyes, stuck out its long tongue, made a face at Di Wenbin, and grumbled with its little mouth.
Letting him speak so confidently.
This foolish pig, got his face slapped, didn't he?
Although Di Wenbin couldn't understand Feng Ninghe's words, he could tell that this spirit beast was looking down on him.
"This stupid beast!"
Di Wenbin couldn't help but curse under his breath, his eyes showing a hint of annoyance. But since he was in the wrong, he could only vent his anger on a spirit beast.
Wang Junzhao looked displeasured at Feng Ninghe's departing figure and grumbled, "Senior Brother Di, this woman is truly arrogant. Give her an inch, and she'll take a mile!"
She harbored no good feelings towards Feng Ninghe.
Feng Ninghe was merely relying on the support of the King of Hell behind her, acting as a tiger with a borrowed might, and thus being so overbearing.
Di Wenbin's expression darkened, his gaze sharpened, and he slowly spoke, "My father will arrive in the Li Kingdom soon. I will then have my father seek justice for me. Even if Feng Ninghe has the King of Hell backing her, she will have to give me an explanation!"
The King of Hell could protect Feng Ninghe for a while, but not forever. Perhaps soon he would see through Feng Ninghe's true colors and find her utterly boring.
Once the King of Hell abandoned Feng Ninghe, her good days would be over.
Feng Ninghe left the imperial palace on her own.
After a night of turmoil, as dawn approached, the sky began to lighten with a pale, fish-belly white hue.
Xiao Zhao lay lazily on her shoulder, its sapphire eyes filled with contentment.
Suddenly, Xiao Zhao sensed something, its eyes narrowed, and it quickly looked around.
Master, there's someone in the shadows.
Feng Ninghe also sensed the presence in the shadows.
She raised her delicate eyebrows, changed direction, and suddenly charged towards the shadows.
The person hiding in the shadows clearly sensed her approach and quickly fled.
Feng Ninghe's speed was astonishing, and she kept pace, chasing closely.
The black-robed figure hurried away, exerting all their strength, even using a speed-boosting talisman, to barely escape.
At the palace gate.
A small stone wrapped in a piece of paper rolled to Di Wenbin's feet.
He bent down and picked up the stone.
The paper contained a message: Meet me outside the city in the bamboo forest. I have something important to tell you—Feng Ninghe.
Wang Junzhao craned his neck to glimpse the paper, his eyes filled with doubt. "Senior Brother Di, why is Feng Ninghe looking for you?"
Di Wenbin shook his head slightly, puzzled. "I don't know either. But we'll find out once we go to the bamboo forest outside the city."
Wang Junzhao frowned, looking somewhat uneasy. "Senior Brother Di, I'll go with you. It'll be good to have someone to watch your back."
Di Wenbin shook his head indifferently. "It's fine. Although Feng Ninghe is despicable and a shameless wretch, she wouldn't dare to attack me privately. Go tell Sister Qingcheng to come find me in the bamboo forest. I'll go ahead and check the situation."
Although he disliked Feng Ninghe, he could tell she wouldn't bother to attack him.
Someone who couldn't even be bothered to speak much with him, how could she possibly attack him?
He wanted to see what Feng Ninghe had to say.
Wang Junzhao bit his lip, still worried. "Senior Brother Di, Feng Ninghe's cultivation is far above ours. If she wants to attack us, it would be easy."
Di Wenbin smiled and casually took a small bead from his spatial ring and wore it around his neck. "I also have a protective bead from my father. This is a divine artifact that can guarantee my life."
Looking at the protective bead, Wang Junzhao's smile returned. "Alright, Senior Brother Di. I'll go find Sister Qingcheng now. Be careful."
This protective bead was a divine artifact, but it also had its drawbacks.
Not many people knew about its weaknesses.
Even if Feng Ninghe was powerful, with the protective bead, even if he couldn't defeat her, he could still escape.
The sun rose above the mountains, its golden radiance veiled by the crimson morning glow.
Feng Ninghe chased the figure into a clearing in the woods and stopped.
The forest was silent, and there was no one around.
She raised her eyebrows and scanned her surroundings. "The person is gone."
What surprised her was how fast the person ran; even she couldn't catch up.
Xiao Zhao's sapphire eyes flickered with doubt, and its head turned from side to side.
Master, don't you think that person is very familiar with the surroundings and deliberately led you here?
This was Feng Ninghe's first time in this forest, and she was not familiar with it. Otherwise, she might have had a chance to catch up.
"You're right. That person is very familiar with this place and used the terrain to lure me here before escaping."
Feng Ninghe agreed with a hint of admiration.
Xiao Zhao shrugged its small shoulders helplessly and said softly.
Master, since we lost them, let's go back.
Little Master hasn't woken up yet. Perhaps we can prepare some food for Little Master.
Feng Ninghe nodded and started to leave.
As soon as she took a step, a piteous male voice echoed through the forest.
"Ah! Help!"
The man's cry was tragic, piercing the sky and startling the birds perched on the branches.
Feng Ninghe instinctively turned her gaze towards the direction of the sound. "Let's go take a look."
In the vast and quiet forest.
A corpse lay tragically on the ground.
Master! Look!
The sharp-eyed Xiao Zhao immediately spotted the bloodied figure lying on the ground and exclaimed.
Feng Ninghe instinctively surveyed her surroundings.
There were no other auras in the forest; no one else was here.
It seemed the killer had already fled.
After confirming that no one else was around, Feng Ninghe walked towards the figure on the ground.
The man was dressed in a water-blue robe, with a long sword plunged into his chest.
Xiao Zhao blinked its sapphire eyes, looking somewhat confused.
Master, this robe looks a bit familiar.
Feng Ninghe strode towards the man.
The man's skin was clean and fair, and his features were rather handsome. A trickle of bright red blood stained his lips, and his eyes were wide open, staring fixedly ahead, as if he had seen something unbelievable.
As Feng Ninghe clearly saw the man's face, her pupils contracted sharply.
"This... Di Wenbin? How could it be him!"