Rumor has it that the Demon Lord west Leng Yue is bloodthirsty and ruthless, and never gets close to anyone. But he is nothing like the rumors. So why does he help her again and again?
Thinking of this, Hailing added, "Xilingfeng, tell me, why do you keep helping me? What is your purpose?"
She was very curious as to why he would help her.
Xi Lingfeng's pupils darkened slightly, a hint of tenderness flashing across his face. His cheeks flushed, and his lips twitched. He couldn't bring himself to say it was because he cared about her. Besides, he had said that it might frighten the girl, so it was better to let her find out for herself.
Xi Lingfeng made up his mind, but when he saw Hai Ling's bright, pearl-like black eyes, he couldn't help but feel a little flutter in his heart.
He noticed her because he was attracted by her lively spirit. At first, he thought he was just interested in her, but he realized the problem only after Shen Ruoxuan reminded him.
"Seeing you dealing with so many people all by yourself, I couldn't bear to do it."
Xi Lingfeng came up with an excuse, but when Hai Ling heard it, it took on a different meaning, and she couldn't help but sigh.
"It turns out that the Demon Lord of the Cold Demon Palace is not as cold and ruthless as rumored. Rumors have misled people."
Xi Lingfeng's lips twitched violently. His gentleness was only directed at her. In front of outsiders, he was still the cold and ruthless demon lord.
"From now on, I'll call you Ling'er."
At this moment, Xi Lingfeng's inherent domineering and forceful nature was revealed, but Hai Ling didn't care. It was just a form of address. Thinking of what he had done for her, she felt warm inside. He was the first person besides her mother to make her feel warm. Similarly, this form of address was only for family members; others couldn't just call him that.
"good."
While the two were getting along harmoniously, the entire hall was in a state of panic. Feng Zixiao used her inner strength to deal with the attacking snakes while ordering the guards outside the hall to enter and kill the snakes. In an instant, blood splattered all over the hall.
Hai Ling's expression changed upon seeing this situation. If things continued like this, the snakes would likely be killed. These were the things inside her green pearl, and they couldn't all be killed; they would still be useful in the future. Today's lesson to Feng Zixiao was enough.
Hai Ling silently recited a command, and the swarm of snakes in the main hall vanished in the blink of an eye.
Almost in the blink of an eye, the surviving snakes disappeared. If it weren't for the dead venomous snakes still inside the hall, Feng Zixiao and the others would have thought they were seeing things.
Not only him, but even Xi Lingfeng on the high wall outside Chunwan Palace was astonished. What exactly was going on?
He had clearly seen the hall full of snakes a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, they had all disappeared.
"Hai'er, what's going on?"
Xi Lingfeng spoke, his eyes subconsciously glancing at Hai Ling's wrist. He had seen the green bead flash earlier; could the snakes be related to this?
Hailin shook her wrist and smiled playfully: "You guessed right, but I should go back now, or I'll be in trouble again."
"Go back now. If you need anything, send someone to find me."
Xi Lingfeng gave a brief instruction, wiped himself clean, and left as swiftly as a shooting star.
Tonight, Hai Ling was in a great mood. Not only did she get revenge on Feng Zixiao, but she also had a pleasant chat with Xi Lingfeng. For some reason, when Xi Lingfeng called her Hai'er, she didn't feel any repulsion; instead, she felt a sense of pleasure.
But now is not the time to think about that; she should return to Zhengyi Palace.
With a swift movement, he leaped up and returned directly to Zhengyi Palace.
In the main hall of Chunwan Palace, Feng Zixiao summoned the imperial physician to treat the palace maids and eunuchs who had been bitten by poisonous snakes.
The venomous snakes inside the hall had also been cleared away. He was furious about what had happened that night. Who could have done this, releasing such a large group of snakes that disappeared in the blink of an eye? This was too bizarre and unpredictable.
On one side of the main hall, Ye Xiuying helped the pale-faced Consort Yu to sit down on a chair, then seemed to remember something and reminded Feng Zixiao.
"Your Majesty, tonight's events are far too strange. Has Your Majesty forgotten that the Empress sent someone to report that someone had released poisonous snakes in Zhengyi Palace? Your Majesty ignored it, and now so many poisonous snakes have suddenly appeared in Chunwan Palace. Could this be related to the Empress?"
Feng Zixiao frowned, somewhat incredulous. Although Jiang Hailing was quite talented and seemed to have some ability, how could a woman like her control so many venomous snakes?
Seeing Feng Zixiao hesitate, Ye Xiuying glanced at her cousin beside her. Yu Fei immediately understood and spoke weakly.
"Your Majesty, do you think someone might have used witchcraft or some evil magic to summon the snakes? Your Majesty must thoroughly investigate this matter, otherwise, if something like this happens again, the palace will never be at peace."
Consort Yu's words were very insightful. Just a moment ago, Ye Xiuying mentioned the Empress, and now she mentioned that someone was using witchcraft, which naturally made people think of Jiang Hailing.
Feng Zixiao's face darkened, and he gave orders to those outside.
"Someone, go to Zhengyi Palace and summon the Empress."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xia Cheng, Feng Zixiao's personal eunuch and former head steward of the Crown Prince's residence, smiled almost imperceptibly as he received his orders and went out to the Zhengyi Palace to announce the arrival of Empress Xuan.
Hailin was in Zhengyi Palace at this time, preparing to go to sleep.
Soon a young eunuch reported that the Emperor wanted to see her. Knowing this, she got up and led several eunuchs from Zhengyi Palace to Chunwan Palace.
Inside Chunwan Palace.
Feng Zixiao sat at the head of the table, while Yu Fei and Ye Xiuya sat at the foot of the table.
As soon as Ye Xiuying saw Hailing enter, she gave a smug smile.
Her haughty demeanor made her seem like a favored concubine of the emperor, which was utterly contemptible.
Hai Ling slowly bowed: "Greetings, Your Majesty. May I ask why Your Majesty summoned Hai Ling in the middle of the night?"
The venomous snakes in the main hall had been cleared away, so Hai Ling pretended not to know what had happened. If she guessed correctly, it must have been Ye Xiuying and Consort Yu who instigated the Emperor to target her. But so what? What power did a woman like her have to mobilize a swarm of snakes?
"Has the Empress always stayed in Zhengyi Palace?"
"Has Your Majesty forgotten to place Hailing under house arrest?" Hailing pouted, looking aggrieved, her eyes fixed on Feng Zixiao.
When Feng Zixiao saw her eyes staring greedily at him, he couldn't help but shiver. The woman's gaze made him feel like he was a piece of meat, a piece of meat she desperately wanted to eat, so he couldn't be more depressed.