"Your Highness, what I mean is..."
Chu Yunfei tried to salvage the situation.
Ling Xueyao abruptly released him and took two steps back.
With a flash of golden light, the slender sword was already in his hand, its blade ringing in the scabbard as if it were about to be drawn at any moment.
That scornful and indignant gaze almost pierced two holes in Chu Yunfei.
"It's a misunderstanding, really a misunderstanding."
Chu Yunfei coughed lightly. "What I mean is, if anyone should ride, it should be Her Highness the Princess's horse. I have absolutely no other intentions."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had made a mistake again.
The shame and anger on Ling Xueyao's face did not dissipate, but instead intensified.
"How dare you say that!"
She stepped forward, the scabbard aimed directly at Chu Yunfei's chest.
"The Royal Beast Garden only houses spirit beasts, so where would they get ordinary horses?"
Chu Yunfei took half a step back, avoiding the sword sheath.
"I misspoke earlier. What I meant was, riding Her Highness the Princess's spirit beast, not riding the Princess herself."
Do you take me for a three-year-old child?
Ling Xueyao took another step closer.
Chu Yunfei added seriously, "To be precise, it should be riding Princess Yunhe."
"Shut up!"
The golden rapier was drawn half an inch from its sheath.
Chu Yunfei decisively raised his hands.
Okay, I won't say anything more.
Ling Xueyao stared at him for a long time before finally sheathing her slender sword again.
"If there is a next time, I will definitely cut out your tongue."
Chu Yunfei lowered his hands.
"The princess just said that she would ask for anything as long as you can do it."
That statement doesn't count.
A ruler's word is his bond.
"I am not the emperor yet!"
Ling Xueyao said those words and turned to leave.
The hand that had been supporting Chu Yunfei's arm was completely withdrawn.
Chu Yunfei followed behind her, coughing lightly.
"Actually, I can walk by myself."
"Then you may leave on your own."
"Your Highness was just worried that I might collapse on the way."
I'm not worried anymore.
Why?
Ling Xueyao didn't stop walking, coldly tossing out a sentence.
"The wicked live long, but you won't die."
Inside his sea of consciousness, Xiaoxiao Dragon couldn't stop laughing.
"You brat, that mouth of yours will get you into big trouble sooner or later."
Chu Yunfei replied irritably, "If you hadn't been making a racket in my mind's eye, would I have said something wrong?"
"It's clear that you had this thought in your heart all along, yet you're blaming me."
Xiaoxiao Dragon laughed even more unrestrainedly.
"I told you to take advantage of the atmosphere and win her over, not to blurt out your true feelings."
"I was just distracted."
"It's good to admit that it's what you truly feel."
Chu Yunfei suppressed the urge to close his senses.
Ling Xueyao, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around.
Seeing Chu Yunfei's expression change repeatedly.
She assumed he was still thinking about random things, gave a cold snort, and quickened her pace.
She hadn't gone far when she slowed down again.
Chu Yunfei had just removed the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison from his father, and his spiritual power and soul were greatly depleted.
If he were left alone in the palace, and were to encounter the Second Prince again, another conflict would be inevitable.
Thinking of this, Ling Xueyao became even more furious.
This guy never says anything serious.
But she really couldn't just leave him behind.
"Keep up."
Ling Xueyao did not turn around, her tone remaining cold.
"My palace is just ahead; you will stay in the side courtyard tonight."
Chu Yunfei followed, but wisely refrained from getting any closer to her.
"A side courtyard?"
If you are not satisfied, I can have someone send you to an inn outside the palace.
I think the side courtyard is quite nice.
"Then shut up."
The two walked through several palace paths and finally arrived at the princess's bedroom.
The palace is located on the east side of the inner palace. Although its area is not extravagant, it is quiet and secluded.
Several array formations were set up inside and outside the palace walls.
The outer layer is responsible for issuing warnings, the inner layer isolates divine sense, and there is also a Spirit-Gathering Array deep inside, making the concentration of Spiritual Qi in this place far superior to other areas of the imperial city.
Outside the palace gates.
Several maids bowed their heads in greeting upon seeing Ling Xueyao.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Upon seeing Chu Yunfei following behind her, the group of people all slowed their movements by half a beat.
Chu Yunfei's sleeves were torn, and his face was pale, clearly indicating that he had undergone considerable exertion.
The blush behind Ling Xueyao's ears had not completely faded, and a hint of embarrassment and annoyance lingered between her brows.
More importantly, no young man has ever set foot in the princess's bedroom.
The maids glanced up once, then quickly lowered their eyes, not daring to look again.
Ling Xueyao naturally noticed their reaction.
Her expression remained unchanged, but her tone turned colder.
"Clean up a side courtyard."
"No one is allowed to disturb us, and the events of today must not be revealed to anyone."
The head maid immediately agreed.
"The east wing courtyard is always cleaned; I'll go prepare it now."
After saying this, she quickly left with the other maids.
Ling Xueyao led Chu Yunfei through the main hall.
Chu Yunfei glanced around calmly.
The defensive formations within the palace are interconnected, and several killing formations are hidden at the deepest part. Once all of them are activated, they can at least withstand a frontal attack from a powerhouse in the Early Stage of the Divine Sea Realm.
The royal family's foundation is indeed something the Azure Mystic Sect can't compare to.
"Your Highness has arranged for me to stay in your own palace. Aren't you afraid of gossip?"
Ling Xueyao paused slightly.
"Your identity as the prince consort has already spread throughout the Cangwu Mountain Range."
She turned around and her gaze fell on Chu Yunfei.
"Today at the palace gates, I admitted to this matter in front of my second brother. Now, with this one more incident, the rumors won't get any worse."
"Furthermore, the Blood Baleful Intent Tower has already ambushed us once, and my second brother also harbors murderous intent towards you today."
Ling Xueyao spoke calmly.
"If I were to place you elsewhere, I would need to assign other people to protect you. Staying here is actually the safest option."
Chu Yunfei chuckled, "So Your Highness is so concerned about my safety."
"What I care about is my father, the Emperor."
Ling Xueyao immediately distanced herself from the situation.
"If something happens to you before Father awakens, who will confirm the aftermath?"
"So you're not allowed to wander around tonight, and you're absolutely forbidden from provoking the Second Prince."
Chu Yunfei asked, "What if he comes to provoke me?"
"This is my palace."
Ling Xueyao's voice was slightly cold. "He doesn't have the guts to just barge in."
She paused for a moment, then added:
"Even if you do encounter it, you must wait for me to return to handle it. No one is allowed to act recklessly on their own."
"You've just entered the Heavenly Origin Realm, while your second brother has already Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm. That kick today was because he underestimated you. If you were to fight head-on, you might not have the upper hand."
Chu Yunfei did not refute.
Although the Second Prince is impulsive, his cultivation at the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm is undeniable.
With Chu Yunfei's current strength, defeating an ordinary Fourth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm without using his true trump cards wouldn't be difficult, and he could even put up a fight against Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer.
However, the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm has already entered the late stage.
The difference in their levels of understanding is undeniable.
Even with the special power of the Abyss-Devouring Sword, Chu Yunfei was not certain of victory.
"Rest assured."
Chu Yunfei looked at the east wing that had already been tidied up.
I'm not going anywhere tonight.
"I'll take this time to go into seclusion and study the Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword left behind by Lu Shaoyuan."
Ling Xueyao naturally knew this sword technique.
Being in the imperial city, Chu Yunfei has offended the Second Prince and is being targeted by the Blood Baleful Intent Tower. Improving his strength as soon as possible is the best course of action.
However, he had just removed the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison from his father, and his complexion had not yet recovered.
You've had a tiring day; it wouldn't hurt to rest for the night.
Chu Yunfei shook his head.
For me, cultivation is rest.
Ling Xueyao looked at him and didn't try to persuade him further.
She knew a little about Chu Yunfei's personality.
This guy usually talks nonsense, but when it comes to cultivation and life and death, he's always more serious than anyone else.
"I need to go back and check on my father's condition, and also arrange for someone to investigate the matter of the elixirs."
Ling Xueyao said, "If needed, just give the order to the maids outside the courtyard."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
She had only taken two steps when she stopped again.
There is a communication jade talisman in the room.
"If anything goes wrong, notify me immediately. Do not act recklessly on your own."
Chu Yunfei leaned against the doorframe and said with a smile, "If Your Highness is truly worried, why don't you stay and keep me company?"
Ling Xueyao tightened her grip on the sword once more.
She turned around, her silver teeth clenched slightly.
"Even if something happens, there's no need to inform me!"
After saying that, Ling Xueyao left the side courtyard.
His steps appeared steady, but his speed was noticeably faster than usual.
The blush behind her ears spread again.
Chu Yunfei waited until her presence had completely faded before closing the courtyard gate.
Xiaoxiao Dragon's teasing voice rang out.
"This girl is certainly stubborn."
"In my opinion, she's becoming more and more interested in you."
Chu Yunfei walked into the cultivation room and casually replied, "What she cares about is whether the emperor will wake up."
"Are you kidding me?"
Xiaoxiao Dragon showed no mercy.
"Her heart was beating much faster than usual when she helped you up."
"If I only saw you as a tool for detoxification, would I have let you live in my own palace?"
"This was to cover up the emperor's poisoning."
"Keep being stubborn."
Chu Yunfei was too lazy to argue with her anymore.
He first checked the array formation in the side courtyard to confirm that there were no array patterns used for surveillance, and then released his divine sense to scan the surroundings.
There were several Heavenly Origin Realm auras outside the palace, likely guards arranged by Ling Xueyao.
Further away, a wisp of the Divine Sea Realm aura could be faintly seen.
The man did not spy on the side courtyard; he merely guarded the outer perimeter of the palace.
"The royal family's defenses are indeed far more stringent than those of the Azure Mystic Sect."
Chu Yunfei entered the cultivation room and closed the stone door behind him.
A futon was placed in the center of the room.
The four walls are embedded with Spirit-Gathering Array stones, and there are also pills and water to restore spiritual power in the corners, so it is clear that someone has been taking care of it.
Xiaoxiao Dragon's voice became serious again.
"Are you really planning to practice the Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword tonight?"
"Removing the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison consumed a significant amount of your divine soul, and entering the Divine Cauldron Space now would be a burden for you as well."
Chu Yunfei sat cross-legged on the futon and took out the blue jade slip left by Lu Shaoyuan.
"Spiritual energy has recovered to 60%."
"Although my spiritual energy has been significantly depleted, my fundamental nature has not been damaged. I should recover first, and then continue to study swordsmanship without any problems."
The jade slip fell into his palm, and a heavy sword intent faintly emanated from it.
Chu Yunfei's expression also became more serious.
"This is only the first direct confrontation, yet the Second Prince already has a Divine Sea Realm Elder standing behind him."
"The First Prince and the Third Prince have not yet truly shown themselves, and the Blood Baleful Intent Tower remains hidden in the shadows."
"The waters of the imperial city are only deeper than those of Qingyang City."
His fingers gently caressed the surface of the jade slip.
" The Heaven-Severing Slash is no longer sufficient."
Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword, Earth Rank Upper Grade sword technique.
Once the first three moves are mastered, their power will surpass that of the Heaven-Severing Slash.
If you can master the fourth and fifth moves...
Even when facing Late Stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist, Chu Yunfei will possess the means to truly threaten them.