CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 69: SOUL LOST TO THE WATER

Ling Xiangyun furrowed her brows tightly. Seeing Feng Qinglong with his back to her, reciting poetry with exuberant talent, she hesitated to interrupt him.

She was thinking about moving a little further from the lake, when suddenly a pair of hands forcefully pushed her towards the water.

Plop!

Ling Xiangyun lost her balance and fell into the lake. The icy water soaked through her clothes, and the once warm fox fur became a shackle speeding her towards doom, dragging her further into the depths.

The sensation of near-death she had experienced in her childhood came rushing back once again...

"Help! Help! Someone’s fallen into the water, quick, save them!"

Because the two had sneaked out to meet in private, Ling Xiangyun hadn’t brought her maid. It was a nearby vendor who saw and called out for help.

Feng Qinglong heard the cries and only then realized Ling Xiangyun was missing.

Stunned, he stood there dumbfounded, "Miss Xiangyun? Where are you?"

He glanced at the bubbling lake water, utterly bewildered, his voice trembling, "I, I don’t know how to swim!"

"Move aside, idiot!"

Yu Nianzhao came running from afar, pushed Feng Qinglong aside, and without a word, jumped into the water.

The bone-chilling cold of the lake water seeped rapidly into her body, but Yu Nianzhao ignored it, eyes wide open, spotting Ling Xiangyun sinking to the lake’s bottom.

She swam quickly, grabbing Ling Xiangyun’s arm and tirelessly bringing her up to the surface.

"Princess Consort!"

Mu Hongxuan and Yiu Renjian rushed over, arriving just in time to see Yu Nianzhao saving the girl.

"Zhixi, block them."

Yu Nianzhao coldly eyed the onlookers, spotting a shadowy figure with a death aura swiftly slipping through the crowd.

"Yes, Princess Consort!"

Zhixi and Yiu Renjian faced the crowd, shielding them from viewing.

"Mu Hongxuan, find a carriage quickly and escort her back to the general’s residence, and hurry to summon a physician."

"Yes, Princess Consort!"

By this time, Ling Xiangyun had already fallen silent, her body lying cold on the ground.

Feng Qinglong was scared out of his wits, stammering fearfully, "This, this, this has nothing to do with me, I don’t know how she fell, but it definitely wasn’t me who pushed her."

He was on the verge of tears, regardless of his involvement.

Ling Xiangyun was his invitation today, and having encountered such an incident, he knew the general’s residence wouldn’t let him off easily.

"Tsk, trying to snatch a soul from me!" Yu Nianzhao couldn’t be bothered with Feng Qinglong. Seeing Ling Xiangyun’s soul on the verge of leaving her body, she quickly pinched a Soul Stabilizing Talisan and stuck it on Ling Xiangyun’s forehead. The soul that was about to leave instantly returned.

Yu Nianzhao then took a Fire Talisman, drying Ling Xiangyun’s drenched body, before taking a moment to tidy herself.

"Princess Consort, what exactly are these talismans? They’re so magical!"

Dongfang Chenyuan’s eyes gleamed, staring enviously at the talismans on Ling Xiangyun, never having seen such effectively powerful charms.

"Soul Stabilizing Talisman, used to lock her soul in place. It was a great tribulation for her; I had warned her to stay away from water and advised not to leave the residence, but she didn’t heed my words." Yu Nianzhao sighed lightly. "The other is a Fire Talisman, and you, from a family of mystics, haven’t seen anything like it?"

Dongfang Chenyuan scratched his head, "Our family of mystics don’t possess such wondrous talismans. Even my father can only draw common charms for warding off evil, expelling spirits, and ensuring peace. I’ve heard of the Soul Stabilizing Talisman, but ordinary Daoists lack the competence to draw one."

"As expected, your experience is far too limited. You should learn well." Yu Nianzhao scornfully remarked again.

"... Alright!" Dongfang Chenyuan accepted humbly with a sincere desire to learn.

Soon enough, Mu Hongxuan arrived with a carriage appropriately equipped with warm blankets and braziers.

Yu Nianzhao and Zhixi helped Ling Xiangyun onto the carriage, immediately heading towards the general’s residence.

"Who comes to visit the general’s residence?" Upon reaching the gates, the steward stopped them.

"It is Princess Consort Su, let us in quickly, Miss Ling is in trouble!" Mu Hongxuan frowned seriously.

Zhixi, with great strength, carried Ling Xiangyun out horizontally.

The steward’s face turned pale, "Quick, quick, come in!"

Saying so, he ran into the residence while loudly calling, "Hurry, fetch the doctor, quickly summon the General and Madam, the Miss has met with trouble!"

At Ling Xiangyun’s boudoir, Zhixi placed her on the bed.

"Xiangyun, my Xiangyun, what’s happened?"

Mrs. Ling hurried in, looking like a gust of wind, and upon seeing her lifeless daughter, she froze in shock, her face turned pale as she collapsed into Mr Ling’s arms.

"Madam, pull yourself together, Xiangyun has a guardian fortune and will surely be fine." Mr Ling’s rugged face was worried but he reassured Mrs. Ling.

"The doctor has arrived, how is Xiangyun?" Ling Shuhan briskly brought the doctor like carrying a chick, complaining, "Weren’t we just summoning the doctor? How did he arrive so soon?"

Seeing who the summoned doctor was, Mr. Ling nearly fainted from shock, gritting his teeth he chastised, "This is Mr Chen, the head of the imperial hospital. How dare you bring him over like this? Put him down now."

Ling Shuhan hesitated for a few seconds, then obediently set the doctor onto the ground steadily.

Mr Chen adjusted his robe and with a composed demeanor said, "Well, this saved me from walking myself."

Mr Ling gave an awkward laugh and invited him inside.

"Who is this person? Recently Xiangyun has been staying indoors, not stepping outside, how did something like this suddenly happen? Could she have been the one who asked Xiangyun out?"

Ling Shuhan, upon entering, immediately suspected Yu Nianzhao who sat by Ling Xiangyun’s side.

"Mr Ling, this is our Princess Consort Su." Dongfang Chenyuan smilingly explained.

"Princess Consort Su?" Ling Shuhan gasped, pointing at Yu Nianzhao, "Is she the legendary Princess Consort Su?"

"Shuhan, don’t be rude." Mrs. Ling, regaining her senses, glared at Ling Shuhan and shared a perplexed glance with Mr. Ling.

"May I ask Princess Consort Su, what exactly happened to Xiangyun?"

"I had advised her to stay away from water recently, but she didn’t listen to my words, nearly losing her life today if it hadn’t been for our chance passage." Yu Nianzhao pressed her red lips together, instructing Mr Chen for the checkup while reminding, "Mr Chen, do not remove this talisman."

"Certainly, Princess Consort." Mr Chen, usually proud and difficult, seemed compliant before Yu Nianzhao.

Dongfang Chenyuan shook his fan, "Today we accompanied the Princess Consort out when we happened to pass by the lake in the west of the city, where we saw Miss Ling fall into the water. The crowd then was massive, but our brave Princess Consort jumped in without hesitation to rescue her. As for who invited her out, it wasn’t our Princess Consort, that’s something Mr. Ling needs to investigate."