A:N- slight mischief near the end.
The Mole Nobody Suspects
Lingyue received a letter from Yunxiu as she expected.
Ling Yue,
Word reached us that there is corruption in the Royal Hospital
of all places, and the Alchemist Association and Master Longyue
are furious as it goes against everything the Association stood
for, which was neutrality; serving for the country as long as one
can pay.
This hasn't reached his majesty yet as we hop to yank the rug
and make them tumble so to speak.
The royal mother has given you an instruction...infiltrate Royal
Hospital and expose them. We have written a long letter to the
Alchemist Association and Master Longyue to back you up in
order to get you in.
We ask of you to expose the corruption within...officially, of
course, that not even his majesty can deny it. Report to Alchemist
Association as soon as possible after ten minutes of getting this letter.
Liu Yunxiu
'Oh, boy...I'm just glad I finally got my kids a manual to follow from.' Lingyue sighed as she burned the letter.
She purchased many feminine arts off Treasure Cave as the Martial Shrine at home, has way too many arts suited for men. And what Martial Arts tablet? They only contain ONE skill from some RANDOM STYLE yet worth a lot of money. She can take any knowledge she wanted on a whim! She'd rather buy a book(however ouch it was in her pockets) than a measly tablet!
From that 2.5 million she got off the Queen, she spent 800.000 gold in total for her six books. OUCH INDEED.
She created two brand new copies per book. After which, she called for Uncles Huangyun and Huangshu to get the books and scrolls from her as precaution as what she has, are precious. 7th rank books worth the money, though she stole the knowledge from Tablets on sale...not that they know that. She's pretty sure the grandfather and uncles back home puked up blood as she spent money about eight years' worth of the family's 'good years' when they read her letter.
They'll be here in a few days.
For now, she glanced at her students.
For Yanche and the boys, they will learn the 18 Dragon Subduing Palms. The girls will learn the Fist of Beauties. But both genders will share the same sword style. Wonder who's the egocentric one who made it?
She sent Feng Shen her new schedule.
xxx
Alchemist Association...
'Lingyue, you know your next mission.' said Longyue who paid the Association a visit and Lingyue knelt respectfully, ANBU-style.
'Sir. Her majesty Queen Yunxiu has instructed me of such.' said Lingyue. 'But I can go home after work, right? I have my other jobs as well.'
'Mm.' Longyue nodded in confirmation. 'In this scroll is a Recommendation Letter by me with my personal stamp.' said Longyue. 'You are to give it to Manager Chou as I sent my copy to the Emperor. Can't let the royal ladies stamp lest the jig is up.' he snorted. 'You managed the impossible once, you can do so again.'
'Of course.' Lingyue took the letter from Longyue. 'This should be fun...' she looked impish. 'Its like the time her majesty and I staged an act to make it look lie phoenixes cured 6th Prince.'
And so, Royal Hospital...
Lingyue bearing a letter from THE Longyue caused a ruckus.
'This can't be because she is the 6th Prince's teacher, can't it?'
Its known that she is the 6th Prince's Alchemist Teacher after he passed her exams with a 100% score, plus Oral Exam in school itself to diffuse certain claims. She is his teacher in Basic Alchemy until he ascends to Advanced Lessons...which he does now!
But who the hell is this girl, she's clearly not simple.
A commoner like most of them, but her looks! She's like a doll though the only problem, was her unusual fashion sense when most girls would wear anything that flatters her figure.
But to girls from big name families, they're wary of the girl who can cow a whole school because two girls fought in the grounds and recommended by THE Longyue as in his letter to Manager Chou, Lingyue impressed him with her personal inventions as nobody thought of it that she should broaden her horizons in the hospital.
As per standard that everyone starts at the bottom, Manager Chou gave her a Public Cauldron room.
'Now Miss Ling, promotions are based on quality of productivity in this hospital.' said Manager Chou as he showed Lingyue around. He's showing a nice face as she was someone recommended by THE Longyue and nobody dares to offend the guy through Lingyue, and possibly, the Queen as she is 6th Prince's teacher. He values his life, thanks. 'Everyone has a quota to follow. Failure to meet the quota means a Demotion if you're in a higher rank, or expulsion if a newcomer fails to meet the mark. Due to your other jobs, we allow you a four hours a day stay as long as you meet your quota, and answer a medical summons by all means necessary.'
'Yes, sir.'
And so it begins. At first Lingyue was the dutiful employee, while exuding the aura of an authoritative figure as she was a teacher even if its just for one student and she punishes harshly as noted by younger girls who were in hospital.
They have accomplished her Detention already and those who 'had help' due to different handwriting, had their quotas tripled!
And Lingyue was given her quota of herbs and instructed to research...but she simply used up her quota to make blue pills immediately for mild to moderate illnesses right in front of the Logistics Agents responsible for allocating resources while poring over books about formulas to 'figure out' how to create a Reincarnation Pill. From her daily supply, she made a hundred a day...which is tough for even Upper Celestial alchemists that they have monthly quotas of pills!
And when not in her public cauldron area, she would be at the clinic, performing Healing for ill palace employees who can come here any time they wanted for their ailings, be it acupuncture, therapy, illnesses to even dental issues.
It was good she had the tools at least.
But one day, the King of all people came to complain about a 'certain issue'...that nobody can fix yet. He was accompanied by his mother and his eunuch aide.
It was known in Earth, as E.D.
Lingyue took the King's pulse...
'Your majesty, have you been sleeping less lately that contributes to high level of stress?'
'That's pretty much the downside of my job post.' the King answered wearily. 'And I triple-check all my paperwork for hidden meanings too.'
'And what do you eat?'
'Well, a typical royal feast with my sons that is mostly meat. And I also drink wine I order from Fairy Square since Wuzhen Wine is my favorite.'
'What about fruits and vegetables?' the middle-aged king balked now in distaste.
'Who on earth would want those tasteless things! I'd rather eat fruit!'
Gee, Lingyue thought. In Vongola, Reborn had Shamal be her dietician as the stress of being boss is getting to her. In history, Chinese Emperors were willing to eat vegetables for a long life, and this one doesn't.
'Because your majesty, stress, combined with a type of malnutrition led to anemia...and with lacking in blood, its impossible to ahem, make your lifeline stand. Let's call it Erectile Dysfunction.' Lingyue reasoned out as she took a piece of paper and ink, and performed alchemy to instantly create recipes which the royal customers can see as soup, and other dishes. 'Malnourished people must have equal amounts of energy-giving food such as grain and fruits, muscle-growing meat, and nourishing vegetables in equal amounts in order to heal properly as vegetables nourish various parts of our bodies, and triggering production of blood as well as semen.' Lingyue explained.
'Have the royal kitchen cook this for you every day as well as eat enough for three people in servings while I refine pills that heal the body of Stress, and trigger blood production in the body to ahem, get it up again in a month.' Lingyue said cheerfully. 'Please don't skip the vegetables part as its vital in healing to get 'it' up, OK? Lastly, two and half shichen after breakfast, 20 minutes of sunbathing with a lot of skin exposure in the morning as an every day routine, as well as a short break from icky paperwork through sunbathing if that helps.' her joke made the king laugh and his mother whacking him for it with her fan with a small glare. The eunuch with them and the local doctor sweatdropped. 'Oh yes, during this month-long treatment...no Wuzhen Wine.' the king went slack-jawed. 'Just sterilized water cooled down with ice-freezing grass, or tea.'
'EHHHH?!'
'Oh, shush son! It's just one month!' his mother chided.
The sunlight part has a rationale as well...to get 'it' up, Nitric Oxide is needed as it increases the production of a substance called Cyclic GMP that dilates blood vessels to allow more blood to come into 'that' which is why it stands. And NO is synthesized through exposure to sun through the skin.
Stress at work plus hours in office all day? Yeah. And any white-collared man would get E.D!
'Please remember that this issue returns if a man is both highly-stressed and malnourished as well as lacking sunlight, so in the event Dysfunction returns, simply do this routine again.'
Lingyue made the fantasy version of Stresstabs, a cure for Atherosclerosis and a tonic that cleans blood vessels of plaque, the latter two Earth DRASTICALLY NEEDS and last she checked with tech, there's no medicine for atherosclerosis yet and plaque treatment needs expensive invasive treatments and goodness knows Xanxus gets himself checked for plaques as his favorite foods causes said plaques...or a Storm specializing in that area.
In a month as Lingyue promised if he did as told, he DID get better and got a lot energetic. Lingyue did where hundreds before her failed, and awarded her a Princess Title for preserving royal bloodline with her treatment, titled 'Princess Yue'. For she exceeded expectations.
It was a big news in hospital...and with patients in, naturally, the whole palace knows in a matter of hours and when people went home to talk, the city knows.
That 6th Prince's tutor cured the King of an impossible medical issue nobody had answer to, and her methods are the only thing that worked.
xxx
'Teacher, I heard you cured father of a rather critical illness.' said Houqi after class.
'That's your concern too when you regain your spot, you know.' said Lingyue wryly. 'I know for a fact that you never stopped eating my recipes and you train a lot that your blood flows well so you have no worries any time soon unlike he does.' Houqi went pink, looking awkward as he learned from his mother what father's illness was. 'It's only a matter of time, so do you want your trial public...or in seclusion?'
'...as much as I hate the idea of being ogled during my trial, its one way of regaining my spot.' Houqi mumbled unhappily.
'Yup. By then, I have a trinket that will help you out.' Lingyue promised him. 'But even with 'it', you must have a strong will to overcome the trial no matter how much it hurts like hell...because if you succumb to the pain and surrender, the trial will kill you as execution of the unworthy by the heavens.'
'Yes, teacher.' Houqi nodded. 'What's yours like?'
Lingyue gave him a grimaced smile.
'...I was drowned for hours while enduring water pressure. My first trial was Water.'
'...'
xxx
'Sooo you're a princess now.' Cai'er grinned as she had her family servants take the wine Lingyue made for her and load it up wagons outside Lingyue's gates, so its just her, Lingyue, Feng Shen and his teacher. 'You cured his majesty's critical illness!' she came on the day Feng Shen visited, having heard of Lingyue becoming a princess.
'Well its something any man will have if they're not careful.' said Lingyue with a snort. 'People say it's critical, but only for an Emperor whose job is popping heirs out other than managing a country.'
'Any man?' Feng Shen blinked.
'Yes. Any. Man.' Lingyue smiled mischievously. 'Regardless of health condition if a male has three things: high stress levels and malnutrition, as well as lack of sunlight exposure. Let's just say bedtime fun with a lady or a cut-sleeve isn't fun for them with such a problem since they can't get it up.'
The three choked, red-faced.
THAT was the critical illness?!
xxx
Winter came.
Snow flakes have begun to fall.
And that's when her uncles arrived.
'1st and 2nd Uncle.' Lingyue greeted her uncles as she led them inside for warmth. 'What took you so long?'
'The Mountain Sea Gang in Glass City caused us a heap of trouble while father began plans of the whole family moving in there!' said Huangyun wearily as Yanche poured warmed Rainbow Monkey Wine for the guests. 'We had to deal with the problem...and the new Governor is nothing like General Lan at all. Unreliable.' he harrumphed unhappily. 'They're like, a competent version of Song Family!' Lingyue choked into her wine at his words. 'It's good that your cousins are of high level to increase our manpower some. Sheng'er trained the younger kids like you did him...well, they began cursing him for insanity too.' Lingyue laughed at that.
Lingyue's methods were that of 'sink or swim'. But for that to be feasible, she will strengthen her kids first so they're not like her...a literal trial by fire. Pass or else!
'Well, speaking of levels, other than books I prepared more things as well.' said Lingyue, taking out a long gift box that can easily be hugged close to the body securely. 'I have the books here for ladies and advancement pills so the cousins will be alright.'
'But still...800.000 gold for books?' Huangshu whimpered as Huangyun cringed, looking like he swallowed a cactus. They could picture gold taels with wings flying away by the flock in their minds taking to the skies, never to return. Six books cost 800 grand in total! These books must be over 130000 worth!
'...7th rank martial arts books are worth that.' said Lingyue glumly. 'I have the original in my care while those in your hands are sturdier copies.' Lingyue croaked out with a wince. 'I'm just glad I kept working to sell my pills or my herbs to save up for Treasure Cave.' she said. 'I banked on Feng Shen taking me as his date for the auction so I was able to get these books for our Martial Shrine at home.'
That must be a lot of pills and herbs she sold to get that kinda money, the brothers thought.
'Heee...well, we'll spend the night here for now, we don't dare stay in hotels in this city, probably expensive.' said Huangshu.
'That's alright, this mansion is a biiig orphanage.' Lingyue beamed. 'You can stay here till you go home. Chi Lian will handle laundry and stuff.' she reassured them.
xxx
The Farm...
The place is so rife with power, Madam Lai thought as she can feel the thick yuan energy in this dimensional space that she doesn't feel hungry at all.
The herbs grow quicker because of all this power that they can age years here while only days pass by outside. Only ingredients are affected, thankfully. She's only 28, she didn't wanna be an old hag too soon!
She enjoys her job here, though she has to deal with two spirit beasts. Yusi the white fox who's...too powerful to be ranked and to think it's so tiny. Maybe it transforms when in battle?
Then there's Shanben. Originally a normal dog, but apparently no thanks to an evil alchemist using the sweet-personality dog to attack her family's miners, he awakened his potential to become a Spirit Beast instead of dying. He's a Rank 5 now as living here got Shanben very healthy. And that black bird that looks like a fattened crow! Still a baby but nurses itself here and eats fruits the canines bring to her.
There's only two rules. Do not enter the shack, and do not cultivate in the farm world as the yuan energy in the atmosphere is what keeps the space existing that even her canines cultivate outside the space. The only exception being the spirit bird Jing'er who needed yuan energy as nourishment while still healing as she was nearly, a dead egg before Lingyue can return her home. When tired or hungry, she can eat the edible spiritual produce, and she can drink the monkey wine Lingyue left outside the shack.
Well, she prefers eating with her children for one thing and some time to spend with her kids, so she leaves any time she wanted when she got the knack of Time Equivalent...and all that spirit fruit she eats as a snack and that wine boosts her cultivation and speed in cultivating so she cultivates outside the farm.
Yan Qing is now in Dan Realm and then there's her, a Low Celestial.
This...would not do. She has to get better so revenge right now, is impossible.
The most she can do, is study information Lingyue got her to prepare for the worst.
xxx
Cold Season?
Insane.
A week after her uncles left for home after a small stay, hard work in hospital went all out.
One after another, the frail concubines as well as the members of the royal family became infected with the seasonal cold, sending the physicians and alchemists of the hospital into state of panic at tending all these patients.
'It's unusually cold this year...' Lingyue frowned. If not for her Water Element, she'd be just as chilly as everyone else. She had to fortify her home with barriers that keep the house warm by letting in 'just air' while 'keeping cold out' so her home was comfortable. Her own area in hospital is just as cozy. She had done the same for Feng Shen's mansion as for a guy with cold poison, winter is hell for him he spends a lot to make it through winter.
Being able to cultivate helped by 1/4, but...
'Waaah! My first warm winteeeeer!' Feng Shen wailed, glomping Lingyue who squawked at being tackled by a muscular over-excited guy.
'There's no such thing as warm winter!' Lingyue yelped at being tackled. 'You overgrown puppy!'
'I can't help it OK? A winter where it's not so tough on me for once!'
'Well I get how you feel but Feng Shen, you're not a skinny twig anymore OK?' Lingyue pinched his cheeks, annoyed with his antics. 'Due to physical changes come cultivational breakthrough and you're a Dan Realm, you're muscular now OK?'
Yeah, that was something Feng Shen thought he'd never have either. Physical feats and cultivating were beyond him because of his poison. Yet now that he became a cultivator thanks to his genius friend, he gained a physique that can win her over!
When no one was looking, he spent hours happily admiring himself in the mirror and still be overjoyed.
But one day?
Dao Nu barged into hospital.
'Missy, we need you, stat!' and next thing witnesses knew, Lingyue got carried away by the northern coachman and roof-hopped all the way to Feng Shen's mansion.
'Did Shen relapse again?!' then Lingyue realized the problem. 'Oh no, it's yellow pills now...' she DID say blue pills will be useless by winter...Dao Nu looked just as grim.
'It is. He took one before he started blowing icy winds but something else is the problem.' said Dao Nu in dismay. 'His body is OK but his energy remains erratic.'
Upon arrival, the servants were worried.
'I got missy!' Dao Nu called out to their relief. Lingyue took Madam Lai out.
'Lingyue, where are we?' Madam Lai asked, baffled as this wasn't home.
'Stay with everyone outside the door for now and nobody interrupt an energy treatment process! Don't even knock!' and thus, everyone was outside.
'...can somebody explain?' Madam Lai asked anyone. 'I was doing my job in her spirit space until all of a sudden I'm taken out?'
xxx
Thanks to her rapport, Lingyue has a clue with Feng Shen's situation.
Feng Shen has spirit tattoos linked to his poisoning. They grow when he gets worse and disappears when he feels better.
When he was saved as a child when his parents perished, Feng Shen had the markings all over his body that put him in a dying condition. Lingyue learned his parents were killed in some conflict from Elder Mu once, when Feng Shen slept off his meds when she made generic inquiries back then.
Frantically, the King summoned everyone in Five-Star Pagoda and Chen Hongru to treat him.
After seven days and seven nights, the end result was of course they managed to save Feng Shen's life with the markings disappearing. However, they couldn't eliminate the problem at its source. Following that day forward, whenever the cold sickness had a relapse, the tattoos would resurface again in a weaker fashion.
Slightly embarrassed, Lingyue bucked up her courage and got on the bed, effectively straddling Feng Shen after removing the blanket and opened Feng Shen's robes. The markings are spreading.
It was good he popped a pill in time so half the problem is taken care of, Lingyue thought as she conjured her spirit smoke and full-powered her harmonization powers to harmonize with her friend's body to receive images of Feng Shen's body, acting like all imaging equipment Earth has to offer.
Muscles.
Veins.
Blood Vessels.
Organs.
Bones.
No problems there, her pills did their job indeed, so it's indeed his Dantian as Dao Nu suspects.
She tried to use her own energy as a medium to stabilize the erratic flow while blocking and parrying frost attacks from within. She fought it while aiming for stability...until she felt a strong hand grab her wrist and next thing she knew, she's on the bed.
'Wha-?'
It happened too fast...and she's getting the french treatment.
Last she checked Feng Shen has no girlfriend nor fiancee to be this great at kissing...! And when did he get so forceful and unusually-powerful not expected of a Dan Master as last she checked, she's stronger than him?!
But she felt THAT poking her, that she quickly began pushing back, embarrassed. 'W-what's gotten into you?!' she gasped out breathlessly.
Feng Shen smirked.
'For future references, I'd rather be on top for this.' he purred with a stimulating, alluring smile that he got hot.
Lingyue sembled a tomato at what he insinuated.
Then again, the way she straddled him...she's basically riding him.
'D-don't think weird things, I was stabilizing you!' she squeaked in embarrassment, still pushing him but he grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms down with his hands, before making gentle, but seductive butterfly kisses on her neck that made Lingyue squirm. Even worse when he kneed her legs apart like a pro, stimulating her body into starting to sinfully respond and to think she had no lover in Earth.
Feng Shen was the first man to do this to her.
In Earth, she never let any man near her because they didn't give a damn about her, only of the power and wealth behind her by marrying her. Her friends are like her own brothers, so eww...thus she died a lonely, unmarried woman. She never knew...what she's having now.
She never had a man who truly wanted her as his woman for that reason alone. Her friend wanted only her. But she's not mentally ready for that yet! Heck, he skipped courting and dating to Base 3 already!
She could not fight back lest she makes a powerful enemy outside those doors. 'A-ah...you're not...playing fair!' BECAUSE her situation's not fair! Her friend's feelings boiled over and now he's being a 'hungry animal' hungry for her, she can't push him back or be mistaken for attacking him by servants outside...
'I wouldn't...not with an opportunity like this. I always wanted this.' 'Feng Shen' told her, making jawling kisses. 'Its hard to hold back.'
'You...ah...' she thrusted herself on his knee when it got too much for her and he knew it.
Her scent.
Her body.
Lingyue herself.
'He' wants it all.
'He' could not forget the day that she caressed his cheeks, saying he's alive to her senior at work.
Of course he is.
He wanted to live.
He despised his situation.
But Lingyue acknowledged that he's alive.
Her playful but considerate words while her soft hands touched his face gave him reason to desire Lingyue just as his bodysuit desires her. They think alike.
He kissed her.
Pressed their bodies together.
Normally he's rough with women, he's had fun with many nightwalkers who enjoy rough dominance, but Lingyue is no nightwalker. And terrifying her is out of the question so he went gentle. Like how 'he' would do it while testing boundaries with her as he works more into making her desire 'him'.
He normally wasn't considerate, but for this woman who was shy and inexperienced, he will. She was the only one pushing to fix his situation when all others gave up, to his chagrin.
He would never tell secrets, lest she quits on him too.
But he had to admire her persistence.
She still focuses on stabilizing the chaotic energy in this body while physically helpless and succumbing to his masterful touches. Really, she's so pure and untouched, and he gets to mark her first. He removed her skirt and pulled it down...she's not resisting anymore as he rendered her powerless...and her unusual underwear is wet already. She's ripe for the taking. It's sexy!
'My Lingyue...' Lingyue gasped at how he called her like a lover with such possessiveness that her heart throbbed. 'Do you want more?' he asked her.
For Lingyue, that, is a dumb question. She's still conscious even if her body gave in to his loving.
There's no way she'll wanna go all the way with a ton of people outside the room!
'People...outside...' she stammered awkwardly. That was her moral reasoning, while fighting off her body's desires that was hungering for more and she hopes things stop here. That much he knew with her feeble attempts of using morality to stop. But he will make her lose and lose only to him.
'They won't hear...' he promised her, gently removing her underwear and...wow. Just...wow. Soaking, smooth pure walls awaited him. Even her untouched femininity is beautiful to look at! Nothing in his way!
He tossed her panties to the floor.
This lit him on fire, roughly disrobing himself, baring all for her to see and her eyes went down south. She squeaked, and smacked her own hands on her eyes. He spread her legs and attacked her with his fingers and returned to kissing her, further stimulating her into gasping out, trying hard NOT to moan out bedroom noises as she thrusted her aching crotch more at his attacking hand, wanting more and she wrapped her arms around him.
She's so tight. And it's just one finger in.
Pure.
He tried a second and she squirmed in pain. Soothing kisses usually helps.
'Feng Shen...I don't think that will fit...' Lingyue told him nervously. Two fingers alone hurt! 'You're too big.'
That further boosted his masculine morale.
'It can and it will...first time usually hurts from being stretched.' Lingyue gulped at the idea. 'Being the first man to touch the woman he truly wants...it sets us on fire. You know?'
'...you horny dog.' Lingyue mumbled, embarrassed, making him laugh.
'Horny for you.' Feng Shen crooned. But his eyes narrowed as he glanced outside. 'But for now, I'll wait until no more witnesses. A time when it's only us.' the servants outside are getting antsy. 'The aura outside is such a turn-off. A time of just us under the moon...I'll claim you then.' he swore to her.
That was to Lingyue's relief, really. If he keeps this up, she'll go primal even when she's not ready and cross the line with her best friend unable to turn back. He wants to cross the line, her mind isn't ready for the idea even if he was skillful in persuading her body.
'Sooo, I'll finish up.'
'E-eh?'
His fingers got rougher. Combine that with how stimulated and slick she was down there, that set her on fire her mind went blank...and she came hard into his hand. To keep from moaning too loud, she bit hard into his pillow that she hastily grabbed as a silencer, unaware there was a certain mask under the pillow.
'Mmm...!' then she went limp, shuddering and feeble. Feng Shen put the pillow back to hide the mask, smiling as he admired his handiwork by seeing her 'defeated' by his hands while hiding his secret and lowered his face to hers.
'My Lingyue...' he kissed her possessively, but gently.
"...dammit, should have told Feng Shen sooner." Lingyue can no longer deny it as she kissed him back. She had been too generous with 'time' and look at where that got her now.
Her best friend has it hard...no pun intended.
But somehow, she was happy that he really wanted only her. He's not like any man in this world at all that she can confidently say, she can give herself to him. She was generous with time to test him if he has his eyes on others, like a picky man choosing who to hang out with and be a double or triple-timer like some guys in Earth and damn-near every wealthy man in this world. If he had other women in his heart, she wouldn't waste time and distance herself immediately to avoid suffering than stick around for maybes that will lead to what-may-never-happen and hurt her.
It its been two seasons now and winter just started.
She will not end up like her new mother or Madam Lai. If it's this man!
'Hey...' Lingyue spoke as she was in his arms, her cheek against his bare chest as they laid down together.
'Hm?'
'After my mission from both the Dowager and Master Longyue...can we talk?'
'I'll always make time for you.' Feng Shen promised her. This time, it's the real one.
'OK...I'll tell you when my job is done.' Lingyue promised back. 'I'm infiltrating the hospital as you already know and I'm almost there.' she reassured him. 'Things will be a little wild in the coming days so when things boil over, stay away from the political insanity going on and stock up on food and necessities while there is still time. A lockdown is inevitable until their anger's gone.'
Feng Shen could care less if this country imploded in on itself, frankly. He's a foreigner but there's no denying that he doesn't wanna get caught in the storm.
And so, after getting decent...
'It was a little tough, but I managed.' Lingyue told Elder Mu tiredly. She was more tired from THAT than actually healing Feng Shen. Energy users felt the flow of battling energies and frost in the room until frost attacks stopped, but energy flow still proceeded for stability as Dao Nu described to the antsy retinue. 'It shouldn't happen again as long as he timely takes his pills before that happens.'
'Where's the master?'
'Oh, he went in there.' Lingyue pointed at a nearby door. 'He's OK now. Call me again if he relapsed again, alright?'
'Of course.' Elder Mu nodded, gratefully paying Lingyue for her work and Dao Nu took her back to the hospital. Madam Lai apparently, went home through another coachman, terrified of being seen in public all alone.
xxx
When Lingyue was gone, Feng Shen had a talk with Elder Mu.
And the REAL one, was furious.
'He took over and advanced on Miss Lingyue in such a manner?!' Elder Mu was horrified. Something more had happened inside the room and they didn't know!
'Even worse, she thinks it me!' Feng Shen cried, upset and utterly miserable. 'I'm just glad she didn't hate me for what he's done! Maybe...she let him thinking its me because...maybe she likes me back?' he croaked out with shaky hope. He had been a prisoner in his own body, forced by him to watch as he kissed and touched Lingyue as how he himself yearned for so long. He got to her first, dammit!
But she doesn't know of 'him' just yet.
She thinks it's him and ironically, idiot made her like Feng Shen more than some ghost in his body!
Next time, he won't let this happen.
'But someday...this will be known to her.' said Elder Mu helplessly.
'I know. I'm trying to think how to explain...I don't want her to hate me...' said Feng Shen, just as helpless and gloomy about it. 'I have to get stronger for her at this rate. I have to tell her the truth soon.'
xxx
Empress Dowager's Palace...
Lingyue presented everything to her. She knows where everything is, neatly organized in wooden boxes even.
'You work fast, as expected. Master Longyue's confidence in you is well-deserved.' the Dowager smiled though her smile didn't reach her eyes as given all evidences before her, she was furious as rage flared in her eyes. 'And Master Longyue says you highly value your anonymity in missions, so you shall not be mentioned.' she promised and had a maid give Lingyue a reward. 'We will handle the rest, Princess Yue. You'll have to distance yourself from the hospital now.'
'Yes, your majesty.' taking her reward, Lingyue dismissed herself. From her feel, she earned five million gold. Oh, wow! She'll have to work more on increasing her personal fortune!'
She returned home, and had Yanche and Chi Lian out with her.
'We'll be shopping in bulk out of necessity.' said Lingyue grimly. 'My mission will soon cause a political blockbuster and I'd rather we stay home and wait the storm out. The dowager's pissed with my discoveries and they'll be lucky not to be on the chopping block.'
'Eep...'
She had sent Cai'er a long letter of warning to stay home after shopping and stocking up on supplies as in the next chaotic days, the whole city will be on lockdown, and closed! At school, she warned Houqi that Morning Flower Wing should have full stock of its own supplies of food and other necessities...and gave Houqi a lot of homework just to stay out of trouble.
It happened as Lingyue had foreseen.