At the entrance of the Grand Princess's hall, Lingyin's red-rimmed eyes flickered with worry as she looked at Qin Ming.
"Qin Ming, be careful!"
"Don't worry. If the Grand Princess tries to chop me up, I'll turn and run!"
Lingyin almost burst into laughter at his words. She pointed toward the illuminated eleventh floor above.
"Go up these stairs. The Grand Princess is in her bedroom on the eleventh floor."
"Understood!"
Qin Ming ascended the staircase.
Below, the twelve Zodiac Officers all tilted their heads up, watching him.
"Do you think Xiao Qinzi will be okay? The Grand Princess has been in an especially bad mood these past two days.
Even though we've served her for so long, she still slapped us. If it's Xiao Qinzi…"
Hearing this, Lingyin's already anxious heart clenched even tighter.
Qin Ming carried the tray up to the eleventh floor.
From this height, it was taller than a twenty-story building back on Blue Star, offering a complete view of the entire Fluorite Imperial City.
But he had no mood to appreciate the scenery.
He walked to the entrance of the Eight Trigrams Mystic Gate and knocked lightly.
"Grand Princess, Xiao Qinzi has something to report."
"Scram!"
"Grand Princess, I just want to put this meal down and leave immediately."
"If you dare to enter, I will break your legs!"
Qin Ming turned his head.
Down below, the twelve Zodiac Officers all had their swords and blades half-drawn, eyes locked onto him!
What the hell is wrong with these crazy women?!
"Grand Princess, let me just say one thing, and then I'll leave."
There was no response from inside the room.
Qin Ming reached out, pushed open the door, and stepped in.
This was his first time entering this chamber.
The room was massive, octagonal in shape, lit by dozens of fluorite lamps. The floor was covered in a plush red carpet, and every piece of furniture—from the chairs to the tables—was crafted from rare red jasper wood.
The Grand Princess lay half-reclined in a red jasper wood chair, wrapped in a deep purple silk robe.
Her complexion was deathly pale, her lips dry and cracked with traces of blood.
Yet her eyes were terrifyingly cold, staring at Qin Ming as if she were about to kill him on the spot.
"Xiao Qinzi, do you have a death wish?
In three breaths, I'll have your head!"
Qin Ming immediately activated his Lie Detection talent.
[Lie Detection activated. Result: Lie.]
He let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Grand Princess, I am caught in a dilemma.
If I don't enter your room, the twelve Zodiac Officers will chop off my hands.
If I do enter, you'll chop off my legs.
I thought about it and decided I'd rather keep my hands—I can at least still do some work in Taiyin Palace!"
The Grand Princess froze for a moment, then waved her sleeve dismissively.
"I'm not eating. Take all of it away! Take it away!"
"Grand Princess, aside from the food, Lingyin also prepared a restorative medicine for your injuries."
"I'm not drinking it. Throw it away."
Qin Ming recalled the battle three days ago between the Grand Princess and the Empress.
Back then, Lingyin had told him—
The three royal sisters constantly schemed against each other, and the tension between the Grand Princess and the Empress was like fire and water!
Qin Ming hesitated for a moment, taking a gamble as he spoke softly:
"In that case, Grand Princess, why don't you just take your sword and kill me, Lingyin, and all twelve Zodiac Officers while you're at it?"
"What did you say?"
The Grand Princess slammed the table with a loud PAK!
She coughed violently several times, pointing a trembling finger at Qin Ming.
"You dare to speak such insolent words when I could kill you right now?"
[Lie Detection activated. Result: Lie.]
So she has no intention of killing anyone right now!
Qin Ming felt another wave of relief and continued speaking.
"Grand Princess, look at your injuries.
If you don't drink the medicine and let your wounds fester,
What happens if something truly terrible befalls you?
Then who in Taiyin Palace will survive?
Won't we all end up dead?"
"What are you implying?"
"What I mean is—Grand Princess, you are the pillar of our survival.
Your health is the most important thing! More important than anything else!"
If anything happens to you, we will all be punished by His Majesty and our heads and bodies will be separated. "
"She dares? She, Han Yueli, dares!"
The Princess slammed the table with a bang and stood up directly from her chair.
She clutched her chest, her face pale, coughing violently as she yelled,
"If she dares to harm my subordinates, I'll kill her, cough cough cough..."
The Princess coughed fiercely several times, with fresh blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
A cold aura surrounded her entire body.
Qin Ming quickly noticed the pot of blazing fire grass he had given the Princess was placed right on the table.
It was clear that the Princess's constitution was indeed cold and ominous.
Her eyes glowed with hatred as she clenched her fists.
"I truly regret believing that cold-hearted, wicked beast, Han Yueli!
She dared to withhold the salary of the Demon-Subduing Guard. I will kill her."
"Poof~"
The Princess spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Suddenly, her vision darkened, and she collapsed straight onto the carpet.
Qin Ming rushed over immediately.
"Princess, Princess?"
The Princess's skin was terrifyingly cold.
Was she even human?
Her wrist was colder than thousand-year-old ice.
A single touch made Qin Ming shiver all over!
He hurriedly picked her up and moved her toward the bed.
So fragrant!
Although she was a madwoman, she was truly extraordinarily beautiful.
Qin Ming took a deep breath and quickly stopped his wandering thoughts.
The Princess's cold aura and his own pure Yang spiritual energy could be a dangerous match.
He could lose to her, but his cultivation wasn't high enough for her to completely drain him.
Qin Ming thought of the power pill he had taken earlier today.
Without hesitation, he swallowed it.
In an instant, his energy began to surge wildly!
He sat behind the Princess, waving his hands.
He pushed his powerful Yang spiritual energy into her body!
The moment his palms made contact,
Qin Ming's hands froze solid with frost.
He gritted his teeth and persevered.
Since he had decided to save her, he would save her completely.
Qin Ming poured all his spiritual power and energy into her for a full hour.
Afterwards, he was almost exhausted, his face pale and drained.
The Princess's sickly, cold body had improved significantly,
a faint flush now appearing on her face.
Qin Ming gently placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket.
He also placed the blazing fire grass beside her.
Just as he was about to leave, a painting on the bedside table caught his attention.
In the painting, an empress in a dragon robe sat at a table with three daughters and a son, happily serving them porridge.
This empress should be the Princess's mother.
But he had never heard that the Princess and her two sisters had an older brother.
No mention of a prince had ever been made within the borders of the Dayan Kingdom.
It seemed that the whole family had been very happy back then.
The three sisters had a great relationship with each other.
So why was it that now the Princess and the empress were at odds, unable to stand each other?
Qin Ming stood up, intending to leave the room immediately.
Just as he was about to go, suddenly, the Princess, who was still unconscious, showed an expression of deep sorrow.
It was the first time Qin Ming had seen this strong woman appear so fragile.
"Han Yueli, you crazy woman, my three sisters and I helped you kill my brother, who was about to ascend the throne, so that you could take the imperial seat. What else do you want?"
Qin Ming was absolutely stunned.
What terrifying and shocking news was this?