When I stopped licking, the lady panicked.

While dodging Luo Qingxue's attacks, Lin Xuan said, "Just kidding, why are you acting like this?"

"Who's joking with you!" Luo Qingxue said angrily, and slashed down with her palm again. This time, the palm actually cleaved a shocking crack in the ground.

Lin Xuan was taken aback. Was this woman serious?

"Luo Qingxue, we've formed an alliance!" Lin Xuan reminded her.

However, Luo Qingxue ignored the warnings and continued her attack.

Seeing that she was still attacking, Lin Xuan stopped holding back and took advantage of the gap when Luo Qingxue swung her palm down to strike, directly punching Luo Qingxue.

The combined power of the two dragons and two elephants erupted, its force overwhelmingly powerful, instantly knocking Luo Qingxue unconscious.

Lin Xuan withdrew his fist and walked towards Luo Qingxue, gently helping her up and using his internal energy to heal her injuries.

Because Lin Xuan fused with the Dragon Butterfly pupa, his body also possessed the Dragon Butterfly's abilities. A powerful self-healing ability flowed through his blood. Therefore, when he used his internal energy to heal Luo Qingxue, the Dragon Butterfly's self-healing ability was also at work.

Soon, Luo Qingxue woke up.

After realizing that Lin Xuan was holding her, Luo Qingxue pushed him away and was about to speak to him, but the pain from her wounds made it difficult for her to speak.

Lin Xuan said, "You're not fully recovered yet, so take a rest."

Luo Qingxue said angrily, "How dare you attack me!"

"You were going to kill me anyway, I just knocked you out, that's more than enough," Lin Xuan said.

Luo Qingxue snorted and said, "You insulted me first."

Lin Xuan shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Luo Qingxue pouted and stopped talking in a huff.

Lin Xuan said, "Sit quietly for now, and I will use my internal energy to heal your injuries."

Luo Qingxue remained silent, quietly cooperating with Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan sat behind Luo Qingxue and gently untied her sash.

Luo Qingxue trembled and quickly grabbed Lin Xuan's hand, asking, "What are you going to do?"

"Take off your outer clothes; the injury will heal faster," Lin Xuan explained.

Luo Qingxue hesitated for a moment, then said, "You're not allowed to look."

"How can you take it off if you don't look?" Lin Xuan asked.

"I'll take it off myself, you close your eyes," Luo Qingxue commanded.

Lin Xuan shrugged, thinking: I saw everything at the Bright Soul Spring, what's the point of closing my eyes now?

But he still closed his eyes as Luo Qingxue had instructed.

Luo Qingxue took a deep breath, hesitated, and then loosened her belt, her heart racing as she took off her clothes.

After much hesitation and struggle, Luo Qingxue finally took off her clothes, revealing her light green bodice to the air. She hugged herself and said tremblingly, "Okay...okay."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "Then I'll begin."

"Yes, but you can't peek," Luo Qingxue reminded her.

Lin Xuan sighed helplessly and said, "I won't look."

He circulated his internal energy and used both hands to touch Luo Qingxue.

"No, not there!" Luo Qingxue said in a panic.

Lin Xuan quickly withdrew his hand and said, "I'm behind you, is there anything I can't touch?"

Luo Qingxue stammered, "Why...why are you touching my armpit? I'm ticklish..."

Lin Xuan was both amused and exasperated, and said, "Alright then."

He changed his position and once again used his internal energy to heal Luo Qingxue.

When Lin Xuan placed his palms on Luo Qingxue's jade-like back, the warm and smooth touch sent a shiver through him.

Luo Qingxue could clearly feel the rough hands behind her back; the friction made her feel itchy.

As Lin Xuan infused his true energy, Luo Qingxue's body warmed up from its previous cold state.

She couldn't help but turn around and glance at Lin Xuan. His serious expression with his brows furrowed made Luo Qingxue feel a little dazed.

I have never seen such a serious expression on His Highness's face. If His Highness could treat me like this, I would be willing to give my life for him. But His Highness is indifferent to me and doesn't even care when I leave the palace late at night.

Thinking of this, Luo Qingxue's mood became very low.

It's truly torturous to be married but not receive the same care and attention as other wives.

Lin Xuan quickly finished transferring his energy. He slowly withdrew his palm, took a deep breath, and said, "That's enough. Go get dressed."

"Mm," Luo Qingxue replied, silently putting on her clothes.

"The martial arts competition will be held in ten days. Does Your Highness know this?" Lin Xuan asked.

Luo Qingxue nodded and said, "Of course I know. Do you really want to participate?"

"Otherwise what?" Lin Xuan retorted.

After a moment of silence, Luo Qingxue kindly advised, "If you trust me, take my advice and don't go."

"If I don't go, won't the emperor have a reason to make me take up the post of Prince of Zhenbei?" Lin Xuan asked. "That position is a hot potato right now."

Luo Qingxue said, "But if you participate in the martial arts competition, you will surely die."

"How do you know?" Lin Xuan asked.

Luo Qingxue said, "This martial arts competition has long since become one person's domain. The entire competition, from the inside out, has been bought off."

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "The person you're talking about, is it Yun Zhenting, the city lord of Qingzhou City?"

Luo Qingxue was taken aback and said, "You knew all that?"

"Of course I know," Lin Xuan nodded.

"You knew perfectly well that the martial arts tournament was dominated by Yun Zhenting's people, so why did you still go?" Luo Qingxue asked, puzzled.

Lin Xuan said, "Because my father rose to prominence through the Martial Arts Tournament, and I am destined to become the new Prince of Zhenbei, it is only natural that I should participate in the Martial Arts Tournament."

Luo Qingxue said, "You can participate in next year's martial arts competition. This year's competition is too complicated."

"So what if the water is deep? I'm a mighty dragon crossing the river," Lin Xuan laughed.

Seeing that Lin Xuan was still stubborn, Luo Qingxue shook her head helplessly and said, "Blind confidence will kill you."

Lin Xuan said, "You only need to tell me who the supervisors sent by the imperial court are this time."

Luo Qingxue said, "Thirteenth Prince's Consort."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan chuckled.

He had just learned at Wanxianglou that Suxin's true identity was the Thirteenth Prince's Consort, but now he had learned that the supervisor sent by the imperial court was also the Thirteenth Prince's Consort.

Lin Xuan thought that the Thirteenth Prince's wife would no longer go to the martial arts competition after Xiao Ke's death, but unexpectedly, she still went.

"Is she alone?" Lin Xuan asked.

Luo Qingxue replied, "There's also someone from the Heavenly Fire Palace."

Lin Xuan nodded, then asked, "Are the people of the Heavenly Fire Palace also considered people of the imperial court?"

Luo Qingxue said, "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king."

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "I want to ask you, what exactly is the relationship between the Heavenly Fire Palace and the imperial court?"

Luo Qingxue was silent for a moment, then said, "You've asked me so many questions, but what can you give me in return?"

Lin Xuan asked, "What do you want to know?"

Luo Qingxue said, "I want to know, what are you men thinking? Why does the Third Prince...?"

At this point, Luo Qingxue felt embarrassed to continue.

But Lin Xuan knew what she meant.

"Because he doesn't love you at all. Your marriage is nothing more than a political alliance," Lin Xuan replied.

"But in terms of looks and talent, in what way am I inferior to Yun Xiyue?" Luo Qingxue said angrily.

Lin Xuan said, "Yun Xiyue can't compare to you, but Xiao Zhan likes Yun Xiyue. What's the use of being outstanding?"

Luo Qingxue's eyes reddened, and she said through gritted teeth, "But I'm so unwilling..."

"Do you want to get revenge on him?" Lin Xuan asked.

Luo Qingxue suddenly looked up, as if she had seen a ray of light in the darkness.

"How do you plan to get revenge?" Luo Qingxue asked.