Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

Duan Linglong stared at her blankly. Compared to herself, Ying Hengzhi was dressed in fine clothes and looked to be living a much better life.

Meeting her seemingly concerned but actually contemptuous gaze, Duan Linglong's tears fell instantly.

"Oh dear, Concubine Duan, why are you crying? Please don't cry. What if His Highness misunderstands and thinks I'm bullying you?"

The second prince then came out. Without even glancing at Duan Linglong, he tenderly embraced Ying Hengzhi and asked, "Zhi'er, why are you here?"

Ying Hengzhi blushed slightly and gently patted him, "Your Highness, Concubine Duan is still here!"

"Ignore her!"

The Second Prince took Ying Hengzhi into the study and closed the door, ignoring Duan Linglong completely.

Duan Linglong stood outside the study, gazing at the beautiful courtyard scenery in front of her, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes.

Because of this confusion, she also became uncertain about her feelings for the Second Prince.

Even at that moment, she couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't broken off the engagement back then, would she be ready to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion now?

However, my father said that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was about to collapse and was just a stepping stone for them.

But now, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion hasn't fallen; instead, it's the Duan family that's gone.

She heard that in a few days, her father would be beheaded and the entire clan would be exiled.

Duan Linglong returned to her courtyard in a daze.

Xuan'er followed behind.

Xuan'er was the Empress's person. When she saw Duan Linglong like this, her eyes flickered and she said, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress said that if you need anything, you can go to her."

Duan Linglong stared blankly at Xuan'er, "Did the Empress say that?"

Xuan'er said, "Yes, Her Majesty the Empress still cares about you."

Duan Linglong looked at her but didn't say anything.

Caring about her? If I really cared about her, how could I have ignored her all these days?

If she truly cared about her, how could she allow the Second Prince to favor Ying Hengzhi, a concubine who could not bear children?

Inside the study, the Second Prince was writing, while Ying Hengzhi was grinding ink.

Ying Hengzhi smiled gently and said in a soft tone, "Your Highness, I have always thought that being with you would be like a beautiful woman keeping me company, and now that it has finally come true, I am truly happy."

The second prince paused, glanced at her, his eyes filled with tenderness, "Zhi'er, you are so good. If only Fu'er were as considerate and sensible as you."

Hearing that he still couldn't forget Ying Yufu, a cold glint flashed in Ying Hengzhi's eyes.

"Yes, Fu'er really surprised us all. Who would have thought that she would quietly climb up to the Crown Prince and now be granted the title of Princess Anguo by His Majesty."

"Father really dotes on the Crown Prince," the Second Prince said.

In his view, the reason why his father doted on Fu'er so much was because of the Crown Prince.

Ultimately, the Emperor was still biased.

"Your Highness, I had another dream..."

The second prince asked in surprise, "What kind of dream?"

Now he somewhat believes in Ying Hengzhi's dream.

"Your Highness, I dreamt that a golden light descended upon Huang Jue and others. That golden light had no master, and many people who wanted to bathe in it failed."

When I woke up, I thought that perhaps that golden light was waiting for a destined person.

After much deliberation, I decide to go to the Emperor and others to chant sutras and pray for Your Highness, so that the golden light may protect Your Highness and ensure your success in your journey to Yuzhou.

The Second Prince was deeply moved. "Zhi'er, you are truly my lucky star. Alright, you can stay at Huangjue Temple for a few days. I will send more people to protect you, and I will come to pick you up in a few days."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Ying Hengzhi's smile grew even gentler.

Huangjue Temple.

That day, Ying Chengting tried to use a slave curse on Ying Yufu, but failed and was backfired on. The next day, he was sent to Huangjue Temple.

Having been poisoned by the Slave Gu, Ying Chengting's heart meridian was damaged, and he now lies weakly in a side room of Huangjue Temple.

Just one room away lived Ying Nanyao and a wild boar that was tightly bound.

"Master Xuanjing, you must help the Marquis remove the love curse. To be tied to a wild boar is a disgrace."

Liu Xueyan said with a pained expression.

Xuan Jing clasped his hands together, about to speak, when Ying Nanyao, lying on the bed, said, "You are not allowed to say that about Ruyan."

Liu Xueyan: "..."

Xuan Jing: "..."

The two were silent for a moment, then exchanged a glance. Liu Xueyan said, "Master Xuanjing, would you please come out with me for a moment?"

Then, the two left the side room and went to the outer room.

As soon as they stepped outside, Xuanjing's gaze shifted from detachment to a passionate, ambiguous intensity. "Yan'er, are you really going to get involved with him?"

Liu Xueyan gave him a playful glare. "Look at him. He's practically obsessed with that wild boar. We can't just lose Shangguan Tang and then get another wild boar, can we?"

I did it for Cheng Ting too.

"Alright, I'll help him get rid of the love potion."

Liu Xueyan's eyes flashed, "No."

"What, Yan'er changed her mind again?"

Liu Xueyan said, "A-Jing, is it possible to transfer the mother Gu from the wild boar's body to mine without anyone noticing? That way, he will be completely devoted to me from now on."

He does whatever I tell him to do.

Xuanjing looked at her, a slow smile spreading across his lips. "Yan'er, your idea is really good."

"You really have a way?" Liu Xueyan was overjoyed.

"Give me a kiss, and I'll have one," Xuanjing teased.

Liu Xueyan pretended to be angry, but still coquettishly leaned in and kissed him.

Taking advantage of the situation, Xuanjing pressed her down and showered her with kisses: "You little vixen, have you also cast a love spell on me? Otherwise, why would I never be able to get enough of you?"

The two of them kissed intimately for a while, separated by a door, while Ying Nanyao lay inside that door.

Excitement flashed in Xuan Jing's eyes; he felt that this was even more thrilling.

After the two reached an agreement, they went back into the side room.

After they went inside, a small figure slowly emerged from behind the stone pillar at the spot where they had been being affectionate.

The young novice monk, Liaokong, stared at the door of the side room with his dark eyes, like a cold and resentful ghost.

He slowly reached out his hand, and a black, multi-legged worm, resembling a centipede, quickly crawled down and slipped through the crack in the door in the blink of an eye.

Not long after, a piercing scream came from inside the room.

"ah--"

It was Ying Nanyao's voice.

Xuan Jing was also somewhat bewildered. He had clearly used the Gu-attracting incense to draw the mother Gu from the wild boar and was about to place it into Liu Xueyan's body when, at that moment, the mother Gu was swallowed whole by a strange Gu worm that suddenly appeared.

Once the mother Gu dies, the offspring Gu remaining in Ying Nanyao's body will naturally die.

With Zi Gu on the verge of death, Ying Nan Yao naturally wouldn't survive either.

Xuanjing's expression changed completely.

They all knew that Ying Nanyao could not die.

At least I can't die at Huangjue Temple.

Xuan Jing had no choice but to use all his means to save Ying Nanyao's life in this critical moment.

He removed the worm, but Ying Nanyao was severely weakened as a result and fell into a coma.

At this point, when Xuanjing went to look for the strange Gu worm again, it was nowhere to be found.

Outside, Liao Kong held the insect in his hand and quickly left.

He walked past one grand hall after another until he returned to the front hall.

As soon as I got back, a group of people walked in.

"Mother, watch your step."

Shangguan Tang helped the old lady up.