The study of the princely mansion.
Nan Shiying opened a sandalwood box and looked at the contents. She asked Ji Jinmo, "Is this the Fo Ti Lian?"
The scales on his temples had all receded, leaving only a few traces, but they were of no great consequence.
Ji Jinmo hummed. Du Lao, with sleepy eyes, glanced at the two of them and impatiently placed his hand on Ji Jinmo's wrist, grumbling, "Don't you two even look at the time? This old man has been studying medicinal formulas all day and just fell asleep. You all, I..."
Du Lao's complaining voice suddenly stopped. He looked up at Ji Jinmo, then turned to Nan Shiying, his eyes wide, and asked, "What did you eat?"
"What is it, old man, is the蛊 worm in his body no longer a threat?" Nan Shiying deliberately played coy, asking with a smile.
Du Lao spat, "It can only be temporarily suppressed!"
Nan Shiying's smile vanished instantly, her brows furrowed. She turned to Ji Jinmo and asked, "She's not dead?"
Ji Jinmo said, "She is dead!"
There was no doubt about that.
"It wasn't her!" Nan Shiying slapped the lid of the box shut with a loud bang, startling Du Lao. Du Lao glared at Nan Shiying, "What are you two talking about? What dead or alive, was it her, speak plainly!"
Nan Shiying stated concisely, "Today we killed a Gu Shī from Miao Jiang!"
Du Lao was from Miao Jiang, after all, so Nan Shiying never referred to the people of Miao Jiang as remnants of Miao Jiang in front of him. Du Lao said, "Oh," as if he understood.
"It was indeed not her."
If the mother worm died, the offspring would not live long. About fifteen minutes after the mother worm's death, the offspring would die and be expelled from the body.
However, although the Gu worm within Ji Jinmo seemed to be dormant, it was very much alive.
Du Lao didn't care who Nan Shiying and the others had killed and pressed further, "What did you eat or drink?"
Ji Jinmo looked at Nan Shiying. Nan Shiying glared at him impatiently. Ji Jinmo said, "A mixture of She Ying's blood and viper venom!"
Du Lao exclaimed, "The blood of a snake charmer, it actually has such medicinal effects?"
He looked up at Nan Shiying and joked, "Actually, even the living can be used to make medicine!"
Although Du Lao was joking, Nan Shiying was certain that if she nodded, Du Lao would make that joke come true. However, it wasn't necessary; she wasn't so petty.
"Disgusting!"
Nan Shiying clicked her tongue in distaste.
"Alright, alright," Du Lao chuckled, then turned to Ji Jinmo, "Find She Ying for more blood often. At least it can suppress the Gu worms a little when they act up."
Ji Jinmo nodded.
"Alright, I'm going back to sleep!"
Du Lao couldn't be bothered to watch the two of them. If they really had nothing to do, why couldn't they consummate their marriage sooner? He didn't understand why they were being so reserved when the man was willing and the woman was interested!
"Bang~" he closed the door and hurried towards his courtyard, wrapped in his coat.
"What a pity!"
After watching Du Lao leave, Nan Shiying sighed. Why wasn't that Granny Qin the one?
Ji Jinmo, however, seemed to have expected it and showed no resentment or unwillingness. He was as calm as if he were not the one suffering from the Gu worms.
"It's alright," Ji Jinmo comforted Nan Shiying instead.
After Granny Qin died, he had known that Granny Qin was not the carrier of the mother worm. After all, the Gu worm was in his body, and he knew whether it was alive or dead!
Nan Shiying glared at him, still remembering what he looked like when scales grew on his temples.
"Since She Ying had already infiltrated Jing Ren Palace, why did you put yourself in danger?" Nan Shiying was still furious thinking about his actions today.
She didn't know whether to be angry at him for his false claim that he was doing it for her when he wasn't, or for his blatant disregard for his own safety, insisting on being the bait.
"It's different!"
Ji Jinmo said, "How will we know who it is if we don't try?"
"I know!"
Nan Shiying said to Ji Jinmo, "I brought a Gu worm into the palace today!"
"So, does the Empress Dowager have a problem?"
He skillfully changed the subject, as smoothly as if they had been discussing whether the Empress Dowager was suspicious from the start.
Nan Shiying gritted her teeth, "I don't know!"
"The Gu worm only vibrated violently when Granny Qin arrived."
Nan Shiying had initially wanted to say no, but after thinking about it, she changed her mind. Did the Empress Dowager really have no problem?
Ji Jinmo pondered for a moment and did not say much more!
...
After Wei Yuan left the palace, he went straight to the Regent's mansion.
"I'm so angry, absolutely furious!" Wei Yuan pushed open the study door, and a blast of cold air followed him into the room. Nan Shiying shivered, and Ji Jinmo raised his eyelids to glance at Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan felt a chill all over his body and quickly closed the door behind him, standing at the doorway for a long time. The anger that had been burning in his head was instantly extinguished. After shaking off the chill, he walked in.
He plopped into a chair and poured himself a cup of tea, "That brat Mu Baiyu is just infuriating!"
Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"That woman told him to stop the Demon Hunting Army, and he actually went. If I hadn't arrived in time, he would have been sliced to death by the Demon Hunting Army!"
"Where is he?" Nan Shiying asked.
"He, he's certainly still on duty in the palace!" Wei Yuan blinked. Mu Baiyu was a imperial guard with a sword, and the palace was in need of manpower. How could he leave!
Nan Shiying rolled her eyes, "I'm asking about the Gu Shī!"
Wei Yuan looked at her, somewhat speechless, "I say, sister-in-law, if Mu Baiyu could tell me where she is, would I still be this angry?"
Nan Shiying pondered and felt that he had a point.
However, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, "Call me Your Highness the Princess Consort or Miss Nan!"
"Okay, sister-in-law!"
Nan Shiying suddenly felt that this conversation seemed familiar, but she couldn't recall the scene at that moment.
Ji Jinmo pursed his lips, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. His mood, which had been ruined by Wei Yuan moments ago, was now lifted because of Wei Yuan. He coughed and said, "Don't worry, I'll send someone to keep a close eye on Baiyu."
Nan Shiying nodded, "Now that Granny Qin is dead, we can only focus our attention on that Gu Shī. I hope she can bring us a surprise!"
Wei Yuan looked at Ji Jinmo, then at Nan Shiying, "Can you two say something I can understand!!!"
"Don't you need to explain the cause and effect???"
Ji Jinmo looked up at him, "Why are you still here?"
Wei Yuan: "..."