Xuan Wu and Xuan Shi San saw their lord speechless and felt that ever since the Prince met the Consort, he had become more human.
It was as if he had stepped out of a deep, muddy abyss and into the light once more.
He had come back to life.
...
While Nan Shiying was soaking in the stone cave studying the蛊虫 (gu worms), Wei Rulan visited Xin Yuan Ge several times, only to be turned away by Lu Wan each time with a different excuse.
Wei Rulan's suspicion gradually turned into certainty.
Since Qin Yurou went mad, Wei Rulan had not seen Nan Shiying, even though Nan Shiying had attended several banquets during this period. But what of it? Who knew if she was forcing herself to attend, or if the medicine's effects had not fully manifested yet.
People always believed what they wanted to believe.
Since Wei Rulan was convinced that Nan Shiying was suffering from a severe poison, she could find a self-explanatory reason for every anomaly.
"What is Bai Xinxin doing?"
As Wei Rulan pondered when to administer the next dose to ensure Nan Shiying's death, she was reminded of her latest find – Bai Xinxin!
After being slapped by Nan Shiying's maid, Bai Xinxin smashed everything in her room and cursed for days before finally quieting down.
Now that she was confined for reflection, her hatred could fester and grow. Only when her hatred could no longer be concealed would it be ignited by a spark, leading to an uncontainable inferno!
"Reporting to Madam, Bai Xinxin seems to be embroidering."
"Embroidering?"
Wei Rulan was slightly taken aback. If she were sharpening her knife, she might believe it. Embroidering? When did Bai Xinxin learn to embroider?
The maid also looked surprised, but this was what she had heard.
"Yes, embroidering!"
The maid nodded affirmatively.
After all, the report came from the maid they had placed there, so it should not be wrong.
Wei Rulan slowly stood up and said faintly, "Go fetch my pair of emerald earrings, we're going to visit her."
The maid reluctantly retrieved the pair of emerald earrings from the already limited jewelry. She couldn't understand her mistress's thoughts. To visit that fool who only threw tantrums when faced with trouble, and to give such a valuable gift?
Seeing the maid's displeased expression, Wei Rulan gently adjusted her hair and smiled, "This person, the more foolish they are, the more useful they become."
If Bai Xinxin were a clever person, she wouldn't be doing this.
She said it casually and then led the maid to visit Bai Xinxin.
Since she was merely confined for reflection, they lived in the same courtyard. As long as their maids said nothing, outsiders would not know.
...
At Jin Yang Marquis Mansion, Qin Xiaorong's belly grew larger by the day.
Qin Xiaorong's mother was informed of this matter by the Empress Dowager after entering the palace. Upon returning to the mansion, her son remained silent. Now, she adamantly insisted that the child was fathered by Zou Yunming and urged the Zou family to marry her quickly before her pregnancy became too obvious, thus saving both families from embarrassment.
"Face? Her Qin family dares to speak to me of face?" When Zou Yunming thought of how Qin Xiaorong was no longer a virgin, he felt a chill down his spine, with lush green grass growing on his head.
Who knew whose child this was?
But could the matter be explained clearly?
Zou Yunming angrily smashed the wine cup on the ground. But now that things had come to this, what could he say? Could he say that everything before was the Regent's Consort's scheme, and that he and Qin Xiaorong were not in love? If so, not only would he die, but their Zou family would also be plunged into eternal damnation.
Damn it!
No matter how angry Zou Yunming was, he had to accept it begrudgingly.
The Zou family sent the betrothal gifts they had prepared to Jin Yang Marquis Mansion, and Jin Yang Marquis Mansion then submitted a dowry list to the Zou family. After a quick betrothal ceremony between the two families, they decided that the couple would tie the knot on the fifteenth of this month.
...
The Da Li delegation had been quiet lately. The Xun Yang Marquis Mansion had also been quiet. Zhang Silang occasionally appeared in public, showing no signs of indignation or a tragic demeanor.
It was as if he had accepted his fate.
...
The seventh.
The palace banquet was imminent, yet Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying were still in the cave.
"Tomorrow is the seventh needle, seven is a cycle. You are not allowed to go anywhere tomorrow," Nan Shiying said fiercely as she watched the Poison Elder administer acupuncture to Ji Jinmo.
The acupuncture technique of Yaowang Valley, known as Xiao Zhou Tian Ci Xue Fa, involves seven as a cycle, repeating endlessly. Tomorrow was the final step.
While researching herbs to draw out the gu worms, the Poison Elder had also studied acupuncture. In summary, this Xiao Zhou Tian Ci Xue Fa could temporarily seal the gu worms in the dantian. If performed at the moment the gu worms in his body were triggered by the person who planted them, it could seal the gu worms for one minute. If performed before that, with an interval of one week as a cycle, and then administering the needle repeatedly, it could seal the gu worms for about a quarter of an hour.
This was considered a temporary emergency measure.
Therefore, Ji Jinmo could not go anywhere tomorrow.
"Then the palace banquet..."
"I can handle it myself!" Nan Shiying interrupted Ji Jinmo, "What, you think I can't do it myself?"
"No, it's just that I'm worried that if I'm not there, they will take the opportunity to target you." With him present at previous banquets, they naturally wouldn't dare to act rashly. But if he were absent, Ji Jinmo could imagine how they would make things difficult for her.
Nan Shiying let out a cold laugh and retorted, "Do you think I'm afraid?"
Ji Jinmo said, "No, even though I know you don't fear these things, I still don't want you to be troubled."
"Actually, it's better not to attend tomorrow's palace banquet."
"It's a grand banquet for the alliance of two nations. If you don't go, I won't go either. What do you think the outside world will say?"
"So what?"
Nan Shiying sighed, "My lord, what you seek is a grand ambition. If you are willing to be confined to a corner, why should I rush to attend such a palace banquet?"
She felt that some of Ji Jinmo's actions were not appropriate. He wasn't aiming to be just a leisurely prince, and besides, even if he wanted to be a leisurely prince now, those people wouldn't let him be.
This applied to both his enemies and his allies.
The bones of ten thousand soldiers turn to dust for the success of one general.
If you don't get it, you only have death.
Ji Jinmo looked at Nan Shiying, opened his mouth, and in the end, said nothing more. He merely instructed, "Then be careful. Bring Xuan Yi, and..."
"If you encounter danger and Xuan Yi is not around, Lu Wan can also do."
Nan Shiying glanced at Ji Jinmo but showed no surprise at his words, as if she had already anticipated them.
Not just Lu Wan, but also the three maids, Bai Zhi.
How could those who served Ji Jinmo closely be ordinary people?