But the person concerned, Ji Jinmo, showed no displeasure, as if he had already anticipated her reaction. The unspoken understanding that lingered between them made the Poison Elder feel somewhat superfluous.
"Is this a person?"
Walking through the stone gate and onto the octagonal pavilion, Nan Shiying squatted beside the black iron cage, looking at the monster covered in green scales inside. A chill ran through her heart. As soon as the chill began, it was swallowed by anger.
She turned her head, not looking at Ji Jinmo, but asking the Poison Elder, "The蛊 (gu) on him, is it the same as this?"
Who he was referring to needed no further explanation.
Malice filled the cold and stern voice, striking the Poison Elder's ears. Seeing the surging killing intent in Nan Shiying's eyes, the Poison Elder glanced sideways at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo slightly lowered his eyelids, remaining silent.
The Poison Elder then withdrew his gaze and replied, "The蛊 (gu) on him is far more potent than this."
Even more potent?
Wouldn't that mean that if the蛊 (gu) on Ji Jinmo couldn't be removed, his ultimate fate would be more tragic than this monster's?
Nan Shiying clenched her fists unconsciously, feeling an irrepressible anger rushing towards her brain at an alarming speed. She turned her head to look at Ji Jinmo, observing his indifferent demeanor, and for some reason, felt particularly angry.
"It's alright."
Ji Jinmo raised his eyelids, his voice soft as he soothed Nan Shiying's emotions.
"Alright?"
Nan Shiying struggled to control her emotions. She pointed at the beast in the cage, tormented by the蛊 (gu) worm to the point of being neither human nor ghost, her eyes reddening slightly, and asked in a deep voice, "This is called alright?"
Ji Jinmo sighed. Nan Shiying's reaction was somewhat beyond his expectation. Or rather, he both regretted letting her know about this matter and felt fortunate that she did. The joy within him was concealed by his outward silence. This man, who was always calm, composed, and proud in the face of everything, was now somewhat flustered.
A hint of panic flickered in his phoenix eyes. He thought about getting up, but after a moment's thought, he didn't actually stand up, only shifted his body slightly.
The Poison Elder had thought he would get up and embrace her.
Seeing his feigned movement now, it truly startled the Poison Elder.
"I... I won't end up like him," Ji Jinmo simply said, then added, "Besides, there's still you... and the Poison Elder."
The Poison Elder rolled his eyes. *You don't need me, I'm just filling the quota!*
"I believe you."
"And the Poison Elder!"
The Poison Elder: "..."
His flamboyant phoenix eyes were now slightly narrowed, as if all their brilliance had been withdrawn. His lowered eyelashes cast a shadow over the depths of his eyes. At this moment, his entire being was as if shrouded in moonlight, which weakened the broken, impactful, flamboyant beauty, leaving only a trace of fragility.
Seeing Ji Jinmo like this, not to mention Xuan Thirteen, even Nan Shiying had never seen it. Her heart immediately softened, and not knowing what to say, she couldn't help but sigh.
*I knew it, it would be a waste if he wasn't a male concubine!*
Nan Shiying glared fiercely at Ji Jinmo, then turned to look at the already mutated person, her voice sounding somewhat cold as she asked, "Do you want to perform a live dissection?"
The Poison Elder's pupils vibrated; he was utterly shocked.
*No, for Ji Jinmo, you can be this ruthless?*
"Dissect what nonsense!"
The Poison Elder was on the verge of yelling at Nan Shiying's nose. He took a deep breath before suppressing the torrent of profanities surging within him. "If he's dead, what's there to study!"
Nan Shiying said "oh."
"Then how should we proceed?"
The Poison Elder pointed at the medicine pouch in Xuan Thirteen's hand and said impatiently, "Try the medicine first!"
Nan Shiying said "oh" again, and stood up expressionlessly, "Then let's begin!"
The Poison Elder: "..."
...
The Prince's Estate.
Wei Rulan and Bai Xinxin sat in the courtyard, watching the snow fall. The stove behind them was brewing tea, and wisps of steam rose, drifting into the courtyard and melting the nearby snow. Drip, drip, drip, water drops trickled down the tiles of the courtyard.
The two people who disliked each other now sat together.
"Damn it!"
Bai Xinxin's face was filled with ferocity, wishing she could rush into the Xinyuan Pavilion and tie up Nan Shiying for a good beating.
Ever since Qin Yurou had completely lost favor, the two of them hadn't seen the Prince for a long time.
When Qin Yurou was still around, even though the Prince favored Qin Yurou more, he would occasionally visit their rooms. But now, either the Prince wouldn't come to the back courtyard, or if he did, he would only go to that Xinyuan Pavilion. She didn't know what kind of love potion that bitch Nan Shiying had given the Prince to make him so infatuated!
"Enough, why are you acting so ferocious here!"
Wei Rulan cast a somewhat disgusted glance at Bai Xinxin. If Qin Yurou, that useless piece of trash, hadn't been so incompetent, she wouldn't have had no one else to use but to approach this fool Bai Xinxin.
The medicine she had given Qin Yurou back then was enough to kill Nan Shiying silently. As a result, that trash not only failed to poison Nan Shiying to death but also scared herself into madness.
Such useless garbage!
Wei Rulan suppressed her annoyance. Before Bai Xinxin could retort, she sighed again, "Alas, I wonder what the Princess Consort has been busy with all these days. Ever since the side consort fell gravely ill, she has exempted us from the daily morning and evening greetings. If outsiders were to know, they would surely say that our Prince's Estate has no rules!"
After feigning sentimentality, Wei Rulan continued, "And regarding the side consort, I've visited several times, but was turned away by the servants... Speaking of which, I seem to haven't seen the maidservants by the side consort's side for a long time. Even if the side consort is gravely ill, have these maidservants also fallen ill? Otherwise, why haven't I seen anyone come out of the Linglong Pavilion?"
Bai Xinxin paused her hand as she picked up a pastry, a shrewd glint flashing in her eyes. "Is it possible that the side consort isn't ill? But something has happened?"
"Is it that bitch Nan Shiying?"
"Yes, it must be. Let's go to the Linglong Pavilion!"
As Bai Xinxin spoke, she threw down the pastry in her hand and pulled Wei Rulan towards the Linglong Pavilion.
"Madam Wei Rulan, Madam Bai Xinxin, the side consort is gravely ill and is not seeing guests temporarily. Please return." Wei Rulan and Bai Xinxin had barely reached the entrance of the Linglong Pavilion when they were stopped by the servants guarding the door.
Bai Xinxin glared at the servant in front of her and said loudly, "It is precisely because the side consort is gravely ill that we need to visit her!"
The servant lowered his eyes and simply repeated, "Madam Wei Rulan, Madam Bai Xinxin, please return!"
Bai Xinxin had encountered a mild rebuff, but a mere servant dared to stop her? Bai Xinxin was instantly enraged. "You insolent wretch who knows no respect, you dare to stop me? Today, I am determined to go in. What can you do to me?"