"Damn it, how many hidden guards does this wicked woman have? I almost got discovered..."
Xiao Junbao patted his chest, letting out a long sigh, a sheen of sweat on his delicate cheeks.
He knew Jin Heng had asked him to handle this matter not only out of trust but also because it was extremely urgent...
So after leaving the city, Xiao Junbao rushed to Fahua Nunnery without stopping, not even having time to drink water before finding a way to sneak into the woodshed to search for the secret passage mechanism.
"Heh, is Consort Hui a pig?" Xiao Junbao walked to the corner, looking at the various fruits in the large boxes, and sneered, "Preparing so many fruits and vegetables, isn't she afraid of bursting?"
As he spoke, Xiao Junbao picked up a peach, weighing it in his hand, "Still quite fresh, it's mine..."
After finishing the peach, he walked to the protruding bluestone brick and brought his face closer.
"There's a draft!"
It seemed that behind or beneath this wall, there must be a secret room...
The legendary Gu worms should also be inside.
Thinking of this, Xiao Junbao grabbed the bluestone brick and pulled it outwards slightly. A rumbling sound came from underground...
Xiao Junbao's expression sharpened, and he quickly jumped back. Where he had been standing, a square stone brick slowly shifted, revealing a dark opening.
"Tsk tsk, this is child's play..."
Xiao Junbao clapped his hands, unable to help but complain, "Putting the mechanism in such an obvious place, is this a trick of 'hiding something in plain sight'?"
Alas, Consort Hui's intelligence is truly worrying...
A moment later, Xiao Junbao flashed into the secret passage. Although there was a long ladder, he felt that climbing it inch by inch was too slow.
After falling underground, a white light rushed towards him.
Xiao Junbao narrowed his eyes and saw a platform in the center of the secret room, on which sat a small, square wooden box...
The white light was emanating from here.
Xiao Junbao stepped forward lightly, and a glance at it startled him, "Whoa, this thing looks so disgusting, just like Tao Tao described..."
It was a vibrant green worm, about the length of a little finger, its body emitting a flickering light. It should be the mother Gu worm.
"Was it you behind the manipulation of the Emperor? Then you truly deserve to die!"
Xiao Junbao snorted coldly, then, suppressing the urge to vomit, he reached out and grabbed the Gu worm, throwing it into the cloth bag...
"Damn it, I've never done anything so disgusting in my life. Xiao Jin Heng, you owe me a big favor for this, gag..."
Just thinking about the soft, cool Gu worm gave Xiao Junbao goosebumps all over.
After completing these tasks, Xiao Junbao put down the bundle on his shoulder. As he untied it, a transparent small bottle rolled out...
Upon closer inspection, a worm identical to the mother Gu wriggled inside. Its body also glowed and even made a 'squeaking' sound.
Xiao Junbao opened the bottle and placed the glowing worm in the wooden box on the platform, then clapped his hands, "Mission accomplished..."
This fake worm was a recent creation by Murong Tao Tao. He had previously read a book about Gu worms, and most of the Gu worms described in it looked more or less the same...
So Murong Tao Tao followed the description and made a fake worm in his space to create a convincing illusion.
The reason Xiao Jin Heng had the ministers and the Emperor act out the scene was to let Consort Hui manipulate the fake Gu worm. With a little cooperation from this side, they could lure out the hidden forces behind Consort Hui and capture them all in one sweep...
"Let's go, let's go, this cursed place has too much Yin energy. I'm never coming here again in my life!" Xiao Junbao pouted, turned around, and flew out of the secret passage, returning to the woodshed.
He closed the mechanism again and was about to slip away when he heard footsteps outside the door...
"Your Highness, have you heard? The Emperor is causing a commotion in the palace. It seems our Gu worm is indeed effective. With a little manipulation, the Emperor will obediently follow orders, better than a puppet!"
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Junbao crawled to the crack in the door and peeked outside...
He saw wet nurse Xing supporting Consort Hui as they slowly walked towards the woodshed.
"Of course. This Gu worm was bought by my father at great expense from Miao Jiang. How could it not be effective?" Consort Hui said proudly.
Her father was Marquis Jingnan, Xing Duan Jun. Over the years, Marquis Jingnan had amassed troops in the southern coastal regions, privately operated mines, and become incredibly wealthy, completely disregarding the imperial court...
With Xing Duan Jun supporting Consort Hui from behind, she dared to use Gu worms on the Emperor and intended to support her son to seize power.
"Your Highness, asking the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince, isn't that a bit too hasty?"
Wet nurse Xing seemed worried, "Many ministers in the court are currently loyal to the Emperor. If the Emperor's temperament changes drastically, or even loses his mind, the ministers might impeach him..."
Consort Hui's steps faltered upon hearing this, and she shot a glare, "What nonsense is this? I'm almost driven to death by Xiao Jin Heng. If I don't teach them a lesson, all my plans will turn into smoke..."
"Xiao Yue has not been doing well in his fiefdom over the years, and the Emperor barely glances at him, reserving all his fatherly love and care for Xin Ling and Jin Heng. Since he doesn't treat everyone equally, I will defy fate and depose him from the throne, letting Xiao Yue become the Emperor..."
Hmph, by then, she would be the legitimate Empress Dowager.
Xiao Junbao, hiding in the woodshed, felt his scalp tingle.
He had no impression of this Consort Hui, because ever since Xiao Junbao could remember, Consort Hui had left the palace and become a nun...
In the past, many concubines in the palace praised Consort Hui's virtue and character. Now, seeing her, Xiao Junbao was so angry he wanted to hit someone.
"Your Highness's considerations are indeed thorough. Forgive this servant's narrow-mindedness!" Wet nurse Xing smiled wryly.
Consort Hui had no time to bicker with her. She scanned the surroundings and then pushed wet nurse Xing, "Stop the chatter. You go into the woodshed and open the mechanism. I'll give the Emperor another 'powerful medicine'..."
By dawn, she had to hear the news of the Crown Prince's deposition and report this matter to her father, so they could prepare for their return to the capital.
"Alright!" Wet nurse Xing responded and quickly entered the woodshed.
Xiao Junbao, however, flew to the roof beam, concealing his aura, and closely watched the two people below...
A moment later, the secret door slowly opened, and wet nurse Xing and Consort Hui descended the ladder into the secret room.
Taking advantage of the moment the secret door was closing, Xiao Junbao also quietly followed them in.
He wanted to see what this wicked woman was planning to do...