Inside the De Yi Tower.
The door to the room at the end of the third floor was slightly ajar. Madam Jin led Ji Jin to it: "Young Master Ji, Miss Shen Ge is already waiting for you inside. Please make yourself at home."
Ji Jin nodded his thanks to her and pushed the door open.
Shen Ge had just finished brewing a pot of tea. Her delicate hand held a green cup, pouring him a cup of clear tea soup: "Young Master Ji, please."
Madam Jin outside smiled ambiguously and considerately closed the door for the two of them.
Shen Ge was silent for a moment: "Should I call you Imperial Physician Ji or Ghost Doctor?"
"Either is fine," Ji Jin placed the wine bottle he was carrying on the table.
The white porcelain bottle was elegantly shaped, small and exquisite, appearing to hold only three or four cups worth. Three large cyan characters were written on it: Yu Niang Chun.
Shen Ge frowned slightly: "Young Master Ji, I don't drink much."
"This wine is for Prince Ning," Ji Jin took a small jade box from his sleeve. When the lid was opened, inside were two small insects, less than half an inch long, slender and long, with a faint red glow all over their bodies.
"The person who drinks Yu Niang Chun will emit a strange fragrance, attracting the blood-sucking gu to automatically burrow into his body. Within three months, the host will die of anemia."
This gu was derived from the parent-child gu of the Marquis of Ping Ning. He had spent a full month experimenting before successfully developing it.
Shen Ge was very excited: "As long as he drinks this wine, it's done?"
"Yes."
"What if I drink it too?" Situ Jue was exceedingly suspicious. With her, whether it was wine or food, he would always watch her take the first bite before touching it.
Ji Jin said: "That's why I prepared two gu worms. If you also get infected, come find me within three days, and I'll help you remove them."
Shen Ge couldn't help but reach out to touch the two pale red worms, but Ji Jin caught her hand just as she was about to touch them: "Miss Shen Ge, they are currently dormant. If they are awakened, it will be time to feed them blood."
"What blood?"
"My blood. Once every three days, I will come to find you."
Shen Ge frowned as she listened: "Do they drink a lot? Or can my blood be used instead? To be honest, besides sending people to get information, Prince Ning hasn't visited De Yi Tower for over a month. I don't know when he will come."
Giving blood once every three days, who could endure that?
Ji Jin said: "It doesn't matter. They are so small, how much can they drink?"
"But..."
"No 'buts.' I'll remove the Hehuan Gu from you first. With this kind of gu, how will you get married in the future?"
Shen Ge was stunned, then smiled: "Young Master Ji worries too much. Ever since I decided on revenge, I never thought I would live to see it."
Let alone getting married.
Ji Jin said: "Don't worry. The blood-sucking gu will turn into blood water with his death. No matter how skilled a coroner is, they won't be able to find anything on you. Shen Ge, you don't need to risk your life for this revenge."
Shen Ge was momentarily speechless. After a long while, she stammered: "Thank you, thank you. I, I truly don't know how to thank you. I..."
"Oh my, isn't this Prince Ning? I said the magpies were chirping today, so it must be a distinguished guest gracing us with their presence." Madam Jin's loud voice reached them, startling both of them. Ji Jin quickly got up, but Shen Ge pulled him back: "There's no time. Situ Jue always brings at least four guards with him. If you go out now, you'll definitely be discovered. Go hide inside first. He usually doesn't enter the inner room."
A moment later, Shen Ge tidied her hair and went to meet him.
The long-unseen Situ Jue was still as detestable. Shen Ge hid her emotions and put on the expression befitting a neglected wife.
Situ Jue smiled: "Who has upset you? Look at your pouting lips, they could hang three oil bottles."
"I see the new smiling, but hear not the old weeping. Your Highness has your beloved wife in your arms, how can you still remember that your concubine is waiting for you?"
"This marriage concerns the peace between two countries, I had to give her some face. As soon as I had free time, I came to see you. Come, let me have a good look at you."
"Hmph." Shen Ge turned and sat back down at the small table.
The two bottles of Yu Niang Chun on the table were extremely conspicuous. Fortunately, Ji Jin's teacup had already disappeared.
Situ Jue followed behind her and looked at the table with confusion: "Why are there both wine and tea? Did Shen Ge invite some distinguished guest?"
"Besides you, who else could be in my room? I just had a cup of tea and felt bored, so I wanted to drown my sorrows in wine. It's made you so suspicious. What? Your Highness, do you suspect I'm hiding a lover in my room?"
"How could that be? I just don't know what my little Shen Ge is worried about?"
"You know perfectly well and still ask." Shen Ge acted the part of a young woman, her pretty face flushed with shyness and annoyance: "You are frolicking with your new bride, how can you know what I'm worried about?"
"Now that I'm here, you don't need this wine anymore, right?" Situ Jue sat beside her, leaned close to her ear, and said: "Tonight, I will accompany you properly, and it will surely resolve your longing."
Shen Ge's hairs instantly stood on end.
What did he mean?
"Your Highness is staying overnight tonight?"
Situ Jue laughed heartily: "After so long, I should have doted on you long ago."
As he spoke, he kissed her cheek. His large hand, unrestrained and suggestive, squeezed her slender waist.
Ji Jin inside the inner room clenched his fists.
The Hehuan Gu had not yet been removed. Shen Ge glanced at the two bottles of Yu Niang Chun on the table. From the time the poison was administered to its manifestation, there were too many changes in three months. But if she could spend a passionate night with Situ Jue tonight, then his death would be this time next year.
Shen Ge decisively wrapped her jade arms around his neck: "Then what is Your Highness waiting for?"