The two faced each other, neither willing to yield. The guards at the door hesitated, unsure whether to intervene or continue watching the unfolding drama.
"Gu Qianying, you've gone too far," Su Yuxi said, her voice sharp.
Even as she spoke, her hands were not idle. She grabbed a nearby stool with a rope and hurled it forcefully towards Gu Qianying.
But Gu Qianying was no easy opponent. She dodged the heavy blow and leaped behind Su Yuxi.
"I've gone too far? Your medical skills are subpar. I advised you to withdraw from the competition for your own good."
Her words seemed to ignite Su Yuxi's fury. She immediately dropped the rope, bent down, and charged at Gu Qianying with the stool.
"Should we step in and stop them?" a guard asked, unable to bear watching any longer. If this continued, someone might actually die.
However, before the guard captain could react, Gu Qianying made her move. Unbeknownst to anyone, she had concealed a dagger on her person. As Su Yuxi charged, Gu Qianying drew the dagger and thrust it towards Su Yuxi's heart.
The strike was swift, accurate, and deadly, embedding itself directly into Su Yuxi's chest.
"Pfft!" Su Yuxi spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground. Even as she fell, her eyes held a look of disbelief.
"You, actually..." Her words trailed off as her breath ceased.
The guards stood frozen. In the span of a moment's hesitation, a life had been taken. Seeing the blood pooling on the ground, and with Gu Qianying being the only physician present, the perpetrator of the crime, of course, would not offer aid.
"Surround her!" the captain commanded his subordinates to confine Gu Qianying within the room, then turned and exited. Such an incident required immediate reporting to Aunt Wang.
Moments later, Aunt Wang arrived with hurried steps. However, considerable time had already passed, and the fatal blow had been struck. Even the mightiest of beings could not revive the deceased. Gu Qianying stood calmly in her spot, the dagger still protruding from Su Yuxi's chest.
"How dare you! What do you think you're doing? Committing murder in the palace, and killing your own competitor? You truly have no fear of death." Her voice boomed, her face contorted in a stern reprimand.
Despite the harsh scolding, Gu Qianying remained unfazed. She turned, bowed, and replied calmly.
"Aunt Wang, I alone can treat the noble's illness. What use is she? Su Yuxi is a wretched woman, lacking in ability and possessing only empty boasts. She has constantly opposed me in the palace. Such a detestable woman is truly unworthy of practicing medicine here."
As if her words were not enough, she then crouched beside the body on the ground.
"Su Yuxi, you deserve to die. You couldn't even diagnose the noble's illness, and yet you had the audacity to demand my assistance. There are many shameless people in this world, but I have never encountered anyone like you. Truly a degenerate, someone one wouldn't even want to look at."
Her words were venomous, and even the guards were surprised by the depth of a woman's hatred. Observing Gu Qianying's vitriolic abuse of the deceased, Aunt Wang narrowed her eyes. She gestured for the guard captain to approach.
"What happened?" In the urgency of the moment, the guard captain had merely reported that the two were fighting and someone had died. Aunt Wang had rushed over, and now seeing Gu Qianying's composed demeanor, she wanted to hear the guard's account.
The captain's face was grim, but he answered truthfully. "It seems Miss Su asked Miss Gu to do something. We couldn't hear clearly from outside, but they argued for a long time. When they started fighting, the guards rushed in, but the two were engaged in a fierce struggle. Miss Su was also continuously insulting Miss Gu. In an instant, the knife was plunged into Miss Su's chest." The incident had occurred barely half an hour ago, and the captain remembered the sequence of events clearly.
Aunt Wang nodded. She had observed the attitude of the three Su family members towards Gu Qianying during the recent competitions in the palace. It was understandable that Gu Qianying had taken Su Yuxi's life. Even the most docile creature would bite when pushed too far, let alone a skilled physician like Gu Qianying.
She pondered the situation. Previously, she had considered Gu Qianying to be meticulous and cautious, someone who acted with composure and spoke appropriately, often leaving no room for criticism. She had thought Su Yuxi would be easier to control, but now it seemed that selfish individuals were the truly easy ones to manage. Selfishness bred greed, and greed made one easily manipulated. Moreover, Gu Qianying's medical skills were indeed far superior to Su Yuxi's. Since the person was dead and beyond saving, it was best to keep Gu Qianying to treat the noble.
"Since you claim you can cure the noble's illness, you must understand the consequences of your words. She is dead. If you cannot cure the noble, then you will be the next one lying here." Aunt Wang threatened Gu Qianying, then walked to Su Yuxi's body and felt for her pulse. Seeing that she was indeed dead, she ordered the guards to carry Su Yuxi's body out. Leaving Gu Qianying's room, she dispatched additional guards and then proceeded to Grand Tutor Su's chambers. This matter had to be reported to the Grand Tutor.
The Grand Tutor was having his evening meal at this hour. After a moment's hesitation, she waited until he finished before entering.
"Hmm, I heard you were standing outside. Is there something you need?" The personal guard had already noticed Aunt Wang and informed Su Qingqing. However, she did not seem to be in a hurry, leisurely finishing her meal before allowing anyone in.
"Reporting to Grand Tutor, something has happened with the two competitors. Miss Su has been killed by Gu Qianying." She had chosen her words carefully, but to her surprise, Grand Tutor Su did not seem astonished upon hearing this.
"Oh? She had that capability? Since the person is dead, just dispose of her." Su Qingqing seemed to have anticipated this. While she hadn't expected a death, given her own character, she would have kept only one person at the end of the diagnostics. Su Yuxi's death was inevitable; this merely expedited it, and by using Gu Qianying's hand, she had saved herself trouble. She narrowed her eyes.
"Go and bring Gu Qianying here." The Grand Tutor wiped his hands and instructed Aunt Wang to leave. The message was relayed, and soon, Gu Qianying arrived at the chambers.
"You are quite impressive. You've only been here two days and you've already eliminated your competitor. However, I am curious, have you learned something?"