Du Chun left the thatched hut after a long while. As he departed, the wind outside blew the door open. The two wooden doors were somewhat dilapidated, but there was nothing of value left inside, so there was no need to worry about intruders.
At this moment, the withered rose on the table, which had been there for a long time, had actually grown new leaves. The new leaves fell quickly, and in just a moment, new flower buds grew again. The rose branches and leaves, which usually took several days to bloom, now burst forth with several vibrant and dazzling flowers, their petals as brilliant as if they had been watered with fresh blood.
Such strange phenomena were unseen by anyone.
...
Gu Qianying had another sleepless night. At the fifth watch, she specifically asked Lu Zhu to prepare a wine pot and a few small dishes to accompany the wine. Then, she sat by the side, waiting for someone to appear.
Just then, Lu Zhu rushed in and reported, "Miss, it's bad! The National Teacher is seriously injured and has fallen unconscious."
What?
Gu Qianying instinctively stood up and walked out, "What happened? How did he get seriously injured? Why is he unconscious?"
Yesterday, although Ouyang Qinglin had blocked a sword for her, the wound was not deep. Moreover, she had skillfully bandaged it and specifically checked that the short knife was not poisoned.
In that case, why would Ouyang Qinglin be poisoned and fall unconscious overnight?
Could it be that he was assassinated last night?
Gu Qianying was very puzzled and asked Lu Zhu a couple of questions. Lu Zhu shook her head, saying she didn't know. She only said that it was the subordinates of the National Teacher who came to inform her and asked her to relay the message to her young lady.
At first, Lu Zhu feared that this matter was deliberately fabricated to see if her young lady still cared about the National Teacher.
However, when Lu Zhu used her qinggong to go to where National Teacher Ouyang resided and observe, she no longer doubted what the National Teacher's subordinates had said.
The blood water that the maids had carried out in basins had already proven that Ouyang Qinglin was now seriously injured and on the verge of death.
When Gu Qianying, accompanied by Lu Zhu, arrived at the National Teacher's mansion and left the palace, she used a secret signal to summon two men in green, instructing them to hide around Jiuhua Palace and await the arrival of Hall Master Duan Xifeng.
At this moment.
Inside the National Teacher's mansion, in the sleeping quarters where Ouyang Qinglin resided, all the servants were busy. Gu Qianying and Lu Zhu did not enter through the main gate; they climbed over the wall.
"You... you..." The maid, carrying a basin of blood water, was so startled when she saw Gu Qianying and Lu Zhu that her hand trembled, and the wooden basin fell to the ground. Lu Zhu quickly shielded Gu Qianying, and the blood water from the basin splashed all over Lu Zhu.
Looking at the blood water spreading on the ground, Gu Qianying frowned, her footsteps quickened. Upon entering the room, she saw Ouyang Qinglin lying on the bed with his upper body exposed and his eyes closed. Gu Qianying walked closer and saw that Ouyang Qinglin's face was very pale, and his exposed upper body was wrapped in bandages.
Wuren, the personal attendant beside him, moved aside automatically upon seeing Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying stood by the bed, looking at Ouyang Qinglin, and asked, "What happened?"
"Your subordinate doesn't know. After the master returned from the palace, he spat out a mouthful of blood and became like this. Your subordinate found several doctors, but none could treat the master. Therefore, your subordinate asked his brothers to notify you, Imperial Noble Consort."
Listening to Wuren's words, Gu Qianying reached out and unwrapped the bandages on Ouyang Qinglin's upper body. She had bandaged the wound for Ouyang Qinglin, so in theory, there should have been no problem.
However, the moment Gu Qianying unwrapped the bandages, an expression of disbelief appeared on her face.
At this moment, with the help of Lu Zhu and Wuren, Ouyang Qinglin had turned over. He had only one wound on his entire body, located on his back. However, the edges of the wound had festered, and the flesh inside was turned outwards, appearing black and purple. The blood that overflowed was also dark and purplish.
Gu Qianying took out a silver needle, dipped it in blood, and looked at it. She frowned slightly, "It's actually the Golden Silkworm Gu poison?"
"Miss, what is the Golden Silkworm Gu poison?" Lu Zhu asked, not quite understanding.
Gu Qianying wiped the silver needle with a white handkerchief and put it back. She then said, "Place twelve kinds of poisonous creatures and golden silkworms together in a vat, bury it in a hidden place, and after forty-nine days, retrieve it and place it in an incense burner. Offer it with clear tea and incense morning and evening to feed the poisonous creatures in the vat. This way, the obtained golden silkworms are invisible and reside in the incense ash. When releasing the Gu, rub the golden silkworm's feces or the incense burner ash onto a weapon, and one will be poisoned by the Golden Silkworm Gu poison.
The Golden Silkworm Gu poison is invisible and colorless, the most potent poison in the world. Those poisoned feel as if thousands of worms are biting and gnawing at their bodies, making it unbearable to live or die! As for why I didn't discover he was poisoned by the Golden Silkworm Gu earlier, it's because this poison acts slowly and is colorless and odorless. Even a silver needle cannot detect it before it takes effect."
"Imperial Noble Consort, please save my master." Wuren was about to kneel before Gu Qianying. Gu Qianying quickly supported him, preventing him from kneeling, "Don't worry, I will save your master. However, from today onwards, you must impersonate your master and guard this National Teacher's mansion for him, do you understand?"
Gu Qianying's words had a hidden meaning, and Wuren, being a clever person, naturally understood.
"Yes, Imperial Noble Consort, your subordinate understands."
That night, Gu Qianying had people carry Ouyang Qinglin directly to the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall. Lu Zhu accompanied her the entire way.
Two days later.
Inside the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall, by the small river behind the mountain, Nangong Li lay on the grass in a green robe. His knees were bent, and he rested one foot on his bent knee, with a blade of grass in his mouth.
"I say, Xiao Linzi, can you hurry up? Taking a bath like a woman, what are you doing so slowly? Playing with birds?"
After resting in the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall for many days, he had finally recovered from being on the verge of death and almost kicking the bucket to his current lively state, which was also his good fortune.
Now, under the tutelage of Meng Qinghua, his martial arts had greatly increased, and he had also learned some divination techniques. Although it was a bit boring, he had acquired another skill.
"Pfft!"
River water splashed onto Nangong Li's face. Nangong Li spat out the blade of grass and sat up abruptly. After wiping his face, he shouted, "Xiao Linzi, what are you doing? You..."
His words stopped abruptly when he saw the man's eight-pack abs opposite him. Nangong Li looked down at himself, coughed awkwardly twice, picked up his clothes from the side, and threw them directly into the man's hands, "Quick, quick, put them on. This prince is not a woman, and I'm not interested in you..."
Although he said that, Nangong Li couldn't help but look a few more times.
It had to be said that this new disciple, Xiao Linzi, had a good physique. Looking at his strong and powerful arms, well-developed muscles, especially his pectoral and abdominal muscles, they were truly enviable.
However, fortunately, this Xiao Linzi had an ordinary appearance. Nangong Li glanced at Xiao Linzi's face and finally felt a little more at ease.
"I'm not interested in you either!"
Nangong Mo replied coldly.
Nangong Li snorted and said, "As if this prince is interested in men. Xiao Linzi, can you shut up?"
"Aren't you?"
Nangong Mo, fully dressed, walked past Nangong Li.
"No, this prince doesn't like men!" Nangong Li shouted at Nangong Mo's retreating figure.
Nangong Mo picked at his ear, "Mm, I know. So... you were looking at me just now."
Nangong Li: "..."
"Xiao Linzi, you... you come here, believe it or not, this prince will beat you to death!"
At this moment, a medicine boy carrying water walked over.
"I heard that our sect leader has returned and brought back a man in red. I heard that man is the current National Teacher, Ouyang Qinglin. He is so handsome. I heard he is also the Third Prince of the Xia Kingdom. Such a perfect man is really a good match for our sect leader."
"Yes, if you say so, our sect leader is a great beauty, and she is indeed a good match for this National Teacher. Hehe, yesterday I also heard that these two stayed in the room for a whole night. Although this National Teacher was poisoned by some Golden Silkworm Gu, our sect leader's medical skills are so superb that saving him is a piece of cake."
"Hehe, the way you say it, I really want to see our sect leader marry National Teacher Ouyang. That would surely cause a sensation in the entire city."
"Marry? No way. I don't know who said that our sect leader is now an Imperial Noble Consort in the palace. Is this true or not?"
At this moment, Nangong Li, who had overheard this conversation, was completely stunned.
"What is this? Imperial Noble Consort? Marriage? No! This prince does not allow it... Xiao Linzi..." Nangong Li looked up, but Xiao Linzi was nowhere to be seen.