Seeing the black wooden box brought out by the guards, Gu Mingyue was immediately thrilled.
Nan Rongqi, watching Gu Mingyue’s uncontrollable joy, knew that in this game between him and Nangong Mo, Nangong Mo had lost.
He really wanted to see Nangong Mo, the aloof Ninth Imperial Uncle who had always been arrogant and rude to him, kneel at his feet and cry out, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, long live, long live, long live!"
How satisfying it would be to see Nangong Mo like that!
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this box must contain the medicinal catalyst for the poisonous worms that harm people. Hurry and have someone open it, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Impatient, Gu Mingyue urged.
At this moment, Gu Qianying, who had been silent all along, spoke up, "Why are you so sure, Second Sister, that the box contains the medicinal catalyst for the poisonous worms that harm people, and not the rare medicinal herbs I've collected from all over?"
"Heh! Rare medicinal herbs? Go tell that to the ghosts. You think you can collect rare medicinal herbs? Look at how much money is in your purse."
When her mother was alive, her mother managed the finances of the backyard of the mansion. The monthly allowances for the Garden Pavilion and the First Madam's room were all deducted by her mother, leaving very little. After her mother passed away, although the financial power of the backyard had been returned to the First Madam, the First Madam had always been frugal. After taking charge, she constantly taught them to be thrifty and economical. Therefore, their monthly allowances were not much.
And a few days ago, she had personally witnessed Gu Qianying returning the betrothal gifts sent by the Ninth Prince Nangong Mo.
Calculating it all, how could Gu Qianying possibly have the money to collect rare medicinal herbs?
Moreover, her people had personally locked the poisonous Gu worm king into the black wooden box.
Thinking this, Gu Mingyue’s confidence grew.
Before Gu Qianying could speak, she added, "Gu Qianying, stop quibbling. Don't say you don't have the money to buy those rare medicinal herbs. Even if you could afford them, what of it? Today, with this as evidence, even if you speak eloquently, you won't be able to clear yourself of the crime of poisoning people. Hmph!"
Gu Mingyue spoke with great certainty. Her attitude made everyone present have doubts.
Someone among them asked, "Miss Gu Second, this box hasn't been opened yet, and you're so sure. Do you have X-ray vision?"
"I..."
Gu Mingyue was momentarily speechless.
At this moment, she suddenly realized that she had spoken too much and was a bit careless.
"Not only does Second Sister have X-ray vision, she's practically a divine predictor. She must have known that the medicinal catalyst for the poisonous worms that Eldest Sister is suffering from would be hidden in her own room. Second Sister, your ability to foresee things truly impresses me, Eldest Sister."
Gu Qianying spoke at this moment.
Her sarcastic remark drew everyone's attention to Gu Mingyue.
The implication was self-evident.
"I... I just guessed randomly," Gu Mingyue defended herself.
She could still discern the sarcasm.
"Oh, you guessed randomly? Second Sister's random guess is quite novel."
Gu Qianying's words had hidden meanings, which most people present understood.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, since Second Sister has guessed so confidently, please have Your Highness the Crown Prince's men open this black wooden box and see if it truly contains the medicinal catalyst for the poisonous worms that harm people."
Saying this, Gu Qianying asked Lu Zhu to take out the key to the black wooden box and hand it over to Nan Rongqi's men.
As she spoke, Gu Qianying's expression was calm, without a trace of nervousness or panic on her face.
It was clear that there was no medicinal catalyst for poisonous worms in the black wooden box. If there were, judging by her composed demeanor, she would have quietly disposed of it.
"No need. I am tired today. Let this banquet end here."
With that, Nan Rongqi turned to leave.
He wanted to use an ambiguous attitude to gloss over the matter.
If he lost, it would be a loss of face.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you can't leave! You haven't had the black wooden box opened yet, and the contents haven't been shown to everyone!"
Gu Mingyue hurriedly stopped Nan Rongqi.
The wooden box in her plan had not yet been opened, so how could she let the Crown Prince leave?
"No need to look."
Nan Rongqi frowned, displeased with the loss of face, and cursed Gu Mingyue as an idiot in his heart.
The situation was so obvious, was there still a need to look?
"Not looking? How can that be! Your Highness the Crown Prince, please do not show leniency to Eldest Sister because of Grandfather. Although Mingyue also hopes that the murder today has nothing to do with Eldest Sister, two young ladies, as beautiful as flowers, have been poisoned at such a young age. How pitiful their fate is! Your Highness the Crown Prince must seek justice for them and apprehend the wicked murderer."
Gu Mingyue's words were all about seeking justice for the two poisoned young ladies from the outer manor and apprehending the murderer.
If it were before, everyone would have considered the second daughter of the Gu family to be an extremely kind person.
But now, through Gu Mingyue's previous words and her expression today, most people present could see that Gu Mingyue was deliberately making things difficult for the eldest daughter of the Gu family and deliberately instigating the Crown Prince to arrest Gu Qianying on the charge of poisoning others.
But things were not developing as Gu Mingyue had planned.
"Creak!"
As the black wooden box was opened, Gu Mingyue was still persuading Nan Rongqi, hoping he would follow her plan.
Everyone was astonished by the contents of the wooden box.
It was top-quality, extremely useful, and incredibly precious Cordyceps sinensis.
Such precious medicinal herbs were rare in the world and were priceless treasures.
"No, impossible, how could it be like this? This clearly is..."
Gu Mingyue, in her shock, almost let slip what she was going to say.
"Clearly what?"
Gu Qianying looked at Gu Mingyue, a cold smile on her lips. "Second Sister, things did not go as you planned. Are you very disappointed? Well, Second Sister worked so hard to plan for so long, and now, how does it feel to have it all come to naught?"
Looking at Gu Mingyue's pale and flushed face, Gu Qianying curled her lips coldly.
She had initially thought that someone had poisoned her with Gu Xiang to disfigure her.
But she had forgotten that Gu Xiang poison, besides disfiguring people, would also attract the Gu worm king within a certain period.
And the medicinal catalyst for the poisonous worms was the saliva of the Gu worm king. If it were proven that she harbored the Gu worm king, then her poisoning of others to death would be a foregone conclusion.
At that time, even with the protection of her grandfather and elder brother, she might not be able to save herself.
More importantly, if the crime of poisoning others were pinned on her, then the bet between Nangong Mo and Nan Rongqi would mean Nangong Mo lost and Nan Rongqi won.
Men were all proud, and individuals of Nangong Mo's noble status even more so.
Could it be that Nangong Mo would really have to kneel at Nan Rongqi's feet and cry out, "Long live the Crown Prince"?
"What nonsense are you talking about? Gu Qianying, stop slandering me! Even if this black wooden box doesn't contain the medicinal catalyst for poisonous worms, so what! You could have hidden those 'things that people cannot bear to see' elsewhere, hmph!"
Saying this, Gu Mingyue looked at Nan Rongqi: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Garden Pavilion of Eldest Sister should be thoroughly searched inside and out. Even if it's not in the room, it might be hidden elsewhere."
Gu Mingyue was extremely unwilling.
Clearly, her people had hidden the Gu worm king in that black wooden box, so why did it turn into precious medicinal herbs?
Yes, it was possible that it was hidden elsewhere!
She trusted the governess implicitly!
At this moment, Gu Mingyue paid no attention to the fact that the entire situation was not right, nor did she notice that the governess who usually followed her had already disappeared when she was the only one standing up to accuse Gu Qianying.
"Yes, it's very possible that it was hidden elsewhere. Your Highness the Crown Prince, 'elsewhere' here does not just refer to my Garden Pavilion!"
Gu Qianying followed Gu Mingyue's words.
"Right!"
As she said this, Gu Mingyue suddenly realized that Gu Qianying seemed to have something to say. She looked at Gu Qianying abruptly: "Gu Qianying, what do you mean?"
Gu Qianying smiled faintly: "Second Sister and Your Highness the Crown Prince, without distinguishing right from wrong, searched my Garden Pavilion thoroughly. Putting aside whether I am the murderer who poisoned others, if only my place is searched and not elsewhere, I will absolutely not be convinced. I believe that all places in the mansion should be thoroughly searched. This naturally includes Yangchun Pavilion where Second Sister lives, Youxiang Pavilion and Yunyan Pavilion where Third Sister and Fourth Sister live, and even Grandfather's place, Elder Brother's place, Mother's place, and Third Aunt's place should be searched.
Furthermore, everyone present should be searched. Women should be searched by governesses and maids, and men should be searched by servants, stewards, or attendants. This is what should be done to investigate the case and seek justice for the deceased, not to slander and frame each other here and expect to find the real killer."
Gu Qianying paused here, then thought for a moment and added, "Naturally, the bet between Your Highness the Crown Prince and Ninth Imperial Uncle, two great figures, should be honored. After all, they are great figures who are role models for the common people, and their actions are watched by the public."
"Well said!"
Suddenly, a voice came from afar.
Everyone looked in unison.
A man walked towards them.
Behind him followed five or six black-clad guards.
The man wore a red robe with fox fur trim on the sleeves, exuding a captivating charm. His collar was slightly open, revealing delicate collarbones and fair, delicate skin. His face was as white as snow, his pupils were dark, and his lips were like blood.
A head of dark hair was unbound, cascading down.
His almost bewitchingly beautiful peach blossom eyes seemed to captivate the soul, making everything around him lose its luster, with only his charming and domineering radiance blooming.
As the man walked, the crowd automatically parted to make way.
Crown Prince Nan Rongqi and several other princes surrounded him, but the man ignored them and went directly to Gu Qianying, speaking charmingly, "You, little lady, speak quite interestingly. Which mansion do you belong to?"
"She belongs to this King's mansion!"