Chapter 76 The Long-Sealed Drawer: She was his source of confidence.

Qi Baitong led Gu Shanyue away. Gu Shanyue was not affected by their conversation at all. Her voice came from afar: "Practice swordsmanship with me."

Qi Baitong replied gently, "Okay."

Soon, the sound of swords clashing rang out in the courtyard. The lanterns swayed, illuminating the figures moving back and forth in the courtyard. Li Jing and Fang Wanqing stared blankly through the window.

No one expected things to turn out this way. The secret was revealed on the very first day, and no one expected Qi Baitong to have such an attitude.

Gu Shanyue was completely indifferent to everything and didn't care about anything.

Fang Wanqing was at a loss: "Your Highness, Lin'er... what should we do?"

Li Jing remained silent, unable to offer an answer.

The two of them owed Qi Baitong a debt and now want to make it up to him, but he doesn't want it anymore. What can he do?

After a thoroughly enjoyable sword practice session, Gu Shanyue took a bath. When she returned, Li Jing and his wife were no longer there. Qi Baitong had also tidied up and was carefully wringing out Gu Shanyue's hair with a dry cloth.

Gu Shanyue gazed at the lanterns spinning in the wind under the eaves and suddenly asked, "Do you dislike them?"

Qi Baitong paused for a moment: "I don't dislike it."

Gu Shanyue: "You're acting like you really hate them."

“I just feel I don’t need them anymore,” Qi Baitong gently twisted her hair, her voice calm. “If they had appeared when I was young and suffering in the Inner Guard, I might have been grateful. But now I’ve left the Inner Guard, and I’ve decided how I want to spend the rest of my life. They shouldn’t appear anymore.”

"But they still showed up." Gu Shanyue rested her chin on her hand, watching the lanterns spin erratically in the wind.

"Yes, it still happened."

The following day, a stage was set up at the Prince of Pingliao's residence, and Li Jing and Fang Wanqing appeared together again, showing the same warm concern as the day before.

Gu Shanyue went to see a play, and Qi Baitong silently followed beside her, not talking much to anyone else.

"Miss Yue, this is the most popular play in Shengjing. What do you think?" Fang Wanqing asked.

Gu Shanyue nodded: "That's right."

Fang Wanqing looked at Qi Baitong, a hint of trepidation in her eyes: "Lin'er, what do you think?"

Qi Baitong wasn't used to this form of address, but seeing Fang Wanqing's cautious manner, she didn't object, only saying, "As long as A-Yue likes it."

Li Jing, who was watching from the side, suddenly said, "What are you watching? Get up and fight me. Let me see what you're capable of."

Qi Baitong politely declined: "No."

Gu Shanyue turned around with great interest, his eyes sweeping over the two of them: "Go ahead and fight, I want to watch."

Qi Baitong looked at her, her stagnant eyes suddenly coming to life: "Okay."

He walked aside with his sword, while Li Jing, holding a spear, said irritably, "Does her word carry any weight?"

Qi Baitong nodded: "Of course."

He thought Li Jing was going to get angry, but instead he laughed and said, "Just like your father, I love my wife."

Qi Baitong: "..."

He charged forward with his sword, but Li Jing's spear had the advantage over his sword. Before he could get close, Li Jing slashed down, and Qi Baitong could only switch his sword stance to parry.

The sound of weapons clashing was deafening. The two fought back and forth, and Gu Shanyue watched with great interest while eating pine nuts.

After exchanging dozens of blows, neither side could gain the upper hand. Seeing that Li Jing's spear thrusts were becoming increasingly fierce, so fast that the spear tip was almost invisible, Fang Wanqing became anxious: "Your Highness, please don't hurt Lin'er."

As soon as the words fell, Li Jing's sword strike slowed down, and Qi Baitong instantly found an opening, deflecting Li Jing's spear with a single stroke.

The spear bounced off the ground, and the outcome was decided.

Li Jing laughed heartily and patted Qi Baitong on the shoulder: "You're really something, kid. You managed to withstand so many moves from me. I never knew the Inner Guard had someone like you."

Qi Baitong's slightly softened expression darkened again: "I am no longer a member of the Inner Guard."

Li Jing was stunned, his face showing anxiety: "You've left the Inner Guard Division, how is that possible? The Gu worms in your body..."

He was well aware of the ways in which the Inner Guard controlled the secret guards, and this needle-piercing poison was incurable. Without the antidote, leaving the Inner Guard would be suicide.

Qi Baitong didn't intend to answer him. Instead, she bypassed him and returned to the audience, sitting down next to Gu Shanyue.

Fang Wanqing hurriedly asked, "How are you? Are you alright?"

Qi Baitong shook his head, speaking sparingly: "No."

"You just mentioned leaving the Inner Guard Bureau. What exactly is going on? This Needle-Threading Gu is no child's play. Even if you want to leave, you must plan carefully. I will go and talk to His Majesty." Li Jing quickly followed and said to Qi Baitong.

Qi Baitong ignored him. Gu Shanyue, upon hearing about the needle-threading gu, casually explained, "The needle-threading gu on his body has already been removed."

Li Jing was stunned upon hearing this, his face filled with disbelief: "What? How is that possible?"

It is common knowledge that there is no cure for the Needle-Threading Gu. Even Emperor Yong could not be cured of the Needle-Threading Gu. How could the Gu worms on Qi Baitong's body be cured?

Gu Shanyue shrugged: "If it's solved, it's solved. What's impossible about it?"

Li Jing grabbed Qi Baitong's wrist and personally checked her pulse. He circulated his internal energy around her and found that her pulse was very stable. The Gu worms in her body had actually disappeared.

He looked shocked, while Qi Baitong withdrew his hand with a hint of disdain.

"If the Needle-Threading Gu can really be cured, then..." Li Jing swallowed hard, fearing that the situation in Shengjing would change again.

Qi Baitong's expression instantly turned cold as she looked at him icily: "What do you want to do? Don't try to use her, or I won't let you off the hook."

A vein bulged on Li Jing's forehead: "I'm your father!"

Qi Baitong: "Heh."

Fang Wanqing was still worried, so she invited the physician from the manor to examine Qi Baitong's pulse. The couple waited anxiously for the results, barely daring to breathe.

The doctor said, "This young master is in good health, but his constitution is somewhat weak, as if he has just recovered from a serious illness. He should rest and recuperate more..."

Qi Baitong showed no surprise and withdrew her hand, saying, "Thank you."

Gu Shanyue spread his hands again: "Do you believe me now?"

Li Jing and Fang Wanqing exchanged a glance, and when they looked at Gu Shanyue again, their expressions changed.

Although Gu Shanyue had some old friendships with them, it would be a lie to say that she didn't feel any resentment when she saw her son, who had been found, treating her like an ancestor while being cold and distant to them.

The couple knew how terrifying the Needle-Threading Gu was, and they had witnessed the miserable state of those affected. They had even accepted that Qi Baitong might not live much longer. But this Gu, which no one could cure, was actually cured.

It felt like a dream, a dream that was too beautiful to be true.

There's no need to ask how this curse was cured; the imperial court had no cure, so it must have been done by people from the martial arts world.

The Prince of Pingliao had no shortage of power and wealth, but what he feared most was things that power and wealth could not control, such as lost children or incurable needle-threading poison... But both of these difficult problems were solved by the same person.

Fang Wanqing looked at Gu Shanyue, then knelt down emotionally: "Miss Yue, you are Lin'er's savior, and also a benefactor of my Pingliao Prince's Mansion. I really don't know how to thank you..."

When Li Jing saw Fang Wanqing kneeling down, he tried to help her up, but Fang Wanqing pulled him down to kneel down with her.

Li Jing could only clasp his hands and say, "Madam is right. From now on, you can give any order, and the Pingliao Prince's Mansion will follow your lead."

Gu Shanyue took two steps back, unaccustomed to being knelt on. Qi Baitong helped them both up, and Fang Wanqing called out to him, "Lin'er..."

Qi Baitong frowned but didn't say anything.

It was Gu Shanyue who spoke first, confirming, "I can give you any instructions?"

"Of course, I, Li Jing, keep my word," Li Jing replied without hesitation.

Gu Shanyue didn't mince words: "How is the Emperor? Is he still alive?"

Thinking of her attitude towards the emperor, Li Jing couldn't help but rub his forehead, guessing what she wanted.

"Not only are you not dead, but you've even recovered somewhat. Do you wish to enter the palace?"

Gu Shanyue nodded: "Take me to the palace tonight."

His tone was commanding. Li Jing rubbed his temples and looked up to see Qi Baitong quietly watching him.

Remembering his earlier promise, Li Jing gritted his teeth and agreed, "Fine, tonight it is!"

Gu Shanyue laughed: "That's more like it."

Li Jing: "..."

Such words are usually used to praise one's own soldiers. This is the first time I've heard someone praise him like this, especially his daughter-in-law. It's quite a novel experience.

“Yes, if you need anything, just tell the Prince, and he will take care of it,” Fang Wanqing said, taking Gu Shanyue’s hand, taking off the bracelet from her wrist, and putting it in Gu Shanyue’s hand. She said affectionately, “If you don’t mind, I will also call you A-Yue. Consider this bracelet my gift to you.”

Gu Shanyue glanced at it; the bracelet was a deep, emerald green, clearly a precious antique.

She refused: "I don't wear bracelets."

Fang Wanqing paused for a moment, then looked Gu Shanyue up and down. She really didn't have any jewelry on her, and her clothes were all bare.

“You’re such a frugal child,” Fang Wanqing sighed, not insisting, and handed the bracelet to Qi Baitong, “This is a family heirloom, to be passed down to your daughter-in-law. Please keep it for A-Yue.”

Qi Baitong was about to refuse, but when he heard the words "daughter-in-law," he hesitated for a moment, and Fang Wanqing took the opportunity to stuff the bracelet into his hand.

“I know it’s hard for you to accept that we, your parents, have suddenly appeared. But you are our child, and the Wangfu will always be your and Ayue’s home. Although this relationship was established a little late, our hearts for you are as clear as day and night.”

Qi Baitong held the bracelet, paused for a moment, then looked up and said, "What do you mean? I really don't know what you want me to do."

Fang Wanqing's nose tingled, and she wiped her eyes: "Silly child, we don't want anything. We'll be content as long as we see you alive and well."

Li Jing patted Qi Baitong on the shoulder: "Son, I won't ask anything. I know you suffered for the first twenty years of your life. You are a man, but remember this: the Prince's Mansion will always be your support. No one can bully you by overstepping my boundaries. Do you understand?"

At this moment, Qi Baitong couldn't describe the feeling in his heart. It was like opening a long-sealed drawer, which contained the toys he most wanted, but he had grown into an adult who no longer played with toys.

Do these things still have any meaning?

For him, everything he has now is the best he could ever have, and any further changes or attempts would be dangerous.

Qi Baitong turned his head and saw Gu Shanyue looking at him. She blinked and smiled at him, a smile as pure as a mountain stream flowing through her heart.

The high defense he had built in his heart suddenly crumbled. Now he had Gu Shanyue, who was the source of his endless courage and his confidence.

Perhaps he could give it a try.

“I understand. I can try to accept you, but the most important thing is that I will not stay in the Prince’s Mansion, much less in Shengjing. If you hold such hopes, then there’s no point in me trying.”