Chapter 53 Ah Jiu Would Not Slander

Crown Prince Xiao Chen has trusted Ajiu even more since Ajiu helped him find the "bad guys" around him last time.

Every now and then he would send people to deliver some snacks and gadgets to Jiu, and sometimes he would write some crooked notes, asking Jiu if he had seen anything "shiny" or "black" today.

Ah Jiu accepted all these "tributes" and responded to his little brother's "greetings" with a serious face, such as "The sun is shining brightly today, but the adults' faces are dark" and "The cat at Aunt Wang's house next door gave birth to three little balls of fur. They are soft and not black at all."

Chu Xuanyi looked at the two people's "spiritual communication" which was like talking to a deaf person, and he was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Chu Xuanyi's research on the "Soul-Eating Flower" and "Withered Seed" also entered a critical stage. He discovered that although the "Soul-Eating Flower" itself was evil, its pollen, after special processing, could indeed produce an extremely hidden, chronic erosion of human vitality.

What shocked him even more was that when he was looking through ancient books, he discovered that the highest-level refining of the "Soul-Eating Flower" could even produce a living Gu called "Ku Rong Gu". This Gu worm could lurk in the human body, slowly sucking the host's vitality, and when the host was on the verge of death, it would completely erupt, transforming the host into a "living corpse" that only obeyed the orders of the Gu cultivator!

If the goal of the "Withered Vine Cult" is not just to make the noble person "wither", but to create this kind of "zombie"... then the consequences will be unimaginable!

He immediately informed Xiao Yu of this discovery. Xiao Yu's face turned pale after hearing it, and he immediately ordered a more rigorous physical examination of all palace attendants, especially those who had come into contact with suspicious objects or people.

Just then, the steward of the Imperial Master's Mansion ran in in a panic.

"Sir! Sir, something's wrong! Miss Jiu... Miss Jiu is... at the Imperial Hospital, she's arguing with someone! She's... she's saying that the Chief Judge of the Imperial Hospital... has... lots of little bugs crawling all over her body!"

When Chu Xuanyi heard the butler's breathless report, he felt a black screen before his eyes.

Why did this troublemaker, Ah Jiu, end up at the Imperial Hospital and start a fight with the judge? And what about "lots and lots of little bugs"? Is he planning to tear the Imperial Hospital down?

He rushed out almost without touching the ground, and Xiao Yu immediately realized that something was wrong and followed closely behind him. The two of them, accompanied by a team of personal guards, rushed to the Imperial Hospital at lightning speed.

At this moment, the Imperial Hospital was in chaos.

The small figure of Ah Jiu, with his hands on his hips and his cheeks puffed out, was arguing with an old man in his sixties, with white hair and beard, and dressed in official uniform. The old man was so angry that his whole body was shaking and his face was red. He was the highest official of the Imperial Medical Bureau - Doctor Xu.

"You, you, you... you brat! You're spreading rumors and misleading people! This is sheer nonsense!" Court Judge Xu pointed at Ah Jiu, puffing his beard and glaring angrily. "I've been practicing medicine for decades, keeping myself clean. How could... how could there be such filthy things as you're talking about!"

Ah Jiu, however, refused to give in and shouted, "I'm not talking nonsense! Grandpa, there really are so many little black spots moving around on your body! They're burrowing under your skin, and it looks so itchy! They're even biting you! Aren't you uncomfortable?"

As she spoke, she stretched out her little hand, as if she wanted to help Xu Yuanpan "catch bugs."

Judge Xu was so frightened that he stepped back repeatedly, as if Ah Jiu was some kind of monster.

The imperial doctors, female doctors, palace maids, and eunuchs gathered in a circle, pointing and talking. Some thought Ajiu was talking mad, while others, who had witnessed Ajiu's "supernatural" qualities, looked surprised and puzzled.

"shut up!"

A low and majestic rebuke was heard, and Xiao Yu and Chu Xuanyi strode in.

Seeing the Regent and the Imperial Master arrive at the same time, everyone present was shocked and knelt down to pay their respects.

When Xu Yuanpan saw Chu Xuanyi, he felt like he had seen a savior, and tears almost burst out on the spot: "Master Imperial Master! Please help me! She...she actually slandered me in public, saying that I...I have worms growing on my body! This...this is simply a great shame!"

Chu Xuanyi was overwhelmed. He glared at Ah Jiu, signaling her to shut up. Then he turned to Court Judge Xu and forced a smile. "Counselor Xu, calm down. Ah Jiu is young and ignorant, and she speaks without restraint. If she has offended you in any way, I apologize on her behalf."

Xiao Yu asked expressionlessly, "Ajiu, are you sure you saw a 'bug'?"

Ah Jiu pursed his lips in grievance after being glared at by the Imperial Master, but nodded vigorously when he heard the Regent's question. "Yeah! There are so many tiny black spots, densely packed together, crawling all over Grandpa's body! They're even trying to get into his head! I can see it clearly!"

Chu Xuanyi's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. Drilling into the head? This description... immediately reminded him of the "Withering Flourish Gu"!

He no longer hesitated, stepped forward, and said to Judge Xu, "Judge Xu, this is a serious matter. Could I take your pulse and examine you carefully?"

Although Xu Yuanpan was unhappy, since the Imperial Master had spoken personally, he couldn't refuse and could only extend his wrist.

Chu Xuanyi concentrated on taking Xu Yuanpan's pulse, his brow furrowing ever tighter as he examined him. His pulse was deep, delicate, and his vitality was dim. He then carefully observed Xu Yuanpan's complexion and the fundus of his eyes, and indeed, he discovered tiny black spots floating beneath his skin, easily missed without careful observation.

"Sir, look at the back of his neck! That's the biggest part! And it's still moving!" Ajiu reminded in a low voice.

Chu Xuanyi followed Ajiu's instructions and saw some black spots like tiny grains of sand on the edge of Xu Yuanpan's collar at the back of his neck, which were more obvious than other parts of his body and were wriggling slightly!

"Withered and Flourishing Gu!" Chu Xuanyi's heart was so shocked that he almost screamed out loud!

This "Withered Vine Cult" is so bold! They've actually planted a poisonous insect on the body of the Chief Judge of the Imperial Hospital! And judging by how active this insect is, it's likely it's been lurking for some time!

Just then, there was a commotion at the door.

"Get out of the way! I heard there's an evil spirit haunting this place, so I've come to exorcise it!"

Censor Qian came in limping, supported by someone. He held the "hero's mud boots" high in one hand and tightly grasped the peach wood sword in the other, with an excited expression.

When Xiao Yu and Chu Xuanyi saw this "uninvited" demon-slaying master, the veins on their foreheads jumped at the same time.

"Master Qian," Xiao Yu's voice was so cold it could have shattered ice, "there are no evil spirits here, only sick people. If you're alright, go get your foot treated first."

The guards immediately stepped forward and politely but firmly "invited" Censor Qian, who looked unwilling, to leave.

"Alas! You ordinary people don't understand my painstaking efforts..." Censor Qian's complaints gradually faded away.