Long Fantian wiped the dagger clean and put it back in its sheath; he seemed to cherish this dagger very much.

He tucked the dagger into his waistband and walked out of the dungeon without saying a word.

Mu Tiantian followed, and they remained silent the whole way.

I have no idea what he's planning to do.

Long Fantian arrived at her door.

Winter Snow and Spring Rain bowed respectfully, "Your Highness."

"Do you two know your crimes?" Long Fantian asked coldly.

Spring Rain knelt down in a panic, and even Winter Snow, who was usually expressionless, showed signs of alarm.

"This servant knows her sins. It was my fault for not keeping an eye on Miss Mu." Chunyu lowered her head and trembled.

Dongxue didn't defend herself, but kowtowed.

Seeing that something was wrong, Mu Tiantian tugged at his sleeve and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

What does he mean by that?

Long Fantian explained, “Miss Mu is my savior, so I naturally cannot torture you. However, they are my maids, so I can treat them however I want. Chunyu and Dongxue were ordered by me to take care of Miss Mu, but they neglected their duties and put Miss Mu in danger. I will naturally punish them.”

As soon as the word "punishment" was uttered, Mu Tiantian saw the two of them trembling.

Seeing that Mu Tiantian believed him, Long Fantian smiled subtly and continued, "If they deliberately let Miss Mu go, wouldn't I have to interrogate them properly? Maybe you and that Miao assassin are accomplices."

"You..." Mu Tiantian really didn't know what he was thinking. These two were his maids, and had nothing to do with her at all. How could they be accomplices?

He has a really wild imagination.

Judging from Chunyu and Dongxue's reactions, the punishment must be very severe, otherwise they wouldn't be so afraid.

Mu Tiantian grabbed his hand and wrote in his palm: I was hungry and wanted to eat, so I sneaked off to the kitchen. It has nothing to do with them.

The two kneeling on the ground noticed Mu Tiantian's movements and, as if they had discovered something surprising, they secretly exchanged a glance.

How could the prince tolerate a woman holding his hand so casually?

Long Fantian still had a cold face, and his tone showed no master-servant affection whatsoever, "Since they let Miss Mu go hungry, it's because they didn't take good care of her, so of course they should be punished."

Upon hearing this, Mu Tiantian's writing speed increased: Why won't you listen to me? I have nothing to do with them!!!

She wrote three exclamation marks in a row to express her feelings.

However, Long Fantian seemed unable to understand what the symbol she drew at the end was.

Mu Tiantian continued writing: What do you want in order to let them go?

Long Fantian raised an eyebrow slightly upon seeing this, his face serious. "They can go unpunished, as long as Miss Mu does one thing for me."

Mu Tiantian asked: What is it?

"I will tell you when you have fully recovered." After saying this, Long Fantian looked at Chunyu and Dongxue and ordered, "Take good care of Miss Mu."

Chunyu quickly replied, "This servant will definitely take good care of Miss Mu."

After saying that, Long Fantian turned and left.

As Mu Tiantian watched his retreating figure, she suddenly felt that something was amiss.

She was the one who saved him, so why has she become so passive?

Moreover, this situation is too similar to when he interrogated Ulana earlier.

This person is quite cunning.

No, she had to find a way to take control of the situation, otherwise she would be completely at his mercy in the future.

...

The Imperial Preceptor's Residence.

Rapid drumbeats echoed from the dimly lit room.

On the black wooden table was a vessel containing a long, thick black worm that was wriggling violently. Suddenly, the worm twitched and then lay motionless in the vessel, its body stiff.

He also slapped a hole through the drumhead in Xin Liangmu's hand.

Enraged, he smashed the drum in his hand onto the servant kneeling on the ground beside him, then overturned the table, his cold eyes filled with fury.

"How could you do this job!" Xin Liangmu scolded.

The guard dared not utter a sound, his body trembling, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "Your subordinate... Your subordinate doesn't know how that woman entered the hunting grounds and suddenly appeared before the Regent. It was as if... as if she appeared out of thin air, and the woman's appearance seemed..."

He couldn't remember where he had seen it before.

Upon hearing this, Xin Liangmu's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Recalling the woman's appearance, his emotions calmed down slightly. "Did you leave any evidence against me?"

“The arrows and poison used by my subordinates are the same as those used by Ulana. You are also injured, so the Regent will definitely not trace it back to you.”

"Have Ulana's accomplices found any clues?" Xin Liangmu asked as he slowly walked towards the cabinet next to him.

"Not...not yet," the guard hurriedly replied. "But I will investigate as soon as possible and will definitely be able to capture all her accomplices."

At this moment, Xin Liangmu had already walked to the cabinet and opened a porcelain bowl.

Inside, a dense mass of black insects were intertwined.

He picked up the two without expression.

Seeing this, the guard repeatedly kowtowed and begged for mercy, "Imperial Preceptor, spare me! Imperial Preceptor, spare me! Please give me a chance to make amends! I will definitely complete the mission, please spare me!"

Thump—thump—

The guards' kowtows and pleas for mercy were exceptionally clear in the quiet, dark room.

His forehead was bleeding from the impact, but he still didn't stop.

Xin Liangmu ignored his fear, his lips slightly curved into a half-smile, his eyes slanted upwards, and his dark eyes revealed a sinister and malevolent aura.

The guard, overcome by fear upon seeing the insect in Xin Liangmu's hand, instinctively got up and ran away.

Xin Liangmu's lips moved slightly, and a whistle rang out. The sound caused the Gu worms inside the guard's body to move around, controlling his limbs and keeping him rooted to the spot.

"Imperial Preceptor... spare my life..." The guard struggled desperately, but was no match for the Gu worms.

"Since you want to make amends, I'll give you that chance. The newly emerged Gu worms need nutrition, so you'll be their puppet." Xin Liangmu forcefully stuffed two Gu worms into the guard's mouth.

The guard collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in pain. Under his skin, clearly visible were raised, thread-like ridges that were slowly wriggling.

"Someone come here!" Xin Liangmu shouted.

Several servants entered from outside.

Xin Liangmu wiped his hands and said lightly, "Take him away and let him rest properly. As usual, make his face look like a goddess so it'll be more pleasing to the eye."

"yes."

...

A few days later.

Mu Tiantian changed the dressing on Ulana's wound and instructed in a hoarse voice, "There is still venom from the Gu worms on the wound, so it is difficult to heal. Do not get it wet in the next few days. After changing the dressing two or three more times, it should be almost healed."

"Thank you, Miss Mu."

Ulana had previously attempted to ambush Xinliangmu, but instead fell into his trap and was even poisoned by him.

The worms grew inside her body, originally only the size of half a finger, but eventually grew to the size of her palm.

I never expected Xin Liangmu's Gu worms to be so powerful.

but...

"Miss Mu, do you also study Gu worms?" Ulana asked curiously.