Open the box and examine (2)

The man stared intently at her, the "heartbroken" expression slowly fading from his face, replaced by a deep, almost inscrutable, complex look. He seemed somewhat surprised by her unwavering resolve, yet also angered by her resolute defiance; beneath the surface, a silent vortex of icy fury swirled faster. He remained silent, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the rosewood table.

"Lord!" Xie Yan suddenly spoke from the shadows, his voice cold and hard as iron, "Since Grand Secretary Gu has demanded to verify her identity and prove her innocence with her death, I believe we should investigate immediately! If she is innocent, justice will be served; if she has indeed disobeyed orders..."

His hand tightened on the jade flute, seemingly filled with murderous intent. "This subordinate will immediately enforce the rules of the building and clean house! Please give your instructions, Master!"

Xie Yan's words caused Wen Linchuan and Lin Xiuyuan to exchange a glance. After all, Jinghong was also a Grand Secretary, and they had known each other for many years. Not only did he not help, but he also kicked her when she was down? Was Xie Yan going to go crazy again? Did he know that the four Grand Secretaries of Zhuoyue Tower complemented each other? If Gu Jinghong fell, the three of them would not benefit either?

The original poster remained silent for a long time.

His gaze swept across Gu Jinghong and Xie Yan's faces, and finally, the whirlpool deep within the pool seemed to be forcibly suppressed. He slowly leaned back in his chair, his face devoid of any expression.

"Alright. Since everyone thinks it's worth testing... then so be it."

As the host spoke, he reached under the table and took out a small glass bottle containing a semi-transparent, viscous liquid.

Upon uncorking the bottle, a very faint, spicy medicinal scent wafted out, instantly overpowering the rich sandalwood aroma and making the atmosphere in the quiet room even more suffocating.

He dipped a fine silver hair into the medicine in the bottle. At that moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the tip of the hair in his hand, dipped in the medicine, and on the silent, dark brown box on the table.

The author took out an ancient book and, after pretending to try several times, finally located a key node on the surface of the secret box. Under the watchful eyes of countless people, his slightly pale fingers opened the South Wind Secret Box in no time!

Gu Jinghong felt a chill run down her spine.

Then, he watched as Guo Da carefully applied the viscous medicine to the exposed pills and the two folded pieces of paper.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds...

Time stretched out infinitely, each breath like a heavy hammer blow to the heart.

Inside the sealed box, the pills, the paper... all the places that had been coated with the medicine remained exactly the same color, without any change whatsoever.

No dark green! No unusual colors! Just complete tranquility!

In other words... Gu Jinghong really didn't open the secret box? Qingwu's accusation... was a false accusation?

The master slowly closed the box, his movements still elegant, yet revealing a subtle hesitation. "It seems... I... have been overthinking it."

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Gu Jinghong, who remained expressionless, then over Xie Yan, who seemed to have restrained his killing intent and stood solemnly with his eyes lowered in the shadows, and finally landed on Qing Wu, whose face turned ashen and whose body trembled slightly.

There was no trace of the tolerance that comes with concern, only the anger of being fooled and the coldness towards the loser in his eyes.

His voice was deep and imposing, as if it came from the deepest hell: "Qingwu, you are incredibly audacious, framing the Grand Secretary. Your reckless and foolish actions nearly caused a disaster, bringing shame upon me and the Zhuangmu Pavilion! Guards, drag him away, give him fifty lashes, and throw him into the dungeon to await further punishment!"

Suddenly, Qingwu's eyes glistened with tears. She shook her head and said, "That's not how it is, Master. I didn't frame Minister Gu... Fifty lashes... Fifty lashes..."

Everyone present knew that even a burly man with profound internal strength would find it difficult to withstand fifty lashes, let alone a slender woman like Qingwu. It was no different from a death sentence.

The host's eyes flashed with even more murderous intent, but his smile deepened: "What, you still want to bargain?"

Just as everyone was preparing to continue, with a look of anticipation, a clear voice, tinged with urgency, rang out.

"Lord!" Gu Jinghong stepped forward, knelt on one knee, his posture respectful yet resolute.

"Master, please calm down! Qingwu is indeed guilty, but I believe that fifty lashes are too severe and may even kill her! Although she rashly framed me, perhaps her heart... was concerned about the safety of the secret box and whether I had made a mistake? I beg you to consider that she has followed me for many years and has served Zhuangmu Pavilion, and show leniency! If that is not possible, Qingwu is, after all, a member of Zhuangmu Pavilion. I bear an inescapable responsibility for her mistake. Please allow me to take these fifty lashes in her place."

As soon as Gu Jinghong said this, the entire quiet room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wen Linchuan and Lin Xiuyuan were both utterly astonished—Gu Jinghong was actually pleading for Qingwu, who had just framed her and almost killed her?! And she was even willing to take the eighty lashes for her?! This Gu Jinghong… her actions were becoming increasingly incomprehensible!

A subtle glint flashed in Xie Yan's lowered eyes. After seeing Qingwu's confusion and Gu Jinghong's determination, he vaguely felt that something was wrong... Gu Jinghong was definitely not the kind of person who would repay evil with kindness. Why was she doing this?

Qingwu suddenly looked up, staring in disbelief at Gu Jinghong's back as he knelt before her, her eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

The host's icy expression seemed to freeze for a moment.

For the first time, a clear look of surprise flashed across those deep, pool-like eyes, which were then replaced by a deeper and sharper scrutiny.

He stared intently at Gu Jinghong kneeling on the ground, as if trying to see through her skin to discern her true intentions behind pleading for Qingwu. Was it out of sentimentality? Was it to win people's hearts? Or... was Qingwu's false accusation a staged act orchestrated by her? If so, Gu Jinghong couldn't be allowed to succeed... but he couldn't completely disregard her dignity either, with so many eyes watching.

The silence lasted only a few breaths, but it felt like an eternity.

The poster's gaze swept back and forth between Gu Jinghong's lowered head and Qingwu's pale face. In the end, the cold anger on his face seemed to be forcibly suppressed, and he put on a slightly tired and "fair" mask again.

After a moment, he snorted coldly, his tone still unfriendly, but he finally relented: "Jinghong, you're certainly protective of your own, but remember, compassion doesn't govern armies, and righteousness doesn't govern finances. If Zhuangmu Pavilion can produce the first Qingwu, it will produce the second. You know your master isn't one to hold a grudge without reason... Fine, considering you were frightened today, and considering that Qingwu did indeed serve you..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Qingwu again, filled with undisguised disgust: "Then as you wish, reduce it to thirty lashes, and confine him to his room to reflect on his mistakes. If he dares to do it again, I will not let him off lightly."

Qingwu swayed, almost unable to stand, her voice weak and trembling: "Yes... thank you for your leniency, Master, thank you for your understanding..."

The last few words were almost inaudible, carrying complex and difficult-to-decipher emotions.

The master stopped looking at Qingwu and instead focused his gaze on Gu Jinghong. His eyes were incredibly complex and unfathomable, filled with probing, scrutiny, and a hint of barely perceptible apprehension, as if he wanted to see right through her: "Jinghong, you have been wronged. This matter... was due to my oversight. You have worked hard. This secret box will be kept by me personally."

Xie Yan looked at his left hand with admiration in his eyes: "It's not quite like that. The Master was just fulfilling Junior Sister Jinghong's wish. In the end, it was she who insisted that the Master clear her name, and the Master simply did it."

The poster frowned and looked at Xie Yan: "Yan'er!"

Xie Yan rolled her eyes at Gu Jinghong and shut up.

Gu Jinghong stood up, lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Jinghong thanks Master for his kindness. I will pay closer attention to the movements of the Zhuangmu Pavilion members in the future."

The poster gave Gu Jinghong a deep look, then gestured for her to leave. Her gaze swept over the crowd, finally lingering briefly on Qingwu's retreating figure, a hint of cold scrutiny in her eyes: "I have something to say to Jinghong. You may all leave now."

The heavy wooden door slowly closed after Xie Yan, the maid, Qing Wu who was being led away to be executed, and the other three Grand Secretaries silently withdrew, cutting off the last trace of sound from the outside world.

The quiet room was filled only with the rich scent of sandalwood, dim light, the unfathomable master behind the desk, and Gu Jinghong, who stood upright in front of the desk, his heart churning with emotions he forcefully suppressed.

The invisible pressure did not dissipate as the number of people decreased; on the contrary, it felt even more oppressive because of being alone.

The coldness on the landlord's face receded like the tide, replaced by the expression of an elder, slightly weary and somewhat sentimental. He picked up the warm purple clay teapot on the table, slowly poured two cups of tea, and gently pushed one of them towards Gu Jinghong.

"Sit down, Jinghong." His voice returned to its previous gentleness, as if the life-or-death accusation and the cold examination had never happened.

Gu Jinghong sat down on the rosewood stool at the lower end of the table as instructed, without touching the cup of tea.

The poster seemed unfazed by her wariness, picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, took a sip, and then spoke slowly, his tone carrying a wistful reminiscence:

"That kid Xie Yan... it's been a long time since I've seen him so murderous."

He raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Gu Jinghong's face with a hint of barely perceptible inquiry. "Speaking of which, I've watched you and Xie Yan grow up. From the first day you two met at Zhuoyue Tower, you were like a pair of fighting cocks, neither of you willing to concede to the other. You had to compete to see who was better at it, whether it was practicing martial arts, completing missions, or even eating."

The original poster's lips curled into a vague smile, as if recalling an amusing past: "Over the years, there must have been countless conflicts, big and small, right? He was never one to back down verbally, always ready to argue with you..."

He paused, put down his teacup, his gaze deepened, and looked directly into Gu Jinghong's eyes. His voice lowered slightly, carrying a strange certainty: "But, Jinghong, think about it carefully. Over the years, no matter how intense the conflicts were, has Xie Yan ever truly tried to kill you? Not even once."

Gu Jinghong's heart skipped a beat, and countless images of arguing with Xie Yan, even resorting to physical violence, flashed through her mind. His words were extremely venomous, his actions ruthless, and his moves were cunning and sharp, each one seemingly aimed at killing her.

But each time, at the most crucial moment, his sword would subtly deviate by a few inches, his palm strike would always glide past her vital points, or... when she revealed a weakness, a fleeting, almost imperceptible hesitation would flash in his eyes... No, not hesitation, but more like a deliberate restraint.

It was an unspoken rule that grew in the darkness—you could fight to the death, but you couldn't actually let the other person die.

This rule doesn't stem from affection, but from a colder, more ruthless understanding. In this cannibalistic Zhuoyue Tower, they are each other's most known and most feared beings, potential enemies, but also a kind of twisted "anchor point."

Losing each other means losing a benchmark for self-assessment and defense against external enemies, and it also means exposing oneself to greater danger. They were at odds, yet in a tacit understanding, they drew a line between life and death for each other.