Chapter 74 The Appearance of the Gu Insects

The Jinxiufang was filled with singing and dancing.

With all the princes having entered the capital and the New Year approaching, restaurants and theaters became even more bustling.

Even the high-ranking officials, who are rarely seen on ordinary days, have been out more these past few days because of their days off, and they often run into their colleagues, exchanging a few pleasantries.

It's no exaggeration to say that these days, if you walk down the streets of Xishi, you could bump into any official you happen to be with.

Those high-ranking officials, mindful of the attitudes of various factions in the court, would try to stay away from trouble. Even knowing that a prince was hosting a banquet at Mingyue Tower tonight, they dared not go and all kept their distance.

On the contrary, those with lower official positions or those from certain families dared to go and see the demeanor of the princes.

The person hosting the banquet today is none other than Baili He, the Prince of Dongjiang.

As is well known, Bailihe's fiefdom was in Guangdong and Jiangxi, and his maternal clan was also wealthy in the area, so they were very rich thanks to resources such as porcelain and iron ore.

Moreover, he has always enjoyed pleasure and is skilled in all kinds of entertainment.

He built extensive gardens on his fiefdom, including a zoo with countless rare animals.

Such a person, having arrived in the bustling capital, would naturally not stay put. He had just arrived in the morning, and a banquet was held that very night.

Those he invited to the banquet were actually several other vassal kings, as well as the heads of the four great families and high-ranking officials in the court.

He made no attempt to hide his interactions with these people, but he wasn't so absurd as to publicly try to win them over. It was just a matter of meeting them, chatting about random things, and that was it. If there were any ideas for cooperation later, it would be easier to implement them.

After he sent out his invitations, half of the people accepted them.

Apart from high-ranking officials in the court, most of the vassal kings had arrived, except for Prince Pingxi, Baili Zheng, and Prince Nanjiang, Baili Hao.

However, these two men have always preferred quiet and have not had much contact with other vassal kings, so their absence today is understandable.

The heads of the four great families were all present.

Qiu Xuanzheng, the head of the Qiu family who had been strictly disciplined by his elder brother and uncle for his impulsive and irritable nature, also came today.

However, he did not come alone; he brought with him Qiu Kongkuo's advisors to keep an eye on his words and actions and prevent him from causing trouble.

Inside the grand hall of Mingyue Tower, singing and dancing filled the air.

The people took their seats, with almost no distinction between main and secondary members, and all circled the dance floor in the center of the hall.

Bailihe turned his head to look, and there were several vassal kings standing beside him.

Prince Anhuai, Baili Ming, who was a generation younger than them, sat at the farthest point, with Prince Jiannan, Baili Hai, who had not yet left the capital, beside him.

Baili Hai smiled gently as he spoke with Baili Ming. The two were about the same age and both had a rather gentle nature, so they seemed like they could really get along.

Besides the feudal lords, there were several family heads.

Bailihe looked up and saw Xiao Yao, the handsome head of the Xiao family, smiling at him, their eyes meeting.

Bailihe's smile remained unchanged as he raised his glass and clinked it with the other person's from a distance.

Xiao Yao's smile deepened.

Both men downed their drinks, and Bailihe's gaze shifted again, slowly sweeping over the other three family heads.

Wang Huanzhi, the head of the Wang family, with a cold expression and dignified demeanor; Lu Jinfeng, the head of the Lu family, with a majestic presence; and Qiu Xuanzheng, the head of the Qiu family, with a lazy demeanor but a robust physique.

Although Lu Jinfeng was a martial artist, he still possessed the dignity of a noble family scion and carried an air of "righteousness," making him completely different from Qiu Xuanzheng, who was leaning against a low table beside him, drinking heavily.

With just one glance, Bailihe could discern the personalities of these people.

Of course, it wasn't just him; everyone at the banquet was observing and probing each other.

The relationship between feudal princes and aristocratic families has always been delicate.

Calling them enemies wouldn't be wrong.

But they seem to have no reason to oppose each other, and if they can protect each other's interests, cooperation would be a good choice.

Ultimately, it all comes down to the fact that they almost all share a common "enemy"—the one on the dragon throne.

Besides these important figures, there were also some minor characters trying to take advantage of the situation at the banquet.

But they weren't brave enough; they only glanced at the crowd from afar before turning away, afraid of accidentally causing trouble.

An Wuji also received an invitation, but he did not intend to attend.

I only went in for a quick look when I passed by on patrol.

Seeing that these people were just spouting empty platitudes, he left again.

He led his troops to patrol the streets of Jinxiufang after leaving Mingyue Tower.

The city has been bustling lately, with all sorts of forces gathering together, and he's really afraid that something like what happened at the auction will happen again.

The group walked through the bustling streets and alleys, passing the newly renovated Southern Xinjiang Silk Shop and Yaotai Bookstore, their footsteps crunching on the snow.

Suddenly realizing something, An Wuji looked up, his sharp eyes fixed on the second floor of the silk shop.

At the window, a boy with a high ponytail was peeking out at him.

The young man had a handsome appearance, wearing a unique earring from southern Xinjiang on his left ear, with long tassels falling to his shoulder, and an elaborate silver necklace around his neck.

An Wuji instantly guessed the other person's identity, calmly withdrew his gaze, and continued walking forward.

Si Tu Zhaoyao watched him walk away before turning back to look inside.

A young girl in a light purple dress sat at the table, her silver and jade ornaments jingling in her hair. She spoke animatedly to the person opposite her, "This shop is even better than you described! Every corner is breathtaking! Brother Jiyue, you are truly amazing!"

Opposite him, a young man in a light pink robe gently waved a folding fan in his hand and said with a smile, "I'm glad Xiao Ling likes it."

“I love it! And the second floor of this shop is directly connected to your bookstore, so it’s so easy for us to meet secretly.” Si Tu Zhaoling’s eyes were bright. Then she turned to her younger brother and said, “Brother, don’t stand by the window, be careful not to catch a cold.”

Si Tu Zhaoyao then closed the window, walked to the table and sat down, saying, "I just saw General An, who picked us up today. He just came out of Mingyue Tower."

“Mingyue Tower?” Si Tu Zhaoling raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that where the Prince of Dongjiang held his banquet?”

"Hmm, I wonder what they're all talking about," Si Tu Zhaoyao said with some curiosity.

Wang Qichen smiled and said, "Under the circumstances today, we're probably just testing each other out, and won't say anything useful."

The siblings were younger and had not grown up in the treacherous environment of Beijing, so their experience was far less than Wang Qichen's.

"When will they say something useful?" Si Tu Zhaoling asked humbly.

“After leaving the capital,” Wang Qichen said calmly, “the capital is full of Prince Ning’s spies, and the situation in the capital is currently chaotic, so it won’t be easy for the vassal kings to get involved.”

During this trip to Beijing, everyone was just testing each other's limits; it's impossible for anyone to make a move at this time and start the trouble.

However, once they have all left, the cooperation between the feudal lords and the aristocratic families will surely begin in secret.

As for who will cooperate with whom and who will be enemies with whom, it remains to be seen.

Ultimately, as long as their interests align, they are likely to secretly connect with each other.

When that time comes, all forces will have to reveal their trump cards, and the Great Ning will descend into complete chaos.

Speaking of Prince Ning, Si Tu Zhaoling frowned and lowered her voice, saying, "With the Divine Lord here, Prince Ning should be cured soon, right?"

Wang Qichen nodded and said, "Perhaps it has already been cured, but the news is not getting out of the palace."

Previously, Qin Xiao had just returned from the Northwest when the imperial physicians were summoned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. At that time, some people tried to get some information out of the imperial physicians, but they all gave the same answer: it was just a routine check-up.

People only suspected that Qin Xiao might have been injured.

For the next two days, neither Qin Xiao nor Chu Jiubian showed up, and everyone became completely certain that Qin Xiao was not only injured, but seriously injured!

Otherwise, the two of them wouldn't have remained hidden for so long.

After all, according to common sense, once Qin Xiao returned victorious from his battle, even though court had already adjourned, he would still summon high-ranking officials of the first and second ranks to the palace for a meeting.

The discussions naturally revolved around rewards and punishments, as well as how to manage the Western Regions in the future.

Therefore, the fact that Qin Xiao has not yet appeared even now, despite the fact that all the vassal kings have entered the capital, is the biggest point of suspicion.

However, as everyone knows, with Chu Jiubian around, Qin Xiao should be fine; he'll just have to suffer a bit.

But what Wang Qichen and Si Tu really cared about wasn't that, but rather...

"Tell me, what kind of relationship do you think the Divine Lord and Prince Ning have right now?" Si Tu Zhaoling leaned closer to Wang Qichen, lowering her voice even further.

Wang Qichen thought for a moment and said, "There are probably some feelings involved."

"Huh?!" Si Tu Zhaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't my sister say that the God-King and that person had a deep relationship?"

That person, of course, refers to the high priest.

Back in the Divine Realm, Wang Qichen had mentioned the relationship between the "High Priest" and the "Grand Tutor of Chu" to Si Tu Zhaoling, who was incredibly excited at the time.

However, the closer she got to the capital after leaving home, the more rumors she heard.

This included stories like the "love triangle" between the Grand Tutor of Chu and the Prince of Ning, portraying the two in a particularly ambiguous way.

Si Tu Zhaoling naturally sided with the High Priest and didn't have a good impression of Qin Xiao, feeling that he was competing with the High Priest for the God's love.

King Ning was a man who cared for his country and people, and even conquered the Sai Kingdom. After hearing about his deeds, Si Tu Zhaoling could no longer dislike him.

All I can say is that "liking" is a very mysterious thing.

Love is also something you can't control.

Therefore, if the God-King truly fell in love with Prince Ning, the High Priest would likely only be heartbroken.

Wang Qichen gently waved his folding fan and sighed, "We mortals can't understand what the Divine Lord is thinking."

Hopefully, the high priest can see through it all.

The three chatted for a long time, about everything under the sun, and soon became as close as family.

When the streets were nearly deserted and the snow was getting heavier, the three of them reluctantly parted ways.

Wang Qichen returned to his bookstore through a hidden door on the second floor, while Si Tu Zhaoling also left the silk shop with her younger brother and boarded a carriage to return home.

After a long while, when it was late at night and everyone was quiet, Wang Qichen left the bookstore, making sure no one noticed that he had met with Si Tu and his sister.

Meanwhile, inside the palace.

Chu Jiubian put on his robes and a thick cloak, covering himself completely in pure black fabric, before heading out into the wind and snow.

Qin Xiao lay on the bed, listening to the sound of the door closing.

He got up in just two breaths.

Outside, Chu Jiubian walked all the way to the main hall of Yangxin Hall and saw that Qin Chaoyang's nose was red from the cold, so he knew that the other party must have been waiting for a while.

Seeing him approach, Qin Chaoyang quickly stepped forward and respectfully asked, "Young Master, shall we leave now?"

Ever since Chu Jiubian saved Qin Xiao, Qin Chaoyang's already respectful attitude has become even more pronounced, and he wishes he could worship Chu Jiubian at all times.

"Let's go," Chu Jiu said.

Qin Chaoyang then turned around and knelt down on one knee, saying, "I apologize."

Just as Chu Jiubian was about to climb onto his back, he heard footsteps behind him.

He suddenly turned his head and was relieved to see that it was Qin Xiao, but he frowned again in an instant.

Qin Xiao had changed into all black clothes at some point, and arrived in the wind and snow without even a cloak.

"What are you doing here?" Chu Jiubian asked in a cold tone.

Qin Xiao walked up to him, while Qin Chaoyang, who was standing to the side, had already gotten up and moved back a distance, making his presence almost negligible.

“I’ll take you there,” Qin Xiao said.

Chu Jiubian glanced at his chest: "How can you take me there looking like this?"

I just received news that the King and Queen of Southern Xinjiang have left the palace and secretly headed to the Qin family prison where Cheng Shuo is being held.

Chu Jiubian's current plan is to go and check on Cheng Shuo's situation, mainly to keep an eye on the couple's behavior in case anything unexpected happens.

However, this matter was kept secret, and Chu Jiubian wanted to leave the palace in the middle of the night, so the more secretive he was, the better.

Therefore, he planned to have Qin Chaoyang take him away from the palace. The other party was good at light footwork, and it was a dark and windy night, which would make things easier.

Qin Xiao looked at Chu Jiubian and said somewhat stubbornly, "I'm much better now, and circulating my internal energy is no problem."

After a moment of silence, Chu Jiubian spoke again, his tone even harsher: "Why do we have to go?"

Let alone saying he didn't want Qin Chaoyang to carry him, even Qin Xiao himself wouldn't believe such a reason.

Qin Xiao was indeed not that bored. After a pause, he said, "I want to know if he is really controlled by external forces."

If this is the case, it only proves that Cheng Shuo is a person with an unstable will. Qin Xiao will not give him important positions in the future, but he will not do anything to him either.

But if that's not the case, then Cheng Shuo really does harbor resentment towards Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao could no longer keep him.

Chu Jiubian stared intently into the man's deep, dark eyes.

After a long pause, he sighed and said, "Let's go."

Qin Xiao turned around and was about to kneel down when Chu Jiubian took his hand and led him to the steps.

He stood on the steps himself, then opened his arms and hugged Qin Xiao's neck from behind.

Qin Xiao wasn't wearing a cloak, so Chu Jiubian's rush forward allowed his body heat and the cloak to dispel the chill emanating from Qin Xiao.

The young man's warm breath brushed against his ear, and Qin Xiao's eyes darkened slightly.

He reached out and gently grasped the young man's knees, carrying him steadily on his back. Then, with a light step, he flew over the courtyard wall.

Qin Xiao carried the person on his back, walking steadily on the wall, hidden among the shadows of trees and walls.

He walked very fast, and Chu Jiubian felt his face was stinging from the wind, so he lowered his head and buried his face in the neck of the person beneath him.

He was momentarily dazed by the faint fragrance.

Qin Xiao is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, but Chu Jiubian still finds him somewhat difficult to understand each time.

Cheng Shuo was a good friend of Qin Xiao's parents, a kind uncle who accompanied him as he grew up and gave him countless care, and who had also fought for him.

Even knowing that the odds were against him, he still went on this expedition without hesitation.

Qin Xiao never imagined that the other party would betray him, which is why he cared so much after this happened.

He insisted on coming along tonight, but he only wanted an answer.

He wanted to know whether the other person had truly betrayed him or if it wasn't their intention.

With a ringing in his ears, Chu Jiubian was in a daze.

He seemed to see a little boy.

The other person knelt beside the bed, which was covered in blood and bits of flesh, and held onto the woman's cold, sticky arm, asking her why she gave birth to him.

Then I asked her why she didn't want me?

Suddenly jolted awake, Chu Jiubian instinctively tightened his arms and hugged Qin Xiao's neck.

Qin Xiao kept walking, but his voice reached Chu Jiubian's ears, gentle and deep.

"Asleep?" he asked.

Chu Jiubian almost let go of his arms just now; if he hadn't lifted him up a little, the other person would have slid off his back.

Chu Jiubian nuzzled her face against the man's cool ear and softly hummed in agreement.

The man chuckled, and after a few leaps, he finally stopped in a courtyard.

This is the side residence of the Qin family, specifically used for the lodging and food of the soldiers.

However, there was also a prison in the courtyard, used to detain assassins, spies, or other people who were guilty but could not be sent to the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review.

There were only a few people in the prison at the moment, so the sounds coming from one of the cells were particularly clear.

Chu Jiubian followed Qin Xiao into the prison, following the sound to its source, where he saw Cheng Shuo rolling on the floor in a cell, clutching his head in pain.

Outside the cell, two figures, one tall and one short, stood side by side. To their left and right stood several Qin family guards, watching them intently, their bodies on high alert.

Hearing the noise behind him, the tall man turned around.

The man had a refined and handsome face, with deep-set eyes and an extraordinary demeanor.

The other party was not surprised to see Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, nor did they go forward to exchange pleasantries. Instead, they turned around and looked at the people in the prison.

The shorter woman beside him was the Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang, Si Tu Anli.

The other person never turned around, only staring intently into the cell, seemingly reciting some ancient and complex incantation.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao exchanged a glance, then walked over without much precaution.

They didn't think the King and Queen of Southern Xinjiang would harm them, since their past actions showed they weren't driven by self-interest.

Naturally, even if the other party did something to them, Chu Jiubian wasn't worried, since he had the two believers, Si Tu and his sister, under his control. He could completely use the relationship with his believers to resolve the crisis.

Even if the two children are useless, he can still learn from the system store by reading a few relevant books and mastering the knowledge.

When the two arrived at the prison cell, they noticed that Si Tuanli's face was covered in a thick layer of sweat.

Inside the cell, Cheng Shuo writhed in agony, a small green snake slithering around him, its cold eyes scrutinizing his body.

No one spoke; they just watched.

Suddenly, Cheng Shuo let out a scream, and a centipede about the thickness of a little finger crawled out of his nostril.

The little green snake darted over like lightning and swallowed the little centipede whole in one gulp.

The guards not far away all looked rather grim, especially when they saw the little snake swim back to Si Tuanli's head and hide in his hair. Their faces turned pale, and their eyes were filled with fear and dread as they looked at him.

Even Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were seeing such a scene for the first time, and their expressions changed when they looked at Si Tu Anli.

Baili Hao helped his wife up, tenderly wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, and said softly, "Is Li'er alright? Do you want me to hold you?"

Si Tuanli shook his head, and weakly forced a smile, saying, "I'm fine, don't worry."

Then, she forced herself to stand up straight and looked at Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellencies."

She placed her hands on her chest and performed a Southern Xinjiang salute.

"No need for such formalities, Holy Maiden." Qin Xiao frowned as he looked at Cheng Shuo, who had already fainted. "How is he?"

“The person will live, but with brain damage, they will likely experience some memory loss,” Si Tuanli said.

Chu Jiubian asked, "Then what kind of curse did he fall under?"

The centipede just now was a Gu worm, but it is unknown who did it.

"It is a mother-child gu, where the mother gu can control the behavior of the child gu carrier, but only in a simple and short-term way, such as controlling a person to sit down, lie down, etc., which is quite common."

Si Tuanli said with a somewhat solemn expression, "It is only because the person who used Gu is highly skilled that they can control the general to kill people."

Chu Jiubian nodded: "Then do you know anyone who has such ability?"

“Besides me, there are a few other candidates, but they are all my people,” Si Tuanli said seriously. “They have never left the Southern Frontier, so it shouldn’t be their doing.”

"Send General Cheng to his guest room to rest," Qin Xiao instructed the guards. After the man was carried away, he turned to the crowd and said, "There are some hidden families and sects in the martial arts world; perhaps we can find some clues there."

"Doesn't the master suspect us?" Baili Hao suddenly spoke, his gentle gaze falling on Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao smiled and said, "I did have my doubts."

Baili Hao then smiled.

"Thank you both for taking the time to come and help me today. I will repay you handsomely in the future." Qin Xiao bowed to the two of them.

These words are, in fact, a promise.

No matter what he does to powerful families and vassal kings in the future, the southern border will always be a safe zone.

Baili Hao and Si Tuanli both understood, returned the greeting, and then took their leave.

Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian also returned to the palace quickly.

Upon entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a warm feeling washed over them, and both of them felt much more relaxed.

"System, check his injuries," Chu Jiubian said in his mind.

The wound is healing well, and the internal injuries are also minor. Please rest assured, host.

It seems Qin Xiao is indeed in good physical condition; he was able to carry him back and forth without any problems.

It was getting late, so Chu Jiubian said, "Let's wash up."

Qin Xiao had already taken off his coat, which was soaked by the wind and snow. Hearing this, he turned to look at him and said, "And you?"

"I'll wash too."

"Don't you take a bath every night?" Qin Xiao asked.

Chu Jiubian looked at him: "Xiao Xiangzi told you?"

"Um."

Chu Jiubian scoffed lightly; it must have been the report from the very beginning.

“We don’t need to in winter,” he said.

So, just like in the morning, the two washed their faces, brushed their teeth, and went to bed after a quick wash.

Chu Jiubian remained asleep on the inside.

This time he learned his lesson and turned his back to the wall as soon as he went up to avoid embarrassment.

Qin Xiao looked at his figure huddled under the covers and chuckled softly.

Chu Jiubian ignored him and closed his eyes.

The lights in the room were turned off, and the bed moved slightly.

Then, Chu Jiubian felt the blanket being pulled back, and then another person's body temperature entered the blanket.

It's warmer now.

Chu Jiubian closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep.

But the scent of another person was so strong that he couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

Qin Xiao turned his head to look at him in the darkness, unable to sleep either.

Earlier, Chu Jiubian had complained that he was eating in bed, so he had the bedding changed. As a result, now that they were lying together, his own scent was faint, but Chu Jiubian's faint fragrance went straight into his nostrils.

Qin Xiao was a little thirsty and was wondering whether he should get up to get a drink of water when he heard someone gently knocking on the window in a rhythmic manner.