Chapter 40 The Pearl Dispute: "A-Yue got angry with His Highness because of me"...
The room was deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, except for the sound of Li Yaoguang sobbing.
Gu Shanyue loosened her collar, slumped back into her seat, her mind in turmoil as all her memories rushed in, shattering her usual understanding and piecing together a completely different answer.
Could it be that Senior Sister's death back then wasn't due to damage to her body during pregnancy, nor was it due to Consort Rong's minor poisoning, nor was it due to exhausting her mind and energy, but rather because of the Needle-Threading Gu?
This Gu was used by the Imperial Guard, which was definitely done openly, meaning that the emperor and many people in the palace knew about the existence of the Needle-Threading Gu.
As a key player in the battle against the Blood Mirage, and having traveled the martial world for many years, Senior Sister naturally knew about the Needle-Piercing Gu.
If that's the case, why did you keep quiet and never tell her?
Why not take the antidote and let it flare up?
Regardless of whether there is an antidote to eradicate the Gu worms, there is at least medicine to suppress them, just like the one she received a few days ago.
The most important question is, who gave Senior Sister this poison?
Gu Shanyue sat silently in place, his eyes filled with murderous intent, as if he were about to draw his sword and unleash a bloodbath wherever he went.
With tears streaming down her face, Li Yaoguang held Gu Shanyue's hand tightly.
Gu Shanyue pondered for a long time, then suddenly raised his eyes: "Does Yu'er know about this matter?"
The opera singing in the garden was melodious and drawn-out, expressing endless sorrow and deep longing between lovers.
The white tung tree stood quietly, orange-red flames leaped from the stove, tea bubbled and boiled on the stove, its aroma filling the air, and chestnuts crackled softly as they roasted.
He silently picked up the roasted chestnuts and replaced them with fresh ones.
Suddenly, I heard a gust of wind behind my ear.
Qi Baitong turned around abruptly, about to draw his sword to fight, when Li Yuheng shouted sternly, "Qi Baitong, how dare you!"
His hand, which was about to draw his sword, froze. Bai Yan kicked him in the chest, and Qi Baitong took the blow, taking two steps back to his feet.
Li Yuheng walked over with his hands behind his back, chin raised, his face, which always had a smiling expression, now filled with a sinister and malevolent aura.
He shouted, "Kneel down!"
Qi Baitong lowered his eyes, his aura so faint as if he did not exist in this world. He knelt down with his back straight.
Li Yuheng walked up to him, circled him once, his eyes filled with disdain and disgust.
This lowly bodyguard actually dared to harbor any unrealistic hopes for Gu Shanyue.
Li Yuheng walked back to Qi Baitong and said, "Look up."
Qi Baitong raised his face, his gaze lowered, and even Li Yuheng could not find anything wrong with him.
But he is the crown prince. Does he need an excuse to punish a mere bodyguard?
If Gu Shanyue hadn't already discovered the location of the dungeon, and if he hadn't promised Gu Shanyue not to take people away arbitrarily, Qi Baitong would be imprisoned in the dungeon chains right now, suffering quite a bit.
Li Yuheng's gaze searched the face, which was extremely cold and still, devoid of any vitality.
"Looking at it this way, Lord Qi's face is really handsome."
Qi Baitong's expression remained largely unchanged, and his eyes did not even move.
"My sister is naturally honest and naive. Tell me, how did you deceive her and lure her into getting close to you?"
Li Yuheng bowed, staring at Qi Baitong's face, gritting his teeth.
Qi Baitong: "This subordinate dares not."
"Dare not? I think you don't know what you are. A lowly guard who only deserves to hide in the shadows, a disgusting thing whose skin is full of poisonous insects. You actually think you're someone important and peel chestnuts for my sister in front of me?"
Li Yuheng initially maintained his composure, but the more he spoke, the angrier he became, and in the end, he stared intently at Qi Baitong's face.
Qi Baitong remained as still as a puppet: "This subordinate dares not."
He seems completely unyielding.
Li Yuheng was so angry that he laughed, raised his arm and slapped Qi Baitong hard across the face.
Qi Baitong's face was turned to the side by the blow, her hair fell down, and a layer of red quickly rose on her cold white face.
Li Yuheng sneered: "Go on."
Qi Baitong turned his face back, his eyes still lowered: "This subordinate dares not."
"I know, you think my sister values you, don't you?" Li Yuheng suddenly straightened up, his smile mocking and arrogant. "You think these petty flattery will earn her favor? You're both laughable and pathetic. Tell me, if I were to kill you right now, would my sister avenge you by killing me?"
Qi Baitong lowered his brows and eyes, his face expressionless, and slowly clenched his fists at his sides.
The handprint on his face was still burning hot, and his ears were ringing, but he could still hear Li Yuheng's question.
He knew the answer.
"Of course not. I am the most important person to her in this world. No matter how much you try to please her, it won't work. She is not someone you can please."
Li Yuheng was always good at reading people's expressions, so how could he not notice Qi Baitong's taut arm muscles?
That's unbearable; he was just stating the facts.
Li Yuheng found it boring. If this guard hadn't been so delusional, he wouldn't have lowered himself to argue with such a person. It was truly unlucky.
He sat down, flicking his sleeve: "Bai Yan."
Bai Yan walked toward Qi Baitong with a long stick in his hand; this was the new instrument of torture chosen by Li Yuheng.
While the whip provided relief, the blood and gore from breaking flesh would be too strong and easily detected by Gu Shanyue. This long stick was specially made, and with Bai Yan's skillful strength, it could shatter bones while leaving the skin and flesh intact.
As long as Gu Shanyue doesn't find out, he won't be considered to have broken his promise. He doesn't want Gu Shanyue to keep arguing with him over a bodyguard.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The long stick struck the white paulownia's back with a dull sound, gradually bending its straight back.
Qi Baitong remained silent, his expression unchanged except for his uncontrollable, disordered breathing.
Li Yuheng had been watching him being punished with composure, but when he saw Qi Baitong's calm face, his anger flared up again.
He wanted to see Qi Baitong weep and wail, kneeling and begging for mercy like a dog with a broken spine, recognizing the insurmountable chasm between them, not like this, where she was acting as if a wolf was shaking off lice, completely unconcerned about his punishment.
Li Yuheng's eyes grew increasingly fierce. He raised his hand, and Bai Yan stopped the caning and stepped back.
The lacquered white tung tree, with its slightly bent waist, straightened up again, like a tall poplar tree.
Even if it is cut in half, it will never bend.
The punishment just now was not without effect. Qi Baitong had a layer of cold sweat on his forehead, and you could see the muscles in his back twitching uncontrollably even through his clothes, but his face remained expressionless.
In the past, Li Yuheng only regarded him as a handy object, so he naturally appreciated his indestructible strength.
But things are different now. Looking at Qi Baitong's face, he felt a surge of anger.
The more composed Qi Baitong remained, the more Li Yuheng felt provoked.
He narrowed his eyes slightly: "Do you think I can't do anything with you?"
Qi Baitong opened his mouth: "This subordinate dares not."
"I suppose this face played a part in how you seduced her, didn't it?"
Li Yuheng chuckled softly, then flipped his wrist, revealing a delicate, small dagger in his palm.
He casually drew his dagger, and the gold scabbard inlaid with various gemstones fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
As the gleaming dagger drew closer, Qi Baitong's usually lowered eyelashes trembled slightly, and she took a step back.
Li Yuheng burst out laughing and said sarcastically, "So it turns out that the tough-as-nails Lord Qi, who fears nothing but being afraid of hurting this nice face?"
The laughter was laced with anger. Qi Baitong was indeed using that face to seduce Gu Shanyue. On the surface, she was as cold as ice, but behind the scenes, she was flattering and seducing him. It was truly disgusting.
Qi Baitong finally raised his eyes and looked directly at Li Yuheng: "Does Your Highness really intend to do this?"
His tone was calm, but Li Yuheng could hear the threat in his voice. He coldly laughed and said, "What, can't I do it?"
"Of course I will do it, but if A-Yue sees it, she will inevitably seek justice for me and get angry with His Highness."
Qi Baitong's tone was calm and composed. Even when he was being beaten with a cane and a dagger was pressed against his face, he remained as still as water.
Upon hearing this, Li Yuheng was filled with rage that almost burst forth, wishing he could tear the person in front of him apart.
"You dare utter the name 'Ah Yue' with that mouth of yours? You shameless woman, how dare you sow discord between my sister and me!"
The words seemed to be squeezed out through clenched teeth. Li Yuheng grabbed Qi Baitong's collar tightly and pressed the dagger against Qi Baitong's face.
Qi Baitong's usually expressionless face finally showed a flicker of emotion, and Li Yuheng saw anger in his eyes.
Li Yuheng felt relieved and sneered, "So what if you're dissatisfied? Rats in the gutter should go back to the gutter!"
He tightened his wrist, pressed the dagger down, and slashed it viciously at Qi Baitong's face.
For the first time, someone who had always been submissive no matter how they were treated rebelled.
Qi Baitong swung his palm, knocking the dagger out of Li Yuheng's hand.
He was a master of martial arts; if they really fought, how could Li Yuheng possibly be his match?
Even though he only used the force of swinging the dagger, Li Yuheng was pushed backward repeatedly, losing his balance and falling backward.
Perhaps Qi Baitong's palm strike also carried resentment. After all, people are not objects; how can one remain calm after being wantonly hurt?
But when he saw Li Yuheng fall, he quickly reached out to catch him, even more urgently than if he himself were injured.
Li Yuheng must not be injured by him, otherwise Gu Shanyue will be angry, and he doesn't want her to hate him.
Bai Yan was faster than him, catching Li Yuheng who was about to fall: "Your Highness, are you alright?"
At the same time, with a crisp sound, a small box fell out of Qi Baitong's arms.
The dark, oily sandalwood box was polished to a shine, clearly a treasure that had been carefully kept.
Li Yuheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately grabbed the box that had fallen in front of him. Without hesitation, he opened it, overjoyed, ready to destroy what he cared about in front of Qi Baitong.
The moment Li Yuheng saw the contents of the box, his face froze, and disbelief flashed in his eyes.
"this……"
The large pearl in the box shimmered with light, lustrous and translucent; it was clearly a pearl he had personally given to Gu Shanyue. How could it have ended up on Qi Baitong?
"You stole this!"
Li Yuheng stared sharply at Qi Baitong.
Qi Baitong disregarded social hierarchy and only cared about the gift Gu Shanyue had given him. He snatched the Dongzhu back from Li Yuheng.
"It has nothing to do with Your Highness."
"How dare you steal my sister's things right under my nose!" Li Yuheng was furious, yet also somewhat excited. "Come on, let's go confess to my sister!"
He insisted on making the pearl sound incredibly precious, hoping to make Gu Shanyue despise this shameless man.
Having already made a move, Qi Baitong was no longer obedient. Besides, this was a gift from Gu Shanyue, so why should it be considered stolen goods?
"This was given to me by A-Yue."
Qi Baitong stood very straight, protecting the box in his hands, and spoke slowly and deliberately.
Even in the face of the enraged Li Yuheng, and in front of the person who held his life and death in his hands, he still did not change his mind.
He finally managed to call Gu Shanyue "A Yue," so why would he change his address because of Li Yuheng?
Li Yuheng shouted angrily, "You're talking nonsense!"
Author's Note: The nutrient solution count has surpassed 1000 again! Thank you all for your support! Double update today! [apples]
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