Duke Xian greeted Gao Hongyuan with a smile, "Grand Preceptor, you are a rare guest indeed. What are your orders?"
"No, no, I wouldn't dare." Gao Hongyuan dared not be presumptuous in front of Duke Xian, and respectfully bowed his head, "Greetings, Duke Xian."
Duke Xian waved his hand, "Grand Preceptor, you're too kind. Please have a seat."
After Gao Hongyuan sat down, he beckoned, and a servant brought over a wooden box.
"I heard that Duke Xian was looking for Anmeng Grass. Not long ago, I happened to get a branch, so I sent it to Duke Xian. I hope the Imperial Preceptor will not find it offensive."
"Your Excellency is truly kind. I am getting old and have difficulty falling asleep at night. I have heard that this Dream-Soothing Herb has a miraculous effect on insomnia. I did not expect that Your Excellency would still care about my problem. Thank you very much, Your Excellency."
The steward beside Duke Xianguo stepped forward, took the wooden box, and then respectfully stepped aside.
"The medicine has been delivered, and it's getting late, so I won't keep the Imperial Preceptor from resting any longer. If the Imperial Preceptor needs anything else, please feel free to send someone to let me know." After saying this, Gao Hongshi got up to take his leave.
"Steward Li, see the Imperial Preceptor out." Duke Xian smiled and instructed the steward to see the guest out.
After Gao Hongyuan left, Duke Xian looked at An Mengcao without saying a word.
Previously, Lu Hong had brought the Regent of Great Chu and his wife to the mansion and told Duke Xian everything.
When Duke Xian learned that Gao Hongyuan was skilled in Gu magic, and he had just been put in charge of keeping the Red Jade Pearl, Gao Hongyuan came to him at this time, which can be described as having ulterior motives.
If it were the Gao Hongyuan of the past, he would never have done such a thing; it was far too obvious.
It seems he was really anxious this time; when people are anxious, they easily lose their composure.
So the poison was placed in the Anmeng Grass?
After Steward Li returned from seeing the guests off, Duke Xianguo instructed, "Go and invite the Princess over."
Steward Li was a confidant of Duke Xian, so he naturally knew who the princess he was referring to was, and hurriedly went to attend to her.
This was also agreed upon beforehand. Su Ruojin told Duke Xian that if Gao Hongyuan sent anything over, he should be careful and ask her to come over if he was really unsure.
Duke Xianguo dared not be careless, so he sent Steward Li to invite someone.
Butler Li returned shortly afterward. "Duke, the Princess Consort has already gone to bed and said she will come again tomorrow."
It was indeed getting late. Duke Xian waved his hand and said, "Never mind then. Put this thing away in the usual place, and remember not to touch it."
"Yes." Butler Li came over and carefully carried the box away.
As night fell, a door in the Duke of Xian's mansion opened quietly, and a masked man dressed in black tiptoed out.
Subsequently, this person secretly went to the study of the Duke of Xian's mansion, pushed open the door and went in. He easily found his way to a bookshelf in the study, pressed a mechanism, and a hidden compartment popped out.
Inside the hidden compartment was a black square box. The man in black gently took out the box and opened it. Inside lay a bead with gold flecks—the Red Jade Bead.
The man in black took out another red bead from his pocket, which at first glance looked like a red jade bead. He quickly replaced the two beads and put the box back in its original place.
He arrived at the door and had just opened it when he saw Duke Xian and his guards standing there.
"Take him down!" At the Duke of Xian's command, the guards behind him stepped forward, grabbed the man in black, and ripped off his mask.
It was none other than Butler Li!
Steward Li's eyes were red-rimmed as he glared fiercely at Duke Xian, baring his teeth and hissing.
The Duke of Xian showed no heartache at being betrayed by his trusted confidant, but instead ordered his guards, "Go and invite the Princess Consort."
When Su Ruojin arrived at the Duke's mansion, she wanted to go forward and see what was happening, but before she knew it, Steward Li opened his mouth to bite her. Su Ruojin quickly withdrew her hand and said to the guard beside her, "Knock him out."
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