You need to wrap it up.
Gu Jinghong said these words while suppressing her disgust. She always relied on herself, and even when she needed someone's cooperation, she would use threats such as force or drugs.
This is the first time I've ever heard such sweet talk as it is today.
She felt nauseous, but on the surface, she still looked slightly better and her eyes were tired.
Xiao Chengyan, however, did not find anything wrong with it. On the contrary, he overlapped Gu Jinghong with Gu Jinghong when he was a child.
She had two small buns on her head, and her little mouth opened and closed. Her language was not very pure Dayong dialect, and she stumbled over it. It sounded like she was saying, "Brother, Aning is afraid of bitterness, Aning doesn't want to take medicine, Aning wants to eat candy."
It was this deliberate display of coquettishness that caught Xiao Chengyan off guard for a moment. Gu Jinghong then lightly pecked him on the cheek before lying down to continue sleeping.
The Fourth Prince Xiao had never been so helpless with anyone before.
She actually sent a prince to do such a time-consuming task.
Strangely, his pride in rationality and his years of cultivated princely habits vanished without a trace in an instant.
In the end, he simply said in a low voice, with a hint of coaxing, "Alright, I will go myself. Ah Hong, get some rest."
Xiao Chengyan tucked her in, then called a few people to guard the room while he personally took the medicine to the shopkeeper.
The door was gently closed, and the footsteps faded into the distance.
Almost simultaneously, Gu Jinghong, who should have been fast asleep on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes.
His eyes were clear and bright, showing no trace of illness or confusion.
She sat up silently and listened intently to the sounds outside the door.
Once it was safe, I pushed open the inn window, lightly touched the ground with my toes, and somersaulted down.
Gu Jinghong knew Quanzuoge too well. After wandering around downstairs for a while, she led Lu Feng to the back of another alley.
The streets and alleys were deserted. After walking for a while, Gu Jinghong suddenly turned around.
She looked at the person in front of her and smiled slightly: "Manager Lu, you've been following me all this way. What brings you here?"
Lu Feng was taken aback, not because Gu Jinghong had noticed someone following her, but because he was surprised that Gu Jinghong recognized him.
He was merely a junior inspector in the Acting Pavilion, and had only recently been promoted to chief clerk. This shows that although Grand Secretary Gu was not in the capital, he was indeed adept at controlling information, truly deserving of the title of Grand Secretary of the Hidden Abyss Pavilion.
He quickly lowered his eyes to hide the panic in them, and replied calmly, "Minister Gu."
Gu Jinghong's reaction was even more indifferent: "Manager Lu, please speak."
Lu Feng put his hands in his sleeves and took a few more steps forward: "It's nothing serious, just that Minister Xie invited Minister Gu to come back to Zhuoyue Tower for a chat."
"Who are you referring to?"
Lu Feng hesitated for a moment—he had heard that Xie Gefu had also been missing for a long time. Could it be that the two of them were together? But that didn't make sense. Lu Feng had been following Gu Jinghong for some time and had not seen Xie Gefu. Besides, weren't the two of them at loggerheads before they left Zhuoyue Tower?
Therefore, he was certain: "Lu Feng is only acting as the secretary of the cabinet, so he naturally listens to what Minister Xie says."
Gu Jinghong suddenly burst into laughter, her voice like a silver bell, yet it sent chills down one's spine.
"Listen to Minister Xie? I'm afraid it's more likely that Manager Lu wants to replace Minister Xie!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Fengcheng's five fingers flashed before Gu Jinghong's eyes, striking straight at her slender neck.
She sidestepped, barely avoiding it.
The two men instantly clashed in the narrow alley.
Although Gu Jinghong was a cabinet minister, she was still a woman, and Lu Feng came from the Quan Zuo Pavilion, specializing in assassinations. As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise, so in the end, Gu Jinghong and Lu Feng fought to a draw.
No, she has to finish this quickly.
Lu Feng's palm strikes grew increasingly fierce, seemingly forcing Gu Jinghong to struggle to defend herself, causing her blood and qi to surge.
"Bang!" A heavy palm struck her shoulder. Gu Jinghong groaned and staggered back to the wall, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
A smug look flashed in Lu Feng's eyes. He took a step closer, and his cold fingers gripped her fragile throat.
Before he could release his strength, Lu Feng suddenly heard a faint sound coming from Gu Jinghong's wrist, and then felt a chill run down his neck.
The sensation was extremely subtle and swift, like winter snow falling on the tip of an eyebrow.
He subconsciously lowered his eyes, only to see Gu Jinghong flick her hand, and an almost invisible silver thread trembled onto his neck, a chill instantly assaulting his forehead.
“Secretary Lu,” Gu Jinghong said, “the rules of Qianyuan Pavilion stipulate that any order to ‘take action’ against the Pavilion Assistant must be given by the Pavilion Master himself. Don’t you understand?”
Lu Fengdao lowered his eyes and looked at the thin strands emerging from between Gu Jinghong's hands. Knowing that he had no way out, he decided to show his fighting spirit.
"Gu Jinghong! I know you are capable, taking Qin Jin's place without lifting a finger! But this time your fate is sealed. The Pavilion Master has personally ordered that you will not live much longer!"
"Oh? A personal order? What kind of personal order? Does it mean you, the newly appointed head of the organization, are to deal with me personally? When did the sect leader start to think so highly of you and so disdainfully of me? Or is this 'personal order'... actually something else? Like, a purge?"
Lu Feng's pupils contracted sharply. Although he tried his best to hide it, the shock and fear in that instant did not escape Gu Jinghong's eyes.
Gu Jinghong smiled, with a hint of pity: "Manager Lu, look, you risked your life to be loyal, and all you got in return was a vague order that might even eliminate you as well. As for me, although my 'fate has run its course,' it seems that I am the one who holds the power of life and death now."
She tightened the silver threads slightly, and a thin line of blood seeped from Lu Feng's neck.
"Shh..." she gestured for him to be quiet, "Don't let yourself die in such a shameful way... Manager Lu."
With a thud, a tall body suddenly fell to the ground.
Gu Jinghong took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth, then wiped her hands and the incredibly tough thread. Seeing that no one was around, she lightly touched the ground with her toes and flew back the way she came.
Not long after I left, Changfeng arrived.
What he saw was Lu Feng, almost unharmed, but indeed lying on the ground, unable to get up.
Changfeng moved closer and carefully examined Lu Feng's body. Finally, he found a very deep and fatal wound on his neck.
And it seemed that blood only began to flow silently from this scar after Changfeng examined it, flowing more and more...
...
Gu Jinghong silently slipped back inside the window like a falling leaf, quickly took off her coat and put it away, lay back on the bed, and adjusted her breathing, as if she had never left.
Almost simultaneously, the door was gently pushed open, and sunlight streamed in, outlining Xiao Chengyan's tall and slender figure. Backlit, his expression was obscured.
But his voice was deep and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing a sweet dream: "Ah Hong, take your medicine."
Gu Jinghong's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she had been awakened, and she slowly opened her hazy eyes.
Xiao Chengyan was already sitting on the edge of the bed. He naturally pulled her up and let her lean weakly against his chest, supporting her with his body.
He picked up a pill the size of a pearl from a jade porcelain box.
The pills are brown, perfectly round, and coated with a thick, glistening amber-colored sugar coating. They refract the light filtering through the windowpane, creating an alluring sheen, and emit a subtle, elegant sweet fragrance.
"The sugar coating made with osmanthus honey is easier to eat and will be more fragrant," he said softly, his warm breath gently brushing against Gu Jinghong, causing her cheeks to flush slightly.
Gu Jinghong took his hand, opened her mouth slightly, and put the pill in her mouth.
The sugar coating melts in your mouth, and the sweet taste of honey and the rich aroma of osmanthus instantly spread on your tongue, cleverly masking the slight bitterness of the medicinal ingredients inside.
She was about to casually say "So sweet" when she saw Xiao Chengyan's fingertip brush against her lips, then he subconsciously wiped his lips as well, before saying rather seriously, "Mmm..."
Gu Jinghong: "..."
Xiao Chengyan lowered his eyes and gave her a half-smile. "The coating is made with loquat and osmanthus honey, which is said to be the best for moisturizing the lungs and relieving dryness... Is it sweet enough?"
Gu Jinghong suppressed the strange feeling that crossed his mind and raised his still weary eyes: "Tian... thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."
For some reason, Xiao Chengyan felt that Ah Hong from before was much sweeter than Ah Hong now. Could it be just his imagination?
He slowly lowered his head, sealing away that sweet feeling, his hands seemingly wanting to let go uncontrollably.
It was at this moment—
Knock knock knock—
A knock came at the door.
Then came Changfeng's voice: "Your Highness, I have something to report."
A flash of murderous intent crossed Xiao Chengyan's eyes, but he quickly regained his cool demeanor.
"Ah Hong, you should rest first."
Gu Jinghong suppressed a laugh, but nodded obediently: "I've just taken my medicine, and I want to sleep a little longer."
Xiao Chengyan pushed open the door and went out, with Changfeng following him. The two went to another room.
Xiao Chengyan stood with his hands behind his back. "Kneel down."
Changfeng was stunned for a moment, but still knelt down instinctively. In a flash, he suddenly wanted to slap himself twice. He must have offended the prince with some "good thing" just now.
Xiao Chengyan seemed to ignore Changfeng and coldly said, "Speak."
"I was ordered by the Prince to follow that doctor. He did nothing unusual after returning to the clinic. But... on the way back, I found Lu Feng, the manager of Quanzuoge, in a dark alley in the west of the city. He was already dead."
Xiao Chengyan's expression remained unchanged: "Cause of death?"
"A very thin and deep ligature mark on the neck, the cut is smooth and there is almost no blood seeping out. It was... a fatal blow." Changfeng described it with a hint of fear. "The technique was extremely professional and skillful. I have never seen such a peculiar wound before. It doesn't look like a sword or knife, but rather like being strangled by... some kind of extremely tough thread."
A fleeting, intense light flashed in Xiao Chengyan's eyes, but it instantly returned to a calm, deep pool.
He was silent for a moment, then said, "'Ice Silkworm String'..."
Changfeng was taken aback: "What did you say, Your Highness?"
"It's nothing." Xiao Chengyan lowered his eyes again, as if his momentary lapse in concentration was just an illusion. "A legendary killing weapon, which only a top-tier expert can wield. I understand. Go down and clean up the body. Also, take care of that doctor."
"yes."
Changfeng remained kneeling, not daring to rise without the prince's permission.
Until he heard Xiao Chengyan say, "Get up."
Changfeng then got up and walked towards the door.
Only Xiao Chengyan remained in the study.
His gaze fell on a certain spot, which happened to be in the direction of Gu Jinghong's room.
What appeared before my eyes was her pale, frail appearance that afternoon, her brows furrowed as she refused to take her medicine.
In those deep eyes, emotions surged—concern and doubt, but after a moment, they all settled into a slight upturn at the corners of his lips.
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