"Your Majesty, Miss Pei has woken up."
Wanji's words shattered the tranquility of Zhaoning Palace. The ancient book Jiang Yu was holding instantly fell to the ground. Jiang Yu subconsciously reached out to pick it up, but then realized that she was too heavy-bellied to bend over.
"This old servant is here."
Granny Ling quickly picked up the ancient book. "Your Highness, this old servant will accompany you to see Miss Pei."
"Hmm." Jiang Yu steadied herself. Even though she appeared calm on the surface, she couldn't help but feel a slight stirring in her heart when she heard that Pei Zhi had woken up. "I'll change my clothes."
Half an hour later, Jiang Yu appeared in the courtyard where Pei Zhi was.
"Your Majesty, I informed Wanji immediately after Miss Pei woke up. As per your previous instructions, you should go and see Miss Pei first."
Jiang Yu nodded upon hearing this and slowly walked into the house.
The smell of herbs was more pronounced inside the room, and Jiang Yu subconsciously frowned.
"You're awake. Mei Chu has gone to great lengths to wake you up these past few days." Jiang Yu sat by Pei Zhi's bedside. "When you suddenly fell into a coma before, I was on tenterhooks the whole time."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhi's lips moved slightly, as if she didn't know where to begin.
“I know you must have realized something… If you know anything about what poison I have been given, please tell me.”
Jiang Yu looked at Pei Zhi in an almost pleading tone.
“I’ve been thinking about this these past few days. Back when I was in the Yun family, I did meet members of the Pei family. You were there when we were seeking justice for Madam Yun, so I have met you.”
Jiang Yu's words made Pei Zhi tremble violently, "Was it you... who poisoned me?"
"It wasn't me!"
Pei Zhi's tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she shook her head frantically, "It wasn't me... I really wouldn't poison you, it wasn't me... it wasn't me..."
“But only you had the opportunity to poison me. Since I returned to Dayu, Mei Chu has been examining my pulse and found that my weakness has disappeared. Before I returned to Dayu, I had only seen you.”
Jiang Yu grabbed Pei Zhi's hand and placed it on her own protruding belly.
“The child is now fully formed, and I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, but the child is innocent, and as a mother, I can’t watch my child get hurt.”
Jiang Yu's gaze made Pei Zhi almost unable to meet her eyes. "So, please, I'm begging you, tell me what you know... okay?"
Jiang Yu's tears fell without her realizing it, but she seemed oblivious, staring intently at Pei Zhi.
Just then, the baby in her belly moved, and Pei Zhi couldn't hold back her emotions any longer.
Wasn't that how her mother looked forward to her birth?
"I really don't know, maybe...maybe Pei Jian used me to poison you. Let me check your pulse." Just as Pei Zhi was speaking, the baby in her belly moved again. Pei Zhi grabbed Jiang Yu's wrist and began to check Jiang Yu's pulse.
They talked for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but Pei Zhi still couldn't come to a conclusion.
Seeing this, Jiang Yu closed her eyes briefly. "Does your Pei family also have poisonous insects or something similar...?"
Immediately, Pei Zhi's hand trembled as she took his pulse. "Perhaps it existed decades ago, but later the Pei family issued a prohibition order, forbidding the appearance of things like Gu worms in the Pei family."
"But what if someone violates this prohibition?"
No, it won't.
Pei Zhi steadied herself. "This is a prohibition order issued by my grandfather. If anyone violates it, the head of the family will personally deal with it and impose the death penalty."
The Pei family nearly fell into ruin because of a Gu worm, hence this ban.
"What if the one who violates the prohibition is the head of the Pei family?"
......
“Miss Pei, could you write down all the Gu worms that you remember appearing in the Pei family’s ancient books?” Mei Chu also entered the room. “And most importantly, those Gu worms need to be nourished with fresh blood, including Jiang family blood.”
As Pei Zhi listened to Mei Chu's description, the image of a Gu worm gradually surfaced in her mind, but the next second she kicked the thought out of her mind. No way, how could that be?
"I......"
Jiang Yu observed Pei Zhi's expression from the side, and then slowly said, "Miss Pei, sometimes the least likely answer is the right answer."
“But those Gu worms need human blood to feed them, and they’ve been using the blood of the people who feed them for decades.” Pei Zhi’s eyes showed a hint of confusion. “How could Pei Jian, who cherishes himself so much, possibly bleed himself every day to feed the Gu worms?”
"He didn't smell of blood on him."
Pei Zhi talked on and on, but Jiang Yu and Mei Chu remained silent. After a few moments, Jiang Yu smiled and asked, "What kind of Gu worm is this?"
"Mother-Child Gu".
Pei Zhi looked at Jiang Yu's belly, climbed off the bed with some difficulty, and walked to Jiang Yu. "This must be a very cute child."
"If you can confirm that it is indeed a mother-child Gu, then come find me."
Jiang Yu seemed to understand Pei Zhi's words, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. "Thank you."
After Jiang Yu and Mei Chu left, a familiar voice rang out, and Ahao was brought over.
"Miss, are you alright?"
Pei Zhi looked Ahao up and down, and seeing that Ahao's injuries had improved a lot, she spoke again, "I'm fine, but you, you didn't even rest in bed after your broken bones."
"Only when I'm by Miss's side can Ah Hao feel at ease."
"Ah Hao, that porcelain bottle..." Before Pei Zhi could finish speaking, Ah Hao took out the porcelain bottle from her chest. "This is the culmination of Miss's efforts over the years. Ah Hao always carries it with her."
"Okay, it's good that everything is alright."
Pei Zhi gripped the white porcelain bottle tightly, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
......
The day after Jiang Yu met Pei Zhi, Wan Ji practically stumbled into Zhaoning Palace. The palace servants were quite surprised; they hadn't seen Eunuch Wan in such a hurry in all these years.
"Your Majesty!"
Wanji gasped for breath, "Pei Jian sent the Second Prince a packet of white powder, saying that he wanted the Second Prince to find a way to make you smell the powder."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu gripped the armrest of the chair tightly. "Where's the powder?"
"Dr. Mei has already taken the powder to Miss Pei, saying he wants to study it with her." Wanji was extremely excited, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope.
"I understand. Wanji, go and keep an eye on things over there. If there is any news, be sure to inform me immediately."
That's great, that's great...
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