By the time Shen Ling learned of all this, it was too late.
She tilted her head, pondered for a long time, looked at the sunset on the horizon, and revealed an innocent yet sad smile...
There was a hint of evil about him.
Upon hearing footsteps behind him, he reverted to his usual aloof demeanor.
He was aloof and detached, with no emotion in his eyes, seemingly detached from worldly affairs.
"Your Highness, you're back." Shen Ling raised her head and gave a gentle smile.
It was as if the one exiled to the frontier, about to die, was not her brother, but a complete stranger.
This calm and collected demeanor is paired with the face of a stunningly beautiful young woman, a beauty that appears only once in a millennium.
She stood up, performed a curtsy, and then showed a slight expression of surprise.
He walked behind Gu Mu and picked up an insect with his hand.
"How come there's a poisonous insect on Your Highness's shoulder?" Shen Ling asked with a smile, holding the insect in her hand.
Is this a poisonous insect?
Gu Mu recalled that in the original owner's memories, he had indeed been poisoned by an unknown poison after attending court on the first day.
Then, the original owner was unlucky enough to get blisters all over his body and almost died from the infection.
Therefore, Gu Mu was extremely careful throughout the journey, having assassins follow him the whole way, and even the food was tasted by eunuchs before being eaten.
Unexpectedly, the poison that caused the original owner to be poisoned was actually a worm.
"You recognize this?" Gu Mu discovered the blind spot.
This is not a common insect. The fact that it appeared on Gu Mu suggests that it was specially bred by someone to kill people.
Shouldn't the young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion, Shen Ling, have been learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood? How come she knows this?
"I learned a wide variety of subjects from a young age, so I know a little bit about them."
Shen Ling answered slowly and calmly.
Gu Mu then discovered another blind spot.
Since she had learned this from a young age, Shen Ling should have already discovered it when the original owner was poisoned by the insects.
But at that time, she wanted to hide her talents and remained silent, without saying a word or offering any reminders.
The original owner suffered so much.
Now that he's returned from his revenge, why does it feel like he doesn't want him to die?
...Could it be that his queen, on the surface, is an ethereal and otherworldly little elf, but in reality, a cunning and morbid demon king?
Gu Mu gave Shen Ling a cool look.
Shen Ling looked at Gu Mu with a cool expression.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"You're welcome."
As the last rays of sunlight faded, Shen Ling, standing in the last warmth of the sun, watched Gu Mu's retreating figure, bathed in a golden glow by the sunlight.
She blinked, revealing two mischievous little tiger teeth.
"Your Highness, you owe me so much..."
"How can I just die at someone else's hands?"
"If you're going to die, I'll have to do it myself."
"And it will definitely be an unforgettable experience for you..."
Shen Ling seemed to be in a good mood, with a smile on her face. With a little force, the poisonous insect between her hands was crushed and burst out with juice.
Then, expressionless, he wiped it clean with a handkerchief.
...
The setting sun disappeared completely into the dark clouds.
The entire land gradually darkened.
Gu Mu returned to his study.
His face gradually darkened.
Who... poisoned it?
In his previous life, the original owner had a brush with death, but he couldn't even find out if the poisoning was caused by poisonous insects.
This person can secretly place poisonous insects on him...
Who could it be?
However, such poisonous insects must be extremely rare, because the original owner did not experience such a situation again after that incident.
Fortunately, the princess is here; surely she won't let him be poisoned so easily...
After all, the princess didn't save the original owner of this body, but she saved him.
...Gu Mu thought with a touch of pride.
"No matter who poisoned you, as long as they oppose Your Highness, I will kill them all. Then no one will be able to threaten you!" The loyal voice of my hidden assassin, who was nowhere to be seen by anyone, rang out in the air.
As a suicide squad member, he had only two beliefs: to absolutely obey Gu Mu's orders and to protect Gu Mu's safety.
Therefore, he believed that his suggestions were reasonable.
It's just a bit brutal.
Gu Mu lit the candlelight in his study and picked up the memorial: "I wish to be a wise ruler."
Even with immense power and influence.
The youthful passion is hard to cool.
In the candlelight, only Gu Mu's figure remained, intently reading the memorial.
...Or rather, I want to be a wise ruler, even though I'm a villain.
Gu Mu, who was engrossed in reading the memorials, inexplicably felt a draft on his head.
Looking up, I saw an empty tile hole.
? ? ?
At the same time, a dart with a note attached shot out from the hole in the roof and hit Gu Mu's desk.
Gu Mu grabbed the note and broke through the window. The rooftop was empty; the person had already left.
However, on a windless night, the sound of rustling leaves could be heard from the direction of the Princess's Shenling Courtyard.
This is the sound made by someone with good agility stepping on a tree branch.
It seems the princess, like him, has a penchant for prying at rooftops.
Sitting on a tree branch, Gu Mu opened the note.
Seeing the above content—
"The famine in Jiangnan has lasted for several months, but officials have concealed the situation. We hope that disaster relief can be provided."
In the original owner's memory, there was no memory of the famine in Jiangnan at all.
If that's the case, then it makes sense that the original owner's country was destroyed a few years after he ascended the throne.
This country is utterly rotten at its unseen foundations.
Princess Shen Ling sent him this message specifically in the hope that he could save her, right?
Save these common people, the people of the world.
Gu Mu sighed softly.
Perhaps Shen Ling was originally a kind girl. Although she coldly watched the original owner being poisoned, it only shows that she was cold-hearted and had no feelings for the original owner. Not helping was her duty, but helping was a matter of kindness.
But in a broader sense,
She was willing to marry the regent, whom she had never met, for the sake of her family.
Even without any feelings involved, she diligently managed everything in the Prince's mansion.
Knowing full well that the court was corrupt and the country would be destroyed, and that the original owner would suffer a tragic end, he still thought of sending a message to his enemy, hoping that the people would be safe and sound.
If it weren't for the pain of losing family members one by one...
Betrayed by both her husband and his sister...
In the prime of life, he drank that pot of poison...
She should be like any other girl, laughing happily, dreaming about the future, and cherishing her family...
Instead of watching her brother meet the same end as in her previous life and remaining unmoved.
Instead of revealing deep-seated hatred in a relaxed and casual tone in a secluded place.
She was clearly a carefree little girl.
But she became a little devil that no one could get into her heart.
...But it doesn't matter, I'm the biggest villain in the world.
As long as I don't bully you, no one can bully you.
Gu Mu urged Shen to resign from his post on the frontier.
It was to obtain hybrid rice.
But he never really considered letting a young and promising loyal minister die.
If a villain goes through a villainous plot in an unconventional way, can he be considered an unconventional villain?
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