Xie Jing's expression softened, but the maid standing by was stunned.
Did this temperamental youth actually like sweets?
Xie Jing took the candy, considering it an agreement.
Qin Jiujiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Xie Jing go to the outer room, Qin Jiujiu finally entered the inner chamber with peace of mind.
Inside the inner chamber.
It was a typical young woman's boudoir, with nothing else unusual.
But she noticed that Wu Jinchu had a special desk, and on this desk, there seemed to be a book that was not yet closed.
She walked closer to take a look, and found an envelope tucked inside the book.
There was no signature on the envelope.
"Madam, may I open this letter?"
Madam Wu scanned it. How could her daughter have any contact with outsiders that would lead to correspondence?
Even Lu Tingsheng did not engage in private letter writing.
Madam Wu paused, then took the letter from Qin Jiujiu's hand.
She opened it, and her expression changed drastically.
"Madam, what's wrong?"
Madam Wu hesitated for a moment, then handed the letter to Qin Jiujiu.
Lu Tingsheng had actually kept a mistress, and one brought back from the border.
This letter was from that mistress, saying that Lu Tingsheng and she were truly in love, and she hoped Wu Jinchu would cede Lu Tingsheng to her...
The last sentence was—Please, Miss Wu, meet me at Tianwaitian Restaurant.
Qin Jiujiu glanced at the time. The appointed time on the letter was the day before yesterday, the same day she met Wu Jinchu at Tianwaitian Restaurant.
So, Wu Jinchu went to Tianwaitian to meet this mistress.
This woman named Su Yingying.
"Madam, this matter is likely related to the woman who wrote this letter."
Madam Wu was clearly shocked by the content of the letter. After Qin Jiujiu spoke, she still seemed absent-minded, as if she had suffered a devastating blow.
"Madam?" Qin Jiujiu called again.
"Alright..."
Madam Wu's voice weakened considerably, perhaps because of the marriage, perhaps because her daughter had suffered such a calamity related to Lu Tingsheng, or perhaps something else...
Just then, a person dressed as a servant entered from outside.
"Madam, there's a Daoist priest causing a commotion outside the mansion, saying he wants to find Miss Qin..."
A Daoist priest?
Qin Jiujiu was first startled, then quickly recovered.
If it were so easy to recognize someone as a Daoist priest, then that person would have to be obviously disguised, and it wouldn't be Xie Yun and Bai Qianluo.
Then who else could it be?
"Excuse me, young man, how old is that Daoist priest?"
The servant thought for a moment and replied, "About forty or fifty years old."
It must be the Daoist master from Zhongnan Temple, she thought.
All the red decorations outside the Wu mansion were removed. By the time Qin Jiujiu and the others came out, there was no sign of festivity left in the Wu mansion.
Outside, several servants were blocking a Daoist priest's path because he was loudly demanding entry into the mansion.
"I said let Miss Qin come out, and you can let me in!"
Dao Qing spoke until his throat was dry to the three or five Daoist priests blocking him, but it was clearly useless.
Soon, he saw a familiar figure appear at the entrance.
Qin Jiujiu, Xie Jing, and Liu Jin appeared at the main entrance, looking towards him.
"It really is the Daoist master!" Liu Jin moved ahead and went up to Dao Qing.
"Daoist master!" As soon as Liu Jin arrived, the burly men quickly made way. They all knew that these were distinguished guests of the mansion, and were afraid of offending them.
"You're finally here, my throat is about to go hoarse..."
Dao Qing said with some grievance.
Qin Jiujiu and Xie Jing also arrived in front of them. She respectfully called out, "Dao Qing Daozhang."
Dao Qing turned his head, a faint smile on his face.
"Miss Jiujiu, long time no see, you don't look well~"
As he said this, Dao Qing's gaze gradually shifted to Xie Jing.
Xie Jing's face darkened the moment he saw him, and when their eyes met, it naturally didn't look any better.
It was Dao Qing who withdrew his gaze first, then looked at Madam Wu and said, "I've heard a little about Miss's illness, may I come in to take a look?"
Madam Wu hesitated looking at the Daoist priest before her. Qin Jiujiu also said, "Madam, please don't worry, this Daoist master is a friend to Ah Jin older sister and me. Perhaps if he goes in to take a look, there might be a glimmer of hope."
Liu Jin also added, "Madam, please don't worry, this Daoist master once saved my life!"
Hearing this, Madam Wu relented.
"Then please, Daoist master, come in and take a look at my daughter..."
...
"Madam, does Miss often cough up blood?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Madam Wu seemed to see hope and quickly replied, "Yes, she's been coughing up blood these past two days. I've invited many renowned physicians, but none of them were of any use. They couldn't even diagnose what illness it was..."
Dao Qing stroked his chin, his expression serious, "Miss has been poisoned by Gu. This Gu poison is prevalent in the Manluo Kingdom and is rarely seen in Shengqi Kingdom. Ordinary doctors naturally cannot diagnose it.
"Does the Daoist master mean you have a way to cure my daughter?"
Madam Wu stood up upon hearing this, the light in her eyes growing brighter.
Dao Qing shook his head.
Madam Wu seemed to lose all her strength and almost fell to the ground.
"Daoist master, is this poison incurable?" Qin Jiujiu asked.
"That's not what I mean, it's just that I don't know how to detoxify it. If we find a witch doctor from the Manluo Kingdom, they will naturally be able to cure this poison."
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?" Qin Jiujiu replied instinctively.
"I'm saying it now, aren't I?" he said calmly.
Qin Jiujiu was speechless for a moment by Dao Qing's retort and had to give up.
"Quick, quick, send someone to invite a witch doctor from the Manluo Kingdom, and pay handsomely!"
Madam Wu excitedly ordered her subordinates.
Although witch doctors from the Manluo Kingdom were not common, with substantial rewards, they should not be difficult to find.
"Yes, Madam, I'll go right away!"
Shen Guan.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor has arrived." Sheng HuaiZhi was looking at a memorial when a person entered the quiet room, his eunuch.
"Invite him in."
Sheng HuaiZhi put down the memorial and looked towards the door.
A figure in dark robes gradually approached. Sheng HuaiZhi's cold eyes flashed when he saw the person.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise."
Su Ming got up and looked at the golden figure seated above. Something flickered in his dark eyes.
"Your Majesty, that matter will soon be settled!"
"Have the people for the sacrifice been found?"
"One more is needed."
"Is there a candidate?"
Sheng HuaiZhi's initially cold face softened upon hearing this, and he even showed a look of ecstatic joy.
"There is... but..."
Su Ming's voice was intermittent, seeming hesitant.
"But what?" a trace of danger flashed in the cold eyes of the man on the throne.
"Your Majesty, the candidate was originally Miss Wu, Wu Jinchu..."
Su Ming cautiously probed.