Nan Shiying looked at the hibiscus tofu soup on the table, her heart trembling.
She scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth. The fragrance of hibiscus flowers and the sweetness of tofu bloomed on her tongue. Her slightly lowered eyes seemed to hold a mist.
It was still the taste from her memory.
This was a cheap and delicious soup that Granny Wang had painstakingly created to allow the original owner to eat the pastries she yearned for.
However—
Nan Shiying knew better than anyone where Granny Wang was at this moment.
Recalling the elder who had been castrated and turned into a human pig, Nan Shiying clenched her fists tightly. The porcelain soup spoon in her hand snapped, and the sharp ceramic shards pierced her skin. "Drip, drip, drip~" Blood dripped from her fingers, hitting the table with crisp sounds.
"Your Highness!"
Lv Wan's pupils contracted, and she gasped out a soft cry.
The crimson blood reflected in his eyes, and Ji Jinmo's heart tightened inexplicably. The dull ache that instantly flooded his body made him grab Nan Shiying's wrist. He could no longer maintain the detached and stern demeanor he had even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, and his voice seemed to carry a hint of trembling, "Ying'er!"
Nan Shiying turned her head. In the depths of her calm eyes, something seemed to be roaring and simmering. Ji Jinmo frowned, his heart full of worry, "You—"
Nan Shiying lowered her eyelids.
The warmth surging from her wrist was like the mist rising when simmering medicinal soup. The surging killing intent in her heart gradually receded. When she looked up again, her gaze had become gentle and serene.
"My Lord, I am fine."
Nan Shiying did not immediately withdraw her hand, which was tightly held by Ji Jinmo. Instead, she patted his hand, the soft touch fleeting, but the residual warmth made Ji Jinmo freeze for a moment.
He lowered his eyes and slowly released his hand.
Nan Shiying looked up, her gaze drifting between Nan Yuan'er and Madam Liu.
The appearance of this soup today was absolutely not a coincidence. So, who was trying to do something in Granny Wang's name again?
Nan Yuan'er? Madam Liu? Or Nan Yu Jin?
Nan Shiying had no clue for the moment.
"My Lord, I'm going out for some fresh air." Nan Shiying did not let Lv Wan or any other maid follow her. She got up and left the banquet hall.
...
The pavilion was far from the courtyard where she had once lived. As she walked into a corridor, Nan Shiying heard a suppressed sob.
She was slightly stunned.
Before she could react, she witnessed a meticulously prepared annual drama.
She darted aside, hiding in the blind spot between the two figures at the corner.
...
Mu Baiyu looked at the girl crying prettily before him. Her misty eyes were wide with surprise, and her rosy cheeks were adorned with crystal tears, like a lilac flower veiled in mist and rain. Her scent was like floral fragrance mixed with fresh fruit.
Mu Baiyu was momentarily lost in thought. Something seemed to be resonating fiercely in his roaring mind, and then the roaring sound poured into his ears and flowed back into his heart.
His heart was thundering like a war drum.
Drum, drum, drum, drum~
A Gu master?
Although Nan Shiying had not studied Gu techniques, she had been forced by Yue Sinan to learn a lot of theoretical knowledge to avoid being secretly harmed by Gu.
What is Gu, the classification of Gu worms, the characteristics of Gu raisers, and the physical and mental reactions and changes after being infected with Gu.
Just by looking at the red line-like mark on the girl's exposed wrist in Mu Baiyu's arms, Nan Shiying knew what kind of Gu technique this person excelled at.
Love Gu!
Entwined by love, a Gu leading to madness.
Although Love Gu was not a Gu worm that took lives, once infected, the infected person would lose their sanity and fall madly in love with the person who cast the Gu, or rather, madly fall in love with the holder of another paired Gu worm.
How could there be a Gu master in the Nan residence?
Did they sneak in, or...
Nan Shiying's eyes flickered, and countless thoughts instantly surfaced in her mind.
She thought for a moment, her hand twitched, and a silver needle instantly appeared between her fingers. With a flip of her wrist, the silver needle was thrown out.
The subtle air current created by the tiny silver needle was minimal. The silver needle pierced the air and instantly entered the man's body.
It blocked the vital point of his carotid artery.
Mu Baiyu's expression froze, and clarity returned to his eyes.
"Girl, are you alright!"
He quickly took a step back, widening the distance between himself and the other person. His face was a little embarrassed and shy, but his eyes were clear and bright, without any signs of infatuation.
How could this be?
A hint of surprise flashed in the Gu master's eyes. She urged the other Love Gu in her body. The Gu worm hissed, and an imperceptible sound wave emanated from Mu Baiyu's body, but the vibration frequency of this sound wave was much slower than normal.
Was it unaccustomed?
She was not sure!
But one thing was certain, the Gu worm had indeed entered Mu Baiyu's body.
The Gong Prince's mansion had remained in a neutral position for too long. In this Lin Yuan capital, neutral fringe figures and loyal ministers were not needed; the more ambitious individuals, the better, and the more opposing officials, the better. If this eldest grandson of the Mu family could be controlled, it would be equivalent to controlling the entire Gong Prince's mansion.
Her mind raced, but she maintained a timid and grateful expression. She lowered her head, hiding the blush that crept up her cheeks, and bowed to Mu Baiyu, "This servant thanks you, young master."
Mu Baiyu's heart beat faster, and he felt an irresistible emotion rushing towards his brain at lightning speed.
"Hiss~"
The sudden stinging pain in his neck instantly shattered everything. Mu Baiyu gasped in pain.
Hearing the sound of inhalation in her ears, the Gu master's lips curved into an alluring smile.
It worked!
She looked up, leaving Mu Baiyu with a shy smile, "This servant takes her leave!"
With that, she turned and ran.
Mu Baiyu looked at her retreating figure, scratching his head in confusion. What... he wasn't a ferocious beast, was there a need to run like this????
Sensing the gaze from behind, the Gu master's face lit up with a triumphant smile. The next moment, she suppressed her triumph, and just as her figure was about to disappear from Mu Baiyu's sight, she turned her head as she ran.
What the heck, her facial features were all messed up!
Nan Shiying almost couldn't help but laugh. Others would turn back with a charming smile, but for you, it turned into a smile with distorted features.
If you can't seduce, don't try.
Without the boost of the Gu worm, you're really not good enough!!!