"Your Highness, the assassination attempt at the Shen residence was baseless from the start. Furthermore, the assassin you detained confessed that I ordered the assassination, proving they are lying and untrustworthy. Why would you believe such falsehoods, or do you truly think I wish to kill you?"
In the imperial court, facing Ji Jinmo's relentless pressure, Ji Hong did not flinch.
The civil and military officials were clearly divided, separated by a walkway, yet their actions at this moment were strangely unified—they lowered their heads to look at their feet, daring not to speak.
"So, was it His Majesty or not?"
Opposing the formidable Ji Hong, Ji Jinmo laid all his cards on the table. Previously, they still maintained some semblance of restraint and dignity; now, they had completely fallen out.
"And if I say it was?"
Ji Hong narrowed his eyes. His body leaned slightly forward, making him resemble a cleaver, his presence so commanding it seemed capable of splitting mountains and overturning seas.
Everyone felt a heaviness descend upon their backs; the fainthearted nearly collapsed on the spot.
"If the sovereign orders a subject to die, the subject must die. As long as Your Majesty speaks the word, I will personally present my head."
No one took this statement seriously.
For anyone else, saying "if the sovereign orders a subject to die, the subject must die" would be an expression of loyalty and patriotism. But coming from Ji Jinmo, it was a clear declaration of regicide and usurpation.
If the sovereign orders a subject to die, then the subject must die. Thus, the subject naturally deserved to be the sovereign.
This statement held another layer of meaning.
If His Majesty admitted to the assassination, then Ji Jinmo would have grounds for regicide.
"Uncle, you jest. How could I bear to let you die?"
Ji Hong leaned back, his tensed muscles visibly relaxing. His hand, gripping the dragon-shaped armrest of the imperial throne, lightly supported itself. His fingertips caressed the dragon's whiskers, a faint smile playing on his lips, devoid of any of his earlier ferocity.
Most of the Demon Hunter Army's strength remained at the border and could not be easily recalled. At present, His Majesty controlled enough Xuanjia Army troops to suppress the remaining Demon Hunter Army.
The plan devised that day was an overt stratagem.
His Majesty had deliberately dispersed Ji Jinmo's military forces, leading to Ji Jinmo's current perceived weakness. This was the first time since the King and His Majesty began their confrontations that His Majesty held a slight advantage.
In the end, the two parted on bad terms.
His Majesty did not withdraw the Xuanjia Army troops blockading the Shen residence, claiming it was for confinement and supervision. However, any discerning observer could see this as protection for the Shen family.
Ji Jinmo, using the assassination as a pretext, mobilized three full battalions and surrounded the Regent's mansion—*I've surrounded myself, so Your Majesty can no longer use protection as an excuse to blockade my Regent's mansion, right?*
Before Nan Shi even entered the capital, news flew into her ears like paper scraps.
First, Zou Yun'er's premature labor, then the Emperor's general amnesty for the Shen family's crimes, followed by both sides using the capital as a chessboard to maneuver their troops.
She had only been away for just over half a month, and so much had already happened.
*Sigh, this sentence sounds familiar. Did I say this before?*
Nan Shi Ying clicked her tongue. The carriage entered the capital and proceeded through a side gate into the princely manor. Ying Ti dismounted, carrying the former楼主 of the Ten Thousand Grottoes Tower. Jia Huan, seeing the other's pitiful state, clicked his tongue.
"Where's the old man?"
Nan Shi Ying glanced around, not seeing the Poison Elder. Jia Huan, hearing her question, didn't know how to answer.
"I'm asking you, where is he?"
Nan Shi Ying raised her voice.
"The Poison Elder is resting in his room!"
Ji Jinmo emerged from the corridor, stepping through the arched doorway. Before he arrived, his voice preceded him. Nan Shi Ying looked up, following the sound. Having not seen him for days, he appeared to have lost weight, his eye sockets somewhat sunken. She wondered if it was the dark brocade robe he wore that made his face seem even paler.
Nan Shi Ying walked quickly towards him, grasping his wrist and simultaneously placing her fingers on his pulse. Seeing her frown, Ji Jinmo reached out and smoothed the vertical frown lines between her brows. He clasped her hand in return, tightening his grip.
"You've traveled a long way. Let's go loosen your muscles first!"
Lü Wan had already prepared a hot bath, and the kitchen was busy preparing food. No matter how important other matters were, they could wait for this moment.
"I'll go see the old man first!"
Nan Shi Ying shook her head, refusing Ji Jinmo's offer. She was simply too worried.
Ji Jinmo hummed in agreement, "Very well, I'll go with you!"
The sun was bright that day. Gou Zi was pushing the Poison Elder in a wheelchair into the courtyard to bask in the sun. Nan Shi Ying stepped through the courtyard gate and saw the old man sitting in a wheelchair under a grape trellis. He was as thin as a skeleton, his eyelids drooping as if they would never open again, or perhaps could never open again.
"Old man!"
She called out to him.
The Poison Elder slowly raised his eyelids. His vision was unfocused, only able to vaguely make out an outline. Yet, even this outline was enough for him to recognize who had arrived.
"You're back?"
The Poison Elder breathed shallowly, his head leaning to his right shoulder, exuding an aura of imminent decay.
Nan Shi Ying approached the Poison Elder and took his wrist. The faint, life-less pulse felt like a rusty blunt knife, striking her heart as it passed along her fingers. Nan Shi Ying pursed her lips. The Poison Elder raised his hand, only to let it fall powerlessly midway.
Nan Shi Ying released his wrist and turned to grip the wheelchair's armrest, pushing him towards the courtyard exit.
Gou Zi hurried to follow.
"Old man, I've brought back the former楼主 of the Ten Thousand Grottoes Tower. With him here, you won't die."
The Poison Elder did not speak, simply leaning back in the wheelchair. The bright sun overhead shone down, making it difficult to open his eyes. Sunlight danced on his eyelashes and brows. Feeling the vibrant life force from all directions, the Poison Elder suddenly became lost in thought. In a daze, he thought he had returned to Medicine King Valley, standing by a mountain stream, with the chirping of insects and birds, and the babbling of the creek.
He wanted to go home.
The wheelchair suddenly bumped, and the light and shadow before the Poison Elder shattered, replaced by darkness and cold.
He squinted, unable to see the path ahead, only faintly hearing choked cries and roars.
Nan Shi Ying mentioned the former楼主 and roughly tore open his clothes.
The male larvae would reside in the host's heart, but the female larvae were different. The female larvae would reside at the Da Zhui acupoint, which is beneath the most prominent bone at the back of the neck. Da Zhui connects the head and body, acting as a pivot. The female worm's tentacles could penetrate the heart and brain.
Nan Shi Ying pinched the protruding bone at the back of his neck.
"Mmph—"
The楼主 of the Ten Thousand Grottoes Tower struggled violently the moment he saw the Poison Elder. His jaw had been dislocated, yet he persistently tried to speak. He strained to lift his head, looking at the person controlling his life. In the eager and distorted depths of his eyes, Nan Shi Ying saw the meaning he wished to convey: he had something to say.
Nan Shi Ying stepped on his back, pinning him to the ground. He could no longer lift his head. Afterward, she took out silver needles and sealed the various major acupoints on his body.