Ouyang Qinglin left, wounded.
As he departed, Crown Prince Nan Rongqi, along with many other princes and onlookers, also began to leave.
Crown Prince Nan Rongqi, unable to fulfill the earlier demand to loudly proclaim himself a "scumbag" due to his minor oversight, had to pay a price.
He was extremely unwilling as he left.
Fortunately, Gu Yefeng, the eldest son of the Gu family, remained loyal to him, his allegiance unaffected by his sister's affair. Gu Yefeng also specifically provided Crown Prince Nan Rongqi with a list of individuals within the Gu clan who had extensive businesses outside and answered only to Yijun Tang. In addition, Gu Yefeng handed over the accounting records of Yijun Tang to Crown Prince Nan Rongqi.
Thus, Yijun Tang officially fell into Crown Prince Nan Rongqi's hands.
This outcome greatly pleased Nan Rongqi.
Concurrently, Gu Yefeng was granted the important position of overseeing the Yuting Guard.
The Yuting Guard was responsible for matters concerning the Eastern Palace's inner court, and this position allowed unrestricted access to the Eastern Palace, as well as the ability to enter the palace for official business with Crown Prince Nan Rongqi without an imperial summons.
Regarding the murder that occurred at the Gu family banquet, while it proved that the suspect was not Gu Qianying, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, the incident had taken place within the Gu residence.
Consequently, the Gu clan was in a state of tension, fearing implication in the murder.
To appease the Gu clan and to thoroughly investigate the matter, Old General Gu submitted a memorial to the Emperor, requesting that officials from the Dali Temple, who handled murder investigations, be allowed to participate in the inquiry.
The bodies of the two poisoned young ladies had already been taken away by the Dali Temple, and their respective households had been notified.
That evening, Old General Gu dispatched people to meticulously search every residential room within the mansion.
In addition to this, he had people investigate all the young ladies and ladies from outside families who had attended the banquet that day, to prevent the possibility of a staged event designed to frame members of the Gu clan.
However, after extensive investigation, those from outside the family were quickly cleared of suspicion.
Old General Gu concluded that the culprit must be someone within the household.
The front courtyard of the Gu mansion.
"Did you hear? They've caught the murderer who poisoned Miss Li and another young lady from outside."
"Ah? Really? They caught them? Who is it?"
"I heard it's someone from our mansion!"
"Ah, no way! How could there be such a cruel and wicked person in our mansion?"
"Tell me about it, I'm so scared. By the way, do you know who the murderer is?"
"Who?"
"It seems to be someone from Fourth Miss's chambers!"
"Ah, Fourth Miss? No way, Fourth Miss never seemed so cruel. How could she...?"
"She doesn't seem like it, huh! Do you think a bad person would have 'bad person' written on their face?"
"That's true. But Fourth Miss is truly audacious. This is murder! Isn't she afraid of being caught and going to jail?"
"Ha, you're joking. Jail? If a concubine's daughter is found guilty of poisoning an outside young lady, do you think our Old Master Gu would hand Fourth Miss over to the authorities instead of killing her on the spot to appease the two families?"
"That's true. Alas! Our Fourth Miss has truly dug her own grave!"
At this moment.
The Gu mansion was abuzz with activity.
The maids and wet nurses below were all whispering about the hottest topic of the day.
The true culprit behind the poisoning of the two young ladies from outside families.
Strangely enough, before noon today, Old General Gu's men found the ingredients for Gu poison, specifically the saliva of the Gu King, in the room of Fourth Miss Gu Yumei.
With the saliva of the Gu King, it was possible to cultivate Gu insects.
In addition to this, numerous materials for creating "Gu incense," a poisonous incense, were also discovered in the room.
Regardless of whether Gu Yumei knew how to make Gu incense, the items found in her room left her with no explanation.
Naturally, being framed by someone else could also be a plausible explanation.
However, after Old General Gu's men interrogated the maids and wet nurses in her room one by one, they were all terrified and confessed everything.
"Grandfather, your granddaughter is innocent. I implore you to investigate thoroughly."
Gu Yumei knelt on the ground, weeping profusely.
Beside her.
The maids and wet nurses from her chambers were kneeling on the floor.
Old General Gu sat at the head.
Master Gu, Gu Kun, sat to the right.
On the other side sat the legitimate daughter Gu Qianying, Second Miss Gu Mingyue, and Third Miss Gu Ziran.
Some other relatives of the Gu clan were also present.
This case concerned the prosperity of the Gu clan, so naturally, other members of the Gu clan were present.
After all, all the princes were present when the murder occurred, and to provide an explanation to the princes,
Although the true culprit behind the poisoning of the young ladies from outside families was revealed today, it was also a domestic matter for the Gu mansion. Therefore, Ninth Prince Nangong Mo was not present. At this moment, he was leisurely sitting in his room, drinking tea and playing chess.
"Has the person been sent?"
Dropping a chess piece, Nangong Mo looked up at Bai Qi.
Bai Qi did not dare to use his own chess pieces to surround Nangong Mo's. He held a white piece and moved it back and forth at the edge: "Reporting to my lord, the person has been sent to Eldest Miss."
"Hmm, did she say anything?"
"Reporting to my lord, Eldest Miss asked this subordinate to thank you on her behalf and to invite my lord to their mansion for a meal another day."
"Crack!"
Nangong Mo's chess piece landed heavily. His gaze was cold: "Is she trying to drive this king away?"
Bai Qi dared not breathe, but he muttered inwardly: Of course, you old man should go back. After all, this is the Gu mansion. You've been watching this person for many days, and you've been treating her illness for many days. It should be about time, right?
Everyone in their mansion knew that their lord had ostensibly gone to the Gu mansion to have Eldest Miss Gu try to detoxify and treat his illness, but his true intention was that their lord missed Gu Qianying day and night. To alleviate his longing, he shamelessly found an excuse that even they found incredibly absurd and stayed for a few days.
Originally, he thought that this time their lord would be able to achieve the impossible, and bring Gu Qianying back with him. However, after many days of being together, their lord hadn't even kissed Gu Qianying.
The plan of the steward to have a little prince this year seemed precarious!
"My leg seems to have improved somewhat," Nangong Mo said indifferently.
"Really?" Bai Qi asked ecstatically, stunned.
Nangong Mo looked at him without speaking.
Bai Qi quickly reacted: "Yes, yes, it has improved. So Eldest Miss Gu's method is quite effective. Therefore, my lord should stay for a few more days. Perhaps in a few days, my lord will be able to stand up."
"Hmm," Nangong Mo replied expressionlessly.
Bai Qi's mouth twitched fiercely.
Fine!
Their lord was clearly clinging to Eldest Miss Gu!
Suddenly.
A carrier pigeon flew in.
Bai Qi quickly got up to catch it.
As the pigeon landed in his hand, it obediently spread its wings.
Bai Qi extracted the paper strip from the small bamboo tube and presented it to Nangong Mo.
As he read the contents of the paper strip, Nangong Mo's usually cold eyes deepened.
"Bai Qi, return to the mansion!"
Bai Qi was stunned for a moment, then quickly began to pack, and also notified the other brothers.
"No need to alarm anyone."
"Yes, your subordinate understands."
The Ninth Prince's return to the mansion would inevitably alert the people of the Gu mansion.
However, at this moment, the people of the Gu mansion were all in the front courtyard. By the time they were notified, Bai Qi had already pushed Nangong Mo away and left.
And at this moment, in the main hall of the front courtyard.
Gu Yumei was still crying out about her innocence.
Lu Zhu, the maid beside Gu Qianying, was called out by a maid below. When she returned, her expression was solemn, and she quickly whispered a few words into Gu Qianying's ear.
Following Lu Zhu's words, a cold glint appeared in Gu Qianying's eyes.
"Grandfather, you must believe your granddaughter. Your granddaughter is truly innocent..."
"Slap!"
The sound of a slap interrupted Gu Yumei's words.
Gu Yumei was stunned for a moment. She covered her face and glared at Gu Qianying, who stood before her, in disbelief: "Eldest Sister, why did you hit me?"
Gu Qianying's gaze was slightly cold. She looked at her and said word by word: "Because you deserve it!"
With that, Gu Qianying ordered the young servants waiting outside the hall: "Come here, tie up Second Miss Gu Mingyue and Fourth Miss Gu Yumei for me!"