"I'm not afraid of that savage..." Xue Ming said with a dark expression, helplessly pointing at the person clinging tightly to his waist in his arms. "She's been like this since getting in the carriage. She's calmer in dark places, as if what happened earlier really frightened her."
Xiao Jin Yu slightly furrowed his brow. "Does she have any injuries?"
Xue Ming's face flushed bright red. "I... how would I know what's on her body!"
Chu Chu looked at the slender figure buried against Xue Ming's chest and quietly approached. The moment she touched the icy cold hand gripping Xue Ming's waist, the woman suddenly screamed, desperately burrowing deeper into Xue Ming's embrace. Her thin body curled up tightly, trembling like a sieve. Chu Chu quickly retreated far away while Xue Ming flustered about. "You... don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."
The woman finally quieted down in Xue Ming's arms, sobbing softly. Xiao Jin Yu watched quietly for a while, then recalled what Ashina Suwu had said earlier. His brow darkened. "Xue Ming, take her to the guest room first... Chu Chu, go ask Mr. Gu to come."
"Yes!"
As soon as Gu He Nian arrived, regardless of how pitifully the woman was crying and making a scene, he followed his usual practice of shooing all unnecessary people to the outer room. Xue Ming stood rigidly by the doorway, his hands clenched tightly into fists. When the crying from inside the room suddenly stopped, Xue Ming felt his heart clench, his entire back turning icy cold.
After a brief silence in the room, Gu He Nian pushed the door open and came out, his face looking as if he'd been slapped hard. "Wang Ye, where did this girl come from?"
Xiao Jin Yu glanced at Xue Ming's tightly clenched fists before responding, "If nothing's amiss... she's the sister of Eunuch Qi who took his own life in the residence two days ago. Qi Lian, brought back from Grand Tutor Xue's residence."
Chu Chu couldn't match these two men's patience any longer and couldn't help asking, "Mr. Gu, was she frightened?"
Gu He Nian's brows knitted into a tight knot as he let out a heavy sigh. "If only she were just frightened. Someone has performed a wicked acupuncture technique on her..." Gu He Nian gritted his teeth. "Her mind is now like that of a two or three-year-old child."
Chu Chu was shocked. "Then... then treat her quickly!"
Gu He Nian slowly shook his head. "Can't be treated... These despicable methods were originally used against enemy spies. They're ruthless techniques meant to last a lifetime. Even the military camps don't use them anymore, yet some beast actually used this on such a young girl!"
Suddenly recalling Xue Rucheng's words - that stab, he should think carefully about it too...
Xiao Jin Yu struggled to maintain his composure, but his hands gripping the wheelchair armrests still trembled slightly.
Xue Ming tightened his brow and turned to leave, but was stopped by Xiao Jin Yu's sharp command, freezing in the doorway.
Xiao Jin Yu's voice carried no emotion, cold as ice. "She only lets you approach now, so you must stay here... There are matters at the Xue residence tonight. Don't go cause trouble."
Xue Ming paused, as if suddenly remembering something, then abruptly turned around, looking at Xiao Jin Yu in astonishment. "Before I went to Bright and Vast Studio, I saw four servants carrying something in through the back gate... wrapped in white cloth, like a dead person."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded slightly.
"Alright... I'll listen to you."Watching Xue Ming walk into the inner room somewhat disoriented, Xiao Jin Yu relaxed slightly. Just as he was about to thank Gu He Nian, before he could speak, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his chest, leaving him momentarily breathless. His face instantly turned ashen. Gu He Nian quickly retrieved a small bottle from his medicine chest, poured out a pill, and stuffed it into Xiao Jin Yu’s mouth. Chu Chu supported him with one hand while gently rubbing his chest with the other. It took Xiao Jin Yu quite a while to recover. He gave Gu He Nian a faint, bitter smile and whispered a thank you, his voice barely audible.
Gu He Nian sternly pressed the small bottle into Xiao Jin Yu’s hands. “Don’t thank this old man. If Your Highness can remain calm in all matters at all times, I will thank heaven and earth.”
Just as Chu Chu was about to defend Xiao Jin Yu, he respectfully replied, “I will remember… I fear there may be another person in need of your treatment tonight.”
“Your Highness, rest assured. This old man is advanced in years and does not sleep early.” Gu He Nian sighed silently. “Fortunately, there is some good news today… Your Highness, the Prince of Wu Commandery has regained consciousness.”
Chu Chu exclaimed joyfully, “That’s wonderful!”
“Not so wonderful,” Gu He Nian retorted irritably. “He’s only been recuperating for a few days and has already pushed himself to this state… Thankfully, he was originally a military commander who has crawled through piles of corpses and endured much hardship. Otherwise, who knows how many times he might have died already…”
Xiao Jin Yu frowned imperceptibly, his voice devoid of any hint of joy. “Thank you, sir.”
“Your Highness, shall we go see him?”
Xiao Jin Yu hesitated for a moment but still shook his head. “There’s no need…”
Chu Chu accompanied Xiao Jin Yu to rest at the Six Strategies Yard for a while before returning. As soon as they entered the gate of One Heart Garden, they saw Mu Yao standing at the entrance of the main hall, staring blankly at the ground.
Mu Yao was wrapped in a set of dirty clothes, seemingly picked up from somewhere, with glaring bloodstains on them, like a vibrant red peony blooming on his chest. Under the glow of the lantern at the door, his usually inconspicuous face remained as pale as paper.
Before Xiao Jin Yu could approach, Mu Yao spoke in a heavy, resolute tone, “Shi Niang is severely injured.”
A chill ran down Xiao Jin Yu’s spine, and his face instantly turned pale. Chu Chu anxiously grasped his hand. “Your Highness, don’t panic… I’ll go fetch Mr. Gu right away!”
“Imperial Concubine, Shi Niang wishes to see you.”
Chu Chu froze, her steps halting abruptly. “See me?”
Mu Yao nodded. Chu Chu looked at Xiao Jin Yu, who also gave a slight nod. Only then did she ask Mu Yao, “Where is she?”
“There’s only one empty room inside.”
“I understand!”
Watching Chu Chu quickly disappear from sight, Xiao Jin Yu turned his gaze to the bloodstains on Mu Yao’s chest. “Speak.”
Mu Yao pressed his thin, pale lips together. “When I woke up, I was in an underground torture chamber, suspended from the wall by two iron hooks piercing my collarbones… Xue Rucheng was torturing Shi Niang on the ground. Shi Niang had iron chains shackling her hands and feet, and she kept crying while looking at me… Since you said not to kill him, I only brought Shi Niang back.”
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