Xingxing gasped, "The little maid said the false Old Madam died imdiately upon learning about the Third Master."
The Third Master’s scandal had long been the talk of the town, known to everyone.
Even now, the brothels in the Capital City haven’t recovered from the shock.
The Prince had said that as long as the false Old Madam was alive, Aunt Ding should also remain alive. After Aunt Ding learned of the matter, no one was allowed to inform the false Old Madam to avoid overwhelming her.
Today, Aunt Ding felt unwell, and two maids brought her food. As soon as they opened the door, they slled a stench.
The two maids sighed deeply.
After all, a few months ago she was the high and mighty Old Madam. Who would’ve thought she would fall to such a state?
Chatting inevitably led to discussing the Third Master.
If not for the false Old Madam’s indulgence, how could the Third Master have brought Aunt Xue into the mansion?
Without bringing her into the mansion, how could anything have happened to the Third Master?
The false Old Madam never expected her son to beco a cripple, overwheld with grief.
By the ti Aunt Ding realized, it was too late.
Listening to Xingxing describe the Old Madam bleeding from six orifices, leaving only one ear capable of hearing, Qin Hanhan frowned deeply and questioned Su Jin, "How could she bleed from six orifices?"
Su Jin shook her head, "I don’t know either; it was very sudden."
Seeing Qin Hanhan’s frown, Su Jin asked, "What’s the matter?"
Qin Hanhan looked at her, "In our Southern Border, there’s a type of Gu worm that enters the body. Upon hearing flute music, the worm becos agitated, and those infected will exhibit symptoms of bleeding from seven orifices. Once the music stops, the worm dies..."
Qin Hanhan ntioned it casually, never considering the false Old Madam was infected with Gu, nor had Su Jin suspected such.
The carriage gently progressed to the palace. Her carriage was one the gatekeepers couldn’t be more familiar with.
Upon reaching the carriage stop, a little eunuch ca to greet them and guide Su Jin.
Qin Hanhan released a butterfly.
They followed the butterfly, while the little eunuch, puzzled, tailed behind them.
Observing the butterfly lead Su Jin to the Imperial Study, the little eunuch was astonished.
What kind of butterfly knows the way to the Imperial Study?!
Seeing Su Jin approach, the little eunuch hurried inside to report, and Eunuch Fu ca out to greet them.
As Eunuch Fu erged, the butterfly flew into the Imperial Study, prompting him to say, "Where’s this butterfly from? Catch it and release it into the Imperial Garden."
Su Jin walked over just as the little eunuch attempted to catch the butterfly.
Su Jin, with a stern expression, said, "Don’t move..."
The little eunuch, indeed, dared not move, retaining his posture of catching the butterfly.
Su Jin stepped into the Imperial Study. The butterfly didn’t fly towards the Emperor’s Dragon Desk but continued deeper inside.
The Emperor watched as his daughter pursued the butterfly without even glancing at him.
Emperor, "..."
Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor, who rose to say, "Let’s see."
The butterfly flew further, eventually landing on a beam.
Beneath the butterfly lay a stealthy Hidden Guard in tight black attire.
Hidden Guard, "..."
The Hidden Guard showed a helpless expression.
Aren’t butterflies supposed to like flowers?
Why would it choose to rest on him?
A Hidden Guard dedicated to ensuring the Emperor’s safety was exposed by a re butterfly.
Could it be the butterfly favored the scent of his sweat?
The Hidden Guard raised a hand to drive away the butterfly.
The butterfly fluttered a bit before settling on him once more.
Su Jin and Qin Hanhan gazed at the beam, both exasperated.
The Emperor approached, asking, "What happened?"
Su Jin glanced at Qin Hanhan before responding, "There might be a Gu worm on the Hidden Guard."
The Hidden Guard’s heart skipped a beat.
He quickly descended from the beam.
Once down, Su Jin could clearly see his face.
Wasn’t he the one who disguised himself as King Beimo and was detained at Duke Chong’s Mansion for a long ti; eventually, with an itchy face from prolonged disguise, he sought ointnt from her?
Qin Hanhan trusted her butterfly, but to convince others, she needed to personally extract the worm from the Hidden Guard.
The Hidden Guard sat down, and Qin Hanhan assisted in removing the Gu worm.
The Emperor personally witnessed a worm extracted from the Hidden Guard’s body, frowning deeply.
"When did you get infected?" the Emperor asked.
The Hidden Guard shook his head, but before he could respond, Su Jin asked Qin Hanhan, "What type of worm is it?"
"It seems to be one of the four worms I was sold," Qin Hanhan replied.
She recognized the worms she raised.
Su Jin pondered and looked at the Emperor, saying, "He was likely infected with Duke Chong’s worm while disguised as King Beimo."
Because the Hidden Guard wasn’t truly King Beimo, Duke Chong had no reason to kill him, as it might expose himself, allowing the Hidden Guard to survive, truly fortunate.
Pondering further, Su Jin suddenly turned to Qin Hanhan, "Weren’t you sold two Disguise Gu worms besides this one?"
Qin Hanhan nodded.
Su Jin looked at the Emperor.
Eunuch Fu’s eyes widened.
The Emperor’s face grew somber, "Are you suspecting Duke Chong used Disguise Gu and fled the Capital City?"
Su Jin reported the false Old Madam’s suspected Gu infection to the Emperor, along with the Hidden Guard, feeling this couldn’t be re coincidence.
The reason for silencing the false Old Madam initially was the Prince demanding her confession about whether there was a mastermind or accomplice behind her swapping identities.
Who this person might be was obvious.
Duke Chong had the motive for silencing witnesses.
Since Duke Chong was rescued from the Ministry of Justice Prison, the court had dispatched nurous people to search, turning nearly the entire Capital upside down, yet still no sign of Duke Chong.
Though guards detained those matching Duke Chong’s height at the city gates for examination, they didn’t forbid exit from the city.
Any matching Duke Chong’s height were held for checking and questioning, released upon confirming no disguise was used.
If Duke Chong consud a Disguise Pill, leaving the Capital City would be effortless.
Xingxing, with her good mory, chid in, "Miss, didn’t Miss Qin say the Disguise Gu could be deadly if consud?"
"Could it be Duke Chong didn’t flee but died instead?"
Qin Hanhan glanced at Xingxing, replying, "The worms weren’t raised long enough before, so the chance of death was high. But now, it’s roughly matured, with a fifty percent success rate."
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