Chapter 181

The two words "monster" came out of Xiao Yin's mouth, making Gu Jiu Ling's heart jolt violently.

She instinctively wanted to reach out and touch his truly sorrowful and angry face, but Xiao Yin dodged.

Xiao Yin stood almost by the window, as if Gu Jiu Ling were trying to take advantage of him, looking rather pitiful and helpless.

Gu Jiu Ling, seeing his state, felt embarrassed to press too hard, and stepped back slowly: "What exactly is the poison on your body…?"

Xiao Yin, Gu Jiu Ling, mother consort (generic), former emperor (generic), Grand Empress Dowager Ning'an, Consort Ning (virtuous and kind), Empress (generic)

That is the famous Chongwen Major Case!

Chongwen Hall, princes (generic), Grand Minister (generic), princes again, Second Prince

The Second Prince, even at a young age, could compose poetry and lyrics, was quite talented, and was deeply favored by the former emperor.

Someone actually dared to poison the prince in the palace; the former emperor flew into a rage, and back then over eight hundred people from the Three Palaces and Six Courts were beaten to death, with wails everywhere.

Third Prince's mother Empress Zhao, Fourth Prince, Consort Shu, Fourth Prince's mother Consort Shu, prince (generic), Consort Shu again, Empress (generic)

"At that time, Consort Ning stepped forward to expose Empress Zhao's wicked deeds; Empress Zhao was banished to the Cold Palace and went mad. The Third Prince, naturally timid, was frightened out of his wits by this series of events, fell seriously ill, and died half a year later."

Eldest Prince, Fifth Prince (also Emperor Longqing), Emperor Longqing, little princes (generic)

Original owner (generic)

At this moment, Xiao Yin brought it up again, and Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but start slightly.

Xiao Yin gave a cold laugh and said: "After that palace coup, the former emperor also fell ill, and Consort Ning relied on the Fifth Prince and me to begin her rise to power."

"Back then I was young and clueless, but I was good‑looking and well‑liked."

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, focusing her gaze on the handsome Xiao Yin, and said: "Indeed, he is very good‑looking."

Xiao Yin smiled and continued: "When the former emperor was gravely ill, I was often sent to his side as a tool to amuse him; after he lost so many sons, this little old me naturally became very dear to him."

"From then on, Consort Ning ascended to become empress, and I remained safely by her side. Later, the former emperor's health gradually deteriorated, and although the Crown Prince was ill, he also began to covet the throne."

Eldest Prince's mother Consort Xian, Consort Xian, Chen clan, Southern Qi

"Originally, the Virtuous Consort's Chen family almost monopolized Southern Qi's millions of troops; although Consort Ning had some means to single‑handedly orchestrate the Chongwen Major Case, the realities of the battlefield are won by real combat, not by scheming."

"Thus, after Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, the Crown Prince immediately rebelled, border regions fell into chaos, and the world was in great turmoil. It was then that Empress Dowager Ning'an discovered I was born to be a general, and I began leading troops when I was just over ten years old."

"Later, my military achievements were enormous—I trampled the Crown Prince, his entourage families, and the Chen clan underfoot, clearing all internal and external threats for Emperor Longqing, finally securing his throne."

"Then what about the poison on your body…" Gu Jiu Ling moved her lips.

Xiao Yin slowly leaned against the carved window and sat on the ground, slightly bending his knees, lowered his head to look at his own palm, and said: "In the front, I plotted killings and eliminations of rivals for the imperial brother I respected; I never imagined I would be the greatest rival myself."

"When I was a child I loved pastries immensely—osmanthus cake, chestnut cake, crispy milk cake… Empress Dowager Ning'an and Emperor Longqing knew I liked them, so they often rewarded me with these, and I found the pastries they gave me especially fragrant and sweet."

"Heh!" Xiao Yin chuckled softly, "How could it not be fragrant and sweet?"

"In the southern borderlands there is a strange poison—colorless, odorless, with a rich fragrance; when put into food it adds a unique richness, and a tiny amount seeps into my limbs and bones."

Xiao Yin, he (referring to Emperor Longqing)

"The trigger is sudden exposure to extreme cold or heat, causing the poison to erupt rapidly; when it flares, the whole person turns into a complete devil, utterly unaware of what they are doing, losing reason, becoming like a beast."

"After the first outbreak, if one doesn't die, thereafter there will be unreasonable, unpredictable flare‑ups, just like… the way it happened to you before."

Xiao Yin's hands clenched into fists resting on his knees: "When I first went berserk from the poison, General An carried me out of the sea of fire, trading his life for mine. Master Nian Yuan is my military advisor; I once saved his life, and he came to repay the favor by seeking fire insects in the southern borderlands. During my poison outbreaks, they burrow into my flesh and devour the rotting tissue, allowing me to survive until the next outbreak."

"These fire insects are hard to find—maybe only one or two a year, and sometimes none at all. This outbreak used up my last fire insect."

"What are we to do about the next outbreak?" Gu Jiu Ling slowly squatted in front of Xiao Yin and gripped his hand.

Xiao Yin felt as if burned by fire, wanting to break free, but Gu Jiu Ling held his hand fast.

Xiao Yin stared at her blankly and said: "Before, it flared only once a year; now it's the second time this year. I don't know when the next one will be, the next one…"

"Leave the Wangfu, and the divorce letter I have already written is placed under the inkstone on the table. In a residence at the easternmost end of the long street of Quzhou City, there is prepared silver, gold, and fine silks to support you and your two children in a wealthy, comfortable life—there's no problem with that."

"First stay in Quzhou City for a while; if I survive, you can return. If I cannot endure the next outbreak, you should go live on the islands of the sea, you and your child…"

Suddenly his words got stuck there, unable to be spoken, and he immediately widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at Gu Jiu Ling's face right before him.

Gu Jiu Ling rose this time, standing tall above Xiao Yin, cupping his face with both hands to force his stubborn chin upward, then she pressed her soft lips against his slightly trembling thin lips.

A mere taste, then stop—like a dragonfly skimming water—Xiao Yin was utterly stunned.

Gu Jiu Ling withdrew from his lips, her own cheeks flushing crimson, and immediately lifted her hand to lift Xiao Yin's clothing.

"Don't…" Xiao Yin hastily tried to dodge, but the hem of his garment was still pulled open, revealing half of his chest, with faint scars that stretched inward, indistinct.

Yet the patch of skin extending from his neck into the collar was actually a series of blood blisters, each the size of an infant's fist.

Even though Gu Jiu Ling had previously thought that the method of using fire insects to detoxify was very cruel, so cruel that even a war god who had fought on the battlefield could not suppress the pain and torment and cried out.

She froze there instantly, her heart aching as she watched.

Xiao Yin hurriedly covered himself with his clothes; as he raised his arm, the sleeve slipped down, revealing his arm covered in blood blisters, showing that his whole body had been bitten to pieces.

Gu Jiu Ling drew a breath: "I'll help you with the surgery! Right now… immediately!"

She stared fixedly at him: "Open the abdomen, locate the lesion, excise, suture……"

She recited the surgical procedure word by word; she had said it once before, but this person didn't trust her, so now she said it again.

Xiao Yin slowly nodded: "I trust you, but let me wait a moment—I'm in too much pain; besides, Wanrou is about to get married. Once this matter is settled, we'll go to Master Nian Yuan's place; it's quiet there, and then… I'll entrust my life to you!"