Chapter 290

Zhang Cheng raised his hand and slowly reached toward the back of the person lying on the bed, then fiercely grabbed that person's neck.

Just as his hand touched Mr. Wen's neck, his whole body suddenly froze in place.

A terror he had never felt before surged to his heart, and an icy chill that penetrated to the marrow crept up his spine, making his scalp go slightly numb.

Only when someone outside smashed open the door of Mr. Wen's warm pavilion did Zhang Cheng's two hands stiffen and refuse to retract, still holding Mr. Wen's neck.

More accurately, he was choking the neck of a doll.

Zhang Cheng didn't even look to see who had pushed the door open behind him; instead, he instinctively lowered his head to look at the doll lying before him.

This doll didn't seem to be made of wood; it felt soft, and many acupuncture points were marked on its body.

On its head was a clump of fake hair, and it wore the green cotton robe that Mr. Wen often wore; from behind, it was impossible to tell real from fake.

Zhang Cheng stared fixedly at the doll before him, when a sudden shout came from behind: "Bold ruffian! Seize him for this prince!"

Zhang Cheng didn't understand how he had fallen into the trap until the moment the Crown Prince's men seized him.

With a crack, sharp pain shot through his shoulder; his whole body was forced to kneel on the ground, his arm dislocated, waves of sharp pain assaulting him.

Zhang Cheng looked in terror at the few people slowly entering the doorway; the Crown Prince, wearing a purple‑trimmed dark robe, led the way in.

Behind him followed a lovely, charming woman who was pregnant, her belly large and ready to give birth—none other than the Princess Consort of Rui, currently the talk of Shang Jing.

Seeing the two enter, Zhang Cheng's face instantly turned ashen and his whole body began to tremble.

Gu Jiu Ling had been waiting so long she was almost asleep, even wondering if she had overthought it and guessed wrong.

Logically, anyone able to come and go freely in Mr. Wen's library must be part of this circle; it couldn't exceed the bounds of Nan Shan Shu Yuan.

Mr. Wen is of noble character, respected by all; plus he keeps to himself and stays out of officialdom, so he offends no one.

Therefore, those who would dare to harm Mr. Wen must be among his close associates; now these lurking villains all want to pin this black pot on Gu Kang, but if Gu Kang can't die and Mr. Wen can't die, then it will be they who die.

Moreover, they have little time left.

Since they could commit such a heinous act as plotting against Mr. Wen, they must be very bold, and will surely resort to desperate measures when cornered.

Soon after, Yun Duo, dressed in black nightclothes and with a lovely figure, entered and whispered a report that someone was carrying food and wine to the front courtyard.

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly sent someone to fetch Xiao Ting, and indeed managed to block that petty fellow here.

The figure lying on the bed was the doll provided by Gu Jiu Ling—in other words, a medical dummy for acupuncture practice she had taken from her space.

Given the urgency, there was no time to have someone make one; they just rolled up some straw, which couldn't achieve a realistic effect.

Only the hair was bought from an elderly servant who sweeps here for a few hundred taels of silver; Jiu Yue's needlework was decent, so she sewed a hairnet, and the fake‑real deception actually fooled this guy.

At this moment, Xiao Ting ordered people to clean up the place a bit, then used it as a temporary interrogation site.

Xiao Ting, without a word, first ordered that this scoundrel be dragged out and given thirty heavy blows.

Zhang Cheng was originally a sycophantic petty man, unwilling to spend his life in poverty with Mr. Wen, so he listened to Li Quan's words and turned onto the wicked path.

Now he couldn't withstand thirty blows, so he hurriedly kowtowed and confessed, implicating Li Quan.

Xiao Ting's face darkened to the depths; he said that this person was originally the one he had placed with his teacher, and though he had seemed honest and sincere, he never expected him to be such a worthless scoundrel.

Now the situation is clear: Gu Kang, the second master Gu, has been framed; Xiao Ting personally escorted Zhang Cheng into the city toward the Ministry of Punishment, and also sent word to the palace saying the real culprit would soon be found, and the case could be closed in the next two days.

Xiao Ting is actually grateful to Gu Jiu Ling; otherwise he couldn't have cracked the case so quickly, and would have ended up torturing Gu Kang into a false confession.

Now a deadlock has been barely broken by Gu Jiu Ling in one move, which also shows that this Crown Prince is quite capable.

You must know that Mr. Wen is no ordinary person; his influence and appeal are enormous.

Even if not him, the emperor himself holds Mr. Wen in high regard; now Gu Jiu Ling has helped him open a breach, and the path forward has become smooth.

Xiao Ting ordered people to escort Zhang Cheng back to the capital, then immediately walked himself to the carriage where Gu Jiu Ling was riding.

"Royal Aunt," Xiao Ting said, using an honorific.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Gu Jiu Ling's lovely, charming face; a flicker of something imperceptible passed through Xiao Ting's eyes.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled at Xiao Ting, but the wariness in her eyes made him feel somewhat uneasy.

He never expected that the Gu family's eldest miss, who had always silently played dumb, would suddenly display superb medical skill and eye‑catching stratagems, turning out to be so dazzling.

It's a pity she should have been his most capable virtuous aide, but now she has become another man's wife.

He had to suppress that inner discomfort, look at Gu Jiu Ling, and say: "Now that the truth is fully revealed, I will take Mr. Wen away."

Gu Jiu Ling stared, then let out a cold laugh.

"Heh, Your Highness's calculations are so loud even the border folk could hear them."

Xiao Ting's eyes darkened as he coldly stared at Gu Jiu Ling and asked, "What do you mean?"

At this moment, Mr. Wen is hidden by Gu Jiu Ling in a mysterious space that cannot be disclosed to outsiders, hooked up to an oxygen drip; how could she release him now?

She coldly regarded Xiao Ting: "Your Highness, I am a doctor who heals and saves lives; placing Mr. Wen with me… in my place, he will absolutely come to no harm."

"I will soon take Mr. Wen to my clinic; you will get to see your teacher then, but only after my brother is released."

Xiao Ting's face wasn't looking good; he gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling, saying, "Are you threatening me?"

Gu Jiu Ling laughed: "I've been threatening you all along, Your Highness; what big truth are you speaking? Hahaha…"

Seeing the woman before him burst into laughter again, Xiao Ting felt his anger rise in all directions, yet he had absolutely no recourse against her.

Moreover, it's strange: he has people tightly watching Gu Jiu Ling's side, so moving a small box or taking out a dog is clearly visible, yet despite sending out so many people openly and secretly, they still can't find Mr. Wen, nor do they know where this woman has hidden him.

Gu Jiu Ling feels no fear of the killing aura emanating from Xiao Ting, looking at him with a smile full of charm.

Xiao Ting harbored fire in his chest, coldly gazing at Gu Jiu Ling, grinding his back teeth until he finally had to back down.

He slowly said: "Gu Jiu Ling, do as you see fit!"