Chapter 117: shuhaige.net

Where did this Mu Yuanzhi meet the General who suppresses rebels? Why does she seem to be so kind to her?

A fox spirit is just a fox spirit, always out there seducing people!

After muttering curses under her breath, Pei Yunxi turned and went inside to pursue Qi Shihuai.

Soon she was stomping her feet and following Qi Shihuai out, feeling like a clown being made fun of, going in and out to no avail, as she watched the other gu in her sleeping quarters being discovered.

Everyone except Mu Yuanzhi was shocked, staring in disbelief at the ceramic jar on the ground as something writhed and crawled out.

What is this?!

It looks like some kind of living thing!

It couldn't be gu, could it?!

Many people were so scared they drew their swords and retreated, while others vomited right there.

Even the commander of the imperial guards was left dumbfounded.

How could Princess Yunxi be raising gu?!

Qi Shihuai calmly asked Princess Yuanzhi: 'Are these gu harmless now that they've been killed?'

Of course there's an issue; we should blow them all up. Mu Yuanzhi said, flinging a few hidden weapons that hit each of the crawling or fleeing hideous gu, and they all exploded with a bang, shattering to pieces.

Those afraid of being splashed stepped back even farther.

Is it all clear now?

Someone asked.

The ground was littered with bloody, gruesome dead gu, and the air reeked of a foul odor; many worried the gas might be toxic, looking to Mu Yuanzhi with questioning eyes.

At this moment, Mu Yuanzhi was their savior.

Mu Yuanzhi calmly said: 'It's fine; the gas isn't toxic.'

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and turned their gaze to the instigator, Pei Yunxi.

It's terrifying; Princess Yunxi looks gentle and weak, yet she would raise such poisonous things in the palace?

Could her usual gentleness be just an act?

Faced with everyone's panicked, inquisitive gazes, the thin-skinned Pei Yunxi defended herself: 'These are gu that my palace uses to save people; even my father the emperor knows about them!'

She thought to herself, lucky that her previous quick thinking had inadvertently saved her.

Mu Yuanzhi chuckled: 'Saving or harming, isn't it just a single thought away?'

My gu really did save my sister's junior disciple! Pei Yunxi said, eyes wide, telling a lie.

She said that, and many people nodded, acknowledging it as fact, having heard it before.

Mu Yuanzhi snorted, telling General Qi: 'Just finding these is far from enough.'

Not even raising gu is enough? Impressive! Qi Shihuai said sarcastically, 'We can only keep searching; it seems this general will have to dig three feet deep.'

Hearing his words, Pei Yunxi's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, which Mu Yuanzhi noticed; she told General Qi: 'Indeed, that's appropriate, after all this is part of the palace search.'

Pei Yunxi wanted to object but couldn't, since the previous search of Weiyang Palace had been the same.

Really, lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own foot!

Stay calm, Pei Yunxi; it's not guaranteed they'll find everything, Chang Le Palace is so huge—could they really be doing a carpet search?

Pei Yunxi kept telling herself to stay calm.

The more panicked she gets, the more she'll give herself away!

Report! A suspicious jar has been found, buried underground!

The one reporting is the imperial guard who searched the underground of Weiyang Palace last time; Pei Yunxi recognizes him, as she had given him some money to bribe him into searching for Mu Yuanzhi's dead cat.

This person couldn't have gained experience from searching underground last time, could he?!

How did this horse spear end up flying to me this time! Pei Yunxi almost couldn't catch her breath.

It couldn't still be gu, could it?

Some people were jumpy at the slightest sign, so everyone became alert; the person holding the jar said: 'It's just an empty jar.'

Let me see...

This general will have a look!

Before the commander of the imperial guards could finish speaking, Qi Shihuai interrupted him, naturally walking over as if he were the leader of this palace search.

Pei Yunxi trembled with fear, her gaze fixed on the jar; Mu Yuanzhi saw this and knew they had found something.

What was this used for? Why bury it so secretly in the earth? Mu Yuanzhi interjected.

Pei Yunxi: 'Maybe a palace servant accidentally broke something and didn't want to be found, so they buried it; there's nothing to inspect.'

Mu Yuanzhi: 'You're in quite a hurry.'

I don't... Pei Yunxi argued, feeling guilty.

Qi Shihuai had already picked up the jar to smell it; he sniffed hard but couldn't tell what it was, so he handed the jar to Princess Yuanzhi: 'Your Highness is skilled at medicine and poison; perhaps you could help me identify what this is.'

Mu Yuanzhi took it, sniffed, furrowed her brows, and said: 'It's the smell of the southern border red spider!'

She won't forget it, after all she exchanged blood with Pei Yunxi! Being poisoned by this almost cost her her life.

Oh? I've heard that Princess Yunxi was poisoned by this, but I also heard she got poisoned after being bitten in Zhuque Lake? Qi Shihuai said, leisurely looking at Pei Yunxi.

Pei Yunxi swallowed hard: 'I, I don't know either; maybe sister smelled it wrong?'

Simple, just summon the imperial physicians to examine it and it'll be clear.

Mu Yuanzhi: 'Call Physician Zhou; the older physician is more reliable.'

Other physicians, she doesn't trust much.

Someone went to fetch Physician Zhou, while others continued searching the palace.

Mu Yuanzhi now felt even more eager, wondering just how much more would be found.

Pei Yunxi now had her panic written all over her face—what should she do?

Fortunately, all those who searched the palace returned to report that they had found nothing else, and only then did her heart ease a little.

However, Qi Shihuai stepped forward again: "I think it's necessary to search there again."

Upon hearing that, Pei Yunxi's heart rose again.

"How many more times do we have to search!" she stamped her foot, but no one paid attention to her.

"Not long ago, as soon as she kicked up a fuss, countless people would rush over to comfort her; when has she ever endured such injustice!"

"Such a big matter as searching the palace, don't the older brothers know? Why hasn't anyone rushed to protect her?"

"Or are they all afraid of the Father Emperor's edict?"

At this moment, Physician Zhou arrived, he greeted Mu Yuanzhi and Pei Yunxi, then took the jar and sniffed it carefully.

Pei Yunxi prayed in her heart that he wouldn't be able to smell it.

"This old man, at his age, maybe he can't smell it, right?"

"This smell..." Physician Zhou pondered for a moment before declaring: "It is indeed the scent of the Southern Border red spider!"

"The commander of the Imperial Guard: 'Are you sure, Physician Zhou?'"

Faced with his doubt, Physician Zhou became displeased, he put on a stern face: "This humble official has practiced medicine for most of his life, and served as a court physician for over forty years; I would certainly not mistake it—last time the poison of this Southern Border red spider nearly took the lives of two princesses!"

The commander of the Imperial Guard embarrassedly closed his mouth.

Pei Yunxi's panic had reached its peak; normally she could muddle through, but this time, especially now, when the Father Emperor suspects her!