Chapter 278: Nine Thousand Years Old

"One strike kills, silver needle seals marquess." The chief eunuch said, touching his own neck.

Upon hearing this, Gu Rongjin furrowed good-looking brows and fell into deep thought.

"What's wrong? Did you think of someone?"

Gu Rongjin looked troubled: "I seem to have heard somewhere about silver needle sealing the throat..."

But I really can't remember.

"Let's examine the corpse first." Qi Shihuai said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "I'm a doctor, but I'm almost becoming a coroner."

"I'm a general too." Qi Shihuai put on gloves and gave each of them a pair.

After a quarter hour, all three had finished checking.

"Indeed, death by silver needle sealing the throat." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "No other wounds on the body, and the organs show no abnormality."

Qi Shihuai: "Who among you has seen this silver needle?"

Mu Yuanzhi took it and observed: "At first glance it looks like an acupuncture needle, but it's obviously unusually sharp, yet not poisoned."

She reminded Qi Shihuai: "General Qi, next time you'd better ask me for a pair of anti-toxic gloves before touching."

"What's there to fear? These people show no poisoning symptoms—obvious, right? Besides, you have this detox expert here." Qi Shihuai wasn't worried at all.

Gu Rongjin snatched the silver needle from Mu Yuanzhi's hand and examined it under the moonlight.

Mu Yuanzhi felt a tightness in her chest, a wave of nausea rose, and she couldn't help but run to vomit.

Gu Rongjin immediately put down the silver needle and went over, handing her a handkerchief and patting her back.

"I was careless; I shouldn't have let you examine the corpse."

"Don't even mention the corpse..." Just after vomiting, Mu Yuanzhi weakly waved her hand, feeling dizzy and blurred vision.

Gu Rongjin helped her sit down.

Qi Shihuai had people move the three corpses away.

Mu Yuanzhi rested enough, then went to rinse her mouth, and Gu Rongjin followed anxiously.

"How is it? What did you find?" Pei Di came over to ask.

Qi Shihuai then gave Pei Di a rough rundown.

"Let me look at the silver needle." Pei Di reached out.

Qi Shihuai handed the silver needle to him: "Do you know how to use it?"

"Don't underestimate me." Pei Di took it and looked, his whole face turning grave.

"What did you see?" Qi Shihuai asked.

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin returned, and Pei Di told them: "I've seen this silver needle before."

"Where?"

"In the imperial palace of the Infant Void State." Pei Di said, "It's used by their Nine Thousand Years Old."

"What kind of person?" Gu Rongjin asked.

"A false eunuch." Pei Di said, "In the Infant Void State, eunuchs run rampant and domineering, practically towering over imperial authority. The Nine Thousand Years Old is the leader of these eunuchs, holding great court power, essentially a powerful minister. Their emperor is young, maybe a year older than me, lacking real power; privately, no, openly, they all call him Nine Thousand Years Old."

Mu Yuanzhi was curious: "Can a false eunuch also sneak in?"

"Only I know this; maybe there are a few others, but probably not many." Pei Di said.

Gu Rongjin narrowed her eyes: "Looks like we need to find a time to meet him."

"This person is highly skilled in martial arts and also cunning; you'd better be careful, lest you capsize like last time at Cloud Mirror Pavilion." Pei Di said.

Gu Rongjin: ……

"You little brat, always bringing up the sore spot!"

"I didn't capsize either; I'm evenly matched with him!" Gu Rongjin argued.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Better to be careful."

Qi Shihuai stroked his chin and said: "Since this silver needle is so special, this matter must be related to that Nine Thousand Years Old; could the person just now actually be the Nine Thousand Years Old himself?"

"Xiao Di, how is the Nine Thousand Years Old's hearing?" Gu Rongjin asked.

"His hearing is excellent, yes, excellent! Just like yours." Pei Di suddenly realized this was indeed the case.

Once, he clearly moved with light steps, making no sound at all, yet that person caught him instantly!

Upon hearing this, Gu Rongjin began to ponder again.

In short, we still need to go meet them!

No matter how the previous victims were, this time we're definitely coming for them.

"Wait, I think we should go to the government office to check the other victims and see if their neck wounds were also caused by this silver needle." Mu Yuanzhi said.

"Do you think there could be a copycat? Killing with a single strike isn't easy to imitate; it requires deep internal strength." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Just to be safe, I feel that although the previous victims had no connection, they didn't kill anyone affiliated with the government; this time they actually came to our place and killed the guards, which seems off."

Gu Rongjin nodded: "Your analysis is correct; I'll go check tomorrow."

The next day, at dawn, Gu Rongjin was about to set out when someone came to report that the palace had sent people, wanting to summon these distinguished guests for a visit.

Although they knew they were here, the Infant Void State's royal family would surely find out right away, but they didn't expect to be sought out so quickly.

"With our arrival, all sorts of people have gathered here." Gu Rongjin snorted.

Pei Di: "It must be the Nine Thousand Years Old."

"That's perfect; we save the trouble of looking for him and can meet him directly." Gu Rongjin said.

Pei clan: "How can they let Xiao Di enter the palace? Too dangerous."

"Not dangerous, I'm here." Qi Shihuai assured.

Gu Rongjin said disdainfully: "That's what I should be saying, what use are you?"

"No need to let Xiao Di go; Xiao Di can just stay here." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin: "No, what if that person comes feinting east to strike west to abduct Xiao Di?"

Mu Yuanzhi thought for a moment and felt it was reasonable, then said: "According to that logic, is it also dangerous for the consort to stay here? Now they all know His Majesty is worried about the consort."

Madame Pei, however, said: "No need, you don't need to worry about me; just take good care of Xiao Di."

"Mother Consort! What are you saying?"

"Let's all go together; it's also good for the consort to go out and move around more." Mu Yuanzhi said.

"Like that... alright, then I'll also go along." Madame Pei finally nodded.

The imperial palace of the Infant Void Kingdom is quite different from that of the Central Plains region, but both are equally magnificent.

This is where Pei Di grew up, yet it's the place he hates most; as the son of a hostage, one can imagine it's as difficult as walking on thin ice. Mu Yuanzhi patted his shoulder.

Pei Di turned his head and smiled at Mu Yuanzhi, indicating he was fine.

"Several foreign guests have arrived; I have been waiting for you for a long time."

A man wearing eunuch robes walked up from ahead; his uniform was obviously very expensive and luxurious, clearly exceeding regulations; the person had a sinister appearance, his features sharp unlike an ordinary eunuch.

No need to guess; one can tell this person is the Nine Thousand Years.

While Mu Yuanzhi observed the person unobtrusively, the person was also observing them; his gaze finally settled on Pei Di, and he smiled: "Young master, long time no see."

Pei Di forced a faint, perfunctory smile: "Long time no see, Eunuch Yao."