Chapter 533: So many people died!

Jin Yun: "How strange?"

"Click!" the door lock opened.

Just pull this iron door open, and last night's mad prisoners will swarm at them like hornets.

Zhang Tinggui grabbed the bailiff who was about to pull the door open.

Leng Dian coldly said: "First explain clearly, how strange?"

The bailiff gulped and said: "It's that rice porridge; it smells like there's a..."

Duan Rongshi: "A bloody smell."

"A bloody smell?"

"The rice porridge has been tampered with; poison was added!"

Li Qingluo looked at him: "So you didn't drink it."

He has always been picky; he never settles for anything that goes into his mouth.

At this moment, Li Qingluo actually relaxed.

Yang Qilang probably never drank the rice porridge either, so he didn't get poisoned.

And I, Que'er, and Zhang Tinggui entered from outside, which also explains why only we few are different.

Li Qingluo thought of the prisoners' mad state and felt a sense of déjà vu.

Outside Jinling City, in Wanjia Village, the villagers' mad outbreak looks exactly like last night's prisoners' madness!

"But Hudie, isn't she already dead?"

"She is the mother gu of all blood-eating gu poison; when the mother gu dies, the child gu all die."

"Originally, Hudie personally gave her life to end it all; there should be no more blood-eating gu poison in the world!"

"How did this happen again?"

Everyone present, except Jin Yun and Duan Rongshi, couldn't understand what Li Qingluo was actually saying.

They just felt more and more that their identities were mysterious and unknown, which made people wary.

Jin Yun: "Just go in and take a look, then it'll be clear."

Everyone held their breath, weapons in hand, ready to unleash a slaughter the moment the door opened.

However, as the iron door was slowly pulled open—

Inside the prison, utter silence.

At the doorway, on the steps, lay countless bodies piled up.

Li Qingluo felt something was wrong, while Duan Rongshi and the others quickly stepped forward.

Soon they confirmed: "They're dead."

"Dead?!"

"All dead!"

Such a shocking sight made all the bailiffs go weak in the knees.

Just then, Sha San rushed over in a fluster: "Miss, something happened."

"Zhui Yu doesn't look good; you'd better hurry back and check."

Duan Rongshi's face changed; in an instant he vanished from everyone's sight.

Jin Yun had already examined several corpses, then quickly stood up and said: "Let's go!"

Li Qingluo looked at Zhang Tinggui.

"Leave this place to Magistrate Zhang."

Her words had a hidden meaning; Zhang Tinggui quickly understood.

When Li Qingluo and Jin Yun rushed back, Duan Rongshi was already channeling inner energy into Zhui Yu.

Leng Dian had also arrived early, his tense face turning ashen.

Jin Yun stepped forward: "Palace... Fifth Lord, please let me take a look."

Duan Rongshi then quickly withdrew his palm, letting Jin Yun take over.

"Sect Leader Jin Yun, I beg you."

He looked at Jin Yun with a solemn expression, his eyes pleading.

Duan Rongshi rarely begs anyone like this, yet this is already the second time he's begged Jin Yun.

Jin Yun's face grew grave: "I will do my utmost."

Beside her, Que'er's eyes were bloodshot.

Sha San was at a loss, just silently staying by her side.

Seeing her arm bloody, he quietly took the handkerchief he had just begged from her and bound her wound.

Yet Que'er didn't even glance at him.

She fixed her eyes on Zhui Yu without blinking.

Sha San likewise stared at her without blinking.

Suddenly, Jin Yun drew a dagger from her ankle and, in everyone's shocked gaze, slashed at Zhui Yu's throat!

Leng Dian almost impulsively stepped forward to block it.

But Duan Rongshi reached out and stopped him.

Que'er covered her eyes and let out a low "uh."

When she opened her eyes again, all she saw was Jin Yun placing a gu worm on Zhui Yu's bleeding wound.

Not long after, a plump, blood-red worm fell from the wound.

Jin Yun quickly pinched the worm: "This thing is the culprit."

The rice soup indeed contained gu poison, perhaps only insect eggs, which is why it was not easily noticed.

Now it is certain that someone has learned of the exposure, so they hurried to kill the mother gu to silence everyone.

Zhui Yu, the young master, because he possessed martial arts, could only hold out a little longer than an ordinary person.

But… when he will wake up depends on his own fate.

But his life, for now, has been preserved.

Leng Dian immediately hurried to clasp his hands toward Jinyun in thanks.

And then quickly stepped forward to examine.

Que'er also let out a great sigh of relief, turned her head and smiled at Sha San: "He's fine, so I can relax."

Sha San, seeing her such open attitude, his originally ice‑sealed frost‑like face suddenly, like encountering spring, gradually melted, and he slowly smiled.

Only then did Que'er see her own arm.

She cursed: "Idiot. Don't you treasure this handkerchief?"

"If it gets dirty, I won't accompany you."

Sha San: "No, not dirty."

"When you go back, return it to me."

"I'll wash it myself."

Que'er gave a shy smile and walked aside with Sha San.

Jinyun picked up the two worms, then rose and led Li Qingluo to the side.

"Lu'er, you guessed correctly. This matter might indeed be related to the butterfly's blood."

Li Qingluo: "What do you mean, Senior Sister?"

Jinyun: "You might consider this. The butterfly's blood may have been processed by Zulya into something, then sent back to feed the gu worms."

"Tonight's affair is certainly inseparable from the Fourth Prince, Zong Zheng Wuxie!"

Li Qingluo's eyes flashed: "If it truly relates to the butterfly's toxic blood, then this is the only possibility."

"This Zong Zheng Wuxie is truly vicious."

Jinyun: "In ten days it will be the Empress's birthday banquet; at that time the palace will surely be grand. E Duo and I will both enter the palace together with Zong Zheng Wuheng."

"We will use this opportunity to get close to Zong Zheng Wuxie."

"Then, if you can also find a chance to enter the palace, we will coordinate inside and out."

Li Qingluo nodded in agreement.

In the blink of an eye, the sky was fully bright.

The gate of the Dali Temple headquarters remained tightly shut.

The officials who came on duty kept knocking on the door, although they had heard of the bloody incident that had occurred at the Dali Temple last night; but since they themselves are Dali Temple officials, if they cannot even enter the Dali Temple, what authority does it still have?

Just as everyone was about to smash the door, Dong Shaoqing finally poked his head out.

"Many people have died."

"Everyone, come in quickly, let's get to work."

He wore a grim face, frightening the rest of them greatly.

Dong Shaoqing is usually the most diligent person.

He would rather spend all twelve double‑hours of the day stationed in the Dali Temple.

How come he now wears a bitter face, as if he had encountered a huge matter?

Until everyone saw a corpse in the prison……

The sky of the Dali Temple has collapsed.

Half an hour later, the imperial edict arrived in the palace.

Zhang Tingji, Dong Shaoqing, and the 'Li Wu' specially mentioned by Yang Qilang were all urgently summoned into the palace.

Li Qingluo, meanwhile, quietly left the Dali Temple and returned home.

As soon as she stepped through the door, Wu Quan came to report: "Miss, the old lady of the Jiang family has died."