Chapter 359: I Wish I Could Forget

He Jinghui said, "They're just a few bandits who deserved to die."

Even if someone reports it to the Capital Prefecture, it doesn't matter.

Mu Nan Zhao gave him a look, and He Jinghui quickly changed his tone.

But that would be too troublesome, unnecessary; anyway, they're all unclaimed corpses in the wilderness. I'll send a few people to take them overnight to the cremation ground outside the city and watch them burn to ashes.

The cremation ground is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue.

It is responsible for burning overdue unclaimed corpses, those who died of infectious diseases, and so on.

Going down the mountain, it became quite crowded.

Dou Rongshan had been a little afraid of Mu Nan Zhao since earlier; she wasn't familiar with the others and dreaded being alone.

An Qinghe, on the other hand, didn't want Mu Nan Zhao to have too much time alone with Gu Xixi.

Thus the two of them followed Gu Xixi step by step.

The four of them crowded together on the narrow mountain path.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "With this disposal, can you finally rest easy?"

Gu Xixi walked with her head down, saying, "I'm just defending myself; I feel no guilt toward them, nor am I afraid of facing the authorities."

But... I usually have to farm for a living; I really don't want this spread around, causing all kinds of trouble.

Dou Rongshan glanced at An Qinghe and saw him smilingly looking at Gu Xixi, as if it were no surprise.

It seems he's also in the know.

Mu Nan Zhao agreed, "Using poison relies on surprise; it's indeed unsuitable to let more people know."

Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao simultaneously turned their heads to look at Dou Rongshan.

Dou Rongshan gasped, "I won't say anything! Not to anyone!"

I swear! Once I get home I'll forget everything!

And so, everyone arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Earlier, to save time, Mu Nan Zhao and the others had come on fast horses.

Only one wagon followed behind, the one Gu Xixi used when leaving the city.

Guang Zhu helped Gu Xixi into the wagon; Gu Xixi turned to Dou Rongshan and said, "Hurry up and come over."

Are you thinking of picking one of them to ride with?

Dawn was approaching.

As a young lady, Dou Rongshan certainly couldn't ride with a man.

Helpless, she could only shuffle reluctantly toward the wagon.

On the way back to the capital, Gu Xixi couldn't sleep, so she looked for something to do.

She looked at Dou Rongshan pretending to sleep across from her and asked, "Do you like the Regent Prince very much?"

Dou Rongshan tensed up, realizing pretending to sleep was useless before Gu Xixi, and then shook her head wildly.

I don't like him.

Gu Xixi looked at her and couldn't help chuckling, "We've come this far; what do you still have to fear? Could I really silence you in front of everyone?"

After all, you're a general's daughter and a relative of the Mu family; is that all the courage you have?

Dou Rongshan's brow twitched a few times, as if she were thinking.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and said, "Who's scared? I'm just sleepy!"

She shifted her body, lifted her head; although she still looked arrogant, she no longer had the overbearing haughtiness of their first meeting.

Well...

I have something I want to ask you, I don't know if it's appropriate to say.

Gu Xixi has never been very curious about others.

If you think it's inappropriate, then just don't say it.

Just then the wagon turned, Dou Rongshan lurked, and she snapped, "Won't you be polite for a couple of sentences? At least say something harmless."

Gu Xixi bluntly replied, "No one's stopping you from speaking here; why be polite?"

Dou Rongshan still felt choked in her throat; it was the first time she'd met someone like Gu Xixi.

After a while, she could only continue speaking herself.

You... have you known your cousin for a long time?

Gu Xixi thought, "About two years."

Dou Rongshan: "Don't you find him scary when he's angry?"

Gu Xixi hesitated, "... Not too bad."

She realized that, without noticing, her fear of Mu Nan Zhao had almost faded away.

Dou Rongshan thought of seeing Mu Nan Zhao with a dark face; she had instinctively avoided him, never daring to confront him directly.

Let alone chasing after him like Gu Xixi does, saying so many things.

Dou Rongshan gazed at Gu Xixi, lost in thought.

Or perhaps this is the key difference between us?

The wagon continued to sway as it went on.

Perhaps bored from insomnia, Dou Rongshan couldn't resist her curiosity and asked:

I didn't see you poison them; you didn't even touch them.

How did you manage it?

Gu Xixi said, "It was poison gas."

Dou Rongshan suddenly realized, "If I don't take the antidote, will I end up like them?!"

Gu Xixi gave a "you just found out" look.

Dou Rongshan recalled that critical moment, still feeling lingering fear.

She was born into a high-ranking family, naturally also heard some covert malicious tricks.

Then she said, "Since poison has already been administered, why not use the kind that can cause instant death?"

"Those few villains still wanted to resist; at the time I thought I was doomed."

Gu Xixi fell silent, gazing darkly at Dou Rongshan, "Instant death? Even immediate?"

"I took the antidote first, that's fine; Dou Miss, didn't you consider yourself?"

Dou Rongshan stared blankly for a moment, her face flushing red at her foolish question.

Gu Xixi said, "Actually, to quickly poison someone to death is not difficult."

"The difficulty lies in controlling the timing."

"One needs rapid toxin onset but not immediate death; instead, first weaken their bodily reactions, causing them to lose the ability to resist."

"This interval is not reserved for those about to die, but is a buffer prepared for the poisoner."

Dou Rongshan forgot her embarrassment, nodded seriously, "Now I understand!"

"I originally thought poison was just poison; I didn't expect there to be such profound reasoning."

Gu Xixi actually saw in her eyes the excitement of exploring new knowledge.

She wouldn't also be thinking...

Dou Rongshan excitedly said, "Can these things you said be used in the folk reading material I'm writing?"

Gu Xixi startled, "Ah?"

Originally it was He Jinglan mocking Dou Rongshan saying that, but didn't expect Dou Rongshan to actually put it into practice.

Gu Xixi said, "As long as no one can tell it's me, I have no objection."

Dou Rongshan gleefully said, "Last night's experience gave me inspiration."

"I want to write a female heroine, a poison expert like that; I've already thought of many plot points, do you want to hear?"

Gu Xixi expressionless, "Not interested."

After entering the city, Mu Nan Zhao and He Jinghui rushed to attend the early court.

Two prisoners were escorted to the Regent Prince's office, detained pending trial.

The Regent Prince, by imperial decree, oversees all affairs under heaven, naturally including judicial matters.

Returning to the He Residence, naturally unavoidable to be interrogated again by He Jinglan.

Fortunately, Gu Xixi had anticipated this, specially invited An Qinghe to act as a spokesperson.

He Jinglan saw Gu Xixi looking fine, so her anger quickly subsided, "Next time you're not allowed to do that."

Gu Xixi obediently nodded.

He Jinglan again doubted, "Did Dou Rongshan truly swear not to tell?"

Gu Xixi said, "At least at that time she was indeed frightened enough, afraid I'd silence her."

"Even if she really spoke, without evidence, if someone asks me I'll just deny it."

He Jinglan pondered, "No, still need to meet her again to probe."

"I'll just make an additional invitation, inviting her to the flower-viewing banquet."