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Chapter 18: Infected with a Gu Worm
“I don’t know where the young lady is feeling unwell.” The woman’s voice came again, and Jiang Huaiyue snapped back to reality.
“I might be poisoned. Please, doctor, take a look.”
She lifted her clothing slightly and then placed her wrist on the pulse pillow.
Jiang Huaiyue saw the woman’s fair fingers cover her wrist. The slightly warm body heat lingered, and after a long silence, the woman still didn’t speak.
As everyone knows, the most frightening thing when seeing a doctor is for them to shake their head and sigh—or not say anything at all.
After all, it was a matter of life and death. Jiang Huaiyue’s nervous heart was lodged up in her throat.
Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor, is there something wrong with my body?”
Behind the curtain, the hand that had been on her wrist withdrew. “You are not poisoned.”
Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyue did not relax at all. Her intuition told her that sentence would be followed by something worse.
Sure enough, the woman’s voice came again from behind the curtain: “What it means is… you have been infected with a gu worm.”
“Is there a cure?” Jiang Huaiyue already guessed this.
Because she had already prepared for the worst, when she heard the diagnosis, the blow wasn’t as heavy.
“Yes, but the gu worm inside you is the ‘offspring gu.’ You must find the ‘mother gu.’” Chu Nanxi frowned as she spoke from behind the curtain.
Gu worms are sinister and cruel. No one knew who had used such a vile method to harm this young lady.
Jiang Huaiyue sighed quietly. Without thinking, she knew the offspring gu inside her must mean the mother gu was definitely in Jiang Jingchen’s hands.
“Doctor, what kind of gu worm infected me?”
Chu Nanxi answered, “It’s the Heart-Devouring Gu. When it attacks, it erodes the heart and causes severe pain.”
“Is there a way to ease it?” Jiang Huaiyue asked, full of worry.
“Wait a moment.”
After a while, a fragrant pouch was handed out from behind the curtain. “This is a sachet I prepared. Wear it on your body; it can suppress the gu worm. But if you want to completely get rid of it, you still need to find the mother gu soon.”
Jiang Huaiyue looked up and saw the pale blue sachet in her hands. She took it with both hands and thanked the doctor, “Thank you.”
After the diagnosis, she motioned to Qiuchan to pay and then got up to leave.
Just as she was about to step out, the woman’s voice came again from behind her, “If you need anything, you can come here to find me.”
“Thank you.” Jiang Huaiyue felt the kindness in her tone and smiled faintly.
After leaving the clinic, she took Qiuchan to a bookstore and bought some books related to gu magic, planning to study them when she got back.
Knowing she was infected, Jiang Huaiyue had no mind to wander and returned directly to the prince’s residence.
“Qiuchan, you can go out now. I want to rest for a while.”
“Miss, why would His Majesty do this to you?” Qiuchan was worried ever since she found out Jiang Huaiyue had been infected. She couldn’t understand how His Majesty could treat his own sister like this.
A trace of mockery appeared in Jiang Huaiyue’s eyes. She said self-mockingly, “Silly girl, what good person do you think he is? Emperors are always inscrutable and scheming.”
To Jiang Jingchen, the original owner was just a pawn to be discarded anytime.
“Miss, what should we do now?”
“I only have this one life. It’s hard enough that even one or two of them want me dead. Since they want me dead, I’ll live well and make them watch.”
Jiang Huaiyue’s expression was calm, her tone indifferent.
“Qiuchan, go ask the kitchen to prepare some late-night food.”
She was the master of her own fate. Even if she were to die, no one else would decide that for her.
Qiuchan: “Your servant will go right away.”
Watching Qiuchan leave, Jiang Huaiyue took the book she had bought and opened it carefully to read.
Meanwhile, Pei Ji had also received news from Fu Yao, learning that Jiang Huaiyue had gone to the clinic.
“Did you overhear what they said?” Pei Ji asked slowly, supporting his forehead and closing his eyes.
Fu Yao kept her gaze lowered and answered matter-of-factly, “I was too far away to hear clearly. Later, when I inquired, the doctor said he could not disclose the patient’s condition, so I don’t know exactly what is wrong with the princess’s health.”
Because the prince had ordered her to secretly follow, she couldn’t get too close or she might be discovered.
Pei Ji slowly opened his eyes. “Understood. Keep following her.”
“Yes.” Fu Yao cupped her hands and withdrew.
Night fell.
Jiang Huaiyue changed into a teal-green dress. Her figure was graceful, and her delicate features resembled a lotus blooming in clear water. Holding the late-night snack Qiuchan had brought from the kitchen, she headed toward the study.
After several days at the Prince Regent’s mansion, to be honest, she still couldn’t tell where everything was. She had even asked Qiuchan to inquire ahead.
Walking along the rosewood corridor, she saw from afar a round archway inscribed with the three large characters: Qingxin Residence.
Jiang Huaiyue entered. Mo Ying stood guard at the door. Seeing her, he bowed, “Greetings, princess.”
“Rise. Is the prince here? I’ve come to deliver him a late-night snack.” Her voice was soft, and she glanced subtly at the study’s door.
Mo Ying nodded, “He’s here. Please, princess.”
Because Pei Ji had already instructed that if the princess came, she was not to be stopped.
Jiang Huaiyue eyed him suspiciously. “Aren’t you going to notify him?”
Normally, the study was a heavily guarded place. It was strange that he didn’t try to stop her at all.
“Prince can hear everything the princess says to me. If he disapproved of her entering, he would have spoken by now.” Mo Ying explained.
Suppressing her doubts, Jiang Huaiyue stepped inside with the tray of food.
Inside the study, the candlelight flickered. She turned and saw Pei Ji sitting by the desk, holding a scroll. His eyes were deep, long lashes casting shadows beneath them.
Despite knowing how formidable he was, Jiang Huaiyue was occasionally blinded by his appearance—after all, he was truly handsome.
“Prince, I asked the kitchen to prepare you a late-night snack. Would you like some?” She walked toward him slowly and spoke aloud.
Pei Ji had known she was coming since she stood outside the study. Since learning yesterday that she had been poisoned, and now she came to show such concern, it was clear her intentions weren’t purely about the food.
However, that was fine. If she had any ill intentions, he wouldn’t hesitate to act.
“The prince is not hungry.” He looked up, his gaze resting on her.
The woman before him blinked her almond-shaped eyes, her eyebrows like distant dark clouds, her tender lips like peonies after rain. Just standing there, she was captivating.
Jiang Huaiyue felt a slight ache in her hand holding the tray. Seeing he wouldn’t eat, she turned and set down the food.
The room was so quiet you could hear a needle drop. She glanced around awkwardly, trying to start a conversation. “Have you read all these books, Prince?”
Pei Ji put down the scroll he was holding, lifting his chin slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “The princess has business.”
He sneered at her nervousness. With such little courage, she still dared to come here and wander about.
He really didn’t understand what the young emperor was thinking, letting her come steal something. If he hadn’t withdrawn the guards, she wouldn’t have even gotten close to the study. Jiang Huaiyue lowered her eyes and pinched her palm. “No business. I just came to deliver a late-night snack. Since you’re not eating, I’ll go back first.”
She hadn’t planned on doing anything yesterday either—just came to probe the situation.
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