Chapter 14: The Emperor’s Daughter

After leaving the main hall, Luo Shaoxuan returned to his bedroom. He walked to the bedside and pressed a mechanism, and the wall beside the bedroom, which was hung with an ink painting, slowly opened. What caught his eye was a dark passage with no end in sight. Luo Shaoxuan slowly walked in.

Luo Shaoxuan walked along the path in the darkness, his face calm, already familiar with the route.

After walking for a while, the path began to have candlelight. Passing through the candlelit passage was a low-temperature bedroom. This bedroom was very spacious, with only a rectangular pit in the center.

Lying in the pit was a corpse, its surface a sheet of snow-white, preserved almost intact, except for the tiny holes on the snow-white skin and the squirming beneath the skin.

If others were present, they would certainly be scared out of their wits by this scene. The corpse was actually Luo Sheng, the eldest daughter of the Luo family who had disappeared two years ago. What was even more spine-chilling was that the squirming beneath the corpse was actually corpse gu!

It is said that corpse gu likes to live in low temperatures and feed on dead bodies. Among gu, they are divided into three categories: gold, silver, and copper, just like people’s status. They also live in three different parts of the corpse, with gold gu occupying the top position, which is the position of the brain, silver gu in the middle upper body position, and copper gu in the leg position.

And their functions are all different. If copper gu is placed on a living person, it can make that person suffer unbearably, keeping them awake for three hours while their whole body will suffer the pain of being gnawed, until death.

Silver gu can make a person suffer for three months. During the period of being infested with silver gu, the person’s body will frequently vomit blood, and their internal organs will be gnawed clean, and then they will become an empty shell and die.

Gold gu can control people. The body of a person infested with gold gu will also die and become a real zombie, obeying the orders of the person who placed the gu. Such people are also known as death warriors. They have no thought, and even if they are cut with several swords, they will not fall.

And once these gu complete their “mission,” they will also die. Whether it is the way corpse gu are raised or their effects, they are all terrifying and extremely rare, so few people know about them, and they have become a legend.

Luo Shaoxuan slowly walked to the side of the corpse, looking down at it with lowered eyes, as if admiring a piece of art, the corner of his mouth slightly curled up: “It seems that it will be able to be used soon.”

………

Returning to the Town

In the restaurant, Si Qingyu and Zhao Sixi were sitting by the window on the second floor, eating.

Zhao Sixi ate as if she had never eaten before, shoveling rice into her mouth and stuffing dishes into her mouth, her two cheeks puffed up, while her eyes were shining as she looked at Si Qingyu: “Doctor Si… this is so good, I’ve never eaten such good food before!”

Si Qingyu’s forehead almost throbbed with anger, and she couldn’t take it anymore: “Eat properly, talk after you finish eating!”

“Mm-hmm!”

Si Qingyu looked at her helplessly and shook her head. She was really a lively one.

Finally, Zhao Sixi finished eating the last dish and put down her chopsticks with a sigh: “Doctor Si, this is the first time I’ve eaten so much. The dishes are really delicious!” She grinned at Si Qingyu: “Thank you, Doctor Si.”

Si Qingyu sipped her tea and shook her head slightly.

“Doctor Si, are you full?”

A nod.

“Then let’s go back to the clinic.”

“Mm.” Just as Si Qingyu was about to get up, she suddenly heard a commotion outside the window. She turned her head to look with indifference.

Zhao Sixi also curiously leaned by the window and looked: “Eh? Isn’t that the young master of the Li family in town? How is he bullying people again.”

Si Qingyu looked at her with a slight frown.

Zhao Sixi scratched her head and explained: “I used to come to town to set up a stall often and heard about him. He is the young master of a wealthy family in town and is very arrogant. He often throws his weight around in town. I heard that he moved here from the capital, and his family has some money and connections with the yamen, so no one dares to offend him. Many people in town dislike him and say that he will not be able to marry in the future.” Of course, if he is so domineering, it would be a misery to marry him, Zhao Sixi thought to herself.

Si Qingyu frowned. Such a person was indeed unlikeable.

The person making a scene downstairs was Li Tianyang, whom she hadn’t seen for many days. At this moment, he was holding a whip in his hand, fiercely whipping the person on the ground, his eyes full of viciousness: “You dare to steal this young master’s money pouch, this young master will let you die!”

The person on the ground rolled and screamed in pain.

The people around were watching and pointing fingers, but no one intended to step forward to stop him.

Zhao Sixi swallowed and sneaked a glance at the expressionless Si Qingyu, asking cautiously: “Doctor Si… should we go down and stop him?”

Si Qingyu frowned. She very much disliked getting involved in other people’s business, but seeing Li Tianyang’s murderous aura, it seemed that he was really going to put the person on the ground to death.

Li Tianyang also seemed to have sensed something and stopped his hand. He looked up in her direction, his eyes without any fluctuation.

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Li Tianyang withdrew his gaze first. He lowered his eyes and looked coldly at the person on the ground from above, his tone icy: “If this young master sees you again in the future, you will certainly not be able to walk away unscathed.” With that, he snorted coldly and left.

Seeing that the show was over, the onlookers also dispersed.

Zhao Sixi patted her chest: “Just now, it seemed that the young master Li was looking in this direction. That look was quite scary.”

Si Qingyu gave her a glance and turned to leave the restaurant.

Zhao Sixi hurriedly followed behind. She looked up at Si Qingyu’s beautiful profile and couldn’t help asking: “Doctor Si, do you also know that young master Li?”

“Not really.” Indeed, not really. She had never thought of getting to know him.

“Oh.”

When they returned to the clinic, there was a woman in a gray robe waiting outside the clinic. Seeing Si Qingyu, she hurried over and greeted her with clasped hands: “Doctor Si, I have been waiting for you!”

“Who are you?”

“I am a constable from Qianluo Town. I am here to find Doctor Si on the orders of our chief!” Looking for her?

“What is the matter?”

The woman looked around with difficulty and said in a low voice: “Doctor Si, may I speak inside?” Si Qingyu nodded and went into the clinic with her.

As soon as she entered the clinic, the woman couldn’t help but blurt out her purpose: “Doctor Si, many people in our town have contracted a strange disease. We invited other doctors to the town to take a look, but they couldn’t figure out the reason, so the chief told me to come and find you!” Hearing this, Si Qingyu’s face became solemn: “Strange disease? What are their symptoms?”

“They will have thirst, headache, and weakness all over the body, and finally cough up blood. In the town… people have already died from the disease, and the number of patients is still increasing!” There was a hint of fear in her expression.

Si Qingyu’s brow was tightly furrowed. It was so serious.

She didn’t want to waste time. She walked to the medicine cabinet, picked up her medicine bag, and said to the woman: “Let’s go.” The woman nodded hurriedly: “I have already prepared the carriage, and we can set off now!” With that, she walked out of the clinic in a hurry and got on the carriage parked outside.

Zhao Sixi looked at the situation in front of her, feeling at a loss.

Si Qingyu turned to look at her: “I’m going with her. In the days when I’m not here, you look after the clinic, understand?” Zhao Sixi nodded firmly as if receiving a major task: “Doctor Si, don’t worry, leave it to me here!” Si Qingyu patted her shoulder with satisfaction and got on the carriage.

Zhao Sixi watched the departing carriage, feeling a vague uneasiness in her heart.

………

The Capital

In the courtyard of the Luo Mansion, Luo Shaoxuan was sitting alone, with one leg bent and placed on the long bench and the other leg hanging on the ground. His hand was resting on his bent knee, still holding the wooden hairpin.

His gaze was on the surface of the lake, his face calm, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

At this moment, a young servant walked over and bowed to him: “Young Master, the Emperor’s Daughter seeks an audience.” Luo Shaoxuan’s gaze shifted from the lake surface, his eyes flashing slightly, and he said indifferently: “Let her in.”

“Yes.” The young servant retreated.

When Mu Yueshi came in, she saw this scene. The graceful young man was sitting in the courtyard, looking indifferently at the lake surface, his features like a painting, looking a little unreal under the sunlight. The breeze gently blew his dark hair on his forehead, adding a touch of liveliness.

Mu Yueshi was enchanted.

Luo Shaoxuan glanced at her coolly and said lightly: “The Emperor’s Daughter is here. Why don’t you come and sit over here?” Only then did Mu Yueshi react. She had been so enchanted by looking at him. She coughed lightly in slight embarrassment and walked over to sit on one side of the table.

Seeing him sit down, Luo Shaoxuan looked down at the wooden hairpin and said indifferently: “I wonder what the Emperor’s Daughter seeks Shaoxuan for?” Mu Yueshi looked at him with affectionate eyes and a gentle tone: “I heard that you were not at the Luo Mansion the past few days, and yesterday I heard that you were back, so I wanted to come and see you.”

“Thank you for the Emperor’s Daughter’s concern. Shaoxuan is quite well.” His tone was still light, but if one listened carefully, one could hear a hint of impatience.

Mu Yueshi nodded and hesitated for a moment before finally asking: “I wonder what business Xuan’er had during these few days away?” Hearing her use this form of address, Luo Shaoxuan’s lowered eyes were filled with a strong disgust. His tone was soft but with a hint of malice: “Shaoxuan had his own affairs.”

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Mu Yueshi did not ask further and just looked at him quietly like this. Then her gaze shifted to the wooden hairpin he had been holding: “This wooden hairpin is quite unique.” Luo Shaoxuan gently stroked the wooden hairpin, ignoring her.

The atmosphere began to turn quiet. Mu Yueshi had not seen him for many days and tried hard to find some topics to talk about, but Luo Shaoxuan was indifferent to her, which made her feel a bit ashamed and annoyed. After all, she was the daughter of a marquis. How could she be treated like this? Moreover, they were even engaged.

Thinking of the engagement, Mu Yueshi’s mood improved a little. She thought that perhaps he was tired from being out these past few days, and she couldn’t blame him.

Mu Yueshi tried to be more understanding: “If Xuan’er is tired, I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll come and see you again next time.” Luo Shaoxuan nodded to her, watching her leave with the young servant.

He lowered his head and rubbed the wooden hairpin, his gaze icy without a hint of emotion. The corner of his mouth curled up in a cruel smile: “Ah, I really want to see that face filled with fear right now. It must be very interesting.” That kind of gaze looking at him like this was truly disgusting.

In his mind flashed Si Qingyu’s cold face. How nice it would be if she looked at him with such eyes.

Thinking of this, he tightened his grip on the wooden hairpin in his hand, his eyes dark.

Very soon, after he finished the matters here, he would go and find her. At that time, there would be no more worries.