What worries him is that the mind-controlling Gu should have been given to Cheng Xiuzhu by the Witch Cult, but it seems that apart from the Gu poison and rumors, the Witch Cult has not taken any other action, as if it has completely disappeared from this world.
Speaking of the Mind Control Gu, it solved Lingyan's confusion over the years. Even though people's hearts are fickle, Gu Zhong and Gu Yang's deep feelings should not have led them to turn against each other for a man.
The truth is probably that Gu Zhong had long been under the influence of Chen Muxian's mind-controlling curse, and his words and actions were not in his own hands. How could Gu Yang not have noticed this? The so-called rebellion is still open to discussion.
Why was Gu Zhong perfectly fine outside the capital, but his Gu poison flared up as soon as he returned? It was because Chen Muxian possessed the mother Gu, which awakened the child Gu that Gu Zhong had been implanted with.
Before the chaos among the aristocratic families, Chen Muxian had never used Gu poison, probably because he was afraid that Lingyan would notice something was wrong in advance. He planned to manipulate Gu Zhong to issue an edict to kill Lingyan on the day of the palace, thinking that he could win by surprise. However, the two of them had already heard about Gu poison from Yun Zhong, who had been turned against them halfway, and had already taken precautions.
Later, Gu Zhongyou described to Lingyan the feeling he had when he was poisoned that day. The feeling of knowing he shouldn't talk about it but being unable to suppress it was truly terrifying.
Fortunately, Gu Yang found an old Miao witch doctor in the southern border region who was extremely interested in the unknown Gu poison, so he was willing to go to the capital to treat him.
The day before the wedding, Gu Yang secretly sent someone into the palace to remove the curse from Gu Zhong. The situation was critical; even with only a one in ten thousand chance, they had to try.
When the curse was being lifted, Lingyan was by her side and glimpsed something familiar in the process.
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Author's Note:
Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu wrote "Sent to Judge Han Chuo of Yangzhou".
Green hills faintly visible, waters stretching far and wide; autumn ends in Jiangnan, yet the grasses remain green. On a moonlit night at the Twenty-Four Bridges, where is the beautiful maiden teaching the flute?
Another poem ruined. Amitabha.
//Prediction was wrong, the final touches will be made tomorrow.
And suddenly I found extra nutrient solution?! A huge thank you to the little angels who fed me!
Chapter 28 The Imperial Tutor and the Crown Princess (Twenty-Seven)
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The dark and quiet room contained only a few people.
The sharp bone knife sliced across Gu Zhong's wrist, which had become weak from years of suffering from Gu poison. Blood gushed out, initially black and carrying a putrid smell.
The white-robed shaman caught the sniff in a plain porcelain bowl, then frowned.
"How is it, Witch Doctor?"
Zhao Zhao couldn't help but step forward and ask.
"That's strange... This Gu seems like a love Gu, but—"
He paused halfway through his sentence and took out a porcelain jar from his pocket.
Lifting the lid, a rustling crawling sound came from inside, as if there were many insects.
The witch doctor picked out a tiny golden-shelled insect and threw it into the bowl of blood; a layer of black mist rose from it.
The insect fluttered up instantly, as if trying its best to fly away, but was held firmly down and soon became still.
Just when the group thought the insect was dead, it started moving again, though its movements were somewhat sluggish.
“There’s something else strange inside.”
The old witch doctor pressed the strange insect to death and said this.
What is it?
Recalling the layer of mist from earlier, Lingyan felt a sense of déjà vu and couldn't help but ask about it.
"I don't know," the witch doctor shook his head.
"Then this poison?"
Gu Zhong's eyes flickered uncertainly, as if he had no longer held any hope.
"We can only give it a try for His Majesty."
"It's alright, it's better than having no other choice."
While someone was busy preparing the materials, Lingyan avoided her and grabbed the witch doctor.
"Master Witch Doctor, you mentioned using fresh blood as a catalyst, could you perhaps use mine?"
"Why do you say that, sir?"
"Of course, they are different."
Trying her best to recall, Lingyan remembered something from ten thousand years ago, where the black mist seeped out, resembling a faint demonic aura.
It's strange, though. In a world without spiritual energy, where do demons come from?
But if it is truly divine blood, then it can restrain itself.
The shaman didn't specify whose blood to use, so he readily agreed. Unexpectedly, the poison was indeed cured.
As the blood flowing from Gu Zhong's body encountered the antidote made with her blood as a catalyst, the black mist rose and dissipated.
Lingyan was then convinced that demons truly existed in this world.
Witchcraft, high priest... those eyes, a myriad of stars.
—Xuanhu…is that you? Why are you here?
——————
Perhaps anticipating that he had been abandoned by the Witchcraft Cult, Cheng Xiuzhu, who had kept silent about the affairs of the previous dynasty, instead readily betrayed the Witchcraft Cult.
Following the clues provided by Cheng Xiuzhu, the Court of Justice raided several strongholds where the rumors originated, captured a group of high-ranking members of the religion with ulterior motives, and banned the incense burning in the temples of the Witchcraft religion in various places under the pretext of colluding with rebels, so that it could not be revived. The Buddhist and Taoist debates were then used to completely extinguish the rumors of the emperor's lack of virtue.
With the cult gone, the high priest who once dominated everything seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.
Lingyan had many unanswerable questions, but she no longer had the opportunity to seek the answers.
——————
Far away in the dense forests of southern Xinjiang, where the mountains are treacherous and miasma abounds, a woman wearing a white bone mask and wrapped tightly in black clothes walked deeper into the forest.
"Host, warning! Mission in this world incomplete! Warning!"
A strange metallic sound, accompanied by a chaotic hissing, kept nagging in her ears.
"Given this situation, what am I supposed to do? Go and die?"
The woman dismissed the question with disdain and ignored it.
"Failed to kill the chosen one and seize the dynasty's fortune, mission failed, punishment is about to begin."
After a moment of silence, a cold, metallic voice delivered the final verdict.
"···casual."
A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. The woman continued walking, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from the spot, leaving only a desolate, deep mountain.
——————
After Cheng Xiuzhu was imprisoned, more than a dozen groups of people came to rescue him, but they were all captured by the traps set by Gu Zhong. When they chased after them, they also took out several of their key members. It was a case of willing victims taking the bait.
Later on, the other party probably realized that any rescue attempt would be futile and gradually gave up.
Lingyan also took the opportunity to visit the private quarters that Gu Zhong had specially set up in the palace. After all, they were old friends who had fought for many years, so she had to offer her a blessing for his defeat.
"You're still alive?"
Upon meeting him, Cheng Xiuzhu looked completely astonished, clearly not expecting this at all.
"I have disappointed Your Highness."
Ling Yan smiled slightly, sat down opposite him on the floor across the prison, and glanced at Cheng Xiuzhu briefly.
The shackles and chains that bound him had crushed his once upright figure, and his long-neglected hair and beard made him look quite dejected. The handsome young man of yesteryear was nowhere to be seen.
"Hahaha--"
Cheng Xiuzhu suddenly burst into laughter, then vomited a mouthful of blood. "I thought I had won a move against you, but I didn't expect—well, you all knew about the Mind Control Gu all along. With the Prime Minister's intelligence, how could he not know that if I were to use the Gu, you would be the first one killed? Your Majesty, what a superb acting!"
"I thank Your Highness for your praise on behalf of His Majesty. However, I still have a question in my mind, and I have come here today to seek an answer. I hope Your Highness will not hesitate to enlighten me."
Lingyan raised an eyebrow, and Cheng Xiuzhu's guard was unusually down.
"What is it?" As expected of someone who could face danger alone without changing his expression, Cheng Xiuzhu quickly calmed down.
"Back then in the northern border, if you had followed Zuo Yingyuan's plan and not rescued His Majesty, the great cause would likely have succeeded. With your talent, you wouldn't have been without a chance of winning in the internal factional struggle, especially considering your noble status. Why did you choose to thwart your own side's plan?"
"Your Majesty soars through the heavens like a phoenix, a beauty unparalleled in the world, and I am captivated by you."
Cheng Xiuzhu's eyes unconsciously warmed.
Ling Yan froze. A male protagonist in a revenge-themed novel who's driven by love? Absolutely not!
Who would plant a mind-controlling curse on someone they love? Look at how miserable Gu Zhong's end was; you'll know that the person in front of you is just spouting nonsense.
"Your Excellency doesn't believe me?"
Seeing that Ling Yan's eyes were practically screaming "nonsense," Cheng Xiuzhu felt as if he had won a round and laughed with relief.
"How can we allow barbarians to run rampant on this vast Central Plains? Inviting wolves into our home is no different from treason!"
The perplexing question was given a reasonable explanation. It turned out to be such a simple reason; it was unexpected that Cheng Xiuzhu was so persistent on certain matters. However, using a woman to ascend to the top of his empire was hardly something to be proud of.
After the chaos caused by the powerful clans, the whole country submitted to her. Gu Zhong's decrees were effective wherever they reached, and the imperial court had become her personal domain.
The land, ravaged by war, gradually regained its vitality. Many chaotic phenomena were quelled one by one. There were no more powerful families, no more witchcraft, and no more previous dynasties. This world truly radiated the prosperity it should have.
The barbarians retreated, and no one dared to invade. The people were educated, had no worries about food and clothing, no one picked up lost items on the road, and doors were left unlocked at night. Even the poor could rise to prominence, and women could become officials.
Everything presented a scene of prosperity and flourishing.
Five or six years have passed, and Gu Yang has found his royal consort, while Gu Chong is still outwardly single. Because his former fiancé was a prince of the previous dynasty, no one dares to say a word about it.
"Why doesn't Your Majesty find a soulmate? Not all men in this world are so cunning and despicable. Even if it's just for fun and to warm the bed, there's plenty of enjoyment in it."
After Gu Yang got married, he became increasingly open about his words.
"I am waiting for someone..."
Whenever this matter was mentioned, Gu Zhong always felt quite resentful. Lingyan was not a canary trapped in a cage, but a white crane soaring through the nine heavens. Being confined to the palace all day long would probably only lead to her being depressed and unhappy.
Gu Zhong, feeling sorry for his son, allowed him to leave the palace to travel to various places, and to supervise the officials and see for himself the newly established dynasty.