Chapter 252: Symbiotic Gu (Thanks to Aba~ Aba~ for the rewards and additional updates)

Hearing what Xiaosuisui said, Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo Xing’Er couldn’t help but be taken aback.

"What’s this about an eye of memory? Suisui, what are you talking about?"

Xiaosuisui ignored Zhu Xiuxiu’s probing question and instead reached out to Xie Si. "Big brother, give me your wrist for a moment."

Despite wearing a human-skin mask, Xiaosuisui exuded a very strong aura of solemnity and gravity.

"What do you mean?"

Xie Si was quite confused but instinctively stretched out his right hand toward her.

Xiaosuisui casually grabbed his wrist to check his pulse. Her eyes widened. "There’s a worm inside you!"

"What?" the four of them exclaimed in unison.

"Are you sure, sweetheart?" Zhu Xiuxiu asked.

Xiaosuisui nodded. "I’m sure. That worm is sleeping!"

Huo Xing’Er also reached out to check Xie Si’s pulse. "It’s a Companion Gu!"

"Sister-in-law, do you know about this Gu?"

Huo Xing’Er nodded. "Your second brother told me about it. This is a Gu that only the Royal Court of Nanjiang can cultivate. How could it appear in a scholar?"

「On the roof」

Both the young Emperor and Ji Youze couldn’t help but exchange glances.

"It’s the Nanjiang Royal Court again! How many spies have they planted in my Great Han?"

The young Emperor felt a chill creep down his spine. What exactly did the insignificant Xie Family possess that was worth their scheming?

"Your Majesty! We can’t let this matter rest."

Ji Youze cupped his fists and bowed, his expression grave.

"Long Wu!" The young Emperor called out, but there was no response for a long moment. He then remembered Long Wu was no longer his personal guard. He turned to Ji Youze and said, "Return to the Palace. Order Long Wu to bring a team of Inner Guards to arrest everyone in the Xie Family and imprison them in the Celestial Prison. I want the Xie Family thoroughly interrogated."

Ji Youze, however, didn’t move. His already bowed waist bent even lower.

"Your Majesty, acting rashly might alert them. If they slip away, we won’t discover their plans."

The young Emperor found Ji Youze’s words reasonable. He glanced at him, his eyes filled with disdain. "Why are you bowing and scraping again? I dislike such formalities. If you have something to say, just say it. We are like brothers; I won’t hold it against you."

"Thank you for Your Majesty’s benevolence."

"Enough. Speak quickly. What is your plan?"

"We help Third Miss Xie leave her clan and force First Lady Xie to show her hand. Then we can follow the clues to uncover everything!"

The young Emperor glanced askance at him. "Can you interfere in the affairs of the inner chambers?"

Ji Youze shook his head. "I cannot. But aren’t there people readily available for this?" He gestured towards Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo Xing’Er.

The young Emperor, however, shook his head. "They are not capable enough for this task."

Although his precious daughter’s two maternal aunts-in-law doted on her and possessed some cunning, they were clearly outmatched when dealing with the women of the capital, judging by the events of yesterday and today.

"I do have someone in mind, but I fear it might trouble her ladyship too much."

As the young Emperor spoke, a subtle change flickered across Ji Youze’s usually impassive face.

"My mother is getting on in years. Please, Your Majesty, do not burden her with such affairs."

"Frankly, only she is capable of handling this."

The young Emperor paid him no heed. He made a gesture, and a figure clad in black soared onto the roof. In broad daylight, the black attire was indeed quite conspicuous.

The young Emperor exchanged a few words with the man in black, who then departed towards the Ji Mansion.

「Inside the Xie Family’s small courtyard」

Xie Pan’Er listened to Zhu Xiuxiu’s words in utter astonishment, her eyes wide as she stared at her brother.

"Brother has been afflicted with a Gu? How could this happen? Who did this to him?"