Chapter 43: Gu Insects

The Third Prince, Murong Si, chuckled softly.

"How could that be? Is that really how you view me, Chaochao?"

As Murong Si suddenly leaned in closer, a silver needle materialized in Tang Chaochao's hand.

Curving her lips into a smile, she said, "The Fourth Princess's brows and eyes bear such a striking resemblance to Noble Consort Jing's. Tell me, Your Third Highness, why do you suppose that is?"

Clearly, the two of them had no blood relation whatsoever, so why did they look so much alike? Was it merely a coincidence?

At these words, Murong Si's eyes froze for a fleeting second, but he quickly recovered, slipping back into his previous cynical demeanor.

"And what does Chaochao think?"

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow. "What I think doesn't matter, and I have no curiosity about other people's privacy. Your Highness should know that the only thing I wish to accomplish is to track down the true culprit who murdered my sister. What do other matters have to do with me?"

Murong Si's gaze shifted from flippant to something far more profound as he looked at her.

Tang Chaochao continued, "If Your Highness is not the murderer, how about helping me find out who is? As an exchange, I can help you remove the gu worm inside your body."

At that moment, Murong Si could no longer maintain his veneer of calm. His long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly. "How do you know there is such a thing inside me?"

If Tang Chaochao had not just recently returned to the capital, Murong Si would have genuinely believed she was sent by Noble Consort Jing to test him. But that was utterly impossible. Not only had Tang Chaochao never set foot in the capital before, but she was also the Second Young Miss of General Tang's household. Noble Consort Jing's reach did not extend that far into the Tang family.

Tang Chaochao did not answer him. Instead, she lifted her small chin, gazing directly into his eyes as she waited for his response.

Murong Si's expression flickered with inner turmoil for a long while before he finally spoke, his voice entirely devoid of its usual frivolous tone. "How am I to know what the Second Young Miss says is true?"

His meaning was abundantly clear: he found it hard to believe that Tang Chaochao could extract the gu worm from his body. After all, ordinary physicians could not even diagnose the affliction through a pulse reading, let alone treat it. Murong Si had secretly consulted countless renowned doctors, yet every single one of them had failed and returned empty-handed. Tang Chaochao's casual revelation had stunned him to the core. Yet, her claim that she could remove it left him deeply skeptical.

Without a word, Tang Chaochao thrust the silver needle in her hand directly into one of Murong Si's pressure points.

In an instant, Murong Si's complexion underwent a drastic change. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his face flushed a deep, angry crimson. Even though he was enduring excruciating pain, he clenched his teeth and did not let out a single sound.

Immediately afterward, Tang Chaochao seized one of his arms, seamlessly rolling back his sleeve to expose half of his forearm. Producing another silver needle, she made a light, swift scratch across his skin.

A wriggling creature was darting at lightning speed along the meridians of Murong Si's arm, rushing straight toward the incision Tang Chaochao had just made.

However, right as the entity was about to burrow out, Tang Chaochao abruptly withdrew the needle she had plunged into his pressure point.

The creature vanished instantly. At the same time, the tension in Murong Si's face slowly began to ease.

Tang Chaochao curved her lips. "I suppose Your Highness still finds this little creature useful."

Having regained his composure, Murong Si began to look at the woman before him in a completely new light. Relying on nothing more than a single silver needle, she had forced out the very gu worm Noble Consort Jing used to control him. Tang Chaochao possessed medical skills of truly terrifying caliber.

Murong Si's lips parted as he spoke, "Even if we find out who did it, you wouldn't be able to kill him. Has the Second Young Miss considered that?"

Tang Chaochao naturally had considered it. She cast a playful glance at him. "I might not be able to kill him, but you can!"

Murong Si suddenly burst into laughter. "The Second Young Miss drives a hard bargain. Yet you expect me to become the blade in your hand merely in exchange for extracting a worm from my body? Aren't you being a bit too stingy?"

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow. "Whether you do it or not is entirely up to Your Highness. I am merely offering a suggestion."

Murong Si slipped back into his habitual cynicism. "How about Chaochao becomes my Third Prince's Consort instead? Once you and I become family, your affairs will naturally become my affairs. I would certainly feel duty-bound to assist you."

Tang Chaochao rolled her eyes. "Your Highness should take some time to think it over properly. I am in no rush."

With those words, Tang Chaochao turned and walked away, leaving him only the sight of her retreating back.

Murong Si's gaze drifted from the spot where she had vanished down to the wound on his arm. Slowly, the expression in his eyes grew cold as his thoughts wandered to other matters.

Tang Chaochao walked back to the crowded area, scanning the surroundings for Li Xueying. Yet, after searching for a good while, she could not find her anywhere.

When she finally laid eyes on her again, Li Xueying was hurrying back in the company of a palace maid. Their expressions were anxious, and they completely failed to notice Tang Chaochao standing quietly in the corner.

Tang Chaochao watched as they strode into the banquet hall where they had been earlier.

A short while later, Noble Consort Jing emerged, leading a grand procession of people. Although her expression appeared angry, the flash of gloating amusement in her eyes could not escape Tang Chaochao's notice.

Blending into the crowd, Tang Chaochao followed them toward another destination.

Within moments, nearly everyone seemed to be whispering amongst themselves as if they were privy to some great secret. Amidst their hushed conversations, no one paid any attention to Tang Chaochao trailing behind.

Xie Tingyao was feeling somewhat puzzled. Tang Chaochao had been speaking with her just moments ago. How was it that in the blink of an eye, Li Xueying claimed Tang Chaochao had been caught engaging in illicit affairs with someone in the side hall?

Still, the prospect of watching Tang Chaochao make a fool of herself brought Xie Tingyao immense delight, causing her to dismiss any other thoughts entirely.

By the time the massive crowd rushed up to the entrance of the side hall, the lewd sounds echoing from within caused the noble young ladies present to blush crimson. The young gentlemen, on the other hand, craned their necks eagerly, looking as though they were hoping for a feast for the eyes.

Bringing up the rear, Tang Chaochao observed the scene with cold detachment.

Footsteps sounded behind her. It was Murong Si, who walked up to her side and murmured, "If my cousin finds out that the person inside is the Crown Prince, I'm afraid she'll tear Miss Liu to pieces."

Tang Chaochao's lips curved upward. "One is Your Highness's cousin, and the other is Your Highness's admirer. Yet Your Third Highness acts entirely like a bystander."

Noble Consort Jing put on an immensely furious expression. "Whose scoundrel of a son or daughter is in there, carrying out such a shameless act within the palace walls? This consort will certainly not let them off lightly!"

Li Xueying slowly stepped forward, pausing before Noble Consort Jing with a hesitant expression. "Noble Consort, this subject's daughter happened to pass by here earlier with a palace maid and saw someone who looked very much like the Second Young Miss entering this hall. Out of concern that she might be feeling unwell, I wanted to step closer to check. But as I neared the entrance, I heard such disgraceful sounds coming from within. I was terribly frightened, which is why I immediately rushed back to report it to you."

The palace maid accompanying her also stepped forward and dropped to her knees. "What Miss Li said is true. This maid witnessed it with her own eyes as well."

As the two of them made these statements, whispers rippled through the surrounding crowd.

"To think the Second Young Miss could be so utterly shameless."
"Indeed! A wild girl from the countryside truly knows no shame."
"General Tang will likely have no face left to show anyone from this day forward."
"If my family had such a vile creature among us, I would have had her beaten to death with clubs on the spot."

Hearing these remarks, Noble Consort Jing assumed a look of profound annoyance and anger. "Perhaps all the young lords and ladies should return to the banquet for now! Since this matter concerns General Tang's family, we must still preserve some semblance of dignity for them."

At this, Xie Tingyao refused to let the matter drop. Indignantly, she protested, "Aunt, Tang Chaochao committed such a shameless act right at the snow-appreciation banquet you hosted! Since she cares nothing for her own reputation, why should you bother preserving her dignity?"