Cypress Boat Floating

After checking everything that needed to be checked and asking everything that needed to be asked, the National Master pushed Lu Zhixing out of his study. These books were his favorites, and he was really afraid of this little devil in front of him.

When he was young, there was an incident where his study was almost burned down, which directly led to the Imperial Master's fear of Lu Zhixing entering his study.

Lu Zhixing followed the national teacher back to the tree. The national teacher continued to string the Buddhist beads that he had not yet finished. He wanted to make a set for Lu Zhixing to take back to Lu Ciqiu. Lu Zhixing leaned aside and continued to read the book about insects in the Miao village.

"National Master, why do you think the insect is red?" Lu Zhixing was still quite puzzled. In his eyes, the National Master was the smartest and wisest person in the world. He just couldn't help but always wanted to ask him. It was also a habit he had developed since he was a child.

The Imperial Master did not answer but asked: "What is red?"

"Blood?"

The Imperial Master glanced at him and suddenly realized something: "Yes, since the prince has already said that this is a Gu worm, how has this Gu worm been refined in the past? To refine it to this level, you need the blood of the person who refined the worm. You don't need much, just one drop a day."

Lu Zhixing shook the box, and the four-winged centipede's corpse shook. "This person who raised the Gu was quite cruel to himself. He raised the Gu worm with one drop of blood every day, and he just released it casually like that?"

"This four-winged centipede is easier to raise than other poisonous insects. It says to use blood but it doesn't say whose blood must be used. You don't have to be obedient. Raising such a thing is purely for harming people." The national teacher chuckled, and his hand with the Buddhist beads never stopped.

"Can this Gu worm be fed with other people's blood?"

The national master strung the last bead into the rope and then tied it into a knot. A Buddhist bead was born in his hand. He handed the Buddhist bead to Lu Zhixing and asked him to take it together with Lu Ci Qiu's bead. He also specifically told them not to distinguish them. The two of them would naturally know which one was theirs when they saw it.

After he finished all this, he slowly told Lu Zhixing the story he knew when he was young: "When I was young, I accidentally entered a Miao village once. I heard from a young man in the Miao village that almost every household here raises four-winged centipedes. This thing is very poisonous and easy to catch. If it is raised well and used to poison, it is basically silent. I asked him, "Everyone stays in this Miao village, what's the point of raising these four-winged centipedes?" He said, "These four-winged centipedes are useless in the Miao village, but they are very useful outside."

There was someone who specialized in collecting centipedes in this village. One centipede could be sold for ten taels, but the quality had to be good. In order to make money, everyone started raising centipedes. Later, that person stopped collecting them. However, centipedes would bite back if they were not fed blood for a day, so they had no choice but to continue raising them.

Lu Zhixing frowned: "Did you buy these centipedes from the people in the Miao village?"

"It's very likely. The four-winged centipede is no more poisonous than other poisonous insects. Although it is poisonous, it is not that poisonous. It is within a controllable range. However, once you encounter it, you will definitely die. I have only heard of it and have never seen it. I was a little skeptical when I saw this insect just now, but I didn't expect it to be true."

"Then the Miao people can't escape this matter." Lu Zhixing didn't want to be associated with the Miao village. The relationship between the Miao village and Da'an was very complicated, and everyone was involved with each other. If things got worse, it would not be good for anyone.

"You can't be so absolute." The national teacher interrupted him: "The people of Miao Village just want to make a living. The main thing is who is purchasing these things and who is using the people of Miao Village to let them use their blood to cultivate this batch of four-winged centipedes.

Your Majesty, what you should do is to find out the real culprit behind this, instead of arresting those innocent people who were deceived. In the final analysis, everyone is just trying to survive."

Lu Zhixing took every word of the national master into his mind and heart. The national master was right. The most important thing about this matter was who was behind all this. Those villagers were just being used.

The Imperial Master stretched himself lazily, and stole a glance at Lu Zhixing who was thinking. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. Some things cannot be thought of too superficially. He had reminded everyone that he should have. Seeing that the time was almost up, he should also send people away: "Now that the things have been found, please go back if there is nothing else. It's time for a nap."

"Are you taking a nap at this time?" Lu Zhixing glanced at the sun. It was already an hour and a half past noon. If he was still taking a nap, it would be time for dinner soon.

"Is it not okay for me to sleep whenever I want?" The national teacher rolled his eyes at him. Although this was not in line with his personality, he just couldn't help it. This little brat had always been trying to ruin his plans since he was a child. It was very annoying.

"Okay, okay, okay. Then you take a rest, Imperial Master. I will take my leave now." Lu Zhixing picked his ears and stood up to leave.

Before leaving, the National Master reminded him to bring the two Buddhist beads to Lu Ci Qiu and Ye Jianqing.

Lu Zhixing left the Imperial Master's Mansion and headed towards Lu Ci Qiu's palace with the two strings of Buddhist beads. In the carriage, he looked closely at the three strings of Buddhist beads that the Imperial Master had made for the three of them, and they all looked pretty much the same.

No one has ever been able to figure out what the National Master does, and no one knows what the National Master knows. The National Master's wisdom is not something they can easily assert.

And at this moment in the Prince Xian’s Palace.

Lu Ci Qiu was staring at a guest who had never been here before. Ye Jianqing was watching from the side and wanted to leave but Lu Ci Qiu would not let him go.

"Fifth brother, why are you here today?" Lu Ciqiu and Lu Mingyi were not particularly familiar with each other. After all, they supported different people on the surface, one supported Lu Zhixing, and the other supported the prince. The prince and Lu Zhixing were sworn enemies, so it was impossible for the two sides to sit together and chat and drink tea.

Lu Mingyi was not as nervous as Lu Ci Qiu. He just slowly drank the tea served by Ye Jianqing and looked at Lu Ci Qiu with a smile: "It's okay, it's okay. After you set up your own residence, your brother hasn't come to see you much. We are all brothers. Today, I came to visit you while I have nothing to do."

"Haha." Lu Ci Qiu had a fake smile on his face. He didn't trust the people on the prince's side at all. He didn't believe that this person suddenly came to see him for no reason and talked about brothers. But he didn't dare to show it on his face. After all, the other party was the queen's son, and the legitimate son was different from his own illegitimate son.

"Eighth brother, are you busy recently?" Lu Ci Qiu didn't know whether Lu Mingyi did it on purpose or not. He knew that they were investigating the affairs of the Divine Spirit Cult recently, but still asked him if he was busy.

"so far so good."

"Second brother is a serious person and treats people kindly. I'm sure that eighth brother can learn a lot from him." Lu Ci Qiu frowned as he listened to Lu Mingyi. Although there was nothing wrong with his words, for some reason they sounded awkward to his ears.

He thought to himself: "Don't I know what's going on with my brother? Why do I need you to tell me?"

But he only dared to think about it in his heart, and still put on a harmonious appearance on his face: "Fifth brother is right. Since my younger brother came to the court, my second brother has always taught him personally. He is the first to help my younger brother solve any problems or difficulties."

A little bit, I'll make you jealous to death. I'll make you jealous to death.

Lu Ci Qiu knew that Lu Mingyi, who worked behind the prince, could only drink soup and even had to get the prince's permission to eat a piece of meat.

The prince is too powerful. Even if his younger brother follows him, he will never allow his younger brother to be more powerful than him. He attaches too much importance to power.

Knowing this, Lu Ci Qiu deliberately spoke highly of Lu Zhixing to make Lu Mingyi jealous and let Lu Mingyi see whose brother is the best.

However, Lu Mingyi didn't seem to be jealous at all, and continued to look at him with a smile, as if he was watching a child's mischief. This look gave Lu Ciqiu goosebumps all over his body.

"Um... Fifth brother, you..." Lu Mingyi's eyes made Lu Ci Qiu unable to speak clearly. He only thought about how to send this great god away quickly, but it seemed that the great god had no urge to leave.

Just when Lu Ci Qiu was about to ask Lu Mingyi to leave, Lu Mingyi spoke up: "Aren't you usually investigating cases with Second Brother? Why can't I see you following Second Brother today?"

"Second brother found some clues and went to investigate."

Lu Ciqiu always felt that Lu Mingyi was acting strange today, unlike his usual self. Usually, he would ignore her and just quietly follow behind the prince. How could he dare to come to her house so boldly today? Wasn't he afraid of being punished by the prince if he knew?

"Oh, so that's it." After saying that, he ran out of words, and the two of them were stuck there again.

Ye Jianqing felt awkward watching from the side and tried to leave, but Lu Ci Qiu looked at her with her big wet eyes, looking aggrieved, as if she was going to abandon him. Ye Jianqing felt in a dilemma as to whether to leave or not, so she had to retract her foot that had already stepped forward.

Fortunately, at this time, Lu Zhixing arrived.

"Oh, it's so lively today, why is fifth brother here?" As soon as Lu Zhixing stepped into the door, he saw Lu Mingyi sitting here. He was surprised for a moment, but he quickly reacted.

"Little brother greets big brother." When Lu Mingyi saw Lu Zhixing, he stood up and saluted him obediently.

"Why is fifth brother here?" Lu Zhixing walked to the front, and Lu Ci Qiu stood up obediently to give him his seat. Huai Xi also asked the servants to bring him tea.

"Second brother, how have you been lately?" Lu Mingyi sat down only after seeing Lu Zhixing sit down.

Lu Zhixing asked: "It's okay, but what happened to my fifth brother?"

He had two strings of Buddhist beads in his arms that he wanted to give to Lu Ci Qiu, but it was not convenient to take them out now that Lu Mingyi was here.

"Prince brother feels that second brother has been working very hard lately, so he asked me to come over to see if there is anything second brother can do to help. Please help second brother more." The smile on Lu Mingyi's lips never stopped, but the way Lu Ci Qiu looked at it made him feel uncomfortable.

Hearing this, Lu Zhixing raised his eyebrows. He didn't say anything, but his expression didn't look good.