Golden Branch

"Forbidden area? What kind of forbidden area is it? What are the specific conditions?"

Lou Yu sat behind the desk, his elbows resting on the armrest, with a screen behind him.

He had a lazy posture, a relaxed expression, and spoke in an unhurried voice.

When the secret guard heard the question, the scene he had seen before emerged in his mind, and a trace of fear flashed in his cold eyes.

Lou Yu keenly caught his subtle expression and couldn't help but wonder: What was going on? How could he even scare the rigorously trained and carnage-stricken Secret Guards?

The secret guard was silent for only a few breaths. He quickly returned to normal and replied in a deep voice, "My lord, the forbidden area of ​​the Nanbang royal family is not far from the royal city. It is a hollowed-out mountain."

"The mountain is so horrifying and the scene so tragic it's unbearable to watch!"

When saying this, the secret guards, whose voices were usually flat, had a slight tremor.

He was still afraid! It was a fear that came from the depths of his soul!

Lou Yu became more and more curious. "Shocking? Horrible?"

What on earth did this Nanbang Yi Liao do?

Is it against the laws of nature? Is it against human ethics?

"Okay, stop keeping me in suspense. Tell me in detail what you've seen since entering Southern Xinjiang and arriving at the so-called forbidden area. Just tell me!"

Lou Yu was very direct and was too lazy to continue asking questions one by one.

"Yes!"

The secret guard heard the impatience in Lou Yu's words, subconsciously straightened his back, tried his best to suppress the fear in his heart, and began to report everything in detail.

"So that my lord may know, I have followed your instructions and the clues you received from the Yi people of Yongzhou, and have gone deep into the southern part of the country and explored the mountains and forests."

"The Governor of Nanbang proclaimed himself king, calling himself the King of Nanbang. He converted the original Governor's Mansion into a royal palace and renamed the city the Royal City."

"Outside the royal city, there is an undeveloped primeval forest. King Nanbang built a forbidden area there."

"I found a way to enter the forbidden area and discovered that the center was a hollowed-out mountain."

"The interior of the mountain is quite large and has been built into a prison!"

Lou Yu was still leaning on the table. When he heard the word "cell", his white, slender, bony fingers moved slightly.

Become king!

Privately set up prisons!

The so-called King of Nanbang is really a complete traitor.

"In the cell, there are no prisoners, but, but——"

Just as Lou Yu was thinking to himself, the secret guard continued speaking.

Fear flashed in his eyes again, proving that what he had seen and heard in that mountain cell had truly frightened him.

Lou Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. It was no wonder that his own secret guards had seen blood and cruelty.

From the harsh training grounds of the Lou family to the tortures in the Dali Temple, those secret guards were already familiar with them and carried out the operations themselves.

They are not surprised by all kinds of physical torture.

So, what exactly is the forbidden area of ​​King Nanbang? Could it be that it is not physical, but——

"My dear, since you haven't seen it with your own eyes, you probably can't imagine what it feels like. It's terrifying, and my soul is trembling!"

"Those people, after using the so-called secret medicine, could become heartless and inhumane."

"They are like controlled evil spirits. When they lash out, they can even severely hurt themselves!"

When the secret guard said this, there was obvious disbelief on his face.

It's not difficult to be cruel to others. After all, if the flesh isn't cut into your own body, you won't feel any pain.

It is very unreasonable to be so cruel to yourself.

The scene that the secret guard saw in the mountain cell overturned his cognition.

"They were like evil spirits. When they mutilated themselves, they were even more ferocious than when they killed their enemies. It was as if what they were biting and cutting wasn't their own flesh and blood!"

That kind of picture is so shocking.

The secret guard only needed one look to remember it forever.

Now, just a little thought will bring bloody, crazy and twisted scenes to mind.

Lou Yu listened to the secret guard's story and carefully observed his expression. Even the calm and self-controlled gentleman couldn't help but frown.

So weird?

This little secret medicine actually has such a terrifying effect?

"In order to obtain the 'antidote', they can do anything. They have no self-respect, no reason, and have completely lost their humanity..."

The secret guard was probably really stimulated. He was usually taciturn, but now he was talking nonstop.

Lou Yu sat quietly without interrupting the secret guard.

The hand hidden under the wide sleeve gently stroked the red line on the thumb.

Because he suddenly thought of -

Ashlin is urging Ah Heng to use the secret medicine!

The target of Ashlin's plot was Lou Yu.

Now that Lou Yu knew how terrible the secret medicine was, he was not too afraid, but instead felt deeply offended.

What a lowly, dirty fool, trying to turn him into her puppet.

Oh, how could she be worthy of it?

Lou Yu had not seen those puppets in person, but he could get a glimpse of them from the words and expressions of the secret guards.

It should be an extremely domineering poison.

Once poisoned, one will completely become a slave to the drug holder.

But Lou Yu is twisted and crazy at heart, and he doesn't think he can be controlled by anything!

He could even suppress the madness in his own heart, let alone a mere poison.

Furthermore, the tip of the brocade bag Wang Mian gave him also mentioned—

This substance is extremely poisonous and there is no medicine to cure it. The only way is to quit it by force!

As long as you endure for a period of time and stop taking it, you will be able to detoxify.

Of course, Wang Mian also reminded:

The word "quit" is easy to say, but it is actually very difficult.

Because that period will be very, extremely difficult, and it will be the greatest torture and suffering to the mind and body.

Moreover, even if you successfully quit, it is easy to relapse if you become addicted again.

Lou Yu is confident that he can survive withdrawal, and he is so crazy in his bones that he even wants to take the initiative to challenge it.

But, he was worried about Ah Heng.

What if Ah Heng is accidentally injured during the execution of the plan?

"...Wang Mian is right! This poisonous substance that harms people should be completely destroyed!"

"Eradicate it! Eradicate it completely from the root!"

"Don't plant it, don't let it bloom and bear fruit, just let it disappear..."

Lou Yu rubbed the red line that had penetrated his skin, and the darkness and madness that were gushing out of his heart were slowly brought under control!

The report from the secret guard has also come to an end.

Lou Yu finally spoke, and he said slowly: "Besides the prison cells, what else is there in that forbidden area?"

"My dear, there are also large patches of poisonous flowers! Their appearance and color are exactly the same as the picture you gave me."

As the secret guard reported, his eyes flashed with admiration for his master—

As expected of you, you are awesome!

The prophet!

Although he had never been to Nanbang and there was no such poisonous flower in Dayu, the man had prepared a picture album in advance.

No one knew how shocked and impressed the secret guard was when he saw the poisonous flowers in the humid and dense Nanbang jungle, following the map in his hand.

My dear, you are truly a god!

Lou Yu: ...Not bad! After all, there's a divine disciple with an extraordinary background!

Wang Mian is like a treasure. In the past decade or so, and in the years to come, the surprises she has brought are far beyond people's imagination.

Lou Yu collected his thoughts and continued to ask, "Besides the forbidden area, where else in Nanbang are there poisonous flowers?"

“Nothing was found elsewhere!”

Lou Yu pondered, "Besides the poisonous flowers, what about the finished products? How much inventory do you have?"

The so-called finished product is the black ointment that Ashlin carries with her.

Back then at the post station, what Ashlin called incense was this thing.

But at that time, Lou Yu was in a hurry to return to Beijing to celebrate Wang Heng's birthday, so he jumped out of the window and left, missing it!

Thinking about it now, Lou Yu couldn't tell whether he should feel regretful or feel lucky.

"...I should be thankful that I'm not alone anymore. There's no need to risk my life just for a little curiosity!"

He has always been crazy and is not afraid of dying.

But, he still has Ah Heng.

Ah Heng is now pregnant and needs his protection even more.

For Ah Heng's sake, he couldn't make any mistakes!

"We have investigated and found that besides the poisonous flowers, there is also a secret workshop in the forbidden area that specializes in brewing black ointment."

"The workshop has a warehouse, and in that warehouse there are nearly a thousand kilograms of black ointment."

"...Also, I suspect that besides the forbidden area, this item should also be found in the Nanbang Royal City!"

The secret guards were very thorough in their actions and were able to apply what they had learned to other situations without Lou Yu's instructions.

"Ok!"

Lou Yu nodded slightly, expressing his satisfaction with the secret guard.

Immediately, he ordered again: "Keep investigating! I want to know the specific and exact data!"

"Be it poisonous flowers or black ointment, I want to know how many there are in the entire Nanbang and the entire southern border!"

Since we want to catch everyone at once, we must investigate thoroughly and make sure no one slips through the net.

"Yes! I obey your command!"

……

After sending away the secret guards, Lou Yu dealt with several urgent matters in the outer study.

Finally, he did not forget to write a "peace fold" to the prince -

He has arrived in Nanzhou safely. Next, he will properly handle many matters in Nanzhou and Nanbang.

After finishing his work, it was already late, so Lou Yu got up and returned to the backyard.

The backyard is a two-story courtyard, not very big, not even as big as the main courtyard of the Duke's Mansion.

After the renovation, the worn-out tiles were replaced, the broken walls and floors were repaired, and the thatch in the corners and roofs was also cleared away.

The walls, doors, windows, etc. have also been freshly painted.

The interior furnishings had long been replaced with Wang Heng's usual nanmu furniture, lacquerware, porcelain and other ornaments.

Except for its small size, which cannot be changed, other aspects are already extremely refined and barely meet Wang Heng's requirements.

"Brother, come and take a look. Are you satisfied?"

Seeing Lou Yu coming back from the front yamen, Wang Heng took the initiative to greet him, took his hand, and strolled with him in the yard.

"To me, it doesn't matter whether I live under the sun or on the ground. As long as Ah Heng is satisfied, I'm satisfied!"

Lou Yu came from a wealthy family, but he was also a general who had fought in battles.

He doesn't have too high requirements for living conditions such as food and drink.

You can live in luxury, a mansion, or you can eat coarse food and live in a cramped, shabby house.

Besides, the backyard has changed a lot, and all the items are modeled after the Duke's Mansion and the Princess's Mansion.

Lou Yu didn't think there was anything wrong.

What he cared more about was whether Ah Heng was used to it or not, and whether she liked it or not!

Ah Heng is spoiled and used to enjoying herself, and Lou Yu can't bear to see her suffer any injustice.

"...It's not so bad! It'll only take a few years, just bear with it, and it will pass!"

Wang Heng felt that she had also suffered.

During the two or three years of mourning, she was very restrained.

"Besides, there is another courtyard!"

"Ahu and his friends have already bought property outside the city. They own forests and farms. If I feel suffocated in the city, I can go outside to relax!"

"Brother, you know me well. I won't let myself be wronged!"

Wang Heng did not hide her affectation at all, and said "I will not wrong myself" without any shame.

As expected, Lou Yu did not dislike it. His deep eye sockets were filled with pampering and love.

"Yes! Our Ah Heng will never be wronged!"

Lou Yu agreed with a smile.

The couple walked hand in hand into the main room of the main courtyard, and Lou Yu helped Wang Heng sit down.

"Brother, how's the situation? Have you found out the truth about the secret medicine?"

Sitting cross-legged and sending the servants away, Wang Heng lowered her voice and asked quietly.

"Ok!"

Lou Yu responded and then quietly relayed the contents of the secret guard's report to Wang Heng in detail.

"Amian is right again!"

Wang Heng marveled, then felt a little unbelievable: "There really is such a strange poison in this world!"

"Yes! Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, from An Shiyi's subconscious reaction when he reported this matter, I can tell that this thing is truly terrifying!"

Lou Yu spoke in a low voice.

Wang Heng knew that the "Secret Eleven" he was referring to was the eleventh-ranked secret guard.

This ranking is not based on age or the length of time one has been selected as a secret guard, but on the results of the assessment.

Those with the best grades naturally rank highest.

An Shiyi is not ranked at the top, but his martial arts, abilities, and psychology are far superior to those of ordinary guards!

"So, we still have to listen to Amian's advice and eliminate this thing at the root. We must never allow it to spread in the world!"

Wang Heng said slowly.

As a superior, Wang Heng had thought about using poison to control and murder her enemies.

However, Wang Heng is a rational, sober and smart person who understands the principle of "backlash".

This secret medicine is a double-edged sword.

It can harm others and also hurt yourself.

"... Don't worry, I'll handle it! At the fastest, one or two months, at the slowest, half a year, I'll definitely resolve it satisfactorily."

Lou Yu spoke confidently and calmly.

He is not just talking big, but he can really do it.

The secret medicine is indeed scary, but it is ultimately a poison that cannot be seen in the light.

As long as those in power know of its existence and harm, they can eliminate it by using official power.

Lou Yu can easily deal with just Nanbang without even sending out a large army!

"Poisonous flowers and poisonous things, Amian guessed it! Then the 'salt' in the other sachet should also be as Amian said."

Wang Heng thought of the brocade box that Wang Mian gave her, which contained more than just one brocade bag.

"I've already sent someone to investigate this matter!"

"The southwest is mountainous, and the salt we eat is basically locally produced well salt."

"And most of the local salt wells, large and small, are controlled by wealthy families."

"I came to Nanzhou not only to deal with the affairs of Nanbang, but also to re-establish the prestige of the Protectorate with Nanzhou as the center."

Salt is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and is also one of the keys to Lou Yu's breakthrough in Nanzhou.

PS: It’s almost finished, I’ll control the pace and update once more, (^.^)