Transmigrated into a cunning princess, she sets her sights on a celibate royal uncle.

"It's like a venomous insect is hiding under the eye!"

Shang Que's words revealed the secret.

Everyone was shocked by this conclusion, especially Xiao Yeming, who had just been crying so hard he was almost fainting.

"How is that possible? The Great Yu Dynasty has banned witchcraft for many years. Anyone who practices such evil arts should be sentenced to be torn apart by chariots. How could anyone dare to use such an evil method, especially against a high-ranking official of the court!"

Xiao Yeming grabbed Shang Que by the collar, his face filled with disbelief.

Seeing that Xiao Yeming was too emotional, Huo Jingxuan gave Bei Yinghanchuan behind him a look, and the two of them stepped forward and pulled Xiao Yeming away a little.

Shang Que was finally able to catch his breath and continued, "This kind of Gu is called Corpse-Eating Gu."

The most obvious symptom of this poison is that the eyes protrude more than normal. It will quickly gnaw at the heart meridian of the poisoned person, causing them to age rapidly and die within ten days.

Three days after the victim dies from the Gu poisoning, the Gu worms will burst from their eyeballs, consuming the victim's corpse to complete their metamorphosis. They will then transform into a type of winged insect, emerge from the soil, and fly away.

"Then do you know how to remove the curse?" Jiang Xi pressed.

Shang Que shook his head: "I also saw it in an ancient book, but the Great Yu Dynasty forbade the practice of Gu techniques, so I didn't study it in depth."

"Who would dare to study Gu magic under such strict laws, and even give it to a high-ranking official of the court?" Huo Jingxuan asked.

Jiang Xi had a sudden inspiration: "The Seven Star Hall Master, Longyue!"

Even Huo Jingxuan was shocked: "The Longyue man is locked up in the secret prison of the Surveillance Department, how could it be him?"

Jiang Xi and Huo Jingxuan exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of foreboding. Huo Jingxuan was the first to react and turned to head towards the Surveillance Department.

Jiang Xi quickly followed.

Jiang Cheng, a captain from the Supervisory Department, came out to greet him, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Your Highness!"

As Huo Jingxuan walked, he asked, "Where is Longyue?"

Jiang Cheng was curious as to why Huo Jingxuan had rushed over in such a hurry, and why Princess Yong'an was with him.

But since Huo Jingxuan had asked, he could only answer truthfully: "He's locked up in the secret prison!"

Huo Jingxuan said nothing more and headed straight for the secret prison.

The secret cell was underground, dimly lit, with torches stuck in the walls.

Jiang Xi followed Huo Jingxuan into the inner chamber of the secret prison and immediately saw the man bound hand and foot to the rack by black iron chains.

The man still wore a silver mask, but his body was covered in wounds and he was barely clothed.

"Longyue!" Huo Jingxuan stepped forward and flicked his sleeve, knocking off the mask from his face.

However, everyone was shocked the moment the mask fell off.

According to Longyue's own account, he was Xiao Ce, the legitimate son of Xiao Mingyang, and Huo Jingxuan had seen Xiao Ce's appearance.

But the person behind the mask is not Xiao Ce at all; it is clearly Wei Yan, the deputy leader of the Seven Star Hall!

"Hahaha!" Wei Yan, who was beaten to the point of near death, laughed arrogantly: "You're not quite up to the task of capturing our leader!"

Although it is unknown when Wei Yan sneaked in to replace Long Yue, it is certain that the Supervisory Department must have had an inside agent to do so so secretly.

This inside man may not necessarily be from the Seven Star Hall, but he must be Xie Jiayun's man!

Huo Jingxuan glanced sharply behind him, and Jiang Cheng immediately clasped his hands and knelt down: "Your Highness, please forgive me!"

Huo Jingxuan stared coldly at Jiang Cheng and ordered in a deep voice, "Thoroughly investigate the entire Supervisory Department and find that traitor!"

"Yes, sir!" Jiang Cheng replied immediately.

Huo Jingxuan turned and left, and Jiang Xi immediately followed behind him.

After leaving the Supervisory Office and boarding the Prince's carriage, Jiang Xi looked at the furious Huo Jingxuan, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to tug at his sleeve.

Huo Jingxuan looked up, his anger still lingering in his eyes, which startled Jiang Xi.

Jiang Xi timidly released Huo Jingxuan's sleeve and analyzed in a low voice.

"Imperial Uncle, Longyue must have been rescued by Xie Jiayun. The Gu worms in Imperial Censor Xiao's body are inextricably linked to the Xie family!"

"I know!" Huo Jingxuan said coldly.

Jiang Xi paused for a moment, then said, "Right now, we can't ignore the life or death of Imperial Censor Xiao. We must thoroughly investigate all the colleagues who invited Imperial Censor Xiao to drink a few days ago!"

Huo Jingxuan glanced at Jiang Xi: "That day was a normal banquet among colleagues, with as many as eighteen participants. If all of them are thoroughly investigated, many positions in the court will suddenly become vacant, and Xie Jiayun will definitely make a big fuss about it!"

"You mean you're not going to investigate?" Jiang Xi asked, somewhat worried.

After all, Imperial Censor Xiao was, in Huo Jingxuan's eyes, a political enemy.

Without Imperial Censor Xiao, there is one less person in the court who dares to impeach him!

Seeing that Huo Jingxuan hesitated, Jiang Xi quickly spoke up.

"The second master of the Xie family is the Vice Censor-in-Chief. Since Censor Xiao died suddenly, he is the most likely person to be promoted to Grand Censor."

I guarantee that once the second master of the Xie family comes to power, he will target you even more than Imperial Censor Xiao!

Huo Jingxuan gave Jiang Xi a strange look: "I didn't say I wouldn't investigate, why are you in such a hurry?"

Jiang Xi shrank back: "Imperial Censor Xiao is an upright official. I just don't want him to die a violent death in the capital when he was at an age when he could have retired with honor!"

Huo Jingxuan was naturally unaware that Imperial Censor Xiao had also been a supporter of Jiang Ji.

After all, someone like Imperial Censor Xiao couldn't be bribed by a mere Jiang Ji.

Moreover, the name of Imperial Censor Xiao was not among the documents brought back from the Fatian Pavilion.

However, Huo Jingxuan found Jiang Xi's attitude towards Imperial Censor Xiao strange.

"When did you become so upright? Besides, what good does it do you to have Imperial Censor Xiao alive?"

Jiang Xi turned her head and looked directly into Huo Jingxuan's eyes with an open and honest expression.

"Does one refrain from doing anything in this world if there's no benefit? If that's the case, then why did my uncle send my master with me to the Xiao residence?"

Huo Jingxuan paused for a moment, his expression slightly unnatural, and looked away: "Of course I want to know how much longer Imperial Censor Xiao can live!"

"That's all?" Jiang Xi asked rhetorically.

Huo Jingxuan hesitated for a moment before telling the truth.

"My thoughts are actually the same as yours. If Imperial Censor Xiao dies, Xie Qingshan will take his place, which will be detrimental to me in every way!"

Jiang Xi nodded: "So now we have the same goal, which is to find the murderer and save Imperial Censor Xiao!"

Having achieved their goal, the two returned to their respective residences.

"Princess, how is Imperial Censor Xiao? What should we do next?"

When Su Huanqing saw Jiang Xi return, he hurriedly went to greet her and asked her anxiously.

"Send someone to keep watch at 'Hanmofang.' If Xie Qingshan, the second master of the Xie family, shows up, find someone to sell this painting to him, but don't let him discover anything amiss!"

Jiang Xi took a yellowed scroll from the shelf in the study and handed it to Su Huanqing.

When Su Huanqing opened it, he was surprised to find it was the famous painting "The Night Banquet of Han Xizai".

"Princess, this is too much..."

Wouldn't it be a waste to sell such a valuable painting to Xie Qingshan?