Forced to be a concubine? I turned around and married the scumbag's father.

Akabane quickly walked to Fuyuka's side and squatted down. Seeing that her eyes were closed, he checked her breathing with his hand and found that she was still breathing.

Has the doctor arrived?

"We've arrived. They're treating the patient who's vomiting."

Akabane frowned, gently picked up Fuyuka, and checked her injuries.

The dagger was stuck in his back, and he bled a lot.

Her usually rosy face was now completely pale; the situation was extremely urgent.

"Send a doctor to come and take a look at her first, and also send all the doctors in the city over."

The people around quickly brought the doctor over. After examining the knife wound, the doctor's expression turned grim: "It's very dangerous. Take him back immediately. We can't remove the knife here."

Akabane handed Fuyuka to his attendant and followed the trail left by his companion.

We must not lose them, otherwise, the lady will be in danger.

But when they chased him to a karaoke bar that had already been shut down, he disappeared without a trace.

When Akabane arrived, they were carefully searching every place.

Seeing this, he became anxious.

"What's going on? How did you guys follow me?!"

The guards were also frantic: "They disappeared in the blink of an eye, as if they could teleport underground."

Akabane thought of a possibility: "A secret passage, there might be one! Quickly order the city guards to close the city gates, and send another troop over. Dig three feet into the ground and find it!"

Akabane thought of a possibility and quickly mounted his horse and galloped away.

Zhuohua must know their secret passage.

When he arrived at the government office, it was freezing cold, but the newly appointed prefect was pacing back and forth, sweating profusely.

Upon seeing Chi Yu arrive, he felt as if he had found a pillar of support and quickly went to greet him, whispering, "Has the Duke of Yong already set out on his campaign?"

Akabane glanced at him: "My lord, just do your own thing. I need to interrogate the spy, Zhuohua."

The prefect grabbed him: "Oh dear, now something even more serious has happened."

"What's the matter?"

"Gu poison, there is Gu poison spreading in the city."

Akabane's expression was grim: "The doctor on the spot has confirmed that the two people who vomited were not poisoned, but were given laxatives."

"No, it wasn't just the two of them. Several other people appeared later. The doctor has already determined that there was indeed an unknown poison in the porridge pot."

Akabane's expression changed drastically: "You're saying the porridge was indeed poisoned? But how can you confirm it's a Gu poison?"

The prefect wiped away a bead of sweat: "The prefectural doctor recognizes it; he says it's a poison called the Yin Snake Gu. Those poisoned will die within ten days. Initially, there's vomiting and diarrhea, followed by bloating, a fishy taste in the mouth, and high fever, until the entire body ulcerates, with absolutely no hope of recovery. Moreover, this Gu is vicious; it will... it will sprout many small Gu worms, and it's contagious. Unless..."

Seeing him hesitate, Akabane grew impatient: "Unless what?"

"Unless the person who created the poison provides the antidote."

The person who created the Gu poison must be from the southern border of the outer regions. They use Gu poison to harm people, so why would they provide an antidote?

But right now, the important thing is the lady!

"Find a witch doctor! We can't just wait like this. If it spreads throughout the city, the master's head might be in danger."

Chiyu sensed the seriousness of the situation and, unable to wait for the constables to bring Zhuohua out, hurried towards the prison.

……

When Gu Hua woke up, everything around her was unfamiliar.

I feel dizzy and my neck hurts a lot. I can't even turn my neck, so I can only turn around to look at my surroundings.

It was impossible to tell where we were; the house and the view outside the window were pitch black.

It was already dark.

Gu Hua felt a little panicked.

Akabane didn't follow?

I wonder how badly Donghua is injured?

Has the patient been cured?

Thinking about these things makes me extremely anxious.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside. Gu Hua quickly turned over onto the bed, closed her eyes, and remained motionless.

The footsteps stopped outside the door, and then another set of footsteps approached from afar.

“Young Master. The poison has already taken effect. More than ten people have been infected. In five days, the poison in these people will multiply and infect even more people soon.”

Gu Hua was taken aback.

They really used a curse!

She recognized Lu Laosan's voice.

"Understood, you go down first."

That's Ji Xuanyu's voice.

"Little Lord!"

Lu Laosan grew anxious: "Stop acting recklessly for this woman! She's already married and has forgotten you. If you disobey the head of the hall again for her sake, he probably won't tolerate it any longer!"

"You don't need to worry about my affairs, just focus on your own."

"Little Lord!"

Ji Xuanyu's voice was tinged with suppressed emotion: "You said it yourself, she got married and no longer has me in her heart. So, who did she marry? Have you forgotten?"

"Huh? Oh." Old Lu suddenly realized.

"You mean you'll use her to force them to retreat?"

"Yes. It's said that Mu Junyan cherishes her dearly. I'd like to see if that's true or not."

"That's the best way to think. The hall master is coming tomorrow, you've really thought this through."

"You just need to send the people who have been poisoned to the Mu family army, and I will take care of the rest."

Gu Hua was so shocked that she trembled all over.

She was too naive.

Ji Xuanyu is no longer the same Ji brother he used to be; he is no good person now.

She wasn't sure if she could still persuade him to turn back.

She indeed became Mu Junyan's Achilles' heel.

This decisive battle was something Mu Junyan had been waiting for and preparing for for a long time.

For this day, Mu Junyan had no wife or children, and he couldn't even take care of his mother. How could she let him give up all his previous efforts for her sake?

No, Mu Junyan will not give up this battle because of a woman.

The door creaked open.

Gu Hua froze, her hands clasped tightly together, and she tensed up, listening intently to the sounds behind her.

The footsteps stopped by the bedside, a candle was lit on the bedside table, and then the bed slumped down.

Ji Xuanyu sat down and stared intently at the woman's back.

"Hua'er, are you awake?"

Gu Hua: "..."

She didn't know how to face him.

Tears welled up and silently slid down her cheeks.

Ji Xuanyu looked at her slightly twitching shoulders, his eyes deep and serious.

"If you wake up, just listen to what I have to say."

Ji Xuanyu couldn't help but reach out and stroke her hair.

Gu Hua felt his touch, and with a start, she rolled over and shrank into the corner, staring blankly at the face in front of her wearing a silver mask.

Ji Xuanyu's hand froze in mid-air. After a long while, he smiled bitterly and murmured gently, "Is Hua'er afraid of me?"

Before Gu Hua could speak, tears streamed down her face.

Ji Xuanyu withdrew his hand: "How did you know I was Ji Xuanyu?"

Gu Hua choked up: "That's what Yao Yao said before she died."

“Yaoyao…I’m so sorry to her,” Ji Xuanyu murmured.

After a long while, Ji Xuanyu suddenly realized something: "You heard what we were saying outside the door?"

Gu Hua nodded, wiped away her tears, and said sincerely, "Brother Ji, there's still a chance. Please turn back, okay?"

"Turn back?" Ji Xuanyu laughed.

"I can't turn back now." He stretched out his hands and waved them at her.

His tone was light: "My hands are stained with the blood of the people of Daliang, and they will not let me go. Especially Mu, Jun, and Yan."

Gu Hua quickly shook her head: "No, he promised he would give you a chance."

"Opportunity?" Ji Xuanyu shook his head with a smile.

Even if Mu Junyan gave him a chance to spare his life, his godfather would not give him that chance.

The leader of Yifeng Hall is a hundred times more ruthless than him.

His hatred for the Great Liang was even deeper than his.

Ignoring everything else, Gu Hua rushed forward and grabbed his arm: "Brother Ji, the conflict between two nations should not harm the common people! They are innocent! Using such despicable methods as Gu poison..."

Ji Xuanyu abruptly shook off her hand, his expression changing drastically, revealing a pair of blood-red eyes beneath his silver mask.

He shouted sternly, "That's right, I'm a scoundrel!"

Gu Hua was frightened by his terrifying appearance.

Her voice trembled, choked with sobs: "Brother Ji, why have you become like this? Is it because of Aunt Pei? Is it because she pushed you off the cliff, almost killing you? It's all because of me! If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have harmed you like that. It's all my fault!"

Ji Xuanyu was annoyed by her crying and gritted his teeth, saying coldly, "Don't think you can soften my heart like this!"

He couldn't bear to see her in this heartbreaking state any longer, and glared at her fiercely: "You're not getting out of here!"

Gu Hua watched his retreating figure and felt a chill in her heart.

Is he really going to use himself to threaten Mu Junyan?