The daughter of the Marquis is too delicate, the abstinent prince pinches her waist and loves her

Chapter 176 Biting Through Your Heart

The Empress Dowager glanced at Lu Changxuan, then at the two people beside her, and nodded gently, saying, "As long as you can remove the curse, I will pardon you..."

Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager suddenly frowned in pain, raised her hand to cover her temple, and bent over in agony.

Sheng Yunqing frowned and said, "The Gu worms are starting to rebel..."

Ye Jinchen supported the swaying Empress Dowager, his inner strength surging into her meridians like a tide: "Mother, bear with it."

Upon seeing this, Sheng Yunqing immediately bit her fingertip and drew a blood talisman on the Empress Dowager's forehead: "With a clear mind, evil spirits will manifest!"

With a "click," sparks suddenly burst from the soul-guiding lamp in Lu Changxuan's hand, as if conveying some message.

His expression suddenly changed, and he said, "Not good! The Gu worm is summoning its host! Mu Jiyue has already noticed!"

As they were talking, the Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes wide, her pupils turning from black to an eerie dark green, and she made a strange sound from her throat.

Sheng Yunqing flicked three yellow talismans from his sleeve, sealing the palace door, and said, "Senior brother, this can only hold for half an hour at most, hurry!"

Before Sheng Yunqing could finish speaking, Lu Changxuan had already pulled open the back of the Empress Dowager's collar, and the veins on her neck were throbbing, as if there was something inside.

He pointed his fingers together, gathering spiritual power at his fingertips: "Prince Ye, quickly hold her down! If this Gu worm burrows into her brain, it will be difficult for it to get out!"

The air in the bedchamber grew cold, and the veins that had been throbbing on the Empress Dowager's neck suddenly bulged into a long, narrow bulge, moving wildly under her skin.

Lu Changxuan seized the opportunity and inserted the silver needle into the bulge, drawing out a smear of black blood.

"Got it!" Lu Changxuan flicked his wrist, and a three-inch-long blood-red centipede was found on the silver needle.

The moment the centipede was removed, the Empress Dowager coughed up a mouthful of black blood and then collapsed weakly into Ye Jinchen's arms.

Sheng Yunqing took out a pill from a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and put it into her mouth. Lu Changxuan handed her water, and Ye Jinchen took it for her.

The Empress Dowager took a few weak breaths, and suddenly felt much more comfortable.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the centipede that Lu Changxuan had picked up and was still wriggling, and she was so frightened that she was about to scream.

Ye Jinchen quickly covered her mouth and eyes, comforting her, "Mother, don't be afraid. This centipede cannot be killed yet. Let Master Lu deal with it, and then you won't be able to see it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Changxuan looked around, unfolded the now-cold hot water bottle, poured out the water, and stuffed the struggling, writhing centipede inside.

He bit his fingertip and used his blood to write a talisman on the copper lid, which calmed the restless centipede down.

Sheng Yunqing carefully wrapped the hot water bottle and handed it to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Your Majesty, Yunqing is currently trying to figure out how to break Mu Jiyue's witchcraft. The time is not yet ripe, so I can only ask you to carry this Gu worm with you to prevent Mu Jiyue from harming you again."

The Empress Dowager nodded, took the hot water bottle, and then gritted her teeth and snorted angrily: "How dare Mu Jiyue use witchcraft on me! She has a lot of nerve!"

Sheng Yunqing suddenly thought of something and raised her eyebrows, saying, "I heard from Prince Ye that the Empress Dowager had regained a moment of clarity a few days ago?"

"Yes." The Empress Dowager turned her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "When the Crown Prince came to see me, I suddenly regained consciousness. Then Chen'er came to see me and said that Mu Jiyue might have a problem. It was during that moment of clarity that I wrote that decree."

Sheng Yunqing understood and, after considering it for a moment, said, "Could it be... that the Crown Prince carries something that can counteract the Gu poison?"

"Princess Qinxue, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has already gone to sleep."

A maid's voice could be heard from outside.

"Not good!" Sheng Yunqing became alert, pointed and retrieved the yellow talisman at the door, took out the last two invisible talismans from his pocket, and stuck them on himself and Lu Changxuan.

"The Empress Dowager has been sleeping poorly lately, and only when she sees me can she feel at ease. Don't you know how much the Empress Dowager loves me? How many heads do you have to refuse me on her behalf?"

As they were talking, Mu Jiyue barged in. When she lifted the gauze curtain, she saw the person sleeping peacefully on the bed, and a familiar figure in dark robes sitting beside the bed.

Ye Jinchen glared at her with a gloomy expression and said, "How many heads does Princess Qinxue have to disturb the Empress Dowager's peaceful sleep?"

Mu Jiyue glanced around furtively, then smiled sweetly at Ye Jinchen and said, "Brother Chen, you're still here so late."

Ye Jinchen narrowed his eyes unhappily and said, "I'm here? You're very dissatisfied?"

Mu Jiyue walked up to Ye Jinchen, pouted playfully, and said, "Jiyue wants to see Brother Chen all the time, how could I be dissatisfied?"

The Empress Dowager lay on the couch with her eyes closed, her breathing steady. Ye Jinchen raised his eyes indifferently: "Mother has just taken her medicine and is resting. Do you have anything else to say?"

Mu Jiyue chuckled softly, her fingertips gently tapping the wooden box hidden beneath her skirt. The hot water bottle under the Empress Dowager's pillow became slightly warm, indicating that the Gu worm inside had responded to its host.

She turned her eyes, perhaps the realgar powder from that day had caused some problems with the Gu worms.

Confirming that the Gu worms were still present, Mu Jiyue narrowed her eyes in satisfaction: "The Empress Dowager is sleeping so peacefully, so I am relieved."

She slowly walked forward, tilted her head to look at Ye Jinchen, and asked, "Brother Chen, is there anything unusual about the love potion on your body?"

A flash of anger crossed Ye Jinchen's eyes. He glared at her with cold eyes and said, "Stop pretending. If you don't leave, I'll have to call the Imperial Guards to escort you out."

"Why is Brother Chen being so fierce?" Mu Jiyue raised her eyes, her fingertips gently tracing his heart, her smiling eyes looking at him as she said, "I am your future queen, Brother Chen understands, you can only marry me."

Ye Jinchen suddenly grabbed her wrist, the force so strong that she cried out in pain: "Get out."

Mu Jiyue broke free and took two steps back, hiding her hand, which had been gripped so tightly, behind her back. Forcing a smile, she said, "Brother Chen, you absolutely must marry me, otherwise..."

She narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly and said, "I'll let the love potion gnaw through your heart." As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Jinchen's expression changed, and a sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest.

Seeing this, a hint of reluctance flashed in Mu Jiyue's eyes, and then she stepped back to the door and let out a soft hum.

She forced a smile and said, "Brother Chen, even though I've used a love potion on you, I still can't bear to hurt you. Please, please don't disappoint Jiyue."

As soon as he finished speaking, the palace doors were slammed shut.

As the talisman in the shadows burned out, Sheng Yunqing and Lu Changxuan revealed themselves.

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, her gaze filled with hatred as she stared in the direction the woman had left through the doorway.

"She mentioned the love potion to me. I was bewitched by her, and not only did I not punish her, I even agreed to her marriage. I am truly..."

When she got angry, the Empress Dowager almost couldn't breathe. Ye Jinchen raised his hand to pat her back and said, "Mother, please calm down."

"Your Majesty, do not worry. Yun Qing seems to have found some clues that can suppress the love potion."

Sheng Yunqing took out the Starry Jade Pendant from her bosom, pressed it against Ye Jinchen's chest, raised her eyebrows, and asked softly, "How does it feel?"

Ye Jinchen's heart, which had been throbbing slightly, gradually eased, as if a clean spring was flowing through his body.

His eyes widened slightly as he said, "This thing... really can suppress Gu worms..."

Sheng Yunqing then took out a hot water bottle, opened the lid, and brought the jade pendant close to the centipede. The centipede, which had been slowly wriggling, retreated to the edge in fear.

Upon seeing this, Lu Changxuan slightly raised his lips and said, "This jade pendant is indeed mysterious. No wonder Mu Jiyue wants it so much."

Sheng Yunqing wrapped the hot water bottle and placed it beside the Empress Dowager's pillow, saying, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry to trouble you these past few days. I will find a way to induce the poison as soon as possible, and then we will have no fear of Mu Jiyue's threats."

The Empress Dowager took her hand, nodded, and said, "I believe you."

The next day, at the Golden Palace.

The court officials stood solemnly, and the hall was completely silent.

Dressed in a solemn and noble dragon robe, Ye Jinfeng sat high on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and said calmly, "Do any of you have any objections to the Crown Prince taking a concubine?"

Duke Bai suddenly stepped forward and, to everyone's astonishment, bowed to Ye Jinfeng: "This old minister has something to report."

The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment. Yesterday, the Duke of Bai was so angry about this matter that he fainted. They wondered if they would argue about it again today...

Ye Jingnian's thin lips curved into a barely perceptible smile as his fingertips silently caressed the jade thumb ring within his sleeve.

"Speak," Ye Jinfeng said in a low voice.

The Duke of Bai's aged voice was firm and resounding as he said, "In my opinion, Xie's eldest daughter, Zhao Zhi, is virtuous and kind. It is inappropriate to make her a concubine. She should be the Crown Prince's principal wife!"

The entire court was immediately thrown into an uproar!
"The Duke was so angry with the Crown Prince yesterday that he fainted. Why would he suddenly support the Crown Prince in establishing a new principal wife today?"

"Is the strained relationship between the Crown Prince and the Duke due to a misunderstanding?"

Ye Jingnian was not surprised, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Ye Jinfeng was equally surprised. He frowned slightly and said, "Minister Bai, the Crown Princess has only recently passed away..."

"Your Majesty is wise," said Duke Bai, bowing his head. "It is precisely because the Crown Princess passed away early that the Crown Prince's residence needs a virtuous wife even more. The Xie family's daughter is of noble birth and possesses both virtue and talent, making her the perfect candidate for the principal wife!"

His voice was loud and clear, and he spoke with conviction, as if the old man who had confronted the crown prince and fainted in public yesterday had never existed.

Ye Jinfeng pondered for a moment, then looked at Ye Jingnian: "What is the Crown Prince's intention?"

Ye Jingnian stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips: "Your subject has the same idea."

“If that’s the case…” the emperor waved his hand wearily, “Granted.”

Ye Jinchen glanced at Ye Jingnian and recalled what the Empress Dowager had said last night.

The original Starry Jade Pendant was in Xie Zhaozhi's hands. When Ye Jingnian went to see the Empress Dowager, the Gu worms on her body became a little more docile, just like the night before.

Could it be... that star-shaped jade pendant is now on him?

The side courtyard of the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence.

Mu Hanxing squatted under the pear tree, gently fiddling with the soil with her fingertips, humming an off-key tune.

Chunrui came over with a bowl of medicine, and Sheng Yunqing, who was sitting next to her, gently patted her shoulder and said softly, "Hanxing, it's time to drink your medicine."

Han Xing looked up, her bewildered eyes suddenly fixed on the sachet at Sheng Yunqing's waist, inside which was the star-shaped jade pendant.

“Stars…” She suddenly reached out to grab them, but her hand touched the medicine bowl that Chunrui was holding, and it shattered on the ground with a “crack”.

"Oh dear..." Chunrui lowered her head and hurriedly picked up the shards. "Miss and Hanxing, be careful not to get hurt by the shards."

Sheng Yunqing took the jade pendant out of the sachet and gave it to Hanxing. She held it in her hand and smiled foolishly at the sunlight.

The jade pendant shimmered with strange patterns of light under the sunlight, and Hanxing's pupils contracted sharply as fragmented memories flooded back like a tide.