"Yes, I’ve heard that the treasure map has already been taken." This matter has spread throughout the martial world, and now various methods are being used to find out the whereabouts of the map. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Has it been spread around in the past month?"

Xuan Yue lowered her head in thought for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, for over half a month now."

After hearing this, Feng Xuxu let out a cold laugh.

"Princess, is there something amiss?" Seeing the princess’s frosty expression, Xuan Yue asked with perplexity.

"It is a conspiracy, aimed at us and the Emperor!" The suspicions from before were now confirmed. So, the news about the treasure that had spread must have come from the retired Emperor within the palace.

"Princess, are you referring to that person?" Xuan Yue was somewhat incredulous; despite having abdicated, he still had the power to stir up trouble.

"Indeed," Feng Xuxu acknowledged, "Unexpectedly, he has outwitted us." Having been the Emperor for decades, he was anything but common. It was improbable that he was frightened into abdication by Dugu Chen in just a few moves. Instead, it was premeditated; all these were probably within his expectations. Truly a cunning fox, he saw through Dugu Han’s nature and resigned willingly.

"So, could this misfortune that befell the Prince be his doing?" If that were true, the Emperor could recapture military authority only if the Prince were out of the picture. And if the Emperor happened to die accidentally, leaving no successors, then the retired Emperor could take control again, and the military power would naturally fall into his hands. It was a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, oblivious of the oriole behind—the scheme was intensely venomous.

"It wasn’t him." If he had been the one to act, aware of Dugu Chen’s fall from the cliff, he wouldn’t have made the extra move of leaking the news about the treasure. The only explanation was that he knew the Emperor had not gotten hold of the Commander’s Seal. Thus, he added fuel to the fire, forcing the Emperor to swiftly get rid of her. By doing so, both masters of the Prince Mei Residence, along with the unborn Princely Heir or Commandery Princess, would be entirely eradicated. Then, the Emperor would have an excuse to change the Commander’s Seal anew, and the soldiers, once informed, would not raise any objections.

The retired Emperor played a deep game, even Dugu Han was utterly manipulated by him.

"Princess, what should we do next?" After turning the matter over in his head a few times, Xuan Yue grasped the concept, his heart pounding with alarm, feeling uncertain.

Feng Xuxu shook her head upon hearing this; everything had come too suddenly. In just one short month, she felt as if she had lived through an entire century, "I need to think things through. You may go for now. I expect news from Huang Yi and Di An in the next few days. After Hua Wuying returns, have him see me."

"Yes, Princess." Seeing the princess a bit weary, Xuan Yue left the great hall with a sense of helplessness, turning his head as he exited.

Feng Xuxu stood up, pushing open the window, and gazed at the bright moonlight outside. Memories flooded back, and tears flowed down her cheeks, unnoticed.

Far away in a foreign land, Dugu Chen lay on his bed as well, peering through the window at the moonlight, his mind reeling with thoughts. He longed to see his wife, yet feared that she would be terrified by his ghastly appearance.

With a creak, the door opened, and in walked an old man with white hair and beard, exuding the air of an immortal.

"You’ve thought it through, then. If you can’t withstand the process, you’ll close your eyes forever." The old man looked at the resolute man on the bed. Once handsome, his face was now disfigured by the Poisonous Insect; had the old man not been picking herbs below the cliff and caught him on a branch, he would likely be nothing but bones now.

Dugu Chen suddenly sat up, reaching out to touch his face. Thinking of his wife waiting for him at home, he steeled his heart, deciding to take the risk to rid himself of the Poisonous Insect.

"Master, I’ve made up my mind. Go ahead," he said softly as he stood up and walked unsteadily to the table, his voice slightly hoarse and his mouth covered with a thin layer of skin.

The old man sighed, "Follow me."

The elder led him to a room filled with the scent of medicinal herbs. There was a large bathing tub in the center of the room, from which steam was rising. Upon closer inspection, Dugu Chen found the tub to be filled with a dark green medicinal liquid.

"Strip and get in." the elder said, holding a sharp dagger in his hand. There were various fine needles laid out beside the tub, and on the ground was a brazier burning fiercely.

Without hesitation, Dugu Chen removed his robe, stepped naked into the tub, closed his eyes, and waited for his master to expel the Poisonous Insects from his body.

As time trickled by and the sun slowly rose in the east, there came a loud scream that startled the birds into flight from the trees.

Seeing Dugu Chen scream and then faint, the elder quickly checked his pulse and found he had only passed out from pain. Relieved, he instructed a young medicine boy, who had been waiting outside, to add hot water to the tub every few hours. Dugu Chen was to be soaked for a full day and night.

When the sun shifted towards the west, the person in the tub finally opened his eyes. The unfocused gaze roamed around the room, and it was only when he felt the pain in his body that he realized where he was.

"You’re awake. Master said not to move. You must soak for a full day and night before you can get out," said the little medicine boy standing by the tub, looking at the strangely-faced man and pouting as he spoke.

"Alright," he replied and then closed his eyes to sit quietly in the tub.

Seeing this, the little medicine boy rolled his black grape-like eyes and returned to reading his medical book at the side.

Capital City, Prince Mei Residence.

"Miss, Hua Wuying has returned," said Lan Lengyun, walking around the screen to see the princess staring blankly at a portrait. She draped a cloak over the princess, who was already mid-October, and the weather was getting colder. The princess’s thin frame supported a belly as round as a ball, which was quite alarming.

"Send him to the study." Coming back to her senses and storing away the portrait, she left the bedroom with the help of Lengyun’s hand.

"Princess," said Hua Wuying, stepping forward and kneeling down to give a sincere bow to the princess. Although he had not been at the residence, he had heard everything from Xuan Yue the night before and was grateful for all that the princess had done for the Prince Residence.

"Get up," she said, seated at the desk, looking at the weary Hua Wuying kneeling on the ground, who had grown much thinner.

Hua Wuying stood up and handed over the information he had gathered to the princess.

Feng Xuxu glanced at it suspiciously, staying silent as she slowly reviewed the information.

The more she read, the paler her face became, looking at Hua Wuying in disbelief, "Is this true?"

"Yes, princess, it’s true," Hua Wuying replied, finding it hard to believe himself, but the facts were undeniable.

"I will kill him!"

Hua Wuying met the vengeful gaze in her eyes, which held an unmistakable hatred and killing intent directed at him.