nucmednet Chapter 329 The old man, he really can't be kept alive.
Chapter 329 The old man, he really can't be kept alive.
Inside the study, the candlelight flickered, casting long shadows of the two men.
“Qingmo Valley?” Gu Junze frowned after listening to Chu Ruohan’s description. “I’ve never heard of this place before.”
Chu Ruohan said softly, "Send someone to investigate; they might not be in the Eastern Jin Dynasty."
Gu Junze pondered for a moment, then took out a map and carefully examined every mark and record.
“Qingmo Valley…” he murmured to himself, his fingertips lightly tracing the blurry areas at the edge of the map.
“It might be a place outside the border. I remember Duan Qingye once mentioned that there was a valley outside the northern border that was shrouded in mist all year round, and the trees were all bluish-black in color. The locals called it ‘Qingmo’.”
A glint flashed in Chu Ruohan's eyes as she looked at Gu Junze.
"You mean, Qingmo Valley might be within the territory of Zheng?"
"No, not in Zheng, but in unclaimed land outside the border between the two countries."
Gu Junze's gaze darkened slightly. "That area is steep and almost isolated from the world. It is rumored that some extraordinary people live there."
Chu Ruohan pondered: "If Gu Chengyan really learned some kind of face-changing technique from there, it must not be an ordinary method."
Gu Junze nodded: "I will send someone to investigate immediately, but..."
He looked at Chu Ruohan's slightly protruding belly, his eyes filled with worry.
"Did Granny Zhou say when the unexpected event might occur?"
"He didn't go into details, only mentioning that 'the time is almost here.'"
Chu Ruohan grasped Gu Junze's hand, "I always felt that Zhou Mama's appearance today was not accidental; she may have been waiting there on purpose."
"So, the Prince Su's residence isn't a monolithic entity after all."
Gu Junze's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "If that's really the case, then it's a breakthrough."
Chu Ruohan shook her head slightly: "I'm afraid Granny Zhou is probably in grave danger. She said that Prince Su's secret guards are after us..."
"It seems Gu Chengyan is very wary of the old associates in the Prince Su's mansion, but he can't kill them all for the time being..."
Gu Junze's expression darkened: "Then we need to speed things up even more."
Qin Fang rushed in at this moment, his expression solemn.
"General, Madam, we have just received news that a fire broke out in the rear hall of Puji Temple. An old nanny died in the fire, reportedly from accidentally knocking over an oil lamp."
Chu Ruohan and Gu Junze exchanged a glance, a cold glint flashing in their eyes at the same time.
Gu Chengyan's speed and ruthlessness were chilling.
"I guessed right, Granny Zhou was silenced."
Gu Junze said in a deep voice, "This further proves that what she said is true."
Chu Ruohan gently stroked her abdomen, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Junze, I have an idea."
Gu Junze listened intently, and gradually, his brows furrowed: "No, it's too dangerous!"
Chu Ruohan, however, remained resolute: "This is the best way. The difference between truth and falsehood often lies in the subtle details. And the people who understand a person best are not their enemies, but those closest to them."
"I can't let you take the risk," Gu Junze said firmly. "If anything were to happen..."
"Precisely because there is a possibility of something going wrong, we must take the initiative."
Chu Ruohan looked at him with a firm gaze, "Gu Chengyan is ambitious, he won't let us go. Rather than waiting to be killed, we should strike first."
The two were deadlocked, and finally Gu Junze sighed, "At least, let me arrange everything first."
Chu Ruohan nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Qin Fang wisely withdrew.
As the night deepened, a long, drawn-out drumbeat echoed from afar.
Gu Junze held Chu Ruohan in his arms, and the two nestled together on the bed. Neither of them spoke, but they listened quietly to the chirping of insects outside the window.
"Han'er, I've already lost you once, I can't lose you a second time."
Chu Ruohan turned around and touched his face: "Me too. So we must work together to cut off these threats."
Inside the Prince Su's residence, Gu Chengyan sat upright in his study, with a man in black standing before him.
"People are dead?"
Prince Su's expression was indifferent, as if he were only asking about a trivial matter.
The man in black bowed and replied, "Reporting to Master, Granny Zhou has died in the fire, and no one at the scene noticed anything unusual."
Prince Su sneered: "Who did she see?"
"Chu Ruohan." The man in black hesitated for a moment, but still reported the truth.
"Old man, he really shouldn't be kept alive." He muttered to himself, his eyes sinister. "But this Chu Ruohan... is really smart, much better than in my previous life."
He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the direction of the General's Mansion, which was faintly visible in the distance.
"Pass down the order to intensify surveillance of the General's Mansion, especially Chu Ruohan's every move."
He turned around, a cold glint in his eyes. "Also, send a message to Mingzhu and tell her to speed up the process."
The man in black acknowledged the order and withdrew, leaving Gu Chengyan alone standing by the window, his expression shifting unpredictably.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the sheer curtains.
Chu Ruohan had already gotten up and sat in front of the dressing table, letting Yuling do her makeup.
"Madam, where are we going today?" Yu Ling asked cautiously, her hands still moving.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Chu Ruohan said softly, "Go to the palace and offer incense to the Empress Dowager."
Yu Ling paused for a moment: "The Empress Dowager has already been laid to rest, why must you, Madam,..."
"Propriety must not be disregarded." Chu Ruohan smiled slightly, but a deep meaning flashed in her eyes.
"Moreover, the Empress Dowager treated me well during her lifetime, and I cannot forget this kindness."
Although Yu Ling had her doubts, she didn't ask any more questions. After Chu Ruohan finished dressing, she went to prepare her travel gear.
Gu Junze stood in the courtyard, talking quietly with several trusted confidants. Seeing Chu Ruohan come out, he quickly went to greet her.
"Is everything arranged?" Chu Ruohan asked softly. Gu Junze nodded: "The eunuchs and maids I know in the palace have all been taken care of."
"Are you really going?" Gu Junze was still a little worried.
Chu Ruohan patted his hand reassuringly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Seeing that she had made up her mind, Gu Junze stopped trying to dissuade her, but simply reminded her, "Remember, you must be back at the manor before midnight. We won't wait for you if you're late."
Chu Ruohan smiled and said, "Understood, General."
The two exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with unspoken understanding.
-----
In front of the pilgrimage hall, palace servants were busy coming and going, creating a bustling scene.
Chu Ruohan walked leisurely through the central courtyard and headed straight for the Cining Palace, where the Empress Dowager had lived.
The palace gardens were much quieter in the summer, with only the incessant chirping of cicadas.
As Chu Ruohan passed by the Imperial Garden, she deliberately slowed down and stopped to admire the blooming lotus flowers.
"What brings you here today, Madam Gu, to offer incense to the Empress Dowager?"
A familiar voice came from behind, its tone tinged with a hint of probing.
Chu Ruohan's heart stirred, but she remained expressionless and turned to look.
Prince Su was standing on the arched bridge, holding a folding fan, with a smile on his face.
"Your Majesty."
Chu Ruohan curtsied and said, "The Empress Dowager treated me well when she was alive. Now that she is being laid to rest, I must offer incense to express my gratitude."