The study of Prince Yi's Residence's residence.
Gu Moran placed the urgent report from Shun'an Lane on the desk, and slowly pressed his fingertip over the five words " Ye Qingyun is dead".
The system panel then appeared.
[Detection of the first Son of Destiny, Ye Qingyun, having suffered a main storyline collapse]
[Residual luck can be plundered]
[Please select a reward option:]
[Part 1: Life Compensation - Extends survival by three months]
[Part Two: Destiny Monitoring Eye - Allows you to view others' current status and potential risks]
[Three: Destiny Residue - Can offset one low-level Heavenly Dao Correction ]
The candle flame flickered.
Uncle Fu looked up.
Your Highness?
Gu Moran her hand, signaling him to be quiet.
Three months' lifespan.
The most alluring thing is at first glance.
Who doesn't want to live longer?
But what about now?
Someone had just died in the south of the city, the crown prince had been implicated, the second prince was eyeing the situation covetously, and the emperor was filled with suspicion.
Her own background remains shrouded in mystery.
Living three more months, but not being able to see where the knife came from, is nothing more than three more months of living in fear.
The third item Destiny Residue.
The name itself doesn't sound precious, and it only happens once.
Using it too early is a waste; using it too late might mean it's already lying on its end.
He couldn't even predict when or how the Heavenly Dao Correction; a one-time shield against an unknown arrow—that was too much of a gamble.
Besides, a real man never chooses a scumbag.
Only the second one remains.
The Destiny Monitoring Eye.
It can see people.
They can see what the other person is hiding and what secrets they may have.
It's better to see through three deadly people than to live three more months.
"Choose two."
[Selected: Destiny Monitoring Eye) ]
[Note: Different core attributes may be displayed before different relationship targets.]
[Limitations: Cannot see through high-level secrets, cannot make judgments on behalf of the host]
Collapse the panel.
Gu Moran blinked, then looked up and her gaze fell on Uncle Fu across from her.
A line of text appeared.
[ Uncle Fu: His blood and energy are declining, but his hands and feet are still nimble.]
[Relationship: Subordinate]
[Loyalty: 100]
[Potential Risk: Connection to an old case; key clues temporarily unavailable]
Gu Moran looked at the last sentence, his lips pressed tightly together.
When it comes to crucial moments, the system flags him as "untraceable."
Okay, you unambitious piece of trash.
He picked up the porcelain bottle containing coptis chinensis and put it down again, suppressing the urge to curse.
Footsteps soon came from outside the door.
Shen Ling'er arrived first.
She wore a light blue outer robe and carried a medicine box. When she entered, she first glanced at Gu Moran, then at the urgent report on the table, and her brows immediately furrowed.
Su Yao came in next.
Dressed in simple white, with a throat lozenge in her throat, she walked a fraction slower than usual.
She glanced at Gu Moran's expression, then her gaze fell on the desk.
Something happened?
Gu Moran pushed the urgent report over.
Shen Ling'er reached out to take it, Su Yao pressed down on the corner of the paper first.
"Let me see first."
Shen Ling'er pouted.
" Sister Su can't give in to her younger sister."
Su Yao didn't reply, her fingertips steadily pressing on the paper as she read line by line.
When she saw the words " Ye Qingyun is dead," her finger paused for a moment, then she continued scrolling down.
Shen Ling'er leaned closer, her nose twitching slightly.
"There's blood on it."
Gu Moran glanced at her, and a line of words appeared before her eyes.
[ Shen Ling'er: Not in good spirits, lacking sleep, but possesses extremely high medical talent.]
[Relationship: Partner]
[Trust Level: 96]
[Favorability:70]
[Emotional fluctuations indicate: Curiosity suppressing vigilance]
[Potential risk: Approaching unfamiliar medical conditions without considering the consequences]
Gu Moran wrote down the last line.
Shen Ling'er had already read the second half of the urgent report, and her expression gradually darkened.
"Bleeding from all seven orifices, left arm severely injured, acupuncture needles inserted incorrectly, blood and qi blocked..."
Her voice was very low, and the usual playfulness was gone from her eyes.
This is not a case of ordinary practice going astray.
Gu Moran asked tentatively, "You can even tell the cause of death?"
Shen Ling'er shook her head.
"It's possible to go into qi deviation, but it's not the common kind. Usually, when qi and blood are disordered, at most the meridians are damaged, resulting in vomiting blood and fainting."
But he was bleeding from all seven orifices, and even the silver needles were being forced back. I've never seen such a symptom in the old cases of the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Su Yao gently placed the urgent report back on the table, her movements steady.
"What's even more troublesome are the few words he left behind before he died."
She pointed to the last three lines of text on the paper.
"The Crown Prince ordered Chu Tianxing harm me."
"Crown Prince, Chu Tianxing, buy my life."
"Finally, there are the two characters 'Gu Mo'."
Shen Ling'er frowned.
"The person is already dead, why is he still biting indiscriminately even in his dying moments?"
Su Yao looked up at her.
"The person who bites indiscriminately dies, but the living will take their place."
After those words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.
Gu Moran looked at Su Yao.
System information appeared before my eyes.
[ Su Yao: Slightly weak in Qi and blood, her throat injury has not yet healed, but she is perceptive and understands people's hearts]
[Relationship: Partner]
[Trust Level: 89]
[Favorability:31]
[Emotional fluctuations indicate: calmness, suppressing the lingering problems caused by the old engagement]
[Potential Risk: A murder has occurred among the members of the Su Clan's old covenant, raising concerns about the Su Clan.]
Trust level: 89.
She's a bit shorter than Shen Ling'er.
Gu Moran memorized the number without revealing a trace of it on her face.
"Consort Su, please continue."
Su Yao lightly touched the two characters "Crown Prince" with her finger.
"The Crown Prince will say this is a frame-up. The Second Prince will be eager to implicate the Crown Prince because Ye Qingyun instructed the Crown Prince before he died."
However, Chu Tianxing had also received medicinal herbs from the Second Prince.
But if you ask me, what Father Emperor cares about most isn't necessarily who killed Ye Qingyun.
Gu Moran answered quickly.
"The once peaceful south of the city has been turned into a scene of murder by the princes."
Su Yao nodded.
"Just as the South City Martial Workshop received the imperial approval, Ye Qingyun died next to the emergency shelter, dragging the crown prince inside before he died."
The Emperor will suspect that someone turned the trial site into a quagmire for the princes' infighting.
Shen Ling'er placed the medicine box at her feet and whispered, "What kind of martial arts does Ye Qingyun practice? These symptoms don't seem like the common symptoms of someone who has gone astray."
"I want to perform an autopsy and then ask Chu Tianxing in person."
Gu Moran raised his hand and touched her hair.
"No."
Shen Ling'er immediately raised her eyebrows and eyes.
Why not?
"This case connects to Chu Tianxing, the emergency shelters, and even the Crown Prince and the Second Prince."
"Father will be watching."
"If you go to Shun'an Lane now to investigate the martial arts techniques and perform an autopsy, what will people write? 'Female relatives of Prince Yi's Residence, female physician from the Shen Family, secretly entered the crime scene and discussed the cause of death'?"
Shen Ling'er's lips moved slightly.
But I'm worried about you too.
"But if something happens to you after you go, who will take the blame?" Gu Moran retorted. " Cui'er? Elder Shen? Or the Hanzhang Hall took your medicine?"
Shen Ling'er didn't know what to say for a moment, her fingers gripping the handle of the medicine box tightly.
She paused for a moment, then spoke again.
"Then I won't go to Shun'an Lane."
She stared at Gu Moran, "Have someone copy down the detailed symptoms from Ye Qingyun's autopsy for me, and I'll compare them with the records in Green Vine Courtyard, is that alright?"
Gu Moran and Su Yao exchanged a glance.
This girl took a step back, but she could still manage to scramble forward half an inch within her retreat route.
"Okay." Gu Moran nodded, "But only write the symptoms, not the names, and don't leave any matching words."
Shen Ling'er then let go.
"OK."
She had barely finished speaking when she added another sentence.
"Anyway, this matter needs to be explained. Otherwise, I'll investigate it myself."
"Okay, okay, okay," Gu Moran replied quickly.
Su Yao stared at the case file, her voice slightly hoarse, yet still steady.
"My biggest worry is that the Crown Prince, cornered as a cornered dog, Chu Tianxing."
"It would be more appropriate to keep Chu Tianxing in prison and have him closely guarded."
Shen Ling'er frowned.
"Is it safe in prison?"
"At least it's better than falling into the hands of the two princes, because Yuan Shen wants the case files, Cao Jin wants the government's reputation, and Father Emperor wants to see who reaches out first."
Gu Moran nodded.
" Uncle Fu."
"This old servant is here."
"Send a message to Yuan Shen, reminding him to keep a heavy guard over Chu Tianxing's cell and not allow him to be interrogated alone by anyone."
"Yes."
Uncle Fu agreed very quickly and turned to leave.
Only Gu Moran, Shen Ling'er, and Su Yao remained in the room.
Shen Ling'er was still staring at the few lines of symptoms on the case file, her fingers lightly tracing the words "bamboo tube fever" twice.
"I suspect there's something wrong with Ye Qingyun's technique itself," she whispered. "But I can't judge it accurately just by looking at the words."
Gu Moran pushed the porcelain bottle containing coptis chinensis in front of her.
"Alright, stop thinking about it. Go back to your courtyard. I haven't slept in a long time. I'll come find you later."
Shen Ling'er raised her eyes and glared at him.
"You won't let me investigate the case, but you expect me to serve you?"
She snorted, but the tips of her ears turned red first.
"Your Highness has a clever plan."