Xiao Jinghan glanced at Yi Qing, who seemed to say, "Why are you looking at me? I didn't say you couldn't tell."
The emperor observed their expressions and asked, "Are you guys hiding something from me?"
"I just... forgot," Xiao Jinghan replied honestly.
"Right. Our general is like a brick in your Majesty's hands. You use him wherever needed and even wish to break him into pieces. It's normal for him to forget something," Yi Qing retorted directly.
After learning about this matter, Xiao Jinghan had been busy dealing with it and really forgot to report it to the emperor.
The emperor eyed the couple suspiciously. "Really?" He had a feeling there was more to it.
"The matter about Lin Mo is true. I've already sent Lu Tianxun and Xu Maozhi to search the capital thoroughly. We suspect that the Saintess of Wu Gorge was captured by Lin Mo. He intended to turn Wu Min into a human gu more than a decade ago," Xiao Jinghan explained.
The emperor found this rather novel. "What would happen if someone is turned into a human gu?"
Xiao Jinghan was also unsure and immediately looked at Yi Qing.
Yi Qing didn't know either. Back then, Wu Peng only told her about turning someone into a human gu, but not what would happen after. "When many insects form a gu, Lin Mo massacred the entire Lin family when he wanted to turn Wu Min into a human gu. Maybe... the method is similar."
The emperor gasped. No matter what the human gu was for, such a method was too cruel. "Could it be related to the children who died recently?"
"That's what we thought," Xiao Jinghan nodded.
"These southern sorceries are truly inhumane," the emperor said, casting a glance at Yi Qing. "The southern regions should ban such sorceries to prevent them from harming the world."
"Sorcery - making in the southern regions is similar to poison - making in the Great Jin. The key lies not in the act itself but in people's hearts. Even without sorcery - making or poison - making, those who want to kill will still find a way," Yi Qing knew what the emperor meant. He just wanted to suppress Zisu and didn't want her to stop him.
"Madam is quite right," Xiao Jinghan echoed.
The emperor pointed at them and decided not to bother with them.
Originally, the emperor was worried that the Southern Empress and Yi Qing had some secret connection. Now, he was more concerned about Lin Mo. He thought that since Lin Mo was from the southern regions, it might be a reason to suppress them.
After seeing off the emperor, Yi Qing sat in front of the mirror to remove her hairpins. If she didn't need to go out, she preferred to tie a simple Taoist bun to avoid the neck - ache caused by too many hairpins.
Xiao Jinghan paced back and forth behind Yi Qing, looking solemn.
"What are you thinking about?" Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan in the mirror.
"Lin Mo is from the southern regions. If he is really responsible for these serious crimes in the capital, the emperor may use this as an excuse to trouble the southern regions," Xiao Jinghan seemed to know the emperor's mind well.
Yi Qing slapped the hairpin on the table. "He can't be that shameless, can he?"
Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing's angry face. "It's quite common."
"Commonly shameless," Yi Qing said angrily. "I need to tell Zisu about this."
"I don't think it's necessary. If Zisu is smart enough, she'll send someone to the capital to show goodwill," Xiao Jinghan thought that if Zisu didn't know how to handle this, there would still be problems in the southern regions in the future.
Yi Qing nodded.
There was still no news about Wu Min. They had checked all the families that had visitors in the past three months and were sure that none of them was Lin Da. There was no one in the capital with such characteristics either. Lin Da seemed to have vanished into thin air after entering the capital.
"This might mean that he already had a residence in the capital. After moving in, he rarely went out, so no one could find him," Deng Xiao reminded.
Yi Qing had thought about this too, but she didn't know how to investigate. There were no advanced tracking methods at that time.
"Then you need to find the person with the most information in the capital," Deng Xiao said proudly.
"Isn't it your Jinyiwei who has the most information in the capital?" Yi Qing thought Deng Xiao was hinting for her to ask him for help.
"Our Jinyiwei is well - informed about the powerful and noble, but not in the streets and alleys," Deng Xiao said, seeing Yi Qing's contemptuous look.
"You mean... beggars?" Yi Qing suddenly remembered.
Deng Xiao nodded. "They wander in the streets, alleys, corners, and under the trees. They are easily overlooked and can easily gather information. If they didn't pay attention before, as long as you offer money, they can get any information for you."
Yi Qing suddenly understood. "Do they have a leader?"
"There's a Earth God Temple in the west of the city. There's a man named Weng Lian there. People call him Weng Erduo. You can go and find him," Deng Xiao suggested.
"Thanks," Yi Qing said and was about to leave.
"Are you going there yourself?" Deng Xiao asked, looking at Yi Qing.
"I'll be faster," Yi Qing indeed intended to go herself.
Deng Xiao saw Yi Qing looking so relaxed. After all, she was a noble lady now, yet still so unrestrained.
Yi Qing took Ruohong and several guards to the Earth God Temple in the west of the city. When they arrived, they saw several dead beggars lying there, their bodies already stiff.
Other beggars were gathered together, seemingly looking at something.
"Little Mouse, Little Mouse," Weng Lian held an eight - year - old boy in his arms. The boy's face was pale and he was on the verge of death.
"Excuse me - who is Weng Erduo?" Yi Qing greeted them.
Everyone turned around and saw Yi Qing. Seeing her dressing and entourage, they immediately showed hostility.
Yi Qing thought there was something wrong with these beggars. They usually relied on the rich for food, yet they were so hostile to the rich. Their mentality was not right.
"What do you want?" Weng Lian looked at Yi Qing.
"I'd like to ask you for some information," Yi Qing said directly.
"One hundred taels of silver," Weng Lian said without hesitation.
Ruohong was about to get angry, but Yi Qing stopped her and motioned to give the money. Ruohong had no choice but to give the other party a silver note.
Weng Lian didn't expect the other party to be so generous. His eyes immediately lit up. "Er Gouzi, go and invite a doctor quickly."
Er Gouzi on one side turned around and ran.
"I'm a doctor," Yi Qing said, seeing that these people were going far for help when there was one nearby.
Everyone looked at Yi Qing in disbelief.
"You, a noble lady who can't carry anything, how could you be a doctor?" Er Gouzi didn't believe it.
Yi Qing thought these people were narrow - minded. She took a step forward and looked at Little Mouse in Weng Lian's arms. She was immediately shocked. She thought there had been no bats these days, but it turned out they had come here.
"Quickly lay him flat," Yi Qing said. She thought the boy could still be saved. If it was any later, he might die.
Seeing the other party being so professional, Weng Lian quickly laid Little Mouse flat.
"Go and fetch a basin of water," Yi Qing said, looking at the thick layer of dirt on Little Mouse's body. She didn't know how long it had been since he last took a bath and couldn't find where the bat had bitten him.
"Go and fetch water quickly," Weng Lian ordered the people beside him.
A group of beggars rushed to fetch water.
Although Yi Qing didn't bring her medicine box, she always carried silver needles with her. She immediately inserted the needles to protect Little Mouse's heart meridian. Little Mouse's convulsions eased a little.
Weng Lian was relieved to see this. It seemed that the other party was really a doctor and had excellent medical skills.