Chapter 52: The Prince Is One of Our Own

When Xia Jiujiang and Jun Bu Wen returned to the Prince Jin’s Mansion, Xia Jiujiang looked at Jun Bu Wen and said, “You didn’t come to the Great Li Kingdom’s temple today just to pick me up, did you?”

In order to lure Princess Anya into wearing Xia Jiujiang’s clothes and staying in the Xia residence of the Eastern Courtyard, Xia Jiujiang had deliberately fabricated a story about Jun Bu Wen’s presence at the temple. She hadn’t expected that he would actually come. His appearance gave Princess Anya no reason to suspect that Xia Jiujiang was involved in yesterday’s abduction, which incidentally helped Xia Jiujiang.

Jun Bu Wen replied, “Yesterday, someone attempted to assassinate Emperor Zongkang. The Embroidered Guards pursued the assailant all the way to the Great Li Kingdom’s temple.”

“To attempt to assassinate Emperor Zongkang—who would dare such a thing?” Xia Jiujiang was surprised. The black-clad men from last night were truly bold if their target was the emperor himself.

Jun Bu Wen watched Xia Jiujiang’s reaction closely. “People from the Southern Kingdom.”

Xia Jiujiang paused. “Where in the Southern Kingdom?”

The original owner of Xia Jiujiang’s body was, in modern terms, a shut-in—content to stay within the confines of Yi Residence, never stepping outside, considering boredom or suffocation the worst that could happen. She knew little even of the Li Kingdom, let alone the Southern Kingdom.

Jun Bu Wen explained, “It’s a nation famous for its use of gu insects, neighboring the Li Kingdom, with perilous terrain rife with poisonous creatures, insects, snakes, and ants. The two kingdoms have been enemies for years. It’s rumored that everyone there can control gu, but that’s not the case. The common people simply know how to survive in a land teeming with such creatures.”

“That’s true. Gu insects are hardly so easy to control,” Xia Jiujiang replied, drawing from her own scientific research and the inherited experiences of the Five-Poison Gu Mother.

In ancient times, the Five-Poison Gu Mother was revered as a Gu goddess. In modern terms, it was a symbiotic parasite transmitted among women, allowing the host to control insects with her mind. But because the Five-Poison Gu Mother was toxic, every woman had to marry and bear a daughter to pass on the parasite—otherwise, they would die from poisoning. Perhaps this was the Gu Mother’s means of survival.

Jun Bu Wen rubbed his forehead, suspecting Xia Jiujiang thought he was complimenting her.

He continued, “The art of controlling gu is a secret passed down through the line of Southern Kingdom’s Saintess. They say their Saintess is immune to all poisons…”

He studied every detail of Xia Jiujiang’s face, watching her reaction. Everything he said fit Xia Jiujiang’s own abilities, yet he knew she was not the Saintess.

There was only one Saintess in the Southern Kingdom per generation, each carrying the Gu Mother. When a new Saintess rose, the previous one lost her powers and immunity. Since Xia Jiujiang now possessed these abilities, she couldn’t possibly be connected to the Saintess.

Xia Jiujiang’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “She’s immune to all poisons like me and can control gu insects! That makes me want to visit the Southern Kingdom myself.”

She could hardly contain her excitement. Her lifelong research into the Five-Poison Gu Mother was driven by a desire not to perpetuate it through such methods. Now, reborn in the Li Kingdom without modern scientific tools, continuing her investigations had become a challenge. She had considered, if all else failed, finding someone to bear a daughter. But now, with the mysterious Southern Kingdom, she felt her rebirth in this era was no accident—perhaps the secrets of the Gu Mother lay there.

Jun Bu Wen was astonished. It was already shocking that Xia Jiujiang could control gu insects, but now she claimed to be immune to all poisons as well—exactly like the Saintess. But there could only be one Saintess, and Xia Jiujiang was clearly not her. Besides, if she were an enemy, why would she reveal such secrets so freely?

Her reaction betrayed nothing but genuine enthusiasm—her eyes sparkled with excitement—she even wanted to travel to the Southern Kingdom.

Having led the Embroidered Guards for many years, Jun Bu Wen had interrogated countless criminals and could usually discern truth from falsehood. He detected no deception in Xia Jiujiang. Perhaps her presence at his side was a gift—a left arm to his right—one who might one day give him an edge against the Southern Kingdom’s Saintess.

He averted his gaze and said, “The matter of the Southern Kingdom… We will cross paths with it, sooner or later.”

Jun Bu Wen harbored a mortal hatred for the Saintess. One day, she would pay for her crimes.

His fists clenched, eyes blazing with uncontrollable anger. His inner energy became chaotic, and he hastily suppressed his fury.

At that moment, Baizhi stood hesitantly at the door, uncertain whether to come in with Jun Bu Wen present.

Xia Jiujiang noticed her hesitation and called out, “Baizhi, come in.”

Upon hearing Xia Jiujiang’s words, Baizhi took a deep breath, as if steeling herself, and entered the pavilion.

Xia Jiujiang said plainly, “Baizhi, you’ve been distracted all the way here. There’s something you want to tell me.”

Baizhi opened her mouth to speak but faltered, intimidated by Jun Bu Wen’s dark expression.

Xia Jiujiang said casually, “Don’t worry. The prince is one of us. His help against the Xia family will be indispensable.”

Jun Bu Wen shot Xia Jiujiang a sidelong glance—she was quick to assign him a role, as if he would readily help her deal with the Xia family. Nevertheless, her words, “one of us,” lightened his mood.

Baizhi knelt and said, “Your Highness, I am ashamed that you had to deal with Xia Mingxuan at the Great Li Kingdom’s temple, and that he was captured by Princess Anya. I have stayed by your side all these days to see what kind of person you truly are. You have given your all for Jiang Mantang in opposing the Xia family, yet I have kept things from you.”

“You kept something from me?” Xia Jiujiang asked in surprise. Baizhi was certainly adept at flattery—her opposition to the Xia family was purely self-defense, having herself been targeted as the Xia family’s own daughter.

Baizhi nodded. “The person truly investigating the Jiang family massacre five years ago was not me. I was merely following my mistress’s orders as her agent. I concealed her existence because I feared you were not genuinely seeking the truth for Jiang Mantang. Only today did I realize my suspicion was misplaced.”

Green Luo was shocked at Baizhi’s confession. “You—you tried to poison Her Highness, yet she forgave you and kept you by her side, and you still doubted her?”

Xia Jiujiang interrupted, “Baizhi did nothing wrong. When I took her in, I told her: if you cannot trust someone, trust no one. You did well. Now, you’re speaking up because you saw me deal with Xia Mingxuan and began to trust me, right?”

Baizhi nodded. “I believe in you.”

“Then, who is this mistress you speak of? The Jiang family’s one hundred and forty members were all slaughtered, and you survived only because you were not registered. Who is your mistress?”

Baizhi replied one word at a time, “It is Jiang Beiying, adopted by Master Jiang.”