Su Cheng had successfully returned to the Su family, and the next step was for Ouyang Qinglin to find an opportunity to enter the palace.
Due to Gu Qianying, the capital of the Southern Yi Kingdom had been in a state of panic recently, and the common people were suffering immensely, with countless speculations arising.
Ouyang Qinglin had been wandering the city for the past few days, listening to the gossip circulating among the populace.
"I heard there's another competition being held in the palace soon."
While having tea at a restaurant, he finally overheard some useful information.
From behind a screen, Ouyang Qinglin heard the conversation from the next room.
"Yes, it's said they're looking for some sorcerer this time. There are rumors that the palace has been haunted recently."
Upon saying this, the voices of the two lowered.
"What? Haunted? Don't spread such nonsense."
One person clearly didn't believe it, but the other, a woman, insisted.
"My mother serves in the Grand Tutor's mansion. She said that a while ago, the sound of a baby crying was heard in the palace late at night for no reason. This is the imperial palace, how could there be a child? If it's not a ghost, what else could it be?"
Every word of their conversation reached Ouyang Qinglin's ears.
If it was about children, he truly understood. During Gu Qianying's recovery period, she had told him and Su Cheng everything about the Empress and Grand Tutor Su.
In the Southern Yi Kingdom's palace, from the Empress down to the palace maids serving there, all were required to be virgins. The sudden crying of a child would lead the Empress to conceal the truth to avoid suspicion, and if rumors spread, naturally, people would attribute it to ghosts and spirits.
He took a sip of his tea, a smile spreading across his face.
After so many days, he had finally found a way to enter the palace.
Summoning sorcerers to exorcise ghosts, the Empress and Grand Tutor Su would go to any lengths to hide the fact that a child was born in the palace.
This was truly an opportunity bestowed by heaven. Ouyang Qinglin was a sorcerer by origin, and he had also learned that the entire court of the Southern Yi Kingdom held sorcery,蛊术 (gǔshù), and other unorthodox arts in high regard.
Thus, he was certain he could enter the imperial palace.
Deep beneath the imperial palace, Gu Qianying had been imprisoned for several days. During this time, apart from a few women in plain clothes who regularly brought her water and food, no living person had entered or exited.
With no one around, there was no opportunity to contact the outside world. Just as Gu Qianying was feeling distressed, a familiar face finally appeared.
"Miss Su Er, it's been many days. You look much better."
When she had seen her a few days prior, perhaps due to her travels, this person's complexion was haggard, still appearing pitiful. Today, however, she was radiant.
Hearing her words, Su Zirong felt disgusted. Although this woman was now imprisoned, due to her reliance on His Majesty and Grand Tutor Su, she could not return home.
Every time she thought of this, Su Zirong wished she could dismember Gu Qianying.
Such resentment lingered in her heart and could not dissipate. Taking advantage of the court's current recruitment of sorcerers, she came to the underground prison with her maid.
Even if she couldn't truly kill this woman with a single sword, she was determined to torment her.
Seeing Su Zirong's resentful gaze directed at her, Gu Qianying's eyes became more provocative.
"Miss Su, while your face may not be perfectly proportioned, if your heart were kinder, perhaps I would set you up with my brother. However..."
She hadn't intended to mention Duan Xifeng, but saying it ignited Su Zirong's fury.
"You truly are shameless, thinking everyone will dote on you? Since he cherishes you like a precious gem, then I'll try to see what happens if I ruin his darling's face."
With that, Su Zirong glanced at the maid beside her. Immediately, a medicinal bottle appeared in the woman's hand. She swiftly uncapped it and hurled it towards Gu Qianying's cell.
However, her aim was slightly off.
Gu Qianying shifted slightly to the side, dodging the splashed liquid.
She looked back at the ground, where a patch of grass seemed to be burning, emitting black smoke.
"I originally thought your third sister was detestable enough, but I didn't expect you to be the most malicious one. However, your petty tricks are truly incapable of harming me."
Seeing that the spilled medicine had been easily dodged by Gu Qianying, and that she was still mocking her, Su Zirong clenched her fists and kicked the maid beside her to the ground.
"Such a useless creature, unable to even do this small task properly."
Then, she lifted her skirt and approached Gu Qianying's cage.
"Don't be so smug. You are now a prisoner, unable to escape from here. Anything more you say is just empty talk."
Her eyes were fierce, as if she wanted to devour the person in the cage.
Observing Su Zirong's movements at her feet, Gu Qianying also stepped forward a few paces, maintaining her provocative gaze.
"How do you know I can't get out? My abilities are not as useless as someone else's."
Her words struck Su Zirong directly, igniting her anger. She raised a hand, intending to strike Gu Qianying, but the cage bars blocked her movement.
Just as she was about to lower her arm, Gu Qianying suddenly grabbed her wrist and yanked her fiercely towards the cage opening.
Caught off guard, Su Zirong lost her footing and was easily grabbed by the throat. Gu Qianying then swiftly snatched the key from her waist, pointing its sharp end at her carotid artery.
This sudden turn of events startled the maid beside them, who cried out in alarm. As she was about to shout, Gu Qianying stopped her.
"If you scream again, your mistress will lose her life here. It doesn't matter if I can't get out; accompanying her life is worth it."
Hearing this, Su Zirong quickly stopped the maid.
"Hurry up and shut up, you wretched girl! Do you want to get me killed? If anything happens to me, you won't survive either."
Scolded by her second mistress, the maid immediately covered her mouth, looking at the person in the cell with a panicked expression.
Having stabilized the maid, Gu Qianying pressed Su Zirong's acupoints, just as she had done with Su Xiuer before. At the same time, she also pressed Su Zirong's points for itching and pain.
Now, Su Zirong could neither speak nor move, but her body was wracked with unbearable pain and itching, causing her to cry out in misery.
The maid dared not make a sound, only hoping that Gu Qianying would not harm her second mistress.
Gu Qianying looked at the key in her hand, walked to the lock, and with a twist of her wrist, the cage door creaked open.
Watching Gu Qianying emerge, Su Zirong felt both discomfort and hatred. Despair and pain filled her eyes, wishing she could dismember Gu Qianying at that very moment.
"These acupoints will naturally release after an hour. However, I know that being unable to move like this is truly difficult to endure, so let your maid help you."
Saying this, Gu Qianying pulled the kneeling maid from the ground to Su Zirong's side. She then placed one of the maid's fingers on Su Zirong's acupoint.
"I have done all I can. These acupoints will only lessen the pain and itching if they are continuously pressed. If this little maid lets go, not only will the acupoints not release, but your discomfort will also worsen. Your performance will depend on you two mistresses and servants."
The little maid understood Gu Qianying's words and, with trembling hands, pressed down on Su Zirong's acupoint, not daring to let go for a moment.