TGCFNM -Chapter 374 This Official Can’t Help but Overthink

“What is a Beauty Gu?” Lu Shi looked at Chu Ling and asked.

Chu Ling then instructed Wan Sanjin and Su He to prepare as they had done that day. Afterward, she looked at Lu Shi and said, “Lord Lu, I would like to demonstrate on the spot for everyone what exactly a Beauty Gu is… Of course, the madam of the pleasure house must know this object well. What I do not understand is how such a precious and difficult-to-raise Gu worm from the martial world ended up here in the capital.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Shi frowned and turned to look at the brothel madam.

Prefect Fang could only rub his temples and step back with a headache.

Xuanyuan Hong’s expression darkened, but he restrained himself from reacting. If he revealed even the slightest flaw, the Xuanyuan family would surely face trouble this time.

Soon, Wan Sanjin finished preparing a wooden barrel filled with wine.

Su He also readied the necessary items—gauze and hemostatic medicine.

Facing the crowd, Chu Ling crouched down halfway, drew her blade, and directly slit Yunliu’s wrist. Then she fed Yunliu a pill and began using incense to smoke the wound.

Everyone watched in silence, staring at the so-called Gu worm.

“This worm has been growing for several days. It won’t come out easily. Yunliu, you’ll have to endure some suffering,” Chu Ling said softly.

Yunliu nodded gently. “Thank you, my lord, for saving my life. Yunliu can endure it.”

Chu Ling gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment. Then, slightly ahead of the original cut, she made another incision and crushed the pill, sprinkling the powder directly onto the bleeding wound.

Yunliu’s face turned pale instantly, and the blood in the wine barrel increased.

Chu Ling’s expression grew solemn as she once again used the incense to lure the worm out… Moments later, Yunliu stirred and looked toward Chu Ling.

Then everyone saw it—beneath the skin of her arm, a blood vessel bulged unnaturally. Something writhed inside, slowly moving toward the wound.

Chu Ling reacted swiftly, cutting off the worm’s retreat with another slash.

With the flowing blood, a black worm about the length of a little finger slid out. The moment it dropped into the wine barrel, Wan Sanjin, trembling in fear, immediately tossed in a lit fire starter.

The wine ignited at once. Inside the barrel, the worm let out shrill squeaking sounds as it burned, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

Meanwhile, Shiyu supported Yunliu. Su He quickly applied medicine to stop the bleeding, fed her another pill, cleaned the area around the wound, and wrapped it with gauze.

Chu Ling slowly stood up, still holding the bloodstained knife.

“The Beauty Gu is a type of Gu worm that parasitizes a woman’s body, feeding on her blood and vital essence until it causes her death. To prevent the woman from dying too soon—before the worm has fully matured—the worm must be fed. So the Hundred-Flower Soup is not meant for the courtesan to consume; it is meant for the worm inside her.”

The entire hall was stunned. Some turned pale, feeling nauseated, staring in horror at the wine barrel.

What kind of monstrous thing was this?

“The Hundred-Flower Soup belongs to the Canghua Tower. And the only one who could have access to it—and to the Beauty Gu—is the brothel madam.” After saying this, Chu Ling turned to the panicked madam and asked, “So I want to know—why has the Gu worm raised by Bai Zhuoxing of the jianghu appeared in the capital? What is your purpose? What are you trying to do? Rebel?”

The brothel madam’s face turned deathly pale. Her eyes widened as she opened her mouth soundlessly, one arm reaching forward as if trying to say something. But in the next instant, she collapsed stiffly to the ground, her eyes still staring wide open.

Su He immediately rushed over and checked her breathing. “She’s dead… Poisoned. The toxin acted extremely fast—from poisoning to death in less than an hour. It should be Seven-Star Poison—colorless, odorless, in powder form. The sign of death is bleeding from the seven orifices.”

Just as Su He finished speaking, blood indeed began to flow from the seven orifices of the brothel madam.

Su He cast a calm glance before rising to face Lu Shi.

“Among the Seven-Star Poison is an ingredient called Western Region Datura. This herb is rare and expensive. Therefore, the one who administered the poison must be either wealthy or noble.”

After speaking, he glanced at Xuanyuan Hong before returning to his seat.

Xuanyuan Hong’s expression did not change. He remained seated, as though waiting to see what tricks this group would play next.

Lu Shi, however, gave Su He an unexpected look.

Chu Ling took a deep breath. A witness had just vanished like that—truly formidable.

“Lord Lu, the death of the brothel madam also corroborates that what I said earlier was not false—it was all the truth. The matter of the Beauty Gu at Canghua Pavilion must be thoroughly investigated. Moreover, I fear the Gu insects have already flowed into the capital. In the martial world, this is something everyone speaks of with dread. If it has truly entered the capital, I’m afraid the consequences will be dire.”

Lu Shi nodded, his expression grave. “I will report this to His Majesty.”

Chu Ling continued, “The cause of the courtesan’s death was the Gu insect. But why did the courtesan grow more beautiful with each passing day? Because it was at the cost of her life force. That was why her beauty increased day by day. And why did the brothel madam collaborate with the Painting Sage, Xu Shiyin? For money.”

“Pan Shoucai and Chen Cuiyan are merchants. Merchants pursue profit; naturally, they seek wealth. The courtesan could only live seven days. Whether as a gimmick or because of her increasing beauty day by day, the paintings could be sold at exorbitant prices. The price for a single painting was fifty thousand taels. To collect all seven paintings required eight hundred thousand taels. As for Assistant Minister Tao Jing, his role was to act as intermediary and to engage in bribery and corruption.”

As she spoke, Chu Ling took a confession letter from her sleeve and respectfully handed it to Lu Shi.

“Lord Lu, this is a confession personally sealed with Xu Shiyin’s handprint. It details the crimes he committed and all those who collaborated with him…”

Prefect Fang slowly spoke, “Xu Shiyin is a painting fanatic. He likely only painted…”

Chu Ling interrupted directly, “The only famous painting Xu Shiyin produced in his youth was Ladies Admiring the Spring Mountain Scenery. After that, his inspiration vanished. His paintings went unsold, and he lived in poverty. Then he painted Courtesan Parading Through the Streets. When the brothel madam saw it, she invited him into the scheme.”

“Xu Shiyin clearly knew these courtesans had only seven days to live. Each day, their expressions differed. He meticulously painted their appearances during the final seven days before death, turning each eerie and sinister portrait into a so-called masterpiece, selling them to wealthy collectors for profit.”

“There is no crime in painting. But to paint as an accomplice to murder for the sake of fame—that is a crime, and a heinous one.”

Prefect Fang lowered his brows and said nothing more.

Lu Shi looked toward Xuanyuan Hong. “So what does the Xuanyuan family have to do with all this?”

Chu Ling cupped her hands in salute. “Because behind Canghua Pavilion stands the Xuanyuan family. Otherwise, how could a mere brothel madam obtain the Beauty Gu? And what ability would she have to compel Tao Jing to vouch for her, or Pan Shoucai and Chen Cuiyan to sell the paintings?”

Prefect Fang’s face darkened. “Chu Ling, you must not speak recklessly. Do you have any ev—”

“Every word this official speaks is true. I also have evidence proving that the Xuanyuan family stands behind Canghua Pavilion.” Chu Ling stepped forward again and produced letters hidden by the brothel madam. “Lord Lu, please look.”

Lu Shi turned to Xuanyuan Hong. “Xuanyuan Hong, what do you have to say?”

Xuanyuan Hong slowly rose from his chair and knelt upright. “Xuanyuan Hong was blinded by greed and used the name of the Xuanyuan clan to seek personal gain. Since this matter has been exposed, I confess my guilt. The brothel madam also died at my hands. I confess to that as well.”

Ghost Scholar spoke softly, “Taking responsibility is better than implicating an entire clan. But how could we possibly let you off so easily? The Xuanyuan family is merely the first step in our path.”

Chu Ling glanced at Xuanyuan Hong, then at Lu Shi.

“Lord Lu, since the first courtesan who died after seven days last year, all these courtesans have come from Crime Street—the families of convicted officials. One or two may not be coincidence. But eight? And now a great aristocratic clan is entangled as well. This official cannot help but overthink.”

Xuanyuan Hong’s expression changed drastically.

Lu Shi spoke in a deep voice, “This matter will be thoroughly investigated. I will certainly report it to His Majesty!”