Gu Jin withdrew his hand and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“This stool has a problem.” Jiang Suihuan extended her hand toward Gu Jin. “Lend me your sword.”
Gu Jin removed his sword and handed it to her. She gripped the hilt and forcefully swung it down, splitting the wooden stool in two.
Witnessing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Gu Jin’s eyes. Judging from Jiang Suihuan’s grip on the hilt and her sword-swinging motion, she undoubtedly knew martial arts—and was quite skilled at it.
Gu Jin’s gaze shifted thoughtfully. It seemed this Di Xiaojie of the Houfu had more secrets than met the eye.
Unaware of Gu Jin’s thoughts, Jiang Suihuan detected a strong orchid fragrance mixed with over a dozen herbal scents as soon as the stool was split open. Moreover, all these herbs were highly poisonous—including the most toxic of them all, heartbreak grass.
A wooden stool infused with so many toxic substances wasn’t just harmful to touch—even smelling it could damage one’s health.
Thus, it became clear: the person who made this stool had stuffed these deadly poisons inside, using orchids to mask their scent so no one would notice.
She took out a handkerchief for Gu Jin to cover his nose while using her own sleeve to shield hers. She explained her findings, concluding, “This stool was placed by the well. People would sit on it when tired from drawing water, gradually falling ill over time.”
“The family members suffered from different illnesses because the mixture contained too many toxins—making it hard to treat and difficult to trace the cause. That’s why they believed the house had bad feng shui and was a Haunted House.”
After hearing Jiang Suihuan’s explanation, Gu Jin finally understood why she had stopped him from touching the stool.
He frowned slightly. “To think such a small stool could destroy an entire family.”
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard to imagine someone in this world with such a malicious heart.
Jiang Suihuan said indignantly, “Prince, whether the culprit is dead or alive, you must investigate thoroughly and give this family justice!”
“I will.” Gu Jin’s expression remained impassive, but the coldness in his eyes deepened.
The two brought the wrapped stool to Li Xueming, who had improved significantly, with color returning to his face.
Jiang Suihuan placed the stool before Li Xueming. “Do you recognize this stool?”
Li Xueming exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t this my family’s wooden stool? Why did you split it in half?”
“Your family’s three generations fell ill because of this stool.” Jiang Suihuan said solemnly, explaining the reason to Li Xueming.
Li Xueming collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. “So my grandparents and parents died such tragic deaths because they sat on this stool?”
“Exactly, because of this.” Knowing Li Xueming was emotionally overwhelmed, Jiang Suihuan waited patiently before asking, “Do you remember how this stool came to be here?”
“I remember!” Li Xueming sprang up like a madman and charged toward the door. “I’m going to find him right now!”
As he rushed out the door, Gu Jin, standing outside, stopped him. “Wait.”
Li Xueming’s eyes were bloodshot, deaf to Gu Jin’s words as he screamed hoarsely, “Let me go! I must avenge my family!”
Jiang Suihuan had anticipated this outcome long ago. She took out a prepared sedative and slipped it into Li Xueming’s mouth. Soon, Li Xueming calmed down and knelt on the ground.
Jiang Suihuan leaned over and asked him, “Are you clearer-headed now?”
He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve and said in a choked voice, “Yes.”
“Good, then I’ll ask you a few questions. Who gave you this stool? Is that person still alive?”
Jiang Suihuan’s voice was soft, yet soothing.
Li Xueming lowered his head. “That person was my grandfather’s close friend, Li Fuqing. Back when my grandfather finished renovating the residence, Li Fuqing sent over many pieces of furniture as congratulatory gifts, including this wooden stool.”
“He claimed this wooden stool had the miraculous effect of strengthening the body, so my family members liked to sit on it in the backyard whenever they had free time. Later, they fell ill one after another, but no one suspected the stool was the problem.”
Gu Jin suddenly spoke up, “I’ve heard of this person. He’s a teacher at Fuqing Academy.”
“Exactly. He founded Fuqing Academy single-handedly. Not only that, he was also my mentor.”
After saying this, Li Xueming covered his face and wept bitterly. “I never imagined he would be the one to reduce our family to this state. Why? Why would he do this?”
“We’ll find out by asking him in person,” Gu Jin said calmly. “Help him up. We’re going to Fuqing Academy to get to the bottom of this.”
By then, Gu Jin had already summoned a group of guards from the palace. Someone helped Li Xueming up from the ground and escorted him into a carriage, and they arrived at Fuqing Academy.
Classes were still in session at the academy, but Gu Jin paid no heed. He led the guards straight inside.
Li Fuqing was in the middle of a lecture when he saw the group burst in. His face turned pale. “Who are you? How dare you barge into Fuqing Academy without permission!”
Gu Jin’s expression was frosty. “Li Fuqing, open your eyes wide and see who I am!”
Having been rewarded in the palace for his contributions to the academy, Li Fuqing immediately recognized Gu Jin. He dropped to his knees with a thud. “This humble commoner pays respects to Beimo Wang.”
No sooner had he spoken than Li Xueming rushed out from behind Gu Jin, grabbed Li Fuqing by the collar, and roared, “Why did you kill my family? Why?”
Li Fuqing’s face turned ashen. “Xueming, what nonsense are you spouting? Your family died of illness. What does that have to do with me?”
Gu Jin gave a signal, and a guard placed the stool that had been chopped in half in front of Li Fuqing. Li Fuqing instinctively covered his nose.
Jiang Suihuan sneered, “You claim Li Xueming’s family’s deaths have nothing to do with you, so how did you know the stool was poisonous?”
“I… I…” Li Fuqing stammered, unable to form a response.
Seeing him like this, Li Xueming lost control again. He tightened his grip on Li Fuqing’s neck and snarled, “My grandfather treated you so well! When you were homeless, he took you in for three years, and this is how you repay his kindness? By killing our entire family?”
“Today, I’ll make you pay with your life!”
Li Fuqing’s face turned red from suffocation, but he let out a loud, grating laugh. “Do you think your grandfather was some kind of saint? I was all alone in the world, and he flaunted his affection for your grandmother in front of me every single day. If that wasn’t showing off, what was it?”
“I simply couldn’t stand seeing your family so harmonious and happy. Now it’s perfect—they’re all dead, and you still have to call me teacher, hahaha!”
These words made everyone present frown.
“Enough,” Gu Jin snapped, delivering a swift chop to Li Xueming’s shoulder that knocked him unconscious.
Li Fuqing continued laughing incessantly, as if he had also gone mad.
With an expressionless face, Gu Jin drew his sword and with several swift strokes severed the tendons in Li Fuqing’s wrists and ankles. “Take this man to the dungeon and have the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review personally conduct the interrogation.”