Seeing the fuss her granddaughter was making, Lady Ji also rose from her seat, smiling apologetically at Lady Xie.
"I apologize, Lady Xie, for the commotion caused by the younger members of my family. Please forgive their unruliness!"
At these words, Lady Xie felt a lump in her throat. Her heart was overwhelmed with disgust, yet she had to maintain a smile on her face.
"It is our Xie Family’s honor to have Her Highness, the Princess, visit our humble abode!"
Lady Ji watched Lady Xie with a faint smile, then called out loudly, "Suisui!"
"Grandmother!"
Hearing Lady Ji’s voice, Xiaosuisui’s eyes shone with delight. Tugging Xie Pan’Er with her, she paddled her short little legs towards Lady Ji.
"AHEM! Your Highness, in the Capital City, you address your grandmother as Maternal Grandmother!"
As the Princess’s etiquette Nanny, Nanny Zhang was immensely dutiful. No matter the circumstances, she seized every opportunity to correct the Princess’s manners and etiquette. This was the Royal Family.
The little girl, seeing Nanny Zhang and hearing her words, couldn’t help but giggle. "Nanny Zhang, so you’ve also come with Maternal Grandmother to see Pretty Big Sister."
The little girl’s laughter melted Nanny Zhang’s heart.
"Yes, Your Highness. Please, be careful!"
The little girl ran up to Lady Ji and, letting go of Pretty Big Sister’s hand, jumped into Lady Ji’s arms.
"Maternal Grandmother! I have something new to tell you. Pretty Big Sister’s brother and father have Gu Insects inside them!
Maternal Grandmother, quickly let me check if you have Gu Insects inside you too?
Those Gu Insects are so terrifying! When they move inside a person’s body, they make life unbearable."
As the little girl recounted what she had seen, she took Lady Ji’s pulse.
She was unaware that throughout her excited chatter, Lady Xie’s face had turned from white to green, then purple—in short, her expression was a veritable kaleidoscope of colors!
People having Gu Insects inside them? What an oddity?
Everyone was puzzled but dared not voice their questions.
Lady Ji held Xiaosuisui in her arms. She took a deep breath, thinking about her next move.
"Ah! Maternal Grandmother, you seem to be suffering from insomnia lately. You should take more walks; it would do you good."
As Lady Ji was deep in thought, Xiaosuisui withdrew her hand from checking Lady Ji’s pulse and informed her of her insomnia.
"You’ve genuinely learned a thing or two from your Second Uncle. Very good, very good!" Lady Ji held the girl on her lap and settled her comfortably, then inquired, "Now, tell me about these Gu Insects you were talking about?"
Xiaosuisui blinked. Had she not explained it clearly earlier?
She tilted her head and said, "It’s Pretty Big Sister’s father and brother. They have Gu Insects put inside their bodies. Second Uncle said those are Mother-Child Gu Insects from Nanjiang!"
"What?
Mother-Child Gu Insects?
Suisui, are you sure your Second Uncle truly said they’re Gu Insects from Nanjiang?"
Lady Ji was aghast.
Seeing Lady Ji’s reaction, Lady Xie became visibly shaken, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
Why would Lady Ji react so strongly to mere Gu Insects?
"Yes! That’s exactly what Second Uncle said. Maternal Grandmother, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Pretty Big Sister. Just now, Pretty Big Sister’s brother and father’s Gu Insects flared up, and they were in extreme pain. Thankfully, Second Uncle was there and helped suppress the Gu Insects, so they’re alright now."
Upon hearing this, Lady Ji turned to look at Xie Pan’Er.
"Is what Suisui said true?"
Xie Pan’Er dropped to her knees with a THUD before Lady Ji.
"I beg you to save us, Old Madam! It’s true that my brother and father have been afflicted with Nanjiang Gu Poison. It was my father’s elder brother’s wife who secretly administered it to my brother when he was just a child."