Upon waking, Shang Qinglan ordered that all windows and doors of Yu De Palace be pasted with talismans presented by Lan Daohang. Seeing Wei Caiwei's eyes bloodshot from staying up to treat her, she urged her to rest: "My fever has broken, and it's daytime now. The Dark Spectre only emerges at night, so you can rest assured."
Wei Caiwei, determined to expose Lan Daohang's true nature, needed to locate the dog corpse quickly as she had in her previous life. Instead of sleeping, she asked Shang Qinglan about her encounter with the Dark Spectre.
A month of sandstorms had confined everyone indoors like caged birds, leaving Shang Qinglan utterly restless. The Jiajing Emperor had summoned troupes of acrobats and puppeteers to entertain his new favorite.
Though novel at first, Shang Qinglan soon grew bored. The Emperor then sent her fireworks for amusement. Each evening, she would sit by the glass windows watching the ascending sparks.
But setting off fireworks oneself was far more entertaining. Every night, Shang Qinglan would don an eye veil and protective clothing to launch a few outdoors.
Last night, as she ignited a "butterfly" firework, someone screamed: "A monster!"
Turning, she saw a green fluorescent canine creature with golden eyes.
Granny Song immediately shouted "Protect the Lady!" as everyone rushed Shang Qinglan back inside. But the Dark Spectre moved like lightning. As panic spread, the eunuch Chen Jingji brandished a torch against the creature, only for black mist to envelop them. People collapsed or went mad, and Shang Qinglan fainted.
The patrolling Embroidered Uniform Guards heard the commotion and rushed to rescue them, but the Dark Spectre had vanished, leaving only fallen and deranged palace staff in the courtyard.
"Wait, why was Chen Jingji here?" Wei Caiwei interjected, still using his old informal address out of habit.
Shang Qinglan explained, "After you introduced us, I found him clever with elegant handwriting. He composes poetry and excels at drinking games. When I couldn't keep up with the Emperor's word games, I'd have him secretly pass me answers. Since he had no evening lessons at the Inner Study Hall, I invited him to Yu De Palace to watch fireworks and compose poetry. Who knew tragedy would strike."
Wei Caiwei pressed, "How is he now?"
Granny Song brought ginseng tea and reported, "He stood closest to the black mist, fainted immediately, and was carried to the side hall. He just regained consciousness."
The elderly granny, having stayed indoors to avoid the harsh weather, had fortuitously escaped harm.
Shang Qinglan spread her hands helplessly, "Then I lost consciousness and know nothing more."
Granny Song continued, "After you were carried inside, burning with fever and delirious, the Emperor came. The Blue Immortal conducted rituals through wind and snow at the main gate to capture the Dark Spectre. Then Doctor Wei arrived."
After drinking the ginseng tea to refresh herself, Wei Caiwei donned a squirrel-fur cloak and waterproof wooden clogs with serrated soles over her embroidered shoes. Clutching a hand warmer, she ventured into the courtyard.
No eye veil or face covering was needed today. The overnight sleet had pressed the dust from the air, leaving it cleansed. Wei Caiwei inhaled the petrichor scent, breathing freely for the first time in days.After all, winter hadn't fully arrived yet. By the time sleet fell until dawn, it had turned into light rain, leaving the air exceptionally clean and clear. When day broke and the rain stopped, since the Emperor was still accompanying Noble Consort Shang at Yu De Palace—guarded by the Valiant Battalion of the Imperial Stables and layers of Embroidered Uniform Guards—the area remained heavily secured.
Outside the main palace gate, Lan Daohang's altar for exorcising demons still stood, with a single eternal lamp burning.
Wei Caiwei walked a full circle around Yu De Palace. Every intersection and corner had guards stationed or patrolling, sealed tight as an iron barrel.
With such stringent defenses and so many eyes watching both inside and out, Wei Caiwei suspected the dead dog disguised as the Dark Spectre must still be within the palace grounds.
Inside Yu De Palace, the heated walls, underfloor heating, and charcoal braziers were all lit, making it as warm as spring. Thus, the dead dog couldn't be inside the hall—otherwise, its stench would have given away its location. It had to be buried somewhere in the courtyard outside.
Just like in her previous life, Lan Daohang had likely dug a deep pit beforehand. After his theatrical demon-slaying act, he poisoned the greyhound, threw it into the pit, and covered it up to deceive others.
However, Yu De Palace wasn't like Tuer Hill where soil was abundant. Ever since the Ming dynasty moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, the newly built palace complex suffered a major fire in its first year, nearly burning to the ground. To prevent fires, the Eastern and Western Palaces where imperial consorts resided were forbidden from planting trees. Instead, they were paved with stone slabs or gravel paths, with no loose soil in sight.
The greenery in the inner court consisted of potted flowers or trees brought from the greenhouse, changed according to the seasons.
In early winter, with all plants withering, the chrysanthemums had been removed. The only green left in the courtyard came from pots of evergreen pines and cypresses, each pot as large as a water vat.
Wei Caiwei thought to herself: If it were me, I'd dig a hole in one of these pots beforehand, bury the dead dog inside, and wait for the commotion to die down and the guards to lessen before retrieving it.
After all, winter had arrived—the frozen dog wouldn't rot or smell.
But as she circled the area, she counted thirty massive water-vat-sized pots in Yu De Palace alone. Which one contained the hidden dog?
Moreover, Wei Caiwei wasn't certain the pots were indeed the burial site. Digging through them one by one would make the palace staff think she'd gone mad.
What to do?
During her second round outside, she spotted a eunuch standing in the main courtyard. This eunuch was also dressed in luxurious fur-lined robes—it was Chen Jingji.
Currently just a junior student at the Inner Study Hall with no official rank, his opulent attire must have been bestowed by Shang Qinglan.
Truly, when one man attains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven.
Last night when Shang Qinglan was in danger amid the chaos, only Chen Jingji had raised a torch to confront the Dark Spectre. Though it proved futile, his courage was commendable—so much so that even the Jiajing Emperor remembered the name of this young eunuch still studying at the Inner Study Hall. He was destined to become Shang Qinglan's favored eunuch—just as Wang Daxia, Eunuch Wang, had been in her previous life.
Somehow, Chen Jingji was retracing the path once walked by Wang Daxia.
They exchanged nods of recognition. Chen Jingji pointed at his feet and said, "Last night I smelled a very peculiar fragrance right here, then collapsed. I only woke up just now and came to take a look."
Wei Caiwei asked, "What did the Dark Spectre look like to you?"Chen Jingji closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Don't laugh, Doctor Wei, but I think it resembled a dog. Since I was holding a torch at the time, I could see more clearly than others. However, the Dark Spectre emitted an eerie green glow all over its body—dogs don't have that color. Moreover, when I waved the torch, dogs are usually afraid of fire, but the Dark Spectre showed no fear and charged straight at me."
Wei Caiwei remarked, "Dogs can be trained not to fear fire. You've seen street performers with dogs jumping through flaming hoops."
Chen Jingji asked, "Does Doctor Wei suspect it was a dog?"
Wei Caiwei lowered her voice. "It's just a suspicion. Keep this quiet for now. Do you remember everyone who was present at the scene?"
Having worked as an agent, Chen Jingji had a knack for remembering people and events. He wrote down a list and handed it to Wei Caiwei.
Wei Caiwei took the list to Granny Song for verification, identifying who had fainted on the spot, who had gone mad, hallucinated, and ran amok.
Those who had fainted were immediately carried indoors by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so the mole who hid the dog's corpse must have feigned madness, running off to bury the dead dog.
There were five palace servants who had gone mad—the mole was among them.
By the time she reached this point in her investigation, it was already noon. Having stayed up nearly all night, Wei Caiwei was utterly exhausted. She rubbed her throbbing temples, keenly aware of her isolation and the difficulties she faced.
In her previous life, with Wang Daxia by her side, her task would have been completed by now. She would handle the thinking, then confidently leave the rest to Wang Daxia while she rested.
Eunuch Wang would have taken these five to the Eastern Depot for interrogation, his subordinates would have swarmed into action, the thirty flowerpots would have been quickly inspected, and with both avenues pursued, evidence would have been found to bring down Lan Daohang.
But now, Eunuch Wang was gone. Wang Daxia was with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, carving his own path—he was no longer the dependent Eunuch Wang.
Wei Caiwei found Granny Song and pointed to the five names on the list. "Noble Lady Shang is fine, and since I have some free time, I'd like to examine these five who went mad after seeing the Dark Spectre. I want to determine what caused their frenzy and, if possible, cure them."
Granny Song said, "We tied them to their beds for fear they might harm others in their madness. They thrashed about like fish, some shouting about ghosts, others screaming about demons. They struggled for hours until, just before dawn, they exhausted themselves and fell into a deep sleep. They haven't woken up yet."
Wei Caiwei produced a set of gleaming needles. "That's fine. I'll wake them. If you hear any unusual noises, don't come in—I'll be treating them."
Granny Song led Wei Caiwei to the side room where the five mad servants were confined. "Of course, we wouldn't dream of disturbing your treatment, Doctor Wei. Your medical skills are exceptional, and your kindness in tirelessly treating ordinary palace servants is their great fortune."
Wei Caiwei modestly replied, "You flatter me, Granny."
Closing the door behind her, Wei Caiwei faced five small beds, each holding a bound individual. Who to start with?
After such a long time without rest, her mind felt sluggish and rusty. She simply pointed at the five sleeping suspects and sang a childhood rhyme: "Pointing to soldiers, pointing to generals, whoever I point to becomes my little soldier, my little general."
As she finished the last word, her finger landed on the head of the person in the middle. Fate had decided—she would start with them.
Meanwhile, at White Deer Temple on Fuchengmen Street.Wei Caiwei spent a sleepless night in the palace, while Wang Daxia and Lu Ying also stayed awake through the night.
As for the two of them sneaking into White Deer Temple, Wu Xiaoqi was inside to receive them. The three infiltrated White Deer Hall and listened for most of the night to the triple court hearing, where the Taoist priests debated how to deal with Abbot Zhiping.
Some defended him, while others demanded his execution. When the argument grew heated, the two factions came to blows.
"Stop! What disgraceful behavior!" The temple head stamped his foot in anger. "Have you all forgotten we still have important matters to attend to? Is this how you repay Prince Jing's trust?"
Pointing at the bruised and battered Abbot Zhiping kneeling on a prayer mat almost asleep while begging for punishment, he declared, "First, punish him by making him guard the alchemy furnace. He is not to take half a step out of the furnace room. After we complete the task assigned by His Highness, we'll discuss how to further punish him."
The alchemy furnace fires must never be extinguished day or night, meaning Abbot Zhiping wouldn't be able to get proper sleep during this period—a rather effective form of mental torture indeed.
After finishing his watch in the furnace room, Abbot Zhiping would likely only want to sleep, with no desire for women.
Author's Note: This chapter gives away 100 red envelopes. Thank you all for your comfort. This author's courage is as small as Wang Daxia's—afraid of ghosts, prone to wild imagination, always thinking of terrifying scenarios. I dare not watch horror shows and must fill the screen with bullet comments when watching horror movies or dramas. So yesterday, when experiencing an earthquake alone at home for the first time in my life, even though it was only magnitude three, I was still quite frightened.
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