Befоrе shе соuld finish her words, Hаn Yаn stepрed ahеаd оf Jingхu Dаоzhang and swiftlу lifted the object from thе сloth bundlе. It was а rеd, сrumрled itеm. Маdаm Dа Zhou’s hеart skippеd а beаt. With a flick of hеr wrist, Han Yаn unfurled the rеd fаbriс, lеtting it fluttеr in thе wind. Еmbroiderеd оn it was а sсеne оf mandаrin duсks plaуing in wаter, аdorned with goldеn ribbons and a dеliсаtelу stitched chаrасter “Lаn.” It wаs сlеаrlу an itеm frоm a wеalthу househоld.
It was unmistаkаblу a bеllуbаnd.
Нan Yan cоvered her mouth and lаughed. “Daozhаng, so the еvil objесt yоu spoke of is a bellyband?”
As soon as she said this, the onlookers burst into laughter. Jingxu Daozhang stood frozen, his gaze shifting helplessly toward Madam Zhou. He had never expected things to turn out this way. He had only taken money to play his part in this charade, but how had the act gone awry from the very start?
Zhuang Shiyang’s face turned ashen, and Grand Tutor Zhang and Madam Da Zhou wore similarly grim expressions. Madam Da Zhou’s face paled, for the bellyband was unmistakably her own intimate garment. How had it ended up in someone else’s hands? Feeling Grand Tutor Zhang’s piercing gaze, she dared not utter a word.
“Hmm,” Han Yan said curiously, examining the bellyband in her hand. “Why does this bellyband look so familiar? The last time I had tea at Concubine Zhou’s place, I recall seeing this very bellyband hanging outside to dry. The embroidery is truly exquisite. The maid said… it belonged to Madam Zhou.” Han Yan smiled faintly. “Who could be so mischievous as to take Madam Zhou’s bellyband out of Hibiscus Garden?”
Madam Da Zhou felt as if she had been granted a reprieve and immediately nodded eagerly. “It must be someone’s prank. Who would do such a thing?”
At that moment, the guard whom Han Yan had earlier instructed to remain silent spoke up. “This cloth bundle was found in Master Zhuang’s room.”
Silence fell over the crowd.
After a long pause, Han Yan said with a smile, “How strange. Why would Madam Zhou’s bellyband be in my father’s room?”
The expressions of everyone present turned peculiar as they looked at Madam Da Zhou and Zhuang Shiyang. In the Great Dynasty, coveting another man’s wife or concubine was considered highly immoral. Though Madam Da Zhou was stunningly beautiful, she was, after all, Grand Tutor Zhang’s favored concubine. It had been rumored lately that she frequently visited the Zhuang residence. Initially, people assumed she was visiting her sister out of familial affection, but now it seemed there was a deeper meaning—perhaps to facilitate an affair with her brother-in-law.
Grand Tutor Zhang was already seething with rage. He was well aware of Madam Da Zhou’s frequent visits to the Zhuang residence, as he had orchestrated them himself, but his sole purpose had been to retrieve a certain item. Now, however, this wretched woman had quietly cuckolded him, and the affair had been exposed in front of so many people. Why was Madam Da Zhou’s bellyband in Zhuang Shiyang’s room? Everyone knew the answer. By tomorrow morning, the entire capital would know that Grand Tutor Zhang couldn’t even control his own woman. No man could remain composed upon learning he had been cuckolded. Grand Tutor Zhang shot Madam Da Zhou a venomous glare, then abruptly turned and stormed away, his sleeves fluttering in anger."Master... Master..." Seeing Grand Tutor Zhang about to leave in a huff, Madam Da Zhou panicked and immediately followed him. Although she had entered the Zhuang residence for that item—a task given to her by Grand Tutor Zhang—he had promised that if she could obtain it, he would elevate her to the status of his official wife. Over the years, Madam Da Zhou had become Grand Tutor Zhang's favored concubine, showered with affection, but human desire knows no bounds. She also had to think of her sons. If she became the official wife, her sons would become legitimate heirs, a status vastly different from that of illegitimate children. Thus, upon entering the Zhuang residence, she vowed to obtain that item. Her seduction of Zhuang Shiyang was genuine, but she had only allowed him some liberties, never actually consummating anything with him. The undergarment now presented must have been planted by someone with malicious intent.
Grand Tutor Zhang kicked Madam Da Zhou aside and left without a backward glance. The onlookers remained silent, merely observing, until Han Yan spoke slowly: "Do not fret, Madam Zhou. The Daoist Master said that undergarment is an evil object. Now, let us invite the Daoist Master to perform an exorcism for Madam Zhou."
Jingxu Daozhang had already sensed the situation turning sour and wiped sweat from his brow nervously. "Young lady... this..."
Zhuang Shiyang was still reeling from the sudden turn of events. At the moment, he felt no pity for Madam Da Zhou, who had fallen to the ground, but rather a growing fear as he glanced at the people around him. His previous demotion had been due to accusations of favoring a concubine over his wife. If he were now charged with adultery, would he ever recover? Moreover, Grand Tutor Zhang wielded considerable influence in the court. Offending him would surely bring dire consequences. Most importantly, Zhuang Shiyang himself had no idea how Madam Da Zhou's undergarment had ended up in his possession. He had never engaged in any improper relations with her, so how could there be evidence? Clearly, this was a setup. The thought filled him with fury.
Zhuang Shiyang stepped forward. "This is slander! Lan... Madam Zhou and I are innocent!"
Han Yan replied, "Father, do not be hasty. The priority now is for Jingxu Daozhang to perform the exorcism for us. Regardless of how the undergarment ended up in your room, the Daoist Master has declared it an evil object, so it must be one."
"You..." Seeing the situation deteriorate, Madam Zhou grew anxious. Although she did not like Madam Da Zhou, they were now in the same boat. With Madam Da Zhou in trouble, Madam Zhou glared fiercely at Han Yan. "Someone must have framed her."
This implied that Han Yan was the one behind the scheme. Unfazed, Han Yan smiled calmly. "Auntie's words remind me. Earlier, didn't the Daoist Master say that Han Yan brings misfortune to her father and husband? It was all my carelessness—I mistakenly provided Auntie's birth date instead of my own. Ah." She pretended to glare at Ji Lan. "A few days ago, I mentioned going to offer incense and asked this girl to inquire about Auntie's birth date. But Ji Lan was careless and mixed up Auntie's birth date with mine."
Ji Lan immediately knelt down. "It was all Ji Lan's fault. Ji Lan will never dare to do such a thing again."
"What!" Madam Zhou nearly jumped up. "That Daoist is just spouting nonsense! I am not someone who brings misfortune to my father or husband. Don't listen to his lies!"Han Yan let out an "aiya" and looked at Madam Zhou with a half-smile. "Didn't you and Madam Zhou say that Jingxu Daozhang is highly respected and most capable? Why are you now calling it nonsense? Auntie, aren't you contradicting yourself? I truly don't understand this."
She then turned to the Seventh Prince, who had remained silent and sullen-faced since the matter of the bellyband arose, and bowed gracefully. "Your Highness, earlier you had your servants deliver an invitation to request Jingxu Daozhang, which implicitly acknowledged his reputation. Since Jingxu Daozhang was invited by Your Highness, Auntie, by speaking this way, are you not casting doubt on Your Highness's intentions?"
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