Capture the Jade (Attacking the Jade) - Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Teng Yuyi took a pill and placed it in her mouth. The pill was sweet as honey, with a faint, cool, and exotic fragrance. Normally, such a pill would soothe and relieve pain, but at this moment, her throat felt as numb as wood, and the pill brought no improvement.
Gu Xian didn’t expect Teng Yuyi to speak immediately. Seeing her calm expression, he assumed the pill had some soothing effect and gently said, “This pill can only treat the symptoms. To cure the root cause, it must be combined with internal medication. If you feel better, you can carry this pill with you from now on. Take one whenever you feel discomfort, regardless of the time.”
Teng Yuyi nodded with a smile.
Lin Chengyou, who had been watching silently, remained quiet.
After finishing with the medicine, Gu Xian turned around and noticed Lin Chengyou’s strange smile.
He was momentarily stunned and was about to ask if Lin Chengyou knew Teng Yuyi when Lin Chengyou took Ah Zhi’s hand and led her to the front, saying, “It’s getting late. Everyone, please take your seats.”
Gu Xian sat down and said, “I haven’t had a chance to ask you yet. Why did you take my Ruyi Liu horse the other day?”
Lin Chengyou casually replied as he took the guest list from a maid, “I wanted to see if Ruyi Liu is faster than my Zifeng.”
“So, who won?”
Lin Chengyou looked up and smiled, “Of course, my Zifeng.”
Gu Xian sighed, “One race doesn’t count. My Ruyi Liu is a bit older. Let’s race a few more times.”
“Alright, it’s a deal. But don’t forget, my rule is that the loser has to give up their horse.”
Teng Yuyi took the tea handed to her by a servant and thought to herself that Gu Xian not only knew Lin Chengyou but seemed to have a good relationship with him.
Once everyone was seated, Lin Chengyou smiled and said, “My younger sister hosts a poetry gathering every half month. Thank you all for coming to enliven the event. In the past, my mother would accompany her as the host, but since my parents went on a trip, the gatherings have been on hold for half a year. Today, my sister is restarting the event. As her older brother, I should be here to accompany her, but I have urgent matters to attend to and must leave early. To apologize, I’ve prepared some writing tools as gifts. Please accept them as a token of my appreciation.”
With that, he clapped his hands, and servants entered in a line, each holding a white sandalwood tray, which they placed on the guests’ tables.
On the trays were sets of high-quality brushes, inkstones, and ink. The paper, whether made from mulberry bark or ramie, was smooth, thick, and perfect for writing poetry.
The inkstones were Dragon Whisker Inkstones, each engraved with the guest’s name in small seal script at the base. This way, even the most reserved guests could take the generous gift home without embarrassment.
The guests were visibly surprised. Among those attending the poetry gathering tonight were not only scions of noble families but also many impoverished scholars. While the writing tools might not mean much to the wealthy, for the financially struggling scholars, they were like a godsend.
Everyone was delighted and filled with admiration.
Teng Yuyi didn’t touch the writing tools, but Du Tinglan was slightly surprised.
The princess was only nine years old, so it was unlikely she could have arranged everything so meticulously. It must have been the Shizi’s doing. What was remarkable was that he gifted writing tools instead of gold or silver, greatly preserving the dignity of the literati. Lin Chengyou was also generous—just the stack of high-quality paper alone would last each guest for half a year.
This man, who seemed so carefree on the surface, had gone to such lengths to make his sister happy, even for a small poetry gathering.
Seeing that the young men and women she had invited were all happy, Princess Jingde imitated her brother’s tone and instructed the maids, “Since all the poets have arrived, quickly serve the tea and snacks. Remember, everyone’s favorite snacks are different, so don’t mix them up.”
The maid smiled and held the guest list, “I’ve double-checked and won’t make any mistakes.”
Lin Chengyou chatted with Gu Xian for a few moments, then stood up and walked to the front, sitting next to the old scholar who had been dozing off.
He coughed lightly, “Master?”
This old scholar was a renowned Confucian scholar of the dynasty, known as Master Yu. The Prince’s residence had specially invited him from the Imperial Academy to host the poetry gatherings every month. Awakened by Lin Chengyou’s cough, he slowly opened his eyes and, seeing it was Lin Chengyou, his expression instantly turned to one of fear.
Lin Chengyou smiled, “Did you sleep well, Master?”
Master Yu shook his sleeves and wiped his sweat, “Yes, yes.”
“Although Ah Zhi is in charge of entertaining the guests today, you are the one presiding over the event. Please take care and don’t let Ah Zhi cause any trouble.”
Master Yu nodded solemnly, “Don’t worry, Your Highness.”
Lin Chengyou glanced at the two old servants behind him. They nodded, one holding tea and snacks, the other holding a towel, and sat down behind Master Yu, one on each side.
The one on the left said, “Master, please have some preserves apricot.”
The one on the right said, “Master, please wash your hands and face.”
Master Yu, caught between the two, felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. After being forced to wash his hands and face by the servants, his drowsiness vanished. He took the tea handed to him by Lin Chengyou, his face full of resignation, “Your Highness, you can leave with peace of mind. With me here, tonight’s poetry gathering will be proper and orderly.”
Only then did Lin Chengyou let go of Master Yu. He then said to Ah Zhi, “Commander Chang is outside the pavilion. Don’t be too mischievous. If you upset Master Yu, don’t expect me to apologize to the Imperial Academy on your behalf.”
Ah Zhi pouted in dissatisfaction but nodded her little head.
Lin Chengyou chuckled, stood up, and said, “Everyone, enjoy yourselves. I must take my leave.”
The guests naturally stood up to see him off. As he passed by Lu Zhao’an, Lin Chengyou suddenly stopped, “Are you Imperial Scholar Lu who topped the imperial examinations this year?”
Lu Zhao’an bowed, “Lu Zhao’an greets Your Highness.”
Lin Chengyou smiled warmly, “I’ve long heard of your talent. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary. I apologize for not being able to stay longer today. Another time, I’ll invite you for a proper drink.”
Lu Zhao’an remained calm and composed, “I am deeply honored by Your Highness’s regard.”
Zheng Shuangyin’s eyes were lowered, but she was clearly paying attention to the conversation between Lu Zhao’an and Lin Chengyou. Seeing Lu Zhao’an respond so gracefully, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
Teng Yuyi watched Lu Zhao’an with interest. If she hadn’t known how despicable he was, his calm and dignified demeanor would have made anyone think highly of him. Seeing Zheng Shuangyin’s reaction, it seemed she not only knew that Vice Minister Zheng intended to arrange a marriage between her and Lu Zhao’an but also held him in high regard.
She smiled as she observed Zheng Shuangyin, her mind secretly calculating. Du Tinglan suddenly grabbed her hand and wrote in her palm: Lin Chengyou already knows about Lu Zhao’an’s invitation to meet me in the bamboo grove. Inviting Lu Zhao’an today, does it mean he’s starting to investigate him?
Teng Yuyi shook her head. She wasn’t sure what Lin Chengyou was up to either.
After exchanging a few words with Lu Zhao’an, Lin Chengyou left.
Master Yu cleared his throat, “Recently, our Four Seasons Poetry Society has gained quite a reputation in Chang’an due to the excellent works produced. In my opinion, as long as we continue to hold these gatherings, the Four Seasons Poetry Society will become the most famous poetry society in Chang’an. Unfortunately, once the princess turns ten next year, due to the need to maintain propriety between men and women, these gatherings can no longer be held.”
The guests expressed their regret, “Why not separate the men’s and women’s seats then?”
Master Yu stroked his beard, “That will depend on the princess’s mother. Today, as we restart the society, we have many new friends joining us. As the princess’s teacher, I must reiterate the rules. The Four Seasons Poetry Society has always been informal, but there are some traditional customs that new friends should be aware of. The poetry gatherings are held every half month, each time with a set theme, either in five-character or seven-character verse. After the poems are composed, everyone will vote for the best one.”
Suddenly, a strange sound interrupted Master Yu’s speech. It was a gurgling noise, as if someone’s stomach was growling from hunger.
Master Yu coughed, and Ah Zhi exclaimed in surprise, “Is one of our poets hungry?”
The guests burst into laughter.
“How can one compose poetry on an empty stomach?” Ah Zhi enthusiastically instructed the maids, “Then let’s serve the food and wine first.”
Master Yu reminded Ah Zhi, “Princess, it’s getting late. Before the food and wine are served, why not decide on the theme for the poems?”
Teng Yuyi looked out the window. She had left in the afternoon, and without realizing it, it was already dusk. The orange-red sunset reflected on the water, rippling with fine, sparkling waves.
Princess Jingde tilted her head in thought, then turned to Zheng Shuangyin, “Sister Zheng, you are a renowned talented woman in Chang’an. Why don’t you decide on the theme today?”
Zheng Shuangyin bowed slightly, then looked at Master Yu’s white hair and said apologetically, “How about ‘white hair’ as the theme? Let’s compose two seven-character verses, with no restrictions on rhyme, and the one with the most profound concept will be considered the best. What does the princess think?”
Master Yu was taken aback. He never expected the poems to be about him.
Princess Jingde nodded, “Good, good. Finally, it’s not about pines, bamboos, chrysanthemums, or plums. I’ve grown tired of those themes. What do you all think?”
The guests quickly agreed, “This theme is excellent, though it might be challenging to compose.”
Princess Jingde then turned to Teng Yuyi and Du Tinglan, “Miss Teng, Miss Du, since this is your first time attending, you might feel a bit reserved. If you find this theme unsuitable, feel free to suggest another. What do you think of ‘white hair’?”
Du Tinglan bowed slightly, “When composing poems about white hair, it’s easy to fall into a tone of lament. Miss Zheng’s choice of ‘white hair’ as the theme, yet emphasizing ‘profound concept,’ avoids clichés and is quite innovative.”
Zheng Shuangyin looked at Du Tinglan in surprise, and Teng Yuyi took the opportunity to wink at her.
Zheng Shuangyin was momentarily stunned but couldn’t help but smile warmly at Du Tinglan and Teng Yuyi.
Seeing the three of them like this, Ah Zhi became even more delighted, “Then it’s settled. The theme is ‘white hair.’ You can start composing in your minds now. After the meal, you can write them down. I’ll take the top three poems to the palace to show the Emperor and Empress. The rest will be compiled into a collection.”
At this, the young scholars in the room perked up. If the princess could present their poems directly to the Emperor, it would greatly increase their chances of success in the imperial examinations. They all began to rack their brains, some gazing out the window, others sitting in deep thought.
By the time the food and wine were served, the sky outside had turned a deep blue. The guests returned to their seats to eat, but their minds were still preoccupied.
The maids placed food boxes in front of each guest. Since each person had their own table, the food boxes were prepared individually. When they reached Master Yu, they were surprised to find one box missing.
Ah Zhi asked in surprise, “Why is one missing?”
The maids looked uneasy. When they had gone to the kitchen to fetch the food boxes, they had carefully checked the list with the kitchen staff to ensure there were no mistakes. For one to be missing now, unless the list was wrong, but when they had presented the writing tools earlier, there had been neither too many nor too few.
The lead maid apologized, “It must have been missed. I’ll go to the kitchen to fetch it.”
“Go quickly,” Ah Zhi sighed and respectfully pushed her own food box toward Master Yu, “Teacher, please eat first.”
Master Yu hurriedly pushed it back, “Princess, you eat first.”
The two of them went back and forth, and the guests dared not touch their chopsticks.
Teng Yuyi watched the maids at the door, feeling something was off. The Prince’s residence was known for its strict management, and everyone knew their place. With only about forty guests at the poetry gathering, how could such a mistake happen?
Fortunately, the maids soon returned with another food box. Ah Zhi didn’t ask further and had them place it down before dismissing them.
“It’s all the servants’ carelessness,” Ah Zhi said with an embarrassed smile, “We’ve kept you waiting. Please start eating.”
Only then did the guests begin their meal. The evening breeze blew gently, and the lanterns under the eaves creaked softly. Teng Yuyi had just taken a bite of the spiced minced meat when she felt the Xiao Ya sword in her sleeve grow warm.
She thought to herself, could this little old man be acting up again because he smelled the wine? He really doesn’t know when to stop. It seems the last lesson wasn’t enough. She herself had a weakness for wine, so she understood how hard it was for the little old man to resist. If she didn’t control him, he might jump out at any moment, which would be disastrous.
She reached into her sleeve and flicked the sword, both to comfort and warn him. If he couldn’t resist even a cup of wine, how could he go out with her in the future?
The little old man seemed a bit afraid of Teng Yuyi. After being flicked, he immediately calmed down, and the sword’s warmth subsided, though it remained slightly warm.
Teng Yuyi felt relieved and continued eating quietly.
At that moment, the maids came in with fruits. Suddenly, there was a crisp sound as a maid dropped a plate.
Du Tinglan and Teng Yuyi exchanged surprised glances. What was going on? This was quite a breach of etiquette, and the maid, unlike the others, seemed to be a senior servant.
Princess Jingde was angry, “Wei Rui, what’s wrong with you today?”
Wei Rui panicked, “Your Highness, there’s an extra person in the pavilion.”
“An extra person?” Ah Zhi was puzzled, “What do you mean?”
Wei Rui looked around in confusion, “We double-checked the number of fruits before bringing them in. Because we missed one food box earlier, we specially prepared an extra portion this time. But after serving, there’s still one portion missing!”
Master Yu was stunned, “If one is missing, then it’s missing. No need to make a fuss. With so many people, mistakes happen. Maybe you didn’t notice and gave an extra portion to someone.”
“That’s impossible,” Wei Rui shook her head vigorously, “After our earlier mistake, we were extra careful this time. We served one portion to each guest as we went, making sure not to give out extras. Besides, the tables can’t hold two plates, so how could we have miscounted?”
Gu Xian, who had been listening quietly, put down his wine cup and asked, “Did you miscount the number of people? Maybe when you were counting, a guest had gone to the restroom.”
Wei Rui shivered, “That’s impossible. I’ve been at the door with the others since this afternoon. No one has entered or left the pavilion since His Highness left.”
As she spoke, she scanned the room, as if trying to figure out who the extra person was, but the more she looked, the more frightened she became.
Teng Yuyi unconsciously began searching the room as well, but before she could figure anything out, the Xiao Ya sword grew hot again.
Teng Yuyi’s heart tightened. This was the second time the sword had acted up. She quietly took the sword out of her sleeve and cautiously looked around. Outside the window, night had fallen, and both inside and outside the pavilion, palace lanterns were lit. The guests’ faces were shadowed in the flickering light, making it hard to see anything unusual.
Princess Jingde exclaimed in surprise, “If no one has entered or left, why not check the guest list again?”
“Exactly,” the old scholar scolded, “Such panic is unbecoming!”
Wei Rui, ashamed of her behavior, bowed repeatedly. A maid quickly brought the guest list and handed it to Wei Rui with trembling hands.
Wei Rui bowed and stepped aside, trying to calm herself. She started from the east side, where the male guests were seated, and began comparing each person to the list.
The guests, no longer interested in the food, couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but they all felt a sudden chill in the pavilion. The night breeze blew in through the windows, rustling the paper on the tables. The lanterns in the corners flickered, casting shifting shadows.
Teng Yuyi had brought many talismans with her when she left, but strangely, they showed no reaction. She didn’t believe the talismans from Qingyun Temple were less effective than those from Dongming Temple, but if there were any evil spirits, the talismans should have burned as a warning.
The first two times, they had only counted heads. This time, the maids paid closer attention, matching each person’s appearance to the names on the list.
Wei Rui finished counting the male guests on the east side and moved to the west side, where the female guests were seated. At first glance, everything seemed normal.
Soon, she reached the three young ladies in the corner: the daughters of Minister Meng, Wang Shiyi, and Li Buque…
When she reached Miss Meng, the maid’s eyes widened. She looked down at the list, then up at the young lady, stammering, “Sister Wei Rui, were there additional guests? The young lady next to Miss Meng isn’t on the list.”
Wei Rui’s face turned pale, “We only added three guests: Miss Teng, Miss Du, and Mr. Lu. Take a closer look. Is that Miss Teng or Miss Du?”
The guests were shocked. Earlier, when the princess had asked Teng and Du about the poem theme, the two had been seated properly. So, the person in the corner must be someone else.
They all looked over in horror. The back of the room was dimly lit, and in the faint light, a young lady with her hair in a high bun sat quietly.
The young lady was slowly eating from the table, her movements deliberate and careful, as if she hadn’t eaten in a long time. Nothing around her seemed to catch her attention.
Teng Yuyi felt a sense of foreboding. No wonder the Xiao Ya sword had been warning her. The Prince’s residence was heavily guarded, and the pavilion was surrounded by guards. How had this woman appeared without anyone noticing?
What was even stranger was Miss Meng, the daughter of Minister Meng. How could she sit so calmly with a stranger beside her?
The young ladies nearby were terrified and quickly moved away from their seats, but Miss Meng remained motionless. She smiled faintly, looking down at the table as if she were very satisfied with the food or listening intently to someone, completely absorbed.
Miss Wang, the daughter of Wang Shiyi and a close friend of Miss Meng, nervously reached out to pull her, “Ah Ning, who is that beside you—”
But as soon as she touched Miss Meng’s clothes, Miss Meng, still wearing that eerie smile, collapsed to the side.
The movement startled the young lady, who slowly turned her head. Before anyone could see her face clearly, several soft pops were heard, and the pavilion was plunged into darkness.
Everything happened so quickly. Princess Jingde cried out, “Uncle Chang!”
The sound of hurried footsteps followed as people surrounded the pavilion. Outside the windows, figures leaped in from both sides.
“Light the lamps! Capture the intruder!”
It was the voice of a middle-aged man, deep and resonant, with a sense of urgency, clearly someone of high status.
“Commander Chang, we can’t light the lamps.”
“Nonsense! How can the lamps not light?”
“We’ve tried several times. It seems the fire starters are damp. We can’t get them to work.”
“Then go to the storeroom and fetch the night pearls!”
Many of the guests had flint on them and tried to light the lamps themselves, but to no avail. The young lady’s presence was already unsettling, and now, in the darkness, fear gripped everyone. No one could stay seated, and they all rushed for the exit.
Teng Yuyi, prepared for this, grabbed Du Tinglan and was the first to leave the pavilion.
But before the two of them could make it out, the scholars behind them caught up. In their panic to escape, they pushed and shoved, knocking Teng Yuyi and Du Tinglan to the ground by the door.
Teng Yuyi cursed inwardly. If only she had practiced martial arts more diligently. In situations like this, strength was the most useful.
She struggled to get up but was knocked down again. The doorway was narrow, and everyone was desperate to get out.
Du Tinglan clung tightly to Teng Yuyi, realizing they wouldn’t be able to get up quickly. Fearing Teng Yuyi might be trampled, she shielded her as best she could.
Suddenly, Teng Yuyi found a surge of strength. She grabbed the doorframe and pulled both of them up, but when they got outside, they were stunned. The lanterns by the lake had all gone out, and the entire Prince’s residence was shrouded in darkness. It was impossible to tell which way was which.
Many people ran out onto the corridor, all at a loss.
“Does anyone have a fire starter? Try lighting it again.”
The sound of flint striking followed, and someone cried out in fear, “It still won’t work! What do we do now?”
“Stay calm. We’ll have to wait for the Prince’s guards to lead us out. Don’t run around in the dark, or you might fall into the lake.”
“Is that woman human or a ghost?”
Someone whispered in terror, “Stop—stop talking. I’m afraid she’s among us now.”
The young ladies, unable to contain their fear, began to scream. Just then, a light appeared on the shore, as if a servant from one of the halls had found a fire starter and lit a lantern on the corridor.
“There’s light over there.” The crowd immediately had a direction and rushed toward the shore.
Teng Yuyi hesitated, but at that moment, more people emerged from the pavilion. Fearing the strange woman might be following them, the crowd panicked and pushed their way toward the light, not caring that they were surrounded by water.
Teng Yuyi and Du Tinglan were pushed along with the crowd and made it to the shore. Strangely, the servants from the various households who had been waiting on the shore were nowhere to be seen.
Teng Yuyi couldn’t find the two disguised maids and had no choice but to follow the crowd. As they approached, they realized it was a quiet courtyard in the garden, its gates wide open and brightly lit.
Just as they were about to enter the courtyard, they heard footsteps approaching from behind. In the dim light, they could see it was a group of guards from the Prince’s residence.
The leader, a middle-aged man, was carrying Princess Jingde on his back.
Behind him was Gu Xian, who was also carrying someone—the elderly Master Yu, who lay motionless on his back, apparently unconscious.
Princess Jingde cried, “I want my brother. Go get him.”
Commander Chang said, “We’ve already sent someone to fetch His Highness. Don’t worry, Princess. It’s just a petty thief. We’ve set up a net around the area. We’ll catch him soon.”
Just then, someone else caught up, “Commander Chang, we’ve searched the pavilion inside and out. We couldn’t find the strange woman or Miss Meng. There are three layers of guards around the pavilion, so it’s impossible for her to have escaped so quickly unless she took Miss Meng into the water.”
Everyone remembered how Miss Meng had collapsed with a smile on her face, and a sense of dread filled them. Miss Wang and Miss Li, who were close friends with Miss Meng, began to sob.
Princess Jingde stopped crying, “Don’t let that thing take Miss Meng. Find a way to save her.”
Commander Chang said, “No matter how powerful that woman is, she’s still dragging Miss Meng with her. She couldn’t have gone far in such a short time. Leave thirty men to escort the Princess out of the residence. The rest of you, seal off the area around the pavilion. If you can’t see, use your ears. If you hear anything, cast the net immediately. Search every corner of the garden. Don’t let her escape.”
“Yes,” the guards responded and left.
Master Yu, on Gu Xian’s back, suddenly stirred and groaned in pain.
“What’s wrong with Master?”
Gu Xian said, “It was too chaotic in the pavilion earlier. Master Yu twisted his ankle. Let’s leave this place quickly and find a physician to treat him.”
The guests were terrified, “It’s pitch black all around, and we’re not familiar with the layout of the residence. If we run around blindly, we might twist our ankles like Master Yu. Since there’s light here, why don’t we rest inside and wait until that woman is caught before leaving?”
Gu Xian looked at the lanterns in the courtyard and hesitated, but the others were eager to enter.
Teng Yuyi quickly grabbed Du Tinglan.
Du Tinglan understood and called out, “Everyone, wait!”
The guests stopped in surprise.
Teng Yuyi’s Xiao Ya sword grew hot again. She quickly wrote in Du Tinglan’s palm: “The entire residence is dark, but this courtyard is lit. It might be a trap. Don’t stay here. We should leave the residence immediately.”
Du Tinglan relayed the message, and many began to doubt.
Gu Xian glanced at Teng Yuyi and nodded in approval, “Miss Teng is right. If you don’t believe me, try lighting your fire starters. If they still don’t work, who lit the lanterns in this courtyard?”
The guests tried again and found they still couldn’t light their fire starters. Fearful, they began to back away.
“Something’s definitely wrong. We were too panicked earlier.”
“That was close. Luckily, we didn’t go in.”
Commander Chang cursed, “How dare this evil creature cause trouble in the Prince’s residence! Don’t be afraid, everyone. I’ll escort you out of the residence. I’ve been here for many years and can navigate even without light.”
The guests, trembling with fear, followed Commander Chang. Teng Yuyi happened to look up and saw Lu Zhao’an sticking close to Commander Chang and Princess Jingde.
This man certainly valued his life, knowing that staying close to these two was the safest.
As they walked, the path ahead grew darker again. Strangely, in such a large residence, there was no sound of servants moving about.
Fortunately, Commander Chang walked steadily and quickly. With him leading the way, they would soon be out of the garden.
The night was as dark as ink, and the wind rustled through the trees. No one dared to speak, and the surroundings were eerily quiet. The only sounds were the guests’ breathing and footsteps.
The darkness was indeed unnerving. Most of the guests were drenched in cold sweat. Although they were all together, they felt uneasy.
Suddenly, someone stammered, “Wait!”
The guests’ hearts skipped a beat, “What’s wrong?”
The person said, “I—I think there’s an extra person behind me.”
It was the voice of Miss Li, the daughter of Li Shiyi. She sounded terrified, as if she had mustered all her courage to speak. The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in panic, everyone scrambling to get away, fearing the strange woman was among them.
The guards, hearing the commotion, drew their swords and rushed toward the sound, but the area was empty. There was no sign of the strange woman or Miss Li.
Someone cried out, “Miss Li!”
“Miss Li! Where are you?”
After several calls, there was no response from Miss Li. In such a short time, another person had disappeared right under their noses.
Commander Chang was both shocked and furious. The guests were terrified. There was still a long way to go before they could leave the residence. What if they encountered that thing again?
Nearby was the flower hall. Someone, in a panic, climbed the steps and pushed open the door, “I’m not going any further. I’d rather die of fright than be taken by that thing.”
Zheng Shuangyin, still shaken, quickly added, “The main hall is completely dark, and the door is closed. That thing probably isn’t inside. Why don’t we have two people guard the door while the rest of us enter one by one? Once everyone’s inside, we can close the door. That way, we won’t have to worry about that thing getting in.”
“Yes, yes, that’s a good idea. We can stay here until His Highness arrives, then leave.”
With two people missing, no one dared to continue forward until the strange woman was caught.
Commander Chang said, “We’ll guard the door and let people in one by one after checking.”
Princess Jingde, now calmer, said, “Uncle Chang, you weren’t in the pavilion when it happened, so you might not recognize the woman. Besides the guards, we should have someone from the poetry gathering help identify people. But without light, we’re blind. How can we tell who’s who?”
Teng Yuyi took out the Xiao Ya sword, wishing there was at least some moonlight. The sword had a unique glow that could faintly illuminate people’s faces.
Commander Chang placed his sword across his chest, but it was dull and provided no light. They couldn’t just sit in the dark. He urgently asked the guards beside him, “I sent someone to fetch the night pearls earlier. Why haven’t they returned?”
Gu Xian suddenly said to a guard beside him, “Take Master Yu.”
The guard, thinking Gu Xian was tired from carrying the old man, quickly took Master Yu onto his back. Gu Xian rummaged in his robes, and suddenly a glowing object appeared in the darkness. It seemed to be a night pearl or something similar. Though not as bright as a lantern, it was enough to illuminate the faces of those nearby.
He held the night pearl up to his face, revealing his handsome features.
“If Commander Chang hadn’t reminded me, I would have forgotten I had this. It can illuminate faces, so we don’t have to worry about the thief slipping past us. Commander Chang, you lead the way inside. Leave two guards with me to guard the door.”
Gu Xian was an honored guest of the residence, so Commander Chang hesitated. But the others were either scholars with no fighting skills or young ladies, none as quick-witted as Gu Xian. He decided not to argue, “As you wish, Lord Gu.”
Starting with Commander Chang and Princess Jingde, the guests entered one by one. When it was Teng Yuyi’s turn, she touched the Xiao Ya sword. It felt cool, indicating there was nothing sinister inside, so she entered with confidence.
Commander Chang settled Ah Zhi inside but didn’t dare leave. However, he was also concerned about the situation outside, so he stood guard at the door with his sword.
The guests sat cross-legged in the main hall. Though it was still pitch dark, they felt somewhat safer than before.
Teng Yuyi leaned against a pillar, her mind filled with questions. The other day, when Princess Jingde went to the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence for a banquet, Lin Chengyou had insisted on having Jue sheng and Qi zhi disguised as maids to accompany her. Today, with the princess hosting a poetry gathering in her own residence, why had Lin Chengyou left so confidently?
The Xiao Ya sword had warned her repeatedly. The strange woman was most likely an evil spirit. Recently, the evil spirits from Caifeng Tower had broken free from their seals. Lin Chengyou couldn’t possibly have left the residence unguarded. What kind of evil spirit could bypass the defenses of Qingyun Temple’s formations?
She took out an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve and covered the sword with it, then wrote on the sword: “Come out. I have something to ask you.”
The Xiao Ya sword lay quietly under the handkerchief, showing no response.
Teng Yuyi continued writing: “Oh, I see. You’re scared.”
The Xiao Ya sword suddenly grew hot, as if protesting.
“Not scared? Then why won’t you come out?”
Du Tinglan, though aware of the sword’s spiritual nature, couldn’t understand Teng Yuyi’s actions and whispered, “Ah Yu, what are you doing?”
Calling it out to help.
She waited patiently for a while, and then the handkerchief bulged slightly as something stood up beneath it.
It was the little old man.
The little old man hid under the handkerchief, walking along the sword. Teng Yuyi continued to shield him with the handkerchief and wrote: What is that woman?
The little old man sat cross-legged and wrote in Teng Yuyi’s palm: “I don’t know. She’s neither demon, monster, nor ghost.”
Teng Yuyi was surprised. Even the little old man didn’t know her origin.
Why did she come to the Prince’s residence tonight? What is her purpose?
The little old man: For you.
For me? Teng Yuyi was nearly shocked out of her wits.
The little old man quickly wrote: That thing is the other entity suppressed under the formation at Caifeng Tower. She broke free before the formation was activated. For some reason, she’s fixated on you. I suspect it’s either related to the illusion you saw on the second floor or because you struck the golden-robed man twice.
The golden-robed man? That handsome male demon with the flower in his hair?
It all circled back to that night at Caifeng Tower.
Teng Yuyi tried to calm herself: That day, Jue sheng said this thing might be a corpse demon.
The little old man was stunned: So it’s a corpse demon. No wonder I couldn’t figure out her origin. This thing has transcended the three realms and exists outside the five elements.
Teng Yuyi: I only caught a glimpse earlier, but she looked like a young girl. She could easily pass for a flower demon. She doesn’t look like a corpse demon at all.
The little old man: Miss Teng, you don’t understand. Corpse demons are neither demons nor monsters. They look lifelike, can eat and drink, and even walk in daylight. If you don’t check their breath, you’d never know they’re dead. Miss Teng, you’re in trouble. Once a corpse demon latches onto you, there’s no escape.
Teng Yuyi’s scalp tingled: Are you saying that no matter where I go, this thing will come after me?
The little old man wrote with heavy strokes: Exactly.
Teng Yuyi felt half of her body go cold.
The little old man: If you don’t want to wait for death, you’ll have to find a way to destroy her.
Teng Yuyi: Don’t joke. That blind patriarch from Dongming Temple, with his profound cultivation, lost his life trying to suppress this corpse demon and the golden-robed man. Now that this thing has broken free, even the Prince’s residence’s formations couldn’t stop her. What can I do?
The little old man: Remember what I told you the other day? I was probably right. You were likely reborn by borrowing someone’s life. That night in the bamboo grove, you fought the tree demon to save your cousin. Then, at Caifeng Tower, you encountered two demons in a row. It was unlucky, but perhaps it was also an opportunity. After all, they were powerful demons sent to your doorstep. If you can destroy them, you might break the curse of borrowed life.
Teng Yuyi: With just a Xiao Ya sword? I’m weak and defenseless. Facing such monsters, even the most powerful magical tool wouldn’t help.
The little old man: True, you only have a Xiao Ya sword, but you’re cunning and resourceful. It’s not over yet. Why are you giving up so soon?
As the two of them communicated silently, the other guests in the main hall were whispering among themselves. Suddenly, a strange scratching sound came from outside the window, as if claws were slowly scraping against the window frame.
The little old man shuddered: Miss Teng, you’re on your own now. That thing has found you. What happens next is up to you.
