Chapter 117: The Siege of the Mansion

The two remained silent for a while. Jiang Lan placed the knife into the basket, stood up, and then set the basket on the small table by the bedside.

“Over the next few days, keep these at the residence. If you need to add more clothes or jewelry for the banquet, I will have someone invite experts from the Rainbow Pavilion and the Jade Hall. You can choose whatever you like here at the residence; the expenses will be charged to me. Feel free to pick lavishly. Also, prepare some gold and jade ornaments, clothes, and utensils for the two children, and include those in my account as well.”

Jiang Si nodded, having no objections to his brother’s arrangements. However, he said, “Brother, are you planning to bring Ming and Sister Lan that day? Ming, being six or seven years old, is easy to look after, but I fear it might not be appropriate for Sister Lan.”

Jiang Lan nodded. “Yes, Sister Lan will stay at the residence; I will bring Ming along.”

“Little sister, I just remembered something. Ming is still in mourning, and that day also happens to be Grandmother Xue’s seventieth birthday. I’m afraid there might be a conflict. Brother, perhaps you should reconsider?”

“I had completely forgotten. It seems it really isn’t appropriate for him to go. Let him continue his studies with Master Pei, then.”

“Have you prepared a gift for Brother?”

Jiang Si didn’t think Jiang Lan was neglectful; it was just that recent events had been chaotic and overwhelming.

“Don’t worry about that. On the day, just dress up beautifully and join me for the appointment.”

“Alright.”

Having finalized their plans, Jiang Lan left the room and walked into the courtyard.

Outside, the scene was even more spectacular. San Mu had somehow produced a blue-green serpent. A faint azure mist enveloped the area, and many people echoed San Mu’s movements and chants, filled with admiration.

“The Taoist is mighty!”

“The Taoist is formidable!”

San Mu carefully placed the blue-green serpent into a portable cage and raised his hand, signaling the crowd not to get too excited.

“I have good news for everyone. For the safety of the residence, the esteemed young master of this noble household has generously sponsored this humble Taoist to stay here, to guard against demons and protect the estate.”

“The young master is so kind! Thank you, young master!”

At that moment, Jiang Lan appeared, and the crowd bowed to him. He nodded in acknowledgment, then took the side gate of the courtyard and departed.

A short distance ahead, about ten paces away, stood a slightly short, stout old man with his hands behind his back. Most of the crowd was still watching the spectacle in the courtyard, so this old man’s figure passed unnoticed.

At that moment, Xi Chi, who had been sent by Qing Li to look after Ming earlier that morning, returned and stood behind Jiang Lan, attending to him and inquiring about his well-being.

“That man?” Jiang Lan asked, pointing at the old man.

Xi Chi looked in the indicated direction and said, “That is Doctor Liang Wan, the senior physician summoned by the Duke specifically to treat the young master. His medical skills are said to rival those of the imperial court’s top doctors, but his personality is somewhat eccentric.”

“Is he the one who treats my headaches and fevers?” Jiang Lan asked.

Xi Chi shook his head. “No, Doctor Liang only attends to you in times of crisis or unconsciousness. Under normal circumstances, he doesn’t involve himself.”

Jiang Lan watched as the old man’s hunched figure slowly walked toward the eastern mansion. “Does he live with grandfather?”

“The Duke suffers from leg ailments and often has difficulty sleeping due to discomfort. Doctor Liang has been attending to the Duke’s daily medication needs.”

“Hmm. Go to the steward and arrange for a few better rooms near my courtyard in the eastern mansion. After the Taoist completes his ritual, have him choose one of those rooms. Then assign a few trusted people to accompany the Taoist back to the residence to pack and move in.”

“Yes, sir.”

Just as Jiang Lan prepared to return to the house to check on the two guests who had arrived yesterday, a group of soldiers entered. They wore the uniforms of the imperial palace guards, each with a sword of identical design at their waists and cold, expressionless faces.

Leading them was an unfamiliar eunuch, behind whom stood a military officer. The officer’s attire and the jade ornaments and sword he wore were far more distinguished than the others’, indicating a high rank. Yet he remained subordinate to the eunuch, his expression grave.

“Who is this eunuch?”

The eunuch stepped forward and bowed with respect. With a flick of his whisk, he announced, “I am Hai Zi, here to pay respects and greetings to the young master.”

“Eunuch Hai, you are too courteous. What brings such an esteemed presence today?” Jiang Lan deliberately emphasized "esteemed presence," his forced smile plainly signaling to the uninvited guests that an explanation was expected.

“Please don’t be anxious, young master,” Eunuch Hai said awkwardly. “There are rumors in the city about demons in the Duke’s residence. The imperial court, out of concern, has specially invited a venerable monk from White Horse Temple to investigate and protect the household, ensuring justice for the young master.”

Jiang Lan sat down, neither inviting Eunuch Hai to sit nor responding further.

Eunuch Hai exchanged a glance with the officer behind him. Both appeared helpless.

With no other choice, the officer forced a smile and insisted, “Please do not trouble us, young master. The imperial edict cannot be defied.”

Raising his eyebrow slightly, Jiang Lan looked at the towering officer, over eight feet tall, and said, “If you can so boldly surround a Duke’s residence now, I suppose you must be giving my aunt a hard time at court as well?”

Eunuch Hai was shocked. He had never expected such a difficult task. This young master was usually reasonable, but now it seemed impossible to reason with him.

Indeed, the soldiers surrounding the residence was a severe insult to the prestigious Wei Duke’s family.

However, Prince Anping had issued a secret order to encircle the residence tightly. Among the monks brought in, there were even a few planted agents.

When the Empress Dowager set out, she cautioned the monks, “Know what to say and what not to say; be mindful of your words.”

On one side was the ruthless, power-grabbing Prince Anping; on the other, the composed, protective Empress Dowager, mother to the Emperor. These two formidable forces clashed, leaving those caught in the middle like frying fish in hot oil — burned alive and with no way out.

“Young master, the monks are only here to observe. If they find anything amiss, they can halt it in time to prevent calamity in the residence, right?”

Eunuch Hai felt that if this mission failed, he might never survive in the palace again.

“‘Amiss’? I wonder if, in the eyes of those monks, the ‘amiss’ might end up being me?”

“Pah, pah, pah,” the overly effeminate eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to ingratiate himself. “Look at the young master! How could that be! They are just performing a formal inspection, and would never dare offend you.”

Jiang Lan ignored the eunuch’s nonsense. No rumors had spread about yesterday’s incident, but today, whispers about the residence were everywhere. It was clearly the work of those targeting him. Fortunately, no rumors linked him to the masked figure; otherwise, the already precarious situation with the imperial monitors might have backfired.

Then the troubles would be far more severe.