Chapter 123: Framing

Jiang Lan nodded, "While this may seem inexplicable, there is a trail to follow; it is not as mystical as all that. True masters exist, but the 'Grand Duke' (Tai Sui) is nowhere to be found, and I certainly don't have the funds to curry favor with the Buddha."

Jiang Lan and Kong Kong were putting on a show, their verbal sparring as intricate as the movements of Tai Chi.

Seeing that the moment was ripe, Jiang Lan signaled with his eyes. Instantly, Kong Kong shifted from his gentle demeanor to one of feigned alarm and mournful lament, "Amitabha! The Heir's brow is not only shrouded in dark energy; upon closer inspection, there is a hint of red within that black—this is clearly a sign of a blood-curse. It looks as if..."

"As if what?" A familiar voice suddenly echoed from outside.

Jiang Lan and the others looked toward the courtyard. There stood Xue Mingrui, dressed in a moon-white, cross-collared robe. One could recognize the person even before hearing his voice.

Jiang Lan rinsed a fresh cup and poured a cup of tea himself. Xue Mingrui took it while standing, saying, "That's better."

"Cousin, aren't you busy with matters concerning Aunt? How do you have the time to come here?"

Eunuch Hai arranged a new seat, and Xue Mingrui flipped his robes to sit, placing the cup back on the stone table.

"What? You’ve been bullied to the brink of death and didn't even think to send for your second brother?"

Jiang Lan pursed his lips, smiling silently. This matter had arisen so suddenly that he hadn't even found his own footing yet. If he had hurriedly summoned him, it would have been for naught, adding another person to the fray for no reason.

Moreover, with Rong Mu still here, and his true intentions yet to be uncovered, Jiang Lan really didn't want to drag him into this. But since he was already here, there was no getting rid of him.

"I’ve been staying at the Yong'an Earl's Mansion for the past few days, only returning home near noon today. The moment I arrived, I heard Father talking about your situation, and he mentioned that the Empress was furious. My brother also ran into some trouble in Huainan Circuit. Our uncle received an imperial decree yesterday to leave the city; going by the timing, he should have reached Yangzhou by now. Surely he can provide some relief for your brother's urgent needs."

"Uncle?" Jiang Lan couldn't help but be curious about which uncle could be so capable.

"It’s Uncle Gu." At this mention, Xue Mingrui grew animated, sharing his childhood impressions of Gu Ruo.

From their conversation, Jiang Lan could tell that Xue Mingrui was quite close to Gu Ruo, who was only a few years his senior. However, if he left the city yesterday, then who exactly was it that he had seen this morning?

Xue Mingrui intentionally kept the conversation with Jiang Lan heated, leaving Kong Kong, Eunuch Hai, and the others out in the cold.

"Ahem!" Kong Kong coughed feignedly, looking toward Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan gave a "stay calm" look. Sure enough, Eunuch Hai was the first to lose his patience.

"What was it that the Master was saying just now?"

Xue Mingrui turned his head to glare at Eunuch Hai, who was standing behind them. "I didn't realize the rules in the palace had become so lax these days."

Eunuch Hai smiled, "The Second Master of the Xue family may not be aware, but the palace is waiting for a report. If something has truly been detected, shouldn't we resolve this curse on the Heir?"

Xue Mingrui let out a cold snort. A eunuch who showed so little respect clearly wasn't someone sent by the Empress Dowager.

Turning to Master Kong Kong, Xue Mingrui asked directly, "I invite the Master to enlighten us. What exactly does my cousin's condition look like to you?"

Hearing the intent in Xue Mingrui’s words, Jiang Lan chuckled, patted Xue Mingrui on the shoulder, and whispered something into his ear.

Jiang Lan looked at Kong Kong opposite him and asked, "Master, please tell us, what does it look like?"

"It looks as if he has been afflicted by a dark ritual."

The cup in Jiang Lan's hand shattered into several pieces. He looked at Kong Kong in astonishment and said, "Master, please do not speak nonsense. Since the founding of this dynasty, the use of witchcraft has been strictly prohibited. Offenders, regardless of status or position, are subject to at least fifty lashes—which is enough to cost a man half his life."

"It is indeed a dark ritual."

Xue Mingrui looked at Kong Kong. Thinking back on the events of the past few days, his cousin's streak of misfortune did seem inexplicable. Could someone truly be working against him?

"Who is responsible? And is there any way to break it?" Xue Mingrui asked.

Kong Kong shook his head, "This poor monk does not know. From the physiognomy alone, this is all that can be discerned."

"Master, why not walk around and take a closer look?" Eunuch Hai quickly interjected.

Hearing Kong Kong's suggestion, Xue Mingrui agreed that looking further might be necessary to find a cure.

Jiang Lan followed behind, his eyes flicking occasionally toward the eunuchs. Rong Mu stayed within the group, keeping his head low and stealing glances at various corners from time to time.

"This is the bedroom," the old steward said, leading the way.

Jiang Lan lagged behind a few steps, not out of curiosity to wander, but to observe everyone's movements carefully.

Xue Mingrui kept his gaze fixed on Eunuch Hai. Whenever the eunuch looked around, Xue Mingrui would take a step forward to block his line of sight.

The old steward focused entirely on accompanying Kong Kong, watching every move with meticulous care, terrified that this old monk would frame him.

The other eunuchs remained steady, but for Rong Mu, who kept his head down while his eyes darted everywhere, no one else seemed suspicious.

However, the moment Jiang Lan looked away, one of the eunuchs bumped into a box on a table. A strange white cloth doll tumbled out, pierced all over with silver needles.

"Ah!" Eunuch Hai cried out in alarm. He swiftly picked up the doll and turned pale with fright upon seeing the yellow talisman attached to it. He shouted to Deputy General Yuan outside, "Quickly, seize the Heir!"

"Eunuch Hai, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Lan asked.

Xue Mingrui stepped over to block Deputy General Yuan, shielding Jiang Lan behind him. "Indeed, Eunuch Hai, you carry yourself with quite the air of authority. Whose decree are you acting under? If this isn't made clear today, we shall go before the Empress to argue the matter."

Eunuch Hai was unafraid, smiling, "I fear that even before the Empress, there will be no room for sophistry. This is a capital crime of treason!"

Eunuch Hai raised the witchcraft doll. Jiang Lan felt a sudden dizziness, his vision blurring.

He surreptitiously pinched his own thumb-web to steady his mind, though his headache grew worse.

Jiang Lan stared at the doll in Eunuch Hai's hand, his mind filled with doubts.

"Eunuch Hai, how can you be so certain that this doll was made to resemble His Majesty?" Jiang Lan asked.

"It bears His Majesty's date and time of birth! If not to harm the Emperor, then who? The Heir should not try to pass this off by inventing some person who shares the same birthday as the Emperor and also happens to bear a deep grudge against you!"

Jiang Lan chuckled, "Throughout the dynasties, the birth dates of emperors are kept hidden. Even a noble like me doesn't know them. How is it that you know? And how can you tell at a glance that this doll is meant to harm the Emperor?"

Xue Mingrui tugged at Jiang Lan's sleeve and whispered, "If it were any other emperor, perhaps, but when the current Sage was born, there was a great fire in the palace and a raid by rebel troops, so it became common knowledge."

Jiang Lan sighed, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I was tugging at your sleeve the whole time! You were the one ignoring me."

"Forget it, I'll think of another way."

Jiang Lan looked at the Master and the anxious old steward. "Just a moment ago, the Master said I had been afflicted by a dark ritual, and now suddenly, we are talking about the Emperor's birth date. This is absurd! There is definitely something strange about today's events; someone has set a trap."