Chapter 256
Chapter 256
Ning’an Courtyard, Prince Wu’s Mansion.
An older serving woman hurried inside and began reporting the day’s events at the estate to Princess Consort Wu, Lady Yang.
Behind the swaying gauze curtains, Lady Yang reclined on her couch, listening closely with her eyes shut. Only upon hearing about the bolting horse did she open them to ask a question.
“Was the princess hurt?”
“No. Apart from a little fright, she escaped without a scratch.”
Lady Yang’s expression eased somewhat, but she asked, “Who was the woman competing against her?”
“The late General Xia’s daughter.”
Lady Yang nodded slightly, understanding at once.
“I see.”
The older woman raised her head to study the princess consort’s expression. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “There is… something rather strange about this Miss Xia as well…”
“Tell me.”
“The princess arranged for her to stay in Zhenxia Courtyard…”
Lady Yang smiled. She understood her daughter’s reason for doing so. It must have something to do with the Young Marquis of the Ren Family.
She made no reply, and the older woman continued, “After spending one night there, Miss Xia began asking about what happened to Lady Du ten years ago…”
Lady Yang’s smile slowly froze. “Oh? What does she know?”
The older woman shook her head. “At present, she doesn’t seem to know much. But she says… she intends to get to the bottom of it.”
“Let her investigate.”
Lady Yang spoke lightly, lifting the ginseng tea from the table and taking a small sip.
But the older woman said, “Your Highness must not forget that the Young Marquis of the Ren Family is traveling with her.”
“He… now serves as vice minister in the Ministry of Justice. He has solved quite a few cases recently, most of them old ones.”
Lady Yang gave a derisive chuckle. Staring at a fixed point, she said unhurriedly, “Don’t worry. Once he becomes the princess’s husband, everything will be easy to settle…”
*
To have Princess Fenghua’s little chestnut treated, the party remained at the estate outside the city until evening before setting out for the mansion.
During the journey, Xia Ximo obtained a general account of the events from Steward Sun.
Listening alongside her, Yan Zhengchu felt the pieces fall into place.
“No wonder His Highness never had a son in all those years. So… such strange things were happening in the mansion?”
He asked further, “If rumors of a haunting kept circulating, did His Highness never consider having an occultist take a look?”
Steward Sun glanced at him hesitantly. “Please forgive me for saying something unpleasant, Daoist Master, but if His Highness were still alive, you might not even have had the chance to enter the mansion.”
Yan Zhengchu was not annoyed. He merely asked, “Do you mean His Highness had some grievance against Daoists?”
Steward Sun answered truthfully, “Not exactly a grievance. It’s just that most of those people out there have no real abilities. They only want to swindle people out of money.”
“…”
Now Daoist Yan did feel a twinge of displeasure. He was about to explain himself when Ren Fengjue volunteered, “He is a Daoist Master from Mount Yunhe, quite beyond comparison with those wandering occultists.”
Steward Sun trusted him. After nodding, he offered a compliment as well.
“I have heard of Mount Yunhe’s reputation. It’s a pity it’s so far away.”
Appeased, Yan Zhengchu let the matter go.
“To be frank, when I first arrived at the mansion yesterday, I saw that the yin qi was very dense. That was why I asked whether anything strange had happened there.”
Steward Sun sighed. “I remember you asking, Daoist Master. But so many years have passed since those events. There really is… no way to look into them now.”
“Besides, His Highness has already passed away…”
His meaning was clear. They had never intended to concern themselves with the matter.
Xia Ximo, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke. “As long as the wronged souls of the dead have not had their grievances resolved and been reborn, this matter is not over.”
For a moment, Steward Sun did not know how to answer. He could only give another helpless sigh.
He cupped his hands. “The princess has instructed this old servant to assist you with the investigation. If you need anything, miss, you need only ask.”
Xia Ximo nodded with a quiet acknowledgment.
They had only just alighted upon reaching the mansion when an older serving woman came forward and said something to the princess.
Zhao Wan nodded, then walked over to Ren Fengjue.
“Mother heard that you’re here and hopes you’ll stay with us for a few days. Once she’s feeling a little stronger, she’d like to entertain you herself.”
Ren Fengjue immediately replied, “As her juniors, how could we dare trouble Her Highness?”
“Mother is very fond of you,” Zhao Wan said. “Besides, when she lived in the capital, she was always close to the Marquise. Now that you’ve come to Liangzhou, you really must see her.”
Ren Fengjue could hardly refuse. “Mother told me Her Highness has been ill for a long time. She’s consulted many renowned physicians, yet her condition hasn’t improved. Do you know exactly what illness she has?”
Zhao Wan frowned slightly. “Come to think of it, Mother has been ill for ten years now…”
Ten years again.
Ren Fengjue immediately caught the significance of the timing. “Was that before Concubine Du disappeared, or afterward?”
Zhao Wan was certain. “Before. Concubine Du wasn’t even pregnant yet. Mother fell ill very suddenly, without any warning signs beforehand.”
She remembered having only recently returned from the capital then. She had kept feeling that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the mansion and had never slept soundly at night.
Because she was still young, she had been living in her mother’s Ning’an Courtyard.
One night, a commotion woke her, with noises coming from her mother’s bedchamber.
When she rushed over, her mother was lying on the floor, convulsing all over. Several maids were terrified.
Only after the senior serving woman arrived did they manage to carry her mother back to bed together.
From then on, she had been partially paralyzed from the waist down and could no longer walk freely…
Sensing something strange about it, Ren Fengjue quickly asked, “They’ve never found the cause?”
Zhao Wan shook her head. “No.”
She added, “This strange illness struck Mother without warning. Since then, her lower limbs have been weak and paralyzed, and she can’t go anywhere. The physicians can only prescribe medicine to promote blood circulation. It treats the symptoms, but not the cause.”
After considering this, Ren Fengjue asked another question. “What does Her Highness think of the rumors that the mansion is haunted?”
“Mother doesn’t concern herself with such things,” Zhao Wan said. “She’s an invalid who scarcely ever leaves her rooms. Even if she hears a few rumors, there’s nothing she can do about them.”
Ren Fengjue understood. He could only say politely, “Then when Her Highness is feeling stronger, I’ll pay my respects.”
After their return, Steward Sun saw to everyone’s dinner. Zhao Wan, however, went alone to Ning’an Courtyard to dine with the princess consort.
It was a habit she had maintained for years.
After the meal, she volunteered an account of the day’s events at the estate, including the horse bolting during her contest with Xia Ximo and the danger at the “cliff.” She related every detail.
She said, “Xia Ximo may be icy and show me no respect, but she really does have some ability.”
“I just don’t understand why she’s so determined to investigate Concubine Du’s case.”
“And she frightened me by saying she’d seen Concubine Du’s ghost.”
At that, the corner of Lady Yang’s mouth twitched slightly, but she said nothing.
Zhao Wan was beginning to waver. She asked, “Mother, is the mansion really… haunted?”
“Silly child,” Lady Yang replied. “Do you believe everything people tell you? This Xia girl insists on investigating a case in our household. Do you really think she’s doing it to right a wrong? Don’t let people fool you so easily.”
At her mother’s words, Zhao Wan nodded at once. “Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t fall for her tricks.”