Chapter 260
Chapter 260
“Someone from Ning’an Courtyard just came and took the princess away.”
At the gate of Zhaoyang Courtyard, when Xia Ximo and the others asked to see Zhao Wan, a maid informed them that Princess Consort Wu had already had her taken away.
Yu Lang’s heart sank. “It seems Miss Xia guessed correctly…”
Xia Ximo wasted no words. Recognizing Xiaoxizi among the maids, she called her over to lead the way and immediately headed for Ning’an Courtyard.
Unexpectedly, a contingent of Golden Plume Guards was standing watch at its gate.
Prince Wu had personally selected these elite soldiers from the Golden Plume Army to protect Princess Fenghua.
Normally, they answered only to Zhao Wan. Why they were guarding Ning’an Courtyard at this hour was unclear.
Their commander blocked the group’s way and said sternly, “Her Highness has given orders. The princess needs peace and quiet to recover. No one may enter.”
As the princess’s personal maid, Xiaoxizi could naturally tell that something was amiss.
She accused them, “Aren’t you Golden Plume Guards supposed to take orders directly from the princess? Did she send you here?”
The commander argued, “We learned that the princess was injured and recovering here, so we came to guard her. What have we done wrong?”
“I’m her personal maid. I want to go in and see her.”
“No.” The commander glared, looking utterly uncompromising. “Until the princess wakes, no one may enter.”
“Move aside.”
Xia Ximo suddenly stepped forward. She said only those words, yet the coldness of her gaze and manner made the commander retreat involuntarily.
He quickly recovered, however, and grew more forceful. “And who are you?”
Xia Ximo did not waste her breath. She suddenly raised a hand and swept it aside without so much as touching him.
Before everyone’s eyes, the burly commander was shoved several feet away and nearly lost his footing.
Seeing such extraordinary strength, the Golden Plume Guards beside him drew their sabers.
Yu Lang hurried forward and displayed his badge as Junior Minister of Dali Temple.
“No rash moves, gentlemen. Dali Temple is investigating a case. Surely you don’t intend to interfere?”
Supported by his subordinates, the commander regained his footing. Still shaken but unwilling to lose face, he strode over aggressively. “This is Prince Wu’s Mansion! Whatever case Dali Temple is investigating, you must still show respect for His Highness!”
Unhurried, Yu Lang replied, “It is precisely out of respect for His Highness that we must get to the bottom of this!”
With great gravity, he continued, “I suspect that Lady Du’s disappearance ten years ago was, in fact, a case of murder that has gone unredressed.”
“Furthermore, Prince Wu may not have died of illness. There may be more to his death.”
The Golden Plume Guards’ expressions changed drastically. For a moment, they did not know what to make of it.
Yan Zhengchu, who had been quietly adjusting his compass at the side, approached at this point. “There is Yin-Sha Qi in this courtyard, concealed by something. I suspect there is a Vengeful Ghost inside!”
At the words “Vengeful Ghost,” the guards looked even more alarmed.
While they were still hesitating, Xia Ximo walked straight in without a word. This time, no one dared stop her.
Yu Lang and Yan Zhengchu hurried after her.
Inside, an old tree stood in the center of the courtyard. Its massive trunk would take nearly three people joining arms to encircle.
Stranger still, in the depths of such a bitter winter, it remained thick with leaves and showed no sign of withering. There was something eerie about it.
At the sight of the strange old tree, Yan Zhengchu finally understood. This was what had been concealing the Yin-Sha Qi.
Xia Ximo, meanwhile, headed straight for the main room. As she entered, a cold wind struck her face, and the scattered soul inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern began trembling uneasily.
Wuyou said, “Her Primary Soul should be nearby.”
Xia Ximo looked around, but neither Princess Consort Wu nor the princess was in sight.
“Look elsewhere.”
At her instruction, she and Yu Lang split up to search the neighboring rooms. Those too were empty.
Yu Lang immediately called to the Golden Plume Guards at the gate. “Didn’t you say the princess was recovering in here? Where is she?”
The commander looked equally bewildered and stammered an explanation. “We were ordered to stand guard here. We didn’t… hear anything inside! How… how could she be gone?”
Just then, Yan Zhengchu, who had remained beneath the tree, suddenly said, “I have a theory…”
Everyone turned toward him.
Daoist Yan pointed downward. “They should be underneath.”
The others did not understand, but Yu Lang caught on at once.
He went to the tree and examined the ground carefully. It was densely covered with small stones, which he illuminated with his lantern.
In moments, he spotted a protruding, smooth stone that was clearly different…
He tried turning it left and right. Sure enough, a concealed door appeared in the massive trunk.
“I really did guess correctly…”
Yu Lang and Yan Zhengchu exchanged a look, then walked in without hesitation. Xia Ximo immediately followed.
The Golden Plume Guards, however, stood rooted to the spot, exchanging uncertain looks.
Xiaoxizi glared at them. “And you call yourselves the princess’s guards! How can you be so afraid of dying?”
With that, she followed the others inside.
Stung by her words, the commander felt ashamed. He immediately left four men to guard the entrance and led the rest after them.
Passing through the concealed door, they soon reached a spacious underground chamber.
Yu Lang shone his lantern around and froze.
Wine jars were piled in heaps below. At first glance, it looked like a wine storehouse.
Yet the echoes of their footsteps told them that this place extended far beyond what they could fathom.
“Could these… be the wines brewed by Princess Consort Wu?”
He stepped forward and was about to open a jar when Yan Zhengchu stopped him.
“Wait. Look over there first.”
Yu Lang followed his pointing finger and saw a ghastly white skeleton.
More jars stood beside the bones, though these were slightly smaller.
At the sight, Yu Lang felt his stomach churn.
“No wonder Lord Ren said there was something wrong with the wine. So… it was brewed in surroundings like these…”
Yan Zhengchu said, “The jars beside the skeleton most likely contain ashes…”
Yu Lang’s scalp prickled again. “Ashes?”
Then he immediately made the connection. “From those who died afterward…”
Yan Zhengchu’s expression was grave too. “Keeping their ashes here makes it easier to control their souls.”
Yu Lang’s face darkened. He looked at the skeleton again. “Then those bones should be Lady Du’s.”
Before Daoist Yan could answer, a child’s laughter suddenly rang through the chamber, approaching from a distance, now seeming close, now far away.
“How could there be a child here?”
Yu Lang was about to look toward the laughter when Yan Zhengchu immediately covered his eyes.
“Whatever you do, don’t look. It’s a ghost infant.”