Chapter 134: Exorcism

That night, Jiang Li slept very restlessly.

Ji Heng’s words echoed in her ears like a curse. Ever since she became the Second Miss Jiang and re-entered the Jiang household, she had thought that aside from cold human relationships and the typical sycophancy found in official residences, there was nothing particularly remarkable about the Jiang family. Now, it seemed that the dark secrets within noble and powerful households were far more horrifying than she could have ever imagined. The true background of the Second Miss Jiang was vastly more complicated than she had anticipated.

Furthermore, her current environment had grown even more dangerous. If the Second Miss Jiang truly knew of Ji Shuran's scandalous deeds, or if Ji Shuran believed that she might know, then Ji Shuran's relentless pursuit of her over the years suddenly had a logical explanation. Ji Shuran wanted to secure her own peace of mind; she wanted to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots.

This was a war—it was a battle of life and death, a zero-sum game. And it was not just for Jiang Li herself, but also for the deceased Ye Zhenzhen, the Second Miss Jiang whose soul had wandered to parts unknown, and Jiang Yue'er, who had died an unexplained death.

The news brought by Ji Heng suddenly sparked a different train of thought within her. Regarding Ji Shuran's upcoming plans—her desire to use someone else's knife to kill—Jiang Li might just be able to go along with the current and push the boat. As for who would have the last laugh, it would all depend on whose methods were superior.

Because her mind was occupied with these thoughts into the night, she fell into a deep sleep very late. The next morning, Jiang Li woke up somewhat late. Seeing that it was rare for her to oversleep, Tong'er and Baixue did not wake her.

After Jiang Li finished breakfast, Tong'er walked over and said, "Miss, the Madam went into the palace again today."

"Oh?" Jiang Li neatly gathered up the papers scattered across the desk by the breeze and said, "She certainly is diligent about visiting the palace."

"I heard that Consort Li is feeling unwell and seems to have fallen ill. The Madam hurried into the palace at the crack of dawn, claiming she wanted to check on her older sister." Tong'er said, looking rather disdainful. "Everyone knows she has a sister who is a consort, but usually they never seemed that close making such a huge fuss over nothing."

"You, you," Jiang Li turned sideways and lightly tapped Tong'er on the forehead. "You really are becoming increasingly unrestrained with your tongue. You can say things like this only in front of me; you must never let outsiders hear you."

"This servant knows, this servant has a sense of propriety," Tong'er asked, "The Madam even took Jiang Youyao into the palace with her, but she didn't even bother to give the Miss a heads-up. Isn't this an intentional slight against you?"

"What kind of slight is this? We were never truly family to begin with, nor do we share any blood ties," Jiang Li said indifferently. "If she had actually asked me to go along, that truly would have been nauseating."

Tong'er nodded. "That makes sense. Then we won't pay any attention to them." She then happily went off to help Baixue collect the morning dew.

Jiang Li stood before the desk, tracing a circle with her finger over the neatly stacked papers, her gaze drifting toward the window. Ji Shuran entering the palace at dawn today was by no means a coincidence. Right after visiting Consort Li, Consort Li fell ill. It seemed that the other party was coming with aggressive momentum, leaving her no room to catch her breath, boldly and unhesitatingly making her move.

However, if she were afraid, she wouldn't be Jiang Li. She wanted to see what kind of excuses Ji Shuran and Consort Li would use to respectfully and properly invite that renowned Daoist priest of Northern Yan, Reverend Chongxu, straight into the Jiang residence. She guaranteed she would prepare a welcoming gift for them that they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

"Tong'er, bring the hand warmer. We are going to Concubine Hu's courtyard for a visit." She smiled faintly.

***

Inside a side hall of the palace, only wisps of lingering medicinal fragrance remained, carrying a bitter, astringent edge.

On the couch, a woman half-sat and half-reclined against pillows. Her hair was unstyled, with long strands scattered in slight disorder behind her, which only made her complexion appear even paler and her lips devoid of color.

Overnight, she seemed to have grown much thinner and more haggard. She felt weak all over, and her night had been seemingly plagued by nightmares. She had woken up multiple times, until finally, she barely slept at all, simply sitting in a daze until dawn.

Upon receiving the news, Emperor Hongxiao rushed over to see Consort Li as soon as morning court was dismissed. To his surprise, Consort Li, who was usually all smiles, looked severely ill today, lacking even the strength to get out of bed. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital had all examined her and confirmed that her pulse showed no abnormalities and she had no discernible illness. As for what caused her current condition, the reason remained entirely unknown.

At first, the palace attendants suspected that Consort Li might have been poisoned, but a thorough search of the entire palace, from top to bottom, including Consort Li's food and clothing, revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Yet the sudden and severe onset of Consort Li's illness was so aggressive that even the Empress Dowager was alarmed and came to visit in person. Despite this, Consort Li continued to weaken at an astonishing rate, appearing to be on the verge of death.

Upon hearing the news, members of the Ji family rushed over in a flurry. Madam Chen-Ji took Consort Li's hand and asked, "What on earth is happening? How could something like this happen so suddenly and without any reason?"

"Indeed, when I came to visit Your Ladyship the other day, weren't you doing well? How did things deteriorate into this state in such a short span of time?" Ji Shuran also dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.

At that moment, Consort Li's personal maid, Hongzhu, fell to her knees before Emperor Hongxiao and said, "This servant has something to say, and dares to speak it to Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongxiao said, "Speak."

"Several years ago, Her Ladyship encountered a similar ordeal. At the time, Her Ladyship's life hung by a thread, and it was... Reverend Chongxu who discovered the cause, allowing Her Ladyship to escape the disaster. Now, for no reason at all, Her Ladyship has suffered this catastrophe once again, yet no cause can be found. This servant finds it strikingly similar to that incident from years ago, and dares to implore Your Majesty to summon Reverend Chongxu into the palace to examine Her Ladyship. Could it be that an evil spirit in the palace has latched onto Her Ladyship!"

With that, Hongzhu bowed repeatedly, striking her head heavily against the floor before Emperor Hongxiao. Seeing this, Lǜwū, standing nearby, also dropped to her knees.

Years ago, Consort Li had been targeted by the jealousy and hatred of another imperial concubine, who had somehow acquired Consort Li's birth characters and used black magic—the art of cursing—to cause Consort Li to waste away day by day, nearly costing her her life. It just so happened to be the Empress Dowager's birthday, and Reverend Chongxu had been invited to purify the palace, whereupon he noticed something was amiss. He tracked down the hidden doll. The Empress Dowager was furious that someone dared commit such acts within the palace walls, and the concubine was granted a cup of poisoned wine, with her death officially attributed to illness. Consort Li thus recovered her life and gradually grew better.

At this very moment, Hongzhu had suddenly brought up the events of the past.

Expecting that upon hearing this, Emperor Hongxiao would immediately rejoice at finding a new solution, Hongzhu instead heard no response from him for a long time. For some reason, she grew somewhat uneasy, and cold sweat gradually beaded on her forehead. Just as she hesitated over whether to knock her head a few more times, Emperor Hongxiao's voice came from above. He said, "Reverend Chongxu travels widely as a cloud-drifter, and his whereabouts are currently unknown..."

"Is His Majesty speaking of that exalted master, Reverend Chongxu?" Madam Chen-Ji stood up from the side, looking over, and said, "Three days ago, this concubine heard that an exalted master had arrived at a Daoist temple in Yanjing city to perform rites, and it seemed to be Reverend Chongxu. Spoken thus, Reverend Chongxu might still be in Yanjing city."

"Is that so?" Emperor Hongxiao's voice revealed neither joy nor anger. He beckoned with his hand, and Eunuch Su hurried forward. "Transmit my decree: immediately summon Reverend Chongxu into the palace to examine Consort Li."

Eunuch Su acknowledged the order and departed.

Ji Shuran remained prostrate by the side of the couch, her grip on Consort Li's hand tightening slightly. A flash of imperceptible triumph crossed her eyes, though a moment later, she squeezed out a couple of tears.

Reverend Chongxu arrived at the palace an hour later.

The Daoist priest had reached the age of fifty—the traditional age of knowing one's destiny—and appeared lean, resolute, and possessed a distinct, otherworldly air of righteous character. He carried a peach-wood sword on his back, wore a horsetail whisk hanging from his arm, and was dressed in standard Daoist robes and cloth shoes. Upon entering the palace and greeting Emperor Hongxiao, his manner was neither servile nor overbearing.

"Years have passed since our parting, yet the Reverend remains unchanged." Emperor Hongxiao's brow relaxed.

"This poor Daoist is honored to be remembered by Your Majesty," Reverend Chongxu replied. "I heard Your Majesty summon me because Consort Li is afflicted?"

"Precisely," Emperor Hongxiao said. "The imperial physicians in the palace are at their wits' end and cannot find the cause. Consort Li's maid implored me to seek you out to try your methods, and it just so happened that I heard you were still in Yanjing. Therefore, I wished to bring you into the palace to examine Consort Li."

Emperor Hongxiao found it difficult to state the matter too explicitly. Since ancient times, any foolish ruler would believe in ghosts and deities, seeking out the divine and asking of spirits. Naturally, Emperor Hongxiao had no desire to act as a foolish ruler and provide gossip fodder for others. Yet with Consort Li in her current state, he truly had no alternative. Moreover, Reverend Chongxu's character was not arrogant; he lived under an assumed name and mostly traveled the world in ascetic cultivation. Just as when he discovered someone using cursed effigies against Consort Li years ago, the matter had not been leaked to outsiders.

This showed he was someone who could be trusted.

***

Reverend Chongxu bowed to Emperor Hongxiao with cupped hands and said, "Since that is the case, this poor Daoist will first examine Consort Li."

Hongzhu and Lǜwū hastily ushered Reverend Chongxu inside.

Consort Li was supported into a sitting position on the soft couch, her expression pale, as if even speaking a single word required a great deal of effort. She looked at Reverend Chongxu and said, "I must trouble the Reverend to make this personal trip..."

Reverend Chongxu waved his hand. "Consort Li exaggerates. Being able to share burdens for His Majesty is this poor Daoist's good fortune." Having said this, his brow furrowed as he stared into the space around Consort Li, as if seeing something else entirely. Keeping his gaze fixed, he slowly drew a small bell from his bundle.

Upon closer inspection, it was a palm-sized small drum, its circumference adorned with a circle of red bells. Holding the bell in one hand, he slowly shook it. Immediately afterward, he shook it faster and faster, the sound of the bells transforming from gentle to a rapid succession, crisp to the point of being grating.

Consort Li suddenly bent forward and coughed violently, as if a breath blocked in her chest had been cleared. She took the handkerchief from Hongzhu's hand to wipe the corner of her mouth, appearing as though she had coughed out something invisible.

This display frightened the female attendants present. Noble Consort Liu patted her chest and said, "Oh my, that scared me to death! What on earth is that thing?"

Reverend Chongxu did not answer. Instead, he turned around, walked quickly to a table in the hall, and pulled out yellow paper talismans from his bundle once more. He grabbed a handful of cinnabar, poured it onto the table, and pulled out a gourd-shaped vessel, taking a fierce gulp from it before spitting the liquor out entirely onto the cinnabar. A strong scent of alcohol instantly filled the hall; whatever was inside the gourd must have been an unknown, potent liquor.

The strong liquor mixed with the cinnabar, slowly melting into a deep crimson. Reverend Chongxu then produced a wooden brush, saturated it fully with the cinnabar liquor, and raised it to write a series of obscure talismanic characters across the yellow paper.

Finished, he laid the paper flat to dry, then folded it in a few quick motions into a triangular paper charm. Handing it to Consort Li, he instructed, "Your Ladyship must have someone thread this talisman with red string and keep it carefully stored. After a month, all will naturally be well."

His series of actions could be described as swift, decisive, and clear-cut, naturally compelling people to believe that this man possessed genuine abilities and was no charlatan. The Empress Dowager asked, "This mourning lady does not understand how Consort Li came to be in this state. From the Reverend's actions just now, was someone in the palace using black magic against her?"

Reverend Chongxu turned back and said, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, Consort Li's affliction is not the result of anyone using curses within the palace. This matter has nothing to do with outsiders; rather, Consort Li has been invaded by evil Qi. This evil Qi is difficult to control and was on the verge of draining Consort Li's vital essence dry. However, this poor Daoist has just exorcised the evil for Her Ladyship and suppressed it with a talisman, so there will be no further problems moving forward."

"Evil Qi invasion?" Noble Consort Liu stepped back a pace, saying in a panic, "What do you mean by that? Could there be evil Qi in this palace? Daoist priest, do not speak nonsense."

The Empress Dowager interrupted her. "You must not be disrespectful to the Reverend." She looked at Reverend Chongxu, her tone significantly more courteous and gentle than Noble Consort Liu's. "Reverend, what is the meaning of this?"

"Please rest assured, Empress Dowager, this evil Qi did not breed within the palace. His Majesty is the Sovereign of Nine-Five, protected by the true dragon's mandate, rendering him immune to evil toxins. If malevolent forces truly existed within the palace, they would only slowly dissipate on their own and could never become a major climate."

Hearing him say this, Noble Consort Liu finally let out a sigh of relief. Immediately afterward, recalling something else, she asked, "Then where did Consort Li pick up this evil Qi? She hasn't even left the palace."

"May I ask..." Reverend Chongxu inquired, "Has Consort Li met anyone from outside the palace these past few days?"

There were no evil spirits in the palace; the evil spirits came from outside. Consort Li could not leave the palace, and none of her attendants had left either. The only possibility was that she had met someone.

Consort Li stared blankly at Reverend Chongxu, her voice weak. "I have met..." She said to Emperor Hongxiao, "Prior to this, Your concubine met my younger sister, Shuran."

Ji Shuran looked startled for a fraction of a second, but quickly dropped to her knees, saying, "This concubine indeed met Consort Li the other day. At that time, we simply chatted about daily domestic matters and I returned home after staying half a day. This concubine... this concubine does not know how this happened. This concubine harbors no intention whatsoever of harming Her Ladyship; I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"

Her anxious and bewildered appearance did not seem feigned. Consort Li also struggled to straighten her torso and said, "This concubine can vouch for my younger sister; she would never plot to harm me."

"Yes, yes, yes," Madam Chen-Ji, as if only just snapping back to reality, also dropped to her knees and chimed in, "Consort Li and the Madam are blood sisters and have always been on affectionate terms; how could she ever harm anyone? Your Majesty must investigate this thoroughly!"

Emperor Hongxiao frowned. "I haven't said anything yet; why are you all rushing to kneel?" He asked, "Reverend Chongxu, from what you see, is there any problem?"

Reverend Chongxu stared straight at Ji Shuran.

His gaze was piercing, resembling a sharp sword. Ji Shuran felt somewhat frightened under his scrutiny and could not help retreating a step. The next moment, Reverend Chongxu sighed, walked closer to Ji Shuran, and said, "This Madam is also entangled by evil Qi. Outwardly she appears healthier than Consort Li, but in reality, the opposite is true—the evil Qi has already entered her body. If she remains like this any longer, I fear her life will be in jeopardy."

"What?" As soon as these words fell, Ji Shuran was greatly startled, asking in panic, "Will the Reverend please speak plainly?"

"I know not from where this Madam attracted such evil Qi. Judging by the signs, it is only possible to be invaded this deeply by living under the same roof with malevolent entities day in and day out. Has anything unusual occurred in the Madam's residence?"

Ji Shuran shook her head. "Never."

"Reverend," Consort Li propped herself up and said, "Do you mean to say that my younger sister is also tainted with evil Qi? And that it was brought from her residence?"

"Nine times out of ten." Reverend Chongxu stroked his long beard and said, "Think carefully once more: has truly nothing unusual happened in the residence? Or perhaps... has there been an unusual person?"

Ji Shuran thought carefully again. Not knowing what she thought of, her expression suddenly turned strange. This look fell into the eyes of everyone present, prompting Madam Chen-Ji to prompt, "Shuran, did you think of something?"

Ji Shuran stammered, "No... nothing." She acted as though it were unspeakable, and anyone with eyes could tell she was rather reluctant to speak of it.

Noble Consort Liu had seen enough of the spectacle. Several of her own nieces had also been sent into the palace, but unfortunately, Emperor Hongxiao favored only Consort Li, rendering her nieces completely useless. Today, she had originally come rushing over under the assumption that Consort Li was about to die, only to find it was a false alarm and of no practical benefit. Reflecting further, she realized that even the current Empress could not compare to Consort Li's favor and was essentially a mere figurehead. Since Consort Li had survived this calamity, she would likely continue to act high and mighty in the palace for some time to come.

Noble Consort Liu scoffed, "Who knows what they're hiding and concealing." Letting out a huff from her nose, she offered perfunctory greetings to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Hongxiao before retreating to her own sleeping quarters first. Noble Consort Liu had always been arrogant and domineering, sharing a temperament identical to that of Princess Yongning, hence no one dared to voice complaints against her actions.

After Noble Consort Liu left, Consort Li also urged Ji Shuran, "Shuran, what unspeakable hardship do you harbor? Just now, you clearly had something to say yet refused to speak. His Majesty is right here; whatever the matter is, His Majesty will uphold justice for you."

Ji Shuran thought for a moment, firmly shook her head, and said, "Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your concern, but truly nothing special has occurred in this concubine's household. As for the evil Qi, I know not whence it came. To speak of coexisting under the same roof as evil entities fills me with boundless terror, and I know not where the error lies."

"If it is inconvenient for the Madam to speak plainly," Reverend Chongxu mused, "you may lead this poor Daoist to your residence. Once this poor Daoist visits the Madam's estate, I will naturally know where the problem lies."

"This..." Ji Shuran paused, but Consort Li had already taken over the conversation for her. Consort Li said, "If the Reverend visits the Jiang residence and spots that malevolent entity, he can naturally assist in expelling it. If nothing is found, it can simply be regarded as a trip out—either way, it is a happy resolution for all. Your Majesty..." She looked gracefully toward Emperor Hongxiao. "May we grant permission?"

"Granted." Emperor Hongxiao told Reverend Chongxu, "Reverend, go to the Jiang family and inspect Madame Jiang's residence to see precisely where the problem lies."

Reverend Chongxu accepted the command, and Ji Shuran hastily expressed her gratitude.

"This concubine will first return to the estate today to clarify this matter clearly with my husband, and tomorrow summon everyone in the household to respectfully welcome the Reverend at the manor, lest we miss or omit that malevolent entity," Ji Shuran said.

"Very well." Reverend Chongxu nodded.

***

The matter was thus settled. Half an incense stick later, Consort Li's complexion indeed appeared much better than before, and she possessed somewhat more spirit. Everyone showered praise upon Reverend Chongxu, calling him a divine being. Although the Empress Dowager was a devout Buddhist, she still treated a Daoist master of Reverend Chongxu's caliber with proper courtesy. After Reverend Chongxu handled everything concerning Consort Li, he proceeded to the Cining Palace to pray and perform purification as instructed by the Empress Dowager.

Ji Shuran and Madam Chen-Ji also took their leave. Because she needed to discuss this matter with Jiang Yuanbo, Ji Shuran was completely absent-minded as she left, requiring Madam Chen-Ji to support her into the carriage.

Once they exited the palace and sat inside the carriage, seeing that there were no outsiders left, Ji Shuran swept away her previous panicked expression. She took a cup of tea handed to her by a maid, took a sip, and said, "It is done."

"You and Eldest Sister didn't even consult me beforehand when doing this," Madam Chen-Ji complained. "Fortunately, I guessed it, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to accompany you in playing out this act."

"The event occurred so suddenly, how could I find the time to discuss it with you?" Ji Shuran shook her head. "I was driven to desperation by Jiang Li. I felt that if I didn't eliminate her quickly, some major disaster would surely happen. Since she made the first move, I will make the fifteenth; don't blame me for being ruthless."

"This time, no loose ends should be left behind," Madam Chen-Ji added. "Eldest Sister's handling of matters is always meticulous."

The two fell silent for a moment before Madam Chen-Ji remarked, "I noticed today that His Majesty still cares quite a bit for Eldest Sister."

"True," Ji Shuran replied. "When we arrived, we heard the palace servants say that right now, the most favored person in the entire imperial palace is still Eldest Sister. With her methods and scheming nature, consolidating her position is not difficult."

"But she has no son." Madam Chen-Ji's single sentence plunged Ji Shuran into silence as well.

Not having a son, in this day and age, was a fatal flaw for a woman in an ordinary household, let alone a place like the imperial palace. Having no son meant lacking a crucial bargaining chip, and for herself, it added an extra layer of danger.

"Father is already eyeing suitable daughters from other distant branches of the Ji family," Madam Chen-Ji said. "If Eldest Sister still fails to produce a son, Father may fear this favor won't last and will have to send a few more daughters into the palace."

Ji Shuran furrowed her brow. "Eldest Sister has sacrificed so much; will these Ji family women openly carve up the fruits of her labor just like that? Will Eldest Sister be willing to accept this?"

"And if she's unwilling, what can she do?" Madam Chen-Ji sighed. "As long as she is a daughter of the Ji family, she must consider the greater picture. You and I are no different."

Ji Shuran fell silent once more.

Inside the palace, the imperial physicians had examined Consort Li and prescribed several restorative herbal formulas. Hongzhu led the attendants off to brew the medicine, while Emperor Hongxiao remained in the side hall, seated by the edge of Consort Li's couch.

"Your Majesty pities this concubine, issuing a decree to summon Reverend Chongxu to examine me and saving my life once again. I am endlessly grateful," Consort Li said.

Due to her exhaustion, she wore no makeup, yet this gave her a pure, unadorned, and tranquil appearance. Emperor Hongxiao comforted her, saying, "You are my woman; naturally, I cannot allow anything to happen to you."

Consort Li leaned her head against Emperor Hongxiao's shoulder, speaking softly, "This concubine understands. Right now, the entire country is prohibited from indulging heavily in ghosts and spirits. For my sake, Your Majesty risked incurring gossip from others... This life of mine is already fulfilled. Even if I were to die at this very moment, I would have no regrets."

"What foolish talk," Emperor Hongxiao chuckled, his tone brimming with indulgence. Leaning against him, Consort Li could hear his gentle words, yet she could not see the coldness in his eyes.

There was not a shred of genuine warmth.

***

When Ji Shuran returned to the Jiang residence, she did not return alone; Madam Chen-Ji had accompanied her back. When Tong'er reported this news to Jiang Li, Jiang Li was sitting at her desk reading a book—though she wasn't truly absorbing the words, her mind completely filled with the horrifying secrets Ji Heng had revealed yesterday, as well as her conversation with Concubine Hu during the daytime.

"I heard that when the Madam returned, her legs couldn't even steady her, and she had to be supported down by Madam Chen-Ji," Baixue said. "How did she become so weak? Could it be she received a beating in the palace?"

"How is that possible? Consort Li is her eldest sister. If she were beaten in the palace, it would only mean one thing," Tong'er said.

"What thing?" Baixue asked curiously.

Tong'er replied swiftly, "Consort Li has fallen out of favor, of course!"

With a soft chuckle, Tong'er couldn't help laughing. Hearing this, Jiang Li also found it amusing and scolded, "Where did you learn such improper talk? You dare say anything."

Tong'er shot a triumphant glance and added, "Putting that aside, what on earth did the Madam go into the palace for, turning herself into this state? Could she be playing a bitter-part trick to win the Master's pity?"

Jiang Li's gaze deepened. "What else could it be? Putting on a show."

Ji Shuran's movements were even faster than she had anticipated, so fast that even Jiang Li found it somewhat incomprehensible. She didn't know whether Ji Shuran was truly so terrified of her that she urgently wanted to get rid of her, or if that helpful Consort Li in the palace naturally possessed such a prompt and relentless temperament, leaving no breathing room and pressing forward step-by-step to drive someone to their death.

Only this time, it remained to be seen who would actually die.

"Reverend Chongxu is coming to the residence?" On the other side, Jiang Yuanbo, having listened to the whole story, froze, then furrowed his brow. "Absurd! What evil spirits! How could there be evil spirits in our estate!"

Jiang Yuanbo was not a man who deeply believed in ghosts and deities, so he instinctively rejected what Ji Shuran had said. Seeing this, Madam Chen-Ji interjected, "Lord Jiang, asking Reverend Chongxu to come to the estate to perform an exorcism—these words were spoken personally by the Emperor. If you are dissatisfied with the Emperor's decision, why not enter the palace yourself and hash it out clearly with the Emperor? Losing your temper at Shuran like this is hardly fair."

Ji Shuran simply wrung her handkerchief anxiously.

Jiang Yuanbo felt a bellyful of resentment. Among Ji Shuran's sisters, he actually disliked this Madam Chen-Ji the most; she was far too overbearing and frequently lacked the humility to show deference. Back when Ji Shuran had first married into the family, Madam Chen-Ji had even relied on her status as Ji Shuran's sister to point fingers at the internal affairs of the Jiang household. Now, the more successful Ji Yanlin's official career became, the stronger Madam Chen-Ji acted as though her backing grew, making her increasingly uninhibited.

"Eldest Brother is merely feeling puzzled," Jiang Yuanping stepped in with a smiling face to smooth things over. He added, "That is to say, Reverend Chongxu coming to the estate to perform an exorcism is already the Emperor's decree, yes?"

"Precisely," Madam Chen-Ji said with an unkind tone. "This is not just for the Jiang family; Consort Li in the palace was almost robbed of her life by the evil spirits originating from your honored residence. That is a imperial consort! If Consort Li were to suffer the slightest mishap, Lord Jiang, you wouldn't be able to wash your hands of it either. So, in a way, this is also seeking justice for Consort Li."

Jiang Yuanbo listened with a fire burning in his belly—just a woman, yet spoken of as if she were some extraordinary figure. Moreover, she hadn't even given birth to a dragon son; who knew how many more years she would remain favored, and she might well be cast into the cold palace in a few days. Externally, however, a smile still surfaced on his face. "Since it is an imperial decree, this subject accepts the decree."

His words dripped with sarcasm. It was not for the sake of Consort Li, but purely because it was an imperial decree—something he had no choice but to obey!