Page 46

Song Qi asked, "What happened? What on earth happened?"

Xie Jin put the letter back and sealed it. "Nothing. Mother and Lan Tang went out with the others. There's no one at home, so she told me not to come back."

"..."

In the back courtyard of the Xie Residence, Shen Lantang finished the last test. With everything a success, she finally relaxed and looked at the man beside her.

"Have you learned it?"

The man bowed his head. "I have, my lady."

"Good. Show me the whole thing once more."

When he heard that every test had succeeded, Xie Heng came to inspect the results himself and confirmed that each demonstration went smoothly.

The group's secretive activity in the courtyard had Xie Ying and the others craning their necks to look, but none of them dared ask what was going on.

A heavy rain had fallen on Zhaojing two days earlier. It had poured like a waterfall, flooding every street and alley and sending passersby hurrying for shelter. Once it stopped, the air grew a little fresher.

On the third morning after the rain, a middle-aged man pushed open his door in the pale dawn light and let out a great yawn beneath a sky washed the blue of silk.

"Huh?"

He stared in surprise at a sheet of white paper pasted to his wall.

"What's this?" He pulled it down and looked at it. The next moment, his face went pale with shock.

--

"Make way! Move!"

By then it was broad daylight. A band of soldiers rushed in and drove back the onlookers on either side.

"Commander!" A young soldier hurried forward with a sheet of paper. Zhang Yulin snatched it from him, opened it, and narrowed his eyes.

Bold black characters stood out on the white paper:

Xuanxin is a charlatan who uses cheap tricks to deceive the world, callously sacrifices lives to swindle people out of their money. Shameless!

The back of the paper was still damp from having been posted before dawn.

"How far have these spread?"

"They're all over the streets and alleys. There's one every few houses."

"What nerve."

Zhang Yulin glanced at the man beside him. The man waved his hands frantically. "It had nothing to do with me! It was on my wall when I woke up. Other houses have them too. I just happened to see it!"

Zhang Yulin looked away and barked, "Daoist Xuanxin was personally granted the title of Perfected One by His Majesty. Criminals are slandering him in the streets. This is no small matter. First and Second Squads, tear down every sheet you find. The rest of you, follow me!"

He turned and left with a squad. All along the way, he could still hear people whispering nearby.

"It says Perfected One Xuanxin is a wandering charlatan. Is that true?"

"When it says he sacrifices lives, does it mean the Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman?"

"The Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman is a fraud? Oh no! I boiled one up for my daughter to drink last night!"

"..."

In the great hall, the middle-aged man in bright yellow court robes sat high above the officials. His gaze passed over the slightly damp paper, his expression impossible to read.

The Fourth Prince was the first to step forward.

"Father, whoever posted this has hidden his identity and spread malicious rumors. Such conduct is the work of a scoundrel. His words cannot be trusted. Please do not let him turn you against Perfected One Xuanxin."

Of Emperor Shunde's three grown sons, the Fourth Prince was the youngest and had the weakest footing at court. He had once held only a nominal post, but since introducing Xuanxin, he had gained the emperor's favor and been entrusted with substantial duties. For a time, the balance of power had begun to look like a three-way contest.

"Your Majesty."

As soon as the Fourth Prince finished, a voice rose from among the officials. Xie Heng stepped out of their ranks.

Xie Heng had grown up with the emperor, and their bond ran deep. His position at court was secure, and he was among its most influential voices. The Fourth Prince's heart tightened at the sight of him stepping forward.

Xie Heng bowed his head. "Commander Zhang bears responsibility for Zhaojing's security, yet someone covered the city with seditious messages overnight. He should be punished for this failure."

The Fourth Prince had not expected Xie Heng to take that angle and fell silent. Zhang Yulin immediately bowed his head to the floor. "I failed in my duty. I accept whatever punishment Your Majesty sees fit!"

"Father."

The Crown Prince stepped out of the ranks. "The commander neglected his duty and must be punished. Great Jing law is clear on that. But that is a separate matter. These little white sheets are now everywhere in Zhaojing, and the people are alarmed. How are we to resolve that?"

At this, Xie Heng stood aside as though he wanted no part in the discussion and said nothing more.

"Father." Another prince stepped forward. This time, it was the First Prince.

"My view is simple. As Fourth Brother said, whoever did this concealed his identity. No honorable man would act that way, and his accusations cannot be trusted."

His Majesty was growing older, and the three princes at court were all old enough to contend for power. The First Prince and the Crown Prince, in particular, were bitter rivals. Yet now the First Prince had sided with the Fourth Prince for the first time. Had the balance at court changed?

While the officials pondered this, the First Prince continued.

"Unless the man dares show his face and confront Daoist Xuanxin in person!"

He turned to the Fourth Prince. "Fourth Brother, would Daoist Xuanxin dare?"

The Fourth Prince's face darkened. So this was the trap.

The Fourth Prince answered righteously, "Why wouldn't he? The Perfected One's mastery of Daoist arts is profound. Would he fear some petty scoundrel? But if we let that man disregard the law and act as he pleases, what becomes of Great Jing's laws? What becomes of the court's dignity?!"

The Crown Prince said, "Without giving him the chance, we cannot establish whether what's written on the paper is true. I hear the Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman has become popular throughout the city, with women buying them in droves. After this, how can anyone take them with confidence? Until the truth is known, who would dare take the pills the Daoist makes? If he truly received instruction from Daoist immortals and came to save the people, would this not hinder his mission?"

Ranking

|

Transmigration and Rebirth Romance

One True Love

Jiang Ciyu

Mind Reading

Salty Fish