Jian Ruonan continued rummaging through the melon patch of gossip-
[Once, when the Minister of War fell ill in his youth, his family found a dog to serve as his stand-in.]
[Not long after they found the dog stand-in, the Minister of War recovered. Who would have thought his wife would grow attached to the dog? She ate and slept with it every day, neglecting the Minister of War until he practically fumed!]
[And so began the Minister of War's days of competing with a dog for affection.]
[Was this the legendary stand-in romance trope? Hahahaha-and a dog stand-in at that! Hahahaha-]
[Some time later, the dog fell ill, sending his wife into a panic. The Minister of War's mortal enemy was about to croak, and he was already preparing to celebrate early. Then some spiritual master showed up and told him the dog was sick because a stand-in debt hadn't been repaid.]
[The Minister of War thought it over: wasn't he the dog's stand-in?!]
[Afraid of karmic retribution, he went to a Taoist temple and had another stand-in made for the dog out of spirit money. Hahahahaha-]
[Nesting-doll stand-ins!]
[Was the Minister of War really this superstitious and ridiculous? Hahahaha-]
The pillars of the court: Minister Pei, you certainly led an exciting life every single day!
The Minister of War: ...
That was how everyone did things back home! Any illness doctors couldn't cure called for a spiritual master!
The pillars of the court: Official Jian, hurry and look! Was there anything even more outrageous?
The Minister of War: "..."
Digging through the gossip patch, Jian Ruonan learned that Abbot Li had supplied both the dog stand-in and the talismans.
Wasn't Abbot Li deep in research with Wu Yehe at the Farm Estate, studying land mines and firearm manufacturing?