With the conclusion of the child-swapping case, someone also reported the fake Daoist the prince consort had hired.
As it turned out, after the fake Daoist told Princess Duanmin's fortune, his reputation had spread, and many wealthy gentlemen and nobles in the capital had sought him out.
The fake Daoist had originally intended to flee far away after finishing that one job for the prince consort, but the riches raining down on him dazzled his eyes. He began to think himself a true immortal and went on swindling everyone.
Some of these wealthy nobles wanted children, some wanted power, and some wanted eternal life. Afraid his fortunes would prove inaccurate, the fake Daoist simply began concocting elixirs.
Whatever his customers sought, once he took their money, the fake Daoist would perform a divination with an air of mystical madness, then hand them elixirs.
Because his earlier fortune for Princess Duanmin had been so accurate, everyone believed him without question and treasured those elixirs as priceless possessions.
Naturally, they had no idea that the elixirs contained extremely high levels of heavy metals. The more they took, the more harm they did to their bodies.
Before long, a country gentleman who regularly took the elixirs suddenly died. With the truth of the prince consort's case also coming to light, someone went to the authorities to report the fake Daoist.
After the Ministry of Justice arrested the fake Daoist, it confiscated all the money he had swindled and compensated his victims.
Although the court had acted promptly this time and recovered some of the common people's losses, the life lost could never be saved.
There had been many cases of folk scams before, but these Daoists and monks employed such clever tricks that even official notices could not stop the common people from being deceived.
This gave the court officials endless headaches, yet no one could suggest a good solution.
One day, a spark of inspiration flashed through Emperor Chu Ming's mind. It suddenly occurred to him that he might ask the Holy Maiden.
Since the Holy Maiden had revealed how the prince consort had used a fake Daoist to deceive Princess Duanmin, perhaps she also had a way to curb folk scams.
Thus, Emperor Chu Ming deliberately chose a day when Chu Siqing was visiting the palace and made his way to the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion.
Emperor Chu Ming deliberately asked in Tu Qingchen's presence, "Imperial Preceptor, many of Great Chu's common people follow Buddhism and Daoism, allowing folk scams to persist despite repeated bans. What countermeasures would you suggest?"
Tu Qingchen gave a silent, sardonic chuckle and answered, "Your Majesty, now that we have the People's Gazette, why not use it to expose the various scams to the public, so everyone can guard against them?"
Emperor Chu Ming nodded. "Your thinking accords with mine, Imperial Preceptor."
Then he imperceptibly shifted his gaze toward his niece, who was sitting nearby.
Chu Siqing also thought, Exactly. Distribute the People's Gazette throughout the country, then have the local magistrates ask educated people to explain the various scams to the common people.
They should also tighten oversight of Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, thoroughly investigate fake Daoists and monks, and severely punish anyone without a Daoist certificate, ordination certificate, or other credentials.
Suddenly remembering something, Chu Siqing said to the system in her mind, A-Tong, hurry and open the System Shop for me. I remember a book explaining ancient scams was added to the shop last time.
System: [Of course, host.]
As soon as the System Shop opened, Chu Siqing saw that there was indeed a book titled Complete Guide to Exposing Folk Scams.
Chu Siqing said excitedly, A-Tong, redeem that book for me.
System: [Host, Complete Guide to Exposing Folk Scams successfully redeemed. Points -100. Would you like to place it in System Space?]
Chu Siqing hurriedly replied, Put it in the space for now. My imperial uncle is still here watching.
Emperor Chu Ming and Tu Qingchen could not hear Chu Siqing's conversation with the system. They only heard her add a couple of thoughts, then saw her begin to stare into space.
Tu Qingchen coughed, trying to rouse the absentminded Chu Siqing.
Chu Siqing did not know, but he understood perfectly well.
The emperor was waiting to hear the Holy Maiden's thoughts, yet this little troublemaker had dropped the ball at the crucial moment.
Coming back to her senses, Chu Siqing addressed Tu Qingchen in her mind, Tu Qingchen, I have a copy of Complete Guide to Exposing Folk Scams. I'll give it to you once my imperial uncle leaves.
Tu Qingchen: ...
Ha. I really want to tell you that His Majesty can hear you, but unfortunately, I can't.
Emperor Chu Ming was speechless.
What was going on here? His own niece actually trusted the Imperial Preceptor more than she trusted him, her imperial uncle?
Despite feeling a little pang of jealousy, Emperor Chu Ming still found an excuse to leave.
Chu Siqing immediately produced Complete Guide to Exposing Folk Scams from System Space out of thin air, like a conjuring trick.
Tu Qingchen took the book, looking at Chu Siqing with an indescribably complicated expression.
Chu Siqing was already accustomed to his occasional bouts of odd behavior, so she thought nothing of it.
After Princess Consort Yu left with Chu Siqing, Tu Qingchen went to see Emperor Chu Ming of his own accord.
Inside the Imperial Study.
After paying his respects, Tu Qingchen took the book from his sleeve and had Eunuch Feng present it to Emperor Chu Ming.
Emperor Chu Ming had only turned a few pages of Complete Guide to Exposing Folk Scams when he saw the secrets behind famous Daoist arts such as Paper Turtle Swimming on Water, Lamp Smoke Turning into a Snake, and Ghost Fire Vanishing. He was both astonished and delighted.
Once this book was widely circulated, those swindlers would no longer dare play at gods and ghosts among the people!
Tu Qingchen said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. The book Movable-Type Printing was also given to me by the Holy Maiden."
In excellent spirits, Emperor Chu Ming waved a hand. "No matter. I had already guessed as much. Since the Holy Maiden trusts you so deeply, Imperial Preceptor, I shall have to trouble you to take greater care in the future."
Tu Qingchen was slightly startled. He had not expected the emperor to say so little about it.
Emperor Chu Ming pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "Imperial Preceptor, what do you think of having the Holy Maiden attend court with you to listen to affairs of state?"
Chu Siqing had brought him so many pleasant surprises. If he could put her inner thoughts to use at court, perhaps he would gain even more.
Tu Qingchen said worriedly, "Your Majesty, the Holy Maiden is still very young."
Emperor Chu Ming replied, "The Holy Maiden can walk without difficulty now. If I make a special exception and permit her to eat and nap during court, there should be no problem."
Tu Qingchen nodded. "Your Majesty is absolutely right."
Fine. With you putting it that way, what else can I say?
Emperor Chu Ming assigned the work of educating the public about scams to the Ministry of Rites, with the Right Vice Minister of Rites taking the lead and the subordinate Buddhist Registry Office and Daoist Registry Office assisting.
As the latest issue of the People's Gazette circulated, more and more people learned the secrets behind the various scams.
The court also began strictly inspecting Daoist certificates, ordination certificates, and other credentials, sweeping away a whole host of unlicensed Buddhist monasteries and Daoist temples in one fell swoop.
The next time Chu Siqing went out with Princess Consort Yu, she saw a crowd gathered in a circle. Thinking another Daoist was performing, she went over to expose him.
Only when they drew closer did they discover that a scholar in blue stood inside the circle, loudly denouncing the Daoist playing at ghosts.
"Don't believe him, everyone! All these arts of his are fake!"
"Just draw the shape of a ghost on talisman paper with slaked lime, then soak it in ginger water, and red marks will appear on the paper!"
"He smeared realgar powder on his hand! When he rubs it against a sword made of saltpeter, that's what makes it catch fire!"
Hearing this, the onlookers began pointing at the Daoist and commenting.
"What? These Daoist arts were all fake?"
"I told you he was a fake Daoist swindling people out of their money."
"I've seen this scam in the People's Gazette!"
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