Chapter 92: The Deception Reversed

Proofreader : Mim

“Perform a ritual?” The emperor paused for a moment, then clapped his hands in approval. “That’s a good idea! Indeed, there’s been too much bad luck in the palace lately. It’s time to invite a master to perform a purification.”

 

Empress Xiao Qi smiled and said, “Exactly. The Crown Prince has been wronged this time, and perhaps having the master come will resolve everything for him.”

 

The emperor sighed, “You truly have a mother’s heart. Even though Qin Yi never treats you with respect, not even in front of others, you still think of his well-being. You are truly remarkable.”

 

Empress Xiao Qi’s smile froze slightly upon hearing this. She knew this was the reality, but hearing the emperor say it so bluntly made her feel deeply humiliated. If she didn’t know better, she might have thought he was deliberately mocking her.

 

Unaware of her discomfort, the emperor continued, “So, Empress, who do you think we should invite? Should we ask the monks from the Temple of National Protection?”

 

Steadying herself, Empress Xiao Qi replied with a smile, “No need to trouble the monks so far away. It would take too much time. I think we should invite a Daoist master. Your Majesty, do you remember Daoist Wang Mingci?”

 

The emperor did recall Wang Mingci. He had kept a number of alchemists and mystics in his court over the years, often partaking of their elixirs. Wang Mingci was one of them. “I remember. Wang Mingci was quite obsessed with alchemy. I didn’t know he was skilled in Daoist rituals too.”

 

“Indeed, Your Majesty.” Empress Xiao Qi knew the emperor’s soft spots well. She continued, “Let me send someone to invite Daoist Wang. He can select an auspicious day to enter the palace and perform the ritual.”

 

“Good idea,” the emperor agreed cheerfully. “Have him prepare plenty of tools. While he’s at it, he can also rid Consort Lian of her bad luck. She’s become so frail lately. She’s pregnant and must be treated with extra care.”

 

Empress Xiao Qi swallowed her displeasure, smiling weakly. “Understood, Your Majesty.”

 

—

 

With the emperor’s approval, Empress Xiao Qi organized the ritual with great fanfare, pulling a large sum from the national treasury to fund it. On the day of the ritual, the emperor, empress, the concubines of the harem, and several princes and princesses attended. Wang Mingci, dressed in a large Daoist robe, sat cross-legged in the center of the ritual space, chanting incessantly. Suddenly, his body shook, and the array of instruments he had laid out began crackling. His eyes darted about unnervingly, terrifying the watching women. They all took a step back, including Chu Jinyao, who had never seen such a scene before and instinctively retreated.

 

Qin Yi sensed her movement. Without turning his head, he accurately grasped her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Calmed, Chu Jinyao continued to watch the spectacle.

 

Wang Mingci’s convulsions finally ceased. He opened his eyes, and a young attendant immediately handed him a cloth to wipe the non-existent sweat from his brow. Then, with a solemn expression, Wang Mingci stood and bowed deeply to the emperor and empress. “Your Majesties, this humble Daoist has just performed the ritual. There is indeed an evil entity haunting the palace. It is powerful and cunning, responsible for the recent misfortunes.”

 

The emperor, a long-time believer in such matters, was alarmed. “There is such a thing in the palace? I am the true son of heaven. How dare such a creature infiltrate my home?”

 

Wang Mingci stroked his beard and adopted the posture of a high master. “Your Majesty, this evil is an entity of extreme yang energy, a ghostly fire. It is drawn to places with dense yin energy, like the palace. Though Your Majesty possesses the dragon’s heavenly aura, certain places in the palace are beyond the reach of such energy, making it easy for such entities to take root.”

 

Most of those present were women, and the mention of an evil entity in the palace sent them into a panic. Even the emperor felt a chill, asking, “Is there a way to dispel it?”

 

“I can try,” Wang Mingci said gravely.

 

He called for a Daoist box, placing it in the center of the yin-yang array he had drawn. Then, he placed three talismans within the yin section of the diagram. Wang Mingci performed a series of intricate steps, holding a peachwood sword over the box as he chanted incantations that no one could understand. Suddenly, he shouted loudly and stabbed the sword into the talismans. Instantly, the talismans ignited with a green flame, cold and ghostly, as if from the depths of hell.

 

The onlookers gasped and stepped back in fear. Even Prince Su, who didn’t believe in such things, was startled into taking a step back, though he quickly recovered, embarrassed. Thankfully, no one noticed in the commotion.

 

Chu Jinyao was also startled by the sudden green flames, but Qin Yi quickly stepped in front of her protectively, his hand still firmly holding hers. Calmed by his presence, Chu Jinyao nodded to indicate she was fine, and Qin Yi returned his focus to the ritual.

 

After igniting the flames, Wang Mingci retrieved an urn and, with a shout, covered the talismans and the ghostly flames beneath it. He made a final gesture to end the ritual. The emperor clapped in praise, “Excellent, excellent! Master Wang, you are truly a man of great Daoist virtue!”

 

Empress Xiao Qi added with a smile, “Indeed, the palace has experienced so many strange accidents recently. It must have been caused by this evil entity. Now that you’ve subdued it, Master Wang, you have performed a great service. You deserve a grand reward.”

 

The emperor wholeheartedly agreed. Over the years, he had consumed many elixirs from various mystics, but none had shown such skill as Wang Mingci. He immediately decided to dismiss the other alchemists in favor of Wang Mingci. “Master Wang, your skill is extraordinary. Tell me, do you use any special elixirs to assist in your cultivation?”

 

The people present were sharp. Upon hearing this, they immediately realized that the emperor intended to promote Wang Mingci. Given the emperor’s reliance on mystics, those who could influence him became highly sought-after figures in the court and harem. If Wang Mingci became the emperor’s favored mystic, many would soon be vying for his favor.

 

Wang Mingci, playing the part of the humble sage, modestly declined the emperor’s praise. Though he tried to maintain a stoic demeanor, his eyes gleamed with triumph. It seemed his fortune had finally arrived.

 

The emperor, overjoyed with his new “sage,” turned to Consort Lian, his beloved, and said, “Master Wang, please check on Consort Lian. She’s become so frail lately. Could it be that something has attached itself to her as well?”

 

Wang Mingci approached Consort Lian and, after examining her for a moment, said in surprise, “Consort Lian carries a noble aura, signifying she is with child. However, she is also surrounded by a lingering yin energy, likely from encountering the ghostly fire. If we don’t dispel it, she may not carry this child to term.”

 

Consort Lian let out a soft cry, her eyes welling with tears. “Your Majesty…”

 

The emperor, seeing his beloved in distress, immediately asked, “Master Wang, is there any way to save her?”

 

“It’s possible,” Wang Mingci said. “Consort Lian can drink some talisman water to expel the yin energy, but that alone won’t be enough. The source of the yin fire must be found and destroyed, or else it will continue to affect the palace.”

 

Hearing that it involved their children, the concubines were eager for Wang Mingci to find the source of the evil. Wang Mingci slowly passed in front of each of the concubines, and when he reached the Eastern Palace, he suddenly stopped.

 

“Is something wrong?” the emperor asked.

 

Wang Mingci hesitated before saying, “Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness. But for the sake of Your Majesty, the empress, and the harem, I must speak frankly. The main fire has been captured, but there is still a secondary fire, hiding within the Eastern Palace. This fire is of the yang element, and it has hidden itself using the Crown Prince’s noble aura. That’s why it escaped detection.”

 

The onlookers gasped, and Empress Xiao Qi, feigning concern, asked, “Master, the Crown Prince is our future ruler. We cannot afford any harm to befall him, but the emperor’s offspring are also important. What should we do?”

 

Wang Mingci stroked his beard and, after a pause, said, “There is a way. I can draw three blood talismans and place them at the Eastern Palace’s gates. The Crown Prince must then remain inside a ritual array for forty-nine days. If anyone disrupts the process, it will all be for naught, and the consequences will be severe.”

 

Qin Yi smirked but remained calm. Let’s see how far this fraud would go. The emperor, believing Wang Mingci, hesitated. Forty-nine days was a long time for the Crown Prince to be absent from his duties.

 

Sensing the emperor’s hesitation, Empress Xiao Qi suggested, “Could someone else perform the ritual in the Crown Prince’s place?”

 

After some thought, Wang Mingci reluctantly agreed, “It is possible. The Crown Prince could leave the Eastern Palace temporarily, and someone else could stand in his place within the array.”

 

At this, Chu Jinyao silently laughed. So that was their plan! They wanted Qin Yi to vacate the palace so someone else could move in.

 

Just as the situation seemed set, Qin Yi spoke up. “Before we proceed, I have a question.”

 

Everyone turned to look at him, and the emperor asked, “What is it?”

 

Qin Yi fixed his gaze on Wang Mingci. “You said you captured the ghostly fire earlier. Is that correct?”

 

“Yes, of course,” Wang Mingci replied confidently.

 

“And you said there’s no more fire left in the palace?”

 

Wang Mingci nodded. “Aside from the secondary fire hiding in the Eastern Palace, yes.”

 

“Good.” Qin Yi nodded, then ordered his attendants to bring over a small kettle. Wang Mingci began to feel uneasy.

 

Qin Yi’s attendants, following his orders, retrieved some small granules from the kettle and used a pin to light them. To everyone’s shock, the same eerie green flames appeared.

 

The crowd gasped in disbelief. Wang Mingci paled.

 

“You said this fire was supernatural,” Qin Yi said, his tone icy. “But as you can see, it’s nothing more than a chemical reaction from these granules. You’ve been lying to us all.”

 

The emperor, enraged, bellowed, “How dare you deceive us with such tricks!”

 

Wang Mingci collapsed to the ground in terror, but Qin Yi wasn’t finished. “Not only did you deceive us today, but you were also behind the fire that happened at the West Palace days ago, in collusion with your accomplices.”

 

The emperor’s rage grew, and Empress Xiao Qi paled in fear. How could Qin Yi have known about the West Palace fire? She glanced nervously at Wang Mingci, realizing the gravity of the situation.

 

Author’s note: The mysterious granules are phosphorus. They combust at around 40 degrees Celsius, which is why they were ignited by a pin. While phosphorus typically burns with a yellow flame, I’ve taken some artistic liberty to describe it as green for dramatic effect. Please excuse any inaccuracies in the chemistry!