Mo Li had stated it extremely clearly, even eunuchs and palace maids who could not read a single large character could understand it.
In the blazing heat, everyone broke out in a cold sweat.
“You’re bold… speaking nonsense!”
Vice Supervisor Xu subconsciously shouted in anger. Having just finished the first two words, his voice immediately lowered.
His toad-like bulging face twisted slightly in fright. He felt both shock and fear, and he almost gnashed his teeth to force out the remaining words.
“Someone come, drag this nonsense-talking old thing out!”
There was deep fear in his voice. Vice Supervisor Xu struggled to remain calm, trembling as he pointed at Mo Li.
“What were you all doing standing there stunned? If you let him continue spouting nonsense, and word got out, then none of you would have had a way out!” Vice Supervisor Xu desperately winked, his face full of murderous intent.
Everyone suddenly snapped back to reality, and fear instantly gripped their hearts.
Yes, this talk absolutely must not spread! It also absolutely must not have been the truth!
It was acceptable in the palace to have assassins with ulterior motives, or concubines who grew jealous and used poison or malicious witchcraft. As long as someone was caught (if they could not catch them, they would find a scapegoat) and turned in, it had nothing to do with the rest of them. But this kind of truth, who could take it to King Ning and report?
If King Ning believed it, everyone who knew the inside story would have to die.
If he did not believe it, at least they still had a chance to live!
As for whether more people would continue to die in the palace, and whether the concubines died unjustly, they could not care. Their own lives were most important!
“Seize him quickly!” Vice Supervisor Xu jumped up and down. He had climbed for more than ten years to reach his current position. Who wanted to die? Who could bear to lose the gold and silver notes, the power and wealth right before their eyes?
Master Mingbian saw that the situation was bad and hurriedly tried to stop them.
The old monk’s face turned pale, and he silently cried out in his heart.
Tonight, when he was forcibly brought into the palace by the Imperial Guard, Master Mingbian had realized that disaster might come, yet this catastrophe was even more absurd and tricky than he had imagined.
Master Mingbian looked toward the corner of the room and saw those two imperial physicians shrinking over there, their glaringly shocked and angry gazes exactly the same as those of the eunuchs.
“Amitabha.”
Master Mingbian lowered his eyes and recited the Buddha’s name, feeling a bleak sorrow in his heart.
The world was like a fiery prison, and the fiery prison tormented the people.
Before Master Mingbian finished sighing, he suddenly heard a muffled cry, followed by the sound of objects crashing and toppling.
Startled, Master Mingbian raised his eyes and saw that the eunuchs who had just rushed forward like wolves and tigers were now sprawled all over the floor in a jumbled mess.
Several palace maids, panicking and not knowing which way to run, tried to flee, yet as they ran, they inexplicably tilted their bodies and collapsed onto the ground. They could not make a sound, nor could they move.
“What happened?”
People outside were alarmed and approached with lanterns to investigate.
Master Mingbian was shocked to see that Mo Li had somehow “circled” around in front of him without anyone noticing.
Vice Supervisor Xu was lifted up once again. Mo Li did not seem to exert any effort, yet the former’s face had already turned blue. His eyeballs bulged, and he kicked his legs frantically in struggle.
This scene was truly astonishing, considering that Mo Li appeared elderly and frail.
Mo Li did not utter a single threatening word. He just looked steadily at Vice Supervisor Xu, then slightly loosened his grip.
That calm, fearless demeanor made Vice Supervisor Xu tremble even more violently.
Even Master Mingbian recalled that Vice Supervisor Xu had clearly stood very far away just now, so how did he end up in Mo Li’s grasp in the blink of an eye?
“N-no problem, we were searching the palace chambers!” Vice Supervisor Xu said with a shrill voice.
Mo Li did not seal this fellow’s mute acupoint because he saw that he cherished his life to an extreme degree. Such a petty person could be used, and was particularly useful. This was something Doctor Mo had learned from Meng Qi.
There was a pause outside, then someone asked, “Was it by the King’s order?”
“Is that something you could ask? Withdraw now!”
Vice Supervisor Xu’s voice grew even sharper. He feared Mo Li would twist his neck.
Mo Li suddenly smiled at him.
Vice Supervisor Xu suddenly felt a foreboding sense of doom. He opened his mouth to shout, but darkness fell before his eyes, and he collapsed to the ground.
“This was the place I mentioned earlier. Apply a bit more force, or chop a few more times, and you would leave a lifelong hidden ailment.” Mo Li withdrew his hand and spoke earnestly.
The two imperial physicians were ashen-faced, pressing their backs firmly against the wall.
Master Mingbian’s expression was strange. He was older, and had not stayed in such an oppressive palace environment for many years, so he could naturally discern how much of Mo Li’s threat was real and how much was feigned.
Yet everyone else in the room believed it, including the eunuchs and palace maids who had collapsed on the ground, unable to move. A few of them, looking at Concubine Chen’s corpse on the bed, were so frightened that tears welled up. The noble person in the palace had this illness, and even the imperial physicians could not cure it. What future could such lowly people like them hope for?
“Layman, you must speak cautiously here.” Master Mingbian spoke helplessly.
Although he admired Mo Li’s abilities greatly, they were in the palace. Even if they saw through the truth, how could they easily speak it out? Would that not lead them into passivity?
Mo Li did not answer.
Mo Li was waiting for the sand rat to give him feedback.
When the eunuchs rushed over, Mo Li took the opportunity to place the sand rat on top of the gilded, carved cabinet.
The room erupted in a series of crashes and bangs. The sand rat nimbly darted up to the rafters, making a circuit around the entire room.
“Pa-da.”
In the quiet room, there was suddenly an extra sound. Everyone looked over instinctively.
Following the sound, Mo Li walked to the incense burner. Reaching out to move it aside, he indeed found a small mechanism behind the rack.
The mechanism had already been opened. The sand rat, its merits and name concealed, had long since slipped off elsewhere.
Mo Li cast a subtle glance at the rafters, then began to examine the items in the hidden compartment.
“Layman?” Master Mingbian felt somewhat uneasy.
This was Concubine Chen’s bedchamber. No matter how Concubine Chen died, rummaging around here clearly was not proper.
Inside the hidden compartment, aside from silver notes, there were some jars and bottles.
Mo Li opened them one by one, carefully distinguishing their scents.
His frown grew deeper and deeper. Generally speaking, these jars and bottles were all meant to enhance bedroom pleasure. Some were to be burned in the incense burner, some were meant to be applied externally. Thus, there were ointments and fragrant powders. But since King Ning feared death and believed in Buddhism, he had not gone so far as to refine and ingest alchemical elixirs.
He found nothing resembling opium.
Mo Li suddenly noticed that the two imperial physicians were avoiding his gaze. Coupled with these “well-crafted items that would supposedly not harm the body,” he immediately realized these things were not something Concubine Chen had obtained secretly. They came from the Imperial Medical Bureau of King Ning’s palace.
Since King Ning indulged in women, the others naturally catered to his tastes. But it would sound unpleasant if word got out about offering such items, so they could only curry favor privately.
Had Mo Li not discovered the truth behind the sudden deaths of Concubine Chen and Beauty Zhu, he originally planned to slowly trace the source of opium through the Imperial Medical Bureau. Yet King Ning had summoned Concubine Chen last night, and tonight who knew whom he would summon next. Despite King Ning calling Beauty Zhu his beloved consort, Beauty Zhu’s severe illness had not prevented him from seeking pleasure yesterday.
The sand rat ran swiftly across the rafters, circled to the outer hall, and looked down from above at the vague silhouettes of people gathering in the courtyard.
These people thought they had arrived silently, surrounding the bedchamber so tightly that not even water could seep through. They had no idea that no matter how light their movements were, they could not hide them from Mo Li’s ears.
Vice Supervisor Xu thought himself clever, believing that Mo Li did not understand the palace rules. He was a dignified vice supervisor, yet when he spoke up to scold, he did not even show his face, and none of his eunuchs went out to speak. It would have been suspicious if those outside were not doubtful.
But Mo Li did not fear people coming in at all.
The sand rat’s dark, shiny eyes observed the people in the courtyard. At first, some guards looked around uneasily. When a tall man appeared, those guards immediately relaxed. The men he brought with him marched in neat formation, appearing solemn and taut, ready to draw their blades at any moment. Their vigor and bearing were worlds apart from the imperial guards seen before.
The leading man stepped under the lantern’s light. He was young and steady, his manner composed.
Even viewed through National Preceptor Meng’s discerning eyes, he would have still received some praise.
This was the first person Meng Qi encountered in Ningtai City who could be described as a “talent.” Do not think it trivial that he only brought some men over. There had been people in the courtyard before, but they stood without any order. Once this young man arrived with his subordinates, the situation changed immediately. All positions conducive to retreat and observation of the situation were swiftly occupied.
After the situation obviously reversed, this person did not hide behind his subordinates to issue orders. Instead, he slowly approached, raised his hand, and tapped a stone against the copper bell hanging outside the hall door.
“Ding.”
The sound traveled far.
Everyone inside the house was startled. Before Master Mingbian could speak, he saw Mo Li push the hidden compartment closed and stroll out.
The two imperial physicians were so shocked their eyeballs almost fell out. No matter how they thought about it, they could not understand why this unknown folk doctor dared to be so bold.
Mo Li stepped out of the hall and first looked for Meng Qi.
The night was deep, and the lantern’s light was limited. The sand rat took advantage, squatting directly in the shadow cast by the palace lantern’s upper support.
From a distance, it looked like a round ornament on the top of the lantern’s rod.
Mo Li: “……”
He worried that the sand rat, being too plump, might fall down.
Meanwhile, the guards in the courtyard had all drawn their blades. Some bent bows and nocked arrows, aiming at Mo Li.
Like Meng Qi, Mo Li quickly noticed the young man standing at the forefront.
No other reason—this person did not show arrogance in his expression, only caution.
—As if facing not an unknown doctor, but an enemy worthy of vigilance.
“Doctor Mo.”
The young man cupped his hands. As soon as he spoke, Mo Li suddenly smiled.
“So, it was someone under Mr. Qiu who came.”
There was no mockery in Mo Li’s tone. Instead, the young man seemed somewhat embarrassed and said softly, “A series of strange illnesses erupted among the palace’s nobles. The King lost his composure and even had common doctors forcibly brought into the palace, disturbing Doctor Mo. It is truly shameful.”
“You were able to learn about the changes at Jinggu Temple in such a short time, and deduce my identity from a few clues. It seems Ningtai City was not as lax as I had seen.” Mo Li thought for a moment and spoke in Meng Qi’s tone.
The young man’s pupils contracted, but he kept smiling and said, “Ningtai City was lax on the outside but tight within. This was to guard against King Wu’s spies and bandits. With your excellent medical skills, Doctor, you are a most esteemed guest we could not easily invite. The King, in his panic, showed some discourtesy. I hope you will not take offense.”
These words sounded pleasant, yet inside, they showed no courtesy toward King Ning.
If Vice Supervisor Xu were here, he would have probably cried out in surprise again.
However, whether it was the young man’s subordinates or those guards who looked nervous, none showed any reaction.
“May I ask your honored name?” Mo Li’s expression remained calm as he guessed the young man’s identity.
The other laughed heartily and cupped his hands. “How dare I trouble you, Doctor Mo, to ask. It was my oversight, I did not report my name in time, do not take offense, Doctor. I am Cheng Jingchuan. Strictly speaking, the late Marquis Jingyuan of Old Chu was my clan grand-uncle.”
The sand rat moved slightly.
Cheng Jingchuan immediately noticed something on the lantern’s support rod above, and he looked up sharply. The sand rat once again hid beneath the eaves.
Cheng Jingchuan suppressed a vague unease and said in a deep voice, “Upon hearing of the palace’s troubles, Mr. Qiu came through the night. Fearing that these foolish, ignorant eunuchs would disturb you, Doctor, I arrived first. Doctor Mo, please.”
Author’s note:
Sorry, I was too busy for the past two days. I will work hard to resume updates starting today, at worst every other day.
————
The sand rat squatted above the palace lantern as a decorative piece.
The sand rat squatted beside the roof-ridge beast at the very front edge of the eaves.
The more decorations on the beam, rooftop, and eaves, the better the sand rat could hide.
Meng Qi: I am familiar with this kind of palace layout.
