Chapter 534: Chapter 526: Who Is the Saboteur?
Having resolved the matter of stealing longevity, both Xiong Er and Jing Xiaosi felt a great sense of relief. Seeing that it was just past noon and there was nothing more in Gold City, Qin Liuxi suggested that they head for Shengjing.
This suggestion suited Xiong Er just fine; who knew the current chaos in Marquis Chang’an Mansion, better to return to the capital before they could react and have assistance at hand.
He personally went to rent two horse carriages and urged the drivers to hurry, they must reach the capital before the city gates closed.
Indeed, Marquis Chang’an Mansion was thrown into chaos due to Jing Wu’s sudden fainting spell.
Especially Marchioness Chang’an, Mrs. Niu, when she saw Jing Wu’s Jade Pendant broken in half and his pale and wilted face, her own face changed colors and she quickly stepped forward to grab his hand and check. Her vision darkened at the sight.
How could this be, how could the Life Line be broken?
Could it be that Jing Lian had no trouble, and someone helped to break the spell?
Impossible, who could possibly break Senior Brother Ning’s Daoist Skill? Especially since there had been no problems since the spell was cast, and Chao’er seemed to be getting more spirited.
“Madam, the Imperial Physician from the Palace has arrived,” a maid nudged the seemingly shell-shocked Mrs. Niu.
Mrs. Niu came back to her senses and turned her head to see indeed an Imperial Physician in official attire hurrying over with his medicine chest, and at his side was the current Marquis Chang’an, Jing Zhiming.
“Quickly have your man go to Jinhua Temple and invite Daoist Taiyang to the mansion,” Mrs. Niu whispered to a trusted nanny beside her.
The nanny bowed and stepped back, and as Mrs. Niu met the Marquis with a look of panic, quickly left the courtyard.
Marquis Chang’an’s brows furrowed in concern, approached Mrs. Niu who looked deathly pale, took her hands to steady her, and said, “How is Xiao Wu doing? When I left the Palace, I heard he suddenly passed out, and it happens that I invited Doctor Meng to the mansion.”
As he spoke, he quickly walked over to his son’s sleeping quarters, and upon seeing his son lying on the bed unconscious and frail, his face turned pale, and he staggered slightly: “How could this be? He was fine last night. Doctor, quickly take my son’s pulse.”
Doctor Meng hurriedly stepped forward to take the pulse.
Mrs. Niu needed support to walk over to Marquis Chang’an’s side and said in tears, “He must have been haunted by some malevolent spirit or ghost, I have already sent Bao Lai to invite Daoist Taiyang.”
Marquis Chang’an steadied her, somewhat skeptical but refraining from questioning, and said, “Let’s have the doctor examine him first.”
“Cousin, you don’t understand, it is all because of me; Chao’er was born with insufficient Primordial Qi, and therefore had a weak birth chart. Daoist Taiyang gave him a long-burning lamp and a Protective Jade Talisman for this, you know of this. But the jade talisman suddenly broke,” Mrs. Niu revealed the jade talisman wrapped in a handkerchief for him to see.
Marquis Chang’an’s face grew even grimmer as he looked at the neatly broken talisman.
At this moment, an immaculately coiffed nanny walked over and said, “The Old Lady heard that the Fifth Young Master is not doing well and has sent this servant to check on him.”
Despite their mother favoring the legitimate eldest son and not being fond of Mrs. Niu, both of them did not dare to show disapproval and quickly replied.
The old nanny took a step closer, her brows furrowing upon seeing Jing Wu’s complexion.
Doctor Meng had already finished examining the pulse and was shocked, saying, “Marquis, the Fifth Young Master was born lacking in essence. His pulse is now weak and feeble, resembling symptoms of heart failure, I fear that…”
Heart failure?
Mrs. Niu’s legs went weak, and she collapsed softly, caught by the crying maids and servants.
Marquis Chang’an was also shocked: “Impossible, his health has improved a lot recently, he could run and jump, and last night he was even able to learn archery with me, how could he suddenly suffer heart failure?”
Doctor Meng gave a wry smile and said, “Forgive my inadequate medical skills, please ask someone else for help, Marquis.”
Marquis Chang’an’s legs trembled as he took a step back, leaning on the table, grinding his teeth he commanded, “Someone, go invite the Chief Imperial Physician again.”
Doctor Meng clasped his hands in salute and sighed.
The old nanny furrowed her brows and looked at Jing Wu again, when suddenly she cried out in alarm, “Fifth Young Master, he…”
Everyone turned to look and saw that in the blink of an eye, Jing Wu, who was in a coma, seemed to have lost moisture, his face wrinkled up, and for some reason, strands of white hair appeared at his temples, as if he had suddenly aged into an old man.
Everyone was shocked, Mrs. Niu screamed and fainted completely.
The old nanny hastened out of the courtyard to report back to the Old Lady of Marquis Mansion.
The Old Lady was in the small Buddha hall. Upon hearing the report from the entrusted old nanny, she was startled and then frowned, asking, “What kind of acute illness is this?”
The old nanny dared not speak.
“Send Fang Fugui to gather some men over to the Xiong Family, we must find out Jing Si’s whereabouts. That boy has been wandering long enough, it’s time for him to return,” the Old Lady said in a deep voice. “Assign a few skilled Hidden Guards to protect him.”
“You mean…” asked the old nanny.
The Old Lady spoke indifferently, “When people are in deep sorrow, it is very easy to go insane. If Xiao Wu is fine, then let it be, but if something bad happens to him, I do not want to see Jing Si harmed in any way.”
The old nanny immediately bowed and withdrew to make arrangements.
In the small Buddha hall, the Old Lady sighed again and began chanting Buddhist scriptures.
The Imperial Physicians and doctors frequently entered and exited the Marquis Chang’an Mansion, and rumors soon spread that he wouldn’t live long. That was until a Daoist of an immortal bearing entered the Marquis Chang’an Mansion.
Daoist Taiyang, upon seeing Jing Chao’s condition, quickly swept his eyes across with horror and sharpness. The results diagnosed by the physicians pointed to heart failure, but in Daoist Taiyang’s view, this was a severe backlash after a spell had been broken.
But he could not say this out loud.
Pretending to calculate with his knuckles, Daoist Taiyang looked solemn and said, “The young master has been struck by a nightmare spirit, his soul has left his body. I need to perform a ritual to call back the soul; everyone else should step back and not disturb.”
Mrs. Niu said, “I won’t leave. Daoist, I am his mother, I want to stay with my son. Marquis, you go out first, having Nanny Zhao here to assist is enough.”
Daoist Taiyang nodded, “All right then, a mother’s bond with her child is deep. During the ritual, just call out his name to bring his soul back.”
Marquis Chang’an frowned. He had no interest in these so-called supernatural Daoist matters, but his wife was a believer. She had even taken this Daoist as a master for their younger son, naming him a secular disciple, and had him wear peace charms and longevity locks every day.
He glanced at his increasingly weak younger son and walked out with a heavy step.
Soon the room was emptied. Nanny Zhao was a confidante of Mrs. Niu, who did not conceal anything from her, hastily saying, “Elder Brother, what’s going on, what’s happening to Chao’er?”
“It’s backlash,” declared Daoist Taiyang, who with a light tap of his toe rose into the air, and from a hidden spot near the house’s beams retrieved a small box. Opening it, inside were two paper figurines, one representing Jing Wu and the other Jing Si. Both were inscribed with their birth dates, and their hands were originally connected by a red string.
At this moment, the red string had turned to ashes and broken inside the box, the paper figurine of Jing Wu had turned entirely dull gray and lifeless, while Jing Si’s remained lively and bright.
Mrs. Niu cried out in horror, nearly fainting, how could this be, it was the opposite when the spell was first cast.
“Chao’er, Elder Brother, please save Chao’er, cast the spell again.”
Daoist Taiyang’s face showed anger. He wanted to see who had ruined his scheme.