Chapter 47: Witchcraft and Curses

Why Hasn’T The Consort Died Yet — www.asianovel.net · All chapters

Chapter 47: Witchcraft and Curses

"Your Majesty, please hear me!" Li Mammy immediately knelt, "It's not that we tried to force our way in. Eunuch Sheng just hadn't returned, and I was anxious about the Dowager Empress's illness. That's why I asked the gatekeepers of Yaohua Palace if they could let us through."

"Moreover—" she said logically, "Master Hui'an and I are only two people; it’s impossible for us to force our way in."

Xiao Sheng, recognizing her as the Dowager Empress’s maid, didn’t address her directly but instead said to Master Hui'an, "Yaohua Palace was built by the Great Ancestor and has always been a blessed place in the palace. The Noble Consort is the daughter of the late Princess of Peace and the granddaughter of Emperor Gaozong, a person of noble birth. Evil forces cannot invade her. Master Hui'an, you might be mistaken."

This was a clear refusal to let anyone into Yaohua Palace.

Xiao Sheng, without waiting for Master Hui'an's reaction, glanced at Sheng An, who understood immediately. Waving his whisk, he motioned the attending eunuchs and maids to escort Master Hui'an out of the palace.

Seeing this, Li Mammy, resolute, prostrated herself and said, "Your Majesty, the Dowager Empress's illness is severe. Will you just watch her suffer through nightmares every night?"

"Impudent!" Xiao Sheng paced back and forth and suddenly turned, his robe with dark-red and gold patterns stirring a gust of hot wind, "The Dowager Empress's illness will be attended to by the Imperial Physicians. Why rely on these superstitious practices? Sheng An, escort Master Hui'an out of the palace."

Just as Sheng An was about to comply, a palace maid in grayish-blue attire came running from a distance, shouting something as she ran.

In the imperial palace, servants maintain decorum in their actions. Running like this in the palace corridors was a serious breach of protocol, warranting a punishment of ten strokes at the Punishment Bureau.

However, Li Mammy recognized the maid as Qingguo, who was always well-behaved and served directly under the Dowager Empress. She quickly got up and ran towards Qingguo, shouting, "What happened? Is something wrong with the Dowager Empress?"

Qingguo, out of breath, managed a bow to the Emperor and stammered, "The Dowager Empress, she... she has fainted! Your Majesty, please let Master Hui'an take a look!"

Master Hui'an, who had been silently turning her prayer beads, spoke unhurriedly upon hearing this, "I can only offer scriptures and prayers in front of Buddha for a long time for the Dowager Empress's condition. If you seek a permanent cure, it lies within Yaohua Palace."

After speaking, Master Hui'an closed her eyes and resumed silently reciting scriptures, seemingly indifferent to the Emperor's decision.

Xiao Sheng looked at her intently and again said sternly, "Sheng An, escort Master Hui'an out of the palace."

"Your Majesty!" Li Mammy suddenly looked up, incredulously exclaiming, "But the Dowager Empress—"

"Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau, summon Li Deqing and Cen Jigui immediately to Cining Palace," the Emperor interrupted Li Mammy, continuing his instructions.

"Yes!" Sheng An, following the order, turned to Master Hui'an and extended his whisk, "Master Hui'an, please follow me."

"Your Majesty—" Tears streamed down Li Mammy's face as she choked out, "Since entering the palace from the Changping Marquis Residence over thirty years ago, the Dowager Empress has lived in constant fear. Now that you have ascended the throne, will you let her continue to suffer from this terror?"

Seeing Xiao Sheng's expression soften slightly, Li Mammy pressed on, "Moreover, what Master Hui'an said was merely about a contaminant in Yaohua Palace, not that the Noble Consort is at fault. Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has also been suffering from illness these days; could she not be affected by this too?"

Xiao Sheng hesitated upon hearing this. Just then, eight young eunuchs carried out a sedan chair from Yaohua Palace.

Jiang Hui, supported by Autumn Okra and Wan Song, stepped down from the sedan chair, her face pale and translucent, looking unsteady.

"Hui'er?!" Xiao Sheng quickly stepped forward to support Jiang Hui, letting her lean against him, "You're still ill, why did you come out?"

"Your Majesty," Jiang Hui gave Xiao Sheng a faint smile, "If it concerns the Dowager Empress's safety, let Master Hui'an come in."

After speaking, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she could hardly stand, and she slumped against Xiao Sheng.

"Hui'er?!" Xiao Sheng said urgently, quickly lifting Jiang Hui in his arms and hurriedly heading towards Yaohua Palace.

Li Mammy and Master Hui'an exchanged glances and quickly followed.

"Your Majesty, I'm fine; it's just the heat outside that overwhelmed me for a moment," Jiang Hui, still conscious, whispered in the Emperor's embrace.

Xiao Sheng replied in a low voice, "Hui'er, you must understand, this is directed at you. Master Hui'an is highly regarded in Great Zhou, and this concerns the Dowager Empress. If Master Hui'an declares something inauspicious about you, even if I try to suppress the news, walls have ears."

Jiang Hui lowered her eyelids, speaking softly, "But what about the Dowager Empress's illness? Today, for my sake, you sent Master Hui'an away. When this matter is accounted for in the future, what will the Dowager Empress think of you? You must not let my situation harm your relationship with your mother."

"Moreover," realizing she had inadvertently used a wrong title, she added, "Given Master Hui'an's renowned status, she must have some real skills. If her intervention can alleviate the Dowager Empress's heartache, that would be a good thing."

Xiao Sheng sighed softly, his eyes deepening with affection.

The two passed through the central courtyard, walking by a lush magnolia tree. Suddenly, Master Hui'an stopped and said calmly, "Amitabha. The object causing this evil influence is here. Your Majesty only needs to have someone search around carefully, and they will surely find a clue."

Xiao Sheng, holding Jiang Hui, abruptly turned to stare at the tree, his gaze intense.

He didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, but history was replete with examples of chaos in courts and harems caused by such superstitions, necessitating caution.

Sheng An, following the Emperor, quickly instructed the palace staff of Yaohua Palace to leave, leaving only Li Mammy and Master Hui'an inside. He then placed two chairs in the shaded corridor for Xiao Sheng and Jiang Hui to rest.

After everything was in place, Sheng An personally began to dig near the magnolia tree with a shovel.

This magnolia tree, planted since the founding emperor's time, had a thick trunk and sprawling roots, with the soil underneath slightly loose and dry due to the summer heat.

With sweat dampening his temples, Sheng An swung the shovel again and, just as he began to doubt Master Hui'an’s words, felt the shovel hit something hard.

Energized, he dug a bit more and carefully unearthed a dark red, locked wooden box. He wiped off the remaining dirt with his sleeve and cautiously placed it before the Emperor.

"What is this?!" Jiang Hui leaned forward, a look of astonishment on her pale face, "How could such a thing be in Yaohua Palace?"

Li Mammy glanced at her quickly and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this must be the object that harmed the Dowager Empress."

Xiao Sheng looked towards Master Hui'an and asked, "Is this the object Master Hui'an spoke of?"

"Amitabha," Master Hui'an nodded, "Indeed, it is this object."

"Sheng An, open this box," Xiao Sheng said, his expression inscrutable.

"Yes," Sheng An replied, quickly using the shovel to break the copper lock, then gently lifted the lid of the box, revealing an item wrapped in red cloth.

Sensing what the red cloth might be concealing, Sheng An’s brow was dotted with sweat. He slowly unwrapped the cloth, revealing three grey-white figurines with characters etched and needles inserted into them.

For easy reference, here is a summary of important characters that have appeared (optional to read).

PS. Skip if you prefer not to read!!!

PPS. Detailed images will follow later; the main text needs to meet the word count, hence images cannot be the only content (￣.￣)

Character: Jiang Hui - Noble Consort

Family background: Daughter of the Princess of Peace and Marquis of Ningyuan

Residence: Yaohua Palace - Qionghua Hall (main hall)

Palace staff: Autumn Okra, Wan Song, Shan Zha, Shiliu, Hongyu, Bichun, Biyue

Children: Eldest Prince - Xiao Lang

Character: Empress - Wang Clan

Family: Wang Clan of Yingchuan

Residence: Fengyi Palace

Attendants: Spring Swallow, Summer Cicada, Autumn Moon, Winter Snow

Children: Eldest Princess - Xiao Yu

Character: Consort Jia - Hu Shi (deceased)

Family Background: Father held a modest official position, part of the scholar-bureaucrat class.

Residence: Baoying Hall of Fuyang Palace (main hall).

Attendants: Baizhi, Baizhu, Baiji, Baiguo.

Children: Second Princess - Xiao Yan.

Character: Xu Xiuyuan.

Family Background: Uncle is the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Works.

Residence: Huazhen Hall of Guangyang Palace (main hall).

Attendants: Haitang, Shaoyao.

Children: None.

Character: Min Jieyu - Zhao Ruyun.

Family Background: Third Miss of Changping Marquis House, niece of the Empress Dowager.

Residence: Hanzhang Hall of Changchun Palace (main hall).

Attendants: Dongqing, Duruo.

Offspring: Pregnancy

Character: Lady Li - Xie Family

Family Background: Second illegitimate daughter of the House of Cheng'en Marquis.

Residence: Yufu Palace, Lanyue Pavilion.

Palace Maid: Yin Zhu.

Offspring: None.

Character: Lady Sun - Sun Manyun.

Family Background: Legitimate daughter of the Minister of Dali Temple.

Residence: Chonghua Palace, Zhauxia Pavilion.

Palace Maids: Huamei and Dujuan.

Children: None

Character: Luo Meiren - Luo Rou

Background: Eldest legitimate daughter of the Deputy Governor of Yuzhou

Residence: Changxin Palace, Jinlan Garden

Attendants: Su Jin

Children: None

Character: Xue Meiren - Xue Biling

Background: Daughter of the Commandant of the Imperial Guard

Residence: Changxin Palace, Qingxin Pavilion

Attendants: None

Children: None

Character: Wan Xuan Shi - Feng Pingping

Background: From a respectable family

Residence: Chonghua Palace, Jiangxue Pavilion

Attendants: Xiaolian (deceased)

Children: None

Character: Liu Cairén - Liu Rongniang

Family background: Daughter of a country gentry

Residence: Changchun Palace, Xianyu Pavilion

Palace staff: Xiaotao

Children: Miscarried

Character: Ayiguli - Consort He

Family background: Princess of the Xiongnu

Residence: Yufu Palace, Pifang Hall (main hall)

Palace staff: None

Children: None

One of the unnoticed odd settings:

Son of the late Emperor (Emperor Qianning):

Eldest: Xiao Yan - Crown Prince Yuanhui, son of Empress Yici

Second: Xiao Ye (died young), mother Empress Dowager Zhao Shi

Third: Xiao Sheng - Prince Cheng, Emperor, mother Empress Dowager Zhao Shi

Fourth: Xiao Xu - Prince Qi, commoner, mother Consort Li

Fifth: Xiao Shi - Prince Jin, mother Jing'an Jushi (Consort Ning)

Some unnoticed strange settings, part two

Some of the palace institutions:

Gongye Si: Chaotic and involved in various matters, including weaving, construction, attending the bedroom, storage, etc.

Neishi Si: Personnel management

Shenxing Si: Interrogation and punishment

Siyao Bureau: Pharmacy

Shangyi Si: Etiquette management

Yushanfang: Cooking department

Langhuan Ge: Library

Changmen Palace: Abandoned palace

Third unnoticed peculiar setting:

Names of eunuchs/matrona who have appeared:

Gongye Office: Quanfu (in charge of housing and furnishings), Quanshun (in charge of serving in the imperial chambers)

Neishi Office: Quanxi

Shenxing Office: Quanping

Siyao Bureau: Gao Fuquan

Shangyi Office: ?

Yushan Room: ?

Fourth unnoticed peculiar setting:

Imperial Medical Bureau:

Chief Physician: Cen Jigui

Left Deputy: He Yuanpan

Right Deputy: ?

Imperial Physician: Li Deqing

Physician Liu - Jiang Hui

Physician Qiu - Empress

Physician Cheng - Responsible for Liu Rongniang's pregnancy

Physician Lin (Lin Guida) - Pediatric genius

Fifth unnoticed peculiar setting:

Naming of apprentices similar to how giant pandas name their offspring:

e.g., Sheng An (master) - An Jing (apprentice)

e.g., Qing Feng (master) - Feng Shi (apprentice)

(Finally reached the word count to send, but pictures are more direct)

One,

Two,

Three,