Chapter 1046 - 1048: It Really Is Witchcraft_1
Bai Ruozhu was stunned. What did it mean by having a special soul? Just because her soul was prone to leaving her body?
The Empress Dowager and Princess Diao Bin both looked at Ning Yu with puzzled expressions and asked, "Master Ning, you know Madam Jiang?"
"A few days ago, I helped the soul of a maid’s relative from her residence ascend to the afterlife. Madam Jiang’s constitution is special, so having her help set up the array would be even better," Ning Yu explained.
With things having reached this point, could Bai Ruozhu say no? Moreover, seeing that the Empress Dowager was not suspicious, Bai Ruozhu really wanted to slap herself for having just told the Empress Dowager to "trust those whom she employed."
She had no choice but to steel herself and step into the position Ning Yu had indicated, awaiting his instructions.
"Madam Jiang, there’s no need to be nervous. Just stand still," Ning Yu said, grinning and showing his eight white teeth, "Princess Diao Bin, please stand in the center, close your eyes, and don’t be nervous. This array is only to check if you’re under any witchcraft. You won’t feel anything."
Princess Diao Bin nodded, walked carefully to the center of the array, and then glanced nervously at the Empress Dowager before closing her eyes.
"Your Highness, I’m beginning now. Please ensure that we are not disturbed," said Ning Yu as he bowed to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager hastily ordered a nearby female officer to guard the door, preventing anyone from entering without permission. Only then did she allow Ning Yu to continue.
Ning Yu took out a peach wood sword from who-knows-where and began to move around the periphery of the array drawn on the ground, harmonizing his movements with his weapon. Upon closer inspection, Bai Ruozhu realized that he was not just walking; it seemed to be a special step method.
Watching Ning Yu wave the sword and muttering to himself, a thought suddenly popped into Bai Ruozhu’s head—was this man practicing demon-catching sorcery?
Was he going to catch her, thinking she was a demon?
Bai Ruozhu shook her head silently. She must be overthinking. Sorcery from ancient times was particularly mysterious, so it was normal for it to be somewhat unusual.
Soon, Ning Yu’s movements became faster and his chanting more indistinct. The three talismans in his hand suddenly flew up and burned on their own, heading towards three directions within the array.
Bai Ruozhu watched in astonishment. Suddenly, a blaze of red light filled the array, all of it falling onto Princess Diao Bin.
For some reason, Bai Ruozhu felt a tightening in her heart, but although Princess Diao Bin squinted and furrowed her brows due to nervousness, she had no other reaction. Soon, all the light had entered Princess Diao Bin’s body, as if it completely disappeared.
Bai Ruozhu was confused and thought it was over when suddenly, a massive amount of light burst from the top of Princess Diao Bin’s head. However, the light was green and some shade of dark, inky green!
Ning Yu stopped moving, his face showing a flicker of surprise and apprehension. It took him a long moment before he finally spoke: "It’s done. The princess can open her eyes now."
Princess Diao Bin opened her eyes and looked around, noticing that the ashen array drawn beneath her feet had completely vanished, but aside from that, she saw nothing else.
"So, what’s the result?" Princess Diao Bin asked nervously.
The Empress Dowager stepped forward to support Diao Bin, asking anxiously, "What does that dark green light mean?"
"If the light from the array enters one’s body and comes out red, it means the body is free from any witchcraft. But if it is green, it means a curse has been cast. The depth of the green also represents the severity of the curse," Ning Yu’s brows furrowed deeply, and his voice lowered as he spoke.
"Can you tell when the princess was cursed? How could she just suddenly become like this? Who wants to harm her?" The Empress Dowager asked, her emotions somewhat agitated, as tears uncontrollably fell.
Ning Yu’s gaze flickered slightly, but he shook his head and said, "Whoever cast the curse, we need someone skilled in investigations to look into it. I really have no idea."
Bai Ruozhu stared at Ning Yu, and step by step, she approached him, "You just promised the Empress Dowager that you would tell the truth, so what are you hiding now?"
Ning Yu’s eyelids twitched incessantly; how could he have expected to be seen through by Madame Jiang like this? Before he left, his master had reminded him that when dealing with the royal family, one should not say too much. Some things, once spoken of in detail, might involve the royal family’s secrets and could bring great trouble upon oneself.
Upon hearing Bai Ruozhu speak like this, the Empress Dowager also quickly asked, "Master Ning, don’t hide anything from me, otherwise I can only wait at the Astrology Tower for the National Master myself."
Ning Yu felt a headache like no other. His master was avoiding this matter due to poor health and had sent him in his stead. If the Empress Dowager was to wait at the Astrology Tower every day, his master couldn’t truly avoid seeing her, could he?
Thinking this, he glared at Bai Ruozhu in frustration; it was all because this woman’s eyes were too sharp.
"It’s that the green color also signifies that the princess might have transferred the curse onto herself for someone else, and as for the duration, nobody knows." Eventually, Ning Yu had no choice but to reveal this much.
Both the Empress Dowager and Princess Diao Bin shuddered, and Princess Diao Bin’s face turned even paler, her lips quivering as she asked, "Who, who would transfer a curse onto me?"
The Empress Dowager thought of Chengshui Country’s secret past, a tale whispered among several royal families. The Empress Dowager had heard of it before. For a moment, her face turned as white as paper, murmuring to herself, "No, this can’t be possible, how can it be like this?"
Ning Yu shrank his neck; he knew he shouldn’t have said it. After all, his troubles would only become greater now.
Seizing the moment while the Empress Dowager and Princess Diao Bin were beside themselves, he casually bid farewell and took off in a flash.
Bai Ruozhu called after him but couldn’t stop him. She could only grit her teeth and comfort both the Empress Dowager and Princess Diao Bin briefly. She contemplated excusing herself first and returning to visit once the Empress Dowager and Princess Diao Bin were feeling a bit better?
Just then, a court lady rushed in with a message, "Your Highness, Consort Yue has had an accident and slipped; she’s already bleeding. The Imperial Medical Bureau fears that..."
Still immersed in Princess Diao Bin’s situation, the Empress Dowager was startled by this news, "How could she suddenly slip? Has the Empress seen her? Instruct the Imperial Medical Bureau that they must protect the child!"
"The Empress contracted a chill yesterday and, fearing to pass the illness onto Consort Yue, she has not yet visited. Should Your Highness see for yourself?" the court lady asked cautiously.
The Empress Dowager quickly wiped away her tears and said to Princess Diao Bin, "Good child, rest here in your mother’s palace, I’ll go see Wenwen."
Princess Diao Bin also suppressed her emotions, wanting to go along, but knowing her current condition wasn’t suitable for appearing in public, she nodded and said, "Mother, take Sister Ruozhu with you. Her medical skills are exceptional."
Upon hearing of Consort Yue’s fall, Bai Ruozhu knew there must be some conspiracy at play. The harem was rife with schemes, yet she had no desire to become entangled in these harem battles.
The Empress Dowager walked over and took Bai Ruozhu’s hand, "Ruozhu, help me, please. Wenwen is my niece, and I’ve watched her grow up. I truly can’t bear for her and her child to suffer any mishap."
So there was this connection. Bai Ruozhu hastily said, "Alright, Ruozhu will certainly do her best to help."