“Twenty-five years ago, a woman lived in Feihan Courtyard. She became pregnant around the same time as the Princess. I suspect that back then, the Old Marquis deliberately brought both the Princess and that woman to an outside residence to give birth together, then brought them back to the marquis manor under the pretense of twins, all to give that woman’s child a legitimate status. Who would have known that while that woman’s child was born successfully, the Princess’s pregnancy was deliberately sabotaged and lost. I just don’t know how the Old Marquis convinced the Princess to claim that child as her own back then. That’s why the Princess has been staying in the Buddhist hall all these years—not because her body was weakened after childbirth, but because she suffered tremendous shock and became what she is today.”
Xiao Zhixuan’s expression changed several times as she listened. After a while, she sighed with emotion: “If that’s the case, then the Princess is also a pitiful person. But who exactly was that woman from Feihan Courtyard? Was she Father’s kept woman? Why didn’t he formally take her as a concubine instead of using such methods to arrange for her child? What position did this put the Princess in!” Though she had always suspected the Princess of causing Concubine Cai’s death and harbored deep resentment, she was still a woman herself. Hearing such a story now, she couldn’t help but feel indignant on behalf of the Princess from years past.
Yuanxi shook her head, her eyes somewhat confused: “I don’t know either, but I always feel this woman’s identity is extremely crucial. Otherwise, why would they persist in refusing to reveal even a fraction of information at this point? Even Yunniang would risk harming the child in the Princess’s womb for the sake of that woman.”
Xiao Zhixuan pondered for a long time but ultimately shook her head helplessly, then asked with concern: “What about Elder Brother? How is he now?”
Yuanxi sighed: “Not well. He’s unwilling to face the Old Marquis and doesn’t know how to face the Princess either. He just locks himself in his room every day. I don’t know how to comfort him.”
Just then, several servants who had gone to purchase ritual offerings and incense candles returned to the manor. They were in the courtyard listening to the steward’s instructions for arrangements, their muffled voices drifting into the room and stirring something in Yuanxi’s heart. She walked to the window and watched for a long time, then suddenly turned back and asked: “The Buddhist hall’s annual ritual ceremony is about to begin, isn’t it?”
Xiao Zhixuan nodded without understanding: “Yes, preparations always start around this time each year.”
Yuanxi suddenly said: “Xuan’er, would you like to know what secrets are really hidden in the Princess’s Buddhist hall?”
Xiao Zhixuan started, looking at her in stunned silence: “What… what secrets could there be in the Buddhist hall?”
Yuanxi’s gaze gradually deepened: “I don’t know, but I always feel that the Princess has been hiding in the Buddhist hall all these years, secretly doing certain things. Do you remember? Back then, Concubine Wang insisted that the Old Marquis renovate the Buddhist hall. I think she must have discovered something. I even feel that the deaths of Concubine Wang and Concubine Cai are both connected to this matter.”
At the mention of her mother’s death, Xiao Zhixuan’s eyes grew gloomy again. She scratched at the table with her fingernails, appearing restless and troubled. Yuanxi walked over and grasped her hand: “Xuan’er, I will definitely fulfill what I promised you. Though the Princess may be pitiful, that doesn’t mean she can harm others. I even think that woman was also killed by her…”
Her eyes flickered, unwilling to continue. But Xiao Zhixuan read much from her expression and suddenly felt a chill throughout her body, not daring to imagine how Elder Brother would face such a reality if all this were true.
On the day the ritual ceremony began, candles burned brightly before the Buddhist hall and sandalwood incense swirled in the air. Several purple-red sandalwood incense sticks were inserted at the entrance, and large bronze ritual furnaces were arranged before the altar. Atop the furnaces, fierce beast-head decorations glared menacingly at the solemnly assembled crowd in the courtyard.
Orderly chanting arose as Master Zhengyan, the abbot from Pudu Temple, led many monks dressed in gray robes. They stood before the ritual furnaces with hands pressed together, eyes closed, devoutly reciting scriptures. Behind them stood the members of the marquis household participating in the ceremony, all wearing solemn expressions as they followed the chanting.
The Princess, supported by Nanny Yu, stood at the very front, her gaze fixed intently on the ritual furnace before her. The surrounding blue smoke writhed and twisted, almost enveloping her figure completely, causing Yuanxi, standing behind her, to squint but unable to make out her expression clearly.
Yuanxi also directed her gaze toward the ritual furnace. According to the steward responsible for ceremony preparations, the annual ritual ceremony simply involved chanting scriptures and praying before the Buddhist hall, then throwing all incense, candles, and offerings into the ritual furnace to be burned. The furnace was prepared in advance, filled with incense ash, and after all items were completely burned, specialists would handle the disposal.
Yuanxi deliberately moved forward slightly, wanting to see clearly what was inside the furnace, but couldn’t make anything out. Her sleeve accidentally brushed against the Princess, who turned back with a puzzled glare. Realizing her impropriety, Yuanxi quickly stepped back. Yet she still felt there was something inexplicably strange about this ceremony, though the rich sandalwood fragrance kept penetrating her nostrils, making her cover her mouth and cough several times.
Standing beside her were Xiao Du, whose gaze was equally profound, and Xiao Zhixuan, who appeared restless and anxious. This year, with so many incidents having occurred in the household, everyone’s attitude toward participating in the ceremony carried subtle undertones. The resounding chant echoed endlessly through the hall—could the profound Buddhist teachings truly dispel the demons in their hearts?
After the chanting concluded, Master Zhengyan called out loudly: “The supervisor offers incense and prayers, the high priest performs obeisance,” then recited a passage of praise before saying to the Princess with hands pressed together: “Princess, Old Marquis, the ritual ceremony may now begin.” The Princess nodded, glanced at the Old Marquis standing beside her, and raised her hand to instruct the stewards to bring forward the offerings and incense candles, throwing them all into the ritual furnace. Immediately, flames shot skyward, casting everyone’s faces in a reddish glow.
In just a few short days, the Old Marquis appeared to have aged considerably, the lines on his face becoming more pronounced. His vision blurred in the rising black smoke, and he seemed to see many faces within it, though they were all ultimately consumed and devoured by the dancing flames.
At this moment, Yuanxi’s brow furrowed tightly. She felt there was something strange about this fragrance. The ceremony had already lit too many incense candles, and since early morning, the sandalwood scent had permeated the entire courtyard. But when the offerings were thrown into the ritual furnace, an even more intense exotic fragrance arose. Yuanxi couldn’t identify what substance produced this scent, but she was certain it was buried in the ritual furnace. She tugged at Xiao Zhixuan’s sleeve and asked: “Did previous ceremonies always have such heavy fragrance? Where does this scent come from?”
Xiao Zhixuan nodded, seeming long accustomed to it: “The Princess says she doesn’t like the smell of smoke, so every year during the burning, some fragrances are added. As for what exactly, I’m not very clear.”
Yuanxi’s suspicions deepened, but the overwhelming exotic fragrance made her head ache. She tried hard to sniff, wanting to distinguish other scents within the fragrance, but couldn’t help feeling nauseous. Finally, this strange sensation became unbearable, her body swayed, and she quickly fell into a solid embrace.
She raised her pale face and saw Xiao Du’s concerned eyes fixed on her. Yuanxi quickly gripped his hand, seeking to draw some warmth from it. At this moment, despite the surrounding fire and candles, she felt chilled to the bone.
Seeing her distress, Xiao Du immediately whispered in her ear: “What’s wrong? If you’re unwell, go back to your room and rest.”
Yuanxi’s grip on his hand was trembling as she whispered back: “This ceremony is somehow wrong… very wrong!”
Xiao Du’s gaze deepened further. Disregarding the stares of those around them, he let her lean into his embrace, placed his broad palm over her eyes, and whispered softly in her ear: “Then don’t look. We’ll discuss everything after it ends.”
Seeing this scene, the Princess’s lips curved in a barely perceptible cold smile. She tightened her grip on Nanny Yu’s supporting hand so forcefully her fingernails nearly embedded in the flesh. Nanny Yu gasped in pain but dared not make a sound. Then she saw the Princess’s lips move without producing sound, but she could read clearly what the Princess said: “Handle the matter afterward personally.” Nanny Yu’s heart trembled as she nodded slightly.
After the ceremony ended, everyone dispersed to return to their respective courtyards. After Nanny Yu helped the Princess back to her room, she personally led several servants to lift the ritual furnace onto a cart, then transported it through many small alleys until they finally reached a remote hillside.
Nanny Yu raised her hand to stop them, looked back in all directions, and seeing no one had followed, directed everyone to pour out the incense ash from the ritual furnace. Then she suddenly frowned: “I need to relieve myself. You all go outside and keep watch.” The servants quickly lifted the ritual furnace back onto the cart and pushed it outside the hill to wait.
Nanny Yu walked to the small mountain of dumped incense ash, pulled out several pieces of meat and threw them on top, then softly whistled. Soon a pack of wild dogs ran over, fighting over the meat on the ground, then began expertly digging through and gnawing at the incense ash with practiced familiarity.
Nanny Yu’s face revealed a mysterious smile as she dusted off the ash from her clothes and walked away. At that moment, a shadow guard in black clothing and boots suddenly jumped down from a tree. He first drew his blade to drive away the wild dogs, then covered his mouth and nose with a cloth and began carefully searching through the pile of incense ash.
The black incense ash was mixed with purple-red candle wax, and digging deeper revealed various offerings burned beyond recognition. Finally, his hand stopped, and he bent down to pick up a section of blackened white bone. He frowned, quickly identifying it as a human leg bone.