Just as she finished speaking, Han Yan moved faster than Jing Xu and pulled out what was inside the bundle. It was something red. Elder Madam Zhou’s heart skipped a beat. Han Yan shook it out, and the red material unfurled in the wind, revealing embroidered mandarin ducks playing in water, with a golden ribbon bearing the character “Lan.” It was delicate and exquisite, clearly belonging to someone wealthy.

It was unmistakably a woman’s undergarment.

Han Yan covered her mouth and laughed: “Master Daoist, so this evil object you spoke of is a woman’s undergarment?”

At these words, the spectators burst into laughter. Jing Xu stood frozen, only able to look pleadingly at Madam Zhou. He had never imagined this situation – he had merely taken money to perform this act, but how had it gone so wrong from the start?

Zhuang Shi Yang’s face turned ashen. Minister Zhang and Elder Madam Zhou’s expressions were equally poor. Elder Madam Zhou’s face was deathly pale because the undergarment was unmistakably her one. How had it fallen into others’ hands? Feeling Minister Zhang’s chilling gaze, she was too frightened to make a sound.

“Oh?” Han Yan looked curiously at the garment in her hands: “This looks familiar. Last time when I was having tea at Madam Zhou’s, I believe I saw this drying outside. The embroidery is truly beautiful. The maid said… it belonged to Madam Zhou.” Han Yan smiled slightly: “Who was so mischievous to take Madam Zhou’s undergarment from Furong Garden?”

Elder Madam Zhou, as if granted a reprieve, immediately nodded repeatedly: “It must be someone’s prank. Who did this?”

At this moment, the guard whom Han Yan had earlier told to stay quiet spoke up: “This bundle was found in Master Zhuang’s room.”

With these words, everyone fell silent.

After a long while, Han Yan smiled and said: “How strange. How did Madam Zhou’s undergarment end up in my father’s room?”

Everyone’s expressions toward Elder Madam Zhou and Zhuang Shi Yang instantly became peculiar. In the great clan, casually taking another’s wife or concubine was highly immoral. Though Elder Madam Zhou was beautiful and charming, she was still Minister Zhang’s favored concubine. In recent days, people have noticed Elder Madam Zhou frequently visiting the Zhuang residence, initially believing it was sisterly affection for her sister. But now, it seemed to have deeper implications – it was to facilitate an affair with her brother-in-law.

Minister Zhang was already fuming. True, he knew about Elder Madam Zhou’s frequent visits to the Zhuang residence – he had arranged it himself, but only to obtain that item. Now this worthless woman had quietly made him a cuckold and even had the affair exposed before so many people. Why would Elder Madam Zhou’s undergarment be in Zhuang Shi Yang’s room? Everyone knew what it meant. By tomorrow morning, all of the capital would know that Minister Zhang couldn’t even control his own woman. No man could remain calm upon discovering his woman had made him a cuckold. Minister Zhang shot a venomous look at Elder Madam Zhou, then suddenly swept his sleeves and left.

“My lord… my lord…” Seeing Minister Zhang about to leave, Elder Madam Zhou panicked and immediately followed. Though she had entered the Zhuang residence for that item – a task given by Minister Zhang himself, who had promised to make her his primary wife if she succeeded – things had gone wrong. For years, though Elder Madam Zhou had been Minister Zhang’s favored concubine and enjoyed his love, human desire was endless. She had to think of her sons – if she became the primary wife, her sons would become legitimate heirs, and the difference between legitimate and illegitimate sons was vast. Thus, upon entering the Zhuang residence, she had sworn to obtain that item. She had indeed seduced Zhuang Shi Yang but only allowed him some liberties without actually doing anything. This undergarment must have been planted deliberately.

Minister Zhang kicked Elder Madam Zhou away and left without looking back. While others merely watched without speaking, Han Yan spoke slowly: “Don’t worry, Madam Zhou. Master Daoist said the undergarment was an evil object. Now, please let Master Daoist exorcise it for Madam Zhou.”

Jing Xu had already sensed things going wrong and nervously wiped his sweat: “Young lady… this…”

Zhuang Shi Yang, stunned by the sudden turn of events, now showed no concern for Elder Madam Zhou lying on the ground. Instead, he looked fearfully at those around him. Previously, he had been demoted for favoring a concubine over his wife. Now, with the added charge of adultery with another’s concubine, how could he ever recover? Moreover, Minister Zhang held considerable power in court – what consequences would come from offending him? Most importantly, Zhuang Shi Yang himself didn’t know how Elder Madam Zhou’s undergarment got there. He had never been intimate with her, so how could there be evidence? This was a frame-up, and realizing this, he was furious.

Zhuang Shi Yang stepped forward: “This is slander! Lan… Madam Zhou and I are innocent!”

Han Yan said: “Father, don’t be hasty. The urgent matter is having Master Jing Xu exorcise for us. Regardless of why the undergarment was in Father’s room, Master Daoist said it was an evil object, so it must be one.”

“You…” Madam Zhou saw things going wrong. Though she didn’t like Elder Madam Zhou, they were in this together. Seeing Elder Madam Zhou in trouble, Madam Zhou became anxious and glared at Han Yan: “Someone must be framing them.”

This implied Han Yan was behind the frame-up. Han Yan calmly smiled: “Aunt’s words remind me – didn’t Master Daoist just say I bring misfortune to father and husband? My mistake, I gave him the wrong birth details. Those were Aunt’s birth details, ah.” She pretended to glare at Ji Lan: “A while ago, when offering incense, we wanted to offer some for Aunt too, so I had this girl inquire about Aunt’s birth details. But Ji Lan was careless and mixed up Aunt’s birth details with mine.”

Ji Lan immediately knelt: “It was all Ji Lan’s fault. Ji Lan will never dare do this again.”

“What!” Madam Zhou almost jumped up: “That priest was just talking nonsense. I’m not someone who brings misfortune to my father and husband. Don’t listen to his nonsense!”

Han Yan exclaimed “Oh!” and looked at Madam Zhou with an ambiguous smile: “Wasn’t it Aunt and Madam Zhou who said Master Jing Xu was highly virtuous and most capable? How can you now say he’s talking nonsense? Aunt, aren’t you contradicting yourself? I’m truly confused now.”

She turned to the Seventh Prince, who had been silent and gloomy since the undergarment incident, and gracefully curtsied: “Didn’t Your Highness earlier send servants with invitations to summon Master Jing Xu, thus acknowledging his reputation? Master Jing Xu was invited by Your Highness. Aunt, speaking like this, aren’t you questioning His Highness’s intentions?”