Shen Youying was frightened by his description, but she couldn't imagine such pain, and stared at him blankly with wide eyes.

Xue Shen seemed to derive a sense of pleasure from her fear, and even his expression was no longer so sinister: "Later I heard that there was a master who was skilled in making elixirs, and that the elixir could cure all diseases. So I sent people to search for it everywhere."

Shen Youying's lips moved slightly, then she pursed them again.

Is there any medicine in this world that can cure all diseases? It's all just a scam.

So many emperors of previous dynasties pursued immortality, yet not one of them ascended to heaven.

"There are countless Taoists in this world, but few are truly capable. Fortunately, I finally found a celestial master. The celestial master was compassionate and gave me two pills, saying they would ensure my safety for two years. During those two years of taking the pills, I did not cough up blood again, and my health gradually improved. Even when my leg ailment flared up, it was much better. But after two years, the pills ran out, and my old ailment flared up from time to time, making life worse than death. That celestial master refused to stay back then, and I could not find him again. I had no choice but to spend my time searching for a capable master, and finally I found the Fire Cave Master."

"Thanks to the pills refined by Master Huodong, I have become healthier. Now I not only stop coughing up blood, but my leg ailment also rarely flares up anymore."

As Shen Youying listened, her expression grew increasingly surprised.

My initial disbelief turned into a four or five-tenths degree of belief.

She pursed her lips somewhat shyly, thinking to herself that there were so many extraordinary people in the world, and that her previous judgment of the Fire Cave Master was too arbitrary.

If the other party were truly only good at saying a few auspicious words, how could they have gained the trust of the King of Qin?

"I will follow the master's instructions and complete the ceremony properly," Shen Youying said, bowing her head.

Xue Shen grasped her hand, his expression solemn: "My legs are weak, so I will have to rely on the Princess for help later."

Shen Youying nodded gently.

Xue Shen took the prepared mask from the tray in the maid's hands and put it on her.

The exorcism mask was painted with a hideous ghost face, colored with bright colors, baring its fangs and claws, and was extremely frightening. After Shen Youying put it on, her entire face was covered, and she could only see people through the openings in the mask's eyes.

She saw Xue Shen pick up another mask and put it on himself.

After Xue Shen rang the bell, six young Taoist priests filed in, swept their whisks around the two of them, then sat cross-legged in a circle around them, chanting incantations.

A quarter of an hour later, the two followed the Taoist priests out, and the ceremony officially began.

Master Huodong had his young apprentice teach Shen Youying a few movements, making sure she remembered them. Then he invited her and the King of Qin to the altar.

The two were positioned in the very center, with Master Huodong offering prayers before the altar. Sixteen other Taoist priests surrounded them, chanting and moving in unison with their strange and peculiar steps.

Following the Taoist's instructions, Shen Youying awkwardly began to dance around the inner circle.

Although it is called a blessing dance, it is actually more like another kind of exquisite and complex movement than dancing. When walking, the body sways slightly like dancing, and it subtly echoes the movements of the Taoist priests surrounding them.

Shen Youying was a little awkward at first, but after walking around a few times, she gradually became more skilled.

Because he was in a wheelchair, Xue Shen was surrounded at the very center. He made a Taoist gesture, his lips moving as he silently recited scriptures.

...

The ritual of exorcising evil and bestowing blessings began at Hai Shi (9-11 PM) and continued until the second quarter of Zi Shi (11:45 PM).

If Shen Youying hadn't been in relatively good physical condition, she wouldn't have been able to finish the whole thing.

As soon as the ceremony was completed, her body swayed slightly, and she had to hold onto Xue Shen's wheelchair to steady herself.

Seeing this, Xue Shen reached out to help her and asked, "Is Your Highness tired?" He then instructed Fu Cui, who was standing nearby, "Help Your Highness to go and rest."

Slightly out of breath from exhaustion, Shen Youying was startled and looked up at him.

I felt that Xue Shen's voice sounded a bit strange just now, unlike usual, and had a sense of unfamiliarity.

Xue Shen called her name again. Her face was obscured by the mask, but his tone was concerned.

Shen Youying shook her head. That momentary sense of unfamiliarity seemed to have vanished, as if it were an illusion.

She took Fu Cui's arm and went to change and rest.

But after taking a few steps, she subconsciously turned back to look at Xue Shen, who was also looking at her. Their eyes met briefly in mid-air, but because they were both wearing masks, they could not see each other's expressions.

Shen Youying quickly changed her clothes and came out. Xue Shen was already in the courtyard talking with Huodong Zhenren before her.

Seeing her being helped out by a maid, Xue Shen stepped forward to help her personally and said in a low voice, "It will be over after the sky lanterns are released."

More than a dozen sky lanterns had been prepared in the courtyard, their bodies still covered with runes that Shen Youying could not recognize.

The two lit the sky lanterns together, then stood side by side, watching the Taoist priests release them into the sky.

The weather is fine tonight, and the wind is gentle. The sky lanterns rise steadily into the sky, shining like stars in the night.

Shen Youying looked up at the sky lantern flying further and further away, but then heard the person next to her ask in surprise, "What are you doing over there? Why is it so bright?"

Shen Youying followed the sound and saw that Xue Shen was pointing in the direction of the palace.

It was past midnight, but the sky was still bright in the direction of the palace, as if it were daytime.

The two stared at it for a long time, and then Xue Shen suddenly said in a deep voice, "No, that looks... like a fire."

The palace is on fire.

Realizing that something had happened at the palace, Xue Shen instructed Wang Deshun to escort Huodong Zhenren and his party back to Chuyun Temple, while also ordering his maid to escort Shen Youying to rest. He himself went to his study and sent someone to the palace gates to inquire about the situation.

Shen Youying was escorted back to Tingmei Pavilion by a group of maids and servants. She was extremely tired, but the fire in the palace somehow weighed on her mind. She tossed and turned on the bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep.

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