Chapter 29 Who is playing tricks?

Chu Xuanyi reported to Xiao Yu in detail the discovery of the talisman in the Imperial Master's Mansion and Wang Wu's initial confession. He emphasized how Ah Jiu had "sense" the "emotions" and "smell" of the wooden bird, thus helping to find clues.

Xiao Yu listened quietly, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist, and no emotion could be seen in his deep eyes.

After Chu Xuanyi finished speaking, he slowly spoke in a calm voice: "What do you think about the Yongning Marquis Mansion?"

Chu Xuanyi was stunned for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, this matter... is too coincidental. Miss Jiu's words at the flower viewing banquet unexpectedly correspond to the experience of the eldest son of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion. I initially thought it was nonsense, but now I think, perhaps... Miss Jiu really does have some extraordinary insights."

"The power of insight?" Xiao Yu's lips curled up in an ambiguous arc. "Or is it some more direct 'seeing'?"

He paused, then continued, "The art of warding off evil is incredibly vicious. Since the person behind this dared to act in the Imperial Master's residence, their target must be someone significant. Lord Chu, have you offended anyone recently, or... discovered any secrets you shouldn't have?"

Chu Xuanyi smiled bitterly, "Your Highness, I'm a minister who is dedicated to the public good. I wouldn't say everyone praises me, but I do consider myself upright. As for secrets... apart from knowing that this girl, Ah Jiu, can drive people half to death, I can't think of any other significant secrets."

Xiao Yu said calmly, "Then it might be coming for Ah Jiu."

Chu Xuanyi's heart trembled: "Your Highness, are you saying... someone wants to harm Ah Jiu?"

"Perhaps," Xiao Yu cast his gaze out the window, "she saw too many things she shouldn't have seen, or...her very existence was an eyesore to some people. Master Xuanxu took her away and gave her a drug that might have sealed her memory. There must be something hidden behind this."

He pondered for a moment and ordered, "Immediately send someone to secretly protect the Imperial Master's Mansion, especially Ah Jiu's safety. Continue interrogating Wang Wu and see if you can dig out more clues about the masked man. Also," he looked at Chu Xuanyi, "have Ah Jiu recall carefully. Besides the 'smell of dried pickles' and the 'bitter taste of medicinal residue', what other special things can she 'sense' from the wooden bird?"

"I obey your order!" Chu Xuanyi accepted the order.

At this moment in the Imperial Master's Mansion, Ajiu was squatting in his room, staring at the wooden bird that Chu Xuanyi had temporarily placed in a brocade box.

"Chouchou Bird, Chouchou Bird, do you miss your master very much?" Ajiu poked the wooden bird's head with his finger. "Is your master also like you, not liking to take a bath and smelling bad?"

Mu Niao naturally wouldn't answer her.

Jiu tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly his eyes lit up. "I know! Are you homesick? Is your home somewhere... with lots and lots of moldy books, and lots and lots of smelly medicine jars?"

She nodded to herself, "Yeah! That must be the case! Your master must be an old unclean man who likes to hide in a dark room to read and secretly eat candy beans for fear of being discovered!"

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was of the truth. She even carefully took out a piece of maltose from her pouch and placed it next to the wooden bird: "Here's some candy. Eat it and you won't cry anymore! Wait for your master to come and pick you up!"

Chu Xuanyi returned from the palace and immediately passed on Xiao Yu's instructions. He then found Ajiu who was trying to teach the wooden bird to "sing".

"Ajiu," Chu Xuanyi said, trying to sound friendly. "Take a closer look at this little bird. Besides those smells, does it tell you anything else? For example, what color does it like? Or where did it come from?"

Ah Jiu blinked his big eyes, staring at the wooden bird for a while, then pointed at the cinnabar talisman under its wings and said in confusion, "Master, this red bug seems to be moving! It said...it said it wants to go to a place with lots...lots of 'gold ingots' to find its other friend...that friend also stinks and likes to wear a tall, pointed hat..."

Gold ingots?

A tall, pointy hat?

Chu Xuanyi suddenly had an idea and said incoherently, "Could it be... a Taoist temple or a Buddhist temple?! Believers often offer gold ingots in those places, and Taoist priests or some monks do wear tall hats!"

Moreover, some practitioners do use various herbs, so it is not surprising that they have a medicinal smell on their bodies!

Ah Jiu's shocking remarks about "Red Bugs Looking for Friends" and "Gold Ingots Complimenting" also made Xiao Yu, who had just learned about this through the secret guard, fall into deeper contemplation.

"Taoist temple... Buddhist temple..." Xiao Yu's slender fingers tapped lightly on the imperial desk, making a regular "knock knock" sound.

There are quite a few Taoist temples and monasteries with great popularity inside and outside the capital, but the scope of those that meet the conditions of "harboring filth and dirt", "being able to practice the art of exorcism", and "having people wearing high hats" can be greatly narrowed down.

"Pass the order down," Xiao Yu's eyes flashed with a cold light, "Secretly investigate all Taoist temples and monasteries in and around the capital, focusing on those that operate in a secretive manner, have little contact with the outside world, or are rumored to be involved in unorthodox Taoist techniques. Especially those... those with strong incense sales, amassing a lot of wealth, and whose masters or abbots have a habit of wearing 'flattering hats'!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "flattering." Although Ah Jiu's descriptions were childish, they often got to the point.

"Also," Xiao Yu added, "have the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple secretly cooperate and review any files related to disappearances, sudden deaths, or strange cases involving Taoist temples in recent years. See if they can find any clues related to 'Yan Sheng Techniques', 'Herb Smells', or 'The Smell of Books and Ink'."

Chu Xuanyi was equally busy at the Imperial Master's residence. While comforting (or rather, trying not to get mad at) Ah Jiu, who was attempting to paint the "ugly bird" a "beautiful new outfit," he urgently summoned his closest associates and directed his investigation towards the religious sites in the capital.

"Sir," a shrewd and capable aide mused, "If it's truly connected to a Taoist temple, while the scope has been narrowed, these individuals often operate in secret, have numerous followers, and their connections are complex, making them difficult to track down. Furthermore, if they truly dare to attack the Imperial Master's Mansion, they likely have even greater backing."

Chu Xuanyi nodded. "I understand. We must proceed with caution and not alert the enemy. Start by investigating those smaller temples and monasteries that aren't particularly popular, but have some strange rumors circulating around them. Especially those... temple masters or abbots who like to play tricks on others and have some shady habits."

He recalled Ah Jiu's portrait of the wooden bird's owner—"an old man who didn't like to be clean, liked to hide in a dark room to read, and secretly ate candy beans."

Although it sounded like childish nonsense, Chu Xuanyi no longer dared to underestimate Ah Jiu's "intuition". Perhaps the mastermind behind this was actually a guy with these strange quirks!