But the bad things didn't stop there. In the next few days, five more people fell ill, all of them palace maids and eunuchs who served the Empress Dowager.
Several other concubines began to experience palpitations and dizziness.
Panic gripped the White Horse Temple, and just then, news of Princess Chu Mingshu's drowning leaked out. This only added to the already anxious and uneasy atmosphere.
Gradually, rumors began to circulate that the Empress Dowager had not been poisoned, but rather cursed. The people living at the foot of the mountain died in the same way.
At first, only a few people were spreading the word, but when Song Ting found out, he immediately beheaded him with a single sword stroke. Fearing him, the crowd remained quiet for a few days.
But as the Empress Dowager's condition worsened, this speculation could no longer be suppressed and surged towards the White Horse Temple like a raging flood. More and more people believed the rumor.
The blood in front of the Buddha statue had not yet dried, and a bloody storm was already brewing, just as Song Ting had long anticipated.
That evening, after Song Ting finished helping the Empress Dowager with her internal energy cultivation, she walked to the backyard of the side room and saw Chu Huaixu, dressed in red, sitting in front of a stone table, teasing a bird that had flown in from somewhere.
The bird was less than half the size of an adult man's palm, with beautiful feathers and great courage. It landed on the stone table and pecked at the rice right in front of Huaixu's palm.
Perhaps hearing footsteps, the bird cautiously raised its head, its beady eyes glancing warily in the direction Song Ting had come from. Suddenly, it spread its wings and flew up, disappearing in the blink of an eye onto a branch.
"My lord scared away my bird, what will you use to keep me company?" Chu Huaixu smiled with a sly look.
Song Ting walked over, took his thin wrist, and carefully wiped his palm, which was covered in rice residue, clean with a handkerchief. Then she lowered her head and placed a kiss on his palm.
"Young master doesn't need a bird, a puppy is enough."
Chu Huaixu chuckled and withdrew his hand, picked up the wine pot on the table and poured wine into two empty cups, then gestured for Song Ting to sit opposite him.
"Unfortunately, my dog is disobedient, so I don't really like it."
Song Ting drank the glass of wine and whispered, "Be obedient."
His body had been severely damaged a few days ago, and coupled with the daily need to expel the poison from the Empress Dowager, his recovery was very slow, and his complexion was visibly much paler than before.
After downing a glass of strong liquor, he coughed softly. This caused a slight flush to appear on his face.
"If that's the case, why save that woman?" Chu Huaixu's eyes were cold. "Do you always forget what you said and what you promised as an adult?"
His words were so blunt that Song Ting subconsciously looked around and said, "Be careful what you say."
Chu Huaixu gave a half-smile, not taking his warning to heart.
"Judging by the journey, that Chief Physician Wang should arrive in two days. Is the master forcing me to make another move before then?"
Fearing he might really do something reckless, Song Ting hurriedly explained, "The promises I made to you will always stand, but the Empress Dowager absolutely cannot die at Baima Temple. She must return to the Dayan Imperial Palace alive first."
Chu Huaixu revealed that strange smile once again, and Song Ting looked at him in return. Their gazes collided, like a silent confrontation.
After a while, Huai Xu lowered his eyes first. He stared at the plate of peanuts in his hand and curled the corner of his lips: "Sir, you are truly far-sighted."
"Young master, do not act rashly. Leave everything to me." Song Ting stopped his hand as he reached for the wine glass. "If I cannot ensure your safety, I will do everything in my power to stop you."
Before he could finish speaking, he received a heavy slap across the face. Chu Huaixu stared at him coldly: "Who do you think you are, to dare to tell me what to do?"
Clear finger marks were left on Song Ting's bloodless face. The man coughed lightly, took Chu Huaixu's hand, and gently rubbed his palm, his voice low and deep:
"A puppy is not worthy, but protecting its master is a puppy's instinct, even if it makes the master unhappy."
Chu Huaixu trembled with anger: "Then you are truly a loyal and devoted dog."
Song Ting kissed the slightly reddened fingertips: "Thank you for the compliment, Master."
"..."
The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had skin so thick that no one could match it; even Chu Huaixu, with his sharp tongue, couldn't get a bite out of him. He was ultimately outmaneuvered.
"I'm full, I'm going back to my room!" Chu Huaixu stood up angrily, about to leave, but was gently tugged at his sleeve. "Have something with me before you go."
Chu Huaixu really wanted to slap him on the other side of the face as well: "Eat my ass, I'm full!"
He pulled his sleeve out of Song Ting's hand, but before he could leave, Song Ting stood up warily and pulled him into her arms.
Chu Huaixu thought he was going to stop him and said fiercely, "What are you doing?!"
Song remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. Soon, Chu Huaixu heard increasingly loud, noisy footsteps approaching.
A group of guards approached quickly, led by Zhang Bingzhi's men, including Yang Zhaowen, the commander of the Imperial Guards.
Upon seeing Chu Huaixu, Yang Zhaowen waved his arm and said, "He's here. Take him away!"
The visitor is not friendly.
Song Ting hid Chu Huaixu behind his back and suddenly drew the soft sword wrapped around his waist: "Commander Yang, what do you want to do?!"
"Please forgive me, Commander, but I am here on the orders of the Grand Secretary to capture the sorcerer Huaiyue!"
Song Ting's expression turned solemn: "A demon?"
"Exactly," Yang Zhaowen said. "The eminent monk Kongxing of Baima Temple calculated that there is a demon in the temple causing trouble, intending to disrupt the blessing ceremony and damage the foundation of our Dayan. The Empress Dowager is under that demon's curse!"
"Nonsense!" Song Ting exclaimed, his face filled with murderous intent. "Huaiyue is my person. Does Lord Yang think I'm a demon too?!"
Yang Zhaowen bowed and said, "This humble servant dares not, but this sorcerer is cunning and may have the ability to bewitch people. It is possible that you, sir, have fallen into his trap."
Song Ting: "..."
In some respects, Yang Zhaowen was not wrong, because Huai Xu really does have the ability to bewitch people.
But only Song Ting could think about such things; if someone else said them, he would only want to snap that person's neck.
Therefore, his eyes darkened, and he coldly glared at the man in front of him: "You bastard, are you saying that I'm stupid and can't distinguish right from wrong?"
Chu Huaixu found it amusing when he heard himself described as a demon, and now, seeing the man surnamed Song swaggering around in front of Zhang Bingzhi's men, addressing them as "this lord" repeatedly, he found it even more hilarious.
These people were clearly there to capture him, but he showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he leaned close to Song Ting's ear and chuckled softly.
Others might not have noticed, but Song Ting heard it all too clearly: for the first time in such a tense standoff, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard turned red in the ears.
And inappropriately, some thoughts arose that were completely unrelated to the current situation.
While Yang Zhaowen appeared respectful, he showed no sign of backing down, subtly adopting a confrontational stance towards Song Ting.
"This humble servant dares not, but I am under orders from the Grand Secretary to ask Young Master Huaiyue to come and question us at all costs. I beg the Commander not to make things difficult for us."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com