HLnovel Chapter 97 097 Take the Challenge
Chapter 97 097 Take the Challenge
Chapter 97 097 Take the Challenge
When the words "Lanxin Courtyard" came out of Butler Ye's mouth, everyone's eyes suddenly turned to Ye Pianran.
Aunt Song even hoped to see a hint of surprise on Ye Pianran's face that would please her, but to her disappointment, Ye Pianran remained calm, as if she already knew the outcome, her composure somewhat eerily unsettling.
Marquis Anshi had just witnessed Ye Pianran cure Madam Song's poison, and not wanting to suspect Lanxin Courtyard for the time being, he asked Wu Yanzi again to confirm:
"Master Wu Yanzi, are you sure you didn't see wrong? Did the foul air really come from the largest courtyard on the far east side?"
“Absolutely true,” Wu Yanzi said. “As soon as I approached that courtyard, the yellow talisman in my hand immediately caught fire on its own, which shows that the courtyard is indeed filled with yin energy and is an ominous place.”
At this moment, Ye Yanxun stepped out from behind Marquis Anshi, his face grim, and shouted, "Daoist, you can't just say things like that! My mother lives in that courtyard, the First Madam of the Marquis's mansion! Do you know what the consequences of your words will be?"
"The ways of gods and ghosts are always something that believers believe in to the fullest extent, while those who don't believe won't believe even if they see it with their own eyes. My ability to exorcise evil spirits depends entirely on 'fate.' If you are not willing to resolve this, then I will take my leave." Wu Yanzi said coldly, and then turned to leave.
Madam Song was one of those people who believed deeply in the supernatural and ghostly ways. Fearing that the Marquis's mansion might really decline because of this, she quickly tried to persuade him to stay: "Taoist Master, please wait!"
Wu Yanzi turned around and asked, "Is there anything else, Madam?"
"I believe what you say, Master. Please don't leave. Take us to Lanxin Courtyard to exorcise the evil spirits!" Old Madam Song said urgently.
Wu Yanzi stroked his beard gently and nodded, saying, "Since it is the old lady's request, then please follow me."
Old Madam Song tried to stand up, but Marquis Anshi and Ye Yanxun, who were standing beside her, quickly stepped forward to support her. Ye Yanxun frowned and said worriedly:
“Grandmother, you are still recovering from your illness. You should rest in your room. We will go with Daoist Wu Yanzi.”
"No! Didn't you hear what Master Wu Yanzi said? This foul air will affect the fortune of the entire Marquis's mansion, causing the century-old foundation of the Marquis's mansion to collapse! How can I stay in my room with such serious consequences!" Old Madam Song said sternly.
Ye Yanxun and An Shihou exchanged a helpless glance, then squatted down and said, "Since Grandmother insists on going, then your grandson will carry you on his back."
Ye Yanxun's actions were very pleasing to Madam Song. She smiled with a mixture of love and reluctance and said, "Alright, your grandmother isn't so old that she can't walk this far. I appreciate your filial piety. Get up."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yanxun could only stand up and go to help Madam Song.
Although Ye Yanxun had been raised by Gongsun Yuan since childhood, he was, after all, the first son of Marquis Anshi, and was handsome, intelligent, and bore a striking resemblance to the young Marquis Anshi. Therefore, Old Madam Song doted on Ye Yanxun. Gently patting his hand, Old Madam Song said:
"Good child, your grandmother has certainly not spoiled you for nothing."
However, as she walked past Ye Pianran, Old Madam Song paused slightly, a fleeting ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
"Hmph, you'd better pray that nothing happens to your Lanxin Courtyard! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
This blatantly rude attitude showed a complete disregard for Ye Pianran's earlier act of healing and detoxifying her. Anyone else would have wished they hadn't treated her at all. But Ye Pianran seemed oblivious, her shimmering eyes crinkling as she said:
"Ran'er, like her grandmother, is very curious about the foul air that Daoist Wu Yanzi mentioned."
Wu Yanzi led the group from the Marquis's residence toward Lanxin Courtyard, flicking his whisk as he walked and chanting something in a dignified manner.
Servants passing by occasionally on the road, seeing this spectacle, couldn't help but show curiosity and quietly followed at the end of the procession. When Wu Yanzi finally stopped outside Lanxin Courtyard, almost everyone in the Marquis's mansion, including the servants, had gathered there, peering into Lanxin Courtyard with strange expressions.
Ye Wenjin, who had rushed over, pushed through the crowd and approached Aunt Song. She tugged at her sleeve, glanced gloatingly at Ye Pianran behind Marquis Anshi, and whispered:
"Mother, what's going on? Why are so many people gathered here?"
Aunt Song gave her a very smug look and said, "Just you wait and see, the show is about to begin."
Ahead, Wu Yanzi, holding a whisk and dressed in a Taoist robe, took out a yellow talisman from his robe and reached into the air. Everyone held their breath, watching the talisman in his hand. With a "pop," the talisman spontaneously combusted.
Having witnessed the yellow talisman spontaneously combust, Madam Song now completely believed what Wu Yanzi had said and exclaimed in shock, "Heavens! There really is an evil spirit in Lanxin Courtyard!"
Madam Song's exclamation was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. At this moment, everyone gathered outside Lanxin Courtyard showed expressions of fear on their faces.
Evil spirits! There are evil spirits!
Marquis Anshi's face darkened: "Daoist Wu Yanzi, I grant you permission to lead men into Lanxin Courtyard to search. You must find the source of the foul air and eradicate it completely, leaving no future trouble!"
"Please rest assured, my lord, I am destined to serve your household. I will do my utmost to remove this filth from your household and restore peace and tranquility to you and your mother."
After saying that, Wu Yanzi took out a compass, led the guards of the Marquis's mansion into Lanxin Courtyard, and began to search the place while muttering a bunch of incomprehensible incantations.
Perhaps hearing the commotion outside, a graceful figure slowly emerged from the house. Gongsun Yuan stood by the door, her gaze sweeping over Wu Yanzi, who held a whisk and compass, and then over the dense crowd of onlookers outside, before finally settling on An Shihou. Without surprise or delight, she asked calmly:
"What does this mean, Lord Marquis? Why have you allowed people to enter my Lanxin Courtyard and search it without my permission?"
Upon hearing her words, Marquis Anshi's face immediately darkened: "What do you mean 'yours' and 'mine'? The entire Marquis's mansion belongs to me. I can let whoever I want in. Do I need to ask you?"
“The Marquis’s mansion is naturally under the Marquis’s control,” Gongsun Yuan said. “I am merely worried for the Marquis.”
"What are you worried about? What's there to worry about?" Marquis Anshi frowned in confusion.
“These guards are men, after all. If they barge in like this and happen to catch me bathing and changing, it’s not just a matter of my reputation being ruined, but I’m afraid Your Highness will feel embarrassed,” Gongsun Yuan said.
Although her words sounded harsh, the logic behind them was sound. Even though their marriage was already strained and their relationship was not harmonious, she was still the legitimate wife of the Marquis's household, and her honor and disgrace were closely related to Marquis Anshi. No matter how cold Marquis Anshi was to her, he could not ignore her situation.
Having clearly understood this, Marquis Anshi explained stiffly, "It's not that I deliberately didn't inform you; it's just that the matter happened so suddenly that I took such measures directly. I'll explain this to you later. Let them investigate your courtyard first."
Gongsun Yuan's gaze swept lightly across Aunt Song's face without leaving a trace, and then she smiled slightly: "Alright, let them investigate then."
Since giving birth prematurely to the mentally challenged Ye Yankang, Gongsun Yuan has never smiled in front of Marquis Anshi, to the point that Marquis Anshi has almost forgotten what her smile looks like.
At this moment, Lanxin Courtyard was filled with soft whispers. Taoist priests and guards moved around the courtyard, and the atmosphere was tense and slightly eerie. If it were anyone else, they might have been terrified by this scene, but Gongsun Yuan seemed to care nothing at all. She stood there indifferently, with a faint smile on her face. Her whole demeanor was noble and otherworldly, like a secluded orchid blooming in a secluded valley.
Marquis Anshi had to admit that Gongsun Yuan's appearance and talent were among the best in the capital, whether fifteen years ago or now, and no one could surpass him.
If she hadn't been born into the Prime Minister's family...
With a sharp look, forcing himself to suppress the sudden surge of tenderness in his heart, Marquis Anshi reverted to his former demeanor.
Compared to Gongsun Yuan's composure, Aunt Song and Ye Yanxun in the crowd were not so lucky. Not only was Ye Pianran unaffected by the incense, but Gongsun Yuan was also completely unharmed, which made the two of them feel uneasy.
Whether in Madam Song's Ciyuan Hall or in Lanxin Courtyard where they were now arrogantly drawing their swords, the two of them were too calm, as if they knew what was going to happen next!
Everyone's eyes followed Wu Yanzi's movements in Lanxin Courtyard. Wu Yanzi used a compass to determine his location and walked step by step toward the back of Gongsun Yuan's house, his expression becoming more and more solemn.
Upon reaching the back of the house, Wu Yanzi seemed to have finally discovered something. She stopped, assumed a defensive stance, and her expression changed drastically.
"This is it! The foul air that shrouds the Marquis's mansion is emanating from here!"
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Song immediately ordered a servant to carry her into Lanxin Courtyard. Going around to the back of the house, she saw that the soil Wu Yanzi was pointing to clearly showed signs of being disturbed. Old Madam Song turned around and glared fiercely at Gongsun Yuan, her eyes filled with undisguised frost and murderous intent.
"Gongsun Lanzhi, what's buried in this soil?"
Gongsun Yuan replied calmly, "Mother, I don't know what's buried there either."
"You don't know? Then why would Daoist Wu Yanzi say that the source of evil spirits comes from here?" Old Madam Song sneered. "Since you refuse to tell me, I won't give you any face. Men, dig up this place and see what's buried inside!"